Saturday was like losing an insurance policy. Our five year senior, backup QB and respected and looked to leader (also assisting with getting plays in), who helped lead us to victory vs WSU appears out for the season. Seasons turn on a dime with injuries. Should Thomas go down, all is not lost, but expectations would change in a moment. Man, losing a solid guy like Costa could hurt. First, I hope the team (and Thomas) do not begin to play differently and more conservative. Sure, we can if we're up a few scores, but keep with the attack offense - including QB option/run, but BE CAREFUL! Second, we might see more protection/blocking from a RB to protect Thomas. We have excellent blocking RB's, but no one sells themselves to blocking like Alston. Third, IF, if, Thomas goes down, what do you guys see as the best options? Sure, staff is working on this terrible scenario this week, but if it's your call - do you play Bennett - and I believe, burn his RS? Hawkins? Huff? Wildcat? Does the spread change to a more basic and power approach if we're running with a inexperienced QB - given that the spread heavily depends on a QB who can read and respond w/ option? Scary, but plausible.
was holder on a PAT, the snap went through his hands, he scrambled to try and find someone open and ran towards the sideline to buy time. As he went out of bounds, looked like his knee just gave out. Nothing malicious in a hit on him or anything. Thats probably it for him as a Duck on the playing field
It makes me uneasy losing him in case Thomas goes down. On the other hand, I'm glad that Thomas has been starting given Costa's proneness to injury.
Part of the suckiness of all this what a great guy Nate is. He's handled injury after injury and playing backup as well as anyone. The hit really wasn't a hit. He was scrapping for yards and a defender basically rode him out of bounds and Nate carried him for about four yards, hit the sidelines and then hit the turf. Nothing dirty. Just one of those things where injury after injury and the knee isn't the same (*cough - Oden). Here's Costa talking about his pre-season battle for the starting role with Thomas. He also mentions how impressed he was with Brian Bennett hitting his receivers. I guess, if you're a team looking at a potential NC, you let it all hang out and play all your cards -- meaning, if Thomas goes down, you burn Bennett's RS if he's the best option. Lets all collectively hope this is a scenario that DOES NOT happen! [video=youtube;4GHMcp1T1P4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GHMcp1T1P4[/video]
Exactly. I guess if you HAVE to burn it this year, you can always try again the next year, like they did with Thomas.
Bennett can still practice with the 2nd string without having to burn his redshirt. We shouldn't burn it if it's only for mop up duty, but if Thomas goes down, and with everything we have to lose, you definitely burn it.
It seems to me that Oregon, as a program, is at a point where they should no longer be worrying about "burning red shirts". OK, Bennett's supposed to be good, maybe great when his turn comes. Who's to say the Ducks aren't going to sign 3 better QB prospects before Thomas leaves? If Bennett's really all that great, then he'll go pro before his 5th year anyway, and if he's not, then we'll probably have someone comparable or better in the pipeline by that point. To me, fretting over redshirts is minor/marginal program thinking, and I think that our success in Kelly's tenure has elevated us past that. Perhaps I'm jumping the gun, but I believe that as long as UO is this fun to watch, they're going to be landing top-10 recruiting classes.
Every program, when redshirting players, doe not want to have to burn a redshirt for no reason. It's not "minor/marginal" program thinking at all. It's not even a question that Bennett's redshirt will be burned if Thomas goes down, but if there's no need to then don't.
Chip: "I am not worried about the 2014 season. If Bryan Bennett will help us win Saturday, he'll play."
Hmm... I'm really not sure how I feel about this. I want to do anything that will help us win the rest of the season, but I also feel bad for the kid because he wastes his redshirt on only three games.
