Oregon at Stanford NFL Draft watch notes: Andrew Luck looks for revenge

by Dan Kadar on Nov 12, 2011 3:01 PM EST in 2012 NFL Draft

EUGENE OR - OCTOBER 2: Quarterback Andrew Luck of the Stanford Cardinal is sacked by defensive end Kenny Rowe #58 of the Oregon Ducks in the third quarter of the game at Autzen Stadium on October 2 2010 in Eugene Oregon. Oregon won the game 52-31. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

The conjecture about Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck has been exhausted. I love him. You probably love him. So with the amount of discussion that's gone on about Luck, what else could be said? Easy. Go deeper. During tonight's game against Oregon, watch Luck on third down. The Cardinal leads the Pac-12 in third down conversion percentage. That leads credence to Luck's football intelligence. In general, watch how Stanford runs its offense and how Luck audibles out. This is a team that rarely goes three-and-out because of the situations Luck puts his team into.

It will also be interesting to watch Luck's composure in this game. Against Oregon last year he pressed in the second half and didn't look as at ease as he typically does. He went 16 for 29 in that second half and threw two interceptions and two other passes that could have been picked off.

We know the mechanics and intelligence of Luck are elite. Today will show his demeanor under pressure as he looks for revenge against Oregon.

Of course, there is more to this game than Luck. Some additional notes after the jump.

Oregon's LaMichael James looks to be fully back from a dislocated elbow (which would have totally led me to tell doctors to just cut my arm off). Against Washington last week, James carried the ball 25 times for 156 yards and a touchdown.

After missing three games with a hand injury, Stanford safety Delano Howell returns tonight. He'll be one of the players charged with stopping James and Kenjon Barner from breaking big runs.

I could say something about Stanford right guard David DeCastro, but just click here for a great overview of the best interior lineman in the 2012 NFL Draft. As we all know, Stanford's Jonathan Martin is just as highly regarded as DeCastro, if not more so. After struggling on the first drive against Southern California's Nick Perry two weeks ago, he quickly adjusted to the speed rusher. I was impressed.

Much more than ever before tight end Coby Fleener is going to be the onus of the Stanford offense. Lead wide receiver Chris Owusu won't play today because of a concussion. Fleener only has four catches in his last three games, so it's starting to become difficult to consider him a high-end tight end prospect.

Stanford pass rusher Chase Thomas will get more attention, but he's not he only linebacker to observe in this game. Keep an eye out for Oregon linebacker Josh Kaddu. He leads the Ducks with six sacks this season and has nice size (6-foot-3, 236 pounds) and athleticism.

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Harris?

Defense the part of the team whose purpose is to give the offense some rest.
And when we win, we want to dominate. We want to take guys out. We want to hurt guys. We want to win. We just want to dominate, hit them in the mouth. - Rathman
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When Jim Harbaugh says "more is more" I think he is trying to say Moore is more.

by manraj7 on Nov 12, 2011 4:34 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

suspended

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by The Legend on Nov 12, 2011 7:43 PM EST up reply actions

may Oregon rain down all the fires of hell onto Stanford

by vitzeng on Nov 12, 2011 10:13 PM EST reply actions

Win or lose, Luck has looked awesome since a bad start

That one drive before the end of the 1st half was magical. Every throw was absolutely perfect. Every pass hit his WR right in the hands. Two passes in particular impressed me the most. The back shoulder throw into tight coverage and the quick slant to Whelan for the TD. Anyone who does not think he is the surefire #1 pick is out of their mind.

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by seton hall and steelers on Nov 12, 2011 11:05 PM EST reply actions

i could be one that is "out of my mind"

i saw a very average quarterback. Yes those two throws looked good. But overall my concern with Andrew Luck has been how does he respond to presssure. And he just doesn’t have much within his skill set to respond too it.. he looks panic’d. He looks rushed.. balls sailed high alot last night yet NO ONE can see it… everyone wants to blame it on the grass being tall.

I just get the sense that there are some that just “want him to be” something that he really isnt.

don’t get me wrong i thinkn he is going to be a good quarterback in the NFL. I just don’t see “great” quarterback HOF material quarterback league MVP quarterback….i don’t see it. I see Chris Chandler … he made a pro bowl or two.. he made it to the Super Bowl. But he himself was never dominate….. The great quarterbacks remain great even with pressure… i DON"T see that with Luck. If Luck is pressured he becomes very very average… playing in the PAC 10… having 2 NFL starter caliber OL blocking for him he just hasn’t seen alot of pressure (till last night)

I see a good arm and ok accuracy…. i don’t see a special arm and special accuracy. I see decent Mobility but i don’t see John Elway escape skills or keeping the play alive skills…. It has become apparent that Luck is a very very good college quarterback with impressive skills… but i there is a sense among some NFL personel people that he just isn’t this future HOF player…..

Best quarterback in college football right now is Brandon Weaton in my opinion…. Not the best pro prospect maybe cause of age.

I just see Chris Chandler….not Dan Marino

by Shankdiddy on Nov 13, 2011 7:39 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Luck is NFL ready!

Too bad he doesn’t play defense also. Stanford should have learned from last year’s beat down by Oregon and added more overall team speed on defense. I believe Oregon has put up 2 straight 50 burgers on them.

by KashMoney on Nov 13, 2011 11:01 AM EST reply actions

Evaluating Luck from this game

1) As it turned out , the absolutely shitty Stanford field made Luck’s job harder as his slower and less agile teammates were at a disadvantage to Oregon’s better players.

2) But what was even a larger factor working against Luck was the poor game plan devised by David Shaw. Shaw, who evidently has little imagination, has taken Jim Harbaugh’s Stanford playbook and dumbed it down. Stanford plays smash mouth and if that isn’t there, their passing game is woefully simplistic.

3) All that said, Luck became basically a dink and dunk passer and my worry is that he gets too used to that style. He has the arm to make harder throws-see his 2009 season-but he rarely tries this year. And because he’s not seen anything as sophisticated as Oregon’s defense you have to think that he will need some coaching up to thrive in the NFL. Mind you, he should take the coaching up but still it bothers me seeing the probable #1 pick be beaten so decisively. In spite of several nice throws and three touchdown passes, he didn’t have a clue for much of this game.

by ursula on Nov 13, 2011 3:47 PM EST reply actions