[CTcard]

Supposedly Shaw focused on Chryst and passed up Kaaya. That looks like an error, if a very understandable one.

The big problem, as we've mentioned before, was failing to bring in a QB in 2015. ... Stanford could've had Wimbush or Darnold. Perhaps Browning too. While (obviously) I'm not *that* down on Burns... Darnold, Rosen, and Browning look like upgrades to me at a younger age.

The miss here is Goff, who like every Kal grad alum wanted to go to Stanford.

Tavita Shawgren's bigger mistake is not taking a quarterback in 2015.

These comments seemed pretty similar, so thought I'd reply together. 

On 2013.
I don't remember any real discussion linking Goff to Stanford, though of course that may say more about my memory than anything. I suppose Goff was a miss just like not getting any other great QB was a miss. 

On 2014.
I do remember Kaaya on the radar, mostly discussed as a plan B if Chryst went elsewhere. It's not entirely clear he would have chosen Stanford, but he was a California kid who showed interest. Interestingly, this year's Miami offense has some Stanford-like features: relatively slow paced, ~60% run plays, high efficiency passing.

On 2015
Stanford did offer Wimbush and he did not reciprocate, so it is not at all clear that Stanford "could have had Wimbush". And of course it is hard to know how good he might be as he has barely stepped on the field for und.

I know Darnold visited Stanford, but don't remember any indications that Stanford could have had him. I have more recollection that Browning made some positive comments about Stanford, but don't quite remember how serious they sounded.


Stanford didn't sign a QB in both 2012 and 2015. Shaw has often stated that he likes to occasionally skip a year in QB recruiting so that the depth chart doesn't get too crowded at a position where nominally only one plays. How seriously he himself takes that statement isn't clear, as Stanford tried to sign Winston in 2012 and offered at least two guys in 2015 (Towne, Wimbush).

Maybe taking nobody in 2015 was a mistake - I'd certainly like to see the current version of Browning playing for us. But who knows the alternative universe?  With Burns and Chryst in the fold, 2015 didn't seem critical. If there were a star 2015 guy around, maybe Costello doesn't come in 2016 (whom I hear the staff views more highly than Burns/Chryst).

[CTcard]

Supposedly Shaw focused on Chryst and passed up Kaaya. That looks like an error, if a very understandable one.

The big problem, as we've mentioned before, was failing to bring in a QB in 2015. ... Stanford could've had Wimbush or Darnold. Perhaps Browning too. While (obviously) I'm not *that* down on Burns... Darnold, Rosen, and Browning look like upgrades to me at a younger age.

The miss here is Goff, who like every Kal grad alum wanted to go to Stanford.

Tavita Shawgren's bigger mistake is not taking a quarterback in 2015.

These comments seemed pretty similar, so thought I'd reply together. 

On 2013.
I don't remember any real discussion linking Goff to Stanford, though of course that may say more about my memory than anything. I suppose Goff was a miss just like not getting any other great QB was a miss. 

On 2014.
I do remember Kaaya on the radar, mostly discussed as a plan B if Chryst went elsewhere. It's not entirely clear he would have chosen Stanford, but he was a California kid who showed interest. Interestingly, this year's Miami offense has some Stanford-like features: relatively slow paced, ~60% run plays, high efficiency passing.

On 2015
Stanford did offer Wimbush and he did not reciprocate, so it is not at all clear that Stanford "could have had Wimbush". And of course it is hard to know how good he might be as he has barely stepped on the field for und.

I know Darnold visited Stanford, but don't remember any indications that Stanford could have had him. I have more recollection that Browning made some positive comments about Stanford, but don't quite remember how serious they sounded.


Stanford didn't sign a QB in both 2012 and 2015. Shaw has often stated that he likes to occasionally skip a year in QB recruiting so that the depth chart doesn't get too crowded at a position where nominally only one plays. How seriously he himself takes that statement isn't clear, as Stanford tried to sign Winston in 2012 and offered at least two guys in 2015 (Towne, Wimbush).

Maybe taking nobody in 2015 was a mistake - I'd certainly like to see the current version of Browning playing for us. But who knows the alternative universe?  With Burns and Chryst in the fold, 2015 didn't seem critical. If there were a star 2015 guy around, maybe Costello doesn't come in 2016 (whom I hear the staff views more highly than Burns/Chryst).