Also everyone on the "start Finley over Jackson" train needs to take a step back. I know the transfer portal has made many feel like a) transfers are brought in to be experienced, relatively polished players and b) players are likely to transfer out "this off-season,"*every year.* But Jackson isn…
Also everyone on the "start Finley over Jackson" train needs to take a step back. I know the transfer portal has made many feel like a) transfers are brought in to be experienced, relatively polished players and b) players are likely to transfer out "this off-season,"*every year.* But Jackson isn't experienced nor polished (his post game presser touched on how he's honing his game and this week focused on footwork) and I highly doubt he's transferring out this off-season, especially if Spav sticks around. It'll be a year of growth but he has a high ceiling beyond Finley's, and he won't hit that ceiling until we're in the ACC. Think Goff in 2013 when plenty of people were clamoring for Kline to play. But Dykes and Franklin -- darn good QB coaches -- saw his ceiling and pushed him to the top draft pick over 3 seasons. And Spav is also a darn good QB coach.
Agree with most of your points. However I am not yet convinced Spavital is a darn good QB coach. Davis Webb arrived at Cal with an advanced understanding of how to command an offense in that vein. There is a reason Davis occupied a roster spot for half a dozen years in the NFL. Teams liked his input in the QB room. Also, Manziel under Spavital was basically a broken play scenario player who pulled rabbits out of his hat while at A&M.
I really hope spav sticks around in 2024 so we get the benefit of consistent coaching and two years in the same system. If it ends up being a train wreck I'll gladly eat crow
Goff was way more advanced as a true freshman than anyone on our roster right now. I knew we had our starter within like 15 throws in that opening Northwestern game. The poise, the accuracy, the quick release and the arm strength just slapped you in the face with optimism.
Jackson is an insane athlete but needs A LOT of development. He locks onto his first target, doesn't throw with touch, and is uncomfortable in the pocket.
On the experience issue, consider Jackson has only one HS season of quarterbacking under his belt. Goff was a prolific passer for multiple seasons in HS, not a guy who had just switched positions upon entering his senior season. I like the idea of allowing Jackson to mature on the field during this season by getting a lion’s portion of snaps. In his own words, he just doesn’t have much experience. Let’s discover how good (or great) he can be. Nothing against Finley, who I think is a good quarterback. While Jackson is developing, I think there is value in giving Ben some situation-based opportunities too.
He played QB his junior year and at TCU for his limited snaps. The exception was his senior year when a more polished QB (current Auburn starter) jumped him on the depth chart (he moved to WR so he could see the field).
Wilcox brought in Finley to have competition from a guy who HAD played a good chunk of P5 ball, and Jackson still won out.
We all noticed it took until the end of fall camp to name a starter. I am thinking Jackson won out because today's coaches are in love with the idea of having a dual threat on the field. There is nothing that Jackson has showed that makes me believe is a a good P5 quarterback or even becoming one. It is extremely difficult to coach a guy to stay in the pocket and go through his check downs when he is first inclined to leave the pocket and improvise for yards on the run. The best quarterbacks in the Pac 12 this year - Penix, Nix, Williams and Ward - are fantastic at escaping pressure. But their first instinct is not to take off and run down field. It's to elude some defenders and still find an open guy downfield. If Jackson becomes that kind of guy, I will change my tune.
While he may not be a genius, he understands modern college offense, something Bill Musgrave did not.
The biggest thing working against Cal is the historically strong PAC 12 Conference…most years, this team would have a chance to develop over the course of the season and a bowl bid would not be a pipe dream. Unfortunately this year, Cal will likely get a bit better with more games, but we’ll be 4-8/5-7 nonetheless.
11-1 until the loss column says otherwise.
Also everyone on the "start Finley over Jackson" train needs to take a step back. I know the transfer portal has made many feel like a) transfers are brought in to be experienced, relatively polished players and b) players are likely to transfer out "this off-season,"*every year.* But Jackson isn't experienced nor polished (his post game presser touched on how he's honing his game and this week focused on footwork) and I highly doubt he's transferring out this off-season, especially if Spav sticks around. It'll be a year of growth but he has a high ceiling beyond Finley's, and he won't hit that ceiling until we're in the ACC. Think Goff in 2013 when plenty of people were clamoring for Kline to play. But Dykes and Franklin -- darn good QB coaches -- saw his ceiling and pushed him to the top draft pick over 3 seasons. And Spav is also a darn good QB coach.
Finley was exposed v. Auburn.
Agree with most of your points. However I am not yet convinced Spavital is a darn good QB coach. Davis Webb arrived at Cal with an advanced understanding of how to command an offense in that vein. There is a reason Davis occupied a roster spot for half a dozen years in the NFL. Teams liked his input in the QB room. Also, Manziel under Spavital was basically a broken play scenario player who pulled rabbits out of his hat while at A&M.
Davis Webb is not the only good QB that Spav has coached. At some point that's a trend and not just luck of the draw talent wise
Fair. I hope the future proves you correct.
I really hope spav sticks around in 2024 so we get the benefit of consistent coaching and two years in the same system. If it ends up being a train wreck I'll gladly eat crow
We’ll know by December 2024 if it is. If not, Wilcox and Spav will be gone.
Goff in 2013 was really good! That team had a ton of issues obviously but QB play was not really one of them
Goff was way more advanced as a true freshman than anyone on our roster right now. I knew we had our starter within like 15 throws in that opening Northwestern game. The poise, the accuracy, the quick release and the arm strength just slapped you in the face with optimism.
Jackson is an insane athlete but needs A LOT of development. He locks onto his first target, doesn't throw with touch, and is uncomfortable in the pocket.
We’re not going to win many games with Sammy Jax from the pocket. We need those running plays…he needs to f-ing slide tho!
On the experience issue, consider Jackson has only one HS season of quarterbacking under his belt. Goff was a prolific passer for multiple seasons in HS, not a guy who had just switched positions upon entering his senior season. I like the idea of allowing Jackson to mature on the field during this season by getting a lion’s portion of snaps. In his own words, he just doesn’t have much experience. Let’s discover how good (or great) he can be. Nothing against Finley, who I think is a good quarterback. While Jackson is developing, I think there is value in giving Ben some situation-based opportunities too.
Yeah when Goff hit Harper in strides for a 50 yard TD pass, I knew he was really good.
Before the season we all wanted Kline to play. Not once since the season started.
He played QB his junior year and at TCU for his limited snaps. The exception was his senior year when a more polished QB (current Auburn starter) jumped him on the depth chart (he moved to WR so he could see the field).
Wilcox brought in Finley to have competition from a guy who HAD played a good chunk of P5 ball, and Jackson still won out.
Finley was 4th string at NC State and played because of injuries. He is serviceable but beating him out in a QB comp doesn't mean that much.
We all noticed it took until the end of fall camp to name a starter. I am thinking Jackson won out because today's coaches are in love with the idea of having a dual threat on the field. There is nothing that Jackson has showed that makes me believe is a a good P5 quarterback or even becoming one. It is extremely difficult to coach a guy to stay in the pocket and go through his check downs when he is first inclined to leave the pocket and improvise for yards on the run. The best quarterbacks in the Pac 12 this year - Penix, Nix, Williams and Ward - are fantastic at escaping pressure. But their first instinct is not to take off and run down field. It's to elude some defenders and still find an open guy downfield. If Jackson becomes that kind of guy, I will change my tune.
edit: (current Auburn starter)
Fixed!
While he may not be a genius, he understands modern college offense, something Bill Musgrave did not.
The biggest thing working against Cal is the historically strong PAC 12 Conference…most years, this team would have a chance to develop over the course of the season and a bowl bid would not be a pipe dream. Unfortunately this year, Cal will likely get a bit better with more games, but we’ll be 4-8/5-7 nonetheless.
Curmudgeon alert 🚨🚨🚨
Amazing that you could graduate with a Cal degree, but somehow this is the best gotcha you can come up with