IZR Debate: Dinged Up Defensive Line

Reported by Josh Schlichter on November 7, 2012
In Inside Zone Read | 6 Comments

With Ricky Heimuli almost certainly out for Saturday’s matchup with Cal, and Isaac Remington and Dion Jordan’s statuses truly up in the air, the Oregon coaching staff has a huge decision to make:

Should Oregon “press” its defensive linemen, and bring them back into the rotation? Or should they take a lesser opponent a little lighter than they would take a team like Southern Cal, and rest up for the bigger game the following week?

As far fetched as a Cal upset sounds, and playing a serious devil’s advocate here: literally anything can happen in Memorial Stadium. If 2010 isn’t enough of an example, ask UCLA, who played its worst game of the season without warning in Strawberry Canyon this year.

So what would you do? Play your linemen, or rest up?

Categories: Inside Zone Read

Josh SchlichterJosh is a College Football enthusiast from sunny Southern California. He has written for several self-operated prep sports blogs, as well as multiple SB Nation sites. In High School, Josh played football for four years, and helped create and operate the team's no-huddle system. Most of Josh's football knowledge branches from watching College Football his entire life, and is backed up by his first hand experience in both option and spread offenses. Above all, though, he is a proud student at the University of Oregon. @joshschlichterView all posts by Josh Schlichter →

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http://www.facebook.com/people/Ethan-Elson/690535036 Ethan Elson

they can play one and save the others or play two and save one for later. but gun to my head id say we really dont have to worry about cals run game. pressure on the QB is another story.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Ethan-Elson/690535036 Ethan Elson
  
  but i agree. anything can happen at CAL
- http://twitter.com/joshschlichter Josh Schlichter
  
  With Keenan Allen and Maynard in limbo, it’s easy to count them out. Something tells me that Balducci will step in and do a good job, too. Don’t you like having depth?!!
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Ethan-Elson/690535036 Ethan Elson
    
    oh i didnt know they were both unknowns. haha that definitely changes things. maybe we just sit our starters on the d line for this one? idk… what would you do?
    - http://twitter.com/joshschlichter Josh Schlichter
      
      My prediction: Heimuli won’t play at all, and will miss extended playing time. Remington and Jordan are on the “Injured Reserve List” so to speak, and won’t see the field unless absolutely necessary. Balducci will burn his redshirt, and fill into the rotation with Hart, Keliikipi, Armstead and Washington