Oregon Football: How each 2021 position group compares to 2020

Quarterback

Verdict: Slightly better than 2020

Tyler Shough is gone after leading the Ducks’ offense last season with 1,559 yards and 13 touchdowns with six interceptions, but many would consider that a positive because he just never looked like ‘the guy’ to take the team to the next level.

Shough was decent but he was never great and that’s what the Ducks need in order to contend for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Switching out Shough with Ty Thompson, the school’s best quarterback signee ever, is an upgrade, in my opinion, and Robby Ashford has taken that next step this offseason while Anthony Brown is currently projected to start. I don’t see Brown holding on to that starting job for the entire season but his backups are more than capable of putting up numbers.

I’m big on Ashford and Thompson and I think Brown could be just as good as Shough was last year with his arm and legs and the only difference is the addition of the freshman and top-50 recruit.

This group is slightly better and I think the ceiling is much higher as well.