It's a tough call, but I'd lean towards this being the correct call. Couple things to note: (1) refs typically hate throwing flags in game-altering situations like these, a 4th down as time expires with the game on the line. Refs sometimes "let them play." (2) Hand fighting is normal, and receivers shove-off all the time. If you extend your arms all the way on the shove-off, it'll draw an OPI flag. WR John Humphreys is hand-fighting, but nothing unusually egregious, especially in a situation like this. (3) CB Mykael Wright's "hand fighting" shove actually moves WR John Humphreys off the ball and out of the direction of the pass's trajectory. It's far more noticeable here that Wright is altering the play with his shove. I feel like he would have been able to get away with having his hand draped on Humphreys' arm or back or something here (as he did on the exact same play right before this on 3rd down), but moving Humphreys out of the path of the ball was too egregious not to notice. (4) Not sure how hometown bias plays in here at Stanford, but USC gets the benefit of the doubt on these calls all the time. If this was in Oregon, perhaps no flag is thrown, even though I think one probably should be. (5) Refs usually discuss with teams beforehand just how tight they are going to call things like PI. This is why if you watch a bunch of games, you'll notice the same exact play gets called for PI in one game but not the other. Some refs "let them play," some don't. What the refs told teams before the game may also change opinions on this call. (6) You have to know that an endzone fade is coming here, it's Stanford's bread and butter the last two years as their run game died and KJ Costello/Davis Mills took over. If you're going to be beat here, you should do everything in your power to break up the catch, including tackling the receiver prematurely. There is no time left on the game clock, so they only get a fraction of a yard penalty here and a do-over. The next play, on 1st and goal on the untimed (0:00) down, Oregon CB DJ James noticeably does not interfere with Stanford WR Elijah Higgins, and Higgins makes the catch. a PI in this situation isn't the end of the world here... letting the receiver catch it untouched is.
Regarding a QB ranking list, I am still at work, so I will try to get around to this later tonight or maybe tomorrow.
I don't even know how to handle such a kind comment, but I'm thankful for your readership (and hoping your comment wasn't just missing the sarcasm font).
Also, ladies and non-binary folks are welcome to join the WFC team if they are interested in writing! Always looking for good talent.
Jokes aside without the articles (premium and free) and podcasts that y'all have produced, this season would be a whole lot worse. It's been fun reading/listening to it all!
Great work, guys. Reading your work during these seasons of pain is therapy for me. I usually feel better by Tuesday, so this production of WFC comes at a perfect time to enhance my outlook and gear up for another week. And since next week is a bye, I'll really be up for the Eugene (s)cream.
I feel the same way. The puzzlement and disappointment has faded a bit since Saturday. Will be tuning in on the 15th as we miraculously turn our season around by beating the Ducks in Eugene.
Oregon State shutting a lot of doubters up when they lost Jefferson that it would be doom and gloom, and he we are with them being 1 Chance Nolan over Sam Noyer start away from being 5-0. Sheesh. Should beat Wazzu, us, Colorado. Should toss up with STAN, Utah, and UO. Should lose to ASU. Could easily be an 8 win team and with that roster I'm giving Jonathon Smith P12COTY. If only a certain team could play well with the hand they are dealt.....
It felt like Wilcox was pretty good at maximizing the talent we had in his initial years with that early staff. There were a few issues that got in the way (like quarterback injuries), but it's pretty stunning to see how different things are this year. Maybe we weren't able to replace critical assistant coaches.
Feel free to send an email to the staff if you want to contribute!
Absolutely I will get around to that email, im looking more towards the spring time (even though thats when football and basketball are done aside from spring practice). I know for a fact I'll be on my school news paper and they just booted back up the sports broadcasting program for basketball on radio, so who knows you might see me Dec.12th in berkeley against SCU.
Here is the CB Mykael Wright pass interference call:
https://i.imgur.com/SWjTjvl.gif
It's a tough call, but I'd lean towards this being the correct call. Couple things to note: (1) refs typically hate throwing flags in game-altering situations like these, a 4th down as time expires with the game on the line. Refs sometimes "let them play." (2) Hand fighting is normal, and receivers shove-off all the time. If you extend your arms all the way on the shove-off, it'll draw an OPI flag. WR John Humphreys is hand-fighting, but nothing unusually egregious, especially in a situation like this. (3) CB Mykael Wright's "hand fighting" shove actually moves WR John Humphreys off the ball and out of the direction of the pass's trajectory. It's far more noticeable here that Wright is altering the play with his shove. I feel like he would have been able to get away with having his hand draped on Humphreys' arm or back or something here (as he did on the exact same play right before this on 3rd down), but moving Humphreys out of the path of the ball was too egregious not to notice. (4) Not sure how hometown bias plays in here at Stanford, but USC gets the benefit of the doubt on these calls all the time. If this was in Oregon, perhaps no flag is thrown, even though I think one probably should be. (5) Refs usually discuss with teams beforehand just how tight they are going to call things like PI. This is why if you watch a bunch of games, you'll notice the same exact play gets called for PI in one game but not the other. Some refs "let them play," some don't. What the refs told teams before the game may also change opinions on this call. (6) You have to know that an endzone fade is coming here, it's Stanford's bread and butter the last two years as their run game died and KJ Costello/Davis Mills took over. If you're going to be beat here, you should do everything in your power to break up the catch, including tackling the receiver prematurely. There is no time left on the game clock, so they only get a fraction of a yard penalty here and a do-over. The next play, on 1st and goal on the untimed (0:00) down, Oregon CB DJ James noticeably does not interfere with Stanford WR Elijah Higgins, and Higgins makes the catch. a PI in this situation isn't the end of the world here... letting the receiver catch it untouched is.
Regarding a QB ranking list, I am still at work, so I will try to get around to this later tonight or maybe tomorrow.
I uploaded the PI clip and linked it in the second line of the above reply. Here it is again: https://i.imgur.com/SWjTjvl.gif
I love Tuesdays. Pac 12 Power Rankings on WFC in the morning and Only Murders in the Building on Hulu in the evening. Great work as always, gentlemen.
I don't even know how to handle such a kind comment, but I'm thankful for your readership (and hoping your comment wasn't just missing the sarcasm font).
Also, ladies and non-binary folks are welcome to join the WFC team if they are interested in writing! Always looking for good talent.
Are you looking for bad talent by any chance? I promise to offer only the hottest of hot takes.
Hot take: Urban Meyer is trying to get fired on purpose so that he can get a Jacksonville buyout AND that sweet USC money.
Terrible because that would involve tanking Marvin Jones's season.
Great because that would involve tanking Tosh's coaching season.
Even hotter take: he wants that sweet Cal money.
It's green after all.
Smaller stacks but still green.
I have a secret* fear of hiring a proven coach. If we hired him and still couldn’t win, what would that say about Cal?
* I guess it’s not a secret any more
Is that even a hot take at this point? ;)
I'm ready for us to switch from DOOOM to GLOOOM and you're just the Bear to lead the way.
Jokes aside without the articles (premium and free) and podcasts that y'all have produced, this season would be a whole lot worse. It's been fun reading/listening to it all!
I mean, you don't have to read it all--just my work.
No sarcasm, I'm a genuine fan of this feature and most of WFC's content.
Implosion? I just hope we can turn it around somehow.
I still blame Buh.
mine, before looking.
1. ASU. UCLA isn't tOSU, but the Devils look a lot better than the Ducks right now.
2. Oregon. Coug'd it. They've been pretty much ass against everyone but tOSU.
3. UCLA. Can't stand prosperity again.
4. Oregon State. Lucky to beat UW at home, but wins are wins.
5. Furd. Nothing this team does makes any sense at all. That's supposed to be SC's gig.
6. Utah.
7. Washington. Unlucky loss makes up for lucky win last week.
8. SC. Got past the Buffs, but still got worked at home by Beavs and Furd.
9. Wazzu. Might they have a defense?
10. Cal. Dude, where's my passing game? Have actually outgained opponents on the season.
11. Zona. Have also slightly outgained their opponents this year.
12. Colorado. Offense is a black hole. Getting outgained by 150 yards a game.
Great work, guys. Reading your work during these seasons of pain is therapy for me. I usually feel better by Tuesday, so this production of WFC comes at a perfect time to enhance my outlook and gear up for another week. And since next week is a bye, I'll really be up for the Eugene (s)cream.
I feel the same way. The puzzlement and disappointment has faded a bit since Saturday. Will be tuning in on the 15th as we miraculously turn our season around by beating the Ducks in Eugene.
We gotta make sure WFC North *stays* WFC North.
Oregon State shutting a lot of doubters up when they lost Jefferson that it would be doom and gloom, and he we are with them being 1 Chance Nolan over Sam Noyer start away from being 5-0. Sheesh. Should beat Wazzu, us, Colorado. Should toss up with STAN, Utah, and UO. Should lose to ASU. Could easily be an 8 win team and with that roster I'm giving Jonathon Smith P12COTY. If only a certain team could play well with the hand they are dealt.....
Also great work on the rankings and other work, hope to give my doom and gloom predictions on here some day as a contributor.
It felt like Wilcox was pretty good at maximizing the talent we had in his initial years with that early staff. There were a few issues that got in the way (like quarterback injuries), but it's pretty stunning to see how different things are this year. Maybe we weren't able to replace critical assistant coaches.
Feel free to send an email to the staff if you want to contribute!
Absolutely I will get around to that email, im looking more towards the spring time (even though thats when football and basketball are done aside from spring practice). I know for a fact I'll be on my school news paper and they just booted back up the sports broadcasting program for basketball on radio, so who knows you might see me Dec.12th in berkeley against SCU.
I just saw that we made the ESPN Bottom 10 waiting list. It has been awhile since we have been in that conversation.