A 'gamer,' UO's Roper battles Costa, others for playing time

Surprise star of Sun Bowl works on throwing mechanics, footwork and running skills

By Jason Vondersmith

The Portland Tribune, Aug 18, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Justin Roper is running No. 2 behind Nate Costa at quarterback in Oregon's football camp, but the 6-6 sophomore says it's a friendly competition.

COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

EUGENE — It’s been well documented that Justin Roper has to be more consistent and show more in practice to get on the field as Oregon’s quarterback this season. His rival for the spot, Nate Costa, remains pretty polished in all regards.

Roper knows it.

“In the past, it’s been harder to get jazzed up and fired up for practice,” he says. “It’s been ‘practice,’ and there’s a lot less consequence. I’ve always been a gamer. When the lights come on, I’ve always been able to do things.”

Being a gamer doesn’t make the grade, necessarily, in the minds of Oregon’s coaches.

Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly praises Roper for his play in the 2007 Civil War game, a 38-31 loss to Oregon State, and in the Sun Bowl, a 56-21 pasting of South Florida. But Kelly also says the Ducks went to Roper because all their other quarterbacks were injured.

Roper has been inconsistent in practice, although during his redshirt season he missed many practices because of class conflicts.

Last year, he played in the Civil War game only after Cody Kempt, now an ex-Duck who had fallen down the depth chart this spring, suffered a concussion. Things finally clicked for Roper before the Sun Bowl, as he outshined Kempt in practice.

But beyond simply proving more in practice, Roper has been working on many things to become better. He’s 6-6 and 205 pounds, and he’s a different quarterback than the 6-1, 220 Costa. So, one can’t really compare the two, coach Mike Bellotti says.

Roper worked on his throwing mechanics in spring ball, when he didn’t exactly light things up.

“Roper’s a lankier guy who requires a little bit more setup to get his frame into the right place to throw,” Bellotti says. “Deliberate is not the right word; he has to work on consistency of footwork. Nate is a little quicker and more explosive.”

Working on footwork helps Roper’s release.

“I’m trying to be consistent in how I drop and hold the ball,” says Roper, a Buford, Ga., native. “I’ll get lazy feet. I’m constantly reminding myself to use my feet to throw.

“My throwing mechanics have gotten better. I started dropping my arm and releasing lower (in spring). I’m normally higher, but I had dropped, and I started throwing sidearm. It makes it less accurate when you drop your arm; you want it to be higher, so you release and come straight through. You don’t miss (targets) as much.”

But Roper does have a quick release.

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