Curse on JR QB's at UO?

[buckmarkduck]

Looking at the last 3 qb's at Oregon, I was wondering if we have some sort of curse that causes our QB's to have below average JR years.

Dixon started out good but then for no reason lost all confidence and our season just went down the toilet. Of course his SR year he was on course to win a Heisman and play for the NC before injury.

KC-Went from a good SO year and infamous time out loss to Minn in the Sun Bowl, to lead us to MB's only losing season. KC's sr year we fineshed 10-1 before sucoming to OK in the Holiday Bowl.

Fife- I know it was his first year, but he started out with so much promise to only watch it go down the drain.

JM-Now Masoli might/hopefully turn things around, but from what I saw today it looked as if he may be losing his confidence, and because of this he is holding onto the ball to long and missing open receivers. He seemed to throw about half his passes behind the WR and the throw to Maehl that was picked if he just throws it sooner he had him wide open and it would have been a TD. Also after fumbling he seemed to be quick to just give the ball up the the RB when a few times he could have gotten at least the first down by keeping the ball and running it himself. Maybe next year is the year we finish with 1 loss?

[VinnyKnuckles]

On a positive note, last season Masoli struggled at home in inclement weather against Stanford, drawing boos from the home crowd. There didn't seem to be much reason to be optimistic about the Oregon passing attack at the time. The following week Masoli took everyone by surprise and absolutely torched Arizona through the air, completing 21 of 26 passes overall, including all 11 attempts in the second quarter. It wouldn't be without precedence for Masoli to look inept in sloppy weather one week and then bounce back and look like a completely different player the very next week. The only problem is that Cal isn't the type of defense you want to be facing in order to build confidence. They are very physical, very fast and very opportunistic. Most quarterbacks will find it tough facing them, let alone one that is trying to get back on track.

Hopefully the weather against Cal is dry. Masoli seems to struggle more than most with a wet ball.

[woundedknees]

Does anyone seriously think this was sloppy weather?

The second half was actually fairly decent.

[Legions]

What??!! No, that's too logical a conclusion! It's obviously a curse/Kelly/Helfrich/Masoli and not a young Oline and lots of transition!

[echo31]

On a positive note, last season Masoli struggled at home in inclement weather against Stanford, drawing boos from the home crowd. There didn't seem to be much reason to be optimistic about the Oregon passing attack at the time. The following week Masoli took everyone by surprise and absolutely torched Arizona through the air, completing 21 of 26 passes overall, including all 11 attempts in the second quarter. It wouldn't be without precedence for Masoli to look inept in sloppy weather one week and then bounce back and look like a completely different player the very next week. The only problem is that Cal isn't the type of defense you want to be facing in order to build confidence. They are very physical, very fast and very opportunistic. Most quarterbacks will find it tough facing them, let alone one that is trying to get back on track.

Hopefully the weather against Cal is dry. Masoli seems to struggle more than most with a wet ball.

Arizona's defense last year was actually quite formidable.

[woundedknees]

Could it be the size of his hands?

Longer fingers are a definite plus for handling a wet ball.

[dthomas=ddixon]

What??!! No, that's too logical a conclusion! It's obviously a curse/Kelly/Helfrich/Masoli and not a young Oline and lots of transition!

I'm glad someone has a brain. There's no way that Masoli's struggling because he has a new Oline, new QB coach, & new WRs. NOOO its a curse on Oregon QBs...

Seriously?! What has this fan base come to?

[echo31]

Seriously?! What has this fan base come to?

The funniest part is ... we won the game and people are still complaining

[dthomas=ddixon]

Seriously?! What has this fan base come to?

The funniest part is ... we won the game and people are still complaining

I know. What happened to enjoying an upset win over a top 20 team? Years past we would have been ecstatic. But no, I come on this board & the first thread I see is "Masoli Sucks".

[echo31]

Seriously?! What has this fan base come to?

The funniest part is ... we won the game and people are still complaining

I know. What happened to enjoying an upset win over a top 20 team? Years past we would have been ecstatic. But no, I come on this board & the first thread I see is "Masoli Sucks".

It's annoying ... WE WON ...time to celebrate!

[woundedknees]

Sorry, ran out of Jameson's...

Cheers!

[liberalduck]

What??!! No, that's too logical a conclusion! It's obviously a curse/Kelly/Helfrich/Masoli and not a young Oline and lots of transition!

I'm glad someone has a brain. There's no way that Masoli's struggling because he has a new Oline, new QB coach, & new WRs. NOOO its a curse on Oregon QBs...

Seriously?! What has this fan base come to?

All those things certainly factor into the equation. But so far this season, Masoli has looked pretty awful at finding wide open receivers and throwing catchable balls --- even when the line gives him time. That is on him. He simply needs to step up and play better. If he doesn't, we lose PAC-10 games starting next week.

Other than giving up huge third and long plays (as is our custom it seems), Our defense has played pretty well this season, and especially well against Utah. However, if our Offense doesn't start running on all cylinders, we are going to be toast against Cal. Our D can't be expected to stop Cal all game. Our offense needs to get rolling and Masoli needs to lead the way. When the team and coaches give him an opportunity do well because of the right play call and the right blocking and the right route running, etc, than Masoli needs to step up and make the play. That is his job. And so far this season, he hasn't done it well nearly often enough. He is the offensive leader -- it starts with him.

[neezy3]

First of all this fan base has never accepted being average and masoli has not been even close to average this season. Yes we have transition going on and a lot of youth playing but 4-16 is a joke. He cant see over the middle so he throws outs and line drives down the sideline thats it. Needs to look at other receivers and not just throw to maehl everytime. I havnt been to any practices and i have no clue if costa can even play with the knee full speed with contact but i think a little competition to light a fire under masoli might be a good thing. And yes we're happy we got the win but it wasnt an upset we were favored to win the game Utah's rankings were from last year and they have played average against two inferior opponents this season. We're getting better but the real season starts next week, win and we're in the driver seat for the rose bowl but the passing game needs to come along fast and now.

[GoDucksIn09]

I dont expect us to beat Cal. I didnt expect us to beat to Utah.. so I am evry very happy we did. The sad part is the reality is all these whiners will be whining even more when the ducks lose next week. I am hopeful they prove me wrong but Cal looks sooooooo good and plays soo well and they are clicking and we still struggling. Personally if the ducks lose I probably will stay away from this board as too many whiners.. and complainers how bad will it be after lose a game we should lose. I dont want to see it. I am getting a little disgusted with all the whining and complaining.. after we won the game.

Why is it that nobody talking about the poor officiating.. the dropped passes... the high snaps.. one snap was bout 10 feet high.. how many of you whiners can catch that. Yes I was very harsh on our defense but gave huge kudos to them stepping up and playing a fantastic game and yes i thought we would lose to Utah but thankfully I was wrong and I am ecstatic bout that. Maybe all the whiners and complainers should start their own board and take there tissues with them.

Bottom line... we won.. we are 2-1.. we are in the run for the roses.. sure I dont think it will work out for us as Cal is too good.. but you know what.. when I wake up sunday.. I will still be a duck fan.. I will still be supporting Masoli.. I will still be supporting Kelly. As far as Allow A Lot E.. dont hold breath.. 2/3 isnt to bad. LOL

[gregspechtismyhero]

I honestly don't understand why people are still complaining, ya, Masoli's passing game is still off, but he's looking more comfortable. Now, if he had missed the wide-open Maehl on that 50-yarder, then we should be calling for Costa. Also, I was much more impressed with the way he and LMJ ran the read option, Masoli is getting back to last year with the fakes. I think everyone just needs to calm down, there have been a lot of changes, and this team is still really young. To be 2-1 with a win over a top-20 team is impressive, if you ask me. I say we could still get 2nd in the Pac, USC is kinda in our position, bad offense, ridiculous defense. (ours of course is not ridiculous, but it's been the brightspot so far.) I think we could hang with SC for a while, and could possibly beat them. But by the time we play them, they will most likely have everything figured out. Cal is another story, I have a feeling this is their year. To keep it close with them would be a huge accomplishment. Also, it will be my first game at Autzen this year, so I'll be screaming my a$s off so that should keep our boys inspired . I'm happy noone's started a thread on the SI curse, though. I would lose all faith in our fan base if someone did...