Thank you, Nick. As usual, you do a great job of summing up the game.
Nick: "Will there be any rabbits pulled out of any hats?"
"Presto!
*RRRRooooaaarrrr!!
musta' been the wrong hat"
-Bullwinkle The Moose
Some observations.
Love Jackson V, but, when I taught Drama in high school, one thing I learned from those hoping to make their big break, besides the pervasive predation in the entertainment industry itself, you can be the best beef steak ever, but if they're looking for a pork chop, you're not gonna' make it. IMHO, Jackson V is loaded with talent, but robbed of height. We want to think his jackrabbit scrambles are just bad habits, but the reality is he scrambles to see. He is the shortest person in the pocket and he can't see. I believe it's that simple, Sam can't see in the pocket. God did not make him to be a pocket passer. He's a great beef steak, but we need a pork chop. All of which makes me wonder how we're not playing to his skills more. Maybe he's best placed as a WR or a RB; we need to get him in space.
One other observation about our schedule, yes, in the ASU game, we got breaks from the football gods and we do not normally get those breaks. Every Greek hero knows the gods are entirely fickle and somewhat indifferent to mortals, so the gods are not a plan. Thinking realistically, I believe we may have peaked and our hopes all come down to minimizing tragedy, rather than tempting the Fates with notions that we will somehow make a big break in two underdog games and actually bowl this season. The Fates love to foil heroic hubris. Meanwhile, I believe Furd showed signs of life against Oregon and, honestly, I think we can expect another tough fight from Furd. There is every possibility that, barring positive changes, we have won our last game this season. We can hope that we change for the better, find our groove, get grace from the gods, but, hope itself, is not a plan.
One last fun fact, it only gets better, for those of us relieved about and looking forward to the soft spots in our new conference, the ACC, thinking it might be a few contenders and a wealth of Vanderbilts, well, it might be a push. If I count rightly, there are six ACC members ranked in the Top Twenty as of now, including Louisville with our former QB, Plummer, slinging it. Let's make plans and changes, first, then do some praying. This season is rabbits out of hats and we should be using this experience to rally for the cultural and practical changes our program needs.
I mostly agree with your SJV commentary. He actually reminds me more of Zach Maynard than McIlwain - a D2 talent out of his depth. He's not going to get coached out of his many bad habits within this season, and even that wouldn't be enough for him to play at the required level. Time to cut bait with him. In spite of UW, it has to be Finley. There would be a few more in the explosive plays category had he played this game.
However, I would love to see SJV at wr, could be a DeSean type. I think he's too slight for rb. Somehow his elite speed isn't manifesting itself on scrambles, he seems to get caught too often when trying to turn he corner. Perhaps showcasing his straight line speed at wr would allow him to blossom (assuming he can catch the ball).
You are totally correct that Jackson is getting caught behind the line of scrimmage too often to suggest his escapability is even close to elite. And isn't that why Cal fans were so excited about him when he came here? When you add in the fact he cannot stay in the pocket and make check-downs to open receivers, you have the trainwreck of a passing offense that Cal is in right now. He has a 52% completion rate this year and only seemed to see Hunter in the entire ASU game. Go find that key to the doghouse, coach, and bring Finley back into the picture.
During TOs at Washington, I was watching him play catch with someone and he was making 1 handed catches over his head. So I think he has the hands for it. At least a good starting point for it.
Disagree somewhat about Jackson V, he is robbed of more than height, he's just not a quarterback. His throwing form is woeful, his accuracy is uncalibrated, his judgement is suspect, and he lacks poise. Is he an athlete, yes he is, but he is playing out of position. probably should be a receiver.
and someone please stop him from leaning backwards during this throws. he is so scared anytime someone is near him and throws off his back foot. I mean fundamentals!!
We have no quarterback. Geez, for an embattled HC that hasnтАЩt tasted success since тАШ19, thatтАЩs a big problem.
This was always the concern for realistic Cal fans when Wilcox still hadnтАЩt named a starter a week before the openerтАжit showed Sam was not where he needed to be, something that was suspected at the time but is now completely established beyond a doubt after 4 games.
Even tossing out the Ohio State-induced COVID disaster of a year in 2020, a coach that misses a bowl game for the 3rd straight season in year 7 at a Power 5 school
should be on his way out. Unfortunately, incompetent leadership at the Admin level has consequences and heтАЩs almost certainly getting another year.
They should commit to doing their absolute best to develop Sammy Jax V these past 8 games to see if there is ANY chance heтАЩs the guy in тАШ24, this staffтАЩs make-it-or-break-it season.
From what weтАЩve seen in the first month, though, none of these kids are close to being able to win against the P5 athletes they are set to face. And if Spavital canтАЩt develop him, why TF is he here, because this offense looks a helluva lot like the schittburger mess we saw with Bill Musgrave the past 24 monthsтАжwhich means Wilcox is absolutely the issue.
Enjoyed your post, but I have a slight disagreement about Jackson being loaded with talent. Good quarterbacks at the college and and pro level have the ability to see the field and complete check-downs to open receivers. I read during Fall camp that Spav and his team were trying to get Jackson to stay in the pocket and complete those check-downs the way that Davis Webb did in 2016. To your point, I think we are going to see a lot more designed roll-outs with Jackson going forward.
BTW, what was your favorite book or short story you taught to your students? I have fond memories of English and drama classes in high school because I completely sucked in math and the sciences.
Much to my surprise, I was able to navigate my introductory drama students through Oedipus, which seemed on-point for many students (ba dum tsss). I only taught it for two years, then switched to a speech/debate class and team, which did pretty well, but was not supported by the school, since I did not want to do endless bake sales (i.e. fundraising) on top of the time and energy to build and manage a team. To answer your question, no favorite, but as I have heard said, a directors favorite production is always his current one. As a teacher, I tried to focus on essential acting skills, first, and foremost, then the content would present itself. Our first year, we did Bye Bye Birdie and the second year, we did Grease.
I was the proverbial high school jock, but got talked into participating in one school play, Archibald MacLeish's J.B. I was one of the comforters. Wish I had done more.
I confess I am not familiar with that particular play. Yes, I, too, was a jock in H.S., but gave it up for speech/debate, since I thought I wanted to be a lawyer.
Thank you, Nick. As usual, you do a great job of summing up the game.
Nick: "Will there be any rabbits pulled out of any hats?"
"Presto!
*RRRRooooaaarrrr!!
musta' been the wrong hat"
-Bullwinkle The Moose
Some observations.
Love Jackson V, but, when I taught Drama in high school, one thing I learned from those hoping to make their big break, besides the pervasive predation in the entertainment industry itself, you can be the best beef steak ever, but if they're looking for a pork chop, you're not gonna' make it. IMHO, Jackson V is loaded with talent, but robbed of height. We want to think his jackrabbit scrambles are just bad habits, but the reality is he scrambles to see. He is the shortest person in the pocket and he can't see. I believe it's that simple, Sam can't see in the pocket. God did not make him to be a pocket passer. He's a great beef steak, but we need a pork chop. All of which makes me wonder how we're not playing to his skills more. Maybe he's best placed as a WR or a RB; we need to get him in space.
One other observation about our schedule, yes, in the ASU game, we got breaks from the football gods and we do not normally get those breaks. Every Greek hero knows the gods are entirely fickle and somewhat indifferent to mortals, so the gods are not a plan. Thinking realistically, I believe we may have peaked and our hopes all come down to minimizing tragedy, rather than tempting the Fates with notions that we will somehow make a big break in two underdog games and actually bowl this season. The Fates love to foil heroic hubris. Meanwhile, I believe Furd showed signs of life against Oregon and, honestly, I think we can expect another tough fight from Furd. There is every possibility that, barring positive changes, we have won our last game this season. We can hope that we change for the better, find our groove, get grace from the gods, but, hope itself, is not a plan.
One last fun fact, it only gets better, for those of us relieved about and looking forward to the soft spots in our new conference, the ACC, thinking it might be a few contenders and a wealth of Vanderbilts, well, it might be a push. If I count rightly, there are six ACC members ranked in the Top Twenty as of now, including Louisville with our former QB, Plummer, slinging it. Let's make plans and changes, first, then do some praying. This season is rabbits out of hats and we should be using this experience to rally for the cultural and practical changes our program needs.
I mostly agree with your SJV commentary. He actually reminds me more of Zach Maynard than McIlwain - a D2 talent out of his depth. He's not going to get coached out of his many bad habits within this season, and even that wouldn't be enough for him to play at the required level. Time to cut bait with him. In spite of UW, it has to be Finley. There would be a few more in the explosive plays category had he played this game.
However, I would love to see SJV at wr, could be a DeSean type. I think he's too slight for rb. Somehow his elite speed isn't manifesting itself on scrambles, he seems to get caught too often when trying to turn he corner. Perhaps showcasing his straight line speed at wr would allow him to blossom (assuming he can catch the ball).
You are totally correct that Jackson is getting caught behind the line of scrimmage too often to suggest his escapability is even close to elite. And isn't that why Cal fans were so excited about him when he came here? When you add in the fact he cannot stay in the pocket and make check-downs to open receivers, you have the trainwreck of a passing offense that Cal is in right now. He has a 52% completion rate this year and only seemed to see Hunter in the entire ASU game. Go find that key to the doghouse, coach, and bring Finley back into the picture.
Yes, sometimes you gotta' go with what you're built for.
During TOs at Washington, I was watching him play catch with someone and he was making 1 handed catches over his head. So I think he has the hands for it. At least a good starting point for it.
Disagree somewhat about Jackson V, he is robbed of more than height, he's just not a quarterback. His throwing form is woeful, his accuracy is uncalibrated, his judgement is suspect, and he lacks poise. Is he an athlete, yes he is, but he is playing out of position. probably should be a receiver.
and someone please stop him from leaning backwards during this throws. he is so scared anytime someone is near him and throws off his back foot. I mean fundamentals!!
Jackson makes just enough good throws to make me think something might be there but right now heтАЩs not a college quarterback.
I guess we can see what we have in Mendoza but going back to Finley after what happened in Seattle is a non-starter.
We have no quarterback. Geez, for an embattled HC that hasnтАЩt tasted success since тАШ19, thatтАЩs a big problem.
This was always the concern for realistic Cal fans when Wilcox still hadnтАЩt named a starter a week before the openerтАжit showed Sam was not where he needed to be, something that was suspected at the time but is now completely established beyond a doubt after 4 games.
Even tossing out the Ohio State-induced COVID disaster of a year in 2020, a coach that misses a bowl game for the 3rd straight season in year 7 at a Power 5 school
should be on his way out. Unfortunately, incompetent leadership at the Admin level has consequences and heтАЩs almost certainly getting another year.
They should commit to doing their absolute best to develop Sammy Jax V these past 8 games to see if there is ANY chance heтАЩs the guy in тАШ24, this staffтАЩs make-it-or-break-it season.
From what weтАЩve seen in the first month, though, none of these kids are close to being able to win against the P5 athletes they are set to face. And if Spavital canтАЩt develop him, why TF is he here, because this offense looks a helluva lot like the schittburger mess we saw with Bill Musgrave the past 24 monthsтАжwhich means Wilcox is absolutely the issue.
Enjoyed your post, but I have a slight disagreement about Jackson being loaded with talent. Good quarterbacks at the college and and pro level have the ability to see the field and complete check-downs to open receivers. I read during Fall camp that Spav and his team were trying to get Jackson to stay in the pocket and complete those check-downs the way that Davis Webb did in 2016. To your point, I think we are going to see a lot more designed roll-outs with Jackson going forward.
BTW, what was your favorite book or short story you taught to your students? I have fond memories of English and drama classes in high school because I completely sucked in math and the sciences.
Much to my surprise, I was able to navigate my introductory drama students through Oedipus, which seemed on-point for many students (ba dum tsss). I only taught it for two years, then switched to a speech/debate class and team, which did pretty well, but was not supported by the school, since I did not want to do endless bake sales (i.e. fundraising) on top of the time and energy to build and manage a team. To answer your question, no favorite, but as I have heard said, a directors favorite production is always his current one. As a teacher, I tried to focus on essential acting skills, first, and foremost, then the content would present itself. Our first year, we did Bye Bye Birdie and the second year, we did Grease.
I was the proverbial high school jock, but got talked into participating in one school play, Archibald MacLeish's J.B. I was one of the comforters. Wish I had done more.
I confess I am not familiar with that particular play. Yes, I, too, was a jock in H.S., but gave it up for speech/debate, since I thought I wanted to be a lawyer.