Are Ducks testing the factory warranty on spread's plug-and-play QB feature?

Byline: George Schroeder The Register-Guard

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Amid the happy chaos, the lanky kid hobbled slowly across the field on crutches. As his Oregon teammates darted and danced in celebration, Justin Roper lunged and swung, lunged and swung, lunged and swung.

Wearing an ice bag and a gloomy frown, he stopped only once.

Moments before, Purdue linebacker Joe Holland had made a big play, flying and tackling Roper a yard shy of a first down - and crunching the quarterback's left knee in the process. Now, at midfield, Holland told Roper he was sorry about the injury, and asked how he was doing.

"He said he's OK," Holland reported. "But of course he's gonna say that."

After the Ducks escaped Ross-Ade Stadium with a 32-26 double-overtime win Saturday, we heard about how they made a passel of their own mistakes but overcame them. We heard that character had been revealed, that the comeback would forge more wins.

And despite Roper's injury - according to his parents, it's a partially torn medial collateral ligament; according to Mike Bellotti, he'll be out at least two to four weeks - we heard the Ducks were OK.

But of course they're going to say that.

Go ahead today and revel, like the Ducks did Saturday. But at some point, everyone should stop and think about what was lost. We should consider whether, when another quarterback's knee twisted, Oregon's season did, too.

Even without Roper, the Ducks had just enough to win. After a shaky start, the defense stuffed Purdue when it mattered. On the last overtime series, LeGarrette Blount steamrolled through the worn-out Boilermakers for the winning touchdown.

Afterward, a Fiesta Bowl rep in a funky yellow blazer glad-handed Bellotti, said "We'd love to see you in Arizona," or something like that. And it's true the Ducks are 3-0, and in position for big things like BCS bowls. But understand, this is an illusion.

Because along with helmets and shoulder pads, crutches and knee braces are now standard issue for Duck QBs.

This week against Boise State, Oregon is down to freshman Chris Harper, who's been used almost exclusively as a run threat, and junior-college transfer Jeremiah Masoli, who did not play Saturday. Behind them, there is freshman Darron Thomas.

And no one else.

That's probably enough against Boise. And the next week against Washington State.

But after that, the Ducks travel to USC. A couple of weeks later, they go to Arizona State, then to Cal.

The Ducks will plug in the kids and play, and we'll see what happens.

"You don't ever think about it," offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said. "You just get the next kid ready." And center Max Unger said, "I guess we're immune to it. It's like, `The quarterback went down, put somebody else in.'"

There's something to this. And it's true that losing Roper is not the same as losing Dennis Dixon.

Forget the Civil War or the Sun Bowl last year, or last week's scrimmage against Utah State. Saturday, Roper looked like a sophomore making his first road start. Balls sailed high or wide. Reads were missed, passes forced, and for a while Roper looked rattled.

But he'd made a few plays, and settled down just enough, and you could see the promise. Now, you have to wonder where the Ducks are headed.

Roper was the last guy out of the locker room. He declined interview requests, but he spent a few moments visiting with a dozen family members who'd made the 10-hour drive from Georgia. There weren't many smiles, just some quiet conversation.

Tough deal for Roper's parents, by the way. They've seen two games this season, and both times, they've had disappointing exchanges with their son and an athletic trainer while leaning over the stadium railing.

"He's never been hurt," said Brad Roper, astonished over his son's recent fortunes. "Literally, he's never been injured."

But here lately, it seems Oregon's quarterbacks are always getting injured.

It is reasonable to question the stress put on the QB in the spread-option offense, and whether given the circumstances - three left on the roster - it might be a good idea to rein in their running.

It's also worth wondering whether Duck quarterbacks are just plain snakebit.

"I don't know what you call it," said Nate Costa, who spent the afternoon on crutches; he's still recovering from the knee surgery that ended his bid to start. "Bad luck, or I don't know what it is."

Whatever it is, the Ducks cannot afford any more of it. And in the next few weeks, we're likely to learn how much it has already cost.

After one last hug from mom, Roper said goodbye to his family and started for the bus. But he turned back.

"Thanks for coming," he said, and for an instant, he managed a smile.

But when he hobbled away, he did not look OK.