After allowing 315 rushing yards against Houston, the Oregon defensive line will see more fine tuning in preparation for Michigan. While Cougar running back Anthony Alridge juked and out-ran Duck defenders en route to over 200 yards rushing, the Oregon defense can expect a less deceptive, but just as dangerous, style of running when Heisman-hopeful Mike Hart carries the ball Saturday.
“They can run the rock and that’s going to be our focus,” linebacker John Bacon said.
Hart was one of Michigan’s lone bright spots in the upset loss, carrying the ball 23 times for 188 yards and three touchdowns. His power running style has made him one of the premier tailbacks in the nation but after being burned by Alridge, the Ducks are glad for a change of pace – even if it’s a Heisman candidate.
“They’re not going to run the misdirection stuff so I’m happy we get to focus on a team like that,” defensive tackle Cole Linehan said.
“You just got to wrap him up because he loves the second effort stuff – just try to get a lot of guys on him.”
Easier said than done. After struggling with Alridge and Houston quarterback Case Keenum, the defensive line has to prove it can stop the run. Still, some of the Ducks believe their inability was based on more first-game mistakes than a serious problem.
“Crazy things happen in the first game,” Bacon said after the Houston win. “We know what we did wrong and it’s fairly schematic. We’re fine.”
Outside linebacker Kwame Agyeman gave one reason why the defense had a hard time containing the running plays.
“There’s a lot of times when we’re dropping into zone coverages and some guys maybe don’t have their eyes back properly or some guys on the D-line lost their passing rush lanes, or blitzes. One time I blitzed in the wrong gap and (the quarterback) rushed for a first down. It’s just little assignments,” Agyeman said.
To help solve Oregon’s run stopping deficiencies, Oregon coach Mike Bellotti plans on having the 295-pound Linehan at the starting defensive tackle spot in the place of the 258-pound Michael Speed. Bellotti has praised Speed’s technical approach to the position but wants somebody more physical for Hart’s more direct running style.
“Michigan will run the ball until we stop it,” Bellotti said. “And we have to stop it. Whether it’s committing more men to the line of scrimmage, whether it’s looking at different ideas defensively. I think our personnel is a little bit in flux on the defensive front.”
100,000 fans? No worries
Michigan Stadium, also known as The Big House, has always been one of the largest venues for college football and the size can be seen as an intimidating factor.
But the volume level? Oregon believes it doesn’t get any worse than Autzen.
“We play already in the loudest stadium,” Bellotti said when asked if he was going to bring in any extra noise during practices this week.
While being recruited, Agyeman went to a Michigan game and believes there isn’t much comparison between Autzen and The Big House.
“I’ve compared the two and Autzen is a lot louder,” Agyeman said. “I went to Michigan-Notre Dame which is a rivalry game, so it was as loud as I’ve heard it (but) it’s not even close.”