1 of 1- DucksReign
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Statistically worst defense since 2016
I knew the defense played well enough to help Oregon get to 8-1 as in I think after the WSU game only UCLA scored 30 points...but I didn't realize how much it deteriorated as the season progressed until I read this article by Crepea of OLive.
I don't put all the blame on Brady Hoke(the DC in 2016)...Helfraud hired him and even though he had extensive coaching experience on the defensive side of the ball, he had never been a DC...the team was already slipping away from Helfraud's grasp and Hoke was a replacement for the beleaguered promoted Don Pellum who had also never been a DC.
However 2016 and 2022 look more similar than different. While Lanning came to Oregon having been the DC at Georgia, it was his first time in that position and nobody seriously believes he built that defense...the team was 13-2 the year before he arrived and the head coach, Kirby Smart, had been the DC at Alabama for 7-years.
Tosh Lupoi also had been the DC at Alabama but only for a year...Co-DC the year prior.
Translation: Assistant coaches(even head coaches) who have only or primarily worked with the best teams and elite talent MAY NOT be good at or even know how to develop and coach "regular players."
To this day the best single season TURNAROUND I have seen at Oregon on defense is what Jim Leavitt did in 2017 with the tattered remains of the Pellum-Hoke-Helfraud mess.
I think Lanning has a limited skill set in knowing what to do and the slightly older(5 years) Lupoi is not any better and together they are underwhelming in being able to "fix" the defense.
Lots of concerns on the hiring of the next OC and deservedly so but the offense is pretty good already...the defense is a train wreck and needs a makeover.
It is entirely on Lanning...that is why he is paid the big $$$ to be the head coach.
Last edited by DucksReign (12/04/2022 7:50 am)
- oldretiredguy
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Re: Statistically worst defense since 2016
I'm giving Lanning a pass for now on the defense. As a rookie HC, he had a lot of other issues to deal with. I'm not sold on Tosh at all, and he did have his DC duties restricted under Saban. I don't see DL making a change right now, but something needs to be done: there was way to much talent to look that bad 
- Duckball
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Re: Statistically worst defense since 2016
The defense has been bad all year. Regardless of points allowed or whatever metric you want to use, I saw no improvement or decline as the year went along. It's amazing what losing games can do to the perspective of some fans.
- DucksReign
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Re: Statistically worst defense since 2016
Personally I don't believe you become a Top 10 team in the country by having a "bad defense"..regardless of the statistics.
The defense certainly played a major role in now Pac-12 Champions Utah and Cam Rising having a so- called "bad day."
In fact, a great INT followed by a 3 and out then followed by a fumble(osu's first 3 possessions of the second half) were instrumental in Oregon building an "insurmountable" lead in that game.
Then Dan Lanning decided, just as he did against the uw and even Utah, it is time for risky plays and gambles on 4th downs.
One key factor missing on defensive statistics is what situations did the head coach and / or offense put them in?
Dan Lanning's decisions put Oregon's defense in very difficult situations at important moments in the last 3 games of the season.
When you get to 8-1 with say a "serviceable defense" and then change your decision making pattern in big, tight or important games, that is typically called, "not trusting what got you to that point."
Does Oregon need more talent and better players on defense? Definitely. But coaches can make lesser talent better or better talent worse. Oregon had sufficient talent on defense...maybe not Playoff caliber but good enough. Yet they had underwhelming coaching.
Nor do I believe Lanning deserves any breaks...if it is rah rah hurray for recruiting achievements then it is the opposite with what happened against the uw and osu. He is the head coach and just like his actions can impact a top recruit coming to Oregon then his actions can also impact the outcome of games. And he deserves criticism for it just as he deserves accolades for good recruiting.
So whether it is him being a "defensive guy" or the head coach...what transpired the last 3 games defensively sits squarely on his shoulders.
Last edited by DucksReign (12/04/2022 3:33 pm)
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Thread Starter- oldretiredguy
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Re: Statistically worst defense since 2016
DucksReign wrote:
Personally I don't believe you become a Top 10 team in the country by having a "bad defense"..regardless of the statistics.
The defense certainly played a major role in now Pac-12 Champions Utah and Cam Rising having a so- called "bad day."
In fact, a great INT followed by a 3 and out then followed by a fumble(osu's first 3 possessions of the second half) were instrumental in Oregon building an "insurmountable" lead in that game.
Then Dan Lanning decided, just as he did against the uw and even Utah, it is time for risky plays and gambles on 4th downs.
One key factor missing on defensive statistics is what situations did the head coach and / or offense put them in?
Dan Lanning's decisions put Oregon's defense in very difficult situations at important moments in the last 3 games of the season.
When you get to 8-1 with say a "serviceable defense" and then change your decision making pattern in big, tight or important games, that is typically called, "not trusting what got you to that point."
Does Oregon need more talent and better players on defense? Definitely. But coaches can make lesser talent better or better talent worse. Oregon had sufficient talent on defense...maybe not Playoff caliber but good enough. Yet they had underwhelming coaching.
Nor do I believe Lanning deserves any breaks...if it is rah rah hurray for recruiting achievements then it is the opposite with what happened against the uw and osu. He is the head coach and just like his actions can impact a top recruit coming to Oregon then his actions can also impact the outcome of games. And he deserves criticism for it just as he deserves accolades for good recruiting.
So whether it is him being a "defensive guy" or the head coach...what transpired the last 3 games defensively sits squarely on his shoulders.
Lots of people criticized MC for micro-managing his coordinators. Lanning seems to be a guy who lets his coordinators do their thing. I realize the end product falls on him, as he has acknowledged. Also, some of his decisions to go for it on 4th had an element of concern as to what his special teams might do
So lets see what happens moving forward. and Onward!
- Jiffy Jeff
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Re: Statistically worst defense since 2016
I don’t expect any miracles from the D in the bowl game. For the Ducks to win, they will simply have to keep putting points up with every possession. All things being what they are, it might make sense to replace Lupoi after the bowl game if he has an eye on a replacement already. Mullins had got to be in his ear about this, you would think…
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