As reported on the radio and twitters. Rumor on radio is that DT is leaving because of serious sanctions and/or Chip is leaving for NFL, lol.
DT is leaving in part because Bryan Bennett is Chip's prototype QB for his system, as are Mariota and Rodrigues. This is my opinion only, though. Don't assume DT was going to win the job next year.
Bad move by DT! He'll be a late 2nd round at best. He doesn't have a NFL arm or wide reciever speed..... The best DT's football carreer will ever be is being a senior leading his #3 Ducks to a national championship. He'll kick himself for this later in life... That said, we've got some damn good QB's waiting for a chance! The kid from Hawaii is a stud!
Chip runs the USC system where you compete every week for your job. Ask Cliff Harris about it. Or whoever was the 3rd WR all year (Huffman/Hawkins/Dungy/etc. etc.). I love what DT did at Oregon, but he isn't Chip's prototypical QB. I think Mariota is going to be special at UO, and if Bennett can work on his mechanics, he can be as well.
I'm not even sure he'll be drafted at all. Just an odd decision that came completely out of the blue. Maybe he as a great job offer at a hedge fund or something and just wants to start it?
I'm happy about this, because I really want to see Bryan Bennett lead this team. Darron Thomas will be drafted in the 7th round at the earliest, I honestly think he would go undrafted.
Being a Redshirt Jr, Darron should be on pace to graduate shortly. He's started two years putting up big stats being very efficient and a winner, I don't know how much staying another season would have helped boost his draft stock. Concerns about not being familiar with being under center weren't going to go away and he'd be risking injury. Best of luck to him in all things as he's been all time great Duck QB, but from what I understand he's projected to go in the later rounds. oh well, every year change is part of the deal when following a team, especially a college team. This certainly adds intrigue to the Spring practices... Mariota v Bennett should be very interesting. Both bring better raw physical ability to the position then DT possessed, but of course QB is such a cerebral position and thats where Thomas excelled. I feel better about the early part of next year's schedule being a bit light then I did just a few days back. STOMP
From what I've heard, DT asked for a draft evaluation. It must have been pretty favorable, and I don't think if he was getting told 7th round to undrafted that he would've left. With a lot of QB's coming back for their senior years he might get into that top 6-7 QB range. I'm guessing 3rd-4th round.
That would be simply stunning to me. Then again, with LMJ/Barner last year, and DAT/LMJ/Barner this year, Darron has kind of flown under the radar for a lot of Duck fans, myself included. Maybe if you break down his tape, he's a great passer? I do know he makes good decisions in both the running and passing games, but I'm actually surprised by this announcement. It just makes no sense to me.
DT doesn't have bad throwing mechanics and he doesn't have the weakest of arms. He has most of his problems with how he plants his feet. That could be fixed pretty easily. With a good combine I would not be surprised by that at all.
I've said it all along, but Thomas was a product of the system. He happened to be the guy who was quarterbacking the team when they got world class speed that inflated his numbers. From the glimpses that I saw of Bennett this season, I thought he was the better choice already. Tuck the ball and run! I think Bennett will excel at that. I don't see him getting drafted. I don't dislike Thomas' either, I just didn't think he was as great as others.
If Darron Thomas does not get drafted that would be a huge miscalculation on his part. He cannot even take part in the Senior Bowl which usually raises the draft stock of a lot of underrated players. He must feel pretty confident a team is going to take him. As for Bennett, I hope he does well.
On the one hand I agree that his stock probably won't go much higher, so why stay? On the other, he had a chance to stick around and take another shot at the natty.... but ya, I'm pretty excited to see what Bennett can do.
Yah, why would anyone assume the winningest QB in Oregon history and team leader would assume duty as QB1 - as a third year starter, going into his SR year. Always reasonable to tell other posters what not to assume. Free thinking and debate should not be encouraged. Moseley reported: Thomas was raised in Houston by a single mother who works a retail job, and in the statement Saturday announcing his decision, Thomas said it was made “on behalf of myself and my family.” Quarterbacks selected in the late rounds of the 2011 draft made a base salary of $375,000 as rookies. Here's how DT compares to JH: Cmp Att Pct Yards Y/C TD Int Rate Darron Thomas 432 710 60.8% 5,642 13.1 63 16 152.4 Joey Harrington 465 855 54.4% 6,289 13.5 53 21 131.7
