Oregon Defensive Coordinator Don Pellum Talks Fundamentals Ahead of Michigan State
Earlier this week Oregon Ducks Defensive Coordinator talked about the rough around the edges performance of the Defense, at times, against South Dakota and also talked about the upcoming matchup with Michigan State on Saturday. This will be the Spartans first top ten matchup since 1966. The Oregon Ducks, thanks to scheduling over the last few years have had more opportunities to face top ten competition. Pellum also said that the game against Michigan State is not considered a ‘statement game’.
“I think this team (Michigan State) has a good combination of everything. They’ve got really good receivers, really good running backs, a really good line and a quarterback that makes plays.”
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When it comes to learning a defense, the Oregon Ducks have done a solid job. The area lacking against South Dakota was both against the run and the pass. It, however, did not cost Oregon much in a blowout win, but enough mistakes were made to make it a concern. If Pellum and the Ducks play that way this week, they may end up on the losing end of the scoreboard. Pellum said practice this week took Oregon back to basics, “This week we need to prep, we have a quality opponent coming in, to be successful that were not right last week, they have to be clean and that’s what we’re focused on, cleaning these things up.”
Pellum said he watch more coverage on the Stanford and Michigan State Rose Bowl matchup from last season and said the Oregon Defense should be ready for Saturday, “This is the best team out of the Big Ten. We’re focused on fundamentals.”
Oregon and Michigan State take the field on Saturday, September 6th at 3:30pm Pacific Time on FOX.
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