Recruiting Roundtable (rivals.com)

[Oracle]

I still don't think a QB in this class is an absolute need. Someone like Bolden, Legaux, or Walker would be fine. And if we miss out, we still have Masoli, Roper, DT, etc returning. RB is gonna be a bigger concern because once Blount is gone, we'll be missing that physical back. Grant, James, Barner, and Alston are all quick and finesse players. Adding a big back in this class could be key to Oregon's future success.

No offense but our recruiting this year isn't about next year. Sure we have Masoli, Costa, Roper and DT coming back for 2010 but if you think we can skip a QB this year and have nothing but true Frosh to back up DT in 2011 and get the kind of performance we have come to expect when he has to sit for injury I think you're sorely mistaken.

1st year freshmen QBs have a pretty poor track record playing D1 BCS level football.

Darron Thomas is very likely to get injured at some point in the '11 season. You honestly think that a true frosh backup is the answer?

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

I would be willing to bet almost anything that the coaches agree with me and that we will take a QB this cycle, even if we miss out on the few big names. We simply have to have somebody with some experience with the playbook to backup Darron in 2011.

Roper seemed to do fine as a true freshman backup when Dixon/Leaf/And Co went down.

You are probably right though, it's likely we will land someone. But I still think there is a greater need to land a big time RB this class than there is to land a big time QB.

But you are right, even getting someone like Shreve (or some other 3 star prospect) would be a good insurance for out team.

Roper was a RS frosh. Not a true freshman. My point exactly.

[Oracle]

All I'm saying is that there is no reason to take an average QB this year when we still have Masoli for another
year. Then there is a possibility that Costa can get a 6th year and we have DT. The position of need is RB
A) Blount is not an every down back which will be clear this year and B) We have no RB'S waiting that can carry
the ball 15 to 18 times and take the pounding next year.

See above. Masoli, Costa, and Roper will all be Juniors this fall. Seniors in 2010. Costa may be able to get a 6th year but depending on him for the '11 season is a pretty big chance to take with his injury history and the vague NCAA decision making process.

I don't disagree that we need RB's in this class. I just think that it is more important to get a QB if we don't want to slip back into 6-6 type mediocrity if we have an injury to Thomas in 2011.

In 2011 we will have Lamichael James, Ethan Grant, whoever else we get in this round, and whoever we recruit next cycle. It's a lot easier to play RB as a true frosh than to play QB.

Do you guys remember the UCLA game from '07? How about the 2nd and 3rd quarters of the Boise St. game this past year?

I don't ever want to see a repeat of that.

Let's say we land a 5 star QB in this years class, redshirt him and have him behind DT in 2011. Who is to say DT won't get hurt and this new recruit flops just like Harper did against Boise State? Or Cody Kempt against OSU?

I just don't see that big of a difference from landing a QB this season or next. Clearly getting someone capable of playing QB in case of injuries would be nice! But I still think landing a big time RB would be more beneficial to the team.

Anything's possible. Are you saying that a kid with a year of experience won't be better off than a kid just coming into the system? Why do the coaches bother making them practice?

The fact is that Harper was never a good QB prospect and neither was Kempt. I don't know why you're comparing a possible flop by a 5 star recruit to what those two guys did.

[Oracle]

Why does everyone see this as all or nothing? Are there zero JC QB's that could be signed next year? They wouldn't be true freshman. They could be a nice stop gap back up while we develop the underclassmen.

Yes, it would be great to get a top notch QB this year. But if we don't we aren't going to somehow become UW or WSU in one year. There are options and the staff know the options.

Mainly because I'm tired of us living off last minute desperation moves from the JUCO ranks.

You are right, of course. I'm sure they could get a JUCO guy but it's a direction that we want to see the program moving away from. You hit the JUCOs up to fill gaps that you screwed up and left in your roster.

I'd like us to take a QB or even two this cycle and then two or one next year and then one every year thereafter. The coaches have stated their desire to have 5 QBs in case of injury. So take one every year and RS them all their frosh year.

Taking 3 in one class is simply stupid IMO. And yet, our coaches have previously thought that the total number was all that was important and having big gluts of kids at a pos. graduate all together was ok. It happened on the O-line last year and it will happen to the QB spot after 2010.

I sure hope Chip has a better grasp on this than Mike did. You can't just keep putting off recruiting for a pos because you don't think there's a guy out there that's up to your standards and then recruit a ton of guys for that one spot, all in the same year.

[jhopduck]

I don't see CK who is such a QB savvy guy not taking someone in this class at QB. He may not get the one he wants but someone at the very least servicable. Not taking a QB in this class creates the kind of mess Ernie Kent is in with big recruiting classes and then not much for a couple years. If we are to be considered competition for USC we can not have those lag years, and is there really any more important position on the entire field than QB? We got lucky with Masoli, imagine where we'd be had that not happened last minute. Roper is fine, but he is not on Masoli's level.

[ncduck]

Why does everyone see this as all or nothing? Are there zero JC QB's that could be signed next year? They wouldn't be true freshman. They could be a nice stop gap back up while we develop the underclassmen.

Yes, it would be great to get a top notch QB this year. But if we don't we aren't going to somehow become UW or WSU in one year. There are options and the staff know the options.

Mainly because I'm tired of us living off last minute desperation moves from the JUCO ranks.

You are right, of course. I'm sure they could get a JUCO guy but it's a direction that we want to see the program moving away from. You hit the JUCOs up to fill gaps that you screwed up and left in your roster.

I'd like us to take a QB or even two this cycle and then two or one next year and then one every year thereafter. The coaches have stated their desire to have 5 QBs in case of injury. So take one every year and RS them all their frosh year.

Taking 3 in one class is simply stupid IMO. And yet, our coaches have previously thought that the total number was all that was important and having big gluts of kids at a pos. graduate all together was ok. It happened on the O-line last year and it will happen to the QB spot after 2010.

I sure hope Chip has a better grasp on this than Mike did. You can't just keep putting off recruiting for a pos because you don't think there's a guy out there that's up to your standards and then recruit a ton of guys for that one spot, all in the same year.

You are correct in that everyone would love for it to be the case that you have a steady supply of QB's every year. The only problem is that you can't always get what you want. And to get from point A (current situation) to point B (your ideal situation) you have to use the stop gaps. I believe the coaching staff including Mike B. have been trying to get a continuing supply of solid QB talent. The problem is that they don't always want to come here and we have the Tajh Boyd type of stuff playing out. This year, there are very few quality dual threat QB's to choose from. If all of the good ones say no to us, do we take a guy just so we can say we have one each year? No, we take a JC.

Aside from USC, how many schools have top QB's in each and every class? There's a reason it's rare. Top players want PT. If you can't give it to them, you will lose out on some.

[Oracle]

Why does everyone see this as all or nothing? Are there zero JC QB's that could be signed next year? They wouldn't be true freshman. They could be a nice stop gap back up while we develop the underclassmen.

Yes, it would be great to get a top notch QB this year. But if we don't we aren't going to somehow become UW or WSU in one year. There are options and the staff know the options.

Mainly because I'm tired of us living off last minute desperation moves from the JUCO ranks.

You are right, of course. I'm sure they could get a JUCO guy but it's a direction that we want to see the program moving away from. You hit the JUCOs up to fill gaps that you screwed up and left in your roster.

I'd like us to take a QB or even two this cycle and then two or one next year and then one every year thereafter. The coaches have stated their desire to have 5 QBs in case of injury. So take one every year and RS them all their frosh year.

Taking 3 in one class is simply stupid IMO. And yet, our coaches have previously thought that the total number was all that was important and having big gluts of kids at a pos. graduate all together was ok. It happened on the O-line last year and it will happen to the QB spot after 2010.

I sure hope Chip has a better grasp on this than Mike did. You can't just keep putting off recruiting for a pos because you don't think there's a guy out there that's up to your standards and then recruit a ton of guys for that one spot, all in the same year.

If all of the good ones say no to us, do we take a guy just so we can say we have one each year? No...

Yes. Like Jhop said, you get a guy in this year. It's precisely because they screwed around with that Tajh Boyd or nobody mentality last year that they are in a position to have to take a QB this year, even if he's mediocre.

I'll admit that maybe taking a QB every year might be a stretch, but they are going to have to stagger them better or we will be back to that crap from earlier this decade where it's one good year followed by a year or two of mediocrity. You don't get there from here by failing to field a consistent winning team either.

With our geographic dis-advantages we need to start putting a winner on the field every year if we want those big name recruits to start taking us seriously.

[jhopduck]

We don't have to get and likely won't get a top level QB every year. But the mentality of only going for the best and not taking one if we don't get them isn't going to work very long. The Tajh Boyd example is perfect from last year, we should have taken a QB, excluding Darryl Hawkins, we didn't. Since Darryl was primarily recruited by Frost upon arrival I'm going to assume he's a WR.
But this year, after not taking one last year if we screw around with Bolden, Leguax, and others and miss on all and end up empty handed we are in trouble. Now, taking a player like Tyler Shreve, much lower rated prospect, but at least a QB, we have backup in case something happens. Harper was not recruited as a QB, he was given his opportunity however, it was obvious too much work had to be done. So my point is not every year do we land a Boyd or Bolden, but along the way we make sure we have someone who knows how to throw a ball around in case our stud DT, Masoli, whoever, goes down and we can at least throw the ball.
Which we are at that current year where we have to get someone, obviously we'd love the best, but we must get a QB. We need to keep moving away from JC ranks to have continued success. Especially with new stricter admittance standards for that level.

[Oracle]

We don't have to get and likely won't get a top level QB every year. But the mentality of only going for the best and not taking one if we don't get them isn't going to work very long. The Tajh Boyd example is perfect from last year, we should have taken a QB, excluding Darryl Hawkins, we didn't. Since Darryl was primarily recruited by Frost upon arrival I'm going to assume he's a WR.
But this year, after not taking one last year if we screw around with Bolden, Leguax, and others and miss on all and end up empty handed we are in trouble. Now, taking a player like Tyler Shreve, much lower rated prospect, but at least a QB, we have backup in case something happens. Harper was not recruited as a QB, he was given his opportunity however, it was obvious too much work had to be done. So my point is not every year do we land a Boyd or Bolden, but along the way we make sure we have someone who knows how to throw a ball around in case our stud DT, Masoli, whoever, goes down and we can at least throw the ball.
Which we are at that current year where we have to get someone, obviously we'd love the best, but we must get a QB. We need to keep moving away from JC ranks to have continued success. Especially with new stricter admittance standards for that level.

Well said Jhop!

[ncduck]

I just don't believe it's best to take a lower talented player just to have one at the position if you can take a more talented and experienced JC player. That's what Masoli was. It works. I don't see how it's hurting the continued success of the program.

Let me say this as clearly as I can, I'm absolutely certain that all Duck fans want certainty at the QB position and a clear line of succession. My point is that there is more than one way to get that. It would be awesome if we could get a solid HS player each year. Commits who could be in the system for years before being pressed into action. But that's not reality. What is reality is taking a solid player anywhere you can get him when you have a need, be it HS, JC, or transfer.

[woundedknees]

The only way a talented JC player will get a solid look anymore is if they were either a full qualifier out of high school, or have exceptional academics... The fiasco trying to get a JC DT qualified over the last couple of seasons should tell us that.

JC players are a much bigger gamble than they used to be.

Among current JC prospects at dual threat qb showing interest in Oregon are:

Taylor Budd (6'5/225/4.7) from Antelope Valley CC, Lancaster Ca.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC0Hzu_S ... annel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJRwaAny ... re=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx0l6R5s ... re=channel

AND

Johnny Carson (6'/180/4.45) from Los Medanos CC, Pittsburg, Ca.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eE-62-E6Ds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MpxeCz0 ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HsomnAl ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IcCA1cH ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agFe6h2G ... re=related

Had to throw that last one in there!

[jhopduck]

I think we have gotten to be on the same page NC. Agreed that we need to take one. Agreed it can come from HS, JC, transfer. And agreed that the preferred method is HS first and foremost if possible.
What I disagree with is thinking we can't take a decent to solid QB in almost any cycle. Tyler Shreve is begging to come here, he's a dual threat high 3*, possible lower 4* caliber player, that's not exactly scraping the bottom of the barrell. We haven't offered him as we are holding out for Bolden, Leguax, etc. What hurts is if we whiff on those guys late in the process and all the "Shreve"/Jacoby Walker QB's have already found their home.

[woundedknees]

What hurts is that the Ducks do not have any offeres to spare in this cycle, so gambling becomes a little more dicey, IMO.

[greenyellow]

The problem with these highly rated QBs is that they tend to go to schools where they can start right away (USC as the exception.) Most don't want to have to sit behind someone for 2-3 years or even redshirt. To get any kind of quality depth, you have to take these lower rated (per recruiting services) QBs since they are more willing and needing to take a redshirt year and a year or two to fight their way up the depth chart. These 4* and 5* QBs want to play right away. This may work in Oregon's favor in a couple of years but it's a detriment to QB recruiting right now. After the 2010 season, QB recruits should be looking at Oregon's depth chart as very open to them getting playing time since there may not be any other QBs on the roster besides Darron Thomas and possibly one QB they sign this coming year.

[goducks75]

Why does everyone see this as all or nothing? Are there zero JC QB's that could be signed next year? They wouldn't be true freshman. They could be a nice stop gap back up while we develop the underclassmen.

Yes, it would be great to get a top notch QB this year. But if we don't we aren't going to somehow become UW or WSU in one year. There are options and the staff know the options.

Mainly because I'm tired of us living off last minute desperation moves from the JUCO ranks.

You are right, of course. I'm sure they could get a JUCO guy but it's a direction that we want to see the program moving away from. You hit the JUCOs up to fill gaps that you screwed up and left in your roster.

I'd like us to take a QB or even two this cycle and then two or one next year and then one every year thereafter. The coaches have stated their desire to have 5 QBs in case of injury. So take one every year and RS them all their frosh year.

Taking 3 in one class is simply stupid IMO. And yet, our coaches have previously thought that the total number was all that was important and having big gluts of kids at a pos. graduate all together was ok. It happened on the O-line last year and it will happen to the QB spot after 2010.

I sure hope Chip has a better grasp on this than Mike did. You can't just keep putting off recruiting for a pos because you don't think there's a guy out there that's up to your standards and then recruit a ton of guys for that one spot, all in the same year.

The exact reason I think we should pick up 1 JC quarterback in this class. They are slightly more experienced than most of the guys coming directly out of HS and by 2011 when we'd need the most depth, we'd hopefully pick up multiple QBs (maybe another HS QB for this class and another HS QB next recruiting cycle) and yet have him as a backup for DT (thus giving us an opportunity to redshirt 1 or more of the HS QBs). I do agree that we shouldn't rely on JC guys, but I think taking a couple every so often doesn't exactly hurt.

[UOducksTK1]

See above. Masoli, Costa, and Roper will all be Juniors this fall. Seniors in 2010. Costa may be able to get a 6th year but depending on him for the '11 season is a pretty big chance to take with his injury history and the vague NCAA decision making process.

I don't disagree that we need RB's in this class. I just think that it is more important to get a QB if we don't want to slip back into 6-6 type mediocrity if we have an injury to Thomas in 2011.

In 2011 we will have Lamichael James, Ethan Grant, whoever else we get in this round, and whoever we recruit next cycle. It's a lot easier to play RB as a true frosh than to play QB.

Do you guys remember the UCLA game from '07? How about the 2nd and 3rd quarters of the Boise St. game this past year?

I don't ever want to see a repeat of that.

Let's say we land a 5 star QB in this years class, redshirt him and have him behind DT in 2011. Who is to say DT won't get hurt and this new recruit flops just like Harper did against Boise State? Or Cody Kempt against OSU?

I just don't see that big of a difference from landing a QB this season or next. Clearly getting someone capable of playing QB in case of injuries would be nice! But I still think landing a big time RB would be more beneficial to the team.

Anything's possible. Are you saying that a kid with a year of experience won't be better off than a kid just coming into the system? Why do the coaches bother making them practice?

The fact is that Harper was never a good QB prospect and neither was Kempt. I don't know why you're comparing a possible flop by a 5 star recruit to what those two guys did.

Harper was a pretty big commit, mind you.

Again I don't think it's a big difference if a 5 star QB redshirts for a season or comes in during the spring and is forced to play in the fall. I think he'd perform about the same. Masoli struggled a bit but was fine after just being with the ducks for a few months. Why can't an incoming freshman do the same (especially if he's a 5 star QB)?

RB is the bigger need now. If you've noticed, our most successful seasons come with a senior RB who has a complementary underclassman RB:
11-1 Maurice Morris-Onterrio Smith (both about 1000)
10-2 Terrence Whitehead-Jonathan Stewart
8-4 Jonathan Stewart-Jeremiah Johnson
10-3 Jeremiah Johnson-Lagarrette Blount (both over 1000)

Once Blount leaves we won't have that every down back. James, Barner, Alston, and Grant are all talented backs no doubt. But all of them are similar and lack that power running style. It will be essential for our future success to land a big back in this class! We can survive with a freshman or JC back up. However, I don't think we will with just speedster RBs in our backfield.

That's how I see it. Like you said, we'll agree to disagree. All in fun though.