[FarmBoy]

At least, those of you calling for a QB change. From Shaw's weekly press conference:

"We're not changing quarterbacks. That doesn't make any sense to me. We wanted to bronze his arm and his legs after USC, and now I've got to answer a hundred questions about how come we're not changing quarterbacks. It's asinine."

Two reactions:
- You'd be hard pressed to find anyone ready to "bronze" any part of Nunes after the SC game. Yes, we gave credit for the handful of nice plays he made in a high pressure situation. But no one was calling him the 2nd coming of Luck. Most fans were pretty critical of his play, from what I've seen.
- Shaw is coming off as really defensive. To open your PC with "I'm not going to answer any questions about whether or not we're going to play another quarterback" is a sign of weakness. Head coaches should feel comfortable answering questions about player personnel decisions. This is not a good leadership trait, IMO.

http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/arti...914234.php

[FarmBoy]

At least, those of you calling for a QB change. From Shaw's weekly press conference:

"We're not changing quarterbacks. That doesn't make any sense to me. We wanted to bronze his arm and his legs after USC, and now I've got to answer a hundred questions about how come we're not changing quarterbacks. It's asinine."

Two reactions:
- You'd be hard pressed to find anyone ready to "bronze" any part of Nunes after the SC game. Yes, we gave credit for the handful of nice plays he made in a high pressure situation. But no one was calling him the 2nd coming of Luck. Most fans were pretty critical of his play, from what I've seen.
- Shaw is coming off as really defensive. To open your PC with "I'm not going to answer any questions about whether or not we're going to play another quarterback" is a sign of weakness. Head coaches should feel comfortable answering questions about player personnel decisions. This is not a good leadership trait, IMO.

http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/arti...914234.php

[george]

I had the same observation.  I can't remember a single person considering Nunes' performance as being one for the record books.  Shaw does seem to be in a bit of a tough situation, he doesn't want constant speculation about whether a different QB would be better shattering Nunes' confidence, but I can't imagine that his Kiffen-esque belligerence towards reporters questions sends a comforting message.

I can't help but wonder if the grumbling would be more/less/the same if it Brett Nottingham had been selected out of training camp and had put in similar performances.

[george]

I had the same observation.  I can't remember a single person considering Nunes' performance as being one for the record books.  Shaw does seem to be in a bit of a tough situation, he doesn't want constant speculation about whether a different QB would be better shattering Nunes' confidence, but I can't imagine that his Kiffen-esque belligerence towards reporters questions sends a comforting message.

I can't help but wonder if the grumbling would be more/less/the same if it Brett Nottingham had been selected out of training camp and had put in similar performances.

[george]

Also this quote:

"He's displayed time and time again in practice that he's more than capable of being the starting quarterback for this team," linebacker Shayne Skov said. "We have a firm belief in that."

Leaves some room for interpretation as to whether it's really a ringing endorsement.

[george]

Also this quote:

"He's displayed time and time again in practice that he's more than capable of being the starting quarterback for this team," linebacker Shayne Skov said. "We have a firm belief in that."

Leaves some room for interpretation as to whether it's really a ringing endorsement.

[dabigv13]

If Shaw thinks that Nunes played well in the San Jose State and very well against Duke, we should all be very concerned. He was 16/26 for 125 yards against SJSU, and 16/30 for 275 yds against Duke. Those should not be benchmarks for good QB play.

It would've been a lot better for Shaw to say that Nunes was playing poorly, but that they were working to improve, or that despite Nunes poor performance, he still gives the best chance at winning. That could be believable. Now we all know that Shaw is either lying to us all in order to protect his quarterbacks ego, or that he's got blinders on.

Every position on the field should be dictated by performance. QB is no different.

Fun Fact! Stanford had a Spike Factor rating of 41% against UW. Meaning, that Stanford would've been just as well served or better off, if we had just spiked the ball in the turf after the snap.

I guess the good news is at least we're not kal, who had a 50% against ASU...

We almost feel bad for piling on, but right now Jeff Tedford is to quarterback development as pool chemicals are to things you should feed a baby.

http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/...tor-week-5

[dabigv13]

If Shaw thinks that Nunes played well in the San Jose State and very well against Duke, we should all be very concerned. He was 16/26 for 125 yards against SJSU, and 16/30 for 275 yds against Duke. Those should not be benchmarks for good QB play.

It would've been a lot better for Shaw to say that Nunes was playing poorly, but that they were working to improve, or that despite Nunes poor performance, he still gives the best chance at winning. That could be believable. Now we all know that Shaw is either lying to us all in order to protect his quarterbacks ego, or that he's got blinders on.

Every position on the field should be dictated by performance. QB is no different.

Fun Fact! Stanford had a Spike Factor rating of 41% against UW. Meaning, that Stanford would've been just as well served or better off, if we had just spiked the ball in the turf after the snap.

I guess the good news is at least we're not kal, who had a 50% against ASU...

We almost feel bad for piling on, but right now Jeff Tedford is to quarterback development as pool chemicals are to things you should feed a baby.

http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/...tor-week-5

[SamAtoms1980]

Saw this on CBSSports last night.  Shaw has apparently broken out his inner Mike Ditka.  I was like a teenage girl doing the whole "OMG" thing when I read that line.

In the 2014 season, maybe we'll get to see him do Jim E. Mora:  "Playoffs!!??  Don't talk about . . . plaaayooffffs!?!?!  Are you kidding me?!?  PLAAAYOFFFS!??!??"

[SamAtoms1980]

Saw this on CBSSports last night.  Shaw has apparently broken out his inner Mike Ditka.  I was like a teenage girl doing the whole "OMG" thing when I read that line.

In the 2014 season, maybe we'll get to see him do Jim E. Mora:  "Playoffs!!??  Don't talk about . . . plaaayooffffs!?!?!  Are you kidding me?!?  PLAAAYOFFFS!??!??"

[fullmetal]

The semantics of Shaw's statement are a bit worrying.  "Capable" is not the same as "best," and I find the same word choices used by players when asked about Nunes.  I have no say in the matter, but I sure hope Nunes grows up pretty quickly.  He needs to at least make those short- to mid-range throws.

[fullmetal]

The semantics of Shaw's statement are a bit worrying.  "Capable" is not the same as "best," and I find the same word choices used by players when asked about Nunes.  I have no say in the matter, but I sure hope Nunes grows up pretty quickly.  He needs to at least make those short- to mid-range throws.

[FarmBoy]

dabigv - I will take a 9.1 YPA rating for my starting QB any day of the week (his performance against SJSU). If Nunes can deliver that the rest of the way, we'll win all of our games, outside Autzen.

[FarmBoy]

dabigv - I will take a 9.1 YPA rating for my starting QB any day of the week (his performance against SJSU). If Nunes can deliver that the rest of the way, we'll win all of our games, outside Autzen.

[yvonne]

Not if only half of his passes connect and he throws an interception two thirds as often as touchdowns. Nobody's expecting him to be Andrew Luck, but he's not even Zach Maynard!

[yvonne]

Not if only half of his passes connect and he throws an interception two thirds as often as touchdowns. Nobody's expecting him to be Andrew Luck, but he's not even Zach Maynard!

[dabigv13]

I think you mean against Duke. SJSU was a rather terrible 4.5 ypa. Yes 9.1 ypa is excellent but a 50% completion rate will result in a lot of stalled drives no matter the ypa. 9.1 ypa is also the definite outlier in his season so far.

[dabigv13]

I think you mean against Duke. SJSU was a rather terrible 4.5 ypa. Yes 9.1 ypa is excellent but a 50% completion rate will result in a lot of stalled drives no matter the ypa. 9.1 ypa is also the definite outlier in his season so far.

[FarmBoy]

Yes, I meant the Duke numbers. Brain fart.

50% completion is not ideal, but with our defense and running game, a 9.1 YPA would win a lot of games. If you're hitting a receiver for 18 yards every other time you drop back to pass, the defense is going to have to respect your passing game. That opens things up for your power running. Then you just grind their defense down. And if you do have a stalled drive, you've at least moved the ball, so you improve field position with your stout defense.

Completion percentage can be misleading. For example, Duke's Renfree threw for 70% completion against Stanford. But there were a lot of stalled drives, because many of those completions where very short and picked up just a couple yards, or even a loss here and there. His YPA was only 5.0, despite completing 70%.

Regardless, it's a moot point, because we only have the luxury of playing Duke's defense once this season.

[FarmBoy]

Yes, I meant the Duke numbers. Brain fart.

50% completion is not ideal, but with our defense and running game, a 9.1 YPA would win a lot of games. If you're hitting a receiver for 18 yards every other time you drop back to pass, the defense is going to have to respect your passing game. That opens things up for your power running. Then you just grind their defense down. And if you do have a stalled drive, you've at least moved the ball, so you improve field position with your stout defense.

Completion percentage can be misleading. For example, Duke's Renfree threw for 70% completion against Stanford. But there were a lot of stalled drives, because many of those completions where very short and picked up just a couple yards, or even a loss here and there. His YPA was only 5.0, despite completing 70%.

Regardless, it's a moot point, because we only have the luxury of playing Duke's defense once this season.

[Farm93]

Not if only half of his passes connect and he throws an interception two thirds as often as touchdowns. Nobody's expecting him to be Andrew Luck, but he's not even Zach Maynard!

Thankfully Nunes is not Zach Maynard.  Our buddy Zach has yet to beat an FBS team this year.  Our buddy Zach is unable to complete passes to one of the five best WRs in the Pac-12, if not the nation.  Our buddy Zach has been OVER-throwing receivers which has left him vulnerable to interceptions with big returns.  Our buddy Zach has never beaten SC, has not won a Big Game, and is playing at a lower level this year than last.

Yes, I hope Nunes never becomes like Zach Maynard.

I doubt Nunes will become first or second team all-Pac-12, but if he can get help the team get to 8-4 or 9-3 it will be a good year.  Right now, Nunes and the team can still reach 9-3 and have a much more realistic chance at 9-3 than UCB has of going to any bowl game this year.

I am sure Shaw's general theme was enough already.  He has Nunes' back, which I think is the best play if the goal is to get Nunes comfortable and confident enough to make the right game day reads.

[Farm93]

Not if only half of his passes connect and he throws an interception two thirds as often as touchdowns. Nobody's expecting him to be Andrew Luck, but he's not even Zach Maynard!

Thankfully Nunes is not Zach Maynard.  Our buddy Zach has yet to beat an FBS team this year.  Our buddy Zach is unable to complete passes to one of the five best WRs in the Pac-12, if not the nation.  Our buddy Zach has been OVER-throwing receivers which has left him vulnerable to interceptions with big returns.  Our buddy Zach has never beaten SC, has not won a Big Game, and is playing at a lower level this year than last.

Yes, I hope Nunes never becomes like Zach Maynard.

I doubt Nunes will become first or second team all-Pac-12, but if he can get help the team get to 8-4 or 9-3 it will be a good year.  Right now, Nunes and the team can still reach 9-3 and have a much more realistic chance at 9-3 than UCB has of going to any bowl game this year.

I am sure Shaw's general theme was enough already.  He has Nunes' back, which I think is the best play if the goal is to get Nunes comfortable and confident enough to make the right game day reads.

[dabigv13]

Maynard is a quarterback with a high delta. He can play a very good game, and a devastatingly horrible game. Nunes play thus far has ranged from decent to poor. On average, they haven't been too different though I would still prefer Nunes at this point.

Of course the fact that it's even a question is what's troubling.

[dabigv13]

Maynard is a quarterback with a high delta. He can play a very good game, and a devastatingly horrible game. Nunes play thus far has ranged from decent to poor. On average, they haven't been too different though I would still prefer Nunes at this point.

Of course the fact that it's even a question is what's troubling.

[FarmBoy]

It's tough to compare the two QBs. They are working with totally different circumstances.

Two big differences between Maynard and Nunes:

1) Who they're throwing the ball to. Do you think Keenan Allen would have dropped those deep balls in Seattle? Even the one that was batted away by the DB, I bet KA has a 50% chance to bring down. And Treggs and Harper don't look too bad either; Maynard has a lot of great targets. Sure, JN has Ertz as a reliable safety valve, but if you're trying to improve the passing game, I'll take a top-5 receiver over a top-5 TE.

2) Who's protecting their blind sides. Nunes has had all kinds of time to sit in the pocket and dither over where to ground the ball. Maynard, OTOH, is running for his life and getting killed. I've been impressed with Maynard's ability to escape pressure and make something happen with his legs and arms.

Honestly, if you put a gun to my head, I think if you put ZM behind the Stanford offensive line throwing to Ertz, Toilolo, Montgomery and Co., you're going to have better stats than what Nunes has put up so far.

[FarmBoy]

It's tough to compare the two QBs. They are working with totally different circumstances.

Two big differences between Maynard and Nunes:

1) Who they're throwing the ball to. Do you think Keenan Allen would have dropped those deep balls in Seattle? Even the one that was batted away by the DB, I bet KA has a 50% chance to bring down. And Treggs and Harper don't look too bad either; Maynard has a lot of great targets. Sure, JN has Ertz as a reliable safety valve, but if you're trying to improve the passing game, I'll take a top-5 receiver over a top-5 TE.

2) Who's protecting their blind sides. Nunes has had all kinds of time to sit in the pocket and dither over where to ground the ball. Maynard, OTOH, is running for his life and getting killed. I've been impressed with Maynard's ability to escape pressure and make something happen with his legs and arms.

Honestly, if you put a gun to my head, I think if you put ZM behind the Stanford offensive line throwing to Ertz, Toilolo, Montgomery and Co., you're going to have better stats than what Nunes has put up so far.

[yvonne]

I agree with dabigv. Maynard runs hot and cold. Also, as Garvin said, was good against us and probably will be again.

If anything, however, the reaction to Maynard is more what Shaw described. Cal fans, including Jenkins, were ready to bronze Maynard's arm following the Colorado victory last year, not even taking in consideration who the competition was. Then, a few games later, they saw who he was and wanted to change quarterbacks. Now, they've come to the conclusion that the other quarterbacks, with the exception of true freshman Zach Kline are even worse.

It's weird that the media are giving Nunes a pass as a first year quarterback while not noting that other first year quarterbacks are performing just fine.

[yvonne]

I agree with dabigv. Maynard runs hot and cold. Also, as Garvin said, was good against us and probably will be again.

If anything, however, the reaction to Maynard is more what Shaw described. Cal fans, including Jenkins, were ready to bronze Maynard's arm following the Colorado victory last year, not even taking in consideration who the competition was. Then, a few games later, they saw who he was and wanted to change quarterbacks. Now, they've come to the conclusion that the other quarterbacks, with the exception of true freshman Zach Kline are even worse.

It's weird that the media are giving Nunes a pass as a first year quarterback while not noting that other first year quarterbacks are performing just fine.

[76lsjumb]

Hey...if we go asiNINE and 3, I don't care who the quesrterback is. 

Maybe Shaw should look at the bright side -- if he's fielding "a hundred questions" about changing QB's, he's probably not having to deal any more with questions about why he decided to put in Williamson to kick the field goal in the Fiesta Bowl...

Also, it seems to me a "better" way to have your QB's back is to say, at least in public, that the coaching staff needs to make the right calls to put him in a position to succeed, or something like that.  Tell him in private whatever you want, but relying on the old straw man argument in public [as FarmBoy's first reaction notes] really comes off as defensive, not confident.  Plus, given Nunes' "last in the conference" ratings, it doesn't come across as particularly credible.

Now, if he had been talking about bronzing Tavita's arm after the Greatest Upset Ever, I'd say Do It!

I'm not sure I agree, though, that the media is giving Nunes "a pass."  My sense is that the media are loving -- and stoking -- the QB controversy between Nunes and Nottingham.  Indeed, I'll bet that's what rankles Shaw.  I'm not saying it isn't a legitimate story; I'm just saying that I don't perceive the media as being "in the tank" for Nunes.

[76lsjumb]

Hey...if we go asiNINE and 3, I don't care who the quesrterback is. 

Maybe Shaw should look at the bright side -- if he's fielding "a hundred questions" about changing QB's, he's probably not having to deal any more with questions about why he decided to put in Williamson to kick the field goal in the Fiesta Bowl...

Also, it seems to me a "better" way to have your QB's back is to say, at least in public, that the coaching staff needs to make the right calls to put him in a position to succeed, or something like that.  Tell him in private whatever you want, but relying on the old straw man argument in public [as FarmBoy's first reaction notes] really comes off as defensive, not confident.  Plus, given Nunes' "last in the conference" ratings, it doesn't come across as particularly credible.

Now, if he had been talking about bronzing Tavita's arm after the Greatest Upset Ever, I'd say Do It!

I'm not sure I agree, though, that the media is giving Nunes "a pass."  My sense is that the media are loving -- and stoking -- the QB controversy between Nunes and Nottingham.  Indeed, I'll bet that's what rankles Shaw.  I'm not saying it isn't a legitimate story; I'm just saying that I don't perceive the media as being "in the tank" for Nunes.

[pincemob]

I don't recall if it was discussed here, but Shaw reacted angrily to the question after the game also.  He said to the reporter something like  "well that only took you a minute to get to.  and I knew it would be you who asked that."    I never found out who the "you" was (Wilner?) but it struck me as oddly personal.  Right or wrong (and I don't know) he is certainly digging in his heels. 

[pincemob]

I don't recall if it was discussed here, but Shaw reacted angrily to the question after the game also.  He said to the reporter something like  "well that only took you a minute to get to.  and I knew it would be you who asked that."    I never found out who the "you" was (Wilner?) but it struck me as oddly personal.  Right or wrong (and I don't know) he is certainly digging in his heels. 

[OutsiderFan]

As a long time California fan, it is clear David Shaw is exhibiting some of the same traits Jeff Tedford has, that I believed would lead to Cal going right back to where it was before Tedford got to California.  This year looks to be the year it happens.  IMO, Stanford fans (and donors) should be extremely concerned. 

Let's not forget, Tedsel had a great season with a prodigy of a QB in Aaron Rodgers, just like Shaw had a great one with Andrew Luck.  It's been a downward trend for Tedsel ever since.  Once a hot coaching commodity, the only thing hot about him now is the seat he is sitting on.

I would be happy to engage in a discussion on this topic if anyone here is interested

[OutsiderFan]

As a long time California fan, it is clear David Shaw is exhibiting some of the same traits Jeff Tedford has, that I believed would lead to Cal going right back to where it was before Tedford got to California.  This year looks to be the year it happens.  IMO, Stanford fans (and donors) should be extremely concerned. 

Let's not forget, Tedsel had a great season with a prodigy of a QB in Aaron Rodgers, just like Shaw had a great one with Andrew Luck.  It's been a downward trend for Tedsel ever since.  Once a hot coaching commodity, the only thing hot about him now is the seat he is sitting on.

I would be happy to engage in a discussion on this topic if anyone here is interested

[OutsiderFan]

I agree, Yvonne -- the 59er fans canonize Maynard one week, want to have him deported from the People's Republic the next. Whereas I think the most enthusiastic thing Stanford people said about Nunes after games two and three was, well, he's coming along.

There were plenty of Cal fans who were fervently against the idea of Maynard playing QB for California as soon as it became apparent he was transferring from Buffalo to bring the North Carolina kids to Berkeley.

He was mediocre at Buffalo.  How was he going to be good in the Pac-10 (at the time he transferred) if he was mediocre at Buffalo?  The first time I saw Maynard in a football uniform I laughed my ass off.  The guy doesn't even look like a football player.  There may be misguided yokels who thought Maynard was going to improve, but they certainly don't represent the views of all California fans.

If you are reading Bear Insider for the pulse of the California fan base, you should know they ban people who say anything disparaging about Tedsel or his program, so it isn't an unbiased source of information.  People have even been banned from BI for negative comments made about Cal on OTHER Cal boards!

[OutsiderFan]

I agree, Yvonne -- the 59er fans canonize Maynard one week, want to have him deported from the People's Republic the next. Whereas I think the most enthusiastic thing Stanford people said about Nunes after games two and three was, well, he's coming along.

There were plenty of Cal fans who were fervently against the idea of Maynard playing QB for California as soon as it became apparent he was transferring from Buffalo to bring the North Carolina kids to Berkeley.

He was mediocre at Buffalo.  How was he going to be good in the Pac-10 (at the time he transferred) if he was mediocre at Buffalo?  The first time I saw Maynard in a football uniform I laughed my ass off.  The guy doesn't even look like a football player.  There may be misguided yokels who thought Maynard was going to improve, but they certainly don't represent the views of all California fans.

If you are reading Bear Insider for the pulse of the California fan base, you should know they ban people who say anything disparaging about Tedsel or his program, so it isn't an unbiased source of information.  People have even been banned from BI for negative comments made about Cal on OTHER Cal boards!

[yvonne]

That's certainly not true. They can't wait to get rid of him. Last year there were a contingent of so-called "sunshine pumpers," but they all seem to be gone. The fact that they have a name "sunshine pumpers" shows that they have had a diversity of opinion.

My take on BI is that they tend to be bipolar. Every offseason, they're going to the Rose Bowl. There is one thing they're unwavering about, though. They hate "the F*rd," and they'll even take contrary positions just to find something about Stanford to hate. One of the funny ones is that they get upset that they can wear a Cal shirt on our campus and not be abused. How awful!

[yvonne]

That's certainly not true. They can't wait to get rid of him. Last year there were a contingent of so-called "sunshine pumpers," but they all seem to be gone. The fact that they have a name "sunshine pumpers" shows that they have had a diversity of opinion.

My take on BI is that they tend to be bipolar. Every offseason, they're going to the Rose Bowl. There is one thing they're unwavering about, though. They hate "the F*rd," and they'll even take contrary positions just to find something about Stanford to hate. One of the funny ones is that they get upset that they can wear a Cal shirt on our campus and not be abused. How awful!

[Spiny_Norman]

Coach Shaw's facade is so controlled that the press conference performance should be considered a rant.  Did he raise his voice?  Point a finger?

Or is this what he really wanted to say - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoMmbUmKN0E

[Spiny_Norman]

Coach Shaw's facade is so controlled that the press conference performance should be considered a rant.  Did he raise his voice?  Point a finger?

Or is this what he really wanted to say - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoMmbUmKN0E