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Is DT The Best Oregon QB Ever?

  • I’ve always been fond of Joey Harrington. He represents all of the things I look for in a quarterback. You always felt like you were in good hands with Joey. He was "Mr. Clutch" or "The General" and always came through. Darron Thomas also had some of those attributes, often being referred to as “having ice running through his veins”.

    Now that Thomas has decided to leave the University of Oregon to try his hand in the NFL he leaves as the quarterback with the best winning percentage in Oregon history. Does that make him the best Oregon quarterback ever?

    I have a hard time anointing him as such. What would a guy like Akili Smith have done in Chip Kelly’s offense? Do you remember Akili Smith?

    Regardless of the talent, Joey Harrington will always be Mr. Duck to me. He represented everything a leader should be. He never would have left early, no matter how good the financial gain. Have we ever had a quarterback leave early before? This isn’t just a defensive lineman or running back; this is the leader of the team.

    I was really looking forward to watching Darron Thomas excel in his senior year and cement his legacy in Oregon Duck history. Leaving early to get drafted in the seventh round is not what I envision when thinking of the best Duck quarterback of all time. For me, Thomas may hold some important records but he will never be Mr. Duck to me. I never saw him leading the Pit Crew at Mac court like Harrington did (and still does).

    I hope Bryan Bennett is able to fulfill the expectations of his most optimistic cheerleaders. He is a legit running threat and has a canon for an arm. He showed great poise in the few opportunities that he was given last year, most notably leading his team from behind to beat Arizona State. Hopefully he’ll show that steely veined presence that Darron did too. But more than that, I would love to see him become a true leader like Joey Harrington was. I hope he displays the leadership that makes his teammates and fans believe that he is the only person that can get the job done. Time will only tell.

    I am very thankful for what Darron Thomas did while at the University of Oregon and I hope he succeeds at the next level but I hope Bryan Bennett is the next great leader that takes us to new heights; like Joey Harrington did.

    This post was edited by LetMeSeeYourO on 1/15/2012 at 3:47 AM

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    Give em Helfrich!!!

    LetMeSeeYourO

  • I would say no. He's a good QB who benefitted from the system and the talent around him. Dennis would have been better playing this past year or the year before.

    It's hard to say how Joey would have done since he played in a totally different offense...

    RRMike

  • #'s wise, yes. Popularity wise, nope!

    bigducky

  • Most talented? No. Best thrower? No. Best runner? No. Best leader? Maybe, maybe not. Winningest? By a long shot.

    If you're going by scoreboard, he is unquestionably the best. If you're going by other individual factors, he is unquestionably not. But I prefer just to appreciate his time at Oregon as the most successful ever, and not try to classify him as "the best" or "not the best".

    Bairdy ●

  • I say Dixon, to me, he was way more of a threat, and about as exciting of a player I have ever watched.

    That dude just floated across the field when he ran. May not have had all the big wins, but was pure excitement.

    brownvsop

  • After 2 years close... after 3 yes by far. Maybe not the most talented but best football playing leader 2 BCS bowl first natty apperance first rose bowl win since 1917. Could've would've shouldve

    DATisahomie

  • Bairdy said...

    Most talented? No. Best thrower? No. Best runner? No. Best leader? Maybe, maybe not. Winningest? By a long shot.

    If you're going by scoreboard, he is unquestionably the best. If you're going by other individual factors, he is unquestionably not. But I prefer just to appreciate his time at Oregon as the most successful ever, and not try to classify him as "the best" or "not the best".

    This

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    97duck

  • Bairdy said...

    Most talented? No. Best thrower? No. Best runner? No. Best leader? Maybe, maybe not. Winningest? By a long shot.

    If you're going by scoreboard, he is unquestionably the best. If you're going by other individual factors, he is unquestionably not. But I prefer just to appreciate his time at Oregon as the most successful ever, and not try to classify him as "the best" or "not the best".

    Weasels go by scoreboards... do you want to be a weasel?

    Now where is that sarcasm font again...

    SOTBD ●

  • In order ...

    1) Joey Harrington ... a three year body of good work,
    2) Dixon ... one great season cut short,
    3) DT ... terrific leader and winner,
    4) Chris Miller ... based upon pure talent leading a lousy team,
    5) Akili Smith ... the best single season for a Duck QB,
    6) Clemons ... if he only could have started a couple years for Chip,
    7) Bill Musgrove ... another great leader with a strong body of work,
    8) Masoli ... One great season plus some amazing games such as the impossible AZ comeback,
    9) Danny O'Neil ... another guy who could have played for Kelley, and
    10) Tony G ... if you can star in the arena league you could star in the "blur" offense.

    Where will Brian Bennett rank someday? Somewhere in the top half of this list if he can stay ahead of Marriotta.

    Left out guys I never saw play for Oregon such as Van Brocklin and Fouts.

    johnch

  • johnch said...

    In order ...

    1) Joey Harrington ... a three year body of good work,
    2) Dixon ... one great season cut short,
    3) DT ... terrific leader and winner,
    4) Chris Miller ... based upon pure talent leading a lousy team,
    5) Akili Smith ... the best single season for a Duck QB,
    6) Clemons ... if he only could have started a couple years for Chip,
    7) Bill Musgrove ... another great leader with a strong body of work,
    8) Masoli ... One great season plus some amazing games such as the impossible AZ comeback,
    9) Danny O'Neil ... another guy who could have played for Kelley, and
    10) Tony G ... if you can star in the arena league you could star in the "blur" offense.

    Where will Brian Bennett rank someday? Somewhere in the top half of this list if he can stay ahead of Marriotta.

    Left out guys I never saw play for Oregon such as Van Brocklin and Fouts.

    Fouts?

    "Release Me Cuhhhhhhhh"

    mcmcc1

  • Hard for me to place Fouts for me since I haven't seen a second of film during his time at Oregon, but I would have DT second and Dixon third. If Dixon finished his season I would likely be giving him the nod.

    wig

  • I don't know if I'd say he was the best, but he was definitely the best winner out of any QB we've had. No question there.

    Overall I'd put him second behind Joey and for many of the same reasons you did, because Joey was Mr. Duck. I don't know if I would say DT had way more talent to work with as that 2001 team had a ton of talent on it, but Joey did things for the program back then that are hard to put into words. And with DT, there's only one word needed to describe what he did, winning.

    If the game were on the line and we needed a Duck QB, he'd be my choice.

    MoneyBeGreen ●

  • MoneyBeGreen said...

    I don't know if I'd say he was the best, but he was definitely the best winner out of any QB we've had. No question there.

    Overall I'd put him second behind Joey and for many of the same reasons you did, because Joey was Mr. Duck. I don't know if I would say DT had way more talent to work with as that 2001 team had a ton of talent on it, but Joey did things for the program back then that are hard to put into words. And with DT, there's only one word needed to describe what he did, winning.

    If the game were on the line and we needed a Duck QB, he'd be my choice.

    Him or Joey for your final comment. Joey was pretty incredible at getting it done late.

    "Release Me Cuhhhhhhhh"

    mcmcc1

  • To me DT is for sure the best Oregon quarterback. Look at what he has done the past 2 years! He may not be the best skills QB but the guy is a gamer,winner, and leader. Look at the national title game, he carried Oregon. Completion after completion. I look back at other great duck QB and the popular choice is Dixon or Harrington, but do people forget that Dixon was only "the guy" his senior year? He shared snaps with Brady freakin Leaf. Joey was great, but he did have some bad games at oregon(see junior year at OSU) Darron was never the reason the ducks lost a game, not one game can you look back and say he was the reason the team lost. He completed passes, and took some big time hits while doing it. That being said bennett is the real deal guys, but he wouldn't of played over DT next year. Not because he isn't better, but because Darron simply didn't do anything to lose the job.

    nicktunit8

  • No, and it's not even remotely close. Is he the most successful? Yes. The 2 sentiments are not joined at the hip. DT had the fortune of playing in the most QB friendly offense ever seen at Oregon. His stats are system stats, by and large. Was he a winner and did Oregon have the best run of success with him at the helm? Yes. Was he the main reason Oregon was so successful? No. There is not a single player on the team made to look better by the system Coach Kelly runs than Darron Thomas.

    Caravaggio

  • Caravaggio said...

    No, and it's not even remotely close. Is he the most successful? Yes. The 2 sentiments are not joined at the hip. DT had the fortune of playing in the most QB friendly offense ever seen at Oregon. His stats are system stats, by and large. Was he a winner and did Oregon have the best run of success with him at the helm? Yes. Was he the main reason Oregon was so successful? No. There is not a single player on the team made to look better by the system Coach Kelly runs than Darron Thomas.

    Go watch the Boise state game with Masoli at QB or any video of Brady Leaf running chips offense and tell me it's a system offense where the quarterback is made to look better over anyone else

    nicktunit8

  • nicktunit8 said...

    To me DT is for sure the best Oregon quarterback. Look at what he has done the past 2 years! He may not be the best skills QB but the guy is a gamer,winner, and leader. Look at the national title game, he carried Oregon. Completion after completion. I look back at other great duck QB and the popular choice is Dixon or Harrington, but do people forget that Dixon was only "the guy" his senior year? He shared snaps with Brady freakin Leaf. Joey was great, but he did have some bad games at oregon(see junior year at OSU) Darron was never the reason the ducks lost a game, not one game can you look back and say he was the reason the team lost. He completed passes, and took some big time hits while doing it. That being said bennett is the real deal guys, but he wouldn't of played over DT next year. Not because he isn't better, but because Darron simply didn't do anything to lose the job.

    Oh please. Dixon had ONE year under Kelly and would have won the Heisman if he'd stayed healthy, and he is STILL the all time completion % leader at Oregon.

    Caravaggio

  • In some alternate universe with some sort of justice Akili would have gotten to play for Kelly. He could throw and run, IMO he would have thrown for 4000 yds and ran for 1000 in this O. Crap he threw for over 3700 yds and 32 td with only 7 int in the old Oregon O.

    This post was edited by jsaund on 1/15/2012 at 4:48 PM

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    jsaund ●

  • nicktunit8 said...

    Go watch the Boise state game with Masoli at QB or any video of Brady Leaf running chips offense and tell me it's a system offense where the quarterback is made to look better over anyone else

    Your logic is abysmal. What happened to Masoli after he left Oregon? Oh yeah, a terrible year. Oregon had FOUR NEW STARTERS ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE against BSU. And Brady Leaf, are you serious? He had 2 badly sprained ankles and got beat out by Justin Roper. Leaf attempted a total of 72 passes under Coach Kelly. What great examples...

    Caravaggio

  • The fact that Dixon only had 1 year with Chip doesn't matter. The question was, is DT the best Oregon QB of all time?Y ES! How is he not? Because Dixon had 1 great year? Dixon may have been a better of player, but body of work DT is the best Oregon QB ever. Plain and simple. 63-17 TD to interception ratio. Single handily almost beat Auburn. Led team to National Championship game, and rose bowl victory. What more could he have done?

    nicktunit8

  • nicktunit8 said...

    The fact that Dixon only had 1 year with Chip doesn't matter. The question was, is DT the best Oregon QB of all time?Y ES! How is he not? Because Dixon had 1 great year? Dixon may have been a better of player, but body of work DT is the best Oregon QB ever. Plain and simple. 63-17 TD to interception ratio. Single handily almost beat Auburn. Led team to National Championship game, and rose bowl victory. What more could he have done?

    You seem to be confusing team success with individual accomplishment. If that's the only criteria you want to use, then fine, you're welcome to your opinion.

    If teams are being picked for a tournament with a one billion dollar prize, and these are the QBs lined up to lead a team of random guys, who gets picked last(in their prime obviously)?

    Dan Fouts - NFL HoF
    Chris Miller - NFL All Pro
    Bill Musgrave - Heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, etc,etc, of a top 10 Oregon team.
    Danny Oneil - Magical 1994
    Tony Graziani - Arena League MVP
    Jason Maas - CFL Champ
    Akili Smith - Best statistical season ever at Oregon.
    AJ Feeley - 10 years in the NFL
    Joey Harrington - Captain Comeback #2 ranking.
    Kellen Clemens - NFL backup. Tough as nails, strong arm, underrated mobility(similar to that of DT)
    Dennis Dixon - Heisman frontrunner. All time completion % record holder at Oregon.
    Darron Thomas - Chip Kelly QB

    Caravaggio

  • So in your opinion is DT a top 10 QB in Oregon all time?

    nicktunit8

  • nicktunit8 said...

    So in your opinion is DT a top 10 QB in Oregon all time?

    In terms of individual talent? No. In overall terms, including team success, absolutely.

    And you guys think I'm some sort of hater and not an Oregon fan for saying something like that, when the complete opposite is true. The point that people miss is that I think Oregon is about to get even better. I'm not saying Oregon sucks or that it's all the system or anything like that, I'm saying DT had a low ceiling(and yes a MNC game and a Rose Bowl win were achieved with a QB with a low ceiling) and I can't wait until we have a true dual threat QB with good accuracy because this program is going to be even better.

    This post was edited by Caravaggio on 1/15/2012 at 5:14 PM

    Caravaggio

  • He is the best by statistics, wins and leading the best offenses the school has ever had. Nothing else really matters unless you want to rank him on mechanics which figures in to......nothing. Too much credit given to Chip and not enough to the players. Chip says the players talents determine the offense, that being said DT is the best. He has the most TD's ever in a season, #2 & #3 in the yards in a season while having an amazing TD/INT ratio. Other than Maehl and a TE or two never had any real high quality WR's... Not sure I can make that argument for anyone else. Joey was by far the most popular but DT was #1 where it counts (wins, stats, and offensive performance). Joey was the best leader I think Oregon has ever had on offense.

    Edit: if he was from Oregon they would be building a statue of him right now.

    This post was edited by Duck Nasty on 1/15/2012 at 5:45 PM

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    Duck Nasty

  • One more thing to take note to regarding the system and another QB. Oregon wasn't limited by Darron Thomas's ability to pass, Darron Thomas was limited by Oregon's offense. The guy could have thrown for 4,000-4,500 yards if he was in a pro style passing offense. You could put Payton Manning at QB and Oregon is still going to feed the beast with LMJ, KB and DAT. It's not the other way around.

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    Duck Nasty

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