Oregon Football Defensive Preview

Tosh.

Oregon defense via @oregonfootball on twitter

The Basics

• The Ducks defense is led by DC Tosh Lupoi (gross, I should just end here and be done with it)

  • The Ducks run a lot of 4-2-5 based on what I see, with tons of mixed pressures and an ability to drop 8 when necessary

  • Cal last played a Lupoi led defense when the Bears fell at home to the Ducks 42-24 last season

2022 Defense in Review

• FEI Ratings: 49th on defense

• Gave up 27.4 points per game last season

• generated the 2nd most amount of interceptions in the conference

The 2022 Oregon defense was a bit of inconsistent unit last season at the worst time. After Georgia dressed them down, the Ducks rebounded fairly well throughout the course of the season, only suffering defensive roadblocks when playing at Washington State, at home against Washington, and of course the infamous 19 straight runs Civil War game against Oregon State. When the Ducks could dictate how they wanted to play, they produced. When the going got tough last year, the defensive unit as a whole tended to fold even when their offense could bail them out (WSU 2022). This year, Oregon looks to be a lot more physical in the trenches and outside, and so far has only had one massive fork in the road in the Cascades Classic against Washington.

Depth Chart

The Provisional Starters

DE Brandon Dorlus, DT Popo Aumavae, DT Casey Rogers, DE Teitum Tuioti

ILB Jeffrey Bassa, ILB Jamal Hill

CB Khyree Jackson, S Evan Williams, S Tysheem Johnson, Nickel Nikko Reed, Jahlil Florence

Players to Watch

This list could realistically start and end with Brandon Dorlus and Khyree Jackson as the two faces of the Ducks defense. Dorlus is a versatile defensive lineman who plugs the run so well and can also get to the quarterback. He’s the unquestioned leader and if you hope to even remotely have a chance in the ball game, you better find a way to put a body on him. Khyree Jackson in the secondary is an absolute stud, the definition of a lockdown corner and it wouldn’t be hyperbole to put him there as a top three cornerback in the Pac 12.

Evan Williams is a thumping safety who came out of high school in the Bay Area as an underrated prospect, spending several years at Fresno State before following in his brother Bennett Williams footsteps as an Oregon safety. Evan is phenomenal in run support and very fundamentally sound in his tackling despite some occassional misfires in coverage. The final guy who Cal fans should be wary of is Mase Funa, who feels like he’s been in college for about a thousand seasons. Funa, who has lost a little bit of playing time over the course of the last few seasons, just continues to be involved in clutch moments. A much needed sack here, a forced fumble there, make no mistake, Mase Funa can wreck a game on his own if you’re not careful.

How Cal can win this game

I’ll be honest……it’s not looking great. Oregon is an absolute buzzsaw that is firing on all cylinders at the moment. I’m not exactly sure how Cal consistently puts up points on this defense, and that’s before we incorporate the possible elements that may be in play inside of Autzen Stadium on Saturday. Despite the improvements of the Bears offensive line this year, winning the line of scrimmage consistently is a massive concern I have. Furthermore, Oregon likes to disguise their blitzes, running stunts, delayed secondary releases, among other things. Cal’s communication along the lines will be crucial to even get plays going, otherwise the Ducks are going to be living in the backfield often. Fernando Mendoza, Jaydn Ott (if he even plays), and Jeremiah Hunter will all need to have a day and a half. But that’s why we play the games. Go Bears.