Oregon O vs the Auburn D

[aubiefifty 18,200]

Oregon offense will face scheme unlike any in Pac-12 against Kevin Steele’s Auburn defense

Updated Jul 31, 12:45 PM;Posted Jul 31, 12:00 PM

4-5 minutes

EUGENE — Oregon’s season-opening matchup will not only pit strength versus strength — the Ducks offensive line against the Tigers defensive line — it will also feature a clash of schemes as UO faces a test unlike anything it sees in the Pac-12 in Kevin Steele’s Auburn defense.

Steele rejuvenated the Tigers defense over his three seasons on the Plains and while he’s had talent to work with, including a defensive front projected to have three potential first-round draft picks this season, the veteran defensive coordinator also has a unique play-calling style and plan of attack that marries aggression and blitzing with coverage that rarely gets beaten over the top.

It’s why Auburn has allowed 30-plus points in only five of 40 games over the last three years, with two coming against Alabama, two others coming in bowl games against UCF and Oklahoma. Tennessee, which benefited from three Auburn turnovers, is the only team other than Alabama to score at least 30 points against Auburn during the last three regular seasons.

Mario Cristobal is very familiar with Steele’s tactics, having worked with him while at Alabama in 2013-14, and the Oregon coach said it’s unlike anything employed by Pac-12 defensive coordinators.

“They switch that pro safety on first and second down and it’ll open on third,” Cristobal said. “They have their slide busts on third down. They’ll (cover) zero you in the red zone if they feel the game is on the line. Corner fire, nickel fire, cross blitz, tackle-end twist, Sam off the edge, 3 technique button contain.”

Washington saw many of these tactics during its season-opening loss to Auburn last year. Even as Jake Browning threw for nearly 300 yards at a rate of 9.3 yards per attempt, highest against Auburn since Baker Mayfield’s 10.6 in the 2017 Sugar Bowl but also topped twice later last season, Auburn allowed only 16 points, sacked Browning five times and forced critical turnovers.

“It’s different style of blitzes, but he’s an aggressive play-caller and he’ll bring the heat on you,” Washington coach Chris Petersen said. “But I think we have a few defenses in our league that’s the same thing. Everybody has got a complement of blitzes that come with it, that they just ran this, you’re okay, but the fact that they run this with this is now our problem. So everybody has got their little strategy. You can’t do it all. You pick and choose, and he’s got a nice package that they complement well.”

Steele showcased how far he’s willing to push the envelope and how much confidence he has in Auburn’s defenders when he called an all-out blitz on fourth-and-16 from the Auburn 43 with 1:40 to go.

The play resulted in a safety sacking Browning and sealed an Auburn win that also dealt the Pac-12 a devastating blow to open last season.

Washington center Nick Harris was among the many who couldn’t believe Steele sent the proverbial house on the critical play, which had it backfired would’ve likely resulted in the go-ahead and likely game-deciding touchdown.

“You got high risk, high reward in that situation right there,” Harris said.

Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin is known for his offensive prowess, but he went 1-2 during his tenure at Texas A&M against Steele’s Auburn and LSU defenses.

Sumlin said Steele’s methods on both the front, with both three and four-man lines, and in the secondary, with a lot of rotations and single-high safety coverage, are a unique challenge.

“Kevin has done it for a long time,” Sumlin said. "When he did step away (after being fired from Clemson in 2012), he didn’t really step away because he was an analyst at Alabama, and that gave him the time to even refine some things working with Nick (Saban) and Kirby (Smart) and those guys. He definitely knows what he’s doing.

“If you’re an odd front team, just like Alabama, you know there’s a big difference between a 3 technique — it doesn’t seem like much — between a 3 technique and what people call a 4i, where that shade is and how you’re going to block that guy, and you have to have the right guys to play that in the front and keep those linebackers free. He’s an interesting guy from the back end and the rotations, both with the safeties and the run fits and things like that, he’ll mix them up.

"It’s a little bit different than some things you see out here (in the Pac-12).”

[homersapien 12,217]

I didn't understand much in that article other than Auburn is aggressive with their DB rotations and their blitz schemes.  Hope it works against Oregon!

Thanks for posting.

[Sizzle 3,948]

1 hour ago, homersapien said:

I didn't understand much in that article other than Auburn is aggressive with their DB rotations and their blitz schemes.  Hope it works against Oregon!

Thanks for posting.

Yeah the article is just saying that Steele is unorthodox. He calls blitzes when you’re not really supposed to so you have to always stay on your toes

[aucanucktiger 1,884]

Oregon's AD is of course the chairman of the playoff selection committee this year.  A 2-loss Auburn handing Oregon their only loss would be an interesting scenario for him to ponder for playoff selection...🙂😖

Just saying.

[AUpreacherman22 3,945]

12 hours ago, aucanucktiger said:

Oregon's AD is of course the chairman of the playoff selection committee this year.  A 2-loss Auburn handing Oregon their only loss would be an interesting scenario for him to ponder for playoff selection...🙂😖

Just saying.

Of course it always depends on what other teams do, but if AU goes 10-2 this year with that schedule, we will be very heavily in the playoff discussion.  

[Mikey 16,781]

1 hour ago, AUpreacherman22 said:

Of course it always depends on what other teams do, but if AU goes 10-2 this year with that schedule, we will be very heavily in the playoff discussion.  

It will have to be 11-2 after the SEC game. If we win that one after a 10-2 regular season, we'll be in.

[aucanucktiger 1,884]

Just hypotheticals but my point was with Oregon AD leading the committee, say we beat them on a controversial last second fg where they drove & self destructed vs our D all day. Oregon's only loss. We then squeek by impressive teams but lose to oh say what ends up being a horrible arky team and get annihilated 45 - 0 by another playoff team. Spotlight may be on Oregon AD and who gets in, them or us. Anyway, just for fun. We'll see.