1 week Ago By Ryan Clarke
EUGENE — An opposing running back rattling off 192 yards and three touchdowns isn’t something a defense will go home feeling proud of. But despite big plays by Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty — an undeniable force for any team in the country to reckon with — the Oregon Ducks are recognizing flashes of real quality at all three levels of their defense in the first two games of the season . Even with plenty they admit needs cleaning up.
Defense was, perhaps, the difference in key moments of Saturday’s 37-34 win over the visiting Broncos. Despite what the box score might read. “Watching the plays we were giving up, just trying to see which defense gave us the best chance to defend those plays,” Ducks coach Dan Lanning said, referring to halftime adjustments as the Ducks came out of the break down six.
“They (Boise State) certainly came back to those, and at times we defended them really well. Certainly there were times we didn’t defend well enough, and it gave them life. That’s what we have to go address next.
” Yes, Oregon gave up a pair of trick play touchdowns to Idaho last week. The Ducks were at Jeanty’s mercy for much of the second half on Saturday, too, including a 70-yard touchdown. And soft spots were evident in the intermediate passing game in both games, even as Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen went 17 of 40.
But the Ducks had reason to be pleased with the play and resilience of cornerbacks Brandon Johnson and Jabbar Muhammad, making key deflections and closing quick to the ball. And Kobe Savage seemed to mesh well with Tysheem Johnson in the safety spots. “I’m glad they’re here,” Lanning said of Johnson and Muhammad, both transfers.
“I think that third down stop there with the pass deflection by (Johnson) was really critical. Had a third down before where he just got there a little bit late, and they were able to complete it and get the first. Went back to him, put him in man coverage again, and he made a bigtime pass deflection.
” Jeff Bassa and Bryce Boettcher were ever-present to meet Jeanty and others in the middle of the field Saturday, showing off their tenacity in ball pursuit. And players like Derrick Harmon and Jordan Burch have been disruptive in the backfield. “I feel like everybody played hard,” Burch said.
“We all know we have some mistakes we have to clean up, but we played really hard to try and get the win at the end of the day.” There is a lot to like about this defense, the Ducks seem to believe, even amid outside concern and questions and the big plays surrendered. While Oregon’s offense has, in quarterback Dillon Gabriel’s words, “shot itself in the foot” over and over and again through two frustrating games, the defense might be further along in its collective development.
“Our group tries not to get too high and get too low,” Burch said. “We feed off the energy of the offense, but if the offense can’t do it at that moment, we try to pick them up. I feel like we were able to do that tonight.
” - Ryan Clarke covers the Oregon Ducks and Big Ten Conference. Listen to the Ducks Confidential podcast or subscribe to the Ducks Roundup newsletter ..
