Increased depth allowing Tosh Lupoi, Dan Lanning to expand Oregon’s defensive scheme

When Dan Lanning took the head coaching job for the Oregon Ducks back in December 2021, there was an idea that his defensive prowess would pay massive dividends in Eugene.

Over the past two seasons, we’ve seen that start to take root with the Ducks as they’ve steadily improved on that side of the ball. One of the biggest things needed to build and develop was the personnel on the team, with Lanning and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi getting the players that fit their scheme on the roster.

Heading into the 2024 season, the Ducks now have the dudes, and the depth , necessary for Lanning and Lupoi to spread their wings.

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So what will that look like this fall? According to Lupoi, more looks, more packages, and more creativity in play-calling.

“As we establish more depth that we feel more comfortable about, you’re going to see more packages,” Lupoi said on Tuesday. “So certainly, dime, nickel, nickel rabbits, dime rabbits, raptors, base, bear, and then a new one that you’ll see out there on game one.”

To the average college football fan, it may sound like Oregon’s DC is reading from a children’s book, but in reality, it means that the Ducks are planning to be more multiple this season. While in the past a lack of depth and playmaking might have forced Oregon into limited packages and vanilla schemes, now Lanning and his staff can explore the space a bit more, flexing their ingenuity on Saturday afternoons.

In the end, it’s about getting the right players into the right positions for the right situations.

“How can we do the best possible job as a staff to get some of these players out on the field, take ownership of specific packages, and highlight certain guys’ skill sets?” Lupoi asked, rhetorically. “We feel like multiple packages gives us an opportunity to do that.”

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So if you hold a metaphorical degree in Football 101, and pride yourself on being able to correctly identify the difference between a base 4-3 look with a spy, dissecting the Ducks’ defense this fall may be a bit overwhelming. It won’t be enough to identify when a nickel trots on the field, or an outside linebacker drops back in simulated pressure.

Not when we’re getting ready to see rabbits, raptors, and bears in Eugene.

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