This is my 35th season in the stands, have only missed 2 games in that stretch. Couple of thoughts.
1. Jackson at the QB position is basically Zach Maynard with better legs, except this time our Keenan Allen player transferred to UCLA. He doesn't read the field well, is often too late to make the throw, and is not particularly accurate in…
This is my 35th season in the stands, have only missed 2 games in that stretch. Couple of thoughts.
1. Jackson at the QB position is basically Zach Maynard with better legs, except this time our Keenan Allen player transferred to UCLA. He doesn't read the field well, is often too late to make the throw, and is not particularly accurate in both the short, middle, and downfield passes. #83 made the catch of the year on an overthrown ball. So far, I am not impressed. I still think Finley is the better choice to complement our run game, we don't need designed QB runs
2. The receivers have had trouble getting open in man coverage. I thought it was just Auburn's athletes, but Idaho was able to do the same thing. Coaches need to figure that one out fast cause I don't think we will be seeing much zone the rest of the way and our QB needs as much help as possible with the downfield passing game
I kept reading well into Fall Camp that Cal had a "stacked" receiving room. Hunter was already proven from last season, and Hightower and Davis came in highly regarded through the portal. And now we are saying they can't get open and don't know how to block downfield. Something is rotten in Denmark given that Spav is supposed to be an offensive guru and sure as hell showed it when Davis Webb was his quarterback in 2016. I agree with your first point that Jackson does not have good field vision and struggles with check-downs. He got away with it in high school, but it sure shows up now.
The WRs do not block a lick. This team lacks toughness, both physically and mentally, which is on Wilcox. They don’t play smart - Endries not turning around on a crucial 4Q play v. Auburn…the special teamer downing the ball with :02 seconds left Sat instead of letting the half expire…David Reese lining up offsides on a crucial 4th & 4 play. Stupid.
Wilcox’s players have struggled with situational awareness from day one, and we’re in year 7. THAT’s how you have a sub-.500 overall record despite a historically awful period for the P12 Conference. It will continue until a change is made at the top.
Yes, his overcontrolled anger seems to tell of the short leash the University keeps him on. Honestly, if I were a player, I'd constantly be left wondering what matters to Wilcox as he seems to mask his emotions painfully. I would love to see Wilcox get some latitude and be, well, less emotionally constipated and impart some passion to the troops. Maybe slam a wall?
Agree, Jax is VERY raw as a passer but I think has the overall higher ceiling as a QB. Finley is a better passer, but I don't know if he's good enough to overcome the defensive resources freed up by not spying Sam. We're stuck in the "2 backups, no starter" limbo and our best hope may be that Jax learns quickly.
Our receivers aren't blocking nor getting open. That's not helping either QB. Sigh.
Anent the QB's and receivers, they are competing on a team in a major conference, yet seem to be making very basic mistakes ie, QBs who can't throw accurately plus don't go thru their progressions and receivers who can't separate nor block well. This boils down to talent and coaching. Cal is a recruiting bottom feeder and many of the coaches are second tier. Something fundamental has to change or Cal will play in every opponents homecoming game. I really like Wilcox as a person and his values seem impeccable. However, until something earth shattering happens, sadly Cal (screw "Cal Berkeley") will be a second rate program and we will be become more and more frustrated.
I know it is counter to conventional wisdom but I wonder if we should keep playing both to make opposing defenses have to keep adjusting. On their own, neither one is that good, tho maybe over time one of the two clearly establishes himself as the guy. Right now, slight lean to Jackson, but it is not that clear. The lean to Jackson is based on projecting his improvement as a passer which may or may not happen
Maynard gets unfairly trashed. He was a mediocre to average Pac 12 QB. He just had unfortunate combo of coming at the end of the Tedford era where everyone was looking for someone to blame, and that his mistakes look particularly egregious (his accuracy on easy throws was maddeningly inconsistent).
Agree Sam is way more like McIlwain in terms of passing development except Sam has better decision-making and won't force the bad pass over and over again.
Yeah, Maynard wasn’t a player without some really bright moments. In fact, we basically could have beaten Ohio St. on the road without a bad call (in my opinion) being made for holding on a TD run by Anderson. Maynard played great in that game. But those were the days of Tedford’s vanilla offenses falling short of the new trends that proliferated at that time (and later helped Dykes’ teams thrive). Maynard (who took Cal to a bowl) did alright given the hand he was dealt. For instance, I can imagine Maynard having blossomed under Franklin or, even more so, in Oregon’s hurry up style the Ducks pioneered under Kelly in the 2010’s. Not saying he could ever have had anything approaching astronomical numbers like Goff, but certainly better than what we saw at Cal with its OC’s in that pre-Dykes era.
This is my 35th season in the stands, have only missed 2 games in that stretch. Couple of thoughts.
1. Jackson at the QB position is basically Zach Maynard with better legs, except this time our Keenan Allen player transferred to UCLA. He doesn't read the field well, is often too late to make the throw, and is not particularly accurate in both the short, middle, and downfield passes. #83 made the catch of the year on an overthrown ball. So far, I am not impressed. I still think Finley is the better choice to complement our run game, we don't need designed QB runs
2. The receivers have had trouble getting open in man coverage. I thought it was just Auburn's athletes, but Idaho was able to do the same thing. Coaches need to figure that one out fast cause I don't think we will be seeing much zone the rest of the way and our QB needs as much help as possible with the downfield passing game
I kept reading well into Fall Camp that Cal had a "stacked" receiving room. Hunter was already proven from last season, and Hightower and Davis came in highly regarded through the portal. And now we are saying they can't get open and don't know how to block downfield. Something is rotten in Denmark given that Spav is supposed to be an offensive guru and sure as hell showed it when Davis Webb was his quarterback in 2016. I agree with your first point that Jackson does not have good field vision and struggles with check-downs. He got away with it in high school, but it sure shows up now.
The WRs do not block a lick. This team lacks toughness, both physically and mentally, which is on Wilcox. They don’t play smart - Endries not turning around on a crucial 4Q play v. Auburn…the special teamer downing the ball with :02 seconds left Sat instead of letting the half expire…David Reese lining up offsides on a crucial 4th & 4 play. Stupid.
Wilcox’s players have struggled with situational awareness from day one, and we’re in year 7. THAT’s how you have a sub-.500 overall record despite a historically awful period for the P12 Conference. It will continue until a change is made at the top.
Yes, his overcontrolled anger seems to tell of the short leash the University keeps him on. Honestly, if I were a player, I'd constantly be left wondering what matters to Wilcox as he seems to mask his emotions painfully. I would love to see Wilcox get some latitude and be, well, less emotionally constipated and impart some passion to the troops. Maybe slam a wall?
I want Peeler to replace Toler.
We should be using slot receivers more. Use Grizel and Mavin Anderson more in the slants.
1000x rec'd
Agree, Jax is VERY raw as a passer but I think has the overall higher ceiling as a QB. Finley is a better passer, but I don't know if he's good enough to overcome the defensive resources freed up by not spying Sam. We're stuck in the "2 backups, no starter" limbo and our best hope may be that Jax learns quickly.
Our receivers aren't blocking nor getting open. That's not helping either QB. Sigh.
Anent the QB's and receivers, they are competing on a team in a major conference, yet seem to be making very basic mistakes ie, QBs who can't throw accurately plus don't go thru their progressions and receivers who can't separate nor block well. This boils down to talent and coaching. Cal is a recruiting bottom feeder and many of the coaches are second tier. Something fundamental has to change or Cal will play in every opponents homecoming game. I really like Wilcox as a person and his values seem impeccable. However, until something earth shattering happens, sadly Cal (screw "Cal Berkeley") will be a second rate program and we will be become more and more frustrated.
Agree, that negative feedback loop kind of ossifies the longer the program struggles
Talent, coaching AND experience. It's a relatively young team.
agree
I know it is counter to conventional wisdom but I wonder if we should keep playing both to make opposing defenses have to keep adjusting. On their own, neither one is that good, tho maybe over time one of the two clearly establishes himself as the guy. Right now, slight lean to Jackson, but it is not that clear. The lean to Jackson is based on projecting his improvement as a passer which may or may not happen
I feel like SV5 is more like BMc5. I don’t think SV5 is as good a passer as Maynard at this point in his career.
Maynard gets unfairly trashed. He was a mediocre to average Pac 12 QB. He just had unfortunate combo of coming at the end of the Tedford era where everyone was looking for someone to blame, and that his mistakes look particularly egregious (his accuracy on easy throws was maddeningly inconsistent).
Agree Sam is way more like McIlwain in terms of passing development except Sam has better decision-making and won't force the bad pass over and over again.
Yeah, Maynard wasn’t a player without some really bright moments. In fact, we basically could have beaten Ohio St. on the road without a bad call (in my opinion) being made for holding on a TD run by Anderson. Maynard played great in that game. But those were the days of Tedford’s vanilla offenses falling short of the new trends that proliferated at that time (and later helped Dykes’ teams thrive). Maynard (who took Cal to a bowl) did alright given the hand he was dealt. For instance, I can imagine Maynard having blossomed under Franklin or, even more so, in Oregon’s hurry up style the Ducks pioneered under Kelly in the 2010’s. Not saying he could ever have had anything approaching astronomical numbers like Goff, but certainly better than what we saw at Cal with its OC’s in that pre-Dykes era.