Defense

[Quietduck]

Ok, all, how will our defense go this year?

1. I believe they will be much more physical at the line. Last year they made the pocket move but didn't get people loose often. This year I look for somebody loose in the backfield (play side or not) 75% of the time.
2. I believe we will cover the short zones with our linebackers much better
3. I hope our back 5 makes a significant improvement.

I believe we can have a top-60 defense and hope for a top-50

[SuperDuck]

Ok, all, how will our defense go this year?

1. I believe they will be much more physical at the line. Last year they made the pocket move but didn't get people loose often. This year I look for somebody loose in the backfield (play side or not) 75% of the time.
2. I believe we will cover the short zones with our linebackers much better
3. I hope our back 5 makes a significant improvement.

I believe we can have a top-60 defense and hope for a top-50

I agree. They have to get consistent pressure on the QB with just the D-Line. They also have to improve their tackling significantly and cut down on giving up 3rd and 4th down conversions.

[ducks5ever]

I've said it before but the ILB's worry me. Regardless how that position group turns out, unless they can't tackle or miss all the time, I feel good about having a top 50 defense this year.

Having a good offense should help too. That side of the ball *should* deliver again this year

[UOducksTK1]

Bo Nix seems to think the D is much improved.

[squintsdd]

I've said it before but the ILB's worry me. Regardless how that position group turns out, unless they can't tackle or miss all the time, I feel good about having a top 50 defense this year.

Having a good offense should help too. That side of the ball *should* deliver again this year

Let's be honest, the LB play can't get much worse then they were last season. Last season they consistently overran plays, and missed tackles because they failed to break down or they just hoped that hitting with their shoulders really hard would work. They missed gaps, couldn't cover the middle of the field on the pass to save their life, and struggled to shed blocks. For a group that was expected to be one of the best LB groups in the country, they played like they thought they were still in high school.

I expect much better play from them this session, and will be extremely disappointed if it gets worse.

[Quietduck]

I can't help but wonder if the 3rds and longs were successful due to the lack of any penetration of the pocket. Maybe our db's were only half bad?

[StevensTechU]

I think they can be a very good defense (top 20 in YPP and points per drive), but I will settle for improvement in 3rd and 4th down conversions. Those really kill me as a fan.

[lmduck]

I've said it before but the ILB's worry me. Regardless how that position group turns out, unless they can't tackle or miss all the time, I feel good about having a top 50 defense this year.

Having a good offense should help too. That side of the ball *should* deliver again this year

Let's be honest, the LB play can't get much worse then they were last season. Last season they consistently overran plays, and missed tackles because they failed to break down or they just hoped that hitting with their shoulders really hard would work. They missed gaps, couldn't cover the middle of the field on the pass to save their life, and struggled to shed blocks. For a group that was expected to be one of the best LB groups in the country, they played like they thought they were still in high school.

I expect much better play from them this session, and will be extremely disappointed if it gets worse.

So not to fan any flames, but I was told the LBs checked out mid season. One knew he was leaving for the NFL and did not want to risk serious injury and the other was already looking at portal options.

[OregonFan4Life]

In all reality it can’t be as bad as last season. Even the spring game there were a few plays where I was expecting someone on offense to run for 30+ yards, and when an LB made the correct read, took the right angle, and actually made a tackle and kept it to a 10 yard gain, it was a real surprise. I know we had some bad defense in recent Oregon history, but in some ways last season might be the worst, it was at the very least the most underperforming defense with the talent they had at LB. After the Washington game the Oregon defense was dead last in FBS in either 3rd down defense or passing defense, I can’t remember which one it was, and whichever one it wasn’t was a few spots away from dead last.

If Oregon’s defense is in the bottom half of FBS at the end of the season next season then Tosh has to go.

[ducks5ever]

In all reality it can’t be as bad as last season. Even the spring game there were a few plays where I was expecting someone on offense to run for 30+ yards, and when an LB made the correct read, took the right angle, and actually made a tackle and kept it to a 10 yard gain, it was a real surprise. I know we had some bad defense in recent Oregon history, but in some ways last season might be the worst, it was at the very least the most underperforming defense with the talent they had at LB. After the Washington game the Oregon defense was dead last in FBS in either 3rd down defense or passing defense, I can’t remember which one it was, and whichever one it wasn’t was a few spots away from dead last.

If Oregon’s defense is in the bottom half of FBS at the end of the season next season then Tosh has to go.

I wouldn't put too much weight into last year. The back 7 2-deep is going to be almost entirely different aside from the corner spot(s). The DL has had some hefty additions (Birch) but even though the personnel turnover isn't that big, the weights have changed significantly. It just has to be better than last year. Even though I don't personally have anything solid to back up this claim, I want to give coach Lanning the benefit of the doubt

Notable returners:
Bassa/Hill [1 is probably a backup]
Funa
Bridges/Manning [1 or both are backups]
Stephens/Addison [1 or both are backups]

14 slots in the 2 deep (in back 7), 7 notable returning players, of which 3-5 are probably backups. It's a pretty big overhaul

[buckmarkduck]

Bo Nix seems to think the D is much improved.

At worst we added 2 2nd rounders if they stay healthy, at best 2 1st rounders to the D. And hearing nothing but great things about Hill also.

[SuperDuck]

In all reality it can’t be as bad as last season. Even the spring game there were a few plays where I was expecting someone on offense to run for 30+ yards, and when an LB made the correct read, took the right angle, and actually made a tackle and kept it to a 10 yard gain, it was a real surprise. I know we had some bad defense in recent Oregon history, but in some ways last season might be the worst, it was at the very least the most underperforming defense with the talent they had at LB. After the Washington game the Oregon defense was dead last in FBS in either 3rd down defense or passing defense, I can’t remember which one it was, and whichever one it wasn’t was a few spots away from dead last.

If Oregon’s defense is in the bottom half of FBS at the end of the season next season then Tosh has to go.

I wouldn't put too much weight into last year. The back 7 2-deep is going to be almost entirely different aside from the corner spot(s). The DL has had some hefty additions (Birch) but even though the personnel turnover isn't that big, the weights have changed significantly. It just has to be better than last year. Even though I don't personally have anything solid to back up this claim, I want to give coach Lanning the benefit of the doubt

Notable returners:
Bassa/Hill [1 is probably a backup]
Funa
Bridges/Manning [1 or both are backups]
Stephens/Addison [1 or both are backups]

14 slots in the 2 deep (in back 7), 7 notable returning players, of which 3-5 are probably backups. It's a pretty big overhaul

Not to mention that Lanning brought in the new Co-D-Coordinator from Tulane, Chris Hampton, to coach the safeties.

[gogreen55]

Bo Nix seems to think the D is much improved.

At worst we added 2 2nd rounders if they stay healthy, at best 2 1st rounders to the D. And hearing nothing but great things about Hill also.

We also lost a 1st rounder who was unquestionably the best player on the defense last season. Still, all things considered, there does seem to be some realistic optimism for the defense being improved, despite the depth chart at linebacker not looking ideal for a team that hopes to contend for the CFP.

[GrantDuck]

If like 75% of what Bo said about the defense is true, I'll be over the moon and we'll win the conference.

Hoping for a top 30 defense, anything top 40 would be really nice though after last season and given the quality of QB play in the conference.

I think a lot of it is how quickly guys like Matayo and Purchase can break into the pass rush rotation.