EUGENE -- Oregon is now seven practices deep into spring football after practicing under sunny skies at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex on Monday, almost halfway to the May 3 spring game.

Here are some quick points from today's practice:

-- Mark Helfrich was asked a range of questions, from backup quarterbacks to backup defensive linemen and more.

First, here was his review of Monday's practice: "I thought we got after it pretty good early on. Offense won a few, defense won a few and just a great competitive spirit kind of day."

Sam Kamp, Helfrich said, is as close to being 100 percent healthy as he has been after three serious of various "nicks and dings." He's also put on nearly 30 pounds in the offseason, though he's still learning how to use it.

"He definitely needs to learn how to carry it on the football field and find the sweet spot, weight-wise, like all of us but he’s done some good things," Helfrich said, speaking of last Friday's scrimmage inside Autzen Stadium. The Ducks will scrimmage again next week.

"I think all those guys, T.J. Daniel really jumped out in the scrimmage and did some good things on film. Those kind of what everybody considers second-tier guys got a ton of reps and those guys really made the most of it."

-- Backup quarterback has been a position of intrigue since August, but to hear Helfrich tell it, there is no more clarity now than ever as to who is playing better.

It has been explained to me this way by several people: Jake Rodrigues holds an edge in athleticism, but Jeff Lockie is more consistent in minimizing mistakes.

"Those guys did some good things in the scrimmage, also had a couple things that they would definitely like to have back," Helfrich said. "Jeff probably made a few more plays than Jake did overall. Taylor Alie also had a really good scrimmage."

-- Redshirt freshman receiver Darren Carrington said that while he sat on the sideline for the last week with a right hand injury, he took "mental reps" he hopes will pay off.

Carrington was dressed in uniform Monday, the first time I'd seen that in about a week. He still wore what looked to be a brace on his hand, however.

"(First two weeks) have gone pretty well, just trying to keep my mind focused for my comeback and just ready to hopefully come back in the fall," Carrington said.

-- Marcus Mariota mentioned that Johnny Loyd is catching on (pun intended) well at receiver now one full week into practice.

They'll need more than just Loyd to take big strides before next fall, however, to replace Addison, whose knee injury Mariota called "tough."

"Some of those things happen, it’s football," Mariota said. "All we can do right now is be behind him and support him and try to be that support he needs when he’s rehabbing."

-- This afternoon look for some stories on Mariota and the receiving corps, a gallery and some videos by Thomas Boyd from today's availability. Thanks for reading.

-- Andrew Greif