2015 was a year that the Duck’s defense probably wants to put behind them.
Oregon ranked either at the bottom or close to it in almost every important defensive category in the conference. It was last in scoring defense and total defense as well as second-worst in passing defense, trailing only 6-7 Arizona State. The 37.5 points allowed per game were the most in school history.
Yet while last year’s team struggled to stop anyone, there is reason for optimism looking ahead.
Following arguably the worst defensive year in program history, then defensive coordinator Don Pellum was demoted to linebackers coach, and former Michigan head coach Brady Hoke was brought in to take his role. Hoke will deploy a new 4-3 defensive scheme.
Despite the lackluster stats, Oregon did have a talented core at the linebacker position last year. Inside linebacker Joe Walker went in the seventh round of the NFL Draft to the Philadelphia Eagles, while Tyson Coleman and Christian French both got looks from other pro teams. However that talent didn’t equate to success.
Now, those three are gone, and returning linebacker Torrodney Prevot is shifting to the defensive line. With the departure of last year’s core and Hoke’s new system, Pellum is essentially working with a clean slate as he looks for next season’s starters.
Luckily for Pellum, Oregon returns a number of key backups from last season. Senior Johnny Ragin III, junior Danny Mattingly, junior AJ Hotchkins and junior Jimmie Swain are a few who have a good shot at filling those positions. Ragin and Swain both excelled in April and seem like the favorites to lock up the outside linebacker spots — or the SAM and WILL spots in Hoke’s book.
Mattingly and Hotchkins is the battle to watch in August as they fight for the MIKE spot (middle linebacker). Mattingly has experience; this is his third year playing in the Pac-12, but Hotchkins seemed to outshine him in the spring.
Hotchkins dominated in junior college the past two years. He collected 99 tackles last season alone for Riverside City College in Riverside, Calif., en route to being named one of the top JUCO inside linebackers in the country. However. the Pac 12 is a different beast and while being able to go up against one of the best offenses in the country in practice is nice, time will tell how Hotchkins fairs once the season actually begins. Hotchkins has the tools to take the starting role, but everything will boil down to what happens during preseason camp in August.
Projected starters
Outside Linebacker (WILL) – Johnny Ragin III (6’3, 225, Sr.)
Inside Linebacker (MIKE) – AJ Hotchkins (5’11, 230, Jr.) or Danny Mattingly (6’5, 245, rJr.)
Outside Linebacker (SAM) – Jimmie Swain (6’2, 235, Jr.)
Backups: De’Quan McDowell (6’1, 203, Sr.), Jonah Moi (6’4, 250, rJr.), Kaulana Apelu (5’11, 196, So.), Paris Bostick (6’1, 220, rJr.), Eric Briscoe Jr. (6’3, 215, Fr.), Troy Dye (6’4, 210, Fr.), Ivan Faulhaber (6’2, 224, rJr.), Darrian Franklin (6’1, 200, Fr.), Jake Froehlich (6’0, 220, rFr.), Matt Mariota (6’2, 248, rFr.), Blake Rugraff (6’2, 215, rFr.), Keith Simms (6’3, 235, Fr.)
Overall, we don’t entirely know how Oregon’s defense will look next year. With Pellum back with linebackers and the integration of Hoke’s new system, along with the questions remaining with starters, the linebacker position is still in a limbo of sorts. One thing is for sure: If Oregon can fix it’s chink in the armor on the defensive end, this team could be scary come conference play.
Follow Gus Morris on Twitter @JustGusMorris