In spite of all the shortcomings Oregon’s defense has been exposed to through its first four games, the team remains untarnished and 4-0. However, keying on those inconsistencies in the defense’s game becomes especially thematic leading up to its Thursday night matchup with a team that amassed 482 yards last year in the Ducks’ 42-16 loss.
“Unfortunately its the same thing we’ve said for a couple weeks,”defensive coordinator Don Pellum said Monday after practice. “There’s been some plays in situations that we really could’ve done a lot better. Players, coaches, all of us could’ve been a lot better. That’s the charge now. Here’s the things, we’ve identified them, and if we clean these things up we really can have a solid game.”
In last season’s contest with Arizona, the combination of Ka’deem Carey at running back and BJ Denker at quarterback accounted for 308 yards on the ground on 62 carries. Now the two are absent from the team, except the similarities between the two who took on the bulk in replacing both Carey and Denker are certainly there.
Although Carey was regarded as one of the premiere ball carriers in the nation last season, Nick Wilson has made the transition look seamless four games into the season. He is currently averaging 6.2 yards per rush while anchoring a trio of backs carrying the load.
“I think all their backs are very similar, they have great feet, great vision, and they’re really good at getting down field vertical,” Pellum said. “You watch the film, whether its the first guy or the second guy they are very talented.”
In addition, despite his inexperience behind center, Anu Solomon put up video game type numbers in the month of September. With 1454 passing yards and 13 touchdowns to just three interceptions, the freshman is now tasked with the job of guiding an offense in their first true road test of the season.
But with a comparison to Marcus Mariota from Pellum, the first-year defensive coordinator knows his unit will have to be particular about how they defend against the dual-threat quarterback who has also rushed for 167 yards.
“The thing you have to be prepared for with this guy is you have to be very smart with how you’re tackling,” Pellum continued. “If you miss those guys they can go the distance. Obviously, we got to do a great job of containing and when we have the opportunities we got to take advantage.”
Notes:
Oregon’s game at UCLA was announced to be aired on Fox at 12:30 pacific time today. The two team’s ranked in the top-ten will meet in Pasedena, California on Oct. 11.
Ducks at UCLA on Oct. 11 has been selected for 12:30 p.m. PT on FOX #GoDucks
— Oregon Football (@WinTheDay) September 29, 2014
Follow Justin Wise on Twitter @JustinFWise