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 secondary.
Oregon
The struggles of the Ducks’ secondary have gone well-documented this year. The unit ranks 126th out of 128 FBS teams in the passing defense, allowing over 300 yards per game, and defensive backs coach John Neal has mixed and matched the starting lineup consistently throughout the season.
After losing starters Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Troy Hill and Erick Dargan after last season and then seeing cornerback Chris Seisay succumb to injury early in the year, Neal knows that the group, if it continues to develop, can be a strength of the team eventually.
But, he told members of the media this week that he wants the defensive backs to show they can do it now — against a team that averages 345.5 passing yards per game no less. Arrion Springs and Tyree Robinson have found their footing in spurts at the cornerback positions as the year has waged on. Charles Nelson moved over to safety and has provided a spark in the secondary since his arrival. Seisay will also be back in the lineup Saturday. And when adding all of that together — the added experience from first-time starters and the return of Seisay from injury — Neal thinks now is the time for the unit to break out.
Stopping the big play will be their toughest test against Boykin most likely. The Ducks have given up 30 completions of 25 yards or more this season, according to The Oregonian.
TCU
TCU has been battling attrition seemingly every week this season and it has resulted in a down year for what his normally a vaunted Horned Frogs defense coached by Gary Patterson. They have not become a weak unit that is allowing Big 12 quarterbacks to torch them for 300-plus yards each week, though.
Safety Derrick Kindred was a first-team all-Big 12 selection and ranked second on the team in tackles with 79. Cory O’Meally leads the team in pass break ups with 10. All together, a unit that has started 20 different defenders on defense at one point this season, has weathered the storm as best it could. The Horned Frogs allowed just 214.3 passing yards per game this season.
Yet, it doesn’t mean they aren’t susceptible to high-powerd offenses like Oregon’s. Texas Tech ran up 52 points on them and Kansas State scored 45.
Advantage: TCU
TCU’s defense has managed to hold offenses to under 10 points in the second half of its last seven games. And while the defensive backs are just as prone as Oregon to allowing big plays, the averages speak for themselves. Opposing quarterbacks are averaging just over 200 yards per game compared to Oregon, who is allowing over 300 yards per game.
Dec. 26: Offensive line preview
Dec. 27: Tight ends preview
Dec. 28: Linebackers preview
Dec. 29: Defensive line preview
Follow Justin Wise on Twitter @JustinFWise