Our own Dale Bliss discussed the invaluable trait of experience, and how Oregon has been rich in experience at the quarterback position for the last three seasons. In fact, more experienced than anyone else in college football history. Dillon Gabriel broke Bo Nix's record for all-time FBS starts, with 63 total for his career.
While Moore lacks the experience of the previous two Ducks signal callers, he does not lack the talent, and many feel that he has the highest ceiling of the bunch. While he may not move like the other two on the ground, he should be capable of creating behind the line of scrimmage, and does have a very big arm.
Former Oregon standout and Tampa Bay Buccaneers draftee Tez Johnson offered lofty praises for Moore at his Rose Bowl media availability.
“Dante Moore? He'll be a Heisman finalist next year. It's something you ain't seen yet." --Tez Johnson
Should Oregon fans share the same belief and expectation for Dante Moore? Let's take a look at why and why not.
Why Oregon fans should have high expectations for Dante Moore
The coaching is elite. Oregon fans truly take Will Stein for granted. For reasons I cannot fathom, Will Stein has a small, yet vocal group of doubters that question his play-calling and development, primarily based on one game where seemingly everything that could have went wrong, went terribly.
Will Stein has produced two Heisman finalist quarterbacks in two seasons as the offensive coordinator at Oregon. The system is ran in a fashion that allows for a high completion percentage, while still taking downfield shots and maintaining a great balance.
Dante Moore has had a year to learn under a great system, with an established quarterbacks coach, and learn from an experienced quarterback. While this should have the redshirt-sophomore ready to play, there could be some "training wheels" on the offense the first couple weeks, which should be a non-issue, considering the opponents the Ducks will face prior to Penn State in week 5.
Oregon is fortunate that Will Stein is not a head coach elsewhere, and that he is able to coach a great system and develop quarterbacks to their fullest potential at the college level.
He has an elite supporting cast. This point should need little to no explanation for those familiar with Oregon's roster. Yes, the two top receivers and top tight end from a season ago are now off to the NFL. However, the Ducks return their third leading receiver, former five-star Evan Stewart, and star-in-the-making tight end Kenyon Sadiq.
Other than them, there is a littany of blue chip receivers behind them, any of whom could make a huge difference in the Ducks passing game this year. Regardless of what the rotation, or two deep looks like, the Ducks receivers are ready to fly, and can only help Dante Moore.
The effect of Kenyon Sadiq should not be brushed over. He is a once in a generation player for Oregon. The rarity of a tight end of that size, who moves the way he does, at the speed he operates at, cannot be understated. On3's JD Pickell dubbed Sadiq "Big Ten Brock Bowers." The Dante Moore to Kenyon Sadiq connection was on full display in Oregon's spring game.
Those quick check-down passes may look like nothing as one watches the game, but seeing that connection and "go-to guy" mentality between the pair was settling, and should instill confidence to Duck fans.
Oregon's offensive line looks great -- on paper. We saw the offensive line struggle to open the season last year, behind a very, very experienced quarterback. Even if there is rust to be knocked off, or transfers needing to gel, the offensive line rotation will be ready to roll for Big Ten play, if last year is any evidence.
The development and talent acquisition of offensive line coach A'lique Terry has led to two straight Joe Moore Award finalist groups, awarded to the nation's top offensive line unit. Dante Moore will be well protected by Poncho, Isaiah World and company.
The run game will be very good (again). The addition of Tulane transfer Makhi Hughes, and retention of Noah Whittington were both huge headlines for the Ducks, and can again, only help Dante Moore. Even considering the elite coaching and great supporting cast through the air, the run game could be relied on the most.
Very few things on the offensive side of the ball can be as helpful to a young quarterback as a great run game. The run game sets the tone of the offense, and can allow everything else to open up, whether its "dink-and-dunk" through the RPO game, or quick game to the flats, or taking the top off of the defense, the run game helps to set up the pass, and Will Stein has established that as a pillar of the offense.
He is a very talented player. We have seen Moore in two spring games now, and have a small sample size of snaps at UCLA to base this from, as well as his high school rating. In these moments, we have seen Moore show flashes of being a great quarterback, delivering from the pocket and making high-level throws.
Considering all the above factors, especially the year to sit and develop, Moore can expand on that talent and become an elite quarterback.
While all of that is great, if Oregon fans should temper their expectations for Dante Moore, why would that be?
Why might Oregon fans temper their expectations for Dante Moore?
He struggled as a starter for UCLA. The only real reps we have of Dante Moore were fairly disappointing, and he looked lost at times, if you look at the situation with no context. He threw for just over 50% completion with 11 touchdowns and 9 interceptions on 213 attempts as a true freshman.
The UCLA offense that season returned a low amount of production, and was average at best. Their head coach at the time, Chip Kelly, seemingly had one foot out of the door already. Once 2023 rolled around, UCLA was not a place for any quarterback to succeed, let alone a true freshman who clearly required some development.
Either way, the only real snaps we have seen from Moore have been less than impressive, but context is needed on those.
He is still inexperienced. As mentioned by Dale Bliss in the article mentioned at the top, he lacks the experience we have seen in recent years for the Ducks. Expecting the same level of poise and command, especially early in the season, is fairly unrealistic. You can't replace that level of experience at the quarterback position without any hiccups.
Whether the inexperience is obvious (missed reads, missed throws, interceptions, etc.) or not obvious to the untrained eye (lack of line of scrimmage checks/audibles, checking into the wrong formation, motion, or play, etc.) it will show up at some point, hopefully not in too big of a spot.
Overall, Moore is inexperienced, but has all the talent in the world. While Oregon fans have perhaps come to expect a Heisman finalist level quarterback, Dante Moore may not be that, and that is okay. It should not be news to anyone that being a Heisman finalist at quarterback is very, very hard.
However, with the coaching and supporting cast, I believe that Moore will be a high level starter for the Ducks, even if it takes some time to get there. Of course there will be immediate doubters if he is not Marcus Mariota, Joey Harrington, Justin Herbert or Bo Nix right away, but with some time to gain playing experience, Moore should be very good at the least.
Just don't expect a Heisman season out of a redshirt-sophomore with limited playing experience, and you will likely be happy with the output you get with the Ducks new QB1.