The first injury report of the week gave Oregon a clear problem to monitor, and it sits right in the middle of a defense that has already had issues on the back end. Dante Moore is officially listed as OUT for the matchup with UCLA, but the other name drawing attention is starting safety Aaron Flowers, who is doubtful.
That status could matter just as much for the Ducks’ defense. Flowers is in his second year as a starter at safety, and if he can’t go, Oregon would be without one of its more experienced pieces in the secondary.
The bigger picture is that safety play has been a sore spot early this season. Oregon brought in the top-ranked safety in the Transfer Portal, Koi Perich, to help fill the void left by Dillon Thieneman, but the position still hasn’t played like a strength the way it did last year.
Perich has been out of place in coverage at times and hasn’t matched Thieneman’s impact against the run. Flowers, meanwhile, appears to have taken a step back after playing next to an elite safety last season, and that hasn’t helped the Ducks on the back end.
If Flowers is unavailable against UCLA, Oregon may finally be pushed into the kind of safety shakeup fans have been waiting for. Dan Lanning has stacked elite recruiting classes, so there is no shortage of talent to turn to.
The most likely player to see a bigger role is veteran Peyton Woodyard. When Flowers left the USC game with an upper body injury, Woodyard outsnapped him for the first time all season. He also played a better game against the Trojans than Flowers did, and his experience could make him the safest option if Oregon needs to make a change.
The name fans probably want to see most is 5-star freshman Jett Washington. He played four snaps against USC and showed off his upside earlier in the season against Portland State, when he picked off a pair of passes on diving interceptions.
The talent is obvious, but asking him to take on a major role in a key game would carry real risk. Still, his snap count figures to rise week by week, especially if Flowers is out.
Trey McNutt is another young safety fans would like to see more of, but based on how little he has played, it’s hard to picture him jumping into a major role right away.
Against USC, Flowers and Perich were the two lowest-graded defenders on Oregon’s defense, though a change was hard to justify because of their experience and Perich’s upside. This week could force the staff’s hand. If Flowers can’t play, Oregon may have to pivot to a new safety next to Perich - and that could finally help settle one of the defense’s biggest trouble spots.
In Other News...
Oregon Faces A Dangerous Home Test At The Worst Time
UCLA heads to Eugene with a chance to break a long losing streak on the road and do it against an Oregon team dealing with a major change under center. Dante Moore will not play because of a concussion, so Dylan Raiola is set to make the start for the Ducks, adding a layer of uncertainty to a game that already carried some intrigue given the matchup on the ground.
The Bruins rushing attack figures to be the part of this game that tests Oregon most, even though the Ducks have generally done a good job keeping opponents from piling up rushing yards and touchdowns. For Oregon, the challenge is obvious: protect home field, adjust quickly at quarterback and avoid letting UCLA turn a difficult trip into the kind of upset bid that can reshape the conversation in the Big Ten race. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon's UCLA Showdown Suddenly Feels Different For One Big Reason
The matchup with UCLA was already carrying plenty of weight for Oregon, with both teams in the top 25 and Autzen Stadium set for another nationally televised stage on CBS. The Ducks have had the upper hand in recent meetings, even if the Bruins still own a slight edge in the all-time series, so this is the kind of Pac-12-era-style collision that still feels like it matters in a big way.
What makes it feel different now is the quarterback situation. Dante Moore will be out because of a concussion, changing the look of Oregons offense at the exact moment the Ducks are trying to keep momentum in a high-profile home game. On the other sideline, UCLA coach Bob Chesney is stepping into this rivalry for the first time, adding a new wrinkle to a matchup that already has enough history without needing any extra help. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Faces A Huge UCLA Test With Its QB Situation Still Unclear
Greg McElroy is leaning Oregons way in the Ducks upcoming matchup with UCLA, and his reasoning starts on the line of scrimmage. He pointed to Dan Lannings team as a group that has held up well against the run and has been sharp in the red zone, two traits that tend to travel when the games get tight and the margins shrink.
The quarterback picture is still the part that keeps the matchup from feeling straightforward. McElroy noted Dante Moores concussion and also brought up Dylan Raiolas past trouble against ranked opponents, while UCLA brings its own case with a productive run game and a solid turnover margin. The concern for the Bruins, though, is whether the passing game can do enough and whether the penalties continue to drag them into bad spots. [Read more 🡒]