Depth Chart Deep Dive: Oregon interior defensive linemen

With spring ball in the rearview, and the transfer portal closed, we’re beginning to get an idea of what Oregon’s depth chart might look like in 2023.

Since the end of the 2022 regular season, Dan Lanning’s program added 14 players via the portal while 30 former Ducks opted to seek opportunities elsewhere.

As we near the start of fall camp, the ScoopDuck staff is taking an in-depth, position-by-position look at the Oregon roster.

Next up, the defensive tackles and nose tackles.

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Spring Synopsis

Oregon entered the spring stacked with quality depth along the defensive interior — despite losing a significant collection of talent. Jordon Riley (NFL Draft), Keanu Williams (transfer), Treven Ma’ae (transfer), Maceal Afaese (medically retired), and Sir Mells (transfer) all departed the program during the offseason.

But Casey Rogers, Taki Taimani, and Keyon Ware-Hudson are all back after strong 2022 campaigns. All three will push for starting jobs at their respective positions in 2023.

Sophomore Ben Roberts was one of the Ducks’ more impactful true freshmen last fall and could be poised for an uptick in playing time at nose tackle. Meanwhile, ’23 signees Tevita Pome’e and My’Keil Gardner enrolled early and each had some bright moments during the spring.

The most significant development for Oregon along the defensive interior was the healthy return of Popo Aumavae. A first-team all-conference selection in 2021, Aumavae missed the entire 2022 season due to injury but was full-go throughout the spring.

Projected Starter

Rogers played 441 snaps last season — the most among Oregon interior defensive linemen by a wide margin. The fifth-year senior was tremendous during his first season in Eugene and will likely lock down the starting defensive tackle role again next fall.

As long as Amauvae is fully healthy, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where he doesn’t see the majority of playing time at nose tackle. In 2021, he graded out as Pro Football Focus’s top defensive lineman in the Pac-12. Fellow Duck Brandon Dorlus was the only DL in the conference who generated more quarterback pressures than Aumavae.

But Taimani could also be poised for a big second season in Eugene. He played through an ankle injury for much of last year and, while speaking with reporters this spring, expressed a desire to be a more consistent, productive player in 2023.

“I feel like I didn’t put my best foot forward coming to this university and doing what I wanted to do,” Taimani said. “I think that’s part of the reason I came back — I feel like I have more to show. I’m feeling a lot healthier, so hopefully I can keep getting treatment throughout the spring and the season and finally stay healthy.”

Other than injury, what can change?

Oregon’s offseason addition of former South Carolina star EDGE could enable Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi to get creative with their lineups.

Burch will likely see playing time at both Jack linebacker and defensive end. While speaking with reporters this spring, defensive line coach Tony Tuioti hinted that Oregon could look to play Burch and star defensive end Brandon Dorlus along the defensive line simultaneously in order to exploit matchups.

“(Burch) can play all that just like Dorlus can play a (five-technique), can play a (six-technique), can play a (nine-technique),” Tuiori said. “Dorlus, he’s got the position fix to slide in and be a three-technique and take advantage of less athletic guards. So we have the ability to do that.”

While Rogers and Ware-Hudson are both quality options at defensive tackle, Oregon’s ability to slide Dorlus there on occasion could be key.

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