EUGENE — As the old woman in the classic Wendy’s commercials from the 1980s used to ask: “Where’s the beef?”

That is a question Brady Hoke is trying to sort out up front as Oregon’s first-year defensive coordinator installs a 4-3 base scheme.

The transition comes in a year when the Ducks lose dominant Pac-12 defensive player of the year DeForest Buckner and stout nose tackle Alex Balducci.

“I like the stress it puts on us as defensive players. I think that’s important,” Hoke said of preparing the revamped front for life in the Pac-12 during Oregon’s high-rep practices. “You build mental and physical toughness from it. You do a really good job of honing in on keys and those kind of things. It’s challenging, but it’s really good.”

During the first week of preseason camp, sophomore Rex Manu (6 feet 3 inches, 305 pounds) and junior Austin Maloata (6-1, 305) are practicing with the first team at the defensive tackle spots with junior Henry Mondeaux (6-5, 280) at defensive end and sophomore Jalen Jelks (6-6, 268) at the rush end position.

Oregon is hoping sophomore Canton Kaumatule (6-7, 295) can stay healthy and live up to his five-star potential.

“It’s a learning process for him,” Hoke said. “He ended spring better, but he’s got to get a lot better.”

Hoke can do some bulk shopping off last year’s scout team list.

Redshirt freshmen Gary Baker (6-4, 305), Drayton Carlberg (6-5, 290) and Gus Cumberland (6-6, 260) are ready to throw their weight around after a year spent developing behind the scenes.

“My redshirt year was great because I was watching guys like DeForest Buckner and Alex Balducci,” Baker said. “Watching and learning from them was pretty good because they were great leaders. Then when we switched over to the new defense, it was kind of (starting) all over. Before I was near-stepping, now it’s shooting gaps.”

Baker and Carlberg are learning both interior positions under defensive line coach Ron Aiken, while Hoke is coaching the defensive ends.

“He’ll get on you if you’re doing bad and tell you when you’re doing good. He’s straightforward,” Baker said of Hoke’s approach as coordinator. “I think it’s better because (Aiken) is focused on seven or eight of us, that’s all that are in our (defensive tackle) room.”

Carlberg reshaped his body by adding 10 pounds of muscle over the summer. The Minneapolis import earned scout team defensive player of the year honors last season.

“I worked on improving my skill set and this year I finally get to show it a little bit,” Carlberg said. “I just took it as chance to get better and get stronger in the weight room. I agree I needed it to work on my skills during my redshirt year.

“I came in pretty heavy, but it wasn’t good weight. So I dropped that and put on good weight as the summer went along.”

Cumberland has a frame that is similar to those of Arik Amstead and Buckner, the former Ducks who are now teammates with the San Francisco 49ers.

“Last year was a learning experience. I gained some weight, got the plays down better and became a better teammate,” Cumberland said. “I went with (redshirting) and did the best I could on scout team.

“(Buckner) was a great leader, and he just taught me how to always use effort, give 100 percent, do your best. He taught me a lot about the plays, little tricks on how to remember things.”

Hoke will rely heavily on the 2015 recruiting class — Baker, Carlberg, Cumberland, Manu and Kaumatule — during his rebuilding process. The five-man crew combined for 14 tackles and four sacks during the spring game.

“The class as a whole has a lot of talent, just like the team as a whole,” Baker said. “We have to keep working hard and getting better.”