Who is the back up QB and why?

[Canard]

Certain fans I discuss the QB situation with are a lot more nervous now that Roper and Harper are gone. I like to be optimistic about Nate Costa and the different approach taken to his knee, along with the general durability of Masoli as being enough to get through the season and allow D.T. the redshirt year he could use. The thing that gives me pause is that this year there is really no cupcake contests one can point to and say, "there is a blowout in the making," where Nate can bang the rust off or show that D.T. should just forget about red shirting this coming season.

My basic point is that people forget that when Nate was healthy as a freshman, he moved the ball smartly against the Trojan's scrub defenders, who are of course their starters now. Few remember his garbage time drive where he completed every pass and had poise beyond his experience. The man is a gamer who could just use some luck regarding his knee. Of course, we have also seen D.T. in game action and the same could be said for him--he doesn't ever look panicky. His problem is the one that plagues almost every young QB--consistency, but I believe were he forced to play out the string, we'd never see the woeful performances that Harper, Kempt and Roper put up, save for Rope's decent Sun Bowl game.

So I guess I'd like Nate to be the back-up. He has Chip's full confidence in his mastery of the position as Chip envisions it, something neither Roper or Harper ever had as far as I know. The question on Nate, is of course that troublesome joint.

So, how confident are you in the back-ups and who should be the #2, assuming of course that no one beats out Masoli in fall camp, which is an outside possibility?

[brich75]

I think its very clear to me anyway. Nate Costa should be the back up. The no cupcake games could be a good thing also because as we all no thats usually when people get hurt.
Nate will get his shot to play this year im confident about that. I am sure he will shine. It will be great I'm sure all the TRUE duck fans that know anything about this kid will be pulling for him to be great.

[neezy3]

Costa should be the backup so we can try and redshirt d.thomas but he will dress and travel for every game. The big question is can he even make it through fall camp and full drills, if he gets hurt again we're in big trouble cause we have no depth now. Its not a good thing either that both our backups have a combined one quarter of playing experience against prevent defenses. Losing roper imo was the biggest loss in the offseason, his athletic skill set didnt really fit the spread but he was a gamer with the best arm on the team and undefeted as a starter...

[sickaduck]

Costa should be the backup so we can try and redshirt d.thomas but he will dress and travel for every game. The big question is can he even make it through fall camp and full drills, if he gets hurt again we're in big trouble cause we have no depth now. Its not a good thing either that both our backups have a combined one quarter of playing experience against prevent defenses. Losing roper imo was the biggest loss in the offseason, his athletic skill set didnt really fit the spread but he was a gamer with A GOOD ARM and undefeated as a starter...

There, fixed it for you.

[woundedknees]

Ignoring the injuries, I just never felt Roper got back on track last season... For whatever reason or excuse, he was not as poised or comfortable, once the season started, as he appeared in the Sun Bowl victory.

[liberalduck]

If healthy, Costa is the obvious choice for back-up because he is the better player. Remember, he was supposed to start last year. In time, Thomas will hopefully be very good and has shown some good things when he needed to, but he apparently hasn't demonstrated to the coaches that he is ready to take over as the starter full time. And that is what is needed out of a back-up. The transition to starter should be smooth enough that there are only a few bumps and over a very short period of time (a couple of series). Also, Thomas' upside is too great to waste another year of eligibility. He should be played this season only if absolutely necessary (i.e. Masoli and Costa go down with major injuries - God forbid!). I think it was a mistake to play him last year, especially when the coaches put him in the game too late for the Ducks to win it. Though, he did give us hope for a while.

[woundedknees]

If Costa's knee is healthy, I think Nate is the prohibitive favorite to be #1 backup.

He was showing flashes in '07, before the knee injury, that indicated he had a great football head on his shoulders.

He mentored and drilled the football team all through the winter of '07-'08, including helping break in D. Thomas, when he enrolled early that winter. He left the '08 spring drills, as well as started the fall, giving all appearances of having established himself as the heart and soul of this team.

It would have been easy for Nate to quit, or to transfer to a school where he could be a potential starter, like some other players have done.

Instead, he has chosen to proudly remain a Duck, and contribute to the team in any capacity he can.

It will be very interesting to watch how this all falls out.

[Oregonian]

I'm just wondering if Costa can open it up for competition. When Costa was healthy, he was apparently head and shoulders above the rest of the QB's to start last season.

[wheaton4prez]

Agreed that Costa should be the back-up.

But, I can't say that I'm comfortable with our QB depth. Things happen and there are questions behind Masoli.

If it goes to Costa, I'm going to be cringing every time he gets tackled, hoping the knee holds up. I'd just hate to see him get injured again. Plus, although he has looked good when he has played, I don't think it has been enough of a sample size to know how he will do.

If it goes to Thomas, based on the spring game, I'm not sure if he's quite ready to start. Not enough of a sample to know either way for sure. But, it looked like there were some issues to work out there.

And finally, we all know that 3 QBs isn't necessarily enough. So, my feeling is that it's going to be a bit precarious this season, at QB.

[GoDucksIn09]

I think everybody is in agreement that Costa is the backup if stays healthy. That word though is one very big word... IFFFFFFFFFFF. I just do not see that happening. 2 knee injuries to the same knee needing operations both times i highly doubt Costa will ever truly see the field in a competitve way again. Of course I want him to defeat the odds and erase the concerns. Truthfully though how many people come back from 2 serious knee surgeries to be able to play for years to come. Answer very very very few if any. Maybe Nate can defeat the odds but my bet is sadly with Roper's transfer we are down to Darron Thomas as the backup and God forbid if he goes down and don't have Masoli.

[goducks99]

Costa has actually had 3 knee surgeries. He also injured the same knee in high school

[Destroyer77]

Costa has actually had 3 knee surgeries. He also injured the same knee in high school

I have been told that the first surgery that he had was not done up to professional standards. During the 2nd and 3rd surgeries they finaly went in and "cleaned up" some of the old mess left behind. Hopefuly he holds together this time and can be the solid backup so that DT can finaly redshirt.

[greenyellow]

Costa has actually had 3 knee surgeries. He also injured the same knee in high school

I have been told that the first surgery that he had was not done up to professional standards. During the 2nd and 3rd surgeries they finaly went in and "cleaned up" some of the old mess left behind. Hopefuly he holds together this time and can be the solid backup so that DT can finaly redshirt.

They also tried a different procedure. Costa, in an R-G story, said they used part of his patella tendon, instead of cadaver ligaments they used on the first two operations. Using live tissue works much better than using tissue from a dead body.

[woundedknees]

The significant difference when using patellar tendon as opposed to either a cadaver ligament, or one transferred from another portion of one's own body, is the patellar tendon has the ability to regrow, and repair itself.

Due to this, a patellar graft is considered a much stronger implant, with greater potentential for success.

[Hoagduck]

Does anybody at all think DT shouldn't redshirt?

Anyone?

Anyone?

Buehler?