Steven A Moderator No. 1 Share Posted November 1 Stats only go back to 2000 as NCAA didn't keep sacks and TFLs until then. Is Oregon Ducks football 2024 defense the best in program history? DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Is Oregon’s defense in 2024 the best the Ducks have every seen? Let’s dive into the numbers… 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirklandduck Moderator No. 2 Share Posted November 1 The way it's going, this may very well be the case. I don't think it's an accident that DL's defense is really humming in his 3rd year as HC. I've always withheld summary judgements of new head coaches until the 3rd year of their tenures simply because it takes time to implement all their plans for the program. The 1st year is spent primarily evaluating the current roster and then getting the types of players you need to fit your schemes and developing them to the point where they *could* carry out their duties for their respective positions. In the midst of all that the base schemes are implemented. In the 2nd year player development continues and as they have gotten comfortable in the base sets, intermediate level schemes are introduced. By the 3rd year, you have a solid group of experienced players that are ready to practice and execute the most advanced plays within the program. That's where we are now. This is, of course, a pretty optimistic timeline even in the best of circumstances as there are so many variables involved in developing and maintaining a football program (especially a large one like Oregon). But DL, despite having no prior experience as HC, is right on track. That to me is simply amazing. 1 3 1 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Moderator No. 3 Share Posted November 1 The stats are great, especially on 3rd & long, which forever was exactly where whoever played the Ducks, want to be. But, we've talked about it here before, this D, in particular, plays, and looks, different than any other Oregon D I've seen. Bucker, Armstead, Thibs, Lenoir. all great players, NFL players. But I never had the feeling of optimism and calm, I have about games now, because of the defense. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PittDuck No. 4 Share Posted November 1 It’s the depth… OBD defense (or offense for that matter) have never had this kind of depth. We used to say next man up then when somebody good went down, we were screwed. Now we really do have the next man up. I think that’s what makes this defense set apart from pray versions. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solar No. 5 Share Posted November 1 No, I don't think this is the best ever yet, and unless we beat 2019 stats by a mile, I won't believe we are better. I'm not budging from my position that B1G defenses are good because their offenses are bad. I'll add that the 2014 Defense should be top 5 merely because they got so many takeaways. Giving the ball back in a hurry to your Heisman trophy winner has to count for something. 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fischer Administrator No. 6 Share Posted November 1 On 11/1/2024 at 3:29 PM, Solar said: I'm not budging from my position that B1G defenses are good because their offenses are bad. 1 Mr. FishDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Marsh No. 7 Share Posted November 2 Gang Green is the standard of the best Oregon defense. However whatever stats you can compare come with a little problem. Football has changed a ton in the last 30 years. Offenses, even B1G offense, are more prolific than they were in the 90's. So yes... This is the best defense. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeotechDuck No. 8 Share Posted November 2 (edited) I would be very interested to see how the statistics would compare with Oregon playing in the Pac-12 this year. Outside of the top 3 teams in the BIG, the offenses are flat out tragic and mostly one dimensional at best. I can say this with confidence. If Oregon was playing in the Pac-12 this year, the defensive stats would not be as good. This could be the best defense ever from a talent perspective. 1994, 2024, 2012 are all in the running, but I think 2024 clears right now. Edited November 2 by GeotechDuck 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haywarduck No. 9 Share Posted November 2 On 11/1/2024 at 11:08 AM, kirklandduck said: The way it's going, this may very well be the case. I don't think it's an accident that DL's defense is really humming in his 3rd year as HC. I've always withheld summary judgements of new head coaches until the 3rd year of their tenures simply because it takes time to implement all their plans for the program. The 1st year is spent primarily evaluating the current roster and then getting the types of players you need to fit your schemes and developing them to the point where they *could* carry out their duties for their respective positions. In the midst of all that the base schemes are implemented. In the 2nd year player development continues and as they have gotten comfortable in the base sets, intermediate level schemes are introduced. By the 3rd year, you have a solid group of experienced players that are ready to practice and execute the most advanced plays within the program. That's where we are now. This is, of course, a pretty optimistic timeline even in the best of circumstances as there are so many variables involved in developing and maintaining a football program (especially a large one like Oregon). But DL, despite having no prior experience as HC, is right on track. That to me is simply amazing. I would add, the magic is the program is getting 1% better everyday. That is why both the offense and defense seem to be getting better, and we haven't had a letdown, yet. We had 'next man up,' 'win the day,' but Lanning culture difference is just focusing on small individual and team improvement, everyday. So this might not be the best defense, but it ain't done yet. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDuck No. 10 Share Posted November 2 Crap 12 offenses scored more, it's not really apples-to-apples. But...Lanning is building an SEC modeled program with both smash-mouth plus speed on D, and the new era offense (even Saban ditched the B1G style offense. His first Alabama championship was just better players than the other team's brutes). We're built to compete with anyone. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OregonDucks No. 11 Share Posted November 2 After watching the Michigan game, I'll say no, this is not the best Oregon defense ever. They are good but not great. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasDuck No. 12 Share Posted November 3 Yes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
