When Defensive Coordinator Brady Hoke envisioned what his 4-3 Defensive Scheme would look like, the game against Utah was likely what he had in mind. The team stopped the Utes on 7 of 12 third downs and played with heart. Injuries have been hard to take this season for the Oregon Ducks, on both sides of the ball.
Running Back Royce Freeman missed the game against Nebraska and Colorado and did not seem like himself until the Oregon Ducks faced Stanford and Utah. Freeman saw back to back 100+ yard games. The Oregon Defense has not been so fortunate.