Alex Balducci has signed his Oregon letter of intent, adding to the Ducks depth and promise on the defensive line.
Balducci is a high-motor 6-4, 275-lb. defensive tackle from Portland’s Central Catholic High School. The Oregon co-defensive of player of the year (also all-conference as an offensive lineme) has wanted to be a Duck since he was a grade schooler, watching Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart running for touchdowns at Autzen Stadium.
“I’ve always had an interest in them,” Balducci told Aaron Fentress of oregonlive.com. “So it was an easy decision.”
Recruiting website Rivals.com rates him the #97 recruit in the country for the 2012 class. The Duck Stops Here breaks down his highlight video to show why the Army All-American is such a promising, impressive prospect, a rare find at defensive tackle in the Northwest:
Protect this house: He wore Cardinal and Gold in high school, but his heart is pure Gang Green. Alex Balducci is a big man with a Duck dream (scout.com photo).
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4NC4kNJ21jA
Scouting Notes:
03: Comes in under control and squares up on the quarterback as he scrambles, wraps him up for a sack. Shows good agility–not a lumbering ox but an athlete with size. Defeats the block with a swim move from defensive end. Has the frame to get big, extremely strong and be a tackle with very good feet. It’s a gang rush and the first guys misses the qb, but Balducci finds him and puts him down. Good motor and technique. Pumps his fist excitedly with the sack. Infectious enthusiasm and desire, a natural leader. Hungry to get to the quarterback, something you love to see.
:13 Spread formation, outside zone read right. Balducci blows by his blocker and gets penetration four yards into the backfield with a speed rush and simply collapses the play at the mesh point. He’s a well-schooled football player, aggressive and smart. Understands his responsibility on the play and executes beautifully. Crushes the running back, doesn’t let him get started. Like his balance and aggressiveness. Could become a Nick Fairley but with intelligence and class. A Jerry Azzinaro/Chip Kelly kind of football player.
:19 Another stretch play to his side, a 3-man defensive line with Balducci as the strong side defensive end. Balducci pushes his man into the backfield and turns the play in, denies the runner any chance of getting outside. This time it’s a strength move; he just overpowers the offensive tackle, uses his strong arms to keep him off his body. Again recognizes the play quickly and understands his responsibilty. Well coached. He’s studied the game and d-line techniques, really applied himself to becoming a D-1 football player, used his time at clinics and camps well. Understands the every-down confrontation of beating his man. Great determination. The whole time he’s fighting off the blocker, he’s reading the runner: gets off the block and wraps up the ball carrier. Not just a big guy who soaks up blocks. He’s there to make plays.
:24 Spread formation, inside zone read look. 3-man defensive line, Balducci again at strongside defensive end. Quick blast off the ball, gets his man upright and sheds him. Play goes inside and he shows good lateral pursuit, dives into the ball carrier, assisting on the tackle. Has both strength and desire, a bulldog attitude. A good tackler who wraps up and puts people down. Strong every-down work ethic, the kind of kid who will keep pushing on every play.
:32 Zone read left look with trips to the right. Balducci is lined up strongside across from the tight end on the wide side of the field. Offense runs the quick pitch play to his side. They chop block him diving at his knees, and he gets cut a little bit, but he catches himself on both hands and pursues the play. When the cornerback stretches the play out, AB is there with the gang to make the tackle. He can run and hit, will be a great fit in an Oregon scheme that demands athleticism, versatility and mobility. Doesn’t look more than 6-3/6-4 in uniform but that’s okay. His heart says he’s 6-9 and he plays like it.
:41 Spread formation, Offense in 4 wides with an inside zone read backfield. Ball inside the left hash, Balducci at right end opposite the offensive tackle in a 3-man line. Pass. Balducci pushes upfield, reads the little circle screen to the tailback and contains it. Gets off the block. The tackle is really helpless with him, getting defeated play after play. Slows the runner and keeps him inside, minimal gain. Good recognition. Plays with his eyes in the backfield and makes the right reads for his position. Plays team defense, very coachable. Obviously listens at practice and applies himself, learns what the offense is trying to do, studies film diligently. Not just a brute with a big body, but a student of the game who’s constantly trying to get better, win every down as a defense. Teammates will love having this guy playing next to them.
:49 ball on the 45, just off the left hash. Spread formation, double wides, a 2-back set with a “fullback,” tailback in the inside zone read position. Balducci at weakside defensive end on the wide side of the field. He’s the read defender, unblocked. Play goes away from him (smart call by the offense) a quick handoff left, straight quick handoff with a lead blocker, no read option. Balducci takes a good angle to the ball and pursues across the field, showing the good motor and mobility, again reading the play correctly. A smart football player who adjusts quickly to different looks, reacting quickly. Sees it and goes. Aware of blockers as his sifts his way back to the play and gets in on the tackle. Takes good care of his body without fear or hesitation. Excellent awareness, good eyes, the right combination of animal and predator.
:58 Ball on opponent’s 36. Spread formation, double-wide two back set with tailback in the inside zone read. Balducci on the wide side, ball on right hash opposite the tight end. Straight handoff, off tackle play directly at him with a lead blocker. Balducci immediately establishes outside contain walling off the bounce-out for the runner. Gets square to the line of scrimmage. Comes off the block and joins the party. 4-yard gain. Solid execution on his part, and his play-to-play discipline will help the defense limit explosion plays and get off the field. He’ll help make the opponent work for every yard.
1:04 Important to note, all of these plays are from one game. That means he’s executing his responsibilities well enough to have two minutes of highlights every time he takes the field. There’s no embellishment here. This is a straight-up solid football player, not hype or window dressing. This looks like the next play in the offensive series with the ball at the opponent’s 40, again in double wides, spread formation with the bunched backfield.
Ball is in the center of the field, tight end to the right, Balducci at weakside defensive end as the defense doesn’t flip their personnel. Shows versatility and an understanding of changing roles play-to-play.
Pistol look backfield–the tailback directly behind the quarterback, fullback to the right. Direct handoff with the play going right tackle, fullback leading, right guard pulling, a power play away from Balducci, a quick hitting play. He’s unblocked. Pursues up the line and checks quickly, sorting it out on the fly, follows the ball. Again takes a good angle and avoids the tangle running across field to the runner. Has good quick eyes. You see him check for counters or tricks quickly as the back takes the ball. Squares for a second to make sure there’s not a cutback or counter, then works his way to the ball. Outstanding motor. Wants to be in on every tackle but gets there the right way. Plays fast but takes good care of his body in traffic. The play gains four but he’s playing good team defense, pursuing like a linebacker at 265, assisting on the tackle on a play completely away from him.
1:11 Looks like the very next play, from the Central Catholic 45, ball on the right hash. Spread formation with single back, trips left. Balducci on the defensive right side where the trips are. Tailback offset right in the outside zone read left position. Balducci opposite the wide side tackle. Balducci unblocked, it becomes a Wildcat-type play with the quarterback taking a shotgun snap and running quick around right end.
He takes the correct route, immediately getting two yards deep in the backfield, quickly reading the flow and then pursuing. Good combination of aggressiveness and discipline, doing exactly what he’s supposed to do on every play, then flying to the football. Very mobile and agile as a big body, in a frame that will allow him to continue to grow into a big bullet.
The runner gets loose around the right side, has some room. It’s BALDUCCI, from the weakside defensive end looping all around the play that chases him down, throwing his body around the runner’s shoulders to corral him, 15 yards down the field on the opposite side. What is this guy, a 265-lb. safety? Does not give up on a play. You can run away from him but you’ll never negate him. Great warrior mentality, and a consistent effort that will help his defense limit big plays and force the offense to grind it out.
1:19 Ball at the CC 42, center of the field. I formation with quarterback direct snap. Two receivers left with one in the slot. Balducci strong side defensive end opposite the tight end. Zone blocking, inside running play with the fullback leading. Balducci is double-teamed with a “bust block,” but he stands up his man at the line and gets square. The runner has no where to go because the line achieves no push, and the linebackers knife in for a two-yard loss. Balucci and others put a helmet on the ball. Fumble! Good team defense and proper execution of responsibilities creates a turnover.
Shows understanding of the goals of good team defense. Opponent is moving the football, but they continue to fight and pursue and work, and it pays off with a turnover.
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