Year number two of the Andy Avalos defense is once again making significant strides.
In fact, most coaches will tell you the largest growth of most new defensive schemes always comes in the second year.
For Avalos, it’s all about the culture and consistency and bringing both of those to the field each and every day. On Saturday, the Ducks held their second practice of this 2020 edition of fall camp and early on Avalos said he was pleased with what he’s seeing.
“Number one our mentality has to grow” said Avalos from the Hatfield Dowlin Complex on Saturday.
“The culture of our defense has got to be,…it’s always got to be growing forward. Our mentality has to grow forward with the culture. What does that mean? It’s our operation. That’s how we prepare.
Guys understand what it means to prepare now. Not only to prepare but to do it consistently – Andy Avalos
“Those are the things you want to see in the growth in year two. Year one guys are trying to learn and figure out not just the team but the defensive fundamentals, the technique and also the process of how we prepare whether we’re in camp or whether we’re in the season. In year number two we would hope that those have become habits and we’re going to continue to emphasize those things in our preparations so that the consistency will show.”
While this Oregon defense lost significant star power in safeties Jevon Holland and Brady Breeze,…as well as cornerback Thomas Graham, Avalos is re-tooling his squad with extremely talented freshmen including five star linebackers Justin Flowe and Noah Sewell.
“On the field we’re making serious progress” explained Avalos.
“We’re making serious progress with a lot of the freshman. Again, we’ve had a lot of time to zoom,…you know the time during the summer that we used. All of that stuff is paying off. They are doing a tremendous job,…the linebackers,…the guys in the front,…the D’lineman,…and obviously some of the guys in the secondary.”
“We’re extremely excited about the guys that are here,,…the two practices and the prep leading up to these practices have been phenomenal.”