Sean Meagher/The Oregonian, OregonLive

By Andrew Greif & Tyson Alger, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Each week The Oregonian/OregonLive's pair of Ducks beat reporters will review the 11 things they learned from Oregon's latest week of practice.

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Here are our takeaways from the first week of preseason camp under coach Willie Taggart.

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Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

1. Justin Herbert is in control at QB. Behind him, it's anyone's guess.

This past year has been the first time Justin Herbert has focused solely on football in his life, and his development from that single-minded focus has been noticeable, from his strength, to his footwork and especially how he interacts with teammates — forcefully in a few moments, in an effort to correct a mistake. Herbert isn't perfect, of course, but he's a level-headed technician no one really worries about.

Drawing concern, however, is Oregon's lack of a backup ready to step in and manage the offense consistently should Herbert get hurt. Senior Taylor Alie and true freshmen Braxton Burmeister, Mike Irwin and Demetri Burch all are taking snaps but Taggart told the team following Friday's practice, according to two sources present, that he is open to trying others on the roster at the position, too. — AG

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Sean Meagher | The Oregonian/OregonLive

2. Royce Freeman is faster

For as much has been made about Herbert running around shirtless this offseason, Freeman’s transformation has been subtle, yet notable. The senior has never not been in shape. Go back and search our Twitter feeds from 2014 when he first arrived on campus. There were probably some Hulk comparisons made. But Freeman does look more streamlined in 2017, something he said will help him get through the rigors of an entire season after injuries limited him last year to fewer than 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career.

But how does it affect his running? It’s a very small sample size, but I’ve been impressed with the little bursts of speed we’ve seen from Freeman throughout the first week of camp. He’s still got more than enough size, but his feet look quick and his ability to accelerate has definitely turned some heads. Now, what does this all mean? Freeman has one 1,700-yards season under his belt and he looks to be in the best shape of his life. Make your assumptions from there. — TA

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3. Freshmen are coming to take starting spots

Taggart made clear from his first day on campus that there will be no barriers to entry for freshmen to start in 2017, and the makeup of UO's first-team offense and defense throughout UO's first week of preseason camp bear that out.

Freshman running with the first-team defense this week have included corner Thomas Graham Jr. and nose guard Jordon Scott, both of whom were mainstays of the first-team during spring, as well. But late in the week, their classmate Austin Faoliu also joined the starters during 11-on-11, playing defensive end alongside Scott and opposite Henry Mondeaux.

"People come to Oregon to play ball and play right away," defensive line coach Joe Salave'a said. "That’s our pitch to everybody, that’s why kids are coming here to Eugene to join up and get their opportunity not two years later but right away."

At receiver, freshmen Johnny Johnson and Darrian McNeal have each taken turns with the ones during this first week. Like Graham and Scott, their inclusion with the starters perhaps isn't much of a surprise given Herbert's praise of both earlier this summer, and the dearth of more experienced options at the position. — AG

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4. Jim Leavitt is a man on the move.

If you want to interview defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt, you better be ready. We all learned this during the spring, when Leavitt would run over for his pre-practice interview, veins running full of Pepsi, and essentially yell his way through a two-minute interview, tops. It’ll certainly wake you up, and if you don’t have any questions prepared, he’ll be out of the scrum and back onto the field before you can think of one. Well, we were rusty this week. Leavitt was scheduled to speak on Wednesday at 9:45 a.m. The majority of reporters showed up at 9:30, which was still 10 minutes late for Leavitt, who ran over to the couple of way-early scribes and powered through one of his signature sessions. — TA

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Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

5. After two seasons of questions, the secondary could now be a position of strength.

Oregon's secondary has been a lightning rod for criticism the past two seasons after UO ranked 96th or worse in 2015 and 2016 in opponent passer rating.

This season, however, the once-young defensive backs who made up the 2015-16 secondaries are now veterans, and a talented group of young guys has provided an influx of talent and confidence. Don't call it the return of the D-Boyz yet, but something's brewing. Safeties Billy Gibson and Brady Breeze have taken zero snaps in an official college game, but each has made plays this week to add depth to a safety rotation that also saw junior Khalil Oliver and senior Tyree Robinson run with the first-team. Even with Brenden Schooler now playing receiver, that's still a lot of options for safeties coach Keith Heyward.

At corner, Ugo Amadi and Arrion Springs are still being pushed by freshman Thomas Graham Jr., whose pick-six of Herbert was one of the week's highlights. Fellow freshman Deommodore Lenoir also has earned some praise for his quick acclimation to the college game. — AG

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6. Pimpleton has earned the trust of his running backs.

Of all the coaches, Donte Pimpleton had one of the hardest jobs coming into camp. Say what you will about Oregon’s prior coaching staff, but Gary Campbell was one of the most revered and respected coaches in the business and his players, specifically Royce Freeman, Tony Brooks-James and Kani Benoit, thought the world of him. Brooks-James said he was relatively wary of a new coach coming in this late in his career, but so far the results have been positive. After a bit of a “feeling out” phase, as Brooks-James described it, the backs have embraced the energy Pimpleton has brought to the field. — TA

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7. Always reliable, kicker Aidan Schneider is now ultra-relaxed.

This shouldn't be surprising when you consider that Aidan Schneider is the most accurate kicker in school history, but the Oregon senior has looked awfully relaxed this fall. He, along with the other members of the special teams, spend most of their practices on a separate field kicking balls. They probably wouldn't be the ones to ask, at this moment, about the on-field personalities of the new coaching staff. But Schneider's ease rose to a new level during Sunday's media day, when he fielded a couple of interviews in-between naps on a couch in the back corner of Autzen Stadium. — TA

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Sean Meagher

8. Dillon Mitchell can be quiet, but don't mistake that for a lack of confidence.

Dillon Mitchell could have played college football — and basketball — just about anywhere he wanted. As such, expectations were enormous entering his freshman season last fall. Then a knee injury on the eve of the season opener curtailed his contributions to two receptions and seven punt returns. Mitchell was honest Sunday with reporters in describing how difficult it was to deal with the setback so far away from his family in Memphis. He said disappointment is behind him now, though. Instead, Mitchell is channeling Connor McGregor's brand of supreme self-confidence.

"He had a quote, he said there’s nothing really talented in this world, it’s obsession and i’m obsessed with being great right now," Mitchell said. "At this point I have so much belief in myself and my teammates have belief in me, I’ve just taken up that type of personality. I know he talks very loud and he’s, I would say disrespectful sometimes. But I don’t go for that. I just go for believing in myself and know that i can do the things I want on the field."

He's backed that up so far. Mitchell has displayed his supreme athleticism effortlessly at times, and has stood out as a dynamic threat at a position where UO has few. — AG

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Sean Meagher

9. It's a dry heat.

5. Willie Taggart is from Florida. Florida is constantly hotter, and muggier, than it is here in Oregon. So, we get it when he talks about it not being that hot here. That being said, it was awfully warm at Oregon practice this week as those 10 a.m. practice inched toward the afternoon. That didn't stop about 100 Oregon fans for showing up for the first two days of open practices. A hat tip to Oregon: UO provided a giant Gatorade jug of water for those who wanted a momentary reprieve while watching the first official practices of the Willie Taggart era. — TA

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10. Departing lineman Zach Okun was brave to address what led to his retirement.

Depression isn't a topic that people often want to talk about, and that's especially so in football's suck-it-up culture. So a tip of the hat, then, to former prep All-America offensive lineman Zach Okun who, in departing from the UO football program this week, took the rare step of opening up on social media about the tough reasons for the decision.

“After a long discussion with the medical professionals that the University of Oregon gave me access to, as well as my family, I have decided that is in my best interest to step away from the game of football," he wrote on Twitter. "I have suffered from severe anxiety and depression, and after months of trial and error with my treatments, our team doctor and I decided that retiring from football is my best chance to get these things under control.

“I love the game of football, and appreciate Coach Taggart, Coach (Mario) Cristobal, my teammates and everyone else associated with Oregon football that have been nothing but supportive of me, and wish me health above all. Thanks to you all and go Ducks!”

Best of luck to Okun in getting healthier. — AG

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11. If you're looking for a good burger in Eugene...

...these beat writers recommend the Board Burger at Board, in Eugene's Whiteaker neighborhood. — AG

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Up next

Oregon closes its first week of fall camp Saturday with a practice that is closed to media and fans, then takes Sunday off.

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Catch up on coverage

Miss anything this week?

Oregon fails to crack coaches' poll top 25 -- but voters seem to expect a rebound out of UO.

Why Joe Salave'a left Washington State for Oregon.

Brenden Schooler embraces his new role at wide receiver.

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