Tosh Lupoi challenges Oregon defense to be 'best,' not just 'top' unit

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EUGENE -- Certain themes and objectives are constant from Tosh Lupoi.

Oregon's defensive coordinator uses terms like "relentless," "violence" and "bad intentions" for what he wants from his players.

Entering the 2023 season, Lupoi proclaimed he wanted Oregon's defense to be "respected and feared." Though significantly improved from the year before, whether t˙he Ducks' defense was truly feared that season is a matter of perspective.

Last year, Lupoi spent the offseason preaching "relentless effort, attacking the ball and playing for each other" to a group that once again improved to rank in the top 25 in most categories en route to a Big Ten Championship and produced four NFL draft picks and several undrafted free agents.

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Poor performances in the postseason, with 518 yards allowed to Penn State while winning the Big Ten title and 500 yards allowed in a 41-21 blowout loss to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, skewed what were far better metrics for Oregon during the regular season and gave Lupoi obvious areas to address this offseason.

"The goals, they're consistently the same," Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. "There are some of those goals that we've hit in the past and some that we hadn't, but that tells you quickly, 'OK, this is an area that we want to attack. This is something we got to do better this season.'"

Stopping the run, specifically at a rate closer to 3.3 yards per carry, improved red zone efficiency and turnovers are the three measurable areas No. 7 Oregon is looking to improve in establishing its identity this season.

"If we're going to the be the defense and the team we want to be," Lupoi said, "we got to stop the run."

Oregon allowed 3.6 yards per carry during the regular season, then 7.17 ypc during the postseason.

With three interior defensive linemen and a middle linebacker now in the NFL, the Ducks are turning to a lot of new or inexperienced players, but a group Lupoi felt was "potentially dangerous."

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Bryce Boettcher and Matayo Uiagalelei are the only two returning starters on the defense, and one of the best inside linebackers and edge rushers in the country are great pillars to build around. They'll be critical to bringing along a defensive line with USC transfer Bear Alexander and junior A'mauri Washington and younger linebacking corps behind Boettcher and Devon Jackson.

A reloading two-deep does not alter the expectations of physicality.

"That's what we've been preaching, to be the most physical team on the defensive side of the ball and a defense that gets the ball as well," Boettcher said. "We want to force a lot of turnovers this year."

An entirely new starting secondary is going to be a huge factor in determining whether Oregon's defense improves.

Last year's group managed to rank in the top 25 in several categories, including 12th in passes defended per game. But a lack of height created mismatches, especially against Ohio State.

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This year's secondary is almost exclusively over 6-feet tall and the additional height, length and speed is expected to make it much harder for opposing passing attacks.

"Our system is built around guys with length and of course, speed, and then short-area quickness and a physical tackler," Lupoi said. "That's what we're looking for. If we get all that, then we get guys like Christian Gonzalez that can play at a really high level. It's not necessarily doing a whole bunch of new stuff, but what we could do better probably caters to us and maybe getting away from a little bit of smoke and mirrors to possibly hide some matchup issues."

Lupoi and Lanning have each spoken of the improved talent and depth in the secondary, specifically at cornerback, where Oregon has its most talent since at least 2019.

"There's definitely some ball hawks on our back end," Uiagalelei said.

If the new-look defense melds together and the desired improvements follow, Oregon will once again have a top defense, be a contender in the Big Ten and likely in the College Football Playoff. The "growth mindset" Lanning preaches calls for more though, and that is what Lupoi has been demanding of an albeit new group.

"How we wrapped up last season from a defensive standpoint and being one of the top defenses, that's the expectation, is to bump that up now and not accept being a top defense," Lupoi said. "Let's strive to be the best defense."