Duck Stuff: Morning Mud

Morning Mud

• Darron Thomas leaving for the NFL dominates all topics surrounding Duck football and rightfully so. Rob Moseley and Adam Jude try to analyze the decision and Adam says sources indicate the coaching staff tried to change his mind.

Oregon coach Chip Kelly met with Darron Thomas on Saturday in a last-ditch effort to convince the quarterback to stay in school, the last of what were several attempts by the UO staff in recent days to keep Thomas in Eugene for the 2012 season, sources told The Register-Guard.

• Ted Miller adds his perspective to DT leaving for the NFL.

• Dale Newton is looking ahead to the next quarterback to lead the Ducks and compares to the leading candidates, Bryan Bennett and Marcus Mariota.

What the Ducks lose in experience they get back in talent. Thomas was considered an athlete when he first came on campus (LSU wanted him to play wide receiver) but was recruited at Oregon to play quarterback. The guys on the depth chart now were recruited quarterbacks who can pass but can also run extremely well. What we are beginning to see is the offense becoming even finer tuned for Kelly’s spread offense. The receivers next year are going to mostly be guys recruited by Kelly to play in his spread, the running backs are all really fast, and the quarterbacks are as deadly running as they are throwing. While Darron Thomas’ departure creates a lot of uncertainty, it sure just did make next season more anticipated and exciting.

GO DUCKS!