Washington is undefeated at home and winless on the road. That difference isn’t because of the defense, however.
The Huskies will bring one of the better defenses in the Big Ten into Autzen Stadium as Washington visits Eugene on Saturday. They are giving up barely 20 points a game, but in their last road game, the Huskies gave up 35 to Penn State.
There will be a different dynamic in this game with the Huskies looking to make it four straight over the Ducks. They’ll attempt to shut the Ducks down at Autzen, something no team has yet been able to do. Wisconsin might have provided a blueprint, but Oregon was playing its eighth straight game in as many weeks and it was in one of the tougher road environments in the conference in Camp Randall.
None of those factors will play a part on Saturday. Oregon, as did Washington, enjoyed a much-needed bye week and the Badgers didn’t have to contend with Tez Johnson at wide receiver. He’s expected to be back for this game coming off a shoulder injury.
Tez or no Tez, Washington brings a good secondary with them. Opponents are averaging just 160 yards through the air against the Dawgs. They are led by corners Ephesians Prysock, a transfer from Arizona and senior Thaddeus Dixon. Defensive backs Cameron Broussard, a transfer from Sacramento State and Jordan Shaw, a redshirt freshman are also expected to start for the Huskies.
“They’re really sound and they understand the strengths and weaknesses are of every defense they call,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said of the Washington secondary. “They also do a good job of changing it up. They can play zone and man. I just think they’re extremely well-coached.”
Linebackers Carson Bruener and Alphonzo Tuputala are the heart of the Huskies’ defense with Bruener leading the team with 86 tackles and three interceptions. Tuputala has 69 tackles and 3.5 sacks. But according to Lanning, it’s Bruener that makes that defense function.
“He’s an active player. Those guys make those that play around them better,” he said. “What you see is 11 guys playing the same call at the same time. It sounds easy, but it’s not as easy as it looks at times.”
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