EUGENE -- During his 19 months as Oregon's defensive coordinator, Jim Leavitt has worn the same charcoal-colored, long-sleeved shirt to nearly every practice.
"Fighting Ducks" was once screen-printed across the chest though the letters wore off long ago, leaving only their outline and few shreds of yellow hanging onto the sweat-wicking fabric. But if Leavitt himself doesn't look any different entering his second season, the same cannot be said of his defense.
After inheriting a unit that allowed 41.4 points per game, Leavitt trimmed 12.4 points off that average last season in his 3-4 scheme. In a Las Vegas Bowl defeat that was largely forgettable for every UO unit, the defense allowed 38 points but also scored two touchdowns, too -- scores that resulted from two of the 25 turnovers forced last fall, 13 more than the previous season.