Oregon secondary is a primary asset: the DBoyz are on their grind

With all the uncertainty and anticipation that surrounds Oregon’s 2014 football squad, there is one unit fans just don’t worry about.

Oregon’s secondary has been excellent for most of the last 10 years under John Neal. In 2012 they led the nation in interceptions, and despite the loss of three starters from last year’s team, the outlook is very solid for this season.

That’s because Ifo Ekpre-Olomu returns for his senior year, a Jim Thorpe Award candidate who’s likely to be one of the top picks of next year’s NFL Draft.

Ifo is a pickpocket, a ballhawk and an enforcer, a playmaker who tackles, hits, defends the ball and adds some swagger and intimidation to the defense. Twice named to the All-PAC-12 team, the Chino Hills product has started 27 straight games for the Ducks, with a string of big hits and big plays that stretches from Seattle to Tucson.

At PAC-12 Media Days Mark Helfrich was asked about his defensive star and his decision to return, and he said that Ifo makes a ton of difference for the Ducks, not just for his sterling play but the way he goes about his business, the way he practices, goes to class, participates in meetings and film study. Like Grasu and Mariota he sets a powerful example, sets the tone for younger players.

In his preparation and intensity of focus, #14 is already a professional. He’ll take the wide side of the field and cover the opponent’s best receiver. He’ll force on running plays and knock the ball away in the red zone. In the Civil War last year he had 12 tackles, an interception and three pass breakups. He also had 12 tackles against Stanford.  All three of his picks last year halted drives in the end zone. He puts his helmet right on the ball and puts people on the ground. Rarely does he waste energy calling attention to himself.

He’s joined in the secondary by three other seniors who are not returning starters but have had a lot of playing time over the last three seasons. Erick Dargan has played in 28 games over three seasons, led the team in interceptions in 2012, took 71 snaps against Washington State last fall. Dargan had 8 tackles and a pair of interceptions in the Fiesta Bowl win over Kansas State.

The Pittsburgh High School standout has worked hard to put a disciplinary issue behind him and has become a team leader. Like fellow seniors Ifo and Troy Hill he’s a fierce hitter–the 2014 secondary will have a physical edge, something they’ll need in a conference full of wide-open offenses and talented receivers and quarterbacks.

Hill and Dior Mathis will battle for the other cornerback position, but the outcome doesn’t matter because they’ll face so many three, four and five wide receiver sets. Both will play a lot, as will Chris Seisay and Dominique Harrison.

The other safety position shapes up as a battle between several younger players, with Reggie Daniels and Tyree Robinson in the lead. Both are big and physical, former four-star recruits. Robinson redshirted last year while Daniels got some mop-up duty as a redshirt freshman.

They’ll be pushed by some talented newcomers. Mattrell McGraw, Arrion Springs and Glen Ihenacho joined the team in June and all three have the physical maturity to challenge to play early, in the nickle or on special teams.

It’s a group that is athletic and well-coached. Duck fans have few worries about the secondary. Neal has cranked out a procession of NFL stars like Jairus Byrd, Patrick Chung, T.J. Ward and Walter Thurmond, and the practice habits and teaching that built that legacy are still in place. And Ifo, thankfully, is still here to set the example and direct traffic on the field.