In the days leading up to the 2016 Alamo Bowl, the Emerald will take a unit-by-unit look at Oregon and TCU, determining which team has the edge going into the showdown on Jan. 2 in San Antonio. Today, we’ll look at each team’s defensive lines.
Oregon
Ducks defensive coaches instilled a larger emphasis on pressuring the quarterback over the offseason, and in return Oregon has averaged 3.0 sacks per game in 2015.
AP Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year DeForest Buckner has averaged 6.3 tackles per game and recorded 9.5 sacks — second in Pac-12 — and 16.0 tackles for loss — fourth in Pac-12. Buckner, a Ted Hendricks Award finalist, is one of the most dominant players in college football at the defensive end position and is projected as a top-10 NFL draft pick.
“He’s the No. 1 interior pass-rusher in the country, and ranks second at his position in run-stop percentage. Just ask Colorado’s offensive line how much fun he is to block,” Pro Football Focus wrote.
Nose tackle Alex Balducci has proven himself a quality complement to Buckner, who regularly takes on two or more offensive linemen per play. Below Balducci on the depth chart, Rex Manu and Austin Maloata have played larger roles as the season has progressed, most notably in a 38-36 win over No. 7 Stanford.
Opposite Buckner, defensive ends Tui Talia and Henry Mondeaux have contributed 6.0 sacks, 52.0 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss. 6-foot-7, 295-pound true freshman Canton Kaumatule hasn’t seen much playing time but could also get more involved in the pass rush against TCU.
TCU
The Horned Frogs use four down lineman as opposed to Oregon’s three. AP second-team all-Big-12 selection Josh Carraway leads the group with eight sacks and quarterback hits to go with 43 tackles. Davion Pierson has 32 tackles, including six for loss, and Nebraska transfer Aaron Curry has 40.
Defensive end Mike Tuaua missed three games after the season-opener, when he and a teammate were accused robbery and assault after stealing a case of beer. The charges were ultimately dropped and Tuaua finished the regular season with 24 tackles.
TCU started the season with a deep and physically huge defensive line, but dropped off after their best pass rusher, James McFarland, stepped on a sprinkler head and went on to miss the rest of the year.
TCU ranks 80th in rushing defense per game and 66th in yards per rush (4.3). It has struggled to defend the run as of late, having allowed 333 yards on the ground against Oklahoma and 273 against Baylor.
Advantage
Oregon’s defensive line, led by Buckner, has the advantage here. TCU will face a tall task in defending running back Royce Freeman and company, the fourth-best rushing team in the country and Pac-12 rushing leader of the last 10 seasons.
Dec. 26: Offensive line preview
Dec. 27: Tight ends preview
Dec. 28: Linebackers preview
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