Shooter Benched

[wbtfg]

Shooter?

Over on Egizz leading up to a Griz\EWU game, VA did a twitter or facebook post or something with a gun pointed to a stuffed teddy bear, and Griz Nation got all bent out of shape, butt hurt, and started slamming on him, calling him shooter.

So it's an egriz thing then. Great......

[GRIZFNZ]

Shoota aka Left Eye

[onceacat]

No way is VA a Pac 12 QB. He has the arm, but not the size or the speed. Ergo, injuries. Maybe in a spread offense, but not in a pro-tyle under center, and certainly not as an option QB. He never (imho) made sense at Oregon.

Oregon doesn't play a pro-style under center offense, so him not fitting into that kind of offense is kind of a moot point. I also don't think that his injury had anything to do with his size or speed -- it was a flukey thing (broken finger). He had a pretty strong game against Michigan State, all things considered (one of the best teams in the nation). So it's kind of hard to argue that he's not a good fit at Oregon.

Also, speed isn't all that important in a QB in that system -- quickness is. And he has a huge amount of quickness. Yes, Mariota was very fast, but it is very rare to find a QB that has both the speed and arm of a Mariota -- there certainly are none currently in the Pac 12 that I am aware of. VA definitely has the skills to play in the Pac 12. Let's give the FCS just a bit of credit -- the top performers at QB (or any position, for that matter) at the FCS level are not only capable of playing at the FBS level, but they are often right up there with the best of them. VA was one of the best in FCS over the last several years. Let's also not forget that he brutalized Pac 12 defenses multiple times while being surrounded by FCS talent ... that alone tells you that the guy has Pac 12 talent (without question -- he already proved it despite a huge handicap).

My point is that VAs skill set is a complete mis-match for everything Oregon has recruited for and practiced for the last decade. It's pretty hard to rewrite your offense for a guy that shows up halfway through camp. And I'm not sure what MSU game you watched-I thought he looked pretty ho-hum and the box score says he was even worse than I thought:QBR of under 40, and 14 rushes for 6 yards. Yikes! And on Saturday, he was slower than every Ute DL on the field.

I don't have any dog in this fight, and I love to see FCS guys do well at the next level. i think I'm just more realistic than some of you guys.

[blueandgoldblitz]

Looks like VA is back being the starter for Oregon. They beat ASU 61-55 in 3OT last night. Anyone watch the game? VA was 23/40 with 4 TD's and an INT including 8 rushes for -15 yards. I'm not sure if that's a good stat line or not, considering the game went into 3OT.

[Cat Grad]

No way is VA a Pac 12 QB. He has the arm, but not the size or the speed. Ergo, injuries. Maybe in a spread offense, but not in a pro-tyle under center, and certainly not as an option QB. He never (imho) made sense at Oregon.

Oregon doesn't play a pro-style under center offense, so him not fitting into that kind of offense is kind of a moot point. I also don't think that his injury had anything to do with his size or speed -- it was a flukey thing (broken finger). He had a pretty strong game against Michigan State, all things considered (one of the best teams in the nation). So it's kind of hard to argue that he's not a good fit at Oregon.

Also, speed isn't all that important in a QB in that system -- quickness is. And he has a huge amount of quickness. Yes, Mariota was very fast, but it is very rare to find a QB that has both the speed and arm of a Mariota -- there certainly are none currently in the Pac 12 that I am aware of. VA definitely has the skills to play in the Pac 12. Let's give the FCS just a bit of credit -- the top performers at QB (or any position, for that matter) at the FCS level are not only capable of playing at the FBS level, but they are often right up there with the best of them. VA was one of the best in FCS over the last several years. Let's also not forget that he brutalized Pac 12 defenses multiple times while being surrounded by FCS talent ... that alone tells you that the guy has Pac 12 talent (without question -- he already proved it despite a huge handicap).

My point is that VAs skill set is a complete mis-match for everything Oregon has recruited for and practiced for the last decade. It's pretty hard to rewrite your offense for a guy that shows up halfway through camp. And I'm not sure what MSU game you watched-I thought he looked pretty ho-hum and the box score says he was even worse than I thought:QBR of under 40, and 14 rushes for 6 yards. Yikes! And on Saturday, he was slower than every Ute DL on the field.

I don't have any dog in this fight, and I love to see FCS guys do well at the next level. i think I'm just more realistic than some of you guys.

Using statistics, strictly, to measure the value and importance of a quarterback makes me think of several MSU people I know who for whatever reason dismiss the accomplishments of Paul Dennehey or DeNarius McGhee. Those who are so adamently against Paul being one of the best quarterbacks MSU has had remind me of all these small town mommy and daddies who had a kid beat out by another kid as a starter. Their arguments against that one absolute telltale statistic, the won-loss record, as being the single most important statistic bothers me. I don't doubt for a minute Prukop will be in the top two or three in virtually every statisical category for a quarterback by the time he leaves MSU but I question what his won-loss record will be by the time he graduates. Especially when our special team play anymore looks like sandlot ball and our defense is not being afforded the same consideration as the offense. Personally, Vernon Adams' ability to lead his team to win after win should dispell any and all fussing about his lack of gaudy statistics. Too bad there is not a statistic that tracks how many times a quarterback throws a ball away rather than risk an interception or take a sack...

[PapaG]

V A got benched against Utah. Oregon offense was pretty meh losing 20-6. Locke comes in and drives the field to make it 20-13. I realize he's hurt but might be the end of Vernon.

The consensus here in Oregon is that if VA hadn't had his finger broken on the targeting penalty against EWU, they are 10-1 right now and a playoff lock. I can't believe he played as well as he did against Michigan State one week after breaking that finger, and he missed a deep ball he hasn't missed since that would have won that game.

The Utah game they lose even with him. The Wazzu game he didn't even play, yet the Ducks were up 10 with 6 minutes left with less than 100 yards passing.

[SonomaCat]

V A got benched against Utah. Oregon offense was pretty meh losing 20-6. Locke comes in and drives the field to make it 20-13. I realize he's hurt but might be the end of Vernon.

The consensus here in Oregon is that if VA hadn't had his finger broken on the targeting penalty against EWU, they are 10-1 right now and a playoff lock. I can't believe he played as well as he did against Michigan State one week after breaking that finger, and he missed a deep ball he hasn't missed since that would have won that game.

The Utah game they lose even with him. The Wazzu game he didn't even play, yet the Ducks were up 10 with 6 minutes left with less than 100 yards passing.

He's looked really good the last couple of games. I'd have to agree with the fans you are talking about -- if he hadn't hurt his finger they would be right in the thick of the playoff discussion. It's a shame that he was hurt -- now that he's healed up you can see how much better that offense operates.

Still can't figure out how Oregon left itself in such a horrible QB situation this season -- they were horrible outside of Adams.

And looking at the thread above ... yeah, I think my arguments about (a healthy) Adams being a pretty good fit for the Oregon offense are looking pretty good right now. It's nice to have that happen every once in a while.

[LTown Cat]

V A got benched against Utah. Oregon offense was pretty meh losing 20-6. Locke comes in and drives the field to make it 20-13. I realize he's hurt but might be the end of Vernon.

The consensus here in Oregon is that if VA hadn't had his finger broken on the targeting penalty against EWU, they are 10-1 right now and a playoff lock. I can't believe he played as well as he did against Michigan State one week after breaking that finger, and he missed a deep ball he hasn't missed since that would have won that game.

The Utah game they lose even with him. The Wazzu game he didn't even play, yet the Ducks were up 10 with 6 minutes left with less than 100 yards passing.

I have to agree. He's really good. An unbelievable talent to have played in the BSC.

[PapaG]

V A got benched against Utah. Oregon offense was pretty meh losing 20-6. Locke comes in and drives the field to make it 20-13. I realize he's hurt but might be the end of Vernon.

The consensus here in Oregon is that if VA hadn't had his finger broken on the targeting penalty against EWU, they are 10-1 right now and a playoff lock. I can't believe he played as well as he did against Michigan State one week after breaking that finger, and he missed a deep ball he hasn't missed since that would have won that game.

The Utah game they lose even with him. The Wazzu game he didn't even play, yet the Ducks were up 10 with 6 minutes left with less than 100 yards passing.

He's looked really good the last couple of games. I'd have to agree with the fans you are talking about -- if he hadn't hurt his finger they would be right in the thick of the playoff discussion. It's a shame that he was hurt -- now that he's healed up you can see how much better that offense operates.

Still can't figure out how Oregon left itself in such a horrible QB situation this season -- they were horrible outside of Adams.

And looking at the thread above ... yeah, I think my arguments about (a healthy) Adams being a pretty good fit for the Oregon offense are looking pretty good right now. It's nice to have that happen every once in a while.

Mariota QB rating last year: 181

Vernon Adams this year even with a miserable game against Utah until he was pulled for injury: 179



The difference is Marcus was a big threat with running, while VA is elusive and looks for the deep pass out of the pocket.

[PapaG]

Still can't figure out how Oregon left itself in such a horrible QB situation this season -- they were horrible outside of Adams.

Transfers and some whiffs on 3-4* QBs who signed during the Mariota era. Remember that Marcus was a 2-3* QB, and was hardly a sure thing.

Unless Travis Jonsen or Morgan Mahalak separate themselves this spring, I'm not ruling out Dakota Prukop running the Duck offense next year. It's a longshot, I know, but he's perfect for the Cramsely/Helfrich/Kelly offense, and he's done it as the QB at MSU with a bunch of relatively slow skill players.

[Hawks86]

Is it going to be some sort of trade? We get Lubick and they get Cramsey and Dakota?

[JDoub]

I hope Dakota stays put, but I guess you never know

VA might've been 1st team Pac12 if not for the broken finger. I don't blame folks in Eugene for the "what if" thinking at all. If the FBS had a 16 team playoff, I'd hate to draw Oregon right now with a healthy VA confident with his new team, and a secondary much improved.

VA is the ONLY QB EVER to throw 6 TD's against USC in a game. And he threw more TD's than incompletions.

let that sink for a minute

[cats2506]

Is it going to be some sort of trade? We get Lubick and they get Cramsey and Dakota?

I think I would take that trade, I like Dakota and Cramsey and would hope that they stay but over the long run I would take the trade.

I think that Dakota and Cramsey were still pretty emotional when their statements were made, I am not convinced that they are a package deal.

Also I think if the Coach were someone like Lubick, Dakota would want to stay.

[PapaG]

VA ends the regular season with a higher QB rating than Mariota had last year.

Marcus' legs set him apart, though.

[77matcat]

I thought coach made a poor decision to start him against EWU. Just looking for trouble.


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[PapaG]

I thought coach made a poor decision to start him against EWU. Just looking for trouble.


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They had Michigan State the next week, though. That would be a difficult first start.

I have to say it was actually fun to see a competitive game in person today, though. If only the Bobcats could have given a similar performance in Bozeman when I was there last weekend!

[77matcat]

Ya. Knew the challenge. IMO just begging for trouble and it happened.


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