It will be easy to understand that when the 2023 Oregon Ducks are previewed by the national media or the media at large, the offense is going to receive most of the attention.
With all of the weapons the Ducks’ offense has, one can’t blame the media to focus on Bo Nix, Troy Franklin and others. But the unit that has to face that offense more than anyone is the Oregon defense in practice.
According to Oregon safeties coach Chris Hampson, the talent is there for this Ducks defense to be special.
“I think we’ve got a chance to be really really good. We’re trending in the right direction,” Hampson said after a practice. “We have a lot of variety of things we can do. I think we have great situational calls — a lot of things that I’ve learned since I’ve been here. I think we have the pieces with the players to be pretty good.”
They better be more than “pretty good” because the Pac-12 contains the best quarterbacks in the nation. Quarterbacks such as Michael Penix, Jr. of Washington, Cam Rising of Utah and the current Heisman Trophy winner, Caleb Williams of USC will all play this defense.
But fortunately, Oregon’s defense will be facing their own quarterback five times a week in practices.
“I think it’s a tremendous challenge for us that can only make us better. He can extend plays with his legs, which is the big thing” Hampson said. “Mobile quarterbacks give defenses fits. We had a segment today in practice that he did. We go against a veteran quarterback every day and play against some really good receivers and some really good backs that we have to thud up and tackle in scrimmages. I think it’s a challenge each and every day going against that offense, and it’s going to make us better.”
The defense doesn’t have much of a choice but to get better.