The Oregon defense never gets a break.
Despite a solid returning core — seven starters from last year’s team that finished No. 2 in the country — the defense of the Ducks’ football team is still under scrutiny this spring, much like it was last year when just four defensive starters returned.
“Every year since I’ve been here, someone is always questioning the defense,” senior rover Rasuli Webster said after Oregon’s second spring practice Thursday. “But every year, the defense shows up.”
The defensive line, which helped hold Colorado to just 53 yards rushing in the Fiesta Bowl, may be the most improved from a year ago. In addition to Webster and free safety Keith Lewis, Oregon returns six defensive linemen (three starters) plus two linebackers — David Moretti and Kevin Mitchell.
“Our front seven should be much improved,” head coach Mike Bellotti said.
While the biggest challenge for the offense is to solidify the quarterback position, the defense will spend its spring finding replacements for both cornerback spots and a new outside linebacker.
“We’re not just out here teaching, but we want to evaluate each of them under stressful situations — like it would be in a game,” Bellotti said.
Steven Moore and Courtney Miller, both juniors with little game experience, are two of the candidates to replace Rashad Bauman and Steve Smith at the corners.
“It’s our job to try to make things better and make things easier for the new corners,” Lewis said, referring to his leadership role with Webster. “When a corner gets beat, the whole secondary gets beat.”
While Bellotti said nothing will be set in stone by the end of spring drills, he said he will have a good idea of who will fit in where before the Spring Game, which will be held at Portland’s PGE Park on April 27.
“We have a lot of work to do and a lot of time to put the puzzle together,” Webster said. “In the end, I think we’ll be fine.”