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Teitum Tuioti Ready to Lead Oregon Defense in Playoff Against James Madison: 'Our communication up front is really a separator'

Max Torres Author Profileby: Max Torres12 hours agomtorressports

Oregon’s defense has been one of the best units in college football this season. Their ability to effectively stop both the run and the pass and force takeaways is part of what’s led them to the playoff for the second straight year. Outside linebacker Teitum Tuioti has been a key piece of Tosh Lupoi’s defense, wreaking havoc in the backfield.

To keep their season alive Tuioti and the Ducks will have to slow down a James Madison offense that’s averaging 37.3 points per game led by dual-threat quarterback Alonza Barnett.

“He’s a great player,” Tuioti said on Tuesday. “As far as we know, we continue to watch him, continue to see a lot of his abilities to pass the ball, to run the ball. So up front we’re just gonna have to play sound football, make sure that we read our keys, and then obviously we’re gonna have to stop the run first of all with this team.”

Tuioti and the Oregon defensive line continue to uphold a standard of excellence in Eugene. After losing three players (Derrick Harmon, Jordan Burch, Ja’maree Caldwell) to the NFL last year.

One thing has fueled that consistency and their ability to maintain their effectiveness as a group.

“I think our connection up front. Our communication up front is really a separator for us,” Tuioti said of what makes the Ducks’ defensive line special. “I think that we always will have great competitors and great athletes up front here at Oregon, but the difference this year is really our connection. The ability for us to get the call, get it relayed to our teammates, and then just for all of us to have trust in one another. To get the call and make sure that we’re on the right call and playing the defense.”

Oregon will lose a key piece of their coaching staff next season when defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi leaves Eugene and returns to his Alma Mater as Cal’s next head coach.

The junior outside linebacker had nothing but great things to say about his coach and is happy that he’ll coach the Ducks’ defense through the playoff.

“I think that’s great,” Tuioti said. “We know that coach Lupoi has a lot of love and appreciation for us, and it just shows that he’s here and he has unfinished business. At the end of the day we started this thing together, and we’re gonna finish this thing together.”

Lupoi has made an undeniable impact on the Oregon defense during his years in Eugene, both with the players he’s recruited and the coaching philosophy he’s implemented.

Tuioti has seen that first-hand developing from a 3-star recruit to a key contributor on this year’s team and one of the most disruptive linemen in college football.

“I think it starts with just the culture that he’s brought. Relentless effort, ball excellence and power of unit, those three things we continue to harp on each week ever since I’ve been here,” Tuioti said of how Lupoi has changed the narrative around the Oregon program. “And those three things are the reason why we’re able to have so much success on this defense. It’s because of coach Lupoi bringing his DNA traits and his culture, along with Coach Lanning, to this defense.”

Tuioti will aim to add to his team-high 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks on Saturday when the No. 5 Ducks collide with the No. 12 James Madison Dukes. That game is set for a 4:30 PM PT kickoff and will be broadcast on TNT and HBO Max.

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