2011 Position Previews: The sky's the limit for Darron Thomas
by jtlight on Aug 12, 2011 10:01 AM PDT
in Oregon Ducks Football
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Heading into this season, the running back situation is just about the best it could be, but I'm most excited about the quarterback situation.
Darron Thomas has been under Chip Kelly for 3 full years, and has a full year of game experience under his belt. The last time the Ducks had this type of experience and stability coming back, Kellen Clemens was starting the 2005 season. This alone would be reason for optimism, but Darron's performance last year has raised the bar very high.
Last year, he was 2nd in the conference and 17th in the country in passing efficiency. While Thomas was overshadowed by LaMichael James, Thomas was able to take the Oregon offense to the next level last season. Under Jeremiah Masoli, the Ducks offense could be spectacular, but could also sputter to a halt due to inconsistent execution. Thomas' ability to read through progressions and throw with accuracy downfield completely changed the Oregon offense. Three and outs became very infrequent and Oregon used this offensive consistency to wear opponents out, even if they were not able to score on drives.
Thomas is now a year older, with an entire offseason as the unquestioned leader of the Oregon offense. Before the 2010 season, surgery forced him to miss winter conditioning, and he then battled Nate Costa for the quarterback job. This year, he became stronger and faster over the winter, and led the team through offseason conditioning.
Despite all the praises, Darron has struggled with accuracy at times. To make the jump from very good to great quarterback, he'll need to improve his consistency, especially down the field and in the seam.
Darron has the physical and mental tools to be one of the top QBs in the nation. He blew away all expectations last year, and I expect Darron to improve significantly from last season.
Backing up Darron, the Ducks look to be in great shape as well. Redshirt Freshman Bryan Bennett has all the tools to be a star when he takes over the offense. As with most young QBs, he's struggled with consistency, but Duck fans should feel reassured with him behind Darron.
It should be an exciting year at the QB position. With new faces along the offensive line and and an untested group of receivers, Thomas will be under a lot of pressure. But I think that he's more than up for the challenge, and will continue to improve and excel, and hopefully lead the Ducks to another BCS game.
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Amazing stat from Duckstopshere
“Darron Thomas is one of the most competitive athletes you will ever watch, so much so that he bested every single quarterback he faced in his first year starting. Yesterday DSH ran the numbers, and in all 13 of Oregon’s games, including matchups featuring Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley, Nick Foles and Cam Newton.”
I am definitely excited about DT...
we just need our oline to hold up and find somebody to get open like Maehl. Watch the offensive highlights of our team and you’ll find it uncanny how wide open the kid got. I think we can get more production out of the rbs, TEs to offset his production but we will need a guy to emerge.
"I love Oregon's obsolete recruiting report on an unhealthy level. Just more proof how balla Chip Kelly really is." Dr. Saturday
DT fits this offense perfectly ...
… but I do wonder what his improv skills are in the case that the retooled O-Line takes some time to jell. Not sure it matters with that running game behind him …but, curious nonetheless.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
@chrislandon
Thomas made the O-line look a lot better than it actually was last year
For being a first year starter he had an amazing ability to get a pass off under pressure. Oregon’s O-line was decent last year but by no means great.
Yep.
He got absolutely drilled just after completing so many of his passes. I was blown away by how many hits he was taking against Tennessee, all while still accurately throwing the ball. From then on, it was pretty clear that we is a damn tough QB.
Self anointed President of the Kenjon Barner fan club.
His toughness, both physically and mentally, is so underrated.
Even against New Mexico, he threw a pick on the first drive, but that didn’t get to him like it would a lot of young QBs. Those types of traits are very hard to teach, and he had them from the beginning.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Watching DT's highlights from last year
I was amazed at how catchable his passes are. Masoli and Dixon both had problems with throwing lasers downfield that went over everyone’s head, but DT does a great job of just dropping the ball in there.
With the inexperience we have at WR, I’m glad that we have a QB who doesn’t force his receivers to make spectacular catches all the time.
I actually think he needs more zip, myself.
He can fire bullets, but “touch” can also means floaters, which can mean it hangs in the air. Those lead to big time interceptions.
Masoli’s problem wasn’t his arm strength, but it was his accuracy. The only time you really want to float something, is when you’re trying to get over a defender’s head to a receiver that has beaten coverage.
Roper floated the ball a lot.
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-M-A-R-G-I-N-A-L-I-Z-E-D".
"If Lache Seastrunk is the POTG against LSU, I will formally quit ATQ." - Axemen23 on 6/21/2011
Wasn't very consistent at times.
Sometimes he threw with zip, sometimes he lofted the ball. I hope to see more consistency from DT in his 4th year with the program and 2nd as the starter.
Ducks GOOOOD. Fuskies BAAAAAD.
by BigGreenWreckingMachine on Aug 12, 2011 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions
It depends on where he’s throwing it. He didn’t always throw it with a lot of zip, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Against USC, there were a couple out routes in particular that looked dangerous when he threw it, but were exactly when and where they needed to be. Those throws would get eaten up by an NFL defense, but if it works at the college level, great.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
I expect DT to finish with more Heisman votes than LMJ.
Players always seem to make a big jump in production between their first and second years (as a starter, of course). The fact that he was that good in his first year tells me he’s going to be exceptional this year. Even though there are a few question marks on his supporting cast, I’ll take an unproven group that was recruited and coached by Chip Kelly over any veteran group in the conference, if not the country.
"You could almost imagine Ducks coach Chip Kelly walking to midfield among the bloodied Bruins and shouting in his best gladiator voice, 'Are you not entertained?'" - Ted Miller
so, you are predicting LMJ to suffer a season-ender in week 3?
… don’t you guys have some juju law or something?
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
@chrislandon
JuJu is all yours, we pray to JiJi now.
Better results.
daisyduck's #8 fan, lacking the skills to be #1
by Bill Musgrave on Aug 13, 2011 6:57 AM PDT up reply actions
what about Jobu?
that seems to work pretty well.
"Fuck you UW. How many days since you last beat us?" -skywaker9
by QuackQuackAttack on Aug 13, 2011 7:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Great montage of the day!
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-M-A-R-G-I-N-A-L-I-Z-E-D".
"If Lache Seastrunk is the POTG against LSU, I will formally quit ATQ." - Axemen23 on 6/21/2011
Ah, the FSOL!
Named AtQ resident ‘Master of the Possible Guru,’ by Famous Duck 7/19/11
And Cliff Harris was like, "VRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
by DuckUntilDeath on Aug 12, 2011 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions
I am excited to get Bennet on the field as the PAT holder.
Named AtQ resident ‘Master of the Possible Guru,’ by Famous Duck 7/19/11
And Cliff Harris was like, "VRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Is that part of the plan?
Cause it would be awesome to have the ability to fake out like we did with Costa.
by Brandon Duckerson on Aug 12, 2011 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions
I would assume so.
It would also be a great way to get him some reps this season.
Named AtQ resident ‘Master of the Possible Guru,’ by Famous Duck 7/19/11
And Cliff Harris was like, "VRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
by DuckUntilDeath on Aug 13, 2011 1:51 AM PDT up reply actions
We could be even better now in that regard.
So long as Bennett can learn to read the PAT coverage, he will be even better than Costa due to his superior athleticism.
Self anointed President of the Kenjon Barner fan club.
Does DT run more, or less this year?
Last year he averaged just over 7 carries and 37 yards a game, with 5 rushing touchdowns. We’ve always assumed that Chip’s offense requires a serious running threat and, while DT had a couple of big days on the ground, he never developed the reputation of a “scrambler” like Denard Robinson or Jeremiah Masoli. His numbers say he’s keeping the defense honest, not relying on his legs to win games.
Do you think DT averages more, or less than 7 carries per game next year?
I don’t myself. He’s like a point guard. He distributes the ball to the play-makers, and he only really takes his shot when it is open.
Denard Robinson is/was the Chris Paul of QBs.
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-M-A-R-G-I-N-A-L-I-Z-E-D".
"If Lache Seastrunk is the POTG against LSU, I will formally quit ATQ." - Axemen23 on 6/21/2011
More
But I think it depends on the reads.
Named AtQ resident ‘Master of the Possible Guru,’ by Famous Duck 7/19/11
And Cliff Harris was like, "VRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
by DuckUntilDeath on Aug 12, 2011 2:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Exactly
With the way our offense works, it’s almost entirely in the hands of our opponents to decide how much DT runs. If they want to sell out to stop the handoff on every play, they absolutely can. But if they do this, DT will just either keep it or go for a play-action pass, both of which he showed last year that he could do pretty effectively.
Right
Pick your poison.
Named AtQ resident ‘Master of the Possible Guru,’ by Famous Duck 7/19/11
And Cliff Harris was like, "VRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
by DuckUntilDeath on Aug 12, 2011 5:21 PM PDT up reply actions
I think more ...
… I’m guessing Paulson will be less of a dump off option this year as they look to get him downfield more and that plays might break down a little more than last year with the new o-line – especially early in the season.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
@chrislandon
I know I'd LIKE to see him be more of a threat to run the ball.
But one of my beefs about Masoli was that he’d take of at the slightest pressure and one of the things I like about DT is that he’ll stand and take the hit. Dixon was the best in that sense: He had th patience to make his reads but was extremely dangerous when he DID take off.
Ducks GOOOOD. Fuskies BAAAAAD.
by BigGreenWreckingMachine on Aug 13, 2011 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions
“Thomas’ ability to read through ‘possessions’ and throw with accuracy downfield . . ..”
Shouldn’t that read “progressions?”
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