Dan Rubenstein Reveals How Oregon Can Best Use Dillion Gabriel
The Oregon Ducks got a big transfer in QB Dillion Gabriel, who entered the transfer portal from Oklahoma and ended up in the Pacific Northwest. Gabriels should be a viable starter, as he posted 3,660 yards 30 TDs, and 6 INTs in his 2023 campaign.
Oregon is also set to bring back many starters on their offensive line, wide receivers, and the running back room, so the hope is Gabriel won't have to be made to move with his legs as much. That is what Dan Rubenstein discussed on Sco-ing Long.
"Dillion Gabriel has made some plays with his feet that it becomes interesting. I don't think they're going to. And by they I mean, you know, Will Stein and the offensive staff. I don't think they're going to go out of their way to call run plays unless it's situational, you know, pulling a zone read or something in the red zone, something like that."
via Dan Ruebenstein, Sco-ing Long
Rubenstein feels like the Oregon offense is capable enough to not have to rely on Gabriel to use his feet much. While having a dual-threat quarterback is always great, it would be better for him to have enough protection on the offensive line side of things to make comfortable throws from the pocket.
"I think Oregon's offensive balance is going to be at a point where especially Noah Whittington back healthy, that I don't think his job is going to be terribly difficult in terms of having to do everything himself. I think the offensive architecture and the ceiling of the talent available, Terrance Ferguson coming back, adding Evan Stewart to the receiving corps, and bringing back Traeshon Holden and Tez Johnson—maybe more from Kenyon Sadiq and Patrick Herbert..."
via Dan Rubenstein, Sco-ing Long
Rubenstein is right in that the Oregon offense is quite stacked, and it will be up to the playcalling and run game to allow Gabriel the best chance to air the ball out.
The Ducks could make a significant splash in the Big Ten, and that will happen if the team puts Gabriel and the offense in the right situations.
