Oregon safety Steve Stephens discusses the Ducks 81-7 win over the Portland State Vikings to kick off the 2023 season.
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00:00 >> You've played a lot of these.
00:03 >> Yeah. >> A lot of games in general, but
00:05 FCS games.
00:06 When you guys play this way, what do you take away from this as a player?
00:10 When you have a dominant performance against a team who you know you're,
00:13 you guys are smart.
00:14 >> I just look at it as how we play to our standard, just how we do meet our goals,
00:19 or do we achieve the standards that we set for our team at that point?
00:23 And then just how do we perform, execute within our scheme?
00:26 That's pretty much what we look at.
00:27 >> How do you feel like you did that?
00:29 >> I feel like we played pretty well.
00:31 A couple things we definitely need to correct, but
00:33 overall I think we played pretty well.
00:35 >> You played a lot of different guys, and shoving guys in and out.
00:38 By the end, obviously a lot of young guys.
00:40 I assume that makes it challenging when it's a lot of new faces.
00:43 How did you guys feel in terms of being on the same page, play to play, and
00:47 particularly some of the young guys start to come in too?
00:49 >> I feel like that's a tip to head off to the coaches, that's good coaching.
00:52 Where you're able to get a lot of guys in, and know what they're doing, and
00:55 able to execute and uphold the standard that we set as a team.
00:58 So I feel like that's just good coaching.
00:59 >> Did you practice and prepare this past week for
01:04 as much rotation among the deep safeties as there was today?
01:08 I mean, as far as Evan obviously didn't get out there.
01:10 >> Yeah. >> So you played with BA a ton.
01:13 But whether it was Sheem, whether it was Brian, whether it was one of the freshmen,
01:17 you guys practicing that many rotations, or is this the same?
01:20 >> Yeah, we just, honestly, it's more so just know what you're doing.
01:24 Whether you're a one or a two, if you're on the field, you're a starter.
01:27 So it's just understand what you're doing at any moment and point in time,
01:30 cuz you never know when it's gonna be opportunity to get in the game.
01:32 So just take advantage of your reps, count the reps, make the reps count,
01:35 don't count the reps.
01:36 >> Now that you guys can look ahead to next week and that opportunity,
01:39 as one of the few guys who was around and played with Tyler.
01:43 Defended against Tyler a lot in practice.
01:45 >> Mm-hm.
01:46 >> What are your thoughts about playing him now in a game that matters?
01:49 >> It's exciting, exciting, an opportunity to play against my brother.
01:52 I still have a great relationship with him, I'm excited for the opportunity.
01:56 >> Are there things that you remember from practice?
01:59 I mean, I realize now it's like three years ago.
02:01 >> Yeah. >> But are there things you remember
02:02 from practice about tendencies that he had?
02:04 Are there just things you're gonna have to pick up on more from film and
02:07 memory at this point?
02:08 >> Yeah, I'm not sure if I go that far back in time, but
02:11 I just know he's a really intelligent player, very instinctive, so.