Duck Scrimmage, Aug. 19

UO release – Some impressions from the scrimmage … 1) There was good news from the receivers … for the most part. During the full-contact portion, junior receiver Johnny Johnson III caught four passes for 53 yards, including two on which he held on despite absorbing big hits from Deommodore Lenoir and Jevon Holland, respectively. Asked afterward about scrimmage standouts, Cristobal first mentioned Johnson as a “guy who made a lot of plays, not only when he has the ball in his hands but when he doesn’t; the guy’s down the field making great blocks.” 2) The run defense was stout … though there’s a caveat. In three possessions against the No. 1 offense with live hitting, the No. 1 defense allowed just 26 yards on 11 rushes (numbers that include one sack, by Gus Cumberlander). Drayton Carlberg made a stop at the line on a third-and-short play, and there were tackles for minimal gains by Lenoir, Bryson Young and Isaac Slade-Matautia. 3) A few guys asserted themselves as much as they have all month. During the first week of camp, the No. 2 defense tended to have the edge over the No. 2 offense. But that started to even out this week, capped by Saturday’s scrimmage. Shough was 7-of-11 for 115 yards and two touchdowns, numbers very similar to Herbert’s 7-of-10 for 141 yards and two scores. 4) The tight end position is thin, but that didn’t affect production Saturday. Senior Jacob Breeland and junior Cam McCormick were observers for the scrimmage, as they continue to rehab injuries. Ryan Bay opened the scrimmage with the No. 1 offense, and capped the first possession with a 59-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown, a well-schemed play that got Bay into space for the touchdown. 5) For the most part, Saturday’s scrimmage was pretty clean. There were only three penalties during the full-contact portion, and just one turnover, by walk-on safety Lucas Noland (above) when fourth-string quarterback Bradley Yaffe needed to force the ball down the field on third-and-long.