Natty season loading, but it all has to start in the trenches

A video surfaced yesterday of Oregon defensive tackles A'Mauri Washington and Bear Alexander powering up 855 pounds in the squat. Washington completed two reps at that weight with relative ease, looking fresh enough to hit a third if he wanted to.

"Natty run loading," Bear Alexander commented.

As the superstructure of the new practice facility throws shadows over Rich Brooks Field, these two trench monsters erect the superstructure of Oregon's first national championship, strong enough to carry nearly three offensive linemen across their backs.

As Big Dave Uiagalelei said, this Oregon offseason is different. There's a new standard of effort and accountability, players doing the work to be great, pushing themselves to personal records and superior body composition, cut, fluid, optimized.

Appearing on the "Autzen Audibles" podcast with Erik Skopil, edge rushing coach Kam Araghi explained the new mentality for 2026. His guys are preparing themselves to create more havoc, sacks, turnovers, batted balls. "The ball is everything," Araghi said. "The ball is oxygen. So we're trying to get after the ball as much as humanly possible."

Last season, the Ducks excelled at creating pressure but wound up seventh in the Big Ten in sacks with 30. Newly promoted to a full position coach, Araghi aims to get his unit to finish more plays.

Ducks train for havoc and protection

According to sportsreference.com, Oregon tallied 40 sacks in 2024 and 42 in 2011. Nick Reed and Ernest Jones share the all-time individual record with 13 in a season. Reed amassed 29.5 in his four seasons as a Duck, the all-time leader.

Last season Teitum Tuioti led the defense with 9.5. Matayo Uiagalelei racked up 10.5 in 2024, the regular season leader in the Big Ten. Over his three seasons the senior from St. John Bosco stands at 18.5, meaning he needs 11 to tie Reed's record.

Washington's raw power inside collapses the pocket, creating the disruption that makes high sack numbers possible. Quarterbacks can't step up or escape. That's how the squat numbers translate to production.

On the other side of the ball, Tommy Tofi and Immanuel Iheanacho, Oregon's twin 6-6, 340 freshmen, stay busy at the facility working on their footwork and moves. Both former basketball players, the two combine size, technique and strength to form a human wall for Dante Moore.

Nationally the pundits express concern about the offensive line for the Ducks this season, but these two advanced freshmen improve the outlook considerably. For one thing, they'll work every day in fall camp opposite those four pro prospects on the defensive line, sharpening their skills against the best in the country.

In both 2023 and 2024, A'lique Terry's group allowed just five sacks all season. Protecting the quarterback while getting after the opponent's remains a big key to that national championship dream.

In the sand and the weight room, the dream is purified and made fire.

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