Fearful of Saturday

by Heaven's Calamity on Aug 24, 2010 11:17 AM PDT

Hey there ATQ, long time reader and decided that the announcement regarding the starting QB was enough to finally make me break down and join. I know many have expressed their concerns regarding the QB competition, and I don't want to make this a long winded extravaganza on what everyone has already heard, I'm just scared of one thing. Nate Costa. I trust his arm, and his decision making in the throwing game, but the man's unwillingness the make the plays in the zone read is what is scaring me. Based on each practice report, Costa makes some good runs, but many times hands to James or whoever is in as RB when he could very well take the keeper on the zone read for a good pickup. I'm confident Chip knows what he's doing, I just hope Darron has done enough to win the job. I'd hate to see poor James or Barner get eaten up because Costa won't take the read and trust his bionic legs.

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While I think this is a concern, I don’t honestly see this as a huge deal. Masoli obviously had his strengths as a running quarterback and regardless of who ends up with the job, we’ll have a better passer then we had last year. Between that aspect and our more experienced offensive line and running backs, I’m ok with Costa giving it off conservatively. Afterall, our running backs are awesome and I’m all for putting the ball in their hands more.

As for DT, an aspect of his game that not many people discuss is him keeping it when he shouldn’t. Remember, both of these guys are playing against a defense that was not only awesome last season but knows all the plays the offense runs. I don’t think we can read too much into the defense making good plays or blowing something up. Also, some of what appears to be zone reads may be in fact called hand-offs.

A lot of folks have brought up a similar argument about Costa but to me, it’s a corner case. I think both quarterbacks will be fine in this regard. Whether Thomas keeps it too much or Costa too little…or maybe one of them is just right. It’s hard as onlookers to say. We don’t know the plays being called all the time so what seems like the wrong read because it got stopped, may be just a hand off or a great defensive play to blow it all up.

My personal take is that we aren’t going to be the same Masoli-led team of last year where he was another running back that could throw sometimes. We need to be prepared for the case that Chip has tailored the offense to the strengths of his chosen QB (and I’m pretty sure he’s already picked) and likely neither one of them will be in a position to truck a DB.

--Dominic, Addicted to Quack

Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.

by dvieira on Aug 24, 2010 1:24 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Good points but

I was never particularly referring anything to how Masoli ran the offense. Yes, I know we’re going to have a MUCH better passing game this year, but my concern is how Costa runs(or doesn’t) run the zone-read. The zone-read is the basis of our running game, and if Costa never truly becomes a running threat(not a trucking DBs threat) then our run game will be severely limited.

I really like your points though, and I have confidence that Chip can mold the offense to whoever he chooses, just wanted to voice my concerns.

by Heaven's Calamity on Aug 24, 2010 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions

If CK thinks the defense isn’t being kept off balance enough by the QB not keeping, or keeping too much, he will call a set play that looks like a zone-read. The OC in the booth can see the big picture and can (help) make this type of call. It should be remembered that part of our early problems last year may have been the new position of CK on the field and a new OC in the booth… time and practice is also required to develop coaches’ teamwork.

by webfoot73 on Aug 24, 2010 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions

The zone-read is the basis of our running game

Actually, in a way, our passing game is the basis of our running game. It’s not the actual zone read running plays that make up our running offense for the game, but the passing plays going for positive yardage. If Costa throws the ball better than Masoli — which it’s assumed he will — I think our running game could be even better.

My yoke is heavy.

by qrsouther on Aug 27, 2010 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions

DING DING DING DING!

Good point.

it’s spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-A-L-L-W-A-R-M-A-N-D-F-U-Z-Z-Y"

by JShufelt on Aug 27, 2010 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions

I think this is why we keep reading things about LMJ AND Barner in the same backfield. Masoli’s running threat is being picked up by Barner instead of one of the QBs. We will still have the threat of two dynamic players able to run for big gains, but now we will also have a bigger pass threat as well.

by echo31 on Aug 24, 2010 3:17 PM PDT reply actions

I’m really interested to see what percentage of the time both Barner and James are lined up together, whether Barner is RB #2 or in the slot. I was going to ask how that’s been shaping up in practice, but that’s probably over the line on what people who have been to practice can comment on. I can wait 11 more days. I think.

by AKDuck on Aug 24, 2010 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Brian Bennett

"If you can't copy 'em, don't imitate ''em."
YOGI BERRA

by Famous Duck on Aug 24, 2010 3:21 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

YES! THANK YOU!

This kid is going be be good in a few years i interviewed him on my show for college and its a nice guy too upveat kid well mannered just and all around nice guy watch out for him in a few seasons

by BLAZERS#52 on Aug 24, 2010 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions

I heard Johnny Manziel can get some forged transcripts and be ready by Week 1

by B Money on Aug 24, 2010 5:45 PM PDT up reply actions

I trust his arm, and his decision making in the throwing game

And you have to trust his steady hands.. somethin to be said about the ice runnin through his veins

by Duckfan214 on Aug 24, 2010 3:56 PM PDT reply actions

Posted elsewhere but/and a GREAT read:

http://duckstopshere.blogspot.com/2010/08/on-saturday-most-important-duck.html

"If you can't copy 'em, don't imitate ''em."
YOGI BERRA

by Famous Duck on Aug 24, 2010 4:33 PM PDT reply actions

Good read.

And I suppose it’s possible that qb #2 pusses out and sulks off into the sunset, but I just don’t see it with these guys, they seem like solid guys.

I think the article also draws too close a comparison to guys like Kody Kempt and Durocher… who were like 8th string, not 2nd. The 2nd string qb will play in clean up time, when the 1st guy is injured, if / when the 1st guy struggles, and sometimes gets an NFL contract without significant playing time (see AJ Feely). Point being, it’s a lot easier pscyhologically to have a good attitude and stay sharp if you are #2, than if you are #8. besides the fact that these two guys seem like solid guys, percentages say they’ll stay positive overall.

The days are moving slower as the season approaches.
At this point, I feel like I'm wading through cottage cheese.

by Bill Musgrave on Aug 24, 2010 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions

I trust Chip Kelly. period.

--Dave

Addicted to Quack, your friendly, neighborhood Oregon Ducks blog

by David Piper on Aug 24, 2010 6:44 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Agreed.

At best, we’re poorly educated speculators.

"KENNY WHEATON'S GONNA SCORE!! KENNY WHEATON!!--Jerry Allen, 1994"

by M. Fletcher on Aug 26, 2010 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions

I like your point. But you know what?
I will enjoy football so much more if there’s uncertainty with our team.
It’ll be more breathtaking, it will be more exciting, and it will certainly be more mysterious.

Duck season tickets for Christmas = Best Christmas EVER.

by DuckFanAndy on Aug 26, 2010 11:06 AM PDT reply actions

I really do agree with this. A good part of me is glad that Masoli is gone. We went over this in another thread, but I don’t believe that we would have won a national title with Masoli. Because of that, though we may be worse with Costa/Thomas, I’m so excited for that uncertainty. I want to see what they can do.

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Aug 26, 2010 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions

It may not work out, but I like possibility that we might be a better passing team now.

It’s true, it’s uncertain, but both QB’s seem like more poised passers and more accurate than roboMaso, maybe they make making Maehl a freaking Heisman candidate (or at least giving him a breakout year), and maybe they put some deep ball back into our repetoire.

I am a patient boy, I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait.

by Bill Musgrave on Aug 26, 2010 5:59 PM PDT up reply actions