We both listed some things about Mariota in the first couple games of the season that we thought the kid needed to work on. Boy has he worked on them. I don't see any of the things that bothered me in the first two games. He isn't telegraphing, he isn't floating his passes, and he's running the ball at the right times. This kid could have a legit shot at winning the Heisman next season.
Hmmmmmmm......................................................................... All things considered, prior to the USC game I was impressed, but not all that impressed. I thought he played flawlessly today. I was deeply impressed.
I was thinking that but didn't want to be the one to say it. Now that it's on the table, any QB is impressive when the RB goes for 300+.
That said, Mariota made some very nice running & passing decisions. As far as I can tell, his only miscue of the day was that muffed hand-off. It's the first time I've actually had the opportunity to see him play. I went away impressed. This, against a very good football team....bringing an A game....playing in front of their home crowd/cookin'.. Nah, he's pretty darned good.
Well, it was his best game of the season so far. And he did it against USC on the road. So one has to be impressed. His option reads and hand offs have greatly improved. He hasn't learn to properly pitch yet and his decisions on laterals is still poor, but given his steady improvements in other areas I am confident he will improve there as well.
So you're saying that flying off the handle based on incomplete data, even when that data refutes your argument, isn't the best idea? Mariota is completing 70% of his passes and is 7th in the country in QB rating. It was obvious from game one that the guy was going to be a special QB.
What are you talking about? Those laterals yesterday were designed pitches. The only decision to make is pitch the damn ball.
I don't even know why people are having any problems with Mariota. From the first half of game one he has looked better then any QB Oregon has had since Dixon's senior season. He has had some growing pains but not like most freshman. We have a very special QB and one of the best QB's in the country right now and he will only get better. Every QB makes mistakes and Masoli and D.Thomas were good but drove me crazy sometimes. I have no problems with the few mistakes Mariota has made which is less then most if not all other college QB's that are currently playing.
One more thing. I remember when some posters were upset or at least questioning why CK went with Mariota instead of Bennett. I do like Bennett and would have been happy with him if we didn't have Mariota but Mariota is a lot better QB then Bennett will ever be. Also every QB since Dixon and many before him had some weakness with their game. Mariota really doesn't have any weakness. He can throw, run, is smart and is the perfect spread QB. He probably would be good with any type offense.
I'm trying to figure out why some of you are acting like this is a thread bashing Mariota.... Pretty sure I'm giving him props and praising his growth from weeks 1 and 2.
I think if Bennett would have been the starting QB we'd be praising him right now as well. That said, I'm perfectly satisfied with Mariota.
I was at the USC game and Marcus was as good as I thought he would be! Mariota will as I've said before.... win the Heisman his junior year and be the best Duck QB ever!!!!
satisfied??? If Marcus can pass for 6 TDs over the next 4 games, he'll set an all time single season record at UO for TD passes in a season. He's also leading the country in passing efficiency while guiding the undefeated #1 ranked Ducks. Pretty likely he'll be named the 1st team All Pac 12 QB too Remember this past offseason when you were ridiculing me (calling me myopic among other BS) for suggesting that Mariota would be great for them this year? It's well past time for you to man up and admit you were completely wrong. No way in hell that Bennett could approach what Marcus has accomplished... his time behind center this year hasn't been good STOMP
I'll admit, I thought he'd be good, but I had no idea he'd be this good this fast. It's like Chip said, he never makes the same mistake twice. He has gotten better each week, and we are extremely luck to have him. He's the first QB we've had since Harrington that I'm convinced will get the win every time we play. I also think he'll have a better NFL career than Joey.
That whole team was pathetic, but his rookie season was extremely fun to watch. For a year I became a Lion's fan. It was amazing to watch him lift up that crappy team and that city. They just couldn't put a team around him. They kept wasting draft picks on receivers who were never healthy when they should have been drafting linemen. IE Charles Rogers who was incredible in college, but could never stay healthy in the pros. The sad thing is how Lion's fans have turned on him and to this day blame their troubles on Harrington.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/hot?id=8627610 Vote early/vote often. Got to overcome that southern bias.
OK, that's a fair point. Let me correct myself and say I am pleasantly surprised. He has exceeded my expectations and for a freshman is becoming an outstanding QB. As someone who played QB I see his flaws better than you do, or anyone else here. That said, for this system he is a perfect fit. Every 3 games I can see improvement in nearly every aspect of his game. And yet, I see ways he can get even better. What started out as an unpolished QB with potential develop far more rapidly than I would have expected for a freshman. He truly has been both impressive and a delight to watch.
