What to do at QB? The Oregon Ducks Need an Answer!

Walter Thurmond III returned the first punt of the game 78 yards for a touchdown and the Ducks dismal offense was spared its first possession. The defense didn’t get a rest, but at least when they went back on the field they had the lead.

 

Thurmond is second in total yards for the ducks with 364, trailing only QB Jeremiah Masoli who has 524. III also trails only Masoli with 2 TD’s this year to Masoli’s 4. III only has one turnover this season compared to Masoli’s 2 INT’s and 6 lost fumbles.

 

Maybe III should be the QB. At least he knows that receivers routes are ran downfield and not just a series of 5 yard outs.

 

In all seriousness the time for change at QB is near, if hasn’t come already.

 

Last week Masoli only attempted 16 passes, completing an embarrassingly low 4 attempts. Actually that’s not being very fair, he did complete 5 passes but one of them was to a Utah DB.

 

The apologists will point to Dennis Dixon and his rocky Junior campaign and how he was able to turn it around to have a Heisman worthy Senior season. What they fail to mention was that during that rough and tumble Junior season he actually lost his starting job to Brady Leaf of all people and was still putting up better numbers that Masoli is.  

 

All reports indicated that Nathan Costa actually out performed Masoli in the spring and fall camps when looked at in a vacuum. Head Coach Chip Kelly had said that the QB position would be “an open competition.” However no one could place those two QB’s in a true “open competition” considering the amazing numbers that Oregon put up last season under Masoli’s watch.

 

The apologists, including the Kelly, will make excuses about the inexperience on the offensive line and in the receiving corps. Analyst will say that it’s the adjustment from Kelly being upstairs as an OC to now being on the field as the HC.

 

In all honesty there isn’t much less experience this year, returning 2 of the 4 receivers that made an impact last year in Ed Dickson who had 35 catches for 508 yards and 3 TD’s alongside Jeff Maehl with 39 catches for 421 yards and 5 TD’s.

On the OL, 4 of the 5 started at least 1 game last year with a combined 22 starts and 66 games played. Granted they aren’t Max Unger but it’s not like your bringing out an entirely new set of big uglys.

 

This week against Cal could be the final straw. Duck fans are disgusted across the state at Masoli’s passing game, and with more fumbles and INT’s than the entire offense has TD’s who could blame them?  

 

If there is a light at the end of the tunnel, it must become visible this week.

 

- Kurt Valentine

Comments

[Bob Barker]

Honestly I think all the factors you listed that people have been using for "excuses", when added all together actually make sense for Masoli's performance so far this year. So much of his throwing game is rhythm, and when you can't get protection it's hard to find it.

Deciding whether to bench Masoli based on his performance against Cal is the wrong idea. We're going to be playing the best team we've faced all season, and regardless of who will be in at QB, it is going to be very difficult. That's why you stick with your starter who has had some passing problems, over your backup who has started how many games?

In the end you're treating this Oregon team like they were last years Oregon team, and not listening to any of the reasons why we're very different from 12 months ago. We beat a very good Purdue team, and ended the longest winning streak in college football. Starting the season 2-2, with our schedule and roster, was what most people expected, and that is when we thought we'd be getting the same explosive offense we had at the end of the year last year. New year, new storylines, always interesting.

[Kurt Valentine]

Thanks for your comments.

And you are right that his psyche combined with Costa's crippled knee, may be the only reason that Chip Kelly has stuck with Masoli this long.

I dont have the answer because I do think that Masoli is too talented to take off the field entirely.

A possible solution that just may work, is using his talent set in the back field in obvious running situations. Much like Florida did with Tebow during is Freshman year.

You could still set some throws up that way and he would still be in the game often, rotating with LaMichael James as a running back, and taking snaps at the goal line or on third and shorts.

If other teams can do it with their dual threat QB's why cant this team do it?

[Small Business Answering service]

I still can't believe Barker commented on this one. By the way, it's a great post Kurt.

Ben Cliff