Oregon Football: Rose Bowl Preview- Gang Green 2.0

People have been comparing this Oregon team to the 1994 “Gang Green” defense all year, and the Ducks have a chance to finish claiming that title against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.

The Ducks are finally back in the Rose Bowl, and a lot of people have astutely observed that their opponent, the 8th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers, resemble the same physical style as the Ducks’ most recent victim, the Utah Utes.

That fact alone tells us that the Ducks should be well-prepared for what they’re going to face in Pasadena, especially on defense. But first, the Ducks will have to keep playing the hits.

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Just like the Utah game, they’ll have to prioritize containing the best running back in college football, Wisconsin’s Jonathon Taylor, just like they contained the Utes’ Zach Moss.

I would call the defense “bend-but-don’t-break,” but I don’t think that gives the rush defense from the Pac-12 Championship Game enough credit. The Ducks’ front seven was downright disruptive from the start, and they caused Moss to start so many plays on his back foot.

Before the Utah game, I predicted that Moss’ magic number at under 120 yards in order for Oregon to have a chance to knock off the Utes. Save for a two big runs, Moss was stifled by the Ducks to the tune of 113 rushing yards.

Jonathon Taylor and the Wisconsin front is a different beast, but still vulnerable to the same type of disruption and speed that shut down Moss. I think the Ducks will have to hold JTT to somewhere around 160 yards or less in the Rose Bowl.

Believe it or not, that’d be a victory over the two-time Doak Walker winner.

KT and the rest of the pass rush managed to make a seasoned senior QB (Utah’s Huntley) look like a flustered first-year starter, and now they’ll have to make a first-year starter (Wiscy’s Jack Coan) look like a first-year starter.

I’m excited to see how that goes.

Admittedly, the Wisconsin offensive line is far and away better than Utah’s front, but Kayvon’s speed and power combo is lethal. I expect the Ducks to get pressure off the edge early, and even if the Badgers double KT, the rest of the D-line will pick up the pieces.

Rising tides lift all ships. Kayvon is a superstar, but like all superstars, he’s that much better because of how much better he makes his teammates when he’s on the field. Carlberg, Jordon Scott, and future All-Pac-12-er, Popo Aumavae.

Do not be surprised if/when Young Popo ends up as the TFL leader in this game. And next season. Yes—even with KT, Noah Sewell, and Justin Flowe charging up—I think Popo is “The Guy” that folks in the conference aren’t scared enough of yet.

Aumavae is a redshirt sophomore and he has a serious chance to round out a historic front seven with his power and his knack for constantly being in the right place to make a play.

More on the linebackers later.

Much like 2012, the secondary will have to face a dynamic receiving corps. Embattled All-Big Ten WR Quintez Cephus will be threat number one, two, and three for the Badgers’ passing game, but the Ducks have definitely shown growth since they weathered that aerial assault in Tempe just a few short weeks ago.

It’s fair to expect Lenoir and Graham Jr. to be about as reliable as they have been all year, but I was seriously encouraged by the football IQ that was on display during a single play against Utah by the freshman phenom, Mykael Wright.

Utah attempted to run one of those Sun-Devil-Double-Moves and the receiver ended up getting a step on Wright. Mykael was clearly paying attention to all of the film of the ASU game because he made the decision to turn to the ball only after taking a step into the receiver’s body, risking (and drawing) the penalty.

It’s pretty damn promising to see a young guy have the knowledge and wherewithal to commit the pass interference to give up 15 yards instead if a momentum-swinging deep bomb.

Brady Breeze was obviously another one of the biggest stories coming out of the Pac-12 Championship Game, and I think the Oregon native has only just begun his post-season football hot streak.

Breeze grew up in the modern Rose Bowl era of Oregon football, and now it’s his turn. Kirk Herbstreit watched Brady fly around the field and couldn’t help but recognize the familiar style of former Oregon safety, John Boyett.

That comparison all the more fitting leading up to Pasadena, seeing as how Boyett’s Oregon career essentially ended in an injury he sustained making a game-saving tackle in the 2012 Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin.

I don’t know if I believe in reincarnation*, but if John Boyett’s game-breaking spirit was going to manifest itself anywhere, my money is on Brady Breeze on New Year’s Day.

And now, I have to say something substantial about Troy Dye.

The Oregon football program owes a lot to Troy Dye.

He was a constant for Ducks fans throughout a time in Eugene that felt so impermanent in so many ways. Dye was an insanely bright green light that caused us to longingly reach out from the West Endzone to the East.

And from the Valley of Ashes that was the 2016 season, Troy rose up to bring Oregon back to the top of the Pac.

Troy Dye felt the problems of the program deeply, and he felt an obligation to lead.

I’m thankful for all the ways that he lead with class, and I’m extra thankful for all the times he let himself run wild. He has earned it.

It has been said before, but if Justin Herbert has been the head of this team, Troy Dye has been the heart.

The Rose Bowl could very well come down to a big defensive play, and if it does, you can bet your ass that Troy Dye will be the one to make it.

And then he’ll surely make Rose angels at mid-field.

Go Ducks.

This is Part One of my three-part Rose Bowl Preview, stay tuned for previews of the Oregon offense, and a brief look at the Badgers.

*John Boyett isn’t dead. I hope he is doing well. He’s a Duck for life.

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