The biggest difference in Oregon State’s defensive strategy compared to Oregon’s previous opponents this year is how much the Beavers respected the Ducks’ passing threat and backed off of the box. Except in a handful of obvious goalline situations, and a couple 3rd & longs where they played dime, OSU spent the vast majority of the game in a 2-4-5 structure with four on the line and two backers at depth, with no nose tackle. In all of Oregon’s earlier games, defenses spent most of the time with seven or eight in the box to stop the run and dared the Ducks’ young quarterback to throw; it was a change for the Beavs as well who played with heavy boxes much of the time in their first three games.
Duck Tape: Film Review of Week 13, 2020 at Oregon State
