As the Washington Huskies passed, ran and taunted their way into the endzone 10 times Saturday evening during a 70-21 win over the Oregon Ducks, fans trudged up the Autzen Stadium steps wondering how this could happen.

70 was mercy. Had the Huskies bared their fangs it could've been 84 pretty easily.

Word spread across social media and along the ticker of ESPN, ABC, the Pac-12 Network and other stations.

And while the score read, "Washington 70, Oregon 21," the message to the college football world went deeper: Oregon, the perennial Pac-12 contender and national championship threat, was gone.

A new Oregon Ducks have emerged - and, right now, they aren't very good.

Frankly, the statistics might be even worse than Saturday's scoreboard indicated.

This season, Oregon's defense is giving up 522 yards (126th out of 128) and 41.8 points per game (125th).

The only program worse than the Ducks in both of those categories? Texas State, which recently moved up to the FBS level.

And this isn't a one-year hiccup.

Last season, Oregon's defense finished 116th in yards per game (480) and 114th in points allowed (36.8), leading to the demotion of then-defensive coordinator Don Pellum back to linebacker coach and the hiring of Brady Hoke to guide the defense.

Forget "bend, but don't break."

This is "bent, broken, obliterated."

But how did this happen?

A breakdown of the recruiting classes from 2012-2015 - a timespan that incorporates the redshirt seniors to the sophomores/redshirt freshmen on the current Oregon roster - paints a clear picture.

* Rivals.com was used to for recruiting class information and data

Class of 2012 - Chip Kelly's last complete recruiting class

Average stars per commit on offense: 3.66 (9 pledges)

Average stars per commit on defense: 3.27 (11 pledges)

4* DE Arik Armstead (Elk Grove, CA)

4* DE DeForest Buckner (Honolulu, HI)

2* DE Cody Carringer (Butte, MT)

3* T.J. Daniel (Oakland, CA)

3* DT Stetson Bair (Council Bluffs, IA) - Left team

4* DT Alex Balducci (Portland, OR)

4* LB Brett Bafaro (Hillsboro, OR) - Left team

3* DB Reggie Daniels (Chandler, AZ)

3* DB Eric Amoako (Arlington, TX) - Transferred

3* DB Stephen Amoako (Arlington, TX) - Transferred

3* ATH Oshay Dunmore (Newport, OR) - Dismissed from team

In Kelly's last complete recruiting class at Oregon, the Ducks hit home runs along the defensive line, signing future NFL first-round draft picks Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner, as well as Alex Balducci, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent.

Oregon struck out at linebacker, however, as lone signee Brett Bafaro left the football program in the spring of 2014.

Similarly, the Ducks failed to get much production out of their four defensive back signees - Eric and Stephen Amoako both left the program and Oshay Dumore was dismissed.

Class of 2013 - Chip Kelly left for Philadelphia Eagles weeks before signing day

Average stars per commit on offense: 3.27 (11 pledges)

Average stars per commit on defense: 3.28 (7 pledges)

4* DE Torrodney Prevot (Houston, TX) - Suspended indefinitely in August

3* DT Doug Brenner (Portland, OR) - Moved to OL

2* JC LB Joe Walker (Wilmington, CA)

3* LB Danny Mattingly (Spokane, WA)

3* ATH Chris Seisay (American Canyon, CA) - Transferred to Portland State

3* ATH Juwaan Williams (Tucker, GA)

4* ATH Tyrell Robinson (San Diego, CA) - Dismissed from team

4* ATH Tyree Robinson (San Diego, CA)

Oregon signed just seven defensive prospects, but addressed the linebacker need immediately with junior college standout Joe Walker, who went on to play in the NFL.

However, four-star athlete Tyrell Robinson (transfer) and three-star linebacker Danny Mattingly (lack of development) have not made a major impact in Eugene.

Defensive end/linebacker Torrodney Prevot showed promise as a pass-rusher early in his career, but never fully caught on and was suspended indefinitely this summer.

Similarly, the defensive backs have been middling, at best, thus far during their careers. Tyree Robinson has struggled despite playing significant time.

Class of 2014 - Mark Helfrich's first full recruiting cycle

Average stars per commit on offense: 3.33 (9 pledges)

Average stars per commit on defense: 3.0 (12 pledges)

3* TE Henry Mondeaux - Moved to defensive line

3* DE Eddie Heard (Oakland, CA) - Moved to linebacker

3* DE Austin Maloata (Corona, CA)

3* DE Justin Hollins (Arlington TX)

3* DE Jalen Jelks (Phoenix, AZ)

3* LB Jimmie Swain (Olathe, KS)

3* DB Mattrell McGraw (River Ridge, LA)

2* DB Khalil Oliver (Meridian, ID)

3* DB Glen Ihenacho (Gardena, CA)

3* DB Arrion Springs (San Antonio, TX)

3* DB Dominique Harrison (San Pablo, CA) - Transferred

4* JC DE Tui Talia (Pleasant Hill, CA)

Oregon failed to sign a bluechip prep prospect in the class of 2014, and again inked just one linebacker, highlighting either a failure to evaluate signees from the previous two classes or an inability to close on the position on the recruiting trail.

By this point, Oregon was top heavy with upperclassmen at linebacker, and failed to address the future need.

Jimmie Swain was an intriguing signee, as he committed to Oregon over Arkansas, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Stanford and TCU, but he was hardly a guaranteed solution to multiple spots at linebacker.

Defensive linemen Henry Mondeaux, Austin Maloata and Justin Hollins are all receiving significant snaps at Oregon this season, but don't appear to be on track for all-conference performances during their careers.

The defensive back spot was also an area where Oregon missed significantly, failing to sign a major recruit and getting limited return outside of Arrion Springs, who has started to emerge for the Ducks this season.

Generally, while a good chunk of this class is receiving playing time, it is difficult to see many (any?) getting significant snaps for a Pac-12 contender.

Average stars per commit on offense: 3.5 (10 pledges)

Average stars per commit on defense: 3.25 (12 pledges)

4* DE Canton Kaumatule (Honolulu, HI)

3* DE Gus Cumberlander (Ellenwood, GA)

3* DT Drayton Carlberg (Minneapolis, MN)

3* DT Rex Manu (Miliani, HI)

3* DT Gary Baker (Upland, CA)

3* JC LB Paris Bostick (Santa Monica, CA) - Moved to safety; Left team

3* JC LB Jonah Moi (Riverside, CA)

3* LB Fotu Leiato (Steilacoom, WA)

4* CB Ugo Amadi (Nashville, TN)

4* RB Malik Lovette (Redlands, CA) - Moved to defensive back

3* DB Jihree Stewart (Corona, CA)

3* DB Dylan Kane (Honolulu, HI) - Moved to wide receiver

It is somewhat unfair to evaluate this group so early in their careers, as the redshirt freshmen/sophomores are, in many cases, competing in their first live college action this year.

However, it is noteworthy to point out Oregon signed junior college linebackers Paris Bostick and Jonah Moi, who were expected to help add depth to a struggling linebacker crew, and no prep talent at the position. Fotu Leiato was rated as a linebacker, but has played safety in Eugene.

Under Armour All-American defensive end Canton Kaumatule was considered one of the most dominant defenders in the country coming out of high school, but has played sparingly, and four-star cornerback Ugo Amadi is starting, but remains a work in progress.

Lovette enhances the star rating of this defensive unit, but was evaluated exclusively at running back/all-purpose back in high school.

Class of 2016 - Too soon to evaluate

Average stars per commit on offense: 3.12 (9 pledges)

Average stars per commit on defense: 3.2* (12 pledges)

*JC DT Ratu Mafileo was not rated by Rivals, and therefore did not count toward Oregon's stars per commit rating on defense

JC DT Ratu Mafileo (San Mateo, CA)

3* DT Wayne Kirby (Pocatello, ID)

4* DE Bryson Young (Clovis, CA)

3* DE Hunter Kampmoyer (Bishop, CA)

4* LB Keith Simms (Bethesda, MD)

3* JC LB A.J. Hotchkins (Riverside City, CA)

3* LB Eric Briscoe Jr. (Yakima, WA)

3* LB Darrian Franklin (Downey, CA)

4* DB Brady Breeze (Portland, OR)

3* DB Troy Dye (Norco, CA) - Moved to linebacker

2* WR Brenden Schooler - Moved to safety

4* ATH La'Mar Winston (Portland, OR)

It's way too soon to evaluate this class, although Oregon has gotten early production out of linebacker Troy Dye.

Analysis

After Chip Kelly's final full recruiting class of 2012, featuring Armstead and Buckner, the Ducks have failed to sign or develop a recruit who went on to earn first or second-team all-Pac-12 honors on the defensive side of the ball.

The 2013 and 2014 recruiting classes, arguably the heart of defense this season, are particularly troubling, as Tyree Robinson is the only remaining four-star prospect from those two years still on the roster.

While the star ratings per player haven't dropped significantly during the transition from Kelly to Helfrich, the development and subsequent production of those players has clearly plummeted.

That is most apparent when looking at the linebacker position, arguably Oregon's most significant weakness on the defense over the past few seasons.

Based on an evaluation of the aforementioned recruiting window, it was a weakness the Oregon coaching staff didn't prepare for, and may not have seen coming.

During that timeframe, Oregon signed a total of four high school, three junior college and one FBS transfer at linebacker - just enough to fill out a true two-deep for its 3-4 defense (8) and the fewest in the Pac-12.

Here's a look at how many linebackers other programs recruited in that timeframe (Of note: "Athlete" recruits who play linebacker at Oregon were counted toward the Ducks' total, but were not for the programs listed below):

Alabama - 14

Arizona - 11

Arizona State - 15

Cal - 13

Colorado - 5* (*signed multiple "athletes" who played linebacker exclusively in college)

Ohio State - 14

Oregon State - 9

Stanford - 10

UCLA - 13

USC - 9

Utah - 9

Washington - 9

Washington State - 9

Given that Oregon was recruiting to fill its linebacker-heavy 3-4 defense for much of this period, the limited number of signed prospects was a failure on the recruiting trail.

Hope for the future

It's clear that since the transition from Chip Kelly to Mark Helfrich, Oregon has struggled to recruit playmakers on the defensive side of the ball.

However, there remains hope in the future.

It is widely acknowledged that a new defensive coordinator's schematic improvements aren't felt until Year 2, and all five of the Ducks' top commits in the 2017 recruiting class (thus far) come from the defensive side of the ball.

Recruiting can give fans an early indication about the future of a program. In Oregon's case, the coaching staff took too long and did too little to address its needs at linebacker, and the program has failed to develop the defensive talent - bluechip or otherwise - it has recruited over the past three-to-four years.

-- Andrew Nemec

anemec@oregonian.com

@AndrewNemec