Jim Leavitt: Oregon defense ‘should play better’ in 2019

Oregon defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt

Defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt as the Oregon Ducks hold a scrimmage at Franklin High School in Southeast Portland on Saturday, April 7, 2018. Sean Meagher/Staff LC-LC-

Count former Oregon defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt among those optimistic about the Ducks in 2019.

Speaking to the Denver Post, Leavitt said he believes the Oregon defense will be better this fall than last season.

“The Ducks, their defense should play better, for one, because they’ve got so many starters back,” Leavitt told the Post. “But the question is, will they run the ball, try to control the clock? That’ll help their defense … Cal played pretty good defense, but (the Ducks) went to Cal and won and we didn’t usually win on the road … I think it just depends on (the program).”

Oregon’s defense regressed in a number of areas last season, it second under Leavitt’s leadership, but allowed its fewest points per game (25.4) since 2014 (23.6).

The Ducks allowed 144.3 rushing yards and 241.6 passing yards per game, mustered just 29 sacks, held teams to 37.1 percent on third-down and 83.7 percent in the red zone, all drops from 2017.

The losses of Ugochukwu Amadi, Jalen Jelks and Justin Hollins to the NFL as well as the departure of starting middle linebacker Kaulana Apelu leaves several holes for new defensive coordinator Andy Avalos to fill. But the return of Troy Dye, Jordon Scott, Thomas Graham Jr., Deommodore Lenoir and Jevon Holland and addition of Kayvon Thibodeaux gives Avalos a lot of key pieces to build around while implementing his more multiple scheme.

As to Leavitt’s question as to Oregon’s offensive play-calling, specifically running in order to control the clock and thus assist the defense, the Ducks averaged 40.69 runs per game last season, second in the Pac-12 and 43rd nationally, with only Arizona, whose defense was 10th in the Pac-12, running more often than UO among Pac-12 teams. However, Oregon’s time of possession ranked 11th in the Pac-12 (27:55:08), though the Ducks have never ranked better than ninth in the conference in time of possession since 2009.

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