Oregon Ducks potentially suffer huge loss on final defensive play of Big Ten win over Wisconsin
For Oregon, it was all about the defense on Saturday night in Wisconsin. It was a hard-fought battle between the two teams, with the Badgers hanging tough and making things difficult, while the offense continues to look choppy at times with leading receiver Tez Johnson on the sideline with a shoulder injury. The defense, though, did […]
For Oregon, it was all about the defense on Saturday night in Wisconsin. It was a hard-fought battle between the two teams, with the Badgers hanging tough and making things difficult, while the offense continues to look choppy at times with leading receiver Tez Johnson on the sideline with a shoulder injury.
The defense, though, did their job. They consistently generated pressure and shut down the Wisconsin offense, save for one second-half drive where the Badgers were able to punish Oregon with a steady diet of run plays.
Up by three points with under three minutes left to play, the defense was back on the field. Defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell got his hands up and batted a pass into the air, which defensive end Matayo Uiagalelei (who had a monster of a game) ended up intercepting. On the play, Caldwell got rolled up on by one of this own teammates, going down awkwardly.
Caldwell is, quite literally, a big part of what they do on defense. He's a true nose tackle, and has crucial to absorbing blockers and stuffing the interior of the defensive line. For a big fella at 6'1" 340 lbs, he entered Saturday's game with 14 pressures, a sack, two quarterback hits, and three batted passes, and he added to his tallies against Wisconsin.
Fortunately, the Ducks leave Wisconsin with two weeks to get ready before hosting University of Washington at Autzen Stadium on November 30 for the final regular season game of the year for the Ducks. We'll hope to get details about the extent of the injury in the coming days, but if he isn't able to get healthy to play, the next man up would be former 4-star recruit in sophomore Terrance Green.
Oregon’s narrow victory over Wisconsin highlights a massive issue that they must fix in order to reach championship goals
They’re going to need to get that sorted.
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