All we have are the numbers. No one, not fans, not media, except for a few privileged insiders, got to see it unfold. It was harder to get in than a trendy LA nightclub. Mike Bellotti got past the velvet ropes. Media types with better credentials, Rob Moseley and Ken Goe, didn't make the clipboard.
Word is, it was a clean, hard-hitting scrimmage, and no one got injured. James and Barner were held out. Costa and Thomas wore the no-contact jerseys, but Bennett was full live. The Oregon athletic office released stats but no video. Kelly's comments were brief.
Here is a link to the stats on goducks.com.
Several things jump out. First, Darron Thomas won the day. His turn at the driver's seat resulted in three touchdowns and no picks. He was more efficient, 14-23, 125 yards, 3 touchdowns passing. Costa had a lackluster day, less than 50% on 35 attempts, an interception, one lone touchdown. After practice Costa sounded disappointed in himself. He told Rob Moseley of the Eugene Register-Guard, “I kind of had a slow start, wasn’t very happy with that, but I ended very well,” Costa said. “I think overall it was a good day, and I made my case.” Neither quarterback had success running the football, Thomas four carries for nine yards, Costa 10-23.
Interestingly, Brian Bennett had better numbers than either of the veterans, 6-10 passing, for two tds and a pick, 9-41 rushing with a touchdown. Of course his snaps probably came with the number threes versus the number threes, but it's encouraging to see such strong evidence of his potential. He's not overwhelmed out there.
Despite his progress he's still a year away but some of the other youngsters are making a bid to play now. With Barner and James held out Dontae Williams was the leading rusher with six carries, 48 yards and two TDs, and he seems more and more likely to be the freshman running back who makes the rotation for a backup spot. Seastrunk didn't break free. Among the receivers Hawkins caught nine balls for 60 yards, Eric Dungy four for 50 yards and 2 TDs, Nick Cole 3-39 and 2 TDs. Hawkins is definitely a better fit at receiver than running back. It's great to see Nick Cole show progress, and how can you keep Dungy in a redshirt when he keeps catching everything they throw him? Feed him some vitamins and suit him up. The backup receiver battle continues to be interesting, and has implications beyond this year.
But there are two vitally important things that happened today. The Ducks capped off a very successful camp in which they accomplished all their goals. And Darron Thomas has won the quarterback job. He is the one who has grown and improved day by day, and he's asserted himself over the last ten days. The result surprised me. I didn't think he had the focus or maturity to be the starter, but he's passed the ball better and made fewer errors, and with the job on the line in this final exam, he scored a solid B+. His thinking going in was solid. He said he wanted to move the team and avoid errors, and that's exactly what he did.
Darron Thomas will be the Oregon starter for New Mexico. No one has announced it yet, except Darron, who quietly proclaimed it with 21 solid practices and a winning effort before his coaches and the entire team in the final scrimmage.
I agree on Thomas. Going in, Costa was my pick due to his experience and the sentimental value of his story of overcoming. We Americans love the underdog who overachieves. But in the end, it seems the Ducks have a much greater upside with Thomas starting. With game experience in the first three weeks, he will grow when the PAC10 schedule begins. And we will almost certainly (although I hope not) need both of them over the course of a long season.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting. I too thought Costa was the guy, thinking he was the mature veteran who would make fewer mistakes, but Thomas outplayed him. He won the job fair and square.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that with Kelly's teaching and the nonconference schedule, he'll gain the valuable game experience that will prepare him for the PAC-10. The critical thing will be the first road game at Tennessee before a 100,000. Tennessee is down this year but that is still an imposing environment for a young starting quarterback. If he passes that test the Ducks have a chance to have a tremendous year.
Thanks again for taking an interest in The Duck Stops Here.
Best wishes,
Dale
I also agree with both comments. This was Costa's job to lose and I guess in a way he lost it. For whatever reason he just doesn't seem to be comfortable as the starter. Costa has made a ton of mistakes this preseason and considering how much the media likes him I think it might be worse than reported. Thomas has had some off days but like you said the upside is much greater with the schedule this year. If we were playing Boise St again I might be saying Costa.
ReplyDeleteThat's a fair observation but I don't really see that Costa "lost" the job; it was more the case that Darron won it. He was more consistent and showed more growth.
ReplyDeleteDuck fans are blessed with some tremendous media coverage. Moseley and Goe are bang-up reporters who work incredibly hard, and I love that both stay free of the typical jaundiced, weary, cynical beat writing you find in LA, Seattle or the Bay area. I didn't see a bias toward Costa, so much, but he's so bright and articulate and grounded that he naturally gets quoted. Plus he has a story. Sports writer Bert Sugar used to say "Everybody loves a comeback story. Joseph in the Bible--greatest comeback story every told."
Darron is more of a kid. There's a great piece of video on oregonlive where he is talking about the new helmets, and you sense his enthusiasm. I think that's a great asset of his, that he'll be a quarterback who's out there having fun, who never loses sight of the fact he's playing a game. That's infectious. Guys like that don't feel pressure, they're free and athletic and trust themselves in the clutch. I think that's why he came out firing versus Boise a couple of years ago. He was just playing football. And I don't mean to slight him on the intelligence part of it. All reports are Darron's a fine student and a good kid. I think his role in the Pleasant/Masoli stuff was very overblown.
He wants this, and I'm confident he'll apply himself and keep going in the right direction. It will be fun to watch how it turns out.
The schedule gives him time to grow into the job, and the offensive line, running game and defense provide a tremendous security blanket. He's in the perfect position to succeed, and I believe Nate Costa will also help him continue to get better.
Dale
Thanks Dale,
ReplyDeleteI see what you mean about Thomas leading a team. It reminds me a bit of Vince Young. Young does not seem to be the most well spoken kid but his college and nfl teamates seem to follow his lead. I hope Thomas has that same abiliy to rally the troops in big games. Watching an athelete who is just having fun can be refreshing. Whoever they choose I am glad that we are going to have a very capable #2
Andy, thanks for your comment.
ReplyDeleteI think your Vince Young comparision is apt, and probably much more accurate than the Dennis Dixon references everyone insists on making. Dixon was dramatically faster, more fluid and more elusive than any current Duck quarterback, which doesn't mean Darron can't be a very good one.
It will be a lot of fun to see him develop, and if Coach Kelly does with him what he did with Dixon, Roper and Masoli, Oregon will repeat as conference champions. Every other significant question about this team has been answered.
Dale
Thanks Dale. I love your blog -- balanced and well-written.
ReplyDelete