October 9, 2025 • 36 mins
Oregon beat writer Erik Skopil of Duck Territory joins Peegs.com's Jared Kelly to preview No. 7 Indiana vs. No. 3 Oregon this Saturday. What are the Ducks' strengths and weaknesses? Which Oregon players are the most important? How does this game play out? Kelly and Skopil break it all down.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome and everybody. It is Thursday, October ninth. Number seven
Indiana heads to Eugene this Saturday against number three Oregon
and battle the top tens. And I figure what better
way to preview this big time battle than with Eric
Skopel from Oregon two four seven. Eric, you've obviously had
your pulse on this game for a while now. You know,
Oregon's done some tremendous things this season. Of course, they
(00:24):
went into Penn State last or two weeks ago and
pulled off a huge overtime victory there. This game, I'm
sure at the beginning of the year, I probably didn't
have this ear marked. Is maybe the biggest game in
oregon schedule, but it's shapened up to be that way
certainly this weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Yeah, I had this third I think on the on
the hierarchy with Penn State on the road. Number one.
I think I had maybe expected Iowa was going to
figure out some things on offense, and maybe I was
overly optimistic, but that road trip I had that number two.
But you know, I remember looking back when I did
my my kind of summer scout on the opposition, I
just kind of go through all the rosters and becomes
(00:58):
more difficult in the transfer portal Eric because you're having
to look through like players at Miami of Ohio and
you know, smaller schools and trying to figure out like
who has the strongest froster. And I came away thinking
Indiana had the second best roster at the time in
Oregon schedule, especially with what they were turned on defense.
You know, I had I guess questions and maybe this
isn't unusually been from the Indiana perspective about Fernando Mendoza,
(01:23):
but clearly through five games he has been I think
probably more than advertised. So you know, this is a
team I kind of had earmarked. And there are some
people on the board who were kind of wondering what
Indiana was going to be after losing some key, key talent,
and I was. I was one of the people saying
I wouldn't overlook this team by any means. And here
we are with a top ten matchup at Oudtson Stadium
(01:44):
College game Day, all the things that kind of earmark
a big time matchup, So super excited for Saturday's game.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Before we get into sort of looking at these two
teams and breaking it down, I want to get your
feel because you know, you're obviously all the way on
the other side of the country. In Indiana rise, I
think took a lot of people by surprise, not only
last year, but that it has continued in such a
way this year.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
You know, what's the.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Vibe over over at you know, with the Oregon fan base,
and how did they perceive this Indiana program right now?
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Well, I think much like a lot of you know,
fan bases in the country who who have just kind
of known Indiana to be kind of a walkover program,
not a program to take seriously. And of course it
kind of different for Oregon coming from the PAC twelve
where there wasn't a lot of attention paid probably to
these big ten teams aside from the Ohio States, the Michigan's,
(02:35):
the Penn States, you know, the Michigan States for a while,
you know, those types of programs. I think it's caught
a lot of Oregon fans by surprise. I think the
other part that's been kind of cool is both programs
kind of rise to prominence in this conference, which has
been really dominated by like I mentioned, three or four
schools for so long and for the last two years,
(02:57):
Oregon and Indiana had been kind of the programs playing oiler.
So I think there's a little bit of like mutual
appreciation and respect from the Oregon fan base of like, hey,
they're kind of in a similar boat, you know, Like
Oregon came in as kind of disruptors Indiana with Kurt
Signanity kind of doing the same thing. I think there's
maybe overall a little bit of like an uncertainty with
what to make of Indiana, in part because of like,
(03:19):
if you look at that the team talent composite, like
Oregon has at least on paper based on recruiting rankings
and advantage, but there's also a good look at the resume.
I look at the fact that they've lost two games
out of their last what eighteen or nineteen, and have
done so when really impressive fashion. I think the Illinois
game for a lot of Oregon fans was kind of
a like, oh boy, let's circle that game on the schedule,
(03:40):
because anytime you beat a ranked team sixty three to ten,
it catches people and their attention.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Do you feel like with the Oregon fan because obviously
you guys are new to the Big ten this year,
is it almost like Indiana Oregon are kind of in
the same boat in that they're still looking for sort
of Big Ten respectability. Obviously Oregon has had a lot
more success for the past years, going back to the Pact. Well,
but is there a sense that maybe there's still a
little bit of a chip on the shoulder there to
prove yourself in a Big ten because you think of
the Big Ten, you think of Ohio State, Michigan, those
(04:09):
kind of schools. Is it sort of that same feel?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
I think so, you know, and I think a couple
of things. A the way things went in Pasadena last
year disrupted the narrative kind of changed the I think
the sort of the assessment of Oregon in the first
year in the Big Ten, because you remember, they didn't
lose a game in all Big Ten play last year.
They beat Ohio State, they beat Michigan, they beat Ben
State in the conference championship. Like people might forget that
(04:34):
the Big Ten champion last year was Oregon. And the
reason they forget that is because Oregon just got absolutely
thumped in Pasaden, a game I was at and by
the middle of the second quarter, it was like, boy,
we came all the way down here, spent all those
resources to send three people to this game for this
and so I think there's a little bit of that.
And then I'll also say, like the team kind of
(04:55):
mantra or kind of the story coming into the year
that Dan Lanning put out with was doubling down, which
was just kind of a you know, the point of, hey,
we proved a year one, we belong and we're as
good as anybody in this conference. This is another opportunity
to do that. And then again, so far through five games,
only two in conference play and one against a you know,
a middle in Northwestern program played at like a lacrosse
(05:19):
soccer venue that was being used for a football stadium,
and the other against the Penn State program that I
don't know what to make of exactly after what they
did a week ago also in Pasadena. Maybe Passading is
not a very good place for anyone to go play
games at this point in terms of just having those
kind of losses. You know, I think that it's I
(05:40):
don't know, it's interesting kind of the assessment of what
Oregon has been. But I think certainly through conference play
they've been impressive. But I think, yeah, there's still some
people out there who kind of wonder what but this
team's going to be and if this team is a
legitimate national championship contender even with the ranking, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
It certainly seems like they are at this point. You know,
them in Ohio State up there at the top really
quickly before we get into this game. The Penn State
game obviously, you know, that had a ton of buzz
around it, and it certainly lived up to it in
your eyes. Did that what did you what did you
take from that game in the sense of, you know,
we knew that Oregon would probably really really good this season,
(06:16):
but is there anything that surprised you or that that
you learned that you didn't really that you were kind
of waiting and waiting to see mode on before that game.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Yeah, I picked Penn State to win in part because
this is if you know, if you just took a
step back and you did the whole narrative thing, you
would say Penn State pretty experienced program, a lot of
returning starters and veterans from a team that year ago
was in the semi finals. You know, had a chance
to play for a national championship if they if they
were able to get it done there against Notre Dame,
(06:46):
and you looked at Oregon. You said, yeah, they might
have been undefeated, they might have beaten Penn State last year.
They might have been, you know, the number one seed
going into college playoff. But they brought back five starters.
You know, they didn't have a whole lot back and
the guys that we replaced him with. I think it
was kind of unique. In past years with coach Landing,
they've gone out and found a bunch of veterans, a
bunch of experienced players to kind of fill some of
(07:07):
these gaps in the transfer portal. That wasn't really the
case this year, and now they did that in certain spots.
Certainly we can we can get into some of those
those kind of acquisitions, but in general, they've relied upon
their youth. And you know, Dante Moore is a twenty
year old red shirt sophomore quarterback who has five career starts.
I didn't know how he was going to perform under
(07:28):
the bright lights in a tough environment. You know, they
start multiple true freshmen on both sides of the football.
This is a very young, inexperienced football team. So I
think for a lot of people, myself included, going and
it was how do these young guys face off against
a more veteran team and a really tough environment in
a game that figures to be like physical, and kind
of won in the trenches. And I think I know
(07:50):
Oregon is good there, but I don't know if I
necessarily knew that they were going to be better equipped
than Penn State. And I think coming out of the game,
you went, hey, they checked the box in terms of
young team going on the road for the first time
proving themselves, and they certainly checked the boxes in the trenches.
I think pretty much anyone who objectively watched that game
would say Oregon was was far better up front of
both lines of scrimmage, and that was not a thing
(08:11):
I necessarily anticipated, I'd be saying, or people would be
thinking coming out of that one.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Yeah, not just anyone. I mean, going into Happy Valley
a white out, I don't care how bad Penn State
is in a given seat like that is not a
shoe and to win regardless of what they're looking like,
All right, let's get into this game. You know, I
think I think the first place, the best place to
start here is at quarterback, because probably the two top
quarterbacks in the nation, you know, they're getting mocked all
(08:35):
over the place as top ten, you know, the top
ten draft picks, Heisman front runners, Fanda Mendoza, Dante Moore
and actually just did a story this morning. This isn't
the first time they played against each other, you know,
when Mendoza was at Cal and then More at UCLA obviously,
and both got struggled in that game. But you know,
two years later, both of them really looked like they're
really hitting their stride and peaking in their careers, at
(08:56):
least at the college level, to where you'd want to be.
So take me through more because you know, you mentioned
he's only had five career starts, he's relatively young, despite
you know, Redchard sophomore, He's Would you classify Hi as
a dual threat or what's what worries you if you're
in an Indiana fan, what worries are the most having
to go against more?
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Well, I'd say he proved to be a little more
dual threat last game. You know, it was one of
the things that coach Lane talked about afterwards, was was
just the fact that you needed the numbers advantage, Like
it kind of became a math problem of if you're
going to face a defense as good as Penn States.
You had to go on eleven on eleven, and Oregon's
been really reluctant to run its quarterbacks over the years,
and they've suffered injuries there, and so Penn State was
(09:38):
a game where they really relied on Dante Moor's legs
and some design keepers and key places and third down
and fourth down, and he came and delivered those. Overall,
I wouldn't say he's necessarily like a huge duel threat quarterback.
This isn't like Marcus Mariota where you're looking at him
and you're going, guys, this guy's gonna run like stub
four four or something in the combine, or is going
to blow you away with speed. But when he does run,
(10:00):
he's effective, and I think for me, the more impressive
part of the running element is just the decision making.
Like you know, he has been somebody who was maligned
at UCLA for throwing the ball to the other team
too much, like he got benched and lost his starting
job midway through that season because he threw three interceptions.
At Oregon State, he had like eleven touchdowns nine receptions
(10:20):
that season as a true freshman, and that included some
games early on then where they played best er competition
and he really showed well and dominated. So he came
to Oregon. I think the question mark and this is honestly,
it's interesting. I go back to when bow Nicks came
west from Auburn, he had the nickname Bo Picks, and
yet he comes out to Oregon. I think he threw
like eight or nine and two seasons. Senior year he
(10:40):
had like forty five touchdowns, three interceptions. Like, Oregon from
a system seems to fix some of these quarterbacks and
kind of these issues, and that's certainly been the case
with Dante as well. There are a couple sequences in
the first couple of games where you know, he has
the opportunity to throw the ball into the end zone
or to put the ball in a tight window, and
rather than do that, he tucks it and runs and
(11:01):
either takes the short gain or or or no gain
and just kind of lives to see another down or
throws the ball, you know, away. So I think the
decision making has been really impressive. You know, the you know,
young quarterbacks you just kind of never know. And again,
the reputation was sort of one thing. So that was
the first thing that kind of stood out to me
watching him this season was that kind of like what
the reputation, what was the reputation, and kind of what
(11:24):
is the reality. And so far the reality has been
he's been very reliable's he's almost never put the ball
up for grabs, and so that stood out. And I
think just the thing that really impresses me is just
the arm talent and kind of the variety of throats
he's able to make, like I've been really impressed with,
Like in the screen game, this is a guy who
(11:45):
turns to his little kind of side arm delivery and
gets the ball out without really having to set his
feet and just flings it over there. And the ball
gets there quicker than the normal quarterback throwing a screen pass,
and that gives that player a couple extra seconds maybe
to get upfield and create something. And organ is a
screen heavy offense, So that's that's been important. Deep throws.
There's been some really really nicely layered, nice touch passes
(12:08):
on throws down field for big games this year, like
Oregon hit a bunch of those against Oklahoma State in
particular that really kind of exhibited that arm strength. And
then the thing that really stood up to me coming
out of the Penn State game just in terms of
what he was able to do, was this was the
first time all season he was really forced to really
be off platform a lot right to get out and
(12:28):
kind of improvise. And some of the throws he made
didn't pan out and he threw the ball and you know,
threw the ball away or it wasn't accurate. But a
lot of the time, and especially on Keith ur downs
to extend both of their regulation touchdown drives, just rolling right,
throws the ball kind of on a rope back over
the middle or down the sideline and hits players. So
(12:49):
you know he's able to kind of work within the
function of the offense but also be successful when the
play breaks down and he has to kind of make
something from it.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
This quarterback matchup is all almost scary how similar the
two are. Just looking at the quick stet I mean, Mendoza,
he's eighty nine for one only with thirty three completions
on incompletions on the season. Dante Moore only thirty four
incompletions on the season. Two touchdowns separate the two. Both
of them only have one interception on the year. Their
(13:19):
QB rating is like is like within one or two
points of each other passing yards. Mendoza is at twelve away,
Dante More is at twelve ten. I mean, this is
going to be a high level of football game at
the quarterback position, and I'm really intrigued to see how
that one turns out for you, Eric this you know,
I don't know how much of a chance we've had
to watch Indiana defensively, but this is an Indiana defense
(13:40):
that that really, you know, pride himself on getting in
the backfield. You know, their defensive tackles especially, you know,
they're not just there to hold up play, They're there
to get in the backfield and put pressure on the quarterback.
How much you know you mentioned more in his ability
to make plays off platform? Is that is that still
something that you're you're still kind of waiting and seeing
a little bit to see how he responds when he
(14:01):
is pressured or did you do feel like that that
Penn State game he really passed a test in that regard.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
He passed that test. I think I think it's safe
to say, but yeah, I mean, every every week it's
a new a new challenge, and certainly, like I don't
anticipate the pocket's going to be as clean as it
was against like Montana State or Oklahoma State or Oregon
State games where because that was the reason it was
so such a lesson learned, I guess against Penn State
was the fact that like, coming into that game, like
(14:27):
he just had been able to kind of sit there
and pick and choose, and that was obviously very much
an advantageous situation for him. I would imagine this is
going to be another game where he's going to have
to make some things happen, and he's going to have
to rely on on his playmakers to to kind of
be on the same page. And I think that's another
thing that's been impressive. It's just the chemistry with again
a young quarterback and a quarterback who's doing in this
(14:48):
for the first time. And you look around and go,
you know that the top two outside receivers are both
first year with the program, to Corean More, a true freshman,
obviously a big time prospect, d'lie Benson, a transfer from
Florida State. You know, tight end Kenyon Sadik's been around,
Gary Bryant's been around. Those are both really talented players.
You know, Gary Bryant plays in the slot. Those are
(15:09):
your four kind of pass catchers to know. But for Dante,
you know, he'd been here a year and two of
the guys he's been thrown to the most are guys
that he just didn't wasn't on the roster with to
build that chemistry. So you know, yeah, So to get
back to your question, yeah, I think this is another
big test in terms of how he manages that. And
I think it's also a big test of like how
like where is the chemistry really at, because it was
(15:31):
really impressive at times, just kind of how on the
same page, especially with the Cory and More. Those two
guys have been so impressive. Just they call it the
more to more connection out here. Those guys just seem
like they're kind of able to read each other's minds
a little bit at times. And that's something I would
certainly anticipate Organ's going to lean upon, you know, when
(15:51):
when the pocket does break down and the plays aren't
where they're supposed to be.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
So offensively, take me through sort of the scheme and
what they're trying to do this year, because will Stein
their offensive cordator. He has been really I think he's
the top three coordinator off the coordinator of the nation.
He's been really really good, especially you know with a
with an inexperienced quarterback like more. What is what is
sort of the identity of this offense? What do they
like to do? What are some of their go to
plays when when they need one, when they need a
(16:16):
big play?
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Yeah, no, I mean it's you know, if you if
you go back, and I kind of mentioned it with
with bow knicks and just the the the change and success.
And this is even the case with Dylan Gabriel. This
is a very quarterback friendly offense. You know, they'll do
they'll do quite a bit of stuff pre snap, but
they but they run a lot of the same stuff
out of different looks and and the and the goal
really is quarterback is a point guard, right, So screen game, Internet,
(16:41):
intermediate passing game. You know, if you if you it
kind of depending on the coverage. You know, if you're
going to play zone, they're the guy guys who know
where to sit down. If you're going to play man,
they're going to try to exploit you with some speed
on the outside. But but you know, the passing game
really is like hey, let's let's make it as easy
as possible on the on the quarterback, and that's been
something that has proven super super successful for three years
(17:05):
now with will Stein here. And then the run game,
you'll see a lot of counters. You'll see a lot
of polling guards, a lot of polling tackles. They like
to get those big guys out moving upfield. I think
the perception of organ for a long time was like, hey,
this this is a kind of smaller, you know, speed
oriented offense. This is a power run game. They will
(17:27):
oftentimes run out of twenty one personnel where they've got
a bigger running back out lead blocking, and at times
that player also touches the football. Like I said, they
get pretty creative with personnel packages, a lot a lot
of twelve, a lot of twenty one thirteen at times
bringing you know, going on balanced, bringing out a jump
bop package. Like it was funny because when when Lanning
got here in twenty twenty two, Oregon hadn't run a
(17:48):
snap under center. I want to say, since like two
thousand and nine or something like that. This has just
been such a spread, kind of tempo offense. But they
will get big and bring in extra alignment in goal
line situations to try to run over you, and you know,
even in short yardage and they've got I think one
of the things that stands out about this roster is
they incorporate a lot of different personnel for both from
(18:10):
how they utilize it, but just all that they play
offensively eighteen nineteen twenty guys per game because they feel
like they have different advantages that they can take advantage of. So,
you know, they get into that goal line set and
it's different tight ends, it's different offensive linemen, it's different
running backs. Right, so they bring out a fullback, which
is which is a new kind of a wrinkle because again,
(18:30):
like they've been playing such a spread offense before. So
it's very it's very versatile, very diverse. They use a
lot of different things. They like to take shots downfield.
They're very I think they're pretty selective with kind of
when those shots arise, and I think for an opposing defense,
one of the keys is like being ready for those
because if you aren't, in Oregon hits you with a
(18:52):
couple of those over the course of the game, it's
kind of hard to come back. Because they are so
efficient when they are running kind of their more simple stuff.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Up front. This is I mean, obviously, of course every
game is gonna be it's gonna be one un lost
in the trenches, but this one especially, it feels like
it's gonna be a really heavyweight battle there. Uh, Oregon
this year only allowing one sack on the season. They've
done a really good job protecting d'ante Moore, and I imagine,
you know, some of that is his capability in the
pocket and getting you know, being able to flee pressure.
But you know, with an Indian offensive defensive line that
(19:22):
ranks number one and tackles for loss, you know, they's
just a host of guys across the defensive line that
can make plays in the front seven.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Do you do you?
Speaker 1 (19:30):
I mean, do you how do you? How do you
see it Oregon's offensive line matching up because they you know,
they've had the test in Penn State and Penn State
you can argue more talented upfront. But this defense, Indiana's
defense that's does so many different things, you know, exotic
blitzes and things like that, and pressure comes from different spots.
Do you feel like Oregon is equipped to handle that?
You know, what you've seen through the first few games, Well.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
I think that's a big test for them too, you know.
I mean I guess if I were to like if
we're looking at like run game, pass game, left side,
right side, like I would say the biggest weakness on
this offensive line for me through five games has been
runs to the left side of the line. I think
Isaiah World, who is the big time transfer prospect, I
think the number one rated on twenty four to seven
(20:13):
Intel Nico Iamo Lave entered late. He has been pretty
reliable in past protection. I don't know if he's been
quite what you want in terms of like a run blocker,
and the same thing with daybyually next to him. They're
kind of more favorable in pass protection as opposed to
the run. But the right side has been pretty solid
there and probably more than that. Like both Emmanuel pregnant
(20:36):
on the right guard to transfer from USC and Alex
Harky transferm Texas State are big, physical athletes who like
to get out and just take people that Like Alex
Harky's temperament has really stood out to me, just like
this is a guy who wants to go out there
and make contact, put people on their butt, pancake guys,
Like there's a level of physicality that he in particular
(20:57):
and pregnant and bring that really stand out. So I
think run plays to the right have been far more successful,
especially when they're able to get some of those guys
out in space. Moving pass protection I guess you said,
has been really solid, and that's been the case under
elite Terry the offensive line coach, really every year he's
been here. You know, like Bo Nicks, I have to
(21:18):
pull up the exact stats, but I want to say
maybe he was I'll do this right now, but he
was maybe sacked like four times in his whole career
at Oregon or something like that. Let me see if
I can. I can pull this up really quickly. Ten
times in two seasons he was sacked, So you know,
they they've been really really solid in that and some
of that, as you said, is just the ability to
(21:39):
make plays with your feet. So I think this is
a really intriguing matchup though because of like you said
that the number of different players that can be disruptive
for Indiana's defense, and like this is not a all
five guys are awesome offensive line for Oregon, like Poncho
y Pono l Lalou. Their center is going to be
an NFL player. I think both tackles will be NFL players.
(22:01):
Think pregnant will be. David Ululi is probably not. Probably,
I think he's pretty clearly the weak link at left guard.
And if and if you look at if you're Indiana
and you talk about that aggression like that was something
that gave Oregon some issues against Northwestern of all teams,
Like I don't know specifically why, but there were plays
where Northwestern was all up in the backfield and that
(22:21):
really kind of stunted and caused issues for Oregon on
rundowns in particular. So you know, I think first down obviously,
and this is pretty basic stuff. First and second down
is crucial. If Oregon can establish its run game, which
it has in really four out of the five games
with with regular success, then they'll be in good shape.
But you know, if Indiana is making a bunch of
plays in the backfield or disrupting plays and causing issues
(22:44):
forcing turnovers, then obviously that causes kind of the game
plan and kind of what their focus is going to
be to shift.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Let's go to the other side of the ball. You know,
in my opinion, Tash Lupoi Organs of this corner, you know,
one of the top three, maybe five. He's right in
the same group of defensive coordinators I think with Brian
Haynes in terms of a caliber of defensive coordinators and
then obviously Dan Lanning with his defensive background. This is
a really strong unit. And kurzin Netti even talked about
this this week in his Game with Press conference. You know,
(23:12):
he mentioned how big Oregon is at the line of scrimmage.
They can play, you know, three hundred pounders, whether it's
a D N inside, wherever you.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Can put them kind of anywhere.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
What what is this? What is this Oregon defense? Kind
of predicated on what do they like to do? Are
they a blitz heavy team? Because I think that's that
that's the worry with Indiana is you know, coming from
the Iowa game, blitz his game, Indiana a lot of trouble.
Is this a blitz heavy team?
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Well, when Landing was at Georgia, they ran more stimulated
pressures than anybody in the country. I think it was
like a third of the time. I don't have those
figures for this year, but certainly they are a team
that likes to bring pressure and bring them from different
places and kind of surprise you. This is also a
defense because of the personnel advantages that they've had in
previous games, where they've kind of just relied on their
(23:58):
guys up front to take care of business and then
you know, let the let the secondary players kind of
do what they can on the outside. I think overall,
like the thing that really impresses me both is just
the just overall athleticism kind of at every level of
this defense. You know, up front you kind of mentioned it.
The size. You know, they'll start Mario Washington and Bear Alexander.
(24:19):
I think Alexander Alexander is the shrimp of the group
at three ten, Washington's at three thirty six, and then
the two guys that rotate after that, Terrence Green and
TiO and Gray are are also three hundred and thirty pounds,
like six five six six, just big big kids. And
Washington in particular, like is about as twitched up as
you're gonna find. Like he was on Bruce Feldman's freak list.
I think he's got a thirty six inch vertical jump,
(24:42):
just just a total freak show. Now he is one
of those guys who gets up field and is in
the backfield a lot, but at times kind of over pursues,
if you will. And so there's kind of been some
plays that have maybe been made, could have that weren't made,
that allowed something else bigger to happen behind him. But
he's certainly going to be a name to be kind
of aware of. But just how quick he is. And
(25:03):
then off the edges, Matteo Younglile and Tatum Tuyoti are
are really really top level edges. I think that's the
strength of this defense is just the fact that you've
got two future NFL guys off the edge, Mateo being
somebody who's an excellent pass rusher, you know, one of
the top pass rushers in this conference the last couple
of years. To Yodi, I think improving as a pass
(25:24):
rusher kind of probably more his you know, kind of
more well known for his run defense, but certainly this
year he's been productive in those downs. You know, you
go to the secondary and this is like probably one
of the big question marks is just this is a
really young secondary. They start two freshmen at corner, a
true freshmen and Brandon Finnie, and a red shirt freshman
at Iffiobadegu. At safety. They start another red shirt freshman
(25:46):
and Aaron Flowers. So you know, three of their their
five defensive back starters are freshmen. The other two are seniors.
Jaden Kennedy at kind of the slot and the nickel,
and then Dylan Thieneman, a player I'm sure Indiana fans
are familiar with who was at Purdue who had the
game winning interception or ceiling interception against Penn State. But
I'm curious on the outside there. This is going to
(26:07):
be the biggest I think tests so far, probably had
a chance to be the biggest test of the season
in terms of just the talent that Finny and Obadegu
are going to be facing. Finny's been a revelation so far.
I mean, I think in five games he's been targeted
eleven times, giving up two catches for fifteen yards. He's
he's got all those traits as a true freshman. It's
like six two two o five, like moves really well, long, athletic,
(26:29):
rangy guy kind of the prototype, but like how does
he face how does he square up and kind of
succeed or not succeed against some really experience and talented receivers.
For Indiana with a guy like Elija Sarratt. I'm fascinated
by that matchup coming in and I guess just if
we're going to cover all the bases. Their linebacker Bryce Betcher,
(26:50):
local kid also drafted pretty early in the Major League
Baseball Draft a couple of years ago. Former walk on.
He's kind of the leader of this defense, Green Dot guy,
leader in tackles the last couple of years, has a
chance to be kind of one of the school's leaders
in terms of a pre season tackle record book this
year with the production level he's had. And then I
(27:11):
would say, if there's another point of concern, it's it's
the other linebacker spot where both Jerry Mixon and Devin Jackson,
who kind of been rotating at the money spot, are
are athletic and can really get up field, but at
times they've had troubles with run fits and they've had
some issues, especially with Jackson, in coverage. So that's kind
of I would say that and kind of the youth
(27:31):
that cornered to me are the things that really stand
out as possible concern points.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Organ this year. That they're not giving up many points,
you know, which speaks volumes to their defense, but in
the games that you know, I guess in the moments
in the you know certain drives here and there that
they have struggled defensively, What what are the areas where
you know Indiana might be able to give them the
most most problems.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Yeah, excuse me, I think I kind of touched on
a little bit there. I think, you know, I haven't.
We haven't seen it yet, but you could in theory,
somebody on the outside beat some of these young corners
with regularity and kind of give them a welcome to
college football moment, because, like I said, these are guys
that are both first year starters, haven't really taken a
lot of big shots. Have held up really really well,
(28:18):
like everything, everyone's really impressed by them, but you know,
there's there's not a long list along resume to really
build off of, so that would be a place. And
then where they've had issues at times has been kind
of in runs, especially to the middle of the field
power run sequences where these lines, you know, the I'll
even throw Betcher in there, who's been again a really
(28:39):
really impressive player, but even at times he struggles with
some of that. You know, these are these are probably
I would say more twitched up athletic linebackers as opposed
to being big thumping linebackers, like these aren't your two
hundred and forty five, two hundred and fifty pounds, you know,
traditional you know, big ten looking linebackers. These are guys
that run, you know, sideline to sideline, like Devin Jackson
was a guy who in high school ran like a
(29:02):
ten to five in one hundred meters or something like that.
It's extremely explosive, and yet he's not the most twitched up.
He's not the most like bulked up guy, Like he's
somebody who is susceptible to and I think with Jackson
in particular, like if if there's he's probably been the
weeklyika the defense this so far this season, and part
of that has been just like a lack of like
(29:22):
it seems like he's caught flat footed at times. It
doesn't seem like his reaction has been quite what you
were hoping for for a player with that sort of
athletic intangible So again, I'd say Oregon linebackers are probably
the biggest no weakness of this defense and the corners
while everybody feels like that's a point of strength, and
certainly they've stood up to this point you'll look at
the opposing quarterback. You know, past success it's been very,
(29:44):
very limited. But are those guys as younger players may
be susceptible to having some issues against a little bit
more talented receiver talent.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
All right, so before we wrap this up, let's get
into sort of keys. I know you asked me this
on your podcast, but for you, like, if what is
the path to Indiana winning this game or at least
keeping it close, and then vice versa, what is the
path to Oregon, you know, pulling this one out.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Yeah, I think for Indiana it's it's really key to
not give up the early knockout punches, right Like Oregon
will take some shots and we'll try to score quickly.
You know, they really have gotten their opponents kind of
on their back foot early with in a lot of
these games, just scoring on their first drive, scoring on
their second drive, and you look up and now it's
fourteen to nothing or fourteen to three, and you're playing
(30:31):
out a deficit. So for Indiana, it's in Penn State.
Credit to them did a great job that. It's like
Oregon didn't score its first touchdown until late in the
third quarter. But if you can keep this a game
where Oregon is not having early success, especially in that
first quarter, I think that's pivotal for any team playing
this Oregon offense, because they are capable of coming out
there and just kind of landing one of those haymakers
(30:52):
and suddenly you're kind of dazed and kind of going like, Okay,
what's next. So I think that's pivotal. I think for Indiana,
establishing the run game to me feels really important.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
You know.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
That's not to say I don't think Fernando Mendoza can
shoulder the load and put this one away, but with
the way Oregon is kind of constructed defensively, if it
is become it does become a one dimensional, pass heavy attack,
Oregon seems to be pretty well built for that. I
think if it's a game where Indiana is able to,
you know, kind of force Orgon's linebackers, you know, further
(31:24):
up into the box and maybe lead to playing a
little bit heavier personnel and then taking the shots, that's
probably where they have a little more success. Because Oregon
does have I don't know if it's necessarily a huge
speed advantage, but they've got some really good athletes out
there in their secondary. So those would be a couple
of keys from my perspective, kind of on both sides
of the ball for the Hoosiers and for Oregon. You know,
(31:45):
I think one of the keys is just like we
saw Dante more be so effective in the last game,
he needs to continue to protect the football. Again, what
the reputation was at UCLA was one thing. What we've
seen here through five game has been something else. You
need that to continue. You need your Heisman Trophy, you know,
candidate to play like a Heisman Trophy candidate. And I
(32:06):
don't have a ton of concerns about that, but as
you brought up earlier, this is going to be a
game where the pocket's not going to be clean, where
the decisions probably aren't going to be quite as simple
and cut and dry. So they need him to be
able to continue to execute at a really high level.
And for the Oregon defense, I'll point to, you know,
get some pressure on Mendoza. I think that was a
(32:27):
huge part of why Iowa made that game kind of
close for four quarters. There was was their ability to
make things difficult, and you know, I saw his passer rating,
Like I was so impressed with that two game stretch there.
I think with Indiana State Illinois, he's like forty or
forty three or something like that. Ten touchdowns, no interceptions
like that. That's the kind of stuff that you know,
(32:47):
that's how you win the Heisman Trophy, that sort of performance.
I don't think anyone's expecting to complete over ninety percent
of his passes, but you certainly make it easier on
him if you can't get in there and cause problems,
and you know, especially and it's like our po scheme
or sometimes the ball gets out really fast. Like just
finding ways to be disruptive feels important for an Oregon
defense that has proven capable of doing that. But well,
(33:09):
need to do so again this weekend. All right, wrap
us up here.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
You know, you don't necessarily have to give a prediction,
but the line is seven and a half right now.
It's moving a little bit in favor of Indiana in
the past couple of days at the very least. Do
you think Indiana stays competitive in this game to where
you know this could be a final possession type game?
How do you how do you see this game plan out.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
I've kind of gone back and forth, like I've liked
Oregon to win all week and really even since the
bye week when I started kind of dived into it.
And one thing we should touch on is like the
fact that both these teams are coming up by you know,
and like, what's what kind of inherent advantages? You know,
what kind of creative things do we see from you know,
both play callers on both sides of the ball, with
having some extra time to kind of dial of some
(33:51):
things up and be kind of invested in this matchup,
so that that is a point of curiosity for me.
I'm leaning Oregon covers that spread. I haven't we haven't
made our our final predictions over at Duck Territory. We're
going to do that on Friday. Uh, you know, I'm
leaning Oregon covers. I think the home field of advantage
has been so so strong for such a long time,
(34:13):
and there have been times where teams have come in
and and the line has been one thing and Oregon
has made you kind of go, gosh, that was that
was a way too close of a projected line for
for a game here at Oddson Stadium. I think the
athleticism overall advantage for Oregon stands out to me, uh
as kind of giving them maybe an opportunity to make
(34:36):
more plays, especially down the field, Like I think, you know,
that was one of my kind of my keys for
the Indiana defense. We talked about a moment Ago is like,
stop those big explosives, stop those kind of early you know,
take those early hits. Oregon has so many different avenues
to having success there and I just kind of expect
that they will. So I'm leaning a cover Oregon. I
(34:58):
like organ to win either way. I don't think this
is going to be a game I guess. I'll just
say this similar to the Oregon Penn State game. I
don't think anybody left that game feeling much differently. But
either of those teams. Now, Penn State went out and
the next week and maybe people feel way different about them.
But I don't think either team. I don't think the
(35:19):
narrative is going to change I guess very much for
either team. Coming out of this game, I think people
are going to be impressed. I do think this is
going to be a four quarter football game. I do
like Oregon to win the game, and probably to cover.
Maybe it's a backdoor cover late.
Speaker 1 (35:33):
Yeah, That's kind of where I'm at with this game
as well. All Right, Eric, I really appreciate you for
coming on this week to preview Oregon. You can find
all his work over on Duck Territory. I always love
having the two four seven network guys coming over in
previewing these Big ten games with us. Kickoff three thirty
pm Eastern Time, twelve thirty local over in Eugenie. The
game will be on CBS College Game Day will be there.
(35:55):
Certainly a big game feel going into this Saturday, so
just really interesting see how this one plays out. Indiana
has a ton to play for, as does Oregon in
this one, so we will ultimately see how it goes. Eric,
thanks so much for joining us, and folks, we will
see you over on peaks dot com with much more
to come leading up to game Day
Welcome and everybody. It is Thursday, October ninth. Number seven
Indiana heads to Eugene this Saturday against number three Oregon
and battle the top tens. And I figure what better
way to preview this big time battle than with Eric
Skopel from Oregon two four seven. Eric, you've obviously had
your pulse on this game for a while now. You know,
Oregon's done some tremendous things this season. Of course, they
(00:24):
went into Penn State last or two weeks ago and
pulled off a huge overtime victory there. This game, I'm
sure at the beginning of the year, I probably didn't
have this ear marked. Is maybe the biggest game in
oregon schedule, but it's shapened up to be that way
certainly this weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Yeah, I had this third I think on the on
the hierarchy with Penn State on the road. Number one.
I think I had maybe expected Iowa was going to
figure out some things on offense, and maybe I was
overly optimistic, but that road trip I had that number two.
But you know, I remember looking back when I did
my my kind of summer scout on the opposition, I
just kind of go through all the rosters and becomes
(00:58):
more difficult in the transfer portal Eric because you're having
to look through like players at Miami of Ohio and
you know, smaller schools and trying to figure out like
who has the strongest froster. And I came away thinking
Indiana had the second best roster at the time in
Oregon schedule, especially with what they were turned on defense.
You know, I had I guess questions and maybe this
isn't unusually been from the Indiana perspective about Fernando Mendoza,
(01:23):
but clearly through five games he has been I think
probably more than advertised. So you know, this is a
team I kind of had earmarked. And there are some
people on the board who were kind of wondering what
Indiana was going to be after losing some key, key talent,
and I was. I was one of the people saying
I wouldn't overlook this team by any means. And here
we are with a top ten matchup at Oudtson Stadium
(01:44):
College game Day, all the things that kind of earmark
a big time matchup, So super excited for Saturday's game.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Before we get into sort of looking at these two
teams and breaking it down, I want to get your
feel because you know, you're obviously all the way on
the other side of the country. In Indiana rise, I
think took a lot of people by surprise, not only
last year, but that it has continued in such a
way this year.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
You know, what's the.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Vibe over over at you know, with the Oregon fan base,
and how did they perceive this Indiana program right now?
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Well, I think much like a lot of you know,
fan bases in the country who who have just kind
of known Indiana to be kind of a walkover program,
not a program to take seriously. And of course it
kind of different for Oregon coming from the PAC twelve
where there wasn't a lot of attention paid probably to
these big ten teams aside from the Ohio States, the Michigan's,
(02:35):
the Penn States, you know, the Michigan States for a while,
you know, those types of programs. I think it's caught
a lot of Oregon fans by surprise. I think the
other part that's been kind of cool is both programs
kind of rise to prominence in this conference, which has
been really dominated by like I mentioned, three or four
schools for so long and for the last two years,
(02:57):
Oregon and Indiana had been kind of the programs playing oiler.
So I think there's a little bit of like mutual
appreciation and respect from the Oregon fan base of like, hey,
they're kind of in a similar boat, you know, Like
Oregon came in as kind of disruptors Indiana with Kurt
Signanity kind of doing the same thing. I think there's
maybe overall a little bit of like an uncertainty with
what to make of Indiana, in part because of like,
(03:19):
if you look at that the team talent composite, like
Oregon has at least on paper based on recruiting rankings
and advantage, but there's also a good look at the resume.
I look at the fact that they've lost two games
out of their last what eighteen or nineteen, and have
done so when really impressive fashion. I think the Illinois
game for a lot of Oregon fans was kind of
a like, oh boy, let's circle that game on the schedule,
(03:40):
because anytime you beat a ranked team sixty three to ten,
it catches people and their attention.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Do you feel like with the Oregon fan because obviously
you guys are new to the Big ten this year,
is it almost like Indiana Oregon are kind of in
the same boat in that they're still looking for sort
of Big Ten respectability. Obviously Oregon has had a lot
more success for the past years, going back to the Pact. Well,
but is there a sense that maybe there's still a
little bit of a chip on the shoulder there to
prove yourself in a Big ten because you think of
the Big Ten, you think of Ohio State, Michigan, those
(04:09):
kind of schools. Is it sort of that same feel?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
I think so, you know, and I think a couple
of things. A the way things went in Pasadena last
year disrupted the narrative kind of changed the I think
the sort of the assessment of Oregon in the first
year in the Big Ten, because you remember, they didn't
lose a game in all Big Ten play last year.
They beat Ohio State, they beat Michigan, they beat Ben
State in the conference championship. Like people might forget that
(04:34):
the Big Ten champion last year was Oregon. And the
reason they forget that is because Oregon just got absolutely
thumped in Pasaden, a game I was at and by
the middle of the second quarter, it was like, boy,
we came all the way down here, spent all those
resources to send three people to this game for this
and so I think there's a little bit of that.
And then I'll also say, like the team kind of
(04:55):
mantra or kind of the story coming into the year
that Dan Lanning put out with was doubling down, which
was just kind of a you know, the point of, hey,
we proved a year one, we belong and we're as
good as anybody in this conference. This is another opportunity
to do that. And then again, so far through five games,
only two in conference play and one against a you know,
a middle in Northwestern program played at like a lacrosse
(05:19):
soccer venue that was being used for a football stadium,
and the other against the Penn State program that I
don't know what to make of exactly after what they
did a week ago also in Pasadena. Maybe Passading is
not a very good place for anyone to go play
games at this point in terms of just having those
kind of losses. You know, I think that it's I
(05:40):
don't know, it's interesting kind of the assessment of what
Oregon has been. But I think certainly through conference play
they've been impressive. But I think, yeah, there's still some
people out there who kind of wonder what but this
team's going to be and if this team is a
legitimate national championship contender even with the ranking, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
It certainly seems like they are at this point. You know,
them in Ohio State up there at the top really
quickly before we get into this game. The Penn State
game obviously, you know, that had a ton of buzz
around it, and it certainly lived up to it in
your eyes. Did that what did you what did you
take from that game in the sense of, you know,
we knew that Oregon would probably really really good this season,
(06:16):
but is there anything that surprised you or that that
you learned that you didn't really that you were kind
of waiting and waiting to see mode on before that game.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Yeah, I picked Penn State to win in part because
this is if you know, if you just took a
step back and you did the whole narrative thing, you
would say Penn State pretty experienced program, a lot of
returning starters and veterans from a team that year ago
was in the semi finals. You know, had a chance
to play for a national championship if they if they
were able to get it done there against Notre Dame,
(06:46):
and you looked at Oregon. You said, yeah, they might
have been undefeated, they might have beaten Penn State last year.
They might have been, you know, the number one seed
going into college playoff. But they brought back five starters.
You know, they didn't have a whole lot back and
the guys that we replaced him with. I think it
was kind of unique. In past years with coach Landing,
they've gone out and found a bunch of veterans, a
bunch of experienced players to kind of fill some of
(07:07):
these gaps in the transfer portal. That wasn't really the
case this year, and now they did that in certain spots.
Certainly we can we can get into some of those
those kind of acquisitions, but in general, they've relied upon
their youth. And you know, Dante Moore is a twenty
year old red shirt sophomore quarterback who has five career starts.
I didn't know how he was going to perform under
(07:28):
the bright lights in a tough environment. You know, they
start multiple true freshmen on both sides of the football.
This is a very young, inexperienced football team. So I
think for a lot of people, myself included, going and
it was how do these young guys face off against
a more veteran team and a really tough environment in
a game that figures to be like physical, and kind
of won in the trenches. And I think I know
(07:50):
Oregon is good there, but I don't know if I
necessarily knew that they were going to be better equipped
than Penn State. And I think coming out of the game,
you went, hey, they checked the box in terms of
young team going on the road for the first time
proving themselves, and they certainly checked the boxes in the trenches.
I think pretty much anyone who objectively watched that game
would say Oregon was was far better up front of
both lines of scrimmage, and that was not a thing
(08:11):
I necessarily anticipated, I'd be saying, or people would be
thinking coming out of that one.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Yeah, not just anyone. I mean, going into Happy Valley
a white out, I don't care how bad Penn State
is in a given seat like that is not a
shoe and to win regardless of what they're looking like,
All right, let's get into this game. You know, I
think I think the first place, the best place to
start here is at quarterback, because probably the two top
quarterbacks in the nation, you know, they're getting mocked all
(08:35):
over the place as top ten, you know, the top
ten draft picks, Heisman front runners, Fanda Mendoza, Dante Moore
and actually just did a story this morning. This isn't
the first time they played against each other, you know,
when Mendoza was at Cal and then More at UCLA obviously,
and both got struggled in that game. But you know,
two years later, both of them really looked like they're
really hitting their stride and peaking in their careers, at
(08:56):
least at the college level, to where you'd want to be.
So take me through more because you know, you mentioned
he's only had five career starts, he's relatively young, despite
you know, Redchard sophomore, He's Would you classify Hi as
a dual threat or what's what worries you if you're
in an Indiana fan, what worries are the most having
to go against more?
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Well, I'd say he proved to be a little more
dual threat last game. You know, it was one of
the things that coach Lane talked about afterwards, was was
just the fact that you needed the numbers advantage, Like
it kind of became a math problem of if you're
going to face a defense as good as Penn States.
You had to go on eleven on eleven, and Oregon's
been really reluctant to run its quarterbacks over the years,
and they've suffered injuries there, and so Penn State was
(09:38):
a game where they really relied on Dante Moor's legs
and some design keepers and key places and third down
and fourth down, and he came and delivered those. Overall,
I wouldn't say he's necessarily like a huge duel threat quarterback.
This isn't like Marcus Mariota where you're looking at him
and you're going, guys, this guy's gonna run like stub
four four or something in the combine, or is going
to blow you away with speed. But when he does run,
(10:00):
he's effective, and I think for me, the more impressive
part of the running element is just the decision making.
Like you know, he has been somebody who was maligned
at UCLA for throwing the ball to the other team
too much, like he got benched and lost his starting
job midway through that season because he threw three interceptions.
At Oregon State, he had like eleven touchdowns nine receptions
(10:20):
that season as a true freshman, and that included some
games early on then where they played best er competition
and he really showed well and dominated. So he came
to Oregon. I think the question mark and this is honestly,
it's interesting. I go back to when bow Nicks came
west from Auburn, he had the nickname Bo Picks, and
yet he comes out to Oregon. I think he threw
like eight or nine and two seasons. Senior year he
(10:40):
had like forty five touchdowns, three interceptions. Like, Oregon from
a system seems to fix some of these quarterbacks and
kind of these issues, and that's certainly been the case
with Dante as well. There are a couple sequences in
the first couple of games where you know, he has
the opportunity to throw the ball into the end zone
or to put the ball in a tight window, and
rather than do that, he tucks it and runs and
(11:01):
either takes the short gain or or or no gain
and just kind of lives to see another down or
throws the ball, you know, away. So I think the
decision making has been really impressive. You know, the you know,
young quarterbacks you just kind of never know. And again,
the reputation was sort of one thing. So that was
the first thing that kind of stood out to me
watching him this season was that kind of like what
the reputation, what was the reputation, and kind of what
(11:24):
is the reality. And so far the reality has been
he's been very reliable's he's almost never put the ball
up for grabs, and so that stood out. And I
think just the thing that really impresses me is just
the arm talent and kind of the variety of throats
he's able to make, like I've been really impressed with,
Like in the screen game, this is a guy who
(11:45):
turns to his little kind of side arm delivery and
gets the ball out without really having to set his
feet and just flings it over there. And the ball
gets there quicker than the normal quarterback throwing a screen pass,
and that gives that player a couple extra seconds maybe
to get upfield and create something. And organ is a
screen heavy offense, So that's that's been important. Deep throws.
There's been some really really nicely layered, nice touch passes
(12:08):
on throws down field for big games this year, like
Oregon hit a bunch of those against Oklahoma State in
particular that really kind of exhibited that arm strength. And
then the thing that really stood up to me coming
out of the Penn State game just in terms of
what he was able to do, was this was the
first time all season he was really forced to really
be off platform a lot right to get out and
(12:28):
kind of improvise. And some of the throws he made
didn't pan out and he threw the ball and you know,
threw the ball away or it wasn't accurate. But a
lot of the time, and especially on Keith ur downs
to extend both of their regulation touchdown drives, just rolling right,
throws the ball kind of on a rope back over
the middle or down the sideline and hits players. So
(12:49):
you know he's able to kind of work within the
function of the offense but also be successful when the
play breaks down and he has to kind of make
something from it.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
This quarterback matchup is all almost scary how similar the
two are. Just looking at the quick stet I mean, Mendoza,
he's eighty nine for one only with thirty three completions
on incompletions on the season. Dante Moore only thirty four
incompletions on the season. Two touchdowns separate the two. Both
of them only have one interception on the year. Their
(13:19):
QB rating is like is like within one or two
points of each other passing yards. Mendoza is at twelve away,
Dante More is at twelve ten. I mean, this is
going to be a high level of football game at
the quarterback position, and I'm really intrigued to see how
that one turns out for you, Eric this you know,
I don't know how much of a chance we've had
to watch Indiana defensively, but this is an Indiana defense
(13:40):
that that really, you know, pride himself on getting in
the backfield. You know, their defensive tackles especially, you know,
they're not just there to hold up play, They're there
to get in the backfield and put pressure on the quarterback.
How much you know you mentioned more in his ability
to make plays off platform? Is that is that still
something that you're you're still kind of waiting and seeing
a little bit to see how he responds when he
(14:01):
is pressured or did you do feel like that that
Penn State game he really passed a test in that regard.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
He passed that test. I think I think it's safe
to say, but yeah, I mean, every every week it's
a new a new challenge, and certainly, like I don't
anticipate the pocket's going to be as clean as it
was against like Montana State or Oklahoma State or Oregon
State games where because that was the reason it was
so such a lesson learned, I guess against Penn State
was the fact that like, coming into that game, like
(14:27):
he just had been able to kind of sit there
and pick and choose, and that was obviously very much
an advantageous situation for him. I would imagine this is
going to be another game where he's going to have
to make some things happen, and he's going to have
to rely on on his playmakers to to kind of
be on the same page. And I think that's another
thing that's been impressive. It's just the chemistry with again
a young quarterback and a quarterback who's doing in this
(14:48):
for the first time. And you look around and go,
you know that the top two outside receivers are both
first year with the program, to Corean More, a true freshman,
obviously a big time prospect, d'lie Benson, a transfer from
Florida State. You know, tight end Kenyon Sadik's been around,
Gary Bryant's been around. Those are both really talented players.
You know, Gary Bryant plays in the slot. Those are
(15:09):
your four kind of pass catchers to know. But for Dante,
you know, he'd been here a year and two of
the guys he's been thrown to the most are guys
that he just didn't wasn't on the roster with to
build that chemistry. So you know, yeah, So to get
back to your question, yeah, I think this is another
big test in terms of how he manages that. And
I think it's also a big test of like how
like where is the chemistry really at, because it was
(15:31):
really impressive at times, just kind of how on the
same page, especially with the Cory and More. Those two
guys have been so impressive. Just they call it the
more to more connection out here. Those guys just seem
like they're kind of able to read each other's minds
a little bit at times. And that's something I would
certainly anticipate Organ's going to lean upon, you know, when
(15:51):
when the pocket does break down and the plays aren't
where they're supposed to be.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
So offensively, take me through sort of the scheme and
what they're trying to do this year, because will Stein
their offensive cordator. He has been really I think he's
the top three coordinator off the coordinator of the nation.
He's been really really good, especially you know with a
with an inexperienced quarterback like more. What is what is
sort of the identity of this offense? What do they
like to do? What are some of their go to
plays when when they need one, when they need a
(16:16):
big play?
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Yeah, no, I mean it's you know, if you if
you go back, and I kind of mentioned it with
with bow knicks and just the the the change and success.
And this is even the case with Dylan Gabriel. This
is a very quarterback friendly offense. You know, they'll do
they'll do quite a bit of stuff pre snap, but
they but they run a lot of the same stuff
out of different looks and and the and the goal
really is quarterback is a point guard, right, So screen game, Internet,
(16:41):
intermediate passing game. You know, if you if you it
kind of depending on the coverage. You know, if you're
going to play zone, they're the guy guys who know
where to sit down. If you're going to play man,
they're going to try to exploit you with some speed
on the outside. But but you know, the passing game
really is like hey, let's let's make it as easy
as possible on the on the quarterback, and that's been
something that has proven super super successful for three years
(17:05):
now with will Stein here. And then the run game,
you'll see a lot of counters. You'll see a lot
of polling guards, a lot of polling tackles. They like
to get those big guys out moving upfield. I think
the perception of organ for a long time was like, hey,
this this is a kind of smaller, you know, speed
oriented offense. This is a power run game. They will
(17:27):
oftentimes run out of twenty one personnel where they've got
a bigger running back out lead blocking, and at times
that player also touches the football. Like I said, they
get pretty creative with personnel packages, a lot a lot
of twelve, a lot of twenty one thirteen at times
bringing you know, going on balanced, bringing out a jump
bop package. Like it was funny because when when Lanning
got here in twenty twenty two, Oregon hadn't run a
(17:48):
snap under center. I want to say, since like two
thousand and nine or something like that. This has just
been such a spread, kind of tempo offense. But they
will get big and bring in extra alignment in goal
line situations to try to run over you, and you know,
even in short yardage and they've got I think one
of the things that stands out about this roster is
they incorporate a lot of different personnel for both from
(18:10):
how they utilize it, but just all that they play
offensively eighteen nineteen twenty guys per game because they feel
like they have different advantages that they can take advantage of. So,
you know, they get into that goal line set and
it's different tight ends, it's different offensive linemen, it's different
running backs. Right, so they bring out a fullback, which
is which is a new kind of a wrinkle because again,
(18:30):
like they've been playing such a spread offense before. So
it's very it's very versatile, very diverse. They use a
lot of different things. They like to take shots downfield.
They're very I think they're pretty selective with kind of
when those shots arise, and I think for an opposing defense,
one of the keys is like being ready for those
because if you aren't, in Oregon hits you with a
(18:52):
couple of those over the course of the game, it's
kind of hard to come back. Because they are so
efficient when they are running kind of their more simple stuff.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Up front. This is I mean, obviously, of course every
game is gonna be it's gonna be one un lost
in the trenches, but this one especially, it feels like
it's gonna be a really heavyweight battle there. Uh, Oregon
this year only allowing one sack on the season. They've
done a really good job protecting d'ante Moore, and I imagine,
you know, some of that is his capability in the
pocket and getting you know, being able to flee pressure.
But you know, with an Indian offensive defensive line that
(19:22):
ranks number one and tackles for loss, you know, they's
just a host of guys across the defensive line that
can make plays in the front seven.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Do you do you?
Speaker 1 (19:30):
I mean, do you how do you? How do you
see it Oregon's offensive line matching up because they you know,
they've had the test in Penn State and Penn State
you can argue more talented upfront. But this defense, Indiana's
defense that's does so many different things, you know, exotic
blitzes and things like that, and pressure comes from different spots.
Do you feel like Oregon is equipped to handle that?
You know, what you've seen through the first few games, Well.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
I think that's a big test for them too, you know.
I mean I guess if I were to like if
we're looking at like run game, pass game, left side,
right side, like I would say the biggest weakness on
this offensive line for me through five games has been
runs to the left side of the line. I think
Isaiah World, who is the big time transfer prospect, I
think the number one rated on twenty four to seven
(20:13):
Intel Nico Iamo Lave entered late. He has been pretty
reliable in past protection. I don't know if he's been
quite what you want in terms of like a run blocker,
and the same thing with daybyually next to him. They're
kind of more favorable in pass protection as opposed to
the run. But the right side has been pretty solid
there and probably more than that. Like both Emmanuel pregnant
(20:36):
on the right guard to transfer from USC and Alex
Harky transferm Texas State are big, physical athletes who like
to get out and just take people that Like Alex
Harky's temperament has really stood out to me, just like
this is a guy who wants to go out there
and make contact, put people on their butt, pancake guys,
Like there's a level of physicality that he in particular
(20:57):
and pregnant and bring that really stand out. So I
think run plays to the right have been far more successful,
especially when they're able to get some of those guys
out in space. Moving pass protection I guess you said,
has been really solid, and that's been the case under
elite Terry the offensive line coach, really every year he's
been here. You know, like Bo Nicks, I have to
(21:18):
pull up the exact stats, but I want to say
maybe he was I'll do this right now, but he
was maybe sacked like four times in his whole career
at Oregon or something like that. Let me see if
I can. I can pull this up really quickly. Ten
times in two seasons he was sacked, So you know,
they they've been really really solid in that and some
of that, as you said, is just the ability to
(21:39):
make plays with your feet. So I think this is
a really intriguing matchup though because of like you said
that the number of different players that can be disruptive
for Indiana's defense, and like this is not a all
five guys are awesome offensive line for Oregon, like Poncho
y Pono l Lalou. Their center is going to be
an NFL player. I think both tackles will be NFL players.
(22:01):
Think pregnant will be. David Ululi is probably not. Probably,
I think he's pretty clearly the weak link at left guard.
And if and if you look at if you're Indiana
and you talk about that aggression like that was something
that gave Oregon some issues against Northwestern of all teams,
Like I don't know specifically why, but there were plays
where Northwestern was all up in the backfield and that
(22:21):
really kind of stunted and caused issues for Oregon on
rundowns in particular. So you know, I think first down obviously,
and this is pretty basic stuff. First and second down
is crucial. If Oregon can establish its run game, which
it has in really four out of the five games
with with regular success, then they'll be in good shape.
But you know, if Indiana is making a bunch of
plays in the backfield or disrupting plays and causing issues
(22:44):
forcing turnovers, then obviously that causes kind of the game
plan and kind of what their focus is going to
be to shift.
Speaker 1 (22:52):
Let's go to the other side of the ball. You know,
in my opinion, Tash Lupoi Organs of this corner, you know,
one of the top three, maybe five. He's right in
the same group of defensive coordinators I think with Brian
Haynes in terms of a caliber of defensive coordinators and
then obviously Dan Lanning with his defensive background. This is
a really strong unit. And kurzin Netti even talked about
this this week in his Game with Press conference. You know,
(23:12):
he mentioned how big Oregon is at the line of scrimmage.
They can play, you know, three hundred pounders, whether it's
a D N inside, wherever you.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Can put them kind of anywhere.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
What what is this? What is this Oregon defense? Kind
of predicated on what do they like to do? Are
they a blitz heavy team? Because I think that's that
that's the worry with Indiana is you know, coming from
the Iowa game, blitz his game, Indiana a lot of trouble.
Is this a blitz heavy team?
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Well, when Landing was at Georgia, they ran more stimulated
pressures than anybody in the country. I think it was
like a third of the time. I don't have those
figures for this year, but certainly they are a team
that likes to bring pressure and bring them from different
places and kind of surprise you. This is also a
defense because of the personnel advantages that they've had in
previous games, where they've kind of just relied on their
(23:58):
guys up front to take care of business and then
you know, let the let the secondary players kind of
do what they can on the outside. I think overall,
like the thing that really impresses me both is just
the just overall athleticism kind of at every level of
this defense. You know, up front you kind of mentioned it.
The size. You know, they'll start Mario Washington and Bear Alexander.
(24:19):
I think Alexander Alexander is the shrimp of the group
at three ten, Washington's at three thirty six, and then
the two guys that rotate after that, Terrence Green and
TiO and Gray are are also three hundred and thirty pounds,
like six five six six, just big big kids. And
Washington in particular, like is about as twitched up as
you're gonna find. Like he was on Bruce Feldman's freak list.
I think he's got a thirty six inch vertical jump,
(24:42):
just just a total freak show. Now he is one
of those guys who gets up field and is in
the backfield a lot, but at times kind of over pursues,
if you will. And so there's kind of been some
plays that have maybe been made, could have that weren't made,
that allowed something else bigger to happen behind him. But
he's certainly going to be a name to be kind
of aware of. But just how quick he is. And
(25:03):
then off the edges, Matteo Younglile and Tatum Tuyoti are
are really really top level edges. I think that's the
strength of this defense is just the fact that you've
got two future NFL guys off the edge, Mateo being
somebody who's an excellent pass rusher, you know, one of
the top pass rushers in this conference the last couple
of years. To Yodi, I think improving as a pass
(25:24):
rusher kind of probably more his you know, kind of
more well known for his run defense, but certainly this
year he's been productive in those downs. You know, you
go to the secondary and this is like probably one
of the big question marks is just this is a
really young secondary. They start two freshmen at corner, a
true freshmen and Brandon Finnie, and a red shirt freshman
at Iffiobadegu. At safety. They start another red shirt freshman
(25:46):
and Aaron Flowers. So you know, three of their their
five defensive back starters are freshmen. The other two are seniors.
Jaden Kennedy at kind of the slot and the nickel,
and then Dylan Thieneman, a player I'm sure Indiana fans
are familiar with who was at Purdue who had the
game winning interception or ceiling interception against Penn State. But
I'm curious on the outside there. This is going to
(26:07):
be the biggest I think tests so far, probably had
a chance to be the biggest test of the season
in terms of just the talent that Finny and Obadegu
are going to be facing. Finny's been a revelation so far.
I mean, I think in five games he's been targeted
eleven times, giving up two catches for fifteen yards. He's
he's got all those traits as a true freshman. It's
like six two two o five, like moves really well, long, athletic,
(26:29):
rangy guy kind of the prototype, but like how does
he face how does he square up and kind of
succeed or not succeed against some really experience and talented receivers.
For Indiana with a guy like Elija Sarratt. I'm fascinated
by that matchup coming in and I guess just if
we're going to cover all the bases. Their linebacker Bryce Betcher,
(26:50):
local kid also drafted pretty early in the Major League
Baseball Draft a couple of years ago. Former walk on.
He's kind of the leader of this defense, Green Dot guy,
leader in tackles the last couple of years, has a
chance to be kind of one of the school's leaders
in terms of a pre season tackle record book this
year with the production level he's had. And then I
(27:11):
would say, if there's another point of concern, it's it's
the other linebacker spot where both Jerry Mixon and Devin Jackson,
who kind of been rotating at the money spot, are
are athletic and can really get up field, but at
times they've had troubles with run fits and they've had
some issues, especially with Jackson, in coverage. So that's kind
of I would say that and kind of the youth
(27:31):
that cornered to me are the things that really stand
out as possible concern points.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Organ this year. That they're not giving up many points,
you know, which speaks volumes to their defense, but in
the games that you know, I guess in the moments
in the you know certain drives here and there that
they have struggled defensively, What what are the areas where
you know Indiana might be able to give them the
most most problems.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Yeah, excuse me, I think I kind of touched on
a little bit there. I think, you know, I haven't.
We haven't seen it yet, but you could in theory,
somebody on the outside beat some of these young corners
with regularity and kind of give them a welcome to
college football moment, because, like I said, these are guys
that are both first year starters, haven't really taken a
lot of big shots. Have held up really really well,
(28:18):
like everything, everyone's really impressed by them, but you know,
there's there's not a long list along resume to really
build off of, so that would be a place. And
then where they've had issues at times has been kind
of in runs, especially to the middle of the field
power run sequences where these lines, you know, the I'll
even throw Betcher in there, who's been again a really
(28:39):
really impressive player, but even at times he struggles with
some of that. You know, these are these are probably
I would say more twitched up athletic linebackers as opposed
to being big thumping linebackers, like these aren't your two
hundred and forty five, two hundred and fifty pounds, you know,
traditional you know, big ten looking linebackers. These are guys
that run, you know, sideline to sideline, like Devin Jackson
was a guy who in high school ran like a
(29:02):
ten to five in one hundred meters or something like that.
It's extremely explosive, and yet he's not the most twitched up.
He's not the most like bulked up guy, Like he's
somebody who is susceptible to and I think with Jackson
in particular, like if if there's he's probably been the
weeklyika the defense this so far this season, and part
of that has been just like a lack of like
(29:22):
it seems like he's caught flat footed at times. It
doesn't seem like his reaction has been quite what you
were hoping for for a player with that sort of
athletic intangible So again, I'd say Oregon linebackers are probably
the biggest no weakness of this defense and the corners
while everybody feels like that's a point of strength, and
certainly they've stood up to this point you'll look at
the opposing quarterback. You know, past success it's been very,
(29:44):
very limited. But are those guys as younger players may
be susceptible to having some issues against a little bit
more talented receiver talent.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
All right, so before we wrap this up, let's get
into sort of keys. I know you asked me this
on your podcast, but for you, like, if what is
the path to Indiana winning this game or at least
keeping it close, and then vice versa, what is the
path to Oregon, you know, pulling this one out.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Yeah, I think for Indiana it's it's really key to
not give up the early knockout punches, right Like Oregon
will take some shots and we'll try to score quickly.
You know, they really have gotten their opponents kind of
on their back foot early with in a lot of
these games, just scoring on their first drive, scoring on
their second drive, and you look up and now it's
fourteen to nothing or fourteen to three, and you're playing
(30:31):
out a deficit. So for Indiana, it's in Penn State.
Credit to them did a great job that. It's like
Oregon didn't score its first touchdown until late in the
third quarter. But if you can keep this a game
where Oregon is not having early success, especially in that
first quarter, I think that's pivotal for any team playing
this Oregon offense, because they are capable of coming out
there and just kind of landing one of those haymakers
(30:52):
and suddenly you're kind of dazed and kind of going like, Okay,
what's next. So I think that's pivotal. I think for Indiana,
establishing the run game to me feels really important.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
You know.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
That's not to say I don't think Fernando Mendoza can
shoulder the load and put this one away, but with
the way Oregon is kind of constructed defensively, if it
is become it does become a one dimensional, pass heavy attack,
Oregon seems to be pretty well built for that. I
think if it's a game where Indiana is able to,
you know, kind of force Orgon's linebackers, you know, further
(31:24):
up into the box and maybe lead to playing a
little bit heavier personnel and then taking the shots, that's
probably where they have a little more success. Because Oregon
does have I don't know if it's necessarily a huge
speed advantage, but they've got some really good athletes out
there in their secondary. So those would be a couple
of keys from my perspective, kind of on both sides
of the ball for the Hoosiers and for Oregon. You know,
(31:45):
I think one of the keys is just like we
saw Dante more be so effective in the last game,
he needs to continue to protect the football. Again, what
the reputation was at UCLA was one thing. What we've
seen here through five game has been something else. You
need that to continue. You need your Heisman Trophy, you know,
candidate to play like a Heisman Trophy candidate. And I
(32:06):
don't have a ton of concerns about that, but as
you brought up earlier, this is going to be a
game where the pocket's not going to be clean, where
the decisions probably aren't going to be quite as simple
and cut and dry. So they need him to be
able to continue to execute at a really high level.
And for the Oregon defense, I'll point to, you know,
get some pressure on Mendoza. I think that was a
(32:27):
huge part of why Iowa made that game kind of
close for four quarters. There was was their ability to
make things difficult, and you know, I saw his passer rating,
Like I was so impressed with that two game stretch there.
I think with Indiana State Illinois, he's like forty or
forty three or something like that. Ten touchdowns, no interceptions
like that. That's the kind of stuff that you know,
(32:47):
that's how you win the Heisman Trophy, that sort of performance.
I don't think anyone's expecting to complete over ninety percent
of his passes, but you certainly make it easier on
him if you can't get in there and cause problems,
and you know, especially and it's like our po scheme
or sometimes the ball gets out really fast. Like just
finding ways to be disruptive feels important for an Oregon
defense that has proven capable of doing that. But well,
(33:09):
need to do so again this weekend. All right, wrap
us up here.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
You know, you don't necessarily have to give a prediction,
but the line is seven and a half right now.
It's moving a little bit in favor of Indiana in
the past couple of days at the very least. Do
you think Indiana stays competitive in this game to where
you know this could be a final possession type game?
How do you how do you see this game plan out.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
I've kind of gone back and forth, like I've liked
Oregon to win all week and really even since the
bye week when I started kind of dived into it.
And one thing we should touch on is like the
fact that both these teams are coming up by you know,
and like, what's what kind of inherent advantages? You know,
what kind of creative things do we see from you know,
both play callers on both sides of the ball, with
having some extra time to kind of dial of some
(33:51):
things up and be kind of invested in this matchup,
so that that is a point of curiosity for me.
I'm leaning Oregon covers that spread. I haven't we haven't
made our our final predictions over at Duck Territory. We're
going to do that on Friday. Uh, you know, I'm
leaning Oregon covers. I think the home field of advantage
has been so so strong for such a long time,
(34:13):
and there have been times where teams have come in
and and the line has been one thing and Oregon
has made you kind of go, gosh, that was that
was a way too close of a projected line for
for a game here at Oddson Stadium. I think the
athleticism overall advantage for Oregon stands out to me, uh
as kind of giving them maybe an opportunity to make
(34:36):
more plays, especially down the field, Like I think, you know,
that was one of my kind of my keys for
the Indiana defense. We talked about a moment Ago is like,
stop those big explosives, stop those kind of early you know,
take those early hits. Oregon has so many different avenues
to having success there and I just kind of expect
that they will. So I'm leaning a cover Oregon. I
(34:58):
like organ to win either way. I don't think this
is going to be a game I guess. I'll just
say this similar to the Oregon Penn State game. I
don't think anybody left that game feeling much differently. But
either of those teams. Now, Penn State went out and
the next week and maybe people feel way different about them.
But I don't think either team. I don't think the
(35:19):
narrative is going to change I guess very much for
either team. Coming out of this game, I think people
are going to be impressed. I do think this is
going to be a four quarter football game. I do
like Oregon to win the game, and probably to cover.
Maybe it's a backdoor cover late.
Speaker 1 (35:33):
Yeah, That's kind of where I'm at with this game
as well. All Right, Eric, I really appreciate you for
coming on this week to preview Oregon. You can find
all his work over on Duck Territory. I always love
having the two four seven network guys coming over in
previewing these Big ten games with us. Kickoff three thirty
pm Eastern Time, twelve thirty local over in Eugenie. The
game will be on CBS College Game Day will be there.
(35:55):
Certainly a big game feel going into this Saturday, so
just really interesting see how this one plays out. Indiana
has a ton to play for, as does Oregon in
this one, so we will ultimately see how it goes. Eric,
thanks so much for joining us, and folks, we will
see you over on peaks dot com with much more
to come leading up to game Day
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