Darron Thomas Turning Pro
by Avinash Kunnath on Jan 14, 2012 5:59 PM PST
in California Golden Bears Football
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I sure wasn't expecting Matt Barkley to stay and Darron Thomas to go.
"I came to this decision on behalf of myself and my family," Thomas said. "I have a dream of playing in the NFL and I’m going to pursue those dreams.
"I would like to thank everyone in Oregon for all their support and I would thank the coaches for all their help, especially Coach (Chip) Kelly." Thomas added. "I love my teammates and wish them the best of luck, and am confident they will continue the winning tradition that has been established. Last but not least, I thank all the Oregon fans for their help and support."
Darron Thomas leaving means Oregon will be replacing their starting running back and starting quarerback. While Oregon will probably have a solid replacement in Bryan Bennett in place and a decent runner in Kenjon Barner taking over the workload, the Ducks might have some adjusting to do getting them up to speed in one of the most demanding college offenses. You never know how a system team like the Ducks will change with new personnel, although they are still the prohibitive favorites to win the North.
Still, it opens the door just a bit for Cal to have a chance at the North. Furd is losing some of their All-Stars on offense. Washington will have a new defensive staff coming into place. Oregon St. and Washington St. are adjusting, but still are a step behind talent-wise. The Bears might be able to make some noise in the division.
What do you guys think?
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- I had no idea DT even projected well in the NFL, much less be ready now.
- What style of QB is Bryan Bennett?
TROLL ON YOU BEARS. - atoms
Not sure about that. Thomas is a pass-first QB who runs only when he has to. Bennett seems to embrace carrying the football.
by Avinash Kunnath on Jan 14, 2012 6:14 PM PST up reply actions
I think that has more to do with him being young
And inexperienced.
I seem to remember Dixon was actually a really good passer his last season at Oregon.
by SDBear on Jan 14, 2012 6:33 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Bennett's a more natural athlete.
He’s faster than Thomas, and much more solid than Dixon, though probably not quite as fast. He has a very strong arm as well, but the tendency we’ve seem so far has been to run first, probably as mentioned because he’s young and trusts his legs more than his arm, and he’s not there yet as far as going through all his reads. I can’t remember seeing him throw enough to really get a read on his accuracy.
Somewhere, somehow, a Duck is watching you.
Bennett reminds me of Masoli. He’s got a much better arm and has better touch on his passes, but from what we saw of him this year, he likes to lock onto his #1 option.
One of DT’s underrated strengths was his ability to go through his progressions with great efficiency. With the weapons that Oregon had over the past two years, this was probably the most important aspect of playing QB for the Ducks.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Decent arm. But inaccurate as can be.
Bennett likes to run a lot more than Thomas. He can throw, although I think he might have similar accuracy issues. Definitely a bigger, more physical player that’ll be tougher for Cal’s defense to bottle up.
by Avinash Kunnath on Jan 14, 2012 6:12 PM PST up reply actions
Bennett “looks” like he throws a much better ball than DT, and that’s why many Oregon fans were clamoring for him this season.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Wow, did not see that coming at all
No excuses for Cal not to finish in the top of the Pac12N next season.
by SDBear on Jan 14, 2012 6:11 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Well, I dunno about that, but Cal should definitely at least be in the running. Oregon is still probably the favorite, but Cal, Stanford and Washington should all be contenders.
by Missing Barry on Jan 15, 2012 10:19 AM PST up reply actions
happy to see Pac-12 North gets a bit weaker...maybe
don’t know who Darron Thomas talked to for him to make this decision, however
by LEastCoastBears on Jan 14, 2012 6:12 PM PST reply actions
Dan Rubenstein @Dan_Rubenstein
Am being told re: Darron Thomas that he and Cliff Harris are pretty tight, entirely possible DT soured on coaches.
Well this would explain things.
“no, we already smoked it”
by MV Bear on Jan 14, 2012 6:28 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 3 recs
Dave's not here
though I can’t really remember.
That seems like some irresponsible speculation to me (I’m assuming Dan Rubenstein is a reporter?)…
by Missing Barry on Jan 15, 2012 10:20 AM PST up reply actions
It just got a whole lot easier for SC to win the PAC 12 next season
by SDBear on Jan 14, 2012 6:19 PM PST via mobile reply actions
He has been at Oregon for four years now
I’m not sure how much he would have improved his draft stock had he came back to Oregon next season.
He has been a three year starter and has won the Pac10/12 three years in a row. He doesn’t have much else to accomplish and I think he hit his ceiling at Oregon.
by SDBear on Jan 14, 2012 6:31 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
They might not even win the Pac12 next season
I don’t think Oregon has enough experienced talent returning next season to get to the NC game.
by SDBear on Jan 14, 2012 6:35 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
To win the Pac12 but that wasnt enough this season
by SDBear on Jan 14, 2012 6:49 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
There's no LSU to start this season.
Oregon basically had no chance after that loss.
Somewhere, somehow, a Duck is watching you.
That is the problem, one loss next season and Oregon
Probably doesn’t go to the NCG game.
I could see them losing down in LA to SC even with Thomas. I could also see one other team hanging a loss on them.
I can’t see Oregon beating SC twice next season.
by SDBear on Jan 14, 2012 6:52 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
It sure does make it tougher, I'll grant.
With the light early schedule, Oregon should be 8-0 coming into USC even without Thomas. They should also beat Stanford and OSU to end the year even without Thomas. @ USC was a toss-up at best before, USC now looks like a solid favorite by anyone’s measure. I’m more worried about the @Cal game than I was before, and I was already very worried. But if they can beat USC during the regular season in LA, I’d feel very good about their chances to sweep at home in the CCG.
Somewhere, somehow, a Duck is watching you.
If Oregon beats USC and wins out, I think they are in the NCG
In the Game of Trolls, you either troll or you die.
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I thought it was Cal that recruited mercenaries
who didn’t want to play college ball and only saw Cal as a way to get the pros?
/Oregon troll’d
We should unban him just to see what he’s got now.
You just never see it coming.
One minute, your starting quarterback is cooking you a nice Rose Bowl dinner. And the next, you’re thawing hotdogs in a gas station sink.
Somewhere, somehow, a Duck is watching you.
Yeah I don’t know about this decision… I don’t feel like he had an impressive enough season to go early, but I guess he may have felt that waiting may drop what round he gets drafted?
We’ll see how this plays out, I fuess
no bear, no care
by EchoOfSilence on Jan 14, 2012 6:46 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Oh well, as long as Tosh stays and we get Armstead
As well as hang on to all of our current recruits I will be happy.
by SDBear on Jan 14, 2012 6:54 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Dang. Well, nothing is certain until they sign. Also, I’m more interested right now in hearing whether people report seeing a 6’8", 280 lbs., light-on-his-feet guy show up to classes at Cal on Tuesday.
Yep me too
Cal has always been fine at RB during the Tedford era.
Armstead is much more important than Foster.
by SDBear on Jan 14, 2012 6:58 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Yea I guess we are pretty solid at RB, hopefully Bigelow will have a breakout season next year! Arik would be a huge get.
by ucsdgoldenbear on Jan 14, 2012 7:03 PM PST up reply actions
Agree
We’re fairly deep at RB. Isi and CJ back next year, Manuel and Bigelow will probably get a few more reps and hearing good things about Lasco.
"Fuck DOOOOOM. We prefer BOOOOOM!! - alpha1906
N/m got it
@RGBearTerritory
Ryan Gorcey
Hearing D.J. Foster may have committed to #USC.
17 minutes ago via web
In other words, Go Bears!
When I read this latimes article, I thought our chances would be low.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-usc-tailbacks-20120113,0,6403039.story
They need somebody now.
I would hope recruits would have enough sense to see why so many kids are transferring out of USC. Normally, as a recruit, I can understand the allure of playing for USC. Right now, though? I can’t see why anyone would want to be part of that program. Kiffin really is a scumfuck. I think taking scholarships away from kids and pushing kids out of your program based on performance is really just a shitty move for a coach to make that reflects very, very poorly on them. Dunno why anyone would want to be part of a program like that, and right now, USC is the worst about it.
by Missing Barry on Jan 15, 2012 10:26 AM PST up reply actions
I think taking scholarships away from kids and pushing kids out of your program based on performance
Pardon my language, but what the fuck are you talking about? Or do you have some inside scoop here? Because as far as I can tell, Prater and Butler left because they were plainly going to be behind Wood, Lee, and Farmer in the depth chart – and Butler graduated, for heaven’s sake. Carlisle because he wants to be nearer his family… which is why he’s going to our biggest rival with no restrictions.
That leaves TJ Bryant, who’s been suspended from team activities and is going to graduate, and Pat Hall, whose time has been beset with academic and injury problems.
Feel free to dislike Kiffin all you want, but don’t just make shit up.
"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea"
Do some basic math on what it takes for your team to get down to the 75 limit with the way you’re playing the recruiting game. Now, knowing that, please explain the abnormally high number of players transferring – guys that normally wouldn’t be (like prater for instance). If you don’t want to see it of course you won’t, but your program put itself in a position to force a number of lot of kids to transfer. The numbers just don’t work out any other way. So yes, I am going to believe its basically what the SEC does with oversigning because…well…it is.
by Missing Barry on Jan 15, 2012 11:40 PM PST up reply actions
USC didn’t have 75 players on scholarship at the end of the season, IIRC, so there’s no need to “push” anyone out. If SC gets the full 15 for 2012 – and there’s no reason to think that getting a full class is a given – it’ll still be within the limits.
Beyond that, there are two fundamental flaws in your thinking: 1) that SC is over-signing against a limit to cut players: they aren’t. The recruiting and scholarships were set up last spring with the assumption that there would be limits. If slots open up to allow spring enrollment against prior year positions, great, but as of just now, the inflow is below the outflow, and again, SC is under full strength.
The second flaw in your thinking is demonstrated in the use of the word “normal” – since when is this a normal situation? The ranks of upperclassmen were thinned because of penalty free transfers under the sanctions – or did you forget that detail as to why people 1) wanted to leave, and 2) could leave? Similarly, the 2012 season is the last shot that the team has for 3 – 5 years to really be competitive in the PAC12. Not everyone is going to want to stick around for that.
In any case, I’m not sitting here thinking that no-one is making any assessments about whether some of these guys might be taking up a slot that could be better used by a transfer student. But 5 players, 2 of whom are graduating and 1 of whom is a good player and a good kid, in the one off-season where this is even an applicable issue, doesn’t amount to the kind of abusive and systematic behavior that you “believe” is the case.
Both of us could probably have saved a lot of time if you had written “I don’t like Lane Kiffin and will interpret events in the most negative light possible” and I had written “Well I don’t.” But it’s too late now.
"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea"
Pac-12 North is wide open next season. Washington may be the team to beat with Keith Price and ASJ at tight end — probably going to be the more consistent passing attack.
I like Cal’s chances, too.
I was surprised by DT’s move, but I think it makes sense. He wasn’t going to dramatically improve his draft stock next year. So he might as well start getting paid above-table. If Terrelle Pryor can make an NFL team, I think Thomas can, too.
DOOM
I remember I got really excited when Masoli got booted off the team 2 years ago.
Then came Thomas, who turned out better than Masoli.
Ducks will still be tough
Bryan Bennett took over a couple of games while Darren Thomas was out last season and did just fine. Chip Kelly’s offensive scheme is really one of its kind in college football. I still expect Oregon to be extremely competitive come Fall 2012 despite of the early entrants such as Darron Thomas and LaMichael James.
by solarise on Jan 14, 2012 9:16 PM PST via iPhone app reply actions
So we play Oregon late. Bryan Bennett will have had an entire season to get the Duck offense clicking. On the other hand, Shaq Thompson will have had an entire season to adjust to college football.
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