QB Play Key to Oregon Ducks Season

After a season full of ups and downs, the Oregon Ducks converted on a fourth down play against Oregon State to wrap up the Pac-10 Championship. After the game was over, the Ducks' season went downhill from there.

Oregon wrapped up the year with a loss in the Rose Bowl to Ohio State, had players find themselves in trouble with the law. They are also finding themselves starting the season without Jeremiah Masoli (suspended and recently transferred to Ole Miss) and will be without LaMichael James for the season opener.

Even with all of these questions, the Ducks continue to be the favorite heading into the year to repeat as Pac-10 champs.

Oregon returns most of the lineup that ended USC's strangle hold on the Pac-10 but the major question will be, who is going to be under center for the Ducks? One of the things that made the Ducks so hard to defend last year was the fact that Masoli was a threat to run or pass the ball on every down.

This year, the Ducks look to redshirt senior, Nate Costa, and redshirt sophomore, Darren Thomas, to keep the Ducks a top 10 offense.

Nate Costa seems to have been at Oregon forever. Going into the 2008 season, Costa was tabbed the starter until one week before the opener; he blew out his knee and was done for the season. Costa saw game action last year and won as the starter against UCLA. He is extremely familiar with Oregon's read option offense and would bring some senior leadership to the backfield.

Darron Thomas is a young man who has most fans thinking of Dennis Dixon. His shining moment came in 2008, when he came in during the Boise State game and put up 200 yards passing and three touchdowns. Thomas would see other limited action throughout the year in cleanup efforts. Thomas certainly has an advantage in terms of speed but has not been able to become more consistent in the passing game.

While most fans have their eyes on these two young men, keep your eyes on freshman Bryan Bennett. Although early, Bennett has been impressing everyone and has already found himself third on the depth chart and has coach Chip Kelly thinking about not redshirting him.

The defense is in place, the offensive line is experienced, the running back duo of LaMichael James and KenJon Barner are ready, and the special teams are solid. The only question left is, who is ready to lead this team as their quarterback?