Oregon Strategy Session: Duck Defense Gets It Done

Year after year, the Oregon Duck defense takes big hit after big hit.  Not only from the opponent, but from the media and sometimes their own fans. Many people believed that last weekend they once again “laid an egg,” but here is why the Duck defense is carrying the team early in the season.

After the Oregon defense kept the game close against Boise State, Purdue came into town after a 52-point performance against a Toledo team that a week later thrashed a mid-level Big 12 team in Colorado.

Purdue has always been known for their wide open offense in a conference that is stuck in the past.  They did not disappoint Saturday night. 

Oregon fans are accustomed to seeing opposing quarterbacks get in a rhythm like Joey Elliott of Purdue did Saturday night. But if you look at the past five to seven seasons, the Ducks have won more of those games than they have lost (57-33 over the past seven seasons, including two 10-win seasons). 

Former coach Mike Bellotti won the majority of the close games that he coached in and the Chip Kelly era is starting off in a similar fashion.

The bend-but-don’t-break defense has made a return, to the dismay of many fans.  Many people think that the Ducks will never compete for a national championship with the type of defense they currently have. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. 

In 2007, the Ducks would have beaten the LSU Tigers in the National Championship Game. 

Oregon relies on scoring more points than the opponent to win.  If that means they win 65-64, so be it. 

Last Saturday, the defense gave up 451 yards of offense.  You are probably thinking that they simply can’t stop anybody, but there is one more stat you need to hear before you make up your opinion.  They were on the field for 86 plays. 

I’m not making an excuse, I’m simply stating a point.  When you heard 451 yards, you probably thought the Ducks gave up eight or nine yards per play. But really, they only gave up 5.24 yards per play.

For a comparison, the Oregon State Beavers played UNLV on Saturday night.  The Beavers were on the field for 60 plays and gave up 310 total yards.  When you do the math, Oregon State also gave up about five yards (5.16) per play. 

The No. 17 Utah Utes, who face the Ducks next week, gave up 264 yards on 46 plays to the San Jose State Spartans last Saturday.  That is almost six yards (5.7) per play.

Things are magnified on the Duck defense because of the amount of time they spend on the field, but they can stand up with some of the best defenses in the country.  Purdue is also better than both UNLV and San Jose State. 

The defense scored twice on turnovers that were forced by great team efforts.  The job of the Duck defense is to slow offenses down, not shut them down. Until fans understand that, people will be making uneducated remarks in the direction of the Duck coaches, players, and program.

Bellotti never focused on defense.  If there was a scholarship available, it would go to an offensive player, hands down.  Kelly will change that, but the offense will still decide whether the Ducks will be a successful program. 

All the people who want the Ducks to have a Baltimore Ravens-like defense might want to change the team they root for.