Oregon’s quarterback situation remains unsettled with starter Dante Moore sidelined by a concussion and backup Dylan Raiola struggling to regain form after a poor outing against UCLA. As the No. 25 Ducks prepare to host Nebraska on Saturday at Autzen Stadium, coach Dan Lanning said he is weighing all options at the position, including the possibility of playing multiple quarterbacks during the game.
Moore has been out since suffering a concussion early in the second quarter of the Ducks’ September 26 game against USC and will miss his second consecutive contest. Raiola, a transfer from Nebraska with 22 career starts, stepped in against the Trojans and delivered a 41-27 win, completing 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns. However, his performance against UCLA last week raised concerns as he completed only six of 19 attempts, threw two interceptions, lost a fumble, and was benched after three quarters in favor of Brock Thomas.
Thomas, a former walk-on from Sheldon High School in Eugene, completed 11 of 15 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown but also lost a fumble. The Ducks turned the ball over seven times in that 17-15 loss, highlighting ongoing issues on offense.
Lanning told reporters on Wednesday that the competition for the starting quarterback spot remains open and that the coaching staff continues to evaluate all candidates in practice. “I believe in doing whatever it takes to win,” Lanning said. “I think that’s our job, right? To challenge ourselves to find, what does it take to win? I’ve seen multiple quarterbacks play in a game, and at times it’s successful. I think we’ve all seen the result of when it’s not successful, too. But I think you know all the things are on the table for you to make sure you have success.”
Besides Raiola and Thomas, Lanning has also mentioned Akili Smith Jr, a 6-foot-5, 245-pound sophomore with a dual-threat skill set, as part of the quarterback mix. “Akili’s done a really good job,” Lanning said. “He’s probably the one that’s the most different from a package standpoint and things that you can carry and do different with Akili. Really strong arm, been able to connect vertically on shots, obviously his feet become a weapon and a real tool for us as well.”
While the possibility of rotating quarterbacks remains, Lanning acknowledged the challenge it presents in practice preparations. “The other damage piece of, ‘OK, let’s go prepare three or four or two over one,’ is when you start preparing multiple people for looks, you just subtracted reps from another person’s reps. There’s only so much time in the week.”
The Ducks have a 3-2 overall record with a 1-1 mark in the Big Ten and face a Nebraska team at 5-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play. Raiola’s familiarity with Nebraska adds an intriguing element to the matchup, but the coaching staff’s focus remains on finding a quarterback or combination of quarterbacks that can reduce turnovers and improve offensive efficiency.
Lanning said his decision will consider timing, execution in practice, and efficiency. “Timing is a piece of that, knowing what we’re doing and making sure that we can do it at a high level and I think evaluating efficiency through practice … and grading that with a fine-tooth comb. And then making sure you have as many guys prepared as possible to be able to evaluate that.”
The Ducks will face Nebraska on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Autzen Stadium with the quarterback situation still unresolved heading into the weekend.
According to Yahoo Sports.
