When it comes to Oregon’s physical defense of last Saturday, hearing is believing for head coach Mike Bellotti.
“When you see those plays on film it’s still not even like what it was like in person,” Bellotti said Monday about several of Oregon’s big hits. “The sound of those hits, the separation of bodies from footballs was amazing.”
The word tossed around practice this week to describe it? Physicality.
“Being physical is how defense is supposed to work,” said sophomore weakside linebacker Spencer Paysinger, second on the team in tackles with 57.
Specifically, Bellotti raved about the combined hit by junior T.J. Ward and senior Patrick Chung on Cal quarterback Kevin Riley, who left the game with a concussion as a result. Later in the first half, Ward took wide receiver Verran Tucker off his feet – not to mention his helmet from his head – as Tucker ran across the field in Ward’s direction, head still looking back for the pass.
Ward, who leads the team with 61 tackles and three forced fumbles, called the ensuing collision the biggest of his career. For a safety known as a big hitter, it’s not something said lightly.
“When it first happened, I lost a little bit of air,” Ward said. “When I finally hit him it was like, ‘Whoo,’ a big relief. I was juiced.”
And what exactly does it feel like to send a 6-foot-1, 192-pound man sprawling?
“Just think of the happiest point in your life,” he said.
It’s also something he believes the defense can replicate this weekend against a physical Stanford offense that loves to run the ball. The Oregon defense has played well against the run all year, allowing the second-fewest rushing yards in the conference with just more than 106 yards per game. When defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti reviewed the game tape, he saw opportunities for correction but no major areas of concern.
“You never play that perfect game,” he said.
He owed the change in attitude and confidence to simplifying the scheme after the 44-10 loss to USC. It meant analyzing fewer pre-snap reads for defenders, allowing them to read a formation and follow the ball. Ward said the change makes for a faster defense, as seen against Cal, when it forced five turnovers.
Their show of strength, however, has instilled a playmaking mindset and confidence within the defense. It combines to make a swagger in the unit that saw its share of criticism early in the season for its deficiencies defending the pass.
“When one person makes a hit it is kind of contagious because the other players are looking to make the same impact,” Ward said.
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