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Despite failing to secure a victory versus number 5 ranked Michigan State, transfer quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. has shown copious amounts of both talent and grit in the Oregon Ducks’ first two games of the 2015 season. He’s thrown, ran, taken big hits, played through injuries, and aside from a few hiccups that should be expected from a player who has been with the team for roughly a month, has done everything the Ducks need him to. Despite all of this, it may be wise to sit him in the team’s upcoming matchup versus unranked Georgia State.
As with most decisions in life, there are both pros and cons to sitting Adams against the Georgia State Panthers. Since the former Eastern Washington field general hasn’t been with the team very long, he needs as much experience playing with his new teammates as he can get, and especially in live game situations. The Ducks have a very competent backup quarterback in Jeff Lockie, but he has been with the team for several years and is not the one that needs to continue building chemistry with his teammates.
As for the pros, Adams was clearly not at one hundred percent versus Michigan State and it showed on several plays, especially late in the game. A broken finger on his throwing hand forced the former FCS star to wear padded gloves and both the gloves and injury seemed to impact his ability to throw. While either play could be chalked up to simple fatigue or folding under pressure, Adams overthrew Byron Marshall in the end zone for the win and underthrew Bralon Addison for a much-needed first down, and it is likely that his injured finger was a major cause for both of those incomplete passes. Allowing Adams to give his finger some time to heal against a weaker opponent could prove very beneficial when Pac-12 play comes around.
Sitting out one week won’t completely heal his broken finger, but it could certainly go a long way towards full recovery and could possibly help Adams to be much healthier versus number 21 ranked Utah. The Ducks could start pretty much anyone at quarterback and still be able to beat Georgia State, so sitting Adams would do nothing but help him heal. The quarterback’s toughness and desire to win over his teammates will likely cause him to want to play, but it would be very wise for the Oregon coaches to have him rest and start Jeff Lockie versus the lowly Panthers.