[Spiny_Norman]

David Shaw spent 30 minutes talking with Ralph Russo, an AP college football writer, for his podcast. As always, Coach Shaw's thoughtful comments are worth a listen. Be sure to stick around until the end when Russo asks him, "Why do you stay at Stanford?" You'll love the answer.

http://collegefootball.ap.org/article/po...david-shaw

[Spiny_Norman]

David Shaw spent 30 minutes talking with Ralph Russo, an AP college football writer, for his podcast. As always, Coach Shaw's thoughtful comments are worth a listen. Be sure to stick around until the end when Russo asks him, "Why do you stay at Stanford?" You'll love the answer.

http://collegefootball.ap.org/article/po...david-shaw

[Mick]

It's at the 27:40 mark.  Best answer I've heard on the topic.

[Mick]

It's at the 27:40 mark.  Best answer I've heard on the topic.

[GoodGrief]

"I write more recommendations than anybody in college football, just finished one for medical school yesterday..."

That stuff makes my heart soar

[GoodGrief]

"I write more recommendations than anybody in college football, just finished one for medical school yesterday..."

That stuff makes my heart soar

[Redrum]

This one was worth it. Helped that I had nowhere else to go and  nothing else to do.  Guy gives good narrative and has done enough of these to make it a good interview.  But so do a lot of the coaches we compete with in recruiting and on the field. I liked his explanation for our season last year.  Heard it then but it seems more genuine and supported by the facts now. Also helps that I'm not experiencing 16 consecutive sacks or TFLs by the Huskies while Shaw is explaining.

[Redrum]

This one was worth it. Helped that I had nowhere else to go and  nothing else to do.  Guy gives good narrative and has done enough of these to make it a good interview.  But so do a lot of the coaches we compete with in recruiting and on the field. I liked his explanation for our season last year.  Heard it then but it seems more genuine and supported by the facts now. Also helps that I'm not experiencing 16 consecutive sacks or TFLs by the Huskies while Shaw is explaining.

[Hulk01]

[b]Games lost to injury last year:
Offense[/b]
Marx  7
Tucker 6
Taboada  4
Owusu  3
Caspers 2
Fanaika 2
Bright 1
McCaffrey 1
Love  1
In the Turley era, this is an unprecedented number of offensive players injured.  in some years, our starters on OL did not miss a game.

Defense
Holder  9
Meeks  2
Phillips 1
Hoffpauir 3

[Hulk01]

[b]Games lost to injury last year:
Offense[/b]
Marx  7
Tucker 6
Taboada  4
Owusu  3
Caspers 2
Fanaika 2
Bright 1
McCaffrey 1
Love  1
In the Turley era, this is an unprecedented number of offensive players injured.  in some years, our starters on OL did not miss a game.

Defense
Holder  9
Meeks  2
Phillips 1
Hoffpauir 3

[fullmetal]

I wondered about that.  What was Turley up against?  Kids not doing their workouts correctly?  Improper sleep/nutrition?  :(

[fullmetal]

I wondered about that.  What was Turley up against?  Kids not doing their workouts correctly?  Improper sleep/nutrition?  :(

[stupac2]

[b]Games lost to injury last year:
Offense[/b]
Marx  7
Tucker 6
Taboada  4
Owusu  3
Caspers 2
Fanaika 2
Bright 1
McCaffrey 1
Love  1
In the Turley era, this is an unprecedented number of offensive players injured.  in some years, our starters on OL did not miss a game.

Defense
Holder  9
Meeks  2
Phillips 1
Hoffpauir 3

Plus you're underselling it. McCaffrey played in a bunch of games where he was clearly not himself. That we somehow won 10 games last year despite the season having the carnage of an HBO drama is really something else.


ETA: Fullmetal, it's just luck. Last season we were really unlucky.

[stupac2]

[b]Games lost to injury last year:
Offense[/b]
Marx  7
Tucker 6
Taboada  4
Owusu  3
Caspers 2
Fanaika 2
Bright 1
McCaffrey 1
Love  1
In the Turley era, this is an unprecedented number of offensive players injured.  in some years, our starters on OL did not miss a game.

Defense
Holder  9
Meeks  2
Phillips 1
Hoffpauir 3

Plus you're underselling it. McCaffrey played in a bunch of games where he was clearly not himself. That we somehow won 10 games last year despite the season having the carnage of an HBO drama is really something else.


ETA: Fullmetal, it's just luck. Last season we were really unlucky.

[fullmetal]

Well, the large delta/variance tends to indicate something else.  Stanford seemed consistently injury-free earlier this decade, and one cannot be consistently lucky.  Hope everyone got to heal up over the offseason.

[fullmetal]

Well, the large delta/variance tends to indicate something else.  Stanford seemed consistently injury-free earlier this decade, and one cannot be consistently lucky.  Hope everyone got to heal up over the offseason.

[stupac2]

Well, the large delta/variance tends to indicate something else.  Stanford seemed consistently injury-free earlier this decade, and one cannot be consistently lucky.  Hope everyone got to heal up over the offseason.

Well sure, if you assume our normal injury rate is what we had been seeing, then last year was really unlucky. It seems unlikely that Turley forgot how to protect against injury.

[stupac2]

Well, the large delta/variance tends to indicate something else.  Stanford seemed consistently injury-free earlier this decade, and one cannot be consistently lucky.  Hope everyone got to heal up over the offseason.

Well sure, if you assume our normal injury rate is what we had been seeing, then last year was really unlucky. It seems unlikely that Turley forgot how to protect against injury.

[Hulk01]

On guys not being themselves.  It appeared to me that Tucker got dinged in the third quarter of the SC game.  He didn't writhe in pain, but paused on the ground to collect himself, and kept playing.  But for the next game, the coaches moved Tucker over to the right side, where he stayed the rest of the year when he managed to suit up.

Casey looked good, and bigger, in the spring game.  The interior triangle of Herbig, Burkett and Tucker could be excellent, and Bright should be good or better at RT.

[Hulk01]

On guys not being themselves.  It appeared to me that Tucker got dinged in the third quarter of the SC game.  He didn't writhe in pain, but paused on the ground to collect himself, and kept playing.  But for the next game, the coaches moved Tucker over to the right side, where he stayed the rest of the year when he managed to suit up.

Casey looked good, and bigger, in the spring game.  The interior triangle of Herbig, Burkett and Tucker could be excellent, and Bright should be good or better at RT.

[CTcard]

The interior triangle of Herbig, Burkett and Tucker could be excellent, and Bright should be good or better at RT.

Anybody want to chime in on what we think we know of Tucker's current status at guard and the tackle situation?

By memory, the first team OL at the spring game was:
Bright LT
Herbig LG
Burkett C
Fanaika RG
Hall RT

with Tucker rotating in for Fanaika at times - with the inverse for the second team.

Since Tucker just made the switch, it easy to believe he might be with the second team at first even if he is going to eventually be the starter, but I was not aware of any actual evidence he's a likely starter. My guess is that is Hulk's evaluation of the personnel - yes?

With Bright, it would seem likely to me that if he is a tackle, he's likely to remain at LT given his experience and apparently having the coaches' trust.
I'd expect RT to be between Hall, Hamilton, and the incoming frosh.

[CTcard]

The interior triangle of Herbig, Burkett and Tucker could be excellent, and Bright should be good or better at RT.

Anybody want to chime in on what we think we know of Tucker's current status at guard and the tackle situation?

By memory, the first team OL at the spring game was:
Bright LT
Herbig LG
Burkett C
Fanaika RG
Hall RT

with Tucker rotating in for Fanaika at times - with the inverse for the second team.

Since Tucker just made the switch, it easy to believe he might be with the second team at first even if he is going to eventually be the starter, but I was not aware of any actual evidence he's a likely starter. My guess is that is Hulk's evaluation of the personnel - yes?

With Bright, it would seem likely to me that if he is a tackle, he's likely to remain at LT given his experience and apparently having the coaches' trust.
I'd expect RT to be between Hall, Hamilton, and the incoming frosh.

[OutsiderFan]

I thought the interview was phenomenal.

[OutsiderFan]

I thought the interview was phenomenal.

[Hulk01]

Tucker started at right guard and Fanaika at left in the spring game.  Herbig sat out.

Tucker looked very good.  Fanaika struggled, but had the toughest assignment on the OL: Philllips.

Having Herbig with an added year of work and S&C alongside Tucker, now moved from tackle to guard, means our pocket should hold up very well inside.  Those two are very good pass blockers, and Burkett, now with a full year of game experience, is a good choice for the best center of the Harbs/Shaw era. 

[Hulk01]

Tucker started at right guard and Fanaika at left in the spring game.  Herbig sat out.

Tucker looked very good.  Fanaika struggled, but had the toughest assignment on the OL: Philllips.

Having Herbig with an added year of work and S&C alongside Tucker, now moved from tackle to guard, means our pocket should hold up very well inside.  Those two are very good pass blockers, and Burkett, now with a full year of game experience, is a good choice for the best center of the Harbs/Shaw era. 

[CTcard]

Tucker started at right guard and Fanaika at left in the spring game.  Herbig sat out.

I think you are mixing up some players.

Here is a youtube video of the broadcast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGXOxn6iQHY

at about 4 minutes, 46 seconds they break huddle on the first play and the video shows the OL walking up to the line of scrimmage. It very clearly is, right to left (viewer's left to right) Hall (75), Fanaika (71), Burkett (73), Herbig (63), Bright (64).

On the second play of the third series (at about 11:30), Fanaika comes out and Tucker comes in. At 11:49 you can see them lined up (left to right) as Bright, Herbig, Burkett, Tucker, Hall (though you cannot see Herbig's number).

At other times you can see Tucker with the second team OL.

According to the recap on the official site, players who sat out included Love, Chryst, and Marx. Herbig is mentioned as creating a big hole for Dorian Maddox's big run.
http://www.gostanford.com/news/2017/4/15...-game.aspx

[CTcard]

Tucker started at right guard and Fanaika at left in the spring game.  Herbig sat out.

I think you are mixing up some players.

Here is a youtube video of the broadcast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGXOxn6iQHY

at about 4 minutes, 46 seconds they break huddle on the first play and the video shows the OL walking up to the line of scrimmage. It very clearly is, right to left (viewer's left to right) Hall (75), Fanaika (71), Burkett (73), Herbig (63), Bright (64).

On the second play of the third series (at about 11:30), Fanaika comes out and Tucker comes in. At 11:49 you can see them lined up (left to right) as Bright, Herbig, Burkett, Tucker, Hall (though you cannot see Herbig's number).

At other times you can see Tucker with the second team OL.

According to the recap on the official site, players who sat out included Love, Chryst, and Marx. Herbig is mentioned as creating a big hole for Dorian Maddox's big run.
http://www.gostanford.com/news/2017/4/15...-game.aspx

[Spiny_Norman]

Tucker started at right guard and Fanaika at left in the spring game.  Herbig sat out.

Tucker looked very good.  Fanaika struggled, but had the toughest assignment on the OL: Philllips.

Having Herbig with an added year of work and S&C alongside Tucker, now moved from tackle to guard, means our pocket should hold up very well inside.  Those two are very good pass blockers, and Burkett, now with a full year of game experience, is a good choice for the best center of the Harbaugh/Shaw era.

Tactfully omitting any comments about the outside of the pocket. Hulk, how many games into the season do you expect Sarell and/or Little to displace Hall and/or Bright? 

[Spiny_Norman]

Tucker started at right guard and Fanaika at left in the spring game.  Herbig sat out.

Tucker looked very good.  Fanaika struggled, but had the toughest assignment on the OL: Philllips.

Having Herbig with an added year of work and S&C alongside Tucker, now moved from tackle to guard, means our pocket should hold up very well inside.  Those two are very good pass blockers, and Burkett, now with a full year of game experience, is a good choice for the best center of the Harbaugh/Shaw era.

Tactfully omitting any comments about the outside of the pocket. Hulk, how many games into the season do you expect Sarell and/or Little to displace Hall and/or Bright? 

[BostonCard]

I thought the interview was phenomenal.

I see what you did there.

BC

[BostonCard]

I thought the interview was phenomenal.

I see what you did there.

BC

[Hulk01]

Apologies.  I trusted the announcers when they said Herbig wasn't playing--despite the fact that there the Big Island is, as they are saying it.  Although I also recall the talk about Tucker's apparent demotion, and how that might have figured in an on-field tiff that involved him. 

Age, that's the culprit. 

[Hulk01]

Apologies.  I trusted the announcers when they said Herbig wasn't playing--despite the fact that there the Big Island is, as they are saying it.  Although I also recall the talk about Tucker's apparent demotion, and how that might have figured in an on-field tiff that involved him. 

Age, that's the culprit. 

[OutsiderFan]

[quote author=OutsiderFan link=topic=16959.msg194583#msg194583 date=1496948747]
I thought the interview was phenomenal.

I see what you did there.

BC
[/quote]

Yes, there was a little "inside humor" in my post, but I really did find the interview quite insightful and a great reflection on David Shaw.  In particular, the part he talked about how he tells his guys there are no open NFL jobs, that you have to beat someone out who already has one in order to get one yourself, so you better be ready - while citing 30% of the early entrants didn't get drafted - really stood out.

People could say it is self-serving for him to preach academics and readiness because that is what Stanford emphasizes, but it's also possible - and I believe the case - that he genuinely does care about the development of young men and their futures.  It's also possible - and I believe the case - that Shaw is at Stanford because these values make Stanford the right place for him.

[OutsiderFan]

[quote author=OutsiderFan link=topic=16959.msg194583#msg194583 date=1496948747]
I thought the interview was phenomenal.

I see what you did there.

BC
[/quote]

Yes, there was a little "inside humor" in my post, but I really did find the interview quite insightful and a great reflection on David Shaw.  In particular, the part he talked about how he tells his guys there are no open NFL jobs, that you have to beat someone out who already has one in order to get one yourself, so you better be ready - while citing 30% of the early entrants didn't get drafted - really stood out.

People could say it is self-serving for him to preach academics and readiness because that is what Stanford emphasizes, but it's also possible - and I believe the case - that he genuinely does care about the development of young men and their futures.  It's also possible - and I believe the case - that Shaw is at Stanford because these values make Stanford the right place for him.

[ColoradoTree]

[quote author=Hulk01 link=topic=16959.msg194584#msg194584 date=1496950254]
Tucker started at right guard and Fanaika at left in the spring game.  Herbig sat out.

Tucker looked very good.  Fanaika struggled, but had the toughest assignment on the OL: Philllips.

Having Herbig with an added year of work and S&C alongside Tucker, now moved from tackle to guard, means our pocket should hold up very well inside.  Those two are very good pass blockers, and Burkett, now with a full year of game experience, is a good choice for the best center of the Harbaugh/Shaw era.

Tactfully omitting any comments about the outside of the pocket. Hulk, how many games into the season do you expect Sarell and/or Little to displace Hall and/or Bright?
[/quote]

I know Sarell and Little are the higher-ranked recruits, but wouldn't Hamilton or Yarbrough be in the mix if a starting job is up for grabs?  (I say this without the benefit of following spring ball that closely.)  It would be surprising to see a true freshman, even a 5-star guy, vault a couple of guys who are also really talented and have the benefit of an extra year in the program.  I'm not saying Sarell or Little won't jump either one of those guys at some point, but it just seems like a big ask right now.

[ColoradoTree]

[quote author=Hulk01 link=topic=16959.msg194584#msg194584 date=1496950254]
Tucker started at right guard and Fanaika at left in the spring game.  Herbig sat out.

Tucker looked very good.  Fanaika struggled, but had the toughest assignment on the OL: Philllips.

Having Herbig with an added year of work and S&C alongside Tucker, now moved from tackle to guard, means our pocket should hold up very well inside.  Those two are very good pass blockers, and Burkett, now with a full year of game experience, is a good choice for the best center of the Harbaugh/Shaw era.

Tactfully omitting any comments about the outside of the pocket. Hulk, how many games into the season do you expect Sarell and/or Little to displace Hall and/or Bright?
[/quote]

I know Sarell and Little are the higher-ranked recruits, but wouldn't Hamilton or Yarbrough be in the mix if a starting job is up for grabs?  (I say this without the benefit of following spring ball that closely.)  It would be surprising to see a true freshman, even a 5-star guy, vault a couple of guys who are also really talented and have the benefit of an extra year in the program.  I'm not saying Sarell or Little won't jump either one of those guys at some point, but it just seems like a big ask right now.

[Hulk01]

From watching his hs tape, I thought Hamilton might seize the LT spot.  But he struggled a bit in the spring game, getting blown up badly by Tyler on one occasion.  (Hamilton wasn't Tyler's only victim that day.)  Yarbrough didn't show the same athetlcism on tap and may be destined for OG, despite our relative surplus there.

It's foolish to bet on a true freshman starting on the OL for Stanford, particularly at the critical LT spot.  But Little isn't a typical true freshman. He's brobdingnagian but it's very good weight, and he moves incredibly well and with great fundamentals.  He handled the nation's best DT (Marving Wilson) in practice every day, and the nation's best edge-rushing OLB (Jaelan Phillips) in the Army All American bowl game.  So he might be the exception, and we sure could use one.

[Hulk01]

From watching his hs tape, I thought Hamilton might seize the LT spot.  But he struggled a bit in the spring game, getting blown up badly by Tyler on one occasion.  (Hamilton wasn't Tyler's only victim that day.)  Yarbrough didn't show the same athetlcism on tap and may be destined for OG, despite our relative surplus there.

It's foolish to bet on a true freshman starting on the OL for Stanford, particularly at the critical LT spot.  But Little isn't a typical true freshman. He's brobdingnagian but it's very good weight, and he moves incredibly well and with great fundamentals.  He handled the nation's best DT (Marving Wilson) in practice every day, and the nation's best edge-rushing OLB (Jaelan Phillips) in the Army All American bowl game.  So he might be the exception, and we sure could use one.