The Arizona Wildcats have struggled mightily this season, but the Oregon defense will still look to have themselves a classic “neck-crack game” to prove they are complete.
After allowing 30+ points to Washington and—more alarmingly—Washington State, a lot of the “Gang Green 2.0” talk around the Oregon defense mellowed out. But DC Andy Avalos brought all that hype right back after his Ducks defense dominated down in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum two weeks ago.
The Ducks allowed 10 quick points in the first quarter to USC, and—after a few chants of “over-rated” from the Trojan-“faithful”—they only allowed 7 more legitimate* points the rest of the way.
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*The rest of Clay Helton’s 2019-20 season should be considered garbage time after the Ducks eviscerated whatever was left of his job security.
The Oregon defense adjusted to USC’s early offensive pace, got stop after stop after stop, and caused the kinds of big turnovers that championship-caliber defenses are supposed to cause.
The piece of the defense that has gotten the most praise has been the secondary, and they deserve it since they lead the nation in interceptions (17). Even if you were to subtract the two linebacker INTs—since a linebacker isn’t technically a member of the secondary—the Ducks would STILL lead the country by one.
Mine. @OregonFootball leads the nation in picks. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/ySf8v4fVog
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) November 14, 2019
Point is, we know that the secondary can flat out play. During these last few regular season games, however, the Ducks will want to prove they’re a truly complete defense.
And the most important aspect of a unit that aspires to be, “Gang Green 2.0,” is that they must wreak havoc, ‘in the backfield,’ and, ‘all along the line.’
The stars of the defensive line—Nose Guard Jordon Scott and Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, to be specific—seem overdue to have a game where they really shake off any remaining cobwebs as they get closer to post-season play. And this week’s game against Arizona is perfect for that, since the 2019 Wildcats have proven that they literally won’t be able to stop them.
The Oregon defense should expect QB Khalil Tate and his freshman backup, Graham Gunnell, to both see the field on Saturday, but it shouldn’t matter much either way. The ‘Cats offensive line ranks at or near the bottom of the Pac-12.
Zona is eleventh in the Pac-12 in sacks allowed at 2.78 per game, meaning that no matter who is playing QB, Jordon & Kayvon & Co. will likely spend a good amount of time in their face. It’s also worth noting that, even though it might not even feel like it while watching this Oregon defense in real time, the Ducks are at the top of the conference in sacks (2.89/G).
Arizona also allows the most tackles for loss in the conference with 7.56 per game. Juxtapose that to Oregon’s second most tackles for loss (7.22/G), and you have pretty perfect storm of negative plays on the horizon.
I mentioned before that Oregon has the best turnover margin (+1.56) in the conference, while Arizona has the 10th worst margin (-0.22). Including 9 interceptions (8 from Tate, 1 from Gunnell).
Are you sensing a pattern here?
Every weakness in the Wildcats’ offense is a strength in the Oregon defense.
All of that to say that Kayvon and Jordon are going to get after whoever is under center early and often, the Wildcats are going to turn the ball over, and this thing could get real ugly real quick.
My prediction?
49-13.
Go Ducks.