“Avery Patterson almost had a pick-six for the third-straight game! He had one against Wazzu, he did it against U-Dub, and he is stopped just short of the goal line, and Oregon is about to go in again!”
Those were the excited words of ESPN play-by-play man Rece Davis@@http://search.espn.go.com/rece-davis/@@ last Thursday night during Oregon’s stomping of Arizona State.
Yes, Avery Patterson@@directory@@ was just a yard short of scoring off an interception for the third consecutive week (as if the offense wasn’t scoring enough points). But nobody is upset. In fact, Patterson has become a popular guy lately.
When he was left out of the season-opening first string in favor of strong safety/rover Brian Jackson@@directory@@, Patterson expected to be a reserve in the secondary rotation and fill a medial role for the Ducks this season.
But that was before he was presented with a starting opportunity after the devastating season-ending — and potentially career-ending — injury to All-Everything free safety John Boyett.@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550409@@
“I never really worried about it (not being named a starter), I just went out there and did my job,” Patterson said. “I just let things play out because I knew I was going to play. It was just about going out there and doing the best I can.”
Seven games into the 2012 campaign (his junior season), Patterson is in a place no one pegged him to be. No. 4 Oregon (7-0) is third in the nation in interceptions, and Patterson is tops on the team with three picks. He’s also fourth on the squad in tackles after Jackson and linebackers Michael Clay and Kiko Alonso.@@http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=233&SPSID=3378@@
When practice ended, Patterson used to run straight off the field and into the locker room, bypassing the uninterested media. Now, the cameras and audio recorders can’t get enough of him. On Tuesday, he was the last player to jump in the ice baths and head into the locker room after five interviews — one with the New York Times — and two photo shoots. When this reporter told him the media may lay off if he stopped intercepting passes, Patterson laughed. “No way I can do that.”
In short time, the 5-foot-10 cornerback from Pittsburg, Calif., has become the greatest illustration of Chip Kelly’s “next man up” philosophy. The loss of Boyett, a senior leader and stud on and off the field, looked to slice into Oregon’s defensive sturdiness. While Kelly contests that injuries just mean the backup gets a chance, most Duck supporters had a hard time believing someone could fill Boyett’s pads.
“It hurt me as a friend. (Boyett) is one of my best friends, and I wanted him to finish out this season and do big things in the NFL,” Patterson said. “As for the team, I just had to step up and do what is best for the team and keep moving.”
Not only has Patterson been tasked with replacing maybe the Ducks’ best defensive player, he’s been asked to take on a position that demands leadership. Called the “quarterback of the secondary” by fellow defensive back Ifo Ekpre-Olomu,@@http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=233&SPSID=3378@@ Patterson explained his duties as having to “communicate from the backer position to the corner position” and serving as a “middle-man” between the 11 defenders on the field.
Patterson was a converted cornerback in the hunt for the rover position during the preseason, and now he’s over at free safety. He plays at the line of scrimmage sometimes, covers slot receivers and drops back in zone coverage.
“I like playing the nickel position the best because in that position you get to blitz, you get to cover, you get to tackle,” said Patterson. “That is where I feel most comfortable, but I like free safety as well. You’ve got to be the quarterback of the secondary and make sure everyone is communicating well.”
While he is versatile, the position Patterson seems to be most adept at is opportunist.
In his debut for the Ducks against New Mexico in 2010, he led the team in tackles and tallied his first interception. His three picks this year have come in just three games, and after stepping in front of a pass, Patterson averages 37 return yards, nearly tops in the country.
On the small scale, Patterson is a picture of Oregon’s defense. He is fast (a high school track athlete with a 4.4-second 40-yard-dash time), he forces turnovers (Oregon has 21 takeaways this season, 14 are interceptions), and he can cover with the best of them (the Ducks are 11th in the nation in yards per pass attempt, allowing just 5.5).
Oregon’s offense has become famous for its instantaneous scoring, but with Patterson leading the way, the Oregon defense is not only gaining respect, but is also starting to resemble the offense. They’ve punched in five touchdowns this season.
“We get a lot of pressure on the offensive backfield, so the quarterback has to release the ball, so that’s how we are getting all these turnovers,” Patterson said. “We practice every Friday scoring on an interception, and we go full speed in that drill.”
When asked how tough it was to be stopped one yard away from his third consecutive game with a score, Patterson was honest: “It hurt for a little while. I never really feel like I’m gone. I run full speed most of the way because I’m afraid someone is going to run up behind me. I hope to get a few more scoring opportunities this season.”
His next opportunity will come against quarterback Jordan Webb@@http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=205596313@@ and the Colorado Buffaloes (1-6)@@checked@@ this Saturday.