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Oregon Football: Ducks’ 2017 season preview and predictions

By Connor Muldowney

EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks passes the ball during the second quarter of the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Autzen Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks passes the ball during the second quarter of the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Autzen Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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BERKELEY, CA – OCTOBER 21: Tre Watson #5 of the California Golden Bears catches a touchdown pass while covered by Troy Dye #35 of the Oregon Ducks at California Memorial Stadium on October 21, 2016 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
BERKELEY, CA – OCTOBER 21: Tre Watson #5 of the California Golden Bears catches a touchdown pass while covered by Troy Dye #35 of the Oregon Ducks at California Memorial Stadium on October 21, 2016 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Defense

Oregon’s defense was one of the worst in college football last season. In fact, they finished 126th in overall defense, allowing 518.4 yards per game, which meant only a few teams were worse.

Gone is defensive coordinator Brady Hoke and a new system is in place. There’s nowhere to go but up from where the Ducks finished in 2016 and it starters with the front-seven who could take some pressure off the secondary.

Senior Henry Mondeaux is the lone returning starter on the defensive line, projected at end. He finished with 35 tackles, four for loss and one sack last season and should have an even more productive 2017 campaign. Elijah George will anchor the other end spot and Clemson grad transfer Scott Pagano will start at tackle — he started four games for the national champs in 2016.

At linebacker, we have returning star Troy Dye, who we will talk about later, and senior A.J. Hotchkins. The latter finished with 35 total tackles last year. Fotu Leiato, Jonah Moi and Jimmie Swain should all be in the rotation as well.

The secondary returns three starters to a unit that ranked 113th against the pass last year. Arrion Springs and Ugo Amadi project as starting cornerbacks, both returning, and Tyree Robinson returns at safety. Freshman Brady Breeze could win the other safety spot. This unit has to improve.

The rise of Troy Dye

As a freshman in 2016, Troy Dye made a seamless transition to the starting linebacker position. Not only did he play well enough to get All-Pac-12 consideration, but he also led the entire team in tackles with 91. On top of that, he had a team-high 12 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

Not many young players can start for a struggling team and put up the type of numbers he did, especially when the rest of the defense was so poor. He was the best player on that side of the ball even though Oregon’s unit ranked 126th in total defense in 2016.

If he can continue to rise, he will be an All-Pac-12 first-teamer at the end of the season and Oregon’s defense will feed off him. Let’s see if he can become a sophomore sensation and avoid the dreaded second-year slump.

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