Oregon’s second spring scrimmage featured big plays on each side, including several takeaways, and situational work.
Cornerbacks Dontae Manning and Darren Barkins and linebacker Jestin Jacobs each had interceptions Saturday morning at Autzen Stadium in the Ducks’ 11th practice of spring.
“Really did a good job early with the offense moving the ball down the field and being able to punch it in and get some early scores,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “Then came back with the defense in third down and some of the situational football at the end. Different from last scrimmage, we actually had more takeaways in this scrimmage. Got to do a better job of protecting the ball offensively and then got to continue to do a good job of attacking it defensively. Can’t get too excited or too upset either way there, but obviously some things to improve on.
“Saw a lot of young guys able to step up, thought we got a lot of good reps. One of our higher rep count scrimmages, but good for us to be able to see a lot of guys play.”
Lanning said there were sustained drives by the offense and fewer stops on third down, at least early on, which led to the higher number of plays.
Besides third down and red zone, the Ducks worked on a couple of two- and four-minute scenarios throughout the week and on Saturday, including the offense needing to gain a first down to secure a lead and driving the field to score without any timeouts.
With the ball in the air more, the defensive backs took the opportunity to make some plays.
“Getting our production up,” Manning said. “Getting picks, getting our hand on the ball, getting around the ball.”
Manning said he intercepted Ty Thompson, Barkins took away a fade pass in the red zone and Jacobs made a play at the line of scrimmage.
The offense made some plays as well and Lanning noted multiple receptions by receiver Traeshon Holden.
“Traeshon made some great catches today,” Lannign said. “(He’s) proven to do a good job of attacking the ball and playing strong at the point of attack and Tez (Johnson) continues to show up. His speed continues to show up. Certainly we’ve got a dynamic room right now there with what we think we have coming in and with the combination of guys that are here.”
On special teams, Lanning said the punters did better in this scrimmage with hang time and location.
With the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel officially approving three changes to the game clock rules, most significantly being the clock will no longer stop after a first down outside of the final two minutes of halves, Lanning said Oregon has been practicing with the new rules this spring.
“It’s probably going to affect the scores of games a little bit,” he said. “That’s something to be conscientious of, but it’s not overly different until you truly get down into those two-minute scenarios. I think teams that are way down it’s going to make it really challenging to get back in a game quick because of all the stopped clocks before.”
