Color me confused

by DuckinNC on May 1, 2008 7:35 AM PDT

OK so I just read in the Duck Sports News that the JC QB Masoli is signing this morning w/the Ducks. If you are doing your math correctly that gives us 7 COUNT EM 7 QB's. Now I know that we were down to our 5th choice last year by bowl time but c'mon this is getting a bit ridiculous. Mosley's article states that he should be right in the mix for a starting position. If that is true what does that mean for the other 6 guys?

Here is my question to you Duck Nation(reading this article anyway) If you were Bellotti what would you do in this situation? Leave Costa at starter, or move him to 2nd string if this Masoli pans out? What about Thomas and Harper? Red shirt them and give them time to find a postion or learn the QB spot giving them 4 full years?
I am curious as to what this new found plethera of QB's (all with minimal experience) will do for not only the upcoming year but for a few years to come.

PS If this signing does pan out and he is as good as advertised I am gonna go out on a limb and say at least one guy will tranfer, maybe two.

0 recs | Comment 12 comments

Story-email Email | Print |

Comments

Heh

You beat me to it. This was the subject of today's link dump.

I would probably go into fall camp looking at a QB competition of Costa, Masoli and Roper. At this point, I would look to redshirt one of Thomas or Harper. At this point, I am leaning towards Thomas because Harper's athleticness could be used immediately in certain situations. If Masoli was not able to win the starting spot, I would also consider redshirting him, with the plan of pulling him out if something like last year happened. So, my ideal depth chart would like:

Costa
Roper
Cooper
Kempt
Harper

by ntrebon on May 1, 2008 7:55 AM PDT 0 recs

To add to this...

I've heard comments that Cade Cooper is still not 100% about getting a scholarship. I don't remember where I heard this, but it would make sense. If that happens, that would leave us with the following on scholarship:
Costa
Roper
Kempt
Thomas
Harper

Right now, the 3 deep going into fall is probably Costa, Roper, Harper. Masoli could take #2 if he pans out. I personally don't see him overtaking Costa very soon, so redshirting would most likely happen this season. I would not be surprised to see Kempt transfer, or even move to baseball. Harper and Thomas most likely would not because of their talent overall, they will be seeing the field. I think it's safe to say Kempt will not be seeing the field as QB barring massive injuries or the plague.

So...there's 5. I think Thomas could redshirt this year, only because Harper seems to have taken a large lead on him this year, and one of them will see the field in weird formations, etc. As far as 2008, we're most likely seeing Costa start barring injury.

So...going into the 2009 season, we'd have
Costa (R-Junior)
Roper (R-Junior)
Harper (Sophomore)
Thomas (R-Freshman)
Masoli (R-Sophomore?)
Cooper? (R-Senior?)

That doesn't look entirely unmanageable, and theres a lot of talent there.

by jtlight on May 1, 2008 8:30 AM PDT 0 recs

Costa v. Masoli

I would think that there is at least a reasonable chance he could win the job. Sure, he has no experience in our system, but he does have more post-high school experience than Costa. And, they have both started the same number of Pac-10 games. At this point, assuming that Masoli signs his offer of financial aid I would guess the following probabilities of the one of the top three winning the starting job:
Costa: 45%
Masoli: 30%
Roper: 25%

by ntrebon on May 1, 2008 8:54 AM PDT up 0 recs

I would agree...with slight changes

Costa: 68%
Masoli: 30%
Roper: 0%
Harper: 2%

by jtlight on May 1, 2008 8:58 AM PDT up 0 recs

Harper 2%?

You really think there is a 2% chance of an outbreak of the plague in Eugene?

As for Roper, given the "success" of his bowl game and his spring game performance, I would say that there is a chance he gets the nod if Costa and Masoli struggle during the fall. I think he is definitely a third option, but he's an option the coaches would at least be comfortable starting the season with.

by ntrebon on May 1, 2008 9:02 AM PDT up 0 recs

Re: Roper

And, as I have mentioned before, I will be disappointed if Roper is the starting QB for the UW game. Even more so now that Masoli looks to be in the mix.

by ntrebon on May 1, 2008 9:04 AM PDT up 0 recs

Moseley has been very high on Harper

I think there is a chance that he makes great strides over the summer, and gets the nod. It's very slim, but not out of the question.

As far as Roper goes, despite his pretty good performance in the spring game, he was just waaaay to inconsistent over the spring. He did not seize his opportunity, though I should upgrade his chance to about 10%, but I just don't see him starting next season. Also, these chances aren't taking into account injuries.

It's pretty much Costa's to lose, which I don't believe he will do. Even with the talk of Roper looking like a leader, Costa has been the leader from day 1. The guy exudes confidence, and is a natural leader. I will be very surprised if he in not starting against Washington.

by jtlight on May 1, 2008 9:07 AM PDT up 0 recs

Harper, Roper

Yep, I agree. You have to be impressed with everything we have heard about Harper this spring -- which is why I think Thomas gets red shirted this season. But, I think the only way Harper starts is through massive injury/performance problems.

I agree that Roper did not seize his opportunity. I am looking forward to seeing what Costa can do. And, I liked hearing that Costa was taking some of the younger QBs under his wing this spring, despite the fact that they were his direct competition.

by ntrebon on May 1, 2008 9:13 AM PDT up 0 recs

I agree with Roper having little chance to start

But I have this feeling that Belotti will put Roper as second string - Belotti seams to like experience over system fit in his second stringer (see Leaf last year).

by bradLL99 on May 1, 2008 9:06 AM PDT up 0 recs

One thing to note about last season...

If Costa hat not blown out his knee, he probably would have been playing against Arizona after Leaf got banged up.

by jtlight on May 1, 2008 9:07 AM PDT up 0 recs

Sorry to jump the gun

I was thinking the JC signing would be news of the day but I just kept thinking about what situation we now had on our hands. Sorry if I stepped on anyones' toes.
After giving it some thought assuming that Masoli comes in and learns the system quickly(which is a possibility bc he comes from a spread type system in JC) he would end up as 2nd or 3rd. I like the idea of having the 3 solid QB's of Costa, Roper, and Masoli in that order, especially since last year was derailed by QB injuries.
If that turns out to be the case I say redshirt Thomas and Harper. I know there has been little talk of redshirting Harper bc of his Spring performance but having a year of practice/film study and Chip w/o needing to play can only make him better.
As for Cooper and Kempt I realistically don't see anyway they outplay those 5 guys ahead of them, but I have been wrong before. I wish them the best but I see where this is headed.

by DuckinNC on May 1, 2008 11:03 AM PDT 0 recs