[stupac2]

I continue to be utterly baffled by how well Burns started the season (he started, what, 9/9 against KSU? Looking off defenders, placing passes perfectly, etc) vs how he ended it. Something clearly happened, but I don't know what.

[stupac2]

I continue to be utterly baffled by how well Burns started the season (he started, what, 9/9 against KSU? Looking off defenders, placing passes perfectly, etc) vs how he ended it. Something clearly happened, but I don't know what.

[fullmetal]

The Trent Edwards effect?  Get banged up after a few games and start getting happy feet and nervous eyes...  I dunno.  It felt like a confidence thing.  I feel bad for him that he couldn't prove himself against with a healthy team behind him, but there were a number of unforced errors too.

[fullmetal]

The Trent Edwards effect?  Get banged up after a few games and start getting happy feet and nervous eyes...  I dunno.  It felt like a confidence thing.  I feel bad for him that he couldn't prove himself against with a healthy team behind him, but there were a number of unforced errors too.

[larkinforever]

In addition to the stats and discussion above and in other threads, two other stats that I found interesting when looking at Burns and Chryst (only their stats as starters):
(1) TD:INT ratio - Burns 5:7, Chryst 7:1
(2) Fumbles - Burns 7, Chryst 0
To be fair, some of those fumbles might have been as much or more someone else's fault (e.g. blind side hits due to poor protection, bad snaps due to fault of C as opposed to the QB or combo C-QB).

While true the level of competition has differed significantly, as the saying goes you play the schedule you're given. In any case, given the way Stanford tries to play (emphasizing run game, limiting TOs, field position), it would seem odd to me to argue in favor of one QB in large part because he played a tougher schedule with similar YPA or rating (since he was 4-3, with two Ws squeakers (2-2 home, 2-1 road)) or against another in large part because he played an easier schedule with similar YPA or rating (since he is 4-0, all fairly comfortable victories (1-0 home, 3-0 road)).

Side comment on Costello and Mills, I recall many voices predicting great success for Chryst based on Chryst's high school career or practice reports/whispers. To greatly exaggerate and overstate the case from my own life experiences, I recall a guy on my 7th grade basketball team who was being scouted by my future H.S. basketball coach - everyone thought this guy was going to be a star... he ultimately never played for (or even made) our H.S. team.

[larkinforever]

In addition to the stats and discussion above and in other threads, two other stats that I found interesting when looking at Burns and Chryst (only their stats as starters):
(1) TD:INT ratio - Burns 5:7, Chryst 7:1
(2) Fumbles - Burns 7, Chryst 0
To be fair, some of those fumbles might have been as much or more someone else's fault (e.g. blind side hits due to poor protection, bad snaps due to fault of C as opposed to the QB or combo C-QB).

While true the level of competition has differed significantly, as the saying goes you play the schedule you're given. In any case, given the way Stanford tries to play (emphasizing run game, limiting TOs, field position), it would seem odd to me to argue in favor of one QB in large part because he played a tougher schedule with similar YPA or rating (since he was 4-3, with two Ws squeakers (2-2 home, 2-1 road)) or against another in large part because he played an easier schedule with similar YPA or rating (since he is 4-0, all fairly comfortable victories (1-0 home, 3-0 road)).

Side comment on Costello and Mills, I recall many voices predicting great success for Chryst based on Chryst's high school career or practice reports/whispers. To greatly exaggerate and overstate the case from my own life experiences, I recall a guy on my 7th grade basketball team who was being scouted by my future H.S. basketball coach - everyone thought this guy was going to be a star... he ultimately never played for (or even made) our H.S. team.

[JohnR34231]

FWIW, Chryst had something of a middling performance at the summer camps (such as the Elite 11) which people explained away by saying the camps rewarded flashy players and he was more disciplined than flashy.

Mills, on the other hand, got rave reviews.

[JohnR34231]

FWIW, Chryst had something of a middling performance at the summer camps (such as the Elite 11) which people explained away by saying the camps rewarded flashy players and he was more disciplined than flashy.

Mills, on the other hand, got rave reviews.

[OutsiderFan]

Watch the film, tape, video on Mills in High School and his stats and then compare to Chryst.  Most people would likely say Mills looks much more impressive.  That doesn't mean it will translate to the next level, but it seems Mills has a higher upside than Chryst. 

[OutsiderFan]

Watch the film, tape, video on Mills in High School and his stats and then compare to Chryst.  Most people would likely say Mills looks much more impressive.  That doesn't mean it will translate to the next level, but it seems Mills has a higher upside than Chryst. 

[oldalum]

New quarterbacks all seem to say, after a few games, that they're adjusting to the speed of the games which can't be simulated in practice. My question is, why can't it be simulated in practice, including the breakdowns in protection, tricky pass rushing schemes, disguised pass protection schemes, other unexpected stuff? 

[oldalum]

New quarterbacks all seem to say, after a few games, that they're adjusting to the speed of the games which can't be simulated in practice. My question is, why can't it be simulated in practice, including the breakdowns in protection, tricky pass rushing schemes, disguised pass protection schemes, other unexpected stuff? 

[wallendar]

Teams can't simulate the speed of a game in practice because they don't have enough players who can play at that level.  Scout teams are comprised of redshirts, reserves, walk-ons, etc. 

A coach once mentioned to me that the biggest issue that injuries caused for his team was a lack of players against whom to practice.  That team simply could not get enough reps in during the week to function effectively on Saturday. 

Of course, Alabama figured out how to create a game-like environment in practice by bringing back former players to participate.  That has helped them immensely. 

[wallendar]

Teams can't simulate the speed of a game in practice because they don't have enough players who can play at that level.  Scout teams are comprised of redshirts, reserves, walk-ons, etc. 

A coach once mentioned to me that the biggest issue that injuries caused for his team was a lack of players against whom to practice.  That team simply could not get enough reps in during the week to function effectively on Saturday. 

Of course, Alabama figured out how to create a game-like environment in practice by bringing back former players to participate.  That has helped them immensely. 

[BostonCard]

The other thing you can't replicate is the pressure and stakes, the crowd, etc.  In practice, you know that even if you "hear footsteps", you can't be tackled and even if you are sacked, you won't get hurt, you won't get strip sacked, etc.

BC

[BostonCard]

The other thing you can't replicate is the pressure and stakes, the crowd, etc.  In practice, you know that even if you "hear footsteps", you can't be tackled and even if you are sacked, you won't get hurt, you won't get strip sacked, etc.

BC

[fullmetal]

New quarterbacks all seem to say, after a few games, that they're adjusting to the speed of the games which can't be simulated in practice. My question is, why can't it be simulated in practice, including the breakdowns in protection, tricky pass rushing schemes, disguised pass protection schemes, other unexpected stuff? 

Because the unexpected is unexpected...can't simulate that.  And because simulations can't capture the pressure of needing to perform on the big stage.

[fullmetal]

New quarterbacks all seem to say, after a few games, that they're adjusting to the speed of the games which can't be simulated in practice. My question is, why can't it be simulated in practice, including the breakdowns in protection, tricky pass rushing schemes, disguised pass protection schemes, other unexpected stuff? 

Because the unexpected is unexpected...can't simulate that.  And because simulations can't capture the pressure of needing to perform on the big stage.

[AthleticsDynasty]

Honestly I see Mills passing up Costello pretty fast

[AthleticsDynasty]

Honestly I see Mills passing up Costello pretty fast

[JohnR34231]

Honestly I see Mills passing up Costello pretty fast

FWIW I think Costello played against tougher competition in HS than Mills does. As I said in recruiting above, Mills goes up against one of the top DB prospects in the nation tonight. We'll see if that puts any kind of dent in his stats.

[JohnR34231]

Honestly I see Mills passing up Costello pretty fast

FWIW I think Costello played against tougher competition in HS than Mills does. As I said in recruiting above, Mills goes up against one of the top DB prospects in the nation tonight. We'll see if that puts any kind of dent in his stats.

[slide]

[quote author=AthleticsDynasty link=topic=16164.msg180507#msg180507 date=1480080001]
Honestly I see Mills passing up Costello pretty fast

FWIW I think Costello played against tougher competition in HS than Mills does. As I said in recruiting above, Mills goes up against one of the top DB prospects in the nation tonight. We'll see if that puts any kind of dent in his stats.
[/quote]

tonight will be interesting to watch.  I have watched Mills in 3 or 4 games over the past 2 years.  one thing he has generally been good at is avoiding forcing throws into coverage.  Costello in HS often seemed to do the opposite.  in his 3 years in HS, Costello threw 54 TDs and had 33 INTs (18/9 as a SR).  Mills' ratio is 61/10, but as you say, the competition level is very different (as are the strengths of the supporting casts).

[slide]

[quote author=AthleticsDynasty link=topic=16164.msg180507#msg180507 date=1480080001]
Honestly I see Mills passing up Costello pretty fast

FWIW I think Costello played against tougher competition in HS than Mills does. As I said in recruiting above, Mills goes up against one of the top DB prospects in the nation tonight. We'll see if that puts any kind of dent in his stats.
[/quote]

tonight will be interesting to watch.  I have watched Mills in 3 or 4 games over the past 2 years.  one thing he has generally been good at is avoiding forcing throws into coverage.  Costello in HS often seemed to do the opposite.  in his 3 years in HS, Costello threw 54 TDs and had 33 INTs (18/9 as a SR).  Mills' ratio is 61/10, but as you say, the competition level is very different (as are the strengths of the supporting casts).