Nick Aliotti Savors a Great Year, and a Terrific Challenge

Mike Wines, MadMike of youtube fame, blogs the way the Duck football team practices: relentless, day after day. He regularly has the best compilation of Oregon video news. Today he features an eight-minute video interview with Defensive Coordinator Nick Aliotti and his thoughts on this special Oregon team and the challenge of facing Auburn. The one thing that comes through when Aliotti speaks is his tremendous passion for coaching football and these players. People have doubted and criticized him over the years, often unfairly, and the fierce productivity of this year's defense has been a vindication for Aliotti, who has been at UO for 20 years.

Chip Kelly's philosophy and practice methods have helped in revitalizing and reinventing the defense at Oregon. They've become a fast, attacking unit that forced 35 turnovers in the Ducks' twelve straight victories. Pursuing, relentless, blitzing from all angles, utilizing 24-26 players a game, the players stay fast and fresh and motivated. It's an entertaining style that perfectly matches the blur offense; you could call it the blur defense.

Their effectiveness has been unfairly questioned, because the speed, tempo and scoring pace of Oregon's offense skews the statistics. When the offense pumps out 50 points a game and 540 yards, the defense, giving up 19 points and 332 yards, looks less effective than they actually are. Nick Foles and Ryan Katz got a huge chunk of their passing yards trailing by three touchdowns or more late in games, as did Richard Brehaut and Matt Barkley before them.

As many have pointed out, a better measure of the defense is yards per play, and in this category Oregon is among the national leaders at 4.53. But here is the ultimate measure:12-0. Oregon's defense gets the ball back to the offense. They are 2nd in the country in turnovers gained, 5th in fourth down stops with 16 (24% conversion rate). Opponents have 37 drives to the red zone all season with just 25 scores, and 8 of those were field goals. Oregon's defense has been attacking and relentless, tenacious and stingy, especially in the second half. They have 31 sacks and 90 tackles for loss, and nothing to be ashamed of.

As the architect, Aliotti has put the exclamation point on an accomplished career in Eugene with many highlights, including the 2001 Fiesta Bowl, and three victories over Oregon State with the Rose Bowl on the line ('94, 2008, 2009). He's thrived under Kelly, who's encouraged him to ramp up the pressure and aggressiveness.

He's part of a special group of Oregon assistants who've been the backbone of Oregon's unprecedented success in the last 20 years. Together Aliotti, Steve Greatwood, Don Pellum, Gary Campbell and Jim Radcliffe have given the Ducks a level of continuity, pride and sustained excellence that is unmatched in the country. Each have over 20 years in the program, and each brings the same intensity and enthusiasm every single day. They are a remarkable group of men, and Oregon is fortunate to have them. The success of this team is their finest achievement, and a fitting reward.