Quarterbacks -
yvonne - 10-01-2016
Many commentators have said that the Pac-12 is a conference of quarterbacks, and that an experienced quarterback is the most common indicator of a championship season. Our touted quarterbacks are green, and may not be what we hoped, at least not yet.
Although we don't appear to have a third quarterback who can turn the offense into something less one-sided, the coach is sending the backup in each game. This could be because he wants the player to still have a part, or that he may be preparing him to take over, either later this year, or after Burns graduates.
I'm still processing this, and don't really have a point to make, rather questions about the state of the QB position. What do other people think?
Quarterbacks -
yvonne - 10-01-2016
Many commentators have said that the Pac-12 is a conference of quarterbacks, and that an experienced quarterback is the most common indicator of a championship season. Our touted quarterbacks are green, and may not be what we hoped, at least not yet.
Although we don't appear to have a third quarterback who can turn the offense into something less one-sided, the coach is sending the backup in each game. This could be because he wants the player to still have a part, or that he may be preparing him to take over, either later this year, or after Burns graduates.
I'm still processing this, and don't really have a point to make, rather questions about the state of the QB position. What do other people think?
Re: Quarterbacks -
BobK - 10-01-2016
Burns has this year and next. Costello could be the best but just a true Frosh. Chryst has come in iirc, the 3rd series last two games. We don't want him to transfer to his Uncle at Wisconsin.Â
Re: Quarterbacks -
BobK - 10-01-2016
Burns has this year and next. Costello could be the best but just a true Frosh. Chryst has come in iirc, the 3rd series last two games. We don't want him to transfer to his Uncle at Wisconsin.Â
Re: Quarterbacks -
dabigv13 - 10-01-2016
My sense is Burns has a better grasp of the offense, and that why he's the starter and plays most minutes. His arm strength is great and he has good mobility.
Chryst is getting a series because he's not much worse than Burns in any of those departments, and maybe with one scripted drive shows a bit of a different look to the defense while also gaining experience in case we have an injury.
I'm not entirely sure if it makes sense to keep that up. I think if Burns is the guy, stick with him.
Re: Quarterbacks -
dabigv13 - 10-01-2016
My sense is Burns has a better grasp of the offense, and that why he's the starter and plays most minutes. His arm strength is great and he has good mobility.
Chryst is getting a series because he's not much worse than Burns in any of those departments, and maybe with one scripted drive shows a bit of a different look to the defense while also gaining experience in case we have an injury.
I'm not entirely sure if it makes sense to keep that up. I think if Burns is the guy, stick with him.
Re: Quarterbacks -
yvonne - 10-01-2016
(10-01-2016, 05:01 PM)BobK link Wrote:Burns has this year and next. Costello could be the best but just a true Frosh. Chryst has come in iirc, the 3rd series last two games. We don't want him to transfer to his Uncle at Wisconsin.
But that's just it. All three came in as touted, but maybe that's not what it takes to be a good quarterback in Stanford's system.
Re: Quarterbacks -
yvonne - 10-01-2016
(10-01-2016, 05:01 PM)BobK link Wrote:Burns has this year and next. Costello could be the best but just a true Frosh. Chryst has come in iirc, the 3rd series last two games. We don't want him to transfer to his Uncle at Wisconsin.
But that's just it. All three came in as touted, but maybe that's not what it takes to be a good quarterback in Stanford's system.
Re: Quarterbacks -
washingtonismoney - 10-01-2016
Well, even for touted players there's a raffle element to recruitment -- some make it, some don't. Take the 2012 offensive line class. Garnett and Peat were excellent; Murphy very good ... Shuler pretty solid ... and Davidson a non-factor. Brandon Austin, in the class before him, also a non-factor. So I would expect some hits, some misses. That's why it's important to have a pipeline of good players.
Re: Quarterbacks -
washingtonismoney - 10-01-2016
Well, even for touted players there's a raffle element to recruitment -- some make it, some don't. Take the 2012 offensive line class. Garnett and Peat were excellent; Murphy very good ... Shuler pretty solid ... and Davidson a non-factor. Brandon Austin, in the class before him, also a non-factor. So I would expect some hits, some misses. That's why it's important to have a pipeline of good players.
Re: Quarterbacks -
stupac2 - 10-01-2016
(10-01-2016, 05:13 PM)Yvonne link Wrote:[quote author=BobK link=topic=15838.msg174512#msg174512 date=1475366515]
Burns has this year and next. Costello could be the best but just a true Frosh. Chryst has come in iirc, the 3rd series last two games. We don't want him to transfer to his Uncle at Wisconsin.
But that's just it. All three came in as touted, but maybe that's not what it takes to be a good quarterback in Stanford's system.
[/quote]
I keep thinking we need to do more to change our system to fit our personnel. I'm not sure what to do, exactly, but I don't think we do it quite right.
Re: Quarterbacks -
stupac2 - 10-01-2016
(10-01-2016, 05:13 PM)Yvonne link Wrote:[quote author=BobK link=topic=15838.msg174512#msg174512 date=1475366515]
Burns has this year and next. Costello could be the best but just a true Frosh. Chryst has come in iirc, the 3rd series last two games. We don't want him to transfer to his Uncle at Wisconsin.
But that's just it. All three came in as touted, but maybe that's not what it takes to be a good quarterback in Stanford's system.
[/quote]
I keep thinking we need to do more to change our system to fit our personnel. I'm not sure what to do, exactly, but I don't think we do it quite right.
Re: Quarterbacks -
Snorlax94 - 10-01-2016
Although I loathe the idea of switching quarterbacks, and I started out a fan of Burns, I am beginning to think Stanford should consider switching to Chryst.
Before this season, and even two years ago when Hogan struggled, I thought Stanford should just switch to Chryst, who I assumed was the heir and would be the next Luck Lite. Then I watched the spring scrimmage. Chryst started with a a deer in the headlights look, which terrified me, and Burns looked relaxed.
I like them both, but my biggest disappointments with Burns is that he seems to look down receivers, he is slow to recognize open receivers, he has a slow release, and he is a slow, clunky runner and cannot slide in the pocket to buy any time.
And these qualities are a DISASTER combined with the green line that at this time is one of the worst at pass protection I've seen at Stanford in a while. When the pocket collapses, you need a quarterback who can find a receiver quickly and release it quickly, which he cannot do, or who can shuffle to buy time, which he has not done, or who can run with the ball, which he cannot do. Oh yeah, and when a quarterback stares down receivers, they take big hits and get injured.
What little I've seen of Chryst is that he seems more relaxed now (but he also, I admit, benefits from Burns starting 2 drives to calm everything down). Most importantly, when the pocket collapsed on him, he kept his head up, took a few steps to buy time, then hit a downfield receiver, which I cannot recall Burns doing this season. If we had a better line, I could see why we might stick w/Burns, because of his better command of the playbook. But even if you have the whole playbook, in the end, you need the plays to work. And if the pass protection is going to be an issue all season long, I worry Burns has the wrong weaknesses for the team's issues.
Still, this is assuming it is worth "burning" the investment already made, and this also assumes Chryst can handle the pressure and lead the way Burns has shown he can and will not stare down receivers, etc. All I have seen is that Chryst seems to have more aptitude for shuffling in the pocket while looking downfield, which would at least be something.
Re: Quarterbacks -
Snorlax94 - 10-01-2016
Although I loathe the idea of switching quarterbacks, and I started out a fan of Burns, I am beginning to think Stanford should consider switching to Chryst.
Before this season, and even two years ago when Hogan struggled, I thought Stanford should just switch to Chryst, who I assumed was the heir and would be the next Luck Lite. Then I watched the spring scrimmage. Chryst started with a a deer in the headlights look, which terrified me, and Burns looked relaxed.
I like them both, but my biggest disappointments with Burns is that he seems to look down receivers, he is slow to recognize open receivers, he has a slow release, and he is a slow, clunky runner and cannot slide in the pocket to buy any time.
And these qualities are a DISASTER combined with the green line that at this time is one of the worst at pass protection I've seen at Stanford in a while. When the pocket collapses, you need a quarterback who can find a receiver quickly and release it quickly, which he cannot do, or who can shuffle to buy time, which he has not done, or who can run with the ball, which he cannot do. Oh yeah, and when a quarterback stares down receivers, they take big hits and get injured.
What little I've seen of Chryst is that he seems more relaxed now (but he also, I admit, benefits from Burns starting 2 drives to calm everything down). Most importantly, when the pocket collapsed on him, he kept his head up, took a few steps to buy time, then hit a downfield receiver, which I cannot recall Burns doing this season. If we had a better line, I could see why we might stick w/Burns, because of his better command of the playbook. But even if you have the whole playbook, in the end, you need the plays to work. And if the pass protection is going to be an issue all season long, I worry Burns has the wrong weaknesses for the team's issues.
Still, this is assuming it is worth "burning" the investment already made, and this also assumes Chryst can handle the pressure and lead the way Burns has shown he can and will not stare down receivers, etc. All I have seen is that Chryst seems to have more aptitude for shuffling in the pocket while looking downfield, which would at least be something.
Re: Quarterbacks -
ThePassionOfTheChryst - 10-01-2016
I've been thus far underwhelmed by Burns. He has flashed a nice arm, and obviously has good mobility and is tough as nails. However, he fails to use that mobility to move around in the pocket. He stands stationary in the pocket, staring down his target, apparently waiting for him to break open. It's hard to tell how frequently he is going to secondary or tertiary reads, but it doesn't appear to be often.
Actually, I agree with most everything Snorlax typed above.
Re: Quarterbacks -
ThePassionOfTheChryst - 10-01-2016
I've been thus far underwhelmed by Burns. He has flashed a nice arm, and obviously has good mobility and is tough as nails. However, he fails to use that mobility to move around in the pocket. He stands stationary in the pocket, staring down his target, apparently waiting for him to break open. It's hard to tell how frequently he is going to secondary or tertiary reads, but it doesn't appear to be often.
Actually, I agree with most everything Snorlax typed above.
Re: Quarterbacks -
HisKneeWasDown - 10-01-2016
Given how Chryst had some electric plays last season, I was surprised that Burns got the start ahead of Chryst for this season.
I don't think having Chryst taking snaps is anything more than the normal Shaw/Harbaugh practice of "mixing it up". Hogan took a few snaps during the Luck era, if I recall.
I have a strong bias in favor of Chryst because my son played a bit with him in high school... so I'd love to see him play more. But I don't have any observations of better performance by one versus the other.
Re: Quarterbacks -
HisKneeWasDown - 10-01-2016
Given how Chryst had some electric plays last season, I was surprised that Burns got the start ahead of Chryst for this season.
I don't think having Chryst taking snaps is anything more than the normal Shaw/Harbaugh practice of "mixing it up". Hogan took a few snaps during the Luck era, if I recall.
I have a strong bias in favor of Chryst because my son played a bit with him in high school... so I'd love to see him play more. But I don't have any observations of better performance by one versus the other.
Re: Quarterbacks -
yvonne - 10-01-2016
But I'm not sure it's Burns vs. Chryst. I have no reason to believe he's any better. Is our passing offense so difficult that it requires a
je ne sais quoi just to run it? We can't rent a quarterback like other schools, so somehow, we've got to develop them, and that doesn't appear to be happening. The offense needs to be more than Christian McCaffrey, and so far this year, it hasn't.
Re: Quarterbacks -
yvonne - 10-01-2016
But I'm not sure it's Burns vs. Chryst. I have no reason to believe he's any better. Is our passing offense so difficult that it requires a
je ne sais quoi just to run it? We can't rent a quarterback like other schools, so somehow, we've got to develop them, and that doesn't appear to be happening. The offense needs to be more than Christian McCaffrey, and so far this year, it hasn't.