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Oregon Football: Which Defense Shows Up vs USC Trojans?

By Justin Phillips

BERKELEY, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Troy Dye #35 of the Oregon Ducks in action against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
BERKELEY, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Troy Dye #35 of the Oregon Ducks in action against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Oregon Football has become a tale of two different teams over the last two weeks and will look to rediscover their defensive identity against the USC Trojans.

Over the first six weeks of the season it was becoming clear that this Oregon Football team was going to be more defense-focused than offense and that was fine with fans after watching several seasons if missed tackles, bad plays and one of the worse defensive teams in the country that could put up the points on the other side.

Ore gon rolled through the first part of the schedule allowing less than 20 points in Pac-12 play in their first four conference games, all were single digits and no touchdowns. There were some injuries and others stepped in to fill the void. Over the last two games the numbers have skyrocketed giving up over 30 points to both Washington on the road and Washington State at home, but there is one thing to keep in mind. Oregon won both of those games.

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Troy Dye did not play against Washington State and he was missed on the field, but he will be back this week vs USC after taking some extra time with a broken thumb. I’m sure he wanted to be out there, but Mario Cristobal said last week that he wasn’t quite set to go. Dye is the heart of this defense, hell he may even be the heart of the entire team entering November.

Andy Avalos has had Oregon in the right position to win so far this season, but road games at USC can be a challenge. A win keeps the Ducks in the conversation for the College Football Playoff. While a loss may drop them out of the top ten for the rest of the season.

Oregon Football and USC meet at 5pm Saturday on FOX.

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