Three Takeaways From First Scrimmage

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Oregon football team wrapped up its third full week of the spring with an open practice/scrimmage at Benjamin Franklin High School in front of a good crowd that braved the elements on Saturday.

The Ducks took the field for just more than two hours, with half of time being spent on position work before the near 90-play scrimmage.

Below are three takeaways from the first scrimmage.

1. Herbert Did Herbert Things
A day after being recognized for his academic All-America first-team honor, by having his name engraved on one of the wooden floorboards in the Jaqua Center floor, junior quarterback Justin Herbert had the crowd on hand buzzing with his accuracy through the air despite the wind and rain. Herbert accounted for 48 snaps under center and unofficially finished 11-of-16 for 213 yards and three touchdowns, while leading the Ducks on each of their four scoring drives. The Eugene native's day was highlighted by a 33-yard run on the first drive of the day, which might have gone for a 52-yard touchdown but was whistled down due to Herbert donning a red non-contact jersey. The final play of the day might have been Herbert's best throw of the afternoon, as he found junior Brenden Schooler in the back of the end zone on a 27-yard strike.

2. First-Team Defense Is Fast
Playing primarily against the second-team offense, Oregon's first-team defense showcased its speed with constant pressure off the edge and the ability to quickly close up holes in the run game. It took the first defense just three snaps before it made a big play, as sophomore safety Brady Breeze picked off a Braxton Burmeister pass and returned it more than 40 yards to set up what would have been a red-zone opportunity.

Breeze was one of four different players with a sack on the afternoon, as pressure came from all over the place at times with the defense giving a glimpse of its blitz packages. Senior safety Mattrell McGraw had the first sack, coming straight up the middle on an all-out blitz. Senior safety Ugochukwu Amadi shut down a promising drive led by freshman quarterback Tyler Shough with a sack on third down, which pushed the Ducks far enough back that sophomore Adam Stack's 43-yard field-goal attempt into the wind on the next play came up short. Senior outside linebacker Justin Hollins' sack came in 1-on-1 work, as he would have taken down Herbert on second down, a play that helped force a punt.

In total, the first-team defense forced six three-and-outs, including one when the ball was spotted on its 27-yard line during red zone work that would have forced a long field goal.

3. Schooler, Johnson Show Big Play Ability
Over half of Herbert's 11 completions found the hands of either Schooler or sophomore Johnny Johnson III, as the duo combined for six catches for 169 yards. Schooler opened and closed the scrimmage with touchdown grabs from Herbert, and sandwiched a 34-yard catch-and-run in between. The 6-foot-2 Schooler closed the first drive of the day with a 13-yard touchdown grab and nearly finished the next drive with a 25-yard touchdown, but couldn't quite complete the catch before the ball came loose. Johnson's three catches resulted in 95 yards, highlighted by a 57-yard catch-and-run that started on the 1-yard line. Already known for his big-play ability, a slimmed down Johnson displayed the burst that has caught some attention this spring when he took Herbert's quick pass and took it up the field 57 yards.