The first Oregon Ducks football practice this spring felt empty. The face of Oregon football for the last two and a half years, Dennis Dixon, was gone. No longer was he bulleting slant routes or putting the gentle touch on his long bombs. No longer was he juking out Duck defenders then outrunning them with the poise of a sprinter. He wasn't on the sidelines coaching younger players, and he wasn't yelling encouragement after somebody made a bad play. The practice felt empty, it was missing something. It was missing Dennis.
The Ducks defense, on the other hand, was full of life and vibrance. Time and time again, they stiffled the nation's best offense and made them look like a Pop Warner team. Then Chris Harper and Darron Thomas, two of the nation's top prep quarterbacks, started making plays.
It wasn't just Darron's 27 yard run that caught the coaches eye. It wasn't Chris's 53 yard pass. It wasn't Chris's high rushing average, and it wasn't Darron completly shrugging off an ankly injury and saying it was fine.
It was more their attitude. Neither Chris nor Darron came into the practices expecting to back anyone up; they both expect to be replacing Dixon. They may not have looked great at the beginning, but it's picking up for them as the practices ended. By August I fully expect them both to have grasped the intricacies of Chip Kelly's complex spread offense, and one of them to be starting against the Washington Huskies on August 30.
Now, having said that, it is just a matter of deciding which freshman phenom will start. Will it be Chris Harper, the 220 pounder who runs a 4.4 forty, or will it be Darron Thomas who runs a 4.5 and completed 70% of his passes in high school?
They are both very good athletes and quarterbacks, ranking 6th (Harper) and 11th (Thomas) of all prep quarterbacks. They both were the top quarterback in their states, Texas and Kansas, and they both came into Eugene with high expectations.
I'm not going to tell you who I think is the better player. I think they will both develope into superstars, either as a quarterback or wide reciever. With these to guys, neither choice can be wrong. Give me your pick of who you think should start.
5 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
Matt Thomsen about 1 year ago
No way either Thomas or Harper start against UW to kick off the season, I'd be surprised if either break their redshit status this coming season. Freshman quarterbacks never play well in the pac. The starter will most likely be Costa, or Masoli, maybe Roper.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ry Mo about 1 year ago
I would have to agree with Matt. If you are a betting man, I would bet on a slight transformation of the ducks offense. Run first. The Ducks look to have a powerful running game and will most likely rely on it. Roper will be the starting QB, and if we all know good ol' Mike, either Thomas or Harper will take snaps along with Roper, while one of them will be redshirted. The dual system is what they have been about lately (like it or not).
Edit Comment Cancel
FRANK YRAY about 1 year ago
hey Dallas new article for you to check out article "What did my Oakland Raiders need to do to win the West?"
You can find it at:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/26408-What-did-my-Oakland-Raiders-need-to-do-to-win-the-West-
Edit Comment Cancel
Cameron Jerde 11 months ago
I would think that with all the misfortunes that happened last season, that Bellotti would be a fool not to include Harper or Thomas in the depth chart, and not redshirt them.
If Costa gets injured and they are both redshirted, we won't have another dual threat to take his place, it will be just like last season. Unless Roper can become faster and be a makeshift dual threat
Edit Comment Cancel
tugi lee 9 months ago
i think cris cause i seen him play some ball he is way better then that other dude
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.