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Lupoi Helped Change the Defensive Culture in Eugene

by: Ted Leroux13 hours ago

I remember, as a sixteen-year-old in 2007, watching Oregon face Michigan in the Big House from my couch in Wisconsin — fascinated by what the Wolverines would look like after their historic opening-week upset loss to Appalachian State. But it wasn’t Michigan that captured my attention that day; it was Oregon’s offense. Behind standout performances from Dennis Dixon, Jonathan Stewart, and Jeremiah Johnson, I was instantly hooked on what the Ducks could do on the offensive side of the ball.

Throughout the late 2000s, 2010s, and into the 2020s, Oregon has never lost its identity as one of the most explosive offensive programs in the country. What has evolved, however, is the other side of the ball. The Ducks haven’t always fielded the type of dominant defense that defines the current era of Oregon football, and much of the credit for that transformation belongs to departing defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi.

In the four seasons before Dan Lanning and Lupoi joined forces in Eugene — prior to Lanning’s hiring as Oregon’s head coach ahead of the 2022 season — the Ducks finished inside the top 20 of Defensive F+ just once. That came in 2019, with a unit led by standouts such as Kayvon Thibodeaux, Troy Dye, Jevon Holland, and Verone McKinley.

Since Lanning and Lupoi arrived in Eugene, Oregon’s defense has reached new heights. The Ducks have averaged a Defensive F+ ranking of 23rd during their tenure, with each of the past three seasons setting a higher standard than previous eras — 13th in 2023, 16th in 2024, and an impressive 5th in 2025.

The road to building this defense wasn’t completed overnight. Oregon finished 59th in Defensive F+ in 2022, its lowest ranking since 2016, but the combination of Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi’s ability to identify and acquire elite talent with elite traits laid the foundation for what was to come. That progression should come as no surprise.

Despite spending the three seasons prior to arriving in Eugene in the NFL, Lupoi had long been regarded as an elite recruiter, earning Rivals Recruiter of the Year honors in 2010 during just his third season in coaching. From the very beginning, there was a clear expectation for what it would take to elevate Oregon’s defense to the level of its offense, and Lupoi played a major role in reshaping the culture.

“There’s a standard that’s been set here, we’ve changed that narrative.” Tosh Lupoi said this week when referencing the history of offensive prowess at Oregon. “We’re really proud of that. (We) relinquished the least amount of points since 1966. Coming into this thing, we knew how much work it would require.”

There are plenty of defensive success stories under the Lanning–Lupoi regime, but two leaders of the 2025 defense stand out. Bryce Boettcher and Teitum Tuioti have far exceeded their signing day projections and have become two of the most notable developmental success stories on Oregon’s defense.

“He helped me with so much — improving my technique, my pass-rush game, and my overall approach. He’s been a great mentor to me,” Tuioti reflected during this week’s media availability.

A Sheldon High School product, Tuioti made an immediate impact after arriving in Eugene, recording 30 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks as a freshman. Over the past two seasons, he has continued to ascend, emerging as the Ducks’ top pass rusher with a combined 12.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss during that span.

By now, the story of Bryce Boettcher is well known. From South Eugene High School to double walk-on, Boettcher has risen to become a two-time All–Big Ten linebacker and the leader of Oregon’s second level over the past two seasons. There may be no player more qualified to speak on Tosh Lupoi’s impact than Boettcher himself.

“I’ve been a Duck fan since I was little. Oregon has always been known for offense and speed,” Boettcher said earlier this week. “When Coach Lanning and Tosh came over, they definitely changed the narrative to physicality and relentless effort on defense. Over the years, we’ve progressively gotten better on that side of the ball.”

As Tosh departs down the coast to Berkeley to take over at his alma mater, there’s no better time than the present to recognize the standard he helped establish for the future.

With the end of the Lupoi era in sight, I’m reminded of a line from Tom Berenger in the masterpiece Major League, “Now there’s only one thing left to do… win the whole…” Well, you know the rest.

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