Stuart Head opting out and transferring

Stuart Head opting out and transferring - Printable Version

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RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - CardinalSagehen - 09-28-2020

Akina is probably the most experienced assistant with the strongest credentials on the staff, and one of the only ones that can credibly stand up to Shaw. He's also the yin to Shaw's yang - he's uninhibited, irrational, loud, exuberant. The fact that I can hear him yelling from the 2nd deck is both a testament to the strength of his spirit and the decrepitude of our fan base.

Having just a few guys in the NFL is not outside the range of normal. In total, Stanford has 28 guys in the NFL, tied for the most in the Pac-12. But we are not Clemson, Alabama, LSU or tOSU.

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - Mick - 09-28-2020

(09-28-2020, 01:01 PM)BostonCard Wrote: While I agree with you, Stanford has a long tradition of converting offensive players into very successful safeties. That we've converted offensive players into safety is not, per se, an indictment on the position. The fact that the players we have had there are slow, couldn't cover and couldn't tackle speaks for itself.

BC

This one was pretty good...

[Image: 01253036.jpg?w=1408]

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - winflop - 09-29-2020

I wish him well but I don't see where this is going to have any material impact on the defense. Head makes Antoine look like a good tackler

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - gailtate - 09-29-2020

(09-28-2020, 08:27 PM)Mick Wrote:
(09-28-2020, 01:01 PM)BostonCard Wrote: While I agree with you, Stanford has a long tradition of converting offensive players into very successful safeties. That we've converted offensive players into safety is not, per se, an indictment on the position. The fact that the players we have had there are slow, couldn't cover and couldn't tackle speaks for itself.

BC

This one was pretty good...

How come you didn't use a bigger pic??

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - SamuelMcF - 09-29-2020

Fun (well, not really) stat posted on TOS:

According to PFF, there were 54 Pac-12 safeties with significant (400+) snaps in a season from 2017-2019. Stuart Head last season ranked next to last out of all of them.

On the bright side, Jonathan McGill's freshman campaign graded out slightly better than Justin Reid's, with better grades in run support and tackling.

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - BostonCard - 09-29-2020

(09-29-2020, 02:41 PM)SamuelMcF Wrote: On the bright side, Jonathan McGill's freshman campaign graded out slightly better than Justin Reid's, with better grades in run support and tackling.

I hate to pull a Teejers, but this stat doesn't pass the "eye test", though it is entirely possible that my memory is biased by Reid's subsequent accomplishments and the general stench around the safety position last year.

BC

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - SamuelMcF - 09-29-2020

(09-29-2020, 03:46 PM)BostonCard Wrote:
(09-29-2020, 02:41 PM)SamuelMcF Wrote: On the bright side, Jonathan McGill's freshman campaign graded out slightly better than Justin Reid's, with better grades in run support and tackling.

I hate to pull a Teejers, but this stat doesn't pass the "eye test", though it is entirely possible that my memory is biased by Reid's subsequent accomplishments and the general stench around the safety position last year.

BC

I'd chalk it up more to that bias. Reid really wasn't much to write home about as a freshman (most true freshmen aren't), but did have an interception (as did McGill). Other factors: McGill played twice as many snaps as Reid did (so you got to see a larger array of plays both good and bad), did not benefit from a pass rush of any kind, and is undersized and a step slow (again, as a freshman). He also posted his 2 worst games against Wazzu and Cal, right at the end of the season, which may be coloring our view.

It's also possible you and others may have occasionally confused McGill for JJ Parson; they are the same exact size, and Parson played a significant number of snaps at safety/nickel. I definitely did at some points.

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - OutsiderFan - 09-30-2020

McGill, Kelly, and Rouse (and maybe another Frosh OL or two) were really impressive for True Frosh in 2019, arguably the best True Frosh I have ever seen at Stanford. Even Adebo didn’t play as a True Frosh.

McCaffrey should have played way more than he did as a True Frosh, but that’s another story.

The question is will these guys and the likes of Jones and Peat get better or will they regress. Again, I’m really concerned Andres Fox and Stephon Herron Jr. won’t develop. On the heels of Ryan Johnson and Curtis Robinson, two other highly touted Front Seven players who haven’t developed into above average producers.

To stay competitive with all the relaxed transfer rules, Stanford need to start forcing guys who can’t play off football scholarships and on other ones for retirements, to make room for larger recruiting classes to address development failures. No team in the country is more constricted than Stanford when it comes to roster building. It can’t remain competitive unless it relieves some pressure on itself. The best way to do that is increase the size of each class and focus on playing guys earlier who can immediately contribute like the three names I started with on this post, and run guys who can’t produce at the needed level off the team.

Otherwise, I see Stanford becoming a bottom half of the PAC-12 program for the long haul. The transfer rules have completely eliminated the advantage Stanford once had with 5th year Seniors and low roster attrition and turned it into a massive liability.

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - SamuelMcF - 09-30-2020

(09-30-2020, 01:07 AM)OutsiderFan Wrote: McGill, Kelly, and Rouse (and maybe another Frosh OL or two) were really impressive for True Frosh in 2019, arguably the best True Frosh I have ever seen at Stanford. Even Adebo didn’t play as a True Frosh.
...
The question is will these guys and the likes of Jones and Peat get better or will they regress. Again, I’m really concerned Andres Fox and Stephon Herron Jr. won’t develop. On the heels of Ryan Johnson and Curtis Robinson, two other highly touted Front Seven players who haven’t developed into above average producers.

Ryan Johnson, like Head, was hurt way too often to practice meaningfully up until recently. He has put on around 15lbs and is ~280 now. So far, shades of similar 4*-who-failed-to-live-up-to-the-hype Jordan Watkins...keep in mind Watty as a senior had 3 tackles, and in his 5th year he had 12. Johnson has also played in 14 games to Watty's 5 at this stage. I hope for his and our sake he steps it up. If he doesn't, Josh Pakola is taking his snaps.

[Side note: Watty is a classmate of mine, and he's awesome. Extremely likable and fun guy, and I hope his broadcasting career continues to flourish. Fun to hear him call Stanford baseball and softball games.]

Robinson switched from OLB/almost exclusively edge rusher to ILB in the middle of his third season, a transition that should've happened much earlier (honestly I believe he should've started out at ILB in the first place but I digress). They are completely different positions in our scheme, to the point where you could almost consider last year to be his freshman season. (A well-known former ILB was quoted as saying when he played ILB as a true freshman he was just running around with no clue wtf he was doing.) Robinson has the size and speed, but only 1 year left to put it together schematically at a way more cerebral position as the "QB of the defense".

I'm so glad Peter Hansen is gone. Dude completely mismanaged and nuked the ILB room. Coach Sanders has plenty of work to do to rebuild, much like Carberry with the OL fustercluck. Hope he's up to it. He has some nice younger pieces like Miezan, JMF, and Sinclair to build upon.

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - BostonCard - 09-30-2020

(09-30-2020, 11:15 AM)SamuelMcF Wrote: Robinson switched from OLB/almost exclusively edge rusher to ILB in the middle of his third season, a transition that should've happened much earlier (honestly I believe he should've started out at ILB in the first place but I digress). They are completely different positions in our scheme, to the point where you could almost consider last year to be his freshman season. (A well-known former ILB was quoted as saying when he played ILB as a true freshman he was just running around with no clue wtf he was doing.) Robinson has the size and speed, but only 1 year left to put it together schematically at a way more cerebral position as the "QB of the defense".

The question on Robinson is whether he has the instinct to play ILB. The player you quoted (Skov, no? If not, Skov said something very similar) may not have had a clue what he was doing, but had very strong instincts for the position. For a freshman, he was mighty good at finding himself in the right place at the right time, even if he had no clue why he was going there. Robinson doesn't seem to have the same "heat seeking missile" instinct, and while I expect him to be better this year than last year, I don't think he will become an elite ILB. Hope I'm wrong, because everything I've heard about him is that he's a great kid.

Also, if nothing else, Skov could hit like a ton of bricks. I'm not sure there is any player on the roster who can do that now.

BC

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - SamuelMcF - 09-30-2020

(09-30-2020, 11:28 AM)BostonCard Wrote:
(09-30-2020, 11:15 AM)SamuelMcF Wrote: Robinson switched from OLB/almost exclusively edge rusher to ILB in the middle of his third season, a transition that should've happened much earlier (honestly I believe he should've started out at ILB in the first place but I digress). They are completely different positions in our scheme, to the point where you could almost consider last year to be his freshman season. (A well-known former ILB was quoted as saying when he played ILB as a true freshman he was just running around with no clue wtf he was doing.) Robinson has the size and speed, but only 1 year left to put it together schematically at a way more cerebral position as the "QB of the defense".

The question on Robinson is whether he has the instinct to play ILB. The player you quoted (Skov, no? If not, Skov said something very similar) may not have had a clue what he was doing, but had very strong instincts for the position. For a freshman, he was mighty good at finding himself in the right place at the right time, even if he had no clue why he was going there. Robinson doesn't seem to have the same "heat seeking missile" instinct, and while I expect him to be better this year than last year, I don't think he will become an elite ILB. Hope I'm wrong, because everything I've heard about him is that he's a great kid.

Also, if nothing else, Skov could hit like a ton of bricks. I'm not sure there is any player on the roster who can do that now.

BC

Yep, Shayne Skov indeed.

Another issue with Robinson is his trouble getting off blocks against the run. He's ok - not great, but ok - in coverage and pretty good when sent on the blitz (naturally, as he was a pass rusher before this).

About hitting like a ton of bricks: Ricky Miezan is going to murder some people this season. Book it. We really missed him and Mangum-Farrar in the rotation, and I'm sure keeping Robinson and Pryts fresher instead of playing almost every single snap could've helped overall. 2 plays from Miezan to watch vs. Northwestern:
At 2:42, he eats the QB's soul.
At 5:55, he absolutely destroys the pulling guard and tackles the RB behind the line. LOVED this play.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4kHM5WSH44&t=354s

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - BostonCard - 09-30-2020

Good find, and I hope you are right. I just remember that Mustafa Branch had a devastating tackle as a freshman that really got me to sit up and take notice, and then... nothing. Wish I had film of that play.

BC

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - old spanish trail - 09-30-2020

(09-30-2020, 01:51 PM)BostonCard Wrote: Good find, and I hope you are right. I just remember that Mustafa Branch had a devastating tackle as a freshman that really got me to sit up and take notice, and then... nothing. Wish I had film of that play.

BC

I remember that block too. He was in on offense, maybe in the slot, and he had a blindside blowup block of a DL, I think. Never saw him make an explosive play again.

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - Luckydev18 - 10-01-2020

GL to him.

Tough year for all of us yeah haha good one.

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - BostonCard - 10-01-2020

(09-30-2020, 11:01 PM)old spanish trail Wrote:
(09-30-2020, 01:51 PM)BostonCard Wrote: Good find, and I hope you are right. I just remember that Mustafa Branch had a devastating tackle as a freshman that really got me to sit up and take notice, and then... nothing. Wish I had film of that play.

BC

I remember that block too. He was in on offense, maybe in the slot, and he had a blindside blowup block of a DL, I think. Never saw him make an explosive play again.

That's right. It was a jaw-breaking crack block, not a tackle.

BC

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - winflop - 10-01-2020

(09-29-2020, 02:41 PM)SamuelMcF Wrote: Fun (well, not really) stat posted on TOS:

According to PFF, there were 54 Pac-12 safeties with significant (400+) snaps in a season from 2017-2019. Stuart Head last season ranked next to last out of all of them.

On the bright side, Jonathan McGill's freshman campaign graded out slightly better than Justin Reid's, with better grades in run support and tackling.

But didn't McGill play mostly nickel, not safety?

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - SamuelMcF - 10-01-2020

(10-01-2020, 12:52 PM)winflop Wrote:
(09-29-2020, 02:41 PM)SamuelMcF Wrote: Fun (well, not really) stat posted on TOS:

According to PFF, there were 54 Pac-12 safeties with significant (400+) snaps in a season from 2017-2019. Stuart Head last season ranked next to last out of all of them.

On the bright side, Jonathan McGill's freshman campaign graded out slightly better than Justin Reid's, with better grades in run support and tackling.

But didn't McGill play mostly nickel, not safety?

Yes, but I could've sworn Reid did too as a freshman in 2015. Dallas Lloyd and Kodi Whitfield were the full-time safety starters that year. Whitfield graduated and Reid naturally slid right into his starting role the following season.

FWIW, we'll probably see McGill at nickel a lot this season too as Antoine and Williamson will remain the safety starters. (However both also have nickel experience so maybe they'll do/already did some rotating based on the offense's alignment/personnel. Didn't watch closely enough to know.) After this season I see the same natural slide for McGill right into Antoine's starting position, unless Antoine returns for a sixth year which is technically possible since this season is an eligibility freebie.

As freshmen, both were listed as backup safeties on the depth chart (McGill was actually an OR at the starter spot on occasion).

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - BostonCard - 10-01-2020

(10-01-2020, 01:32 PM)SamuelMcF Wrote: unless Antoine returns for a sixth year which is technically possible since this season is an eligibility freebie.

Question on this... is the NCAA also waiving the 5 years to play 4 rule? Or will this be like players who voluntarily redshirt and subsequently lose a second season to injury, where the NCAA will generally not grant a hardship waiver.

BC

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - winflop - 10-02-2020

(10-01-2020, 02:54 PM)BostonCard Wrote:
(10-01-2020, 01:32 PM)SamuelMcF Wrote: unless Antoine returns for a sixth year which is technically possible since this season is an eligibility freebie.

Question on this... is the NCAA also waiving the 5 years to play 4 rule? Or will this be like players who voluntarily redshirt and subsequently lose a second season to injury, where the NCAA will generally not grant a hardship waiver.

BC

I thought the rule was if you opt out you can come back for a 6th year but if you play it counts as an eligibility year

RE: Stuart Head opting out and transferring - BostonCard - 10-02-2020

(10-02-2020, 06:07 AM)winflop Wrote:
(10-01-2020, 02:54 PM)BostonCard Wrote:
(10-01-2020, 01:32 PM)SamuelMcF Wrote: unless Antoine returns for a sixth year which is technically possible since this season is an eligibility freebie.

Question on this... is the NCAA also waiving the 5 years to play 4 rule? Or will this be like players who voluntarily redshirt and subsequently lose a second season to injury, where the NCAA will generally not grant a hardship waiver.

BC

I thought the rule was if you opt out you can come back for a 6th year but if you play it counts as an eligibility year

No, as I understand it, regardless of whether you play or not in 2020, it does not count as an eligibility year.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/ncaa-approves-blanket-waiver-for-2020-fall-sports-athletes-to-retain-year-of-eligibility/

Quote:"All fall sport student-athletes will receive both and additional year of eligibility and an additional year in which to complete it," the NCAA said in a release. "Student-athletes who do not enroll full time during the 2020 fall term have flexibility in the progress-toward-degree requirements that must be met for eligibility in future terms."

I think this answers my question; it is now six years to play four (and 2020 doesn't count as one of the four). Generally, given that we are under the scholarship limit, we are better placed to take advantage. Moreover, given how poor the class of 2021 is turning out, this is generally good for us, as we can now think of the classes of 2020 and 2021 as one mega-class. Of course, the chances that players from the class of 2020 are still around in 2025 are slim.

BC