EUGENE -- One of the most important drills of Oregon's preseason camp requires zero pads, and takes place not on the practice field, but in a meeting room inside the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex.
Two things happen there. As a UO safety begins to identify an offensive formation and devise the best adjustment to combat it, a half-dozen or so of his fellow safeties begin to yell. As loudly as possible.
The drill ends when the original safety's correct call can be heard above the din.
"We'll yell pretty loud," safeties coach Keith Heyward said Wednesday. "The guys kind of chuckle and laugh but I say, this is serious.