DSC Inside Read: Ducks Defense Sets the Tone in First Fall Scrimmage

 

 

Ducks Defense Sets the Tone in First Fall Scrimmage

The Ducks held their first scrimmage of the fall this past Saturday and – as would be normal – much of the talk was somewhat generic and slanted toward the defense having a better day. That’s not unusual for a team breaking in a whole new offensive line (save Poncho Laloulu), a new starting quarterback and a mostly new set of wide receivers. In an RPO offense, rhythm matters, and expecting perfect timing just nine practices into camp is a stretch. Add in the reality that the defense the Ducks face in practice might be the second-best they see all season – with only Penn State on paper being better – and the recipe for the defense looking sharp early is easy to understand.

Head coach Dan Lanning summed it up bluntly after the session:

“A really solid first scrimmage. Walked away healthy, which is always a plus here in fall camp… I think the defense probably won the day today. Eliminated some explosive plays. Did a good job in situational defense overall… Certainly a physical day and a good day for both units.”

The way the day unfolded matched much of the chatter coming out of camp so far. While Lanning continues to frame the quarterback competition as ongoing, it’s clear to most watching that Dante Moore and Austin Novosad have pulled away from the rest of the room. Moore’s arm strength and ability to make every throw have been as advertised, with some eye-popping deep balls in earlier practices. He’s also taken more risks than Bo Nix or Dillon Gabriel, which the staff is working to rein in. Novosad has been steady and efficient, and the general feeling is that Oregon could win at a high level with either — the challenge is making sure both get meaningful work with the first unit.

The offense’s limited explosive plays in the scrimmage weren’t solely on the quarterbacks. Lanning noted,

“We operated efficiently, but we just didn’t create the explosives and didn’t have some of the downfield passing attacks that we’ve had in other days in fall camp.”

Some of that comes from a receiver group still sorting itself out. Freshman Dakorien Moore has been every bit the instant-impact player many expected, with steady reports of him winning matchups against older corners. Beyond him, players like Kyler Kasper, Justius Lowe, Jeremiah McClellan, and Gary Bryant Jr. have all rotated in with the starters, while a healthy Jurrion Dickey has quietly put together his best stretch since arriving in Eugene. Lanning has seen plenty of guys seize their moments:

“You name a wide out, they probably had [an explosive play]… we’ve had a lot of guys take advantage of those moments.”

Tight end may be the most complete position group on offense. Kenyon Sadiq’s versatility should make him a primary target in the passing game, while Jamari Johnson has been a consistent chain-mover and Roger Saleapaga’s return from injury has added another mismatch option. Even depth options like Zac Grace have made the most of their chances in practice. Lanning praised the younger skill players’ ability to gain confidence by “doing their job” consistently, not just by making highlight plays.

Up front, the offensive line’s likely starting five brings plenty of experience but is still building cohesion. There’s been positive word on interior depth, with Dave Iuli and Kawika Rogers playing well and Iuli even getting some work at center. Young linemen like Douglas Utu and Ziyarre Addison have shown enough to suggest they’ll be in the rotation sooner rather than later.

“There’s been some really positive moments there… they’ve done a good job ID’ing the points and getting to the guys they need to, and they’re an aggressive unit staying connected at the end of the play,” Lanning said.

Defensively, the scrimmage reinforced what’s been seen through the first nine practices: depth, communication, and plenty of disruption up front.

“That’s one thing that really stood out to me on defense. I thought there was really good communication. We get 11 guys playing the same call… very few moments where there was confusion in the back end,” Lanning said.

On the defensive line, A’Mauri Washington continues to impress with his combination of power and quickness.

“He’s grown a lot, and there’s still a lot of room for growth, but I think he’s going to be a really talented player for us,” Lanning said.

The rotation around him is shaping up with Bear Alexander, Tionne Gray, and Terrance Green competing for major roles, while younger players like Elijah Rushing and Aydin Breland are pushing for early snaps. At linebacker, Bryce Boettcher and Devon Jackson lead a group that could see Jerry Mixon and freshman Brayden Platt contribute early - but don't count out Dylan Williams. He has quietly stood out to some inside the program as a potential surprise player in 2025/

The secondary is still evolving due to injuries and roster shuffling, but Ify Obidegwu has essentially locked down one corner spot. Dillon Thieneman’s leadership at safety has been praised across the board, and there’s optimism that freshman Na'Eem Offord will force his way into the rotation. Kingston Lopa appears to be in strong position to start alongside Thieneman, though there may be rotation early in the season.

Even with the defense ahead, Lanning stressed the importance of simulating game-day pressure for the offense – and for younger players across the roster:

“Confidence comes from success… it’s about doing your job. That’s where you gain confidence.”

Special teams had mixed results in the scrimmage. Lanning noted the need for improved coverage on punts and kickoffs, though return candidates Noah Whittington and Jayden Limar have shown good decision-making.

In all, the first scrimmage looked like a defense-led day, but with enough offensive flashes to hint at where the growth is coming. As Lanning put it, the key will be sustaining the energy and execution:

“Whether it’s the juice, the energy, and enthusiasm that’s required, there’s been a couple of moments like that in fall camp – guys getting excited for the person next to them. That’s the part I want to keep seeing.”