Notable Quotes From Dan Lanning as Oregon Opens Spring Practice

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning is entering his third year at the helm of the Ducks' program. He's compiled a 22-5 overall record and has Oregon in the right direction as the team prepares for its first season in the Big Ten Conference.

On Thursday, Lanning met with reporters in Eugene following Oregon's first spring practice. Here are some of the most notables quotes from his press conference.

Opening Statement

Lanning: "Good day one. There's always great energy the first day of practice but there's a lot to clean up. We want to go attack technique. It's good to see some young guys out there picking it up. These walkthroughs we've been able to have leading up to spring ball really gives us that opportunity to take a step forward and get ahead. We'll have meetings following practice and able to attack some of that with our players too."

In-Helmet Communication

Question: You guys practicing with the in-helmet communication yet?

Lanning: "Yeah. We were sent a couple by the office. We're using them to move around player to player on certain days."

Question: On defense, anyone besides Jeff (Bassa) who's gonna be one of those green dots?"

Lanning: "We're gonna train everybody to be able to use those. Primarily in the linebacker room."

New faces join the Ducks

Question: How'd you feel the day went with three dozen newcomers out there?

Lanning: "I thought there was good and there was bad. The biggest thing, you saw energy and you saw guys moving from drill to drill with purpose. There were mistakes made, which there's gonna be. It's about fixing those."

Update on OL Faoope Laloulu

Question: Has 'Ope moved to the student assistant role that Sua'ava (former Oregon DL Sua'va Poti) was doing?

Lanning: "He's moved into a student assistant role."

Measuring success early in spring ball

Question: How do measure success from day one going into day two? What are you looking most on Saturday to see from this team as far as growth goes?"

Lanning: "I think effort and technique. Really and then are you making the same mistakes you made day one? We gotta eliminate those as we go forward, but it's just about constant improvement, constant growth. Can't eat an elephant in one bite. It takes one day at a time. A little bit better each day."

Injury Updates

Question: Good to see Noah Whittington out there. Is he basically back to being Noah Whittington?

Lanning: "We're being conscientious of where he's at. They're doing a really good job in the treatment program. He's way ahead of schedule. Has done a really good job there, but we'll be conscientious through that with spring."

Question: You expecting Jahlil (Florence) to do anything this spring?

Lanning: "Really same thing (as Noah Whittington)," the head coach said. "We're gonna be able to have these guys do what they can do but be smart in the same process."

Quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore

Question:

Lanning: "They've jumped in the water. All in. They didn't dip their toe in. So these guys are picking it up quick. Again, these walkthroughs and meetings have been something that have given an advantage to be able to pick it up. A lot of growth from today that we got to see moving forward but excited about the way those guys work."

Staff promotions during offseason

Question: What went into the various decisions promoting everybody from within? Moving Hampton to handle the who DBs room, Brian up to inside backers.

Lanning: "We got a lot of really good coaches within this staff and it's about growing guys within the staff and giving them opportunities when they deserve it. Whether it's Hamp taking a bigger role there in the secondary or Rashad Wadood stepping up to do more with the corners. Brian's (Michalowski) been a guy that proved his value here last season. He's a guy that we wanted to get involved more as well. In our organization it's about continuity, it's about growing within, building guys that can fill those roles and do a good job."