Dargan Provides Another Defensive Spark
By Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
The danger, Erick Dargan said, is in trying to do too much, and screwing up everything for all 11 Oregon defenders on the field.
“When you overthink it, you sometimes don’t make a play,” said Dargan, whose remarkable ability to make timely big plays was on display again Saturday in No. 2 Oregon’s 48-14 win over Wyoming. “You’ve got to let the game come to you. We’re doing a great job of trusting each other. The only time we give up a play is when somebody tries to do somebody else’s job, and doesn’t do their own.”
Dargan is more than handling his own responsibilities so far in 2014. One week after his interception was the spark Oregon needed in a win over Michigan State, the senior safety had two interceptions in the second quarter Saturday. The Ducks outscored the Cowboys 27-0 in the quarter, rallying from down 7-0 to start what became a run of 41 straight points.
Dargan was playing deep centerfield for his first interception, an overthrown ball that settled into his arms deep downfield. That set the stage for Marcus Mariota’s somersaulting touchdown that put the Ducks up 20-7.
On Wyoming’s next possession, the UO safety came through again. He made a play on the ball, tipping it into the air before grabbing it for yet another interception. Seven plays later, Mariota hit Devon Allen for a touchdown that made it 27-7. “I’m always trying to make a play for the defense, get us off the field,” Dargan said. “But I know other people are doing the same.”
The UO defense needed the spark in the early going, as the Ducks struggled to get off the field on third down. The Cowboys were 5-of-6 on third down their first two possessions, driving to a 7-0 lead. They seemed to target in the passing game UO redshirt freshman Chris Seisay, who made his first career start at cornerback in place of Troy Hill.
But Seisay got acclimated, Dargan made two big plays and the Ducks settled down. “I’m excited we won the game,” Seisay said. “That’s the main goal. I could have played better, but I’m glad we got the win.”
Seisay said he knew for a couple days he’d probably fill in for Hill, who played through a knee issue against Michigan State, position coach John Neal told media afterward. He said Wyoming mixed up its route combinations to keep the Ducks off balance early, but the UO defense eventually adjusted.
Given the unusual 11 a.m. kickoff team, it seemed like the Ducks were sleepwalking a bit in the early going. No excuse, Seisay said. “The time didn’t really affect anything; we practice at 11 o’clock,” Seisay said. “We just can’t come out flat at all, no matter who we’re playing.”
Along with Dargan’s two interceptions, the UO defense also forced two fumbles, one of which was recovered by emerging outside linebacker Christian French. The Ducks also finished with 11 tackles for loss, including five sacks, as they continue to make the sort of momentum-changing plays that were lacking at times in 2013.
Sophomore outside linebacker Torrodney Prevot, who is paired with French in the UO rotation, finished with 1½ sacks and a forced fumble. “It seemed like we just weren’t finishing at the beginning,” Prevot said. “We started finishing our plays, and that helped us get more takeaways.”
