With no game on the schedule this week for the Ducks, there is no better time than now to take a moment to reflect on what we’ve seen from Mario Cristobal’s bunch through five weeks of action.
As part of our “Bye Week Brush-Up” series this week, WFOD will be taking a closer look at who and what has stood out to us thus far, as well as offer our assessments on what we might be able to expect once the Ducks return to action next week.
Our series continues Thursday, as WFOD offers a position-by-position recap of the Oregon defense.
Defensive Line
Before the season began, there was cautious optimism surrounding Oregon’s defensive line. Sure they had marquee names like Jalen Jelks and Jordon Scott, not to mention a promising up-and-comer in Austin Faoliu, but was there enough depth available to help sustain a unit that was top-heavy with talent? Well, through five weeks of play, it appears the Ducks have found the depth they so desperately needed in redshirt juniors Gary Baker and Drayton Carlberg. A starter in three of five games, Baker has carried over drastically improved play from spring drills and fall camp to the regular season, as he currently ranks tied for sixth on the team in total tackles (18). His versatility and activity up front has provided the Ducks with tremendous flexibility in how they approach opponents from week-to-week. The same can be said for Carlberg, who, despite his reserve role, is currently tied for second on the team in sacks (2.5). He was also personally responsible for forcing the fumble that was picked up and returned for a touchdown by La’Mar Winston last week at Cal.
SACK ✔️
SCORE ✔️La’Mar Winston Jr. capitalizes to give @oregonfootball another 6️⃣#UOvsCAL is live on FS1 pic.twitter.com/fw4Aanhnhh
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 30, 2018
Ultimately though, the primary reason the Ducks rank second in the conference in rushing defense (108.6 yards per game) and are tied for first in rushing touchdowns allowed (4) has much to with the Ducks’ “big three” in Jelks, Scott, and Faoliu. While he hasn’t quite been the pass rushing force he was last year (only 2.5 sacks so far this season), Jelks is still one of the defense’s most valuable players, ranking tied for third on the team in total tackles (26) and providing unmatched utility as both a defensive end and outside linebacker in Oregon’s base 3-4 defense. Though the stats may not back it up, the player who has been perhaps most critical to Oregon’s defensive success this season has been the 6-foot-1, 329-pound wrecking ball in the middle in Jordon Scott. Scott has as many tackles on the season as Baker (18), and as many tackles for loss as Carlberg (2.5), but the impact he’s had disrupting opposing offenses with his push at the line of scrimmage has been invaluable. When healthy, Faoliu has also been a force to be reckoned with, though he missed last week’s game with an ankle injury. He’s expected to be full-go, however, when the Ducks take on Washington.
Linebacker
Next to offensive and defensive line, the linebacker position at Oregon has proven to be one of the deepest and most impressive position groups on the roster this season. Troy Dye headlined the group coming into the season and has quietly led the team in tackles (36) through five weeks, but the true standout from the early portion of the season has been senior Justin Hollins. After ranking third on the team in tackles for loss (11.5) in 2017, Hollins is well on his way towards obliterating that mark in 2018. His four sacks and eight tackles for loss not only currently leads the team, but also ranks tied for second in the conference, as Hollins is steadily putting together the ingredients for a first-team All-Pac-12 caliber season.
The linebacker group also has the player who may be enjoying the most unsung performance of anyone on the roster this season in senior – and former walk-on – Kaulana Apelu. From a stature standpoint, the 5-foot-10, 208-pound Apelu is an easy player to overlook when quickly scanning over the Ducks’ defensive starting lineup, however he’s been as productive as any player who has seen the field for Oregon on defense this season. An emotional and spiritual leader of this team, Apelu has backed up those intangibles with production, ranking second on the team in both tackles (30) and tackles for loss (4.5).
Secondary
If there’s been one obvious vulnerability for the Ducks this season, it’s been in the secondary, where there the Ducks have struggled to find any sort of consistency in limiting opposing offenses through the air. In fact, the Ducks are among the Pac-12’s worst teams as against the pass, surrendering 238.2 yards per game (ninth in the conference) and 10 touchdowns (tied for second worst in the conference). Sophomore cornerbacks Thomas Graham and Deommodore Lenoir, in particular, have had slow starts to the season though it’s far too early to hit the panic button on either player considering their lofty pedigree coming from the high school ranks.
Despite the secondary’s struggles overall, safety has been a relative bright spot for the Ducks thus far. Through five games, Oregon leads the Pac-12 with eight interceptions. Six of those eight interceptions have come courtesy of senior Ugo Amadi and true freshman Jevon Holland, who each have three a piece. Given his current play, Amadi is making a strong case for first-team All-Pac-12 honors, both for his leadership and skills in pass coverage (already has two interception returns for touchdowns this season) but also for his tremendous versatility within defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt’s defense. Amadi is the team’s fifth leading tackler (24) while also ranking second on the team in passes broken up. The Nashville native even has 1.5 sacks to his name, proving that he is truly a multi-dimensional force on the defensive side of the ball. Though not quite at his level (yet), Holland has shown flashes of brilliance of his own despite having yet started a game. Holland may be a freshman, but he has already demonstrated that he has the best natural playmaking and ballhawking skills of any player in the Duck defensive backfield. If you’re looking for a future defensive star, look no further than Holland.