[BostonCard]

We seem to get decent WRs, less so on RBs,, since CMC 

Bryce Love would like a word.

BC

[BostonCard]

We seem to get decent WRs, less so on RBs,, since CMC 

Bryce Love would like a word.

BC

[drnoodleman]

* Luck was asked a follow-up question on why he went interim and he went into more detail on what I discussed above regarding not laying down for this year. He made explicit that he was answering two questions, what's best for 2025 and what's best long-term. I think post-Taylor firing I ended up more in a place that the overriding criterion should be what's best long-term, but clearly Luck could not bring himself to write off 2025. I think he may have landed on an option that threads those two questions but IMHO it remains a fair question whether this is best long-term. Luck is intellectually honest enough that he acknowledged the answer to the two questions may not be the same. I just think he couldn't give up on 2025. He also confirmed, as I gleaned earlier, that he believes in this staff. He's making a bet there that I hope is right.

* Did I say intellectually honest? Also add refreshingly self-aware. That answer also included Luck saying he's green on the job and wants to figure out more about system and structure and how to improve. Read: he thinks he'll be able to make a better decision in the fall than he could have in a time crunch now. He also said there was a gut feel that Reich was right and he wanted to listen to that too. I think Luck has pretty profound insights into organizations, leadership, decisionmaking, and his own limitations and is honest with himself and us about his process. What's not to like about that?

* Reich teased us big time with his seven standards for the 2025 season and how he wasn't going to go into detail on that in the press conference. Would love to know what those are. Reich also said he could feel the energy of the team when he was going through those standards and observed that players have heard most of the standards before but it's a matter of emphasis, execution, culture, teamwork, chemistry, and trust. This was the same kind of thing we heard from Taylor but I am hope I am not being naive in thinking a guy who has been to two NFL playoffs is a better bet for it than a guy who peaked in FCS. It was also interesting to hear Reich talk about briefing the team on how they'll measure the standards. Not sure what that looks like, but interesting that this is supposedly something with some level of detail and measurement. (Not just love?)

* Luck demurred on the process for the permanent hire. Didn't sound coy but rather that it took a lot out of him to navigate this immediate transition and that he hasn't thought about the process for the permanent hire. Alligators closest to the boat (my phrase not his). There did seem to be an element of all in on 2025/focus on 2025, so I wonder how early and intensively we will get into the process. Still a ways to go in this year though so I think it's ok to take a breather. But if Reich is indeed interim as all indications suggest, I hope we are thinking deeply about this in October and not waiting until the season is done. A lame duck probably takes care of that and we don't have to worry about Luck getting caught flat-footed or waiting too long.

* Fun insight into Reich's family/interests to hear about his daughters having been Division I swimmers and being interested in the swimming team. Luck mentioned a staff outing to the Sunday Stanford baseball game and said a big chunk of the football team will be contributing to the attempt to break the softball attendance record later this month.

* Reich talked about "measured aggressiveness" in playcalling and how he's naturally aggressive but it's not smart to just be aggressive to prove a point. I would defer to people who remember Chargers, Eagles, and Colts offenses of yesteryear on what this may look like. I also suppose I'm not so interested in whether somebody is aggressive as opposed to whether they're effective.

* Nobody asked a single personnel question. Maybe an understanding Reich has been on campus for like two days and doesn't know anybody. Maybe asked not to raise QBs at a delicate time. I don't know.

* Luck closed the press conference with an ode to principles, values, cultures, and taking a step forward being enduring and how Reich only being here a year will make a difference that will last. Sounds good and Reich co-signed without adding further, but this felt like a bit of a hand wave to the question on Reich getting buy-in as a lame duck and making an enduring impact. After seeing "culture of love" fail in two years despite pretty spectacular success at the previous school, I think it's a fair question to ask what we expect one year of Reich to accomplish.

* I was trying to understand why Reich's jersey number is 36 and then realized 36th head coach at Stanford. That makes more sense than 36 NFL interceptions.

Anyway, good day for Stanford football and we can have some hope about being on a better track but there are legitimate questions about where this leaves us this fall and beyond. Looking forward to seeing the mark Reich makes.

As always, thanks for taking your valuable time to share your thoughts with us.

[drnoodleman]

* Luck was asked a follow-up question on why he went interim and he went into more detail on what I discussed above regarding not laying down for this year. He made explicit that he was answering two questions, what's best for 2025 and what's best long-term. I think post-Taylor firing I ended up more in a place that the overriding criterion should be what's best long-term, but clearly Luck could not bring himself to write off 2025. I think he may have landed on an option that threads those two questions but IMHO it remains a fair question whether this is best long-term. Luck is intellectually honest enough that he acknowledged the answer to the two questions may not be the same. I just think he couldn't give up on 2025. He also confirmed, as I gleaned earlier, that he believes in this staff. He's making a bet there that I hope is right.

* Did I say intellectually honest? Also add refreshingly self-aware. That answer also included Luck saying he's green on the job and wants to figure out more about system and structure and how to improve. Read: he thinks he'll be able to make a better decision in the fall than he could have in a time crunch now. He also said there was a gut feel that Reich was right and he wanted to listen to that too. I think Luck has pretty profound insights into organizations, leadership, decisionmaking, and his own limitations and is honest with himself and us about his process. What's not to like about that?

* Reich teased us big time with his seven standards for the 2025 season and how he wasn't going to go into detail on that in the press conference. Would love to know what those are. Reich also said he could feel the energy of the team when he was going through those standards and observed that players have heard most of the standards before but it's a matter of emphasis, execution, culture, teamwork, chemistry, and trust. This was the same kind of thing we heard from Taylor but I am hope I am not being naive in thinking a guy who has been to two NFL playoffs is a better bet for it than a guy who peaked in FCS. It was also interesting to hear Reich talk about briefing the team on how they'll measure the standards. Not sure what that looks like, but interesting that this is supposedly something with some level of detail and measurement. (Not just love?)

* Luck demurred on the process for the permanent hire. Didn't sound coy but rather that it took a lot out of him to navigate this immediate transition and that he hasn't thought about the process for the permanent hire. Alligators closest to the boat (my phrase not his). There did seem to be an element of all in on 2025/focus on 2025, so I wonder how early and intensively we will get into the process. Still a ways to go in this year though so I think it's ok to take a breather. But if Reich is indeed interim as all indications suggest, I hope we are thinking deeply about this in October and not waiting until the season is done. A lame duck probably takes care of that and we don't have to worry about Luck getting caught flat-footed or waiting too long.

* Fun insight into Reich's family/interests to hear about his daughters having been Division I swimmers and being interested in the swimming team. Luck mentioned a staff outing to the Sunday Stanford baseball game and said a big chunk of the football team will be contributing to the attempt to break the softball attendance record later this month.

* Reich talked about "measured aggressiveness" in playcalling and how he's naturally aggressive but it's not smart to just be aggressive to prove a point. I would defer to people who remember Chargers, Eagles, and Colts offenses of yesteryear on what this may look like. I also suppose I'm not so interested in whether somebody is aggressive as opposed to whether they're effective.

* Nobody asked a single personnel question. Maybe an understanding Reich has been on campus for like two days and doesn't know anybody. Maybe asked not to raise QBs at a delicate time. I don't know.

* Luck closed the press conference with an ode to principles, values, cultures, and taking a step forward being enduring and how Reich only being here a year will make a difference that will last. Sounds good and Reich co-signed without adding further, but this felt like a bit of a hand wave to the question on Reich getting buy-in as a lame duck and making an enduring impact. After seeing "culture of love" fail in two years despite pretty spectacular success at the previous school, I think it's a fair question to ask what we expect one year of Reich to accomplish.

* I was trying to understand why Reich's jersey number is 36 and then realized 36th head coach at Stanford. That makes more sense than 36 NFL interceptions.

Anyway, good day for Stanford football and we can have some hope about being on a better track but there are legitimate questions about where this leaves us this fall and beyond. Looking forward to seeing the mark Reich makes.

As always, thanks for taking your valuable time to share your thoughts with us.

[Extra Point]

We seem to get decent WRs, less so on RBs,, since CMC 

Bryce Love would like a word.

BC

Might want to talk with Stephan Taylor, Toby Gerhart, and Darin Nelson too!

[Extra Point]

We seem to get decent WRs, less so on RBs,, since CMC 

Bryce Love would like a word.

BC

Might want to talk with Stephan Taylor, Toby Gerhart, and Darin Nelson too!

[gailtate]

We seem to get decent WRs, less so on RBs,, since CMC 

Bryce Love would like a word.

BC

It's been ten years since Love was recruited to Stanford.

[gailtate]

We seem to get decent WRs, less so on RBs,, since CMC 

Bryce Love would like a word.

BC

It's been ten years since Love was recruited to Stanford.

[terry]

Matt, thanks for the detailed and very helpful post. I really appreciate your effort and your thoughts.

I understand your point that Luck and Reich emphasized that it's strictly a one-year deal. I'm sure they are being honest about that. But I have to believe that people could change their minds if things seem to be going well.

[terry]

Matt, thanks for the detailed and very helpful post. I really appreciate your effort and your thoughts.

I understand your point that Luck and Reich emphasized that it's strictly a one-year deal. I'm sure they are being honest about that. But I have to believe that people could change their minds if things seem to be going well.

[Mick]

Reactions:
* I noted Luck talking about coming up with a way to move forward that was best for the players....and for the coaches. Really a surprising chunk of this press conference had the vibe of doing right by the coaches. That doesn't sit right with me. College football coaches sign up to work for a head coach and when the head coach fails the assistants get a bit untethered. That's unfortunate for them but it's the profession. If we were driven at all by a desire to maintain continuity for the coaches that's not really the hard-nosed competitive instinct I want to see. Luck may be having this impulse at the same time as thinking that continuity is what is best for the team in 2025, which may or may not be a rationalization. I hope we genuinely believe - and have valid reason - that the assistant coaches are good and it's a good model for 2025 to have them on board with Reich just swapping in for Taylor. My inclination is that Reich is a categorically higher caliber of coach than Taylor and we are forfeiting a lot of the benefit of getting an NFL head coach if we aren't going to have him select a staff his caliber of coaching enables. If we go into the season with just Taylor's staff that doesn't seem optimal to me.

Great post as always, msqueri...four quick questions:

1) What do you think the odds are that the assistant coaching staff will be intact between now and the Hawaii opener?
2) What do you think the odds are that Reich returns as head coach in 2026?
3) What do you think the odds are that Luck will take over the head coaching role at any point in time?
4) How much do you think Stanford's offense and quarterbacks will improve under Reich?

---

Luck also owned the question on recruiting. He said he's been involved more in recruiting than a GM typically would be, owing in part to our structure (which presumably will be only more the case with Reich than it was with Taylor). It seemed to me that our main pitch is the institution and Luck himself as continuity. It sounds like we are going to try to convince 2026 recruits that the head coach is tertiary. Kind of weird but sell what you've got, and what we've got (long-term) is Stanford University and Andrew Luck. Like I suggested above, I will be interested to see if this pitch amounts to anything more than treading water with the level of recruiting we had under Taylor.

Do you think this will be a successful recruiting pitch? Sounds like overreliance on the 40-year decision...(jk)

[Mick]

Reactions:
* I noted Luck talking about coming up with a way to move forward that was best for the players....and for the coaches. Really a surprising chunk of this press conference had the vibe of doing right by the coaches. That doesn't sit right with me. College football coaches sign up to work for a head coach and when the head coach fails the assistants get a bit untethered. That's unfortunate for them but it's the profession. If we were driven at all by a desire to maintain continuity for the coaches that's not really the hard-nosed competitive instinct I want to see. Luck may be having this impulse at the same time as thinking that continuity is what is best for the team in 2025, which may or may not be a rationalization. I hope we genuinely believe - and have valid reason - that the assistant coaches are good and it's a good model for 2025 to have them on board with Reich just swapping in for Taylor. My inclination is that Reich is a categorically higher caliber of coach than Taylor and we are forfeiting a lot of the benefit of getting an NFL head coach if we aren't going to have him select a staff his caliber of coaching enables. If we go into the season with just Taylor's staff that doesn't seem optimal to me.

Great post as always, msqueri...four quick questions:

1) What do you think the odds are that the assistant coaching staff will be intact between now and the Hawaii opener?
2) What do you think the odds are that Reich returns as head coach in 2026?
3) What do you think the odds are that Luck will take over the head coaching role at any point in time?
4) How much do you think Stanford's offense and quarterbacks will improve under Reich?

---

Luck also owned the question on recruiting. He said he's been involved more in recruiting than a GM typically would be, owing in part to our structure (which presumably will be only more the case with Reich than it was with Taylor). It seemed to me that our main pitch is the institution and Luck himself as continuity. It sounds like we are going to try to convince 2026 recruits that the head coach is tertiary. Kind of weird but sell what you've got, and what we've got (long-term) is Stanford University and Andrew Luck. Like I suggested above, I will be interested to see if this pitch amounts to anything more than treading water with the level of recruiting we had under Taylor.

Do you think this will be a successful recruiting pitch? Sounds like overreliance on the 40-year decision...(jk)

[msqueri]

Long term 
We are paying Reich $4M for a one year gig.
Mile Denbrock, OC at Notre Dame, makes only $2M and is highest paid OC in USA.  Solid Offense.
He also coached Jayden Daniels to a Voldemort at LSU.
Could we get him?  

Could that help us recruit better O-Line? 
We seem to get decent WRs, less so on RBs,, since CMC 

Other OCs, all making less than $2M. 
https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-foot...e-denbrock

Do we know what this $4 million figure is based on? The one source I saw seemed like total BS, just guesswork irresponsibly throwing an estimate out there because it’s in the ballpark of what coaches make. Maybe there is something real out there saying $4 million but if so I’d like to see it. Reich reportedly is still getting $9 million this season and another $9 million in 2026 from the Panthers, plus he was owed many millions by the Colts too. I don’t know how the double counting works but I would think Stanford’s salary is closer to zero than $4 million.

[msqueri]

Long term 
We are paying Reich $4M for a one year gig.
Mile Denbrock, OC at Notre Dame, makes only $2M and is highest paid OC in USA.  Solid Offense.
He also coached Jayden Daniels to a Voldemort at LSU.
Could we get him?  

Could that help us recruit better O-Line? 
We seem to get decent WRs, less so on RBs,, since CMC 

Other OCs, all making less than $2M. 
https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-foot...e-denbrock

Do we know what this $4 million figure is based on? The one source I saw seemed like total BS, just guesswork irresponsibly throwing an estimate out there because it’s in the ballpark of what coaches make. Maybe there is something real out there saying $4 million but if so I’d like to see it. Reich reportedly is still getting $9 million this season and another $9 million in 2026 from the Panthers, plus he was owed many millions by the Colts too. I don’t know how the double counting works but I would think Stanford’s salary is closer to zero than $4 million.

[Goose]

* They could not have been more definitive that this is only for 2025. That's disappointing to me because the idea of Frank Reich trying to build something at Stanford is something I could really get behind. But there was no wiggle room. I hear what people are saying about how things can change and I know intellectually that's true, but to me this dispelled my notion that this could have been a savvy political move by Luck to circumvent Stanford bureaucracy and get his preferred guy in the door before finding a way to remove the interim tag. Unless they are both lying through their teeth, which seems implausible, this truly was a situation where Luck had a specific interim vision and had that as a condition and Reich bought in to that specifically. If so, it's an unusual and potentially quite awkward situation but I like what Reich said about leaning into it with players and coaches and trying to make 2025 a special year. Still, this is going to make the next Stanford coach a hot topic of discussion for the next eight months and there's no getting around that interim equals lame duck.

IMO it is undoubtedly true that Luck and Reich both agreed the job offer was for one year and one year only. Luck couldn't have offered more even if he wanted to. Hiring a new coach is not solely at his discretion. There could be no guarantee. I have no idea what Luck's and Reich's intended final state (jointly or separately) may be. It seems probable Luck needed an interim coach for sure, as there was no rational way to begin spring ball without one. Many of the players would have at least one foot out the door in that scenario. Throwing something together using existing personnel clearly wouldn't work. Reich is actually an excellent "rabbit out of the hat". However it seems pretty clear that nobody was beating down Reich's door with an NFL head coaching offer. This job arguably fits his situation pretty well. No real downside because nobody expects him to actually "win" anything. It won't reflect badly upon him if he doesn't "win" but could be a plus if he exceeds expectations. Nothing precludes him from being the search committee's choice come December. This can be played by ear, although I do agree it could get very awkward if Reich decides he wants the job and the committee picks somebody else.

As far as retaining the assistant coaches, IMO both Luck and Reich really had no choice. Reich probably hadn't been spending his time cultivating college assistant coaches just in case he got a college job offer in March. Virtually all of the people he might have wanted already are already employed.  What could he offer them, a one-year deal? Virtually nobody that isn't unemployed is going to take a job on those terms. On top of that, that staff is needed TODAY, if not sooner. Replacing that many people on no notice with any kind of a functioning staff is impossible. The current staff may not be optimal but at least most of them have some history of working together and know each others name. Another (perhaps minor, perhaps not) consideration is that some of the staff undoubtedly has multi-year contracts. If you let them go you will have to pay them.
 
 It would not surprise me if some changes in the staff do occur throughout the spring and summer. Some of the staff might not like the implicit "interim" nature of their jobs (no matter what Luck and Reich may say). They may search out what they consider better opportunities and take them. There also may be some guys that Reich decides are just NFG and would be addition by subtraction. Hopefully not, but who knows? Luck could also be covertly looking for some replacements/augments that are not available today but may be by summer/fall.

[Goose]

* They could not have been more definitive that this is only for 2025. That's disappointing to me because the idea of Frank Reich trying to build something at Stanford is something I could really get behind. But there was no wiggle room. I hear what people are saying about how things can change and I know intellectually that's true, but to me this dispelled my notion that this could have been a savvy political move by Luck to circumvent Stanford bureaucracy and get his preferred guy in the door before finding a way to remove the interim tag. Unless they are both lying through their teeth, which seems implausible, this truly was a situation where Luck had a specific interim vision and had that as a condition and Reich bought in to that specifically. If so, it's an unusual and potentially quite awkward situation but I like what Reich said about leaning into it with players and coaches and trying to make 2025 a special year. Still, this is going to make the next Stanford coach a hot topic of discussion for the next eight months and there's no getting around that interim equals lame duck.

IMO it is undoubtedly true that Luck and Reich both agreed the job offer was for one year and one year only. Luck couldn't have offered more even if he wanted to. Hiring a new coach is not solely at his discretion. There could be no guarantee. I have no idea what Luck's and Reich's intended final state (jointly or separately) may be. It seems probable Luck needed an interim coach for sure, as there was no rational way to begin spring ball without one. Many of the players would have at least one foot out the door in that scenario. Throwing something together using existing personnel clearly wouldn't work. Reich is actually an excellent "rabbit out of the hat". However it seems pretty clear that nobody was beating down Reich's door with an NFL head coaching offer. This job arguably fits his situation pretty well. No real downside because nobody expects him to actually "win" anything. It won't reflect badly upon him if he doesn't "win" but could be a plus if he exceeds expectations. Nothing precludes him from being the search committee's choice come December. This can be played by ear, although I do agree it could get very awkward if Reich decides he wants the job and the committee picks somebody else.

As far as retaining the assistant coaches, IMO both Luck and Reich really had no choice. Reich probably hadn't been spending his time cultivating college assistant coaches just in case he got a college job offer in March. Virtually all of the people he might have wanted already are already employed.  What could he offer them, a one-year deal? Virtually nobody that isn't unemployed is going to take a job on those terms. On top of that, that staff is needed TODAY, if not sooner. Replacing that many people on no notice with any kind of a functioning staff is impossible. The current staff may not be optimal but at least most of them have some history of working together and know each others name. Another (perhaps minor, perhaps not) consideration is that some of the staff undoubtedly has multi-year contracts. If you let them go you will have to pay them.
 
 It would not surprise me if some changes in the staff do occur throughout the spring and summer. Some of the staff might not like the implicit "interim" nature of their jobs (no matter what Luck and Reich may say). They may search out what they consider better opportunities and take them. There also may be some guys that Reich decides are just NFG and would be addition by subtraction. Hopefully not, but who knows? Luck could also be covertly looking for some replacements/augments that are not available today but may be by summer/fall.

[GK3]

Fair point on the talent.  This does have all the appearances of tearing the program completely apart and starting over, (this season is probably a lost cause) with Reich doing his friend a solid, probably without a lot of personal downside. If Stanford wins fewer than 3 games, no one is surprised. I'm sure the reaction to Reich is that he is a stand-up guy who knows offense and someone has to run practice starting tomorrow, for whomever has no other place to go. Not too many people are going to tune in this fall to see what Frank Reich can do (as opposed to say a splash Sanders hire in Boulder). But I like it. Pragmatic and patient over style and splash. I don't know if anything can move Stanford's fanbase needle, so why not go for something more foundational without being rushed. What's one more crappy season (marginally more crappy than if Luck kept Taylor another year), with the promise, not guarantee, of getting it right 6-9 months from now?

I am somewhat surprised they did not go the internal route, but that might say more about who was there internally and what Luck thinks of them.

NFL coaching can be hard to assess. So much is on the GM. Why did Pete Carroll suck with the Jets but win a Super Bowl with the Seahawks? Why did Belichick suck with the Browns but win eight Super Bowls with the Patriots? Sure, they grew over time, but the organizations have a lot to do with it too.  Why did Taylor win so many games so quickly at Sac State and suck at Stanford? Can't just be Skattebo, can it?

Still, I'm curious if Taylor was fired for cause.

I was pretty up in the air about this hire until the press conference.  Andrew sold the deal as far as I am concerned.  I think he feels that Taylor did little to improve or teach his assistant coaches and one think Reich brings is a history of developing second line management so to speak. 
In a way this now seems more like Harbaugh II. We bring in a head coach who is going to demand improvement by both his assistants and the players. Standards will be set for both coaches and players.  Players will now have a HC who played 14 years in the NFL.  No matter who you are that has to count for something. Secondly he played QB in the NFL for 14 years, how many guys have done that?  Brown and Bachmier will pay attention.  Plus I think Reich and Luck both see talent in the guys Taylor hired but never developed and now they are going to develop or move on.
Most of all I like the fact that our new President seems all in on continuing our Football Program.  Without that, there is no chance.

[GK3]

Fair point on the talent.  This does have all the appearances of tearing the program completely apart and starting over, (this season is probably a lost cause) with Reich doing his friend a solid, probably without a lot of personal downside. If Stanford wins fewer than 3 games, no one is surprised. I'm sure the reaction to Reich is that he is a stand-up guy who knows offense and someone has to run practice starting tomorrow, for whomever has no other place to go. Not too many people are going to tune in this fall to see what Frank Reich can do (as opposed to say a splash Sanders hire in Boulder). But I like it. Pragmatic and patient over style and splash. I don't know if anything can move Stanford's fanbase needle, so why not go for something more foundational without being rushed. What's one more crappy season (marginally more crappy than if Luck kept Taylor another year), with the promise, not guarantee, of getting it right 6-9 months from now?

I am somewhat surprised they did not go the internal route, but that might say more about who was there internally and what Luck thinks of them.

NFL coaching can be hard to assess. So much is on the GM. Why did Pete Carroll suck with the Jets but win a Super Bowl with the Seahawks? Why did Belichick suck with the Browns but win eight Super Bowls with the Patriots? Sure, they grew over time, but the organizations have a lot to do with it too.  Why did Taylor win so many games so quickly at Sac State and suck at Stanford? Can't just be Skattebo, can it?

Still, I'm curious if Taylor was fired for cause.

I was pretty up in the air about this hire until the press conference.  Andrew sold the deal as far as I am concerned.  I think he feels that Taylor did little to improve or teach his assistant coaches and one think Reich brings is a history of developing second line management so to speak. 
In a way this now seems more like Harbaugh II. We bring in a head coach who is going to demand improvement by both his assistants and the players. Standards will be set for both coaches and players.  Players will now have a HC who played 14 years in the NFL.  No matter who you are that has to count for something. Secondly he played QB in the NFL for 14 years, how many guys have done that?  Brown and Bachmier will pay attention.  Plus I think Reich and Luck both see talent in the guys Taylor hired but never developed and now they are going to develop or move on.
Most of all I like the fact that our new President seems all in on continuing our Football Program.  Without that, there is no chance.

[msqueri]

For what it’s worth, Reich explicitly said that he had guys he could have brought in and that there’s uncertainty when you aren’t bringing in your own guys. Made clear Luck didn’t give him a choice in the matter. I have zero doubt whatsoever that Reich could have gotten a coordinator more established and familiar to him than Byham and that he could have upgraded some subset of the other positions. But Luck prioritized continuity and made the decision for Reich. Like you say, it’s possible that some changes come later. Also possible this is Reich coaching Taylor’s staff through the end of the season. Based on the vibes of the press conference that’s probably my bet.

[msqueri]

For what it’s worth, Reich explicitly said that he had guys he could have brought in and that there’s uncertainty when you aren’t bringing in your own guys. Made clear Luck didn’t give him a choice in the matter. I have zero doubt whatsoever that Reich could have gotten a coordinator more established and familiar to him than Byham and that he could have upgraded some subset of the other positions. But Luck prioritized continuity and made the decision for Reich. Like you say, it’s possible that some changes come later. Also possible this is Reich coaching Taylor’s staff through the end of the season. Based on the vibes of the press conference that’s probably my bet.

[BostonCard]

We seem to get decent WRs, less so on RBs,, since CMC 

Bryce Love would like a word.

BC

Might want to talk with Stephan Taylor, Toby Gerhart, and Darin Nelson too!

Great as those guys are, they are not “since CMC”.

It's been ten years since Love was recruited to Stanford.

No debate that it’s been a while, just have an issue with the Bryce Love erasure.  Had the quote been “less so, since Love”, I would not have objected.

BC

[BostonCard]

We seem to get decent WRs, less so on RBs,, since CMC 

Bryce Love would like a word.

BC

Might want to talk with Stephan Taylor, Toby Gerhart, and Darin Nelson too!

Great as those guys are, they are not “since CMC”.

It's been ten years since Love was recruited to Stanford.

No debate that it’s been a while, just have an issue with the Bryce Love erasure.  Had the quote been “less so, since Love”, I would not have objected.

BC

[Bampa]

No debate that it’s been a while, just have an issue with the Bryce Love erasure.  Had the quote been “less so, since Love”, I would not have objected.

BC
[/quote]

You want Love? Got it for you...when I think of him I think of one word. BURST!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiQ43Y_T6fw

[Bampa]

No debate that it’s been a while, just have an issue with the Bryce Love erasure.  Had the quote been “less so, since Love”, I would not have objected.

BC
[/quote]

You want Love? Got it for you...when I think of him I think of one word. BURST!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiQ43Y_T6fw

[PVTree]

Is it that our RB recruits have not been what we thought they would be or have they not been good recruits since CMcC?

We have had Bryce Love who was terrific until he got hurt. Was he highly recruited (I don't recall)?

At the same time we had Barry Sanders who was highly recruited and did not turn out as good as thought. 

Same with Emmit Smith's son. High hopes, below expectations results. We also have Sedrick Irvin whose father was an NFL running back. I'm hopeful that we'll get more from him, but injuries have also hurt him.

Up to Toby, I think our rushing record for a season was below 1200 yards so we don't have a long history of getting top notch RBs.

Another story is the QBs. We have a history of having top 10 QBs (elite 11 participants), but seem to no longer attract them, although still getting very good ones.

[PVTree]

Is it that our RB recruits have not been what we thought they would be or have they not been good recruits since CMcC?

We have had Bryce Love who was terrific until he got hurt. Was he highly recruited (I don't recall)?

At the same time we had Barry Sanders who was highly recruited and did not turn out as good as thought. 

Same with Emmit Smith's son. High hopes, below expectations results. We also have Sedrick Irvin whose father was an NFL running back. I'm hopeful that we'll get more from him, but injuries have also hurt him.

Up to Toby, I think our rushing record for a season was below 1200 yards so we don't have a long history of getting top notch RBs.

Another story is the QBs. We have a history of having top 10 QBs (elite 11 participants), but seem to no longer attract them, although still getting very good ones.

[SamuelMcF]

Is it that our RB recruits have not been what we thought they would be or have they not been good recruits since CMcC?

We have had Bryce Love who was terrific until he got hurt. Was he highly recruited (I don't recall)?

Love was a 4* recruit. Cameron Scarlett, in the same class, was a 4* recruit.

Sione Lund was a 4* recruit. He battled mental health issues and transferred early.

Austin Jones was a 4* recruit. He was good but transferred early.

Nathaniel Peat was a high 3* recruit with a bunch of offers. He was fast and pretty good, but transferred early.

EJ Smith was a 4* recruit but unfortunately made of glass.

Casey Filkins was a high 3* recruit but unfortunately made of glass.

Arlen Harris Jr. was a 4* recruit. He transferred early (and was not good).

[SamuelMcF]

Is it that our RB recruits have not been what we thought they would be or have they not been good recruits since CMcC?

We have had Bryce Love who was terrific until he got hurt. Was he highly recruited (I don't recall)?

Love was a 4* recruit. Cameron Scarlett, in the same class, was a 4* recruit.

Sione Lund was a 4* recruit. He battled mental health issues and transferred early.

Austin Jones was a 4* recruit. He was good but transferred early.

Nathaniel Peat was a high 3* recruit with a bunch of offers. He was fast and pretty good, but transferred early.

EJ Smith was a 4* recruit but unfortunately made of glass.

Casey Filkins was a high 3* recruit but unfortunately made of glass.

Arlen Harris Jr. was a 4* recruit. He transferred early (and was not good).

[SkiBum80]

To borrow and mangle a phrase from Field of Dreams:
If you build it (the OL), they (RB's) will come.

[SkiBum80]

To borrow and mangle a phrase from Field of Dreams:
If you build it (the OL), they (RB's) will come.

[martyup]

I haven't heard anything like this mentioned, but IMO there is a good possibility that Taylor was recently caught behaving badly again and Luck decided that the third strike was an out.  This would explain why Taylor was fired so long after the completion of the second investigation.

Another thought I had was that the main goal of the "retaining the coaching staff" approach is to retain April.  Any talk of Reich or Luck "assessing" the current staff might have sent April bolting.  If I'm correct, we might see some staff attrition and replacement before fall camp begins.

[martyup]

I haven't heard anything like this mentioned, but IMO there is a good possibility that Taylor was recently caught behaving badly again and Luck decided that the third strike was an out.  This would explain why Taylor was fired so long after the completion of the second investigation.

Another thought I had was that the main goal of the "retaining the coaching staff" approach is to retain April.  Any talk of Reich or Luck "assessing" the current staff might have sent April bolting.  If I'm correct, we might see some staff attrition and replacement before fall camp begins.

[fullmetal]

If the OL blocks, the RBs will run.

[fullmetal]

If the OL blocks, the RBs will run.

[Maple Leaf]

I haven't heard anything like this mentioned, but IMO there is a good possibility that Taylor was recently caught behaving badly again and Luck decided that the third strike was an out.  This would explain why Taylor was fired so long after the completion of the second investigation.

Another thought I had was that the main goal of the "retaining the coaching staff" approach is to retain April.  Any talk of Reich or Luck "assessing" the current staff might have sent April bolting.  If I'm correct, we might see some staff attrition and replacement before fall camp begins.

Excellent point on staff attrition, especially self-initiated by the staff themselves.  In addition to both Reich and Luck assessing how the staff is performing there are two other non-coaching former Stanford players currently on staff with NFL playing experience, Tank Williams and Jordan Richards, both outstanding players during their respective college careers.

[Maple Leaf]

I haven't heard anything like this mentioned, but IMO there is a good possibility that Taylor was recently caught behaving badly again and Luck decided that the third strike was an out.  This would explain why Taylor was fired so long after the completion of the second investigation.

Another thought I had was that the main goal of the "retaining the coaching staff" approach is to retain April.  Any talk of Reich or Luck "assessing" the current staff might have sent April bolting.  If I'm correct, we might see some staff attrition and replacement before fall camp begins.

Excellent point on staff attrition, especially self-initiated by the staff themselves.  In addition to both Reich and Luck assessing how the staff is performing there are two other non-coaching former Stanford players currently on staff with NFL playing experience, Tank Williams and Jordan Richards, both outstanding players during their respective college careers.

[msqueri]

I don’t understand why we would be concerned about staff attrition. Taylor’s staff, including April (who I agree is one of the more promising guys on the staff), did not provide any evidence in two years they had us on the right track. The two coaches whose specific responsibilities were looking best through two years, D’Onofrio and Gregory, were pushed out. The rest leaves us with guys Luck vouches for but have had a brutal two years both on the field and on the recruiting trail. Aside from Williams they haven’t proven much as coaches prior to Stanford either (at least in their current roles….April had proven something in lesser roles, which is one of the reasons he is one of the relatively more promising staff members). I really don’t think it should have scared us to have had staff turnover. Luck is making an interesting bet. I am guessing the overriding consideration was the calendar and how close we were to spring practice. Personally I don’t think we should overstate the importance of spring practice, but Luck is the one who gets paid the big bucks to make these calls.

[msqueri]

I don’t understand why we would be concerned about staff attrition. Taylor’s staff, including April (who I agree is one of the more promising guys on the staff), did not provide any evidence in two years they had us on the right track. The two coaches whose specific responsibilities were looking best through two years, D’Onofrio and Gregory, were pushed out. The rest leaves us with guys Luck vouches for but have had a brutal two years both on the field and on the recruiting trail. Aside from Williams they haven’t proven much as coaches prior to Stanford either (at least in their current roles….April had proven something in lesser roles, which is one of the reasons he is one of the relatively more promising staff members). I really don’t think it should have scared us to have had staff turnover. Luck is making an interesting bet. I am guessing the overriding consideration was the calendar and how close we were to spring practice. Personally I don’t think we should overstate the importance of spring practice, but Luck is the one who gets paid the big bucks to make these calls.

[SkiBum80]

After this recent flurry of events for our football GM, these analogies come to mind. He's like:
-- the 100m sprinter who had a slow start reaction time, but has a great drive phase kicking into gear
-- the sailor who's jib got blown out, but instead raised up an even bigger spinnaker
-- the boxer who got pummeled a bit in the first round, but came out swinging in the 2nd and landed a massive uppercut
-- the infantryman who successfully navigated a horrific minefield, only to make it up to be totally engulfed in the front lines

[SkiBum80]

After this recent flurry of events for our football GM, these analogies come to mind. He's like:
-- the 100m sprinter who had a slow start reaction time, but has a great drive phase kicking into gear
-- the sailor who's jib got blown out, but instead raised up an even bigger spinnaker
-- the boxer who got pummeled a bit in the first round, but came out swinging in the 2nd and landed a massive uppercut
-- the infantryman who successfully navigated a horrific minefield, only to make it up to be totally engulfed in the front lines