What should the Oregon Ducks expect from the USC Trojans' defense?

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The Oregon Ducks scored a program-record 84 points last week against Portland State. Is that type of performance transferable to this week on the road against the USC Trojans? Maybe not to that extent. Was it still enough to build some confidence in a unit that struggled to start the year? I’d say so.

Oregon and USC are expected to trade blows on offense this weekend in Los Angeles as both defenses have disappointed this season. In a shootout, it’s often the defense that makes the first big stop that winds up on top. So, how can Dante Moore avoid trouble against USC?

The truth is, Moore will probably be on the run often in the Coliseum. The offensive line remains unsettled for the Ducks, and the Trojans have weapons to get after the quarterback. The Trojans have plenty of talent in the secondary as well, but like Oregon, it hasn’t always translated into success this season.

Oregon is a slim favorite heading into the road game, and the success last week — albeit against an FCS foe — could roll into this week against a unit that struggled to contain the turnover-prone offense from Rutgers. The Ducks should be bursting with confidence in a game that might be do-or-die for their postseason hopes so early in the season.

Can Oregon take rise to the occasion and keep the offense hot against a bitter rival? Let's take a closer look at USC’s defense to find out where the Trojans thrive, and where the Ducks can attack.

What does USC do well on defense?

The Trojans know how to get after the passer. Gary Patterson’s 4-2-5 defense allows the Trojans to disguise blitzes and throw the offensive line through a loop, leading to eight sacks so far this season. USC has capable edge rushers in Kameryn Crawford and true freshman Luke Wafle, but the unit could get even stronger if defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart returns this week.

USC has been good on early downs, but struggled to get off the field on third down. That’s because even though Patterson’s defense offers plenty of versatility, there are holes in the front seven that have allowed teams to have success running the ball, and Rutgers certainly exposed some issues in the secondary last week as well. The Trojans play lots of split-field zone coverage, with corners on the outside playing match coverage depending on the route combination.

Late in a tight game, the Trojans had a ton of trouble slowing down a Rutgers offense that had been turnover-prone and miserable to start the season. Oregon has far better weapons, and a better quarterback, so if the Ducks can execute on the road, they could have similar chances against the USC defense. Consistency is key for the Trojans, and they haven’t been able to obtain it yet.

Players to Know

DE Luke Wafle

The No. 1 recruit in the 2026 class has lived up to the billing as a freshman on the Trojan defense. Luke Wafle has 15 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss this season, and while the numbers aren’t eye-popping, the freshman has been a force on the edge. He has succeeded in turning runs inside and creating pressure on the quarterback to influence throws. Waffle hasn’t recorded a sack yet, but you can bet he will be hunting his first against Oregon’s offensive tackles, which struggled in their only road showing this season.

S Christian Pierce

USC’s secondary hasn’t performed to its potential yet, but there is no shortage of talent in that department either. Christian Pierce is second on the team with 19 tackles and a pair of pass deflections. The senior safety snagged an interception against Rutgers and is known for his ability to get his hands to the football. He is also great at coming down from his safety spot and playing against the run, so Oregon will need to be aware of him on Saturday.

S Prophet Brown

Sticking in the secondary, Prophet Brown might have had the game-changing play in USC’s win over Rutgers last week. In a game that was decided by a touchdown, Prophet Brown had a 99-yard pick-six to get the Trojans out of a tough situation. Brown will patrol the middle of the field, and the Ducks enjoy throwing seam routes and deep posts from the slot. That puts Brown in direct opposition to Moore’s favorite throws, so Oregon will need a plan for the sixth-year senior.

Are the Ducks built to score on USC?

Oregon should be able to score on anybody, and especially USC after its defensive performance a week ago. However, this is a bad matchup for the Ducks’ offensive line, which still hasn’t found a solid group to lean on up front and has surrendered seven sacks this season. Moore will need to be able to get rid of the ball quickly, and Oregon will have to establish the run early on to neutralize the pass rush.

The Ducks saw the ball go through the hoop enough times last week to have some confidence going into this week, whether it be Moore connecting on big throws downfield or the running game finally hitting the holes and delivering explosive plays. Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill need to have success on early downs to keep the Ducks in manageable spots on third down.

USC hasn’t been consistent at all defensively, and they allowed over five yards per carry and a combined five touchdowns on the ground in the last two games. Getting Stewart back on the defensive line would make a big difference, but Oregon has to take advantage of the run defense, and that should set up big plays over the middle in the passing game. The Ducks are capable of outscoring the Trojans, but once again, they have to execute the little details.

What should we expect?

This could wind up being a game where the first team to force a stop takes the win. Expect fireworks offensively, and expect Patterson to dial up blitzes to get after Moore. Oregon struggled to protect Moore last season when Indiana disguised its attack, flustering Moore into taking sacks and making bad decisions. This will be a game where Moore has to show his growth.

USC has a couple of players defensively that I haven’t mentioned yet, but should make a big impact. Linebacker Deven Bryant, a Washington transfer, leads the Trojans in tackles and is a stout run defender, while Desman Stephens II was a big playmaker last week. The Trojans also rotate often in the secondary, using prized transfer Jontez Williams and freshman Elbert Hill IV on the outside, and Kennedy Urlacher, son of NFL legend Brian Urlacher, is a hard hitter as a hybrid safety.

I think Oregon can outscore USC in this game, particularly if the Ducks can get the Trojans to bite on play action and then attack over the middle with Evan Stewart and Dakorien Moore. As long as the Ducks can handle the pass rush, they should be in good shape, but that is easier said than done. If USC can get home and put the Ducks behind the chains, it could be a stressful day for Oregon.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: What should the Oregon Ducks expect from the USC Trojans' defense?

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