This is what PR tweeted a couple of hours ago.PewterReport.com @PewterReport · 2 hours agoBillick on [member=6783]nflnetwork[/member]: Helfrich said that Mariota "'would be a great QB if he goes to the right system.' That qualifier concerns me."Wow! If Helfrich said that, it puts a big damper on my preference for Mariota.It took about ten minutes to search Twitter and find this from Andy McNamara, Assistant AD for Communications at Oregon...Andy McNamara ?@McNamaraUO 2 hours ago[member=6783]nflnetwork[/member] What Helfrich actually said: "Marcus can run any system and any offense at any level." Also not pronounced Hel-frick #GoDucksMaybe McNamara was misremembering? Nope. Here's a direct quote from Helfrich from an interview/podcast he participated in back in October. You can listen to it if you click on the link. If Helfrich had said what Billick claimed, it would really hurt Mariota. You would think Billick (and PR) would do a little checking before saying/tweeting such a thing. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000415570/article/oregons-mark-helfrich-qb-marcus-mariota-can-run-any-system "Marcus can run any system and any offense at any level," Helfrich said. "Our system is our system. There's always that label, 'He's a system guy.' Everybody is a system guy."Our system has elements of a bunch, whether it's the West Coast offense, run-and-shoot, triple option, and our pro-style passing game. He can do all that stuff. So much of that is the ability to make great decisions, in rhythm, on time and be accurate with the ball and be tough. He's all those things."Helfrich noted that Mariota is essentially at the graduate level when it comes to knowing the team's offense, but one of the things that has held the entire team back is the youth at the skill positions around him. Indeed, six of the top 10 players on team in terms of all-purpose yardage are either a freshman or sophomore and first year players lead the squad in both rushing and receiving. Either way, the Ducks coach had nothing but glowing praise for the Heisman Trophy candidate and thinks he'll easily steal the show at the NFL Scouting Combine when he moves on from Eugene."He's a competitive perfectionist. Every single thing he does, he wants to do great," Helfrich said. "He competes in period four just like he does in a BCS bowl game. To him, (the combine) is right in his wheelhouse, and he'll do great."
