05-21-2014, 11:53 AM
While it is sometimes difficult to decipher, or not be decieved by, coachspeak, I think that a recent USA Today interview of David Shaw is informative:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nca...r/8406907/
"Q: So will the greatest offensive-line recruiting class you've ever seen turn into the greatest offensive line you've ever seen? That's a big step to take, but is that the potential best line in America?
A: Knowing these guys, that's their mindset. We're going to be honest with them, because we're not there yet. We're not going to start the season as the best line in America. There's no chance. We don't have enough experience; we haven't done enough as a unit. So the charge is there because we believe the ability is there, we believe they fit in our scheme extremely well. We don't have just five talented guys. I believe right off the bat we've got at least seven guys, hopefully eight, that will be ready to play and rotate in as backup tackles, etc., as we've done in the past. So it's a talented group. If they can put the work in, and I know they have the mindset for this offseason, what they need to accomplish they have that opportunity, but they'll have to earn it."
I don't think David Shaw makes those comments if he doesn't expect the 2014 version of the OL to be solid, if not spectacular.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nca...r/8406907/
"Q: So will the greatest offensive-line recruiting class you've ever seen turn into the greatest offensive line you've ever seen? That's a big step to take, but is that the potential best line in America?
A: Knowing these guys, that's their mindset. We're going to be honest with them, because we're not there yet. We're not going to start the season as the best line in America. There's no chance. We don't have enough experience; we haven't done enough as a unit. So the charge is there because we believe the ability is there, we believe they fit in our scheme extremely well. We don't have just five talented guys. I believe right off the bat we've got at least seven guys, hopefully eight, that will be ready to play and rotate in as backup tackles, etc., as we've done in the past. So it's a talented group. If they can put the work in, and I know they have the mindset for this offseason, what they need to accomplish they have that opportunity, but they'll have to earn it."
I don't think David Shaw makes those comments if he doesn't expect the 2014 version of the OL to be solid, if not spectacular.
If there's one thing people have learned in Berkeley, it's that you can't put "Cal football" and "Rose Bowl" in the same sentence. The words just don't fit. You'd be better off linking "covered wagons" with "Mars travel." (Bruce Jenkins, Cal '70, SF Chronicle, Nov. 11, 2017)