The Oregon defense will once again be anchored by the defensive line with its run defense and pass rush, while the secondary will have to step up if the Ducks want to succeed this season.
The defense ranked 50th in the nation in 2003, but ranked 105th in passing yards allowed per game (259.9) while ranking 12th in rushing yards per game (95.9).
Oregon returns five starters to the defense this season, including honorable mention All-Pacific-10 Conference performer Devan Long. Long was fourth in the conference in sacks last season with 11.5, the most among returning players in the conference.
Long said the statistics are great, but he still is looking to improve his game.
“If I don’t get as many sacks, it doesn’t matter, just as long as I get better as a player,” Long said.
Another exciting aspect to the Ducks defensive line this season will be the return of 2002 freshman All-American Haloti Ngata. Ngata missed the entire 2003 season due to injury and is eager to get back onto the field and show what he can do.
“It was hard sitting out last year because I didn’t feel like part of the team,” Ngata said, “I’m looking forward to pressuring the quarterbacks this season not only to help the defensive line, but to help our secondary. I’m ready to take over.”
Long said he believes Ngata’s return will anchor the defense.
“Haloti’s the wildcard this year. He’s a freak of nature and he will pull a lot of weight,” Long said.
Though the Ducks lost Igor Olshansky and Junior Siavii to the NFL, seniors Robby Valenzuela and Chris Solomona will bring valuable experience to the table for the Ducks defensive line this season.
Valenzuela has played in 30 consecutive games and has increased his number of tackles every season. Solomona played in all of the Ducks games last year and gained valuable experience in game situations.
At linebacker, the Ducks lost two of their three starters with senior middle linebacker Jerry Matson
being the lone returner. Matson was third on the team in tackles with
86 in 2003, but stepped it up at
the end of the season and averaged 11 tackles a game during his last
five contests.
“The majority of the team was here this summer and we have matured as defense, so I’m excited to go out and play with these guys,” Matson said.
With 2003 leading tackler Kevin Mitchell and David Martin gone, the Ducks look to fill the vacancies with senior Ramone Reed and junior Anthony Trucks.
Reed has seen playing time during his time at Oregon, but this will be his first time stepping into a full-time role. Trucks is the fastest of the Oregon linebackers with a 40-yard time of 4.73 seconds.
“Ramone has had the benefit of studying with Kevin Mitchell the last two or three years, and Anthony Trucks is as athletic a linebacker as you will ever see, and hopefully he can not only contribute but make big plays for us,” Matson said.
Others looking to make an impact are senior Marcus Miller, sophomore Reggie Kerney and redshirt freshman A.J. Tuitele.
The biggest question mark for the Ducks over the last few years has been their secondary. Oregon returns two of their four starters, but loses first-team All-Pac-10 player Keith Lewis.
Returning to the secondary is senior safety Marley Tucker and junior cornerback Justin Phinisee.
Tucker returns after a 2003 season that saw him record 56 tackles and two sacks.
Phinisee was fourth on the team in tackles last season with 59 along with six broken-up passes and 2.5 sacks last year. He will be depended on to lock up and shut down some of the best wide receivers in the nation this year.
Phinisee said his main concern
is getting acquainted with the incoming players.
“We need to get the chemistry between the four starters this season, so we can have the confidence to play well,” Phinisee said.
Junior cornerback Aaron Gipson looks to step back into his starting job, which he lost after his freshman year. He had 21 tackles last year and looks to bring experience to the secondary.
Sophomore J.D. Nelson looks to fill Lewis’ role at free safety. Nelson is tremendously quick and accumulated 15 tackles as a backup to Lewis in 2003.
The defense looks to be the key for Oregon this season and though they lost a lot of quality players at key positions, the Ducks look to improve upon last year’s play.
“We lost a lot of great players on the defense,” Phinisee said, “You can’t just go and find another Kevin Mitchell or Keith Lewis, so we need to focus on what we have, work hard in practice and the game will be easy and we will be a good defensive team.”

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