07-31-2015, 12:38 PM
Here's the link to the piece I wrote about yesterday's event: http://tinyurl.com/ns8e4g4
Also, here's a link to a transcript of Shaw's main stage session:
http://static.pac-12.com/sports/football...N-Shaw.pdf
Honestly, the day was tons of fun. Sure, it's a grind for the guys who are covering the whole thing, but if you're just there to soak up the atmosphere and get some face time with Shaw and his players, it couldn't be better. I spent the formal interview time talking to Murphy and Martinez, because in the past the players haven't been as available during the informal interview period over lunch. Both of them were great to talk to and gave insightful answers to everyone's questions, as the Stanford kids always do. In years past I've felt like I had to dress more like an objective media member, but this time I ditched that and wore my Nerd Nation t-shirt, which Murphy appreciated.
During lunch I had planned to spend more time talking to Shaw, but I ended up sitting on the wrong end of the table, next to Murphy and Martinez. I didn't want to ignore them, thinking that would be rude, so we talked some more. It ended up being fun, but I wish I had been able to talk more to the head man. The piece I wrote for my site focused more on the overall experience of the day, so I thought I'd unload some of the football details here.
Murphy said he and the linemen have shouldered the blame for the offense's struggles last season, and he knows things will be better this year. I asked him about the transition from right tackle to left, and said that although there are some minor technical differences, it's pretty simple since it's just the mirror of what's been doing. Also, he pointed out that did play some left tackle in relief of Peat. I asked him about legacy of Stanford linemen, and he lit up --"That's why we all came here."
He also talked about how close the linemen are, and he shared that Josh Garnett wins all their eating contests. By his estimation, he can eat fifty to sixty hot wings. He also reminisced about Garnett's famous Beef Bowl performance in 2012. He said that Brandon Fanaika, who came in at 330, has "leaned up" to about 300, and should contribute. He gushed about Christian McCaffrey. "You guys have seen flashes of what he can do, but I see him every day in practice."
Martinez also talked about the legacy of his position, and how he's learned by watching the guys who came before him and is ready to take on the leadership role that's necessary at inside linebacker. All of us on the outside wondered if the defense ever got upset with the failures of the offense last season, and there were some quotes from some of the players that seemed to indicate frustration (I seem to remember someone saying after South Bend, "We should've shut them out, this one's on us."), but I was still surprised when Martinez confirmed it, saying that the team was divided until they figured things out after the Utah loss. Later in the day I heard about a speech by John Flacco that served to galvanize the team and help get them through their issues. (I had never heard about that speech, but it was being discussed as if it had been public knowledge. I guess I missed it.) I asked if that camaraderie changed during the last three games, and he said, "Yes, a ton." He saw that as the main turning point in their season.
I asked Martinez about the other linebackers, and there's still a lot to be decided. Apparently Noor Davis is injured, and it's serious enough that he might take a redshirt. Shaw, of course, gave no information, but Martinez told me it's a torn Achilles. Lombardi told me the plan might be to evaluate the situation at midseason (Davis's health and the team's need) and decide on the medical redshirt at that point. If the Achilles really is torn, and if it happened recently, I can't imagine that we'll see him this season.
I also asked him about how they make their defensive adjustments midstream, and it was interesting. He said that basically they come into a game with ideas about what the opposing offense might do, so after that first series, when they what's actually happening, it's pretty easy to adjust. They aren't coming up with a new plan, they're just switching to Plan B.
Martinez said that in the spring the leading candidates to play alongside him on the inside were Jordan Perez and Noor Davis. (With Davis out, it seems like that makes Perez the leader, but that's my interpretation.) Kevin Palma has been working with him recently on the first team, and "he's doing pretty well." He said it comes down to ability and communication. "It's who can I trust, and who can play without me holding his hand?"
As I said, I didn't get to Shaw as much as I would've liked, but here are some things I got:
Cajuste did not have surgery and should be ready for training camp. He's walking without a limp.
Solomon Thomas is already one of the most respected players on the team. He described him as freakishly athletic. They knew he had a chance to be special, but didn't know it would show up over one off season. He's 265 pounds, and can jump and touch eleven feet from a standing start.
He's comfortable having Aziz Shittu and Harrison Phillips at nose tackle.
Shaw wants to be faster in execution on offense.
On McCaffrey: "He's bigger. He's stronger. He's more physical. Had an outstanding spring." He's up over 200 pounds, and he's been working on pass protection, which is also improved.
Aziz Shittu is healthy. (Murphy said he can't imagine that he won't be all-conference.)
Brennan Scarlett has blown away the staff with his work ethic, but they're keeping things slow with him because of his injury history.
He also guaranteed that whichever quarterback wins the two spot will get actual playing time (not mop-up duty) this fall to be prepared for 2016.
Right tackle is still a competition: Tucker, Austin, Davidson, maybe even David Bright.
Jake Bailey will compete for all three kicking jobs.
They're not sure how much scheme the young defense will be able to take, won't know until they're deep into camp.
Also, here's a link to a transcript of Shaw's main stage session:
http://static.pac-12.com/sports/football...N-Shaw.pdf
Honestly, the day was tons of fun. Sure, it's a grind for the guys who are covering the whole thing, but if you're just there to soak up the atmosphere and get some face time with Shaw and his players, it couldn't be better. I spent the formal interview time talking to Murphy and Martinez, because in the past the players haven't been as available during the informal interview period over lunch. Both of them were great to talk to and gave insightful answers to everyone's questions, as the Stanford kids always do. In years past I've felt like I had to dress more like an objective media member, but this time I ditched that and wore my Nerd Nation t-shirt, which Murphy appreciated.
During lunch I had planned to spend more time talking to Shaw, but I ended up sitting on the wrong end of the table, next to Murphy and Martinez. I didn't want to ignore them, thinking that would be rude, so we talked some more. It ended up being fun, but I wish I had been able to talk more to the head man. The piece I wrote for my site focused more on the overall experience of the day, so I thought I'd unload some of the football details here.
Murphy said he and the linemen have shouldered the blame for the offense's struggles last season, and he knows things will be better this year. I asked him about the transition from right tackle to left, and said that although there are some minor technical differences, it's pretty simple since it's just the mirror of what's been doing. Also, he pointed out that did play some left tackle in relief of Peat. I asked him about legacy of Stanford linemen, and he lit up --"That's why we all came here."
He also talked about how close the linemen are, and he shared that Josh Garnett wins all their eating contests. By his estimation, he can eat fifty to sixty hot wings. He also reminisced about Garnett's famous Beef Bowl performance in 2012. He said that Brandon Fanaika, who came in at 330, has "leaned up" to about 300, and should contribute. He gushed about Christian McCaffrey. "You guys have seen flashes of what he can do, but I see him every day in practice."
Martinez also talked about the legacy of his position, and how he's learned by watching the guys who came before him and is ready to take on the leadership role that's necessary at inside linebacker. All of us on the outside wondered if the defense ever got upset with the failures of the offense last season, and there were some quotes from some of the players that seemed to indicate frustration (I seem to remember someone saying after South Bend, "We should've shut them out, this one's on us."), but I was still surprised when Martinez confirmed it, saying that the team was divided until they figured things out after the Utah loss. Later in the day I heard about a speech by John Flacco that served to galvanize the team and help get them through their issues. (I had never heard about that speech, but it was being discussed as if it had been public knowledge. I guess I missed it.) I asked if that camaraderie changed during the last three games, and he said, "Yes, a ton." He saw that as the main turning point in their season.
I asked Martinez about the other linebackers, and there's still a lot to be decided. Apparently Noor Davis is injured, and it's serious enough that he might take a redshirt. Shaw, of course, gave no information, but Martinez told me it's a torn Achilles. Lombardi told me the plan might be to evaluate the situation at midseason (Davis's health and the team's need) and decide on the medical redshirt at that point. If the Achilles really is torn, and if it happened recently, I can't imagine that we'll see him this season.
I also asked him about how they make their defensive adjustments midstream, and it was interesting. He said that basically they come into a game with ideas about what the opposing offense might do, so after that first series, when they what's actually happening, it's pretty easy to adjust. They aren't coming up with a new plan, they're just switching to Plan B.
Martinez said that in the spring the leading candidates to play alongside him on the inside were Jordan Perez and Noor Davis. (With Davis out, it seems like that makes Perez the leader, but that's my interpretation.) Kevin Palma has been working with him recently on the first team, and "he's doing pretty well." He said it comes down to ability and communication. "It's who can I trust, and who can play without me holding his hand?"
As I said, I didn't get to Shaw as much as I would've liked, but here are some things I got:
Cajuste did not have surgery and should be ready for training camp. He's walking without a limp.
Solomon Thomas is already one of the most respected players on the team. He described him as freakishly athletic. They knew he had a chance to be special, but didn't know it would show up over one off season. He's 265 pounds, and can jump and touch eleven feet from a standing start.
He's comfortable having Aziz Shittu and Harrison Phillips at nose tackle.
Shaw wants to be faster in execution on offense.
On McCaffrey: "He's bigger. He's stronger. He's more physical. Had an outstanding spring." He's up over 200 pounds, and he's been working on pass protection, which is also improved.
Aziz Shittu is healthy. (Murphy said he can't imagine that he won't be all-conference.)
Brennan Scarlett has blown away the staff with his work ethic, but they're keeping things slow with him because of his injury history.
He also guaranteed that whichever quarterback wins the two spot will get actual playing time (not mop-up duty) this fall to be prepared for 2016.
Right tackle is still a competition: Tucker, Austin, Davidson, maybe even David Bright.
Jake Bailey will compete for all three kicking jobs.
They're not sure how much scheme the young defense will be able to take, won't know until they're deep into camp.
Please clear the field! The game is not over!