Week 10 versus Arizona Won 42-17 23 of 32 for 293 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT; 3 carries for 25 yards
Year to date Team Record 8-1. 175 of 234 for 2213 yards, 19 TD, 6 INT; 37 carries for 330 yards, 3 TD
Year to date Team Record 8-1. 175 of 234 for 2213 yards, 19 TD, 6 INT; 37 carries for 330 yards, 3 TD
Darron Thomas
Week 10 versus Washington Won 53-16 24 of 33, 243 yards, 1 td, O int; 12 carries for 89 yards, 2 tds
Year to date Team Record 9-0. 152 of 244 for 2070 yards, 22 TD, 6 int; 62 carries for 400 yards, 4 tds
Kellen Moore
Week 10 versus Hawaii Won 42-7 30-37 507 yds, 3 td, 2 int; O carries
Year to date Team Record 8-0. 155-216, 2372 yards, 21 TD, 4 int; 9 carries for minus 24 yards, 0 tds
Matt Barkley
Week 10 versus ASU Won 26-37 214 yards. 3 touchdowns 2 int; 8 carries -2 yds, 0 tds
Year to date Team Record 6-3. 190-297 2348 yards, 24 TD, 8 int; 26 carries for minus 6 yards, 1 td
Quick read at the line of scrimmage:
Moore's stats have to be discounted. He's a stat accumulator playing for a team that is rarely tested, playing 8-9 breathers every year. He's rarely rushed or pressured, throwing to wide-open receivers against the junior varsity week after week.
Thomas' stats stack up very favorably against three preseason All-America candidates. He's accounted for the most touchdowns and the most wins, the most rushing yards and the highest total offense.
The most significant point is, Duck fans have to be very happy with his progress as a first-year starter. His rapid development has taken Oregon from a potential 7-5/8-4 season to number one in the nation, 9-0. He's exceeded expectations, and been a difference-maker on an undefeated team.
At the beginning of the season, Thomas wouldn't have been mentioned in this company. Now he's emerging as one of the best quarterbacks in the West. Cam Newton's stats, of course, are in the stratosphere, 1890 yards passing, 19 tds, 1146 yards rushing, 15 tds. But Newton is 2/3 of the Auburn offense, and may wind up with a Reggie Bush-type asterisk beside his name.
Oh, here's one other quarterback, just for perspective:
Jeremiah Masoli, year to date: 121-211, 1521 yds, 12 tds, 7 int; 92 carries for 446 yards, 4 tds.
Of course Masoli would have better numbers running the Oregon offense. But the fact remains he has 18 career interceptions and a career completion percentage of 57%. Oregon's downfield passing game is significantly better with Thomas at the helm, and the offense is more productive.
In short, Duck fans wouldn't trade Thomas for Masoli, or anyone else on this list, particularly when you consider Thomas is a sophomore with two seasons to play. Imagine how effective he might be with two more years of Chip Kelly's coaching.
Here are some additional numbers to consider:
Dennis Dixon
sophomore 2005 69-104 777 yards 6 td 3 int
junior 2006 197-322 2143 yards 12 td 14 int
senior 2007 172-254 2136 yards 20 tds 4 int
The physical comparision between the two is superficial and misleading, but the statistical comparision between Dixon and Thomas is telling. Thomas' season stats as a first-year starter stack up very well to Dixon's as a fourth year senior.
Here's one more:
Joey Harrington
junior 2000 195-375 2694 yards, 20 td 13 int
senior 2001 186-332 2415 yards, 23 td 5 int
If he stays healthy, Thomas could surpass the best, most memorable quarterbacks in Oregon history. His sophomore numbers, with three games to play, already stand up against their senior seasons. It's startling to realize how quickly he's progressed, and that's a testament to his talent, a great supporting cast, and the best developer of spread quarterbacks in the country.
This is a really well written article. Thanks for the stat comparisons.
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