Coach: Darron Thomas is Your Man

Normally, I don’t tell someone how to do their job when I don’t know enough about it to make a qualified judgement. Today, it’s clear to me that Darron Thomas is Oregon’s starting quarterback and Mike Bellotti had better know it. No other quarterback has looked as good as Thomas in a single quarter of play this year. Nate Costa is not an option. Chris Harper simply isn’t ready. Either let him learn for the year or make a position switch, but it’s not time for him yet. I can’t say Jeremiah Masoli isn’t an option, but he’s been too eratic when he’s had the reins. As for Justin Roper, he’s got the most to give, but he’s been injured twice already and he just doesn’t feel like the long-term fit that is needed at the position.

On Saturday, Thomas went 13-25, netting 210 yards with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. All in one quarter. He’s young. He doesn’t know the offense that well. He likely has a long way to go in understanding the zone read-option. He’ll even make mistakes. Dumb ones. And we’ll live with it, because he’s young, filled with potential and gives Oregon the best chance to win both now and tomorrow.

I know how dangerous it is to look at one quarter of play and extraploate an entire future from it, but what is the better option right now? The redshirt is off. There’s no getting it back this year. Ride the guy as far as he’ll take you and don’t look back, coach. Don’t second guess the decision, don’t play around and mix your options, simply make him the starter.

In today’s Register-Guard, coach, this is what you said. “We should have made the call sooner,” and “We just didn’t get him in soon enough.” You’re also quoted as saying those dreaded words, “open competition.” Coach, you waited too long on Saturday and you admitted as much. Don’t do it again. Thomas is your guy. Right now.