Oregon Secondary’s Impressive Performance in Opener has Confidence Running High for the Ducks

Oregon’s defensive backs put on a show in Week 1, and their dominant performance has expectations for the defense through the roof.

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Though the Ducks lost their game to Auburn last Saturday in dramatic, heartbreaking fashion, there are still plenty of positives to take away from the contest. It’s always easier to dwell on the negatives after any loss — let alone one like this — but it’s important to also look at things objectively to help dig out of the pits of depression and find something to be happy about.

The Ducks’ defense, and more specifically the secondary, is just what I feel we should look at in a positive light. Sure, they gave up the game-winning touchdown, and that’s never a good look for any unit. But given the down and distance, and the fact that nearly everyone was expecting a short-yardage play in preparation for a field goal, I feel we have to credit Auburn quarterback Bo Nix and wide receiver Seth Williams for recognizing a mismatch and making a great throw and catch. They took a healthy risk, and it paid off.

If we’re able to look past that play, and only a couple others — like the first and only other Auburn touchdown pass, which came as a result of general miscommunication — the Oregon secondary played relatively lights out. They were responsible for giving up two out of three Auburn touchdowns which looks bad on paper, yet the flukiness of each play doesn’t convince me that our DB’s have a problem.

Before his last-second touchdown pass, the Ducks held Nix to 151 yards on 12-for-30 completed pass attempts, and a touchdown pass that came as a result of a complete defensive miscommunication. Safety Javon Holland and cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. each had an interception, and as usual, opposite corner Deommodore Lenoir was hardly thrown at. Brady Breeze did a great job being physical and preventing chunk plays, as he filled in for injured Nick Pickett.

Holland played out of his mind on special teams as well, returning 3 punts for a total of 131 yards — an average of 43 yards per return.

If the secondary can continue to play in sync with them as the season progresses, expect few teams to beat Oregon through the air. As for now, the loss still stings, but it’s exciting nonetheless to have a secondary that has elite potential.