Oregon Football: Could a Two-Quarterback System Work for the Ducks

Going into the spring game, Duck fans had seen Bryan Bennett get meaningful snaps during the 2011 season and most believed that he would carry the load after Darron Thomas bolted for the NFL. 

Then the Ducks played the spring game.

After the spring game was over, Duck fans around Eugene and the nation began to wonder why they were ever sold on Bennett and didn't have a firmer belief in Marcus Mariota.

One of the results of closing the spring practice is the fact that the public has only now seen Mariota live once and while he gave a great first impression, nobody knows how the race is going behind closed doors.

So if both quarterbacks are extremely talented, why not go with a two-quarterback system? A two-quarterback system would allow for coach Chip Kelly to get both talented players out on the field and have them make plays.

While in theory this may sound like a good move, the reality is that a two-quarterback system would be the worst thing that Kelly could do and luckily for Duck fans, he already knows that. 

Kelly has faced this decision before.

It was just a few years ago when Darron Thomas and Nate Costa were battling it out for the starting position and instead of easing Thomas into the role, Kelly named him the starter and never looked back.

This year, Kelly is watching the two of them every practice and during every drill. Kelly has led the Ducks through many transitions at quarterback, so this will not be his first. 

To be successful in Kelly's offense, a quarterback needs to be allowed to find his rhythm with the offense and switching them in and out every other drive does not allow for that to happen. If Kelly was to rotate quarterbacks, there would be a greater chance of wasting drives while the two signal callers found their groove in the offense.

As the 2012 season draws closer, Kelly will begin to decide who his starting man will be. The downside for Duck fans is this announcement will likely wait until a week before their season opener. For now, understand that the quarterback battle is a good thing and the decision is in great hands.