Post-Practice: Brandon Dorlus

Q: You’re working more on the outside, using your athleticism. What’s that been like for you?

Brandon Dorlus: “I’ve been doing this since my freshman year. Coach Joe, he believes if I can expand my game, I can be on the field and do everything. So I feel like I can help my teammates as much as possible.”

Q: You guys were stout against the run last week; now there’s a significant uptick in talent. What’s the key this week?

Dorlus: “Our keys. I feel like if we focus on our keys, we’ll be alright. We did it last week, now we have to do it for four quarters.”

Q: Looking at the film, what challenges does Ohio State present?

Dorlus: “They’re real physical, but it’s nothing we haven’t faced before. Wisconsin was big and physical. We’ll be prepared.”

Q: The Auburn game (in 2019), I know they’re different teams, but can you take something from that game?

Dorlus: “Oh yeah, I witnessed a lot that first game. We went through a lot of adversity that game, and I watched how the older guys handled it. Now it’s up to me to be able to step up and do that.”

Q: Keys for going into a rockous environment like that?

Dorlus: “We know it’s going to be loud. We know it’s going to be crazy. We just have to focus. Communication is going to be key, pre-snap. They have tempo, and today we worked on that. We’re going to be OK.”

Q: Their offensive line, all five guys were tackles in high school. Have you ever seen that, five body types all tackles?

Dorlus: “Yeah, watching the film, their interiors guys are all 6-5, 6-6. But we have (George) Moore, (Steven) Jones, so we have a good feel of working against long-arm guards. Just play hard. Take the fight to them, don’t let them bring it to you.”

Q: Oregon is 0-9 all-time against Ohio State. What’s it like being on a team that can maybe get that first win?

Dorlus: “On the board, we have a sign that says ‘Why not us?’ This is going to be the year that they’re going to feel us for sure.”

Q: Tim DeRuyter talked about respecting their play-action. What are the keys for you in that area?

Dorlus: “Watching film, between the pre-play keys and the tackles, you can tell, but we also can’t just guess all the time. We just have to stay with our keys and focus the whole time.”

Q: The standard has really risen under Mario Cristobal. What do you think a win over Ohio State would mean for this program?

Dorlus: “I mean…if we were to beat them, it would show everyone. We’re going for the big one this time.”

Q: Getting the sack Saturday, how great was that, getting the first one of the season?

Dorlus: “Oh man, that was great. All game their quarterback was fast, but it felt good. I’m trying to get another one, more than one now.”

Q: What do you think of Bradyn Swinson’s play?

Dorlus: “(His play) doesn’t surprise me at all. He’s been stepping up all spring, all fall, living up to his role. You know he changed his body a lot, and every day he’s working on the little things to make himself great.”

Q: DeRuyter talked about turnovers. You forced three in game one. How did that feel?

Dorlus: “We always want to be plus-one in that category. As he says, you gotta be prepared, fly to the ball, be physical to the ball. We work on it every day, having 11 hats flying to the ball.”