The Secret Formula: A Defensive Game Plan from Coach Don Pellum

Ashley Young FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

“It’s an awesome day because we have a wonderful opportunity to go out and play this weekend. There are a lot of people that are not playing, and we have the opportunity to play. So we’re really fired up about it,” said Coach Don Pellum, the Ducks defensive coordinator.

Insightful words of wisdom coming from a cool-handed Pellum in reference to this Friday’s game against the Arizona Wildcats. The Wildcats will look to strike down the Ducks for a third time in two years and ultimately eliminate any chance at a College Football Playoff game. FishDuck.com reporter Tyler Robinson listened to Pellum’s game plan at a post-practice press conference held at the Hatfiled-Dowlin complex following practice this morning.

Coach Pellum entering Autzen with the Ducks against Arizona.

Coach Pellum entering Autzen with the Ducks against Arizona.

When the Wildcats came into Autzen on a chilly Thursday evening in October, they found a way to in the end defeat the Ducks 31-24. After studying film, making changes to practice plans and seeing vast improvements since then, Pellum and the Ducks’ defense have the answer to not letting the past repeat itself.

“Leverage the ball better and tackle better. Plain and simple,” said Pellum. “Overall defensively from the beginning of the season to now we have improved with leverage on the ball and we have improved on tackling. There have been a couple games where it wasn’t as good as it needed to be, but this game we will have to tackle extremely well and have great leverage on the ball. We are excited for the opportunity.”

Tough hit from Ekpre-Olomu, 14, and Troy Hill, 13, on the Arizona running back Jones-Grigsby.

Tough hit from Ekpre-Olomu, 14, and Troy Hill, 13, on the Arizona running back Jones-Grigsby.

The last time these two teams met, Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon threw for 302 passing yards while their group of running backs rushed for 144 yards, according to GoDucks.com. So how do the Ducks’ defense and Pellum plan to contain the run game while also keeping an eye on a versatile QB? A new attitude and a yearning for wanting more.

“Attitude and intensity. Those are the two things that changed. It’s been maturing every week. Practice is so much stronger now in those areas.”

Top Photo by Craig Strobeck

New 2024 FishDuck Publishing Schedule….

During the off-season the FishDuck.com publishing schedule will consist of articles on Mondays and Tuesdays. Do keep checking as new articles could be published during the week when a writer has something to say.

In mid-August of 2024, we will go back to the seven-days-a-week of articles during the football season as we did in the football season of 2023.

The Our Beloved Ducks Forum (OBD) is where we we discuss the article above and many more topics, as it is so much easier in a message board format over there.  At the free OBD forum we will be posting Oregon Sports article links, the daily Press Releases from the Athletic Department and the news coming out every day.

Our 33 rules at the free OBD Forum can be summarized to this: 1) be polite and respectful, 2) do not tell anyone what to think, feel or write, and 3) no reference of any kind to politics. Easy-peasy!

OBD Forum members….we got your back.  No Trolls Allowed!