The season may be over for the newly minted Pac-12 and Rose Bowl champion Oregon Ducks, but the momentum surrounding this team has only seemed to increase since the Ducks left Pasadena with a shiny new trophy and a 28-27 win over Wisconsin in tow.
Head coach Mario Cristobal and his team not only returned to Eugene triumphant from their exploits on the field, but they received news worth celebrating just a day later when four-star prospect and the nation’s no. 6-ranked cornerback Dontae Manning announced his commitment to Oregon during the Under Armour All-American Game. From there, attention on the team was split between the Ducks’ extensive search for a new offensive coordinator to replace Marcus Arroyo (gone to UNLV as the Rebels’ head coach) and the anticipated announcement of four juniors who were weighing whether they should return for their senior seasons or leave early for the NFL draft.
And while the search for Arroyo’s replacement continues (a decision could be made as soon as this week, per Cristobal), Oregon did receive finality to the latter item that had been the focus of everyone’s attention. On Monday, cornerbacks Thomas Graham and Deommodore Lenoir, along with defensive linemen Jordon Scott and Austin Faoliu, announced that they would be returning for their senior seasons in Eugene.
The news of the return of the junior contingent is significant for the Oregon defense under the direction of defensive coordinator Andy Avalos. Not only does it represent the second straight season in which the Ducks have had key players return for their senior seasons (see Justin Herbert and Troy Dye), but it also provides the defense with nine returning starters and numerous other key contributors heading into a 2020 season in which the Oregon defense appears to be absolutely stacked from a talent perspective. In fact, a solid argument can be made that the Ducks should rank among the nation’s best teams on that side of the ball next season. This is a blissfully frightening thought for Duck fans, particularly considering the Oregon defense ranked in the top ten nationally in scoring defense (16.5 points/game) and turnovers forced (27), the top 15 in rushing defense (108.93 yards/game) and yards per play allowed (4.73), and the top 25 in total defense (329.1 yards/game allowed) this past season.
The secondary, in particular, could be where this team – regardless of position group – is strongest. The return of Graham and Lenoir effectively solidifies a unit that combines a wealth of experience with other returning veterans in Jevon Holland, Nick Pickett, and Rose Bowl Defensive MVP Brady Breeze, with an up and coming young core featuring sophomores Verone McKinley, Mykael Wright, DJ James, and Jamal Hill. And that’s before we even mention the highly-touted incoming freshmen in Manning and Luke Hill, plus JUCO transfer Bennett Williams, who was named an ESPN Freshman All-American at Illinois before being dismissed from the Illini program in 2018.
If not for the ridiculous collection of talent the Ducks look to boast in the defensive backfield next season, the Oregon defensive line, with Scott and Faoliu set to return, might otherwise draw consideration as one of the best overall position groups on the roster. Both players will once again help fortify the interior of the Oregon defense, while former five-star recruit and Freshman All-American Kayvon Thibodeaux adds tremendous pass rushing skills to what should be one of the most formidable starting defensive lines in the conference, if not the country. Those three look to be primarily supported by redshirt junior Popo Aumavae and sophomore Brandon Dorlus who each enjoyed breakout seasons this past season, while DJ Johnson, Andrew Faoliu, Keyon Ware-Hudson, and Kristian Williams provide high-quality depth alongside an incoming freshman class that is high on potential.
Oddly enough, linebacker – the position group that has generated the most excitement over the last month or so – may be the group with the most questions heading into next season. That’s a borderline crazy thought to consider given the fact the Ducks return arguably their most valuable player on defense in Isaac Slade-Matautia and one of the team’s best true freshman contributors in Mase Funa. Those two, combined with the veteran experience of Dru Mathis and Sampson Niu, the hopeful return of promising redshirt sophomore Adrian Jackson who missed the season due to a foot injury, and the addition of not one, but TWO five-star prospects in incoming freshmen Noah Sewell and Justin Flowe, provide the makings of a linebacker unit that has the potential to surpass anything the Ducks have had at the position in recent memory.
For years, the offensive side of the ball has carried the banner for the Oregon football program, as the tenures of Mike Bellotti, Chip Kelly, and Mark Helfrich set a lofty bar and paved a proven path to success in Eugene. However, given the defensive display of the past season, the return of a core group of juniors who were largely responsible for the unit’s success, and the landmark recruiting victories that Cristobal and his staff have earned on that side of the ball in recent cycles, it’s nearly past time for Duck fans to shift their perception for what this program is known for moving forward, as novel and unfamiliar as it may seem.
Top Photo: Oregon CB Thomas Graham (Photo: Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
The biggest question mark is at linebacker. Lots and lots of potential, but how many of them will be ready for Ohio State?
And many linebackers at the bottom of the depth chart may be competing for playing time as well. They all seem to be good.
My dark horses are Naverett, Cunningham, Jackson and Townsend. The 5 stars might have to wait around a while.
The biggest issue for this defense is the yet to be named offensive coordinator. If the Ducks are going 3 and out all game long, the defense will eventually break down. The offense must sustain drives and score at least an average of 1 TD per quarter – hopefully a little better than that – 45 per game would be good.
the Duck D will need to reach the heights you predict next season, Chris:
Take a glance at Oregon’s schedule for next year…. not an easy damn game the entire season!….
North Dakota State – Winner of 7 of the last 8 FCS national titles. 6 – 0 against FBS teams in the last decade.
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2019/1/7/18170160/north-dakota-state-fbs
Fosu – nuff said
Hawaii – Winning record vs PAC 12 this last season
9… that is NINE tough conference games without a pushover in the bunch now that J. Smith has notFosu playing actual football again
and if our Ducks, with a new OC, new QB, new OL, make it through that gauntlet, a 13th tough game in a conference championship awaits
If that is not the toughest schedule in the nation next year……
Oregon will need to be significantly better, despite all the ‘new’ on offense, to even match the 12 – 2 record of this last season, let alone possibly and hopefully surpass it.
Definitely a demanding schedule, and they’ll need to go out and earn it every single week, but I firmly believe this defense is built for it. There’s some true leadership they’ll need to replace, chiefly from Troy Dye, but with the vets they have coming back they should be very capable of filling that void.
Offensively is where this team needs to make the biggest leap. If the they can bring in an OC that can succeed in opening this offense up without sacrificing the toughness and strength Cristobal wants to play with in the trenches, they’re a legitimate national title contender in my mind.
A lot of people are focused on Tyler Shough and whether he’ll be ready to be the face of this team moving forward, but my biggest concern this offseason is how Oregon replaces four veteran starters. Obviously having someone like Penei Sewell back is an unbelievable start, but that group is going to get tested in a big way next season. As far as I’m concerned, their play dictates how far Oregon goes in 2020.