With the secondary returns intact and full of great promise, the defensive line will survive with veteran pieces in place — but the linebackers are where the questions are.

If you follow Oregon football in the slightest, then you know the only folks who put titles on anything are in the media or the fans — coaches don’t do it. You won’t hear Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti classify his scheme as just a 3-4 defense, but for the sake of understanding a playing rotation, that designation is as close as you can get.

While the Ducks substitute players, packages and strategies as fast as they score points, Oregon will likely be in something resembling the 3-4 defense anyhow, which entails three defensive linemen and four linebackers, followed by the secondary. How many of those linemen and linebackers are in a down stance and what their responsibilities are changed with every play.

Dion Jordan was the link between the linemen and linebackers last year, earning the title of “drop-backer,” as he both rushed the passer and played in coverage. He’s gone next year, and his replacement is Tony Washington, a 6-foot-3, 244-pound soon-to-be junior. Washington will be the edge rusher as well as pseudo-linebacker, somewhat in the vein of what Jordan offered.

The only returning starter in the core four of line backers is Boseko Lokombo, a proven commodity at outside. He will likely be the best player in the linebackers and the absolute leader. Last season, he had 39 tackles and two sacks.

With Kiko Alonso and Michael Clay gone, here is where things get tricky: The two linebacking positions in the middle are up for grabs with loads of suitors.

Tyson Coleman, a sophomore, is learning the inside position after playing as a backup at outside last year — however, he was seen leaving practices on crutches last week and may not play in the spring game. Derrick Malone also played substantial time last year and may be a front-runner to take over in the middle. Joe Walker is a junior college transfer in the mix, along with Rahim Cassell and Rodney Hardrick. Of all players listed at linebacker last season that will return for this season, the rankings by number of tackles goes: Malone, Lokombo, Coleman, Washington, Cassell and Hardrick, followed by a stack of players who failed to record over 10 tackles.

In Aliotti’s scheme in recent years, it is common to see seven or eight bodies rotate through the four linebacker positions, and 2013-2014 figures seem to be no different. Lokombo, Washington and Malone will be the leaders based on experience, but expect everyone to get a chance, especially in the preseason games, to solidify their roles.