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A Few Thoughts on the First Game - Printable Version

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Re: A Few Thoughts on the First Game - Hulk01 - 09-08-2016

Irwin didn't leap off the page last year because we didn't have a QB who could make the strong intermediate throws off of which guys like Irwin thrive.  By the time Hogan was done with his windup, two guys had descended on Irwin.  Or Hogan was airmailing him when he was three yards clear, as happened in the Rose Bowl game.  Not a good pairing.

Burns and Chryst can make the throws, and Irwin can catch anything and everything.  I assure you this is a unanimous view. 



Re: A Few Thoughts on the First Game - JohnR34231 - 09-08-2016

(09-08-2016, 05:59 AM)Hulk01 link Wrote:Irwin didn't leap off the page last year because we didn't have a QB who could make the strong intermediate throws off of which guys like Irwin thrive.  By the time Hogan was done with his windup, two guys had descended on Irwin.  Or Hogan was airmailing him when he was three yards clear, as happened in the Rose Bowl game.  Not a good pairing.

Burns and Chryst can make the throws, and Irwin can catch anything and everything.  I assure you this is a unanimous view.

OK, sounds good. Hopefully games this year when Irwin gets 1 catch for 9 yards are an anomaly.
In other words, the sun is about to come up.

Re: A Few Thoughts on the First Game - Hulk01 - 09-08-2016

A crisp route runner needs a quarterback who can throw a crisp pass: a Luck, Burns, or Chryst.  Rosen throwing to Irwin would be a treat to watch.

Hogan was a play-action quarterback who could make the nice deep throw on a skinny post, the equivalent of the soft pitch shot from 100 yards. 

It's Hogan's limitations as a thrower that makes almost everyone here think that Michael Rector is a one-trick pony--a guy who can get deep and catch it.  But we saw in the Kansas State game--check Burn's throw to him on that comeback throw near the left hash--that there's more to Rextoe as a receiver.  He just hasn't had a quarterback to exploit his skills. 

Now he does.  And Irwin does, too.

Re: A Few Thoughts on the First Game - Stymie - 09-08-2016

Good stuff, Hulk.  Keep it coming.

Re: A Few Thoughts on the First Game - Treebound - 09-08-2016

KSU was classic Shaw.  New QB, mostly new offensive line, use your strengths (CMac) and let your new QB(s) get comfortable with the role.  Most of the throws were short or mid-range which helped enable a 10/10 first half passing attack.  Build Burns' confidence and that of the o-line and the entire team.    Contrast this with where the team was last year after game 1.  Shaw is clearly the thinking man's (and player's) coach. 

I have no doubt that Trent, Rector, Love and others will be used much more effectively over the next four games.  Assuming we are in control, the playbook will open just enough each game.  If we get into trouble, we will see it open wider with some interesting "trickeration."  Remember CMac's QBR rating?  I can't wait for our next contest against LOIC U ("Lack of Institutional Control").  I just hope they get the non-con W this weekend.  The P12 needs to perform. 

Re: A Few Thoughts on the First Game - OutsiderFan - 09-08-2016

Trickeration is not needed.  Threatening all areas of the field, so the defense can't key on one guy in one place, is always the best strategy to win, but execution is always essential.  It just is in genera easier to execute on offense when the defense is off-balance.

Re: A Few Thoughts on the First Game - Hulk01 - 09-08-2016

Just to amplify the Hogan-receivers "problem."

Hogan has a long, slow release that allows defensive backs to get a jump on the short and intermediate throws.  And didn't help, for purposes of making the shorter throws, that Hogan had a low release point that made it harder to release the ball above the hands of the rushing defensive linemen.  Then throw in that his fastball probably topped out in the mid 80's, which gave the defenders another split second to get their hand on the ball before our guy did. 

Our staff, of course, knew this, and really didn't fool much trying to sneak in a slant or an out, both of which require heat.  But those are the plays on which a great slot receiver like Irwin thrives.  Ditto Doug Baldwin, but he had Andrew Luck, as did the Whalens.  If Hogan had been our QB when the Whalens were here, we might never have realized they were very good college receivers. 

And for the same reason, casual fans don't realize what a talent Irwin is--a 6'2" guy with great hands who runs routes like a 5'10" ankle breaker.

Re: A Few Thoughts on the First Game - dabigv13 - 09-08-2016

Let's hope it pans out like you foresee. But even with Luck, our TEs did well but we never had WRs putting up consistent 100 yard performances. I doubt Burns will change that. Though as long as CMAC is doing his thing a varied downfield passing threat is probably not necessary.

Re: A Few Thoughts on the First Game - CTcard - 09-08-2016

(09-08-2016, 06:43 AM)Hulk01 link Wrote:... there's more to Rextoe as a receiver.

I suspect that was just an All Powerful and All Knowing CardBoard Software hijack, but I would rather believe it is a nickname for Rector. Even without any meaning, it's rather funny.


For the moment, I think Rector is a better receiver than Irwin, but its hard to tell because of how much each has been used so far. 
... and of course they are different.

Is Owusu going to see the ball at all this year?

Re: A Few Thoughts on the First Game - fullmetal - 09-08-2016

I think Owusu has a long road uphill given the bevy of talent ahead of him.  But we will always remember the day he slew Wadood for an SC Top Ten play.

Re: A Few Thoughts on the First Game - PrinceLightfoot - 09-09-2016

(09-03-2016, 09:05 AM)TreesAndBirds link Wrote:The analysis of our first game from our friends across the bay..

http://bearinsider.com/forums/showthread.php?102522-the school I wish I had attended-just-not-that-good

Cal is an 8 point dog versus SDSU this week, but we are "just not that good".  ::)

Re: A Few Thoughts on the First Game - OutsiderFan - 09-10-2016

Francis Owusu would be putting up big number on any other team, well any team that emphasizes passing the ball.  He doesn't have a lot lot of catches in his Stanford career, but you can put together a pretty impressive highlight mix of the catches he has made at Stanford when given the opportunity, starting with his True Frosh season vs. Cal.

He's 6-3, 220, and though I admittedly don't know how good of a route runner he is, I do know he has a great set of hands and can catch the ball while being tightly defended, particularly "50-50" balls, and ones he must go up to get.  I'd like to see more crossing routes from Stanford's passing game, that hit receivers on the move.  They do a lot of near hash marks to sideline routes, but not enough from hash mark to hash mark or hash mark to far sideline, IMO.Â