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Oregon Football: Colorado Can’t Beat Ducks’ Secondary

By James Vos

PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Nick Pickett #16 of the Oregon Ducks breaks up the pass in the endzone intended for Brycen Tremayne #81 of the Stanford Cardinal during the fourth quarter of an NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Nick Pickett #16 of the Oregon Ducks breaks up the pass in the endzone intended for Brycen Tremayne #81 of the Stanford Cardinal during the fourth quarter of an NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Steven Montez might be the best passing QB (not named Jake Luton) that the Ducks will face the rest of the regular season, but the D-Boyz are back, and the Oregon Football secondary stands to prove that they’re up to the challenge.

Colorado is the best offense the Ducks will have faced so far this year. Even without the top receiver in the conference, Laviska Shenault—listed as questionable—the Buffs have averaged over 34 points per game.

This isn’t Montana or Nevada or even Cal. CU can move the football.

And since the Oregon offense is still waiting to catch its second wind, it’s safe to assume that Friday night’s Pac12AfterDark matchup against the Colorado Buffaloes will demand another strong defensive showing from the Ducks.

It’s a good thing Oregon has the best defense in the country.

According to ESPN’s SP+ rating (which is all the rage nowadays) Oregon is officially ranked number one (1) in team defense. This obviously has a lot of folks asking the question:

“Gang Green, who?”

Ever since DC Andy Avalos arrived in Eugene, he has redefined Oregon football. Avalos is dynamic, young, and consistent, and his defense is no different.

His shift to have the Ducks playing more of a 4-2-5 nickelback defense* has proven to be tremendously effective. He clearly recognized how talented the Oregon secondary room is, and so he decided to get as many of them (five) out on the field as often as possible (often).

And while the pass rush and rush defense have been stout, I think the standout group within the defense is exactly the one Avalos has intended it to be: the passing defense.

The Oregon secondary ranks in the top ten nationally in every single passing category. They’ve allowed the fourth lowest passer rating in the country (89.6), which is also the best in the Pac-12. They also happen to be leading the conference in lowest passing yards per game (166), completion rate (51.4%), pass TD allowed (3), and fewest first downs allowed through the air (37).

All of that is more stats than I’ve ever included in any article I’ve written ever, but man it feels pretty nice to rattle those off. But the stat that really matters is the one that all of this leads to: the Ducks are only allowing 9.8 point per game.

Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir is a huge part of the collective point-preventing efforts of the Oregon secondary. Mr. Bump N Run is the highest rated Duck corner according to Pro Football Focus, and has personally allowed a passer rating of sub-50 all season. I have no doubt in my mind that Lenoir is due for a two interception game in the coming weeks. They can’t throw away from him forever.

Safety/nickelback Jevon Holland leads the Oregon secondary with three interceptions, and he also happens to be the best individual player on the entire roster. I think that his veteran leadership has been invaluable to the group, and other than Troy Dye (who is apparently an interception machine himself?) I think Hollywood Von is the voice and spirit of this defense.

Thomas Graham Jr. was targeted a ton against Cal, and he answered again and again. He has a ton of experienced, and even though he has had some growing pains, it’s clear that he is just as good of a cover corner as anyone else on the Oregon secondary. I can’t wait to see Montez try him the way Cal’s Modster did. TGJ will surely come up big, again.

I think it’s a testament to the strength of the entire defensive unit that our safeties really aren’t called upon to make so many tackles. That being said, Verone McKinley, Nick Pickett, and Brady Breeze have really started to come into their own. I know that Mckinley and Pickett get a bit more playing time, and that Pickett might technically be the best of the bunch, but I believe they are all equally trustworthy in the safety role.

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The Oregon secondary obviously deserves a ton of the credit for the numbers and results of the pass defense, but I also just wanted to give a shoutout to linebacker Issac Slade-Matautia. Issac might just be the best open field tackler in the nation. Believe it or not, passes sometimes do get completed, and screen passes have the possibility of finding some daylight. But with Slade-Matautia running around, the Ducks got nothing to worry about.

All of this to say that a combination of veteran experience, young, electric talent—and Andy Avalos’ willingness to build a system around all of that—has lead to the second coming of the D-Boyz, and more importantly, a defense that—much like Gang Green—could carry the Ducks to a Pac-12 title (and beyond?).

Go Ducks.

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