Casey Rogers on Run Defense, Popo Aumavae

Casey Rogers discusses Oregon's improved run defense and Popo Aumavae.

Transcript

00:00 How have you guys against the run where you're already good against it a year ago?

00:05 But they got all the pass rush, all the yards lost to Satch,

00:08 you guys are still better against the run than a year ago.

00:11 >> Yeah, I think it's taking a lot of pride in it, is the first step.

00:15 We were definitely humbled the last time we played Oregon State,

00:21 towards the end of that season.

00:23 We thought we were pretty good.

00:25 In all season last year, we played the run very well, and

00:28 then kind of got humbled to that last game.

00:30 And that kind of set the tone for this season of how much we want to take pride

00:35 in being not just good in the run game, but elite.

00:39 And I think that's kind of what you've seen this year.

00:41 We have a bunch of older guys who, this is their last chance, so

00:45 you have no choice but to be elite in the run game.

00:48 And when you stop the run, you earn the right to rush the passer, and

00:51 that's kind of what we've been trying to do this whole year.

00:55 Any team that we know is run heavy, it's make them one dimensional.

00:59 You don't take out the run, they try to throw the ball,

01:02 it might not be their forte.

01:03 So, and then against these passing teams, if you make them abandon their run game,

01:09 now you know they're one dimensional.

01:10 All they're gonna do is try to get to their receivers, and

01:13 you can kind of set up your defense schematically the way you want to.

01:17 >> What's it meant for this defense having Popo around for this season?

01:21 I know he was here last year, but not available.

01:23 >> Yeah, I mean, Popo is, he's another seven year guy,

01:29 which is seven years of wisdom, right?

01:33 So I don't remember what the total amount of years we added up, but

01:37 I know it's 50 plus for all the guys in our room, if you add up how many years

01:42 of all the vets in our room.

01:44 But I mean, someone who's played a lot of snaps in football,

01:48 someone who's been in this league, someone who's been here for a while,

01:51 knows what it means to be an Oregon Duck.

01:54 For some of us transfers, we come in and we don't know that right away.

01:58 And the first people we look to are the guys like Popo who have been here for

02:01 a while and who know the standard of what it is to be a Duck.