Quack Fix: Ducks work to improve execution, Mariota says he's healthy, homecoming in LA

Highlights (from Tuesday's practice report)

• The Oregon coaching staff is trying to limit a number of communication and execution issues on which they blame much of the issues against Arizona. Miscommunicated defensive calls led to two big explosion plays for Arizona. Getting those issues worked out will be key to Oregon becoming a merely competent defense as the season progresses.
• On the offensive line, the Ducks continue to try and improve at the O-line. With a couple weeks starting under their belts, Pierson and Crosby continue to compete and attempt to improve, and haven't let the struggles impact their motivation. That's about as much as we can hope for at the moment. Unfortunately,improvement does not happen overnight.
• Thomas Tyner had one of his best practices of the last few weeks. I'd love to see him break out against UCLA after some early struggles this season.

Video of the Day

Mac and Mose review the Arizona game and take some reader questions.

Links

• Marcus Mariota may have been a little dinged up against Arizona, but he says he's good to go against UCLA. The moral of this story: Scott Frost should have just shut the hell up.
• Bruins Nation kicks off their Oregon coverage with a quick look at the Oregon coaching and special teams. In the comments, BN founder Nestor wants to know what Duck fans think of Don Pellum. I don't think this is going to end well.
• Remember when the Pac-10 expanded and playing in LA was supposedly really important? I think this is the first article I've seen since then that's actually mentioned playing in LA. With 23 Oregon players coming from the LA area, they'll be playing in front of their family and friends for one of the few times in their careers.
• Here are the Oregon-UCLA game notes. Of interest, in the latest depth chart, Byron Marshall is listed at receiver. From the looks of the depth chart, it doesn't seem the Jake Fisher will be available against UCLA.
• A loss will always bring extra scrutiny to a team, and one question popping up has been, "why aren't the Ducks playing as fast as they used to." Tyson Alger has an article on the topic, and the answer is quite simple: Oregon has been very poor on 1st down over the last two games.

Tweets of the Day

Asked OLBs coach Erik Chinander about blitzing UCLA and his eyes lit up. "You always want to put pressure on everybody. I love pressure."

— Andrew Greif (@AndrewGreif) October 8, 2014

Erik Chinander, continued (and echoing Helfrich's comments re: Arizona, too): "Last week we played hard, but we played stupid at times."

— Andrew Greif (@AndrewGreif) October 8, 2014