A key way Oregon could be better in 2012

Darron Thomas was a very productive and successful quarterback at Oregon, but he wasn't much of a threat in the zone read, particularly late in the 2010 season and for most of 2011. Bryan Bennett rides the mesh longer and shows more confidence and elusiveness running the football. He'll take off out of the pocket when he sees a running lane, and he's displayed some nifty moves in the open field, extending drives with his legs. The Ducks haven't had that dimension since Masoli or Dixon. Thomas operated the offense efficiently and typically made good decisons (albeit with occasional head-slapping, beer-sloshing lapses) but opponents openly challenged him to run rather than having to commit resources to contain him. Both Bennett and Mariota look quicker in the open and have that extra weapon, speed on the keep and the scramble, which may compensate for their relative lack of experience. They'll challenge defenses in a different way, creating more openings, crea...