Quarterback Darron Thomas: A New Generation of Oregon Ducks Football?

The time has come. The 2010 football season is underway and the #11 Oregon Ducks are looking to run the show with a new QB in the drivers seat. What can we expect? Darron Thomas is a redshirt sophomore with little experience. 

I try to stay positive being the duck fan I am. Losing Masoli hurts, but I have a hunch that everything will turn out. We return 17 starters out of the 22 from last year. I can't think of a better way to break in a new and upcoming QB then to surround him with veterans who have played in the big games and know what there doing. Again, I say duck fans should stay positive. 

If you can remember the Boise State game at home in 2008, you can remember Masoli's concussion from the cheap shot. You can remember Justin Roper trying to get things going in the third quarter, but managed to leave the team out to dry. Hopefully, you can remember the performance by a 6'4", skinny, and athletic freshman who was for sure to be shaking in his boots running out into the game. 

Let me say this, the adrenaline rush that Darron Thomas gave the fans in that fourth quarter was beyond impressive by any means. We were down to our last straw, Autzen was as silent as could be, Chip Kelly said lets see what our young gun can do, and boy did he deliver.

Completing 13 of his 25 attempts, he passed for 210 yards in one quarter against a defense that was so fired up beyond belief after rolling over the Ducks for three straight quarters, their heads were higher than the numbers they were putting up. If that was not impressive, then I don't know what is. Beginners luck? Maybe so.  All I can say is this kid has a bright future, whether you want to believe it or not. 

It is all nothing until Saturday's Kick-Off. Darron Thomas has still only played 5 games in his career, he still is inexperienced, and he still is the skinny athletic Freshman we saw 2 seasons ago, until Saturday. If Darron Thomas delivers, Oregon has a bright future. If Darron Thomas does not, Oregon has a bright future. 

Again, what can we expect? A win? A massacre? Right off the bat things don't look too hot with James being out due to a one-game suspension. Then you take into account other injuries, and only one full week of Thomas knowing he is the starting QB, what can we expect?

How is Thomas going to react without his Running Back Heisman hopeful? It puts more pressure on him. A strong win this Saturday, with a solid performance by Thomas impresses me to the point of no return. I try and stay positive, so I am all for DT, as of now. But, he has BIG shoes to fill coming from the dismissal of a 5'9" Quarterback. A little ironic? I don't think so.