[oman]

You can't keep the new Ty down.

[oman]

You can't keep the new Ty down.

[terry]

Coach Sanford talks about the running backs . . .

http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-footb...12aaa.html

[terry]

Coach Sanford talks about the running backs . . .

http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-footb...12aaa.html

[StannyBoy]

Wilner reports many of the same tidbits but adds a valuable one: Kodi Whitfield and Michael Rector are competing for playing time at wideout.

http://www.mercurynews.com/stanford-card...id=dlvr.it

I would guess Whitfield of the two.

I'll go with Rector. His senior year highlights on YouTube are ridiculous.

[StannyBoy]

Wilner reports many of the same tidbits but adds a valuable one: Kodi Whitfield and Michael Rector are competing for playing time at wideout.

http://www.mercurynews.com/stanford-card...id=dlvr.it

I would guess Whitfield of the two.

I'll go with Rector. His senior year highlights on YouTube are ridiculous.

[washingtonismoney]

Tom FitzGerald from the Chronicle. A nice piece on Dallas Lloyd: http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/arti...777365.php

Sounds like Shaw very much likes Lloyd's quarterbacking ability.

And then here's a notebook piece, with the same kinds of details we've heard before: http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/arti...777364.php

re: Rector v. Whitfield--I mean, if we're talking highlights, Crane's was my favorite.

[washingtonismoney]

Tom FitzGerald from the Chronicle. A nice piece on Dallas Lloyd: http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/arti...777365.php

Sounds like Shaw very much likes Lloyd's quarterbacking ability.

And then here's a notebook piece, with the same kinds of details we've heard before: http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/arti...777364.php

re: Rector v. Whitfield--I mean, if we're talking highlights, Crane's was my favorite.

[FarmBoy]

SFGate still doesn't realize they're interviewing a Montana-man

http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/arti...777365.php

It's got to be hard coming back from two-years away from the game, away from competitive sports, and pick up the QB position again.

[FarmBoy]

SFGate still doesn't realize they're interviewing a Montana-man

http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/arti...777365.php

It's got to be hard coming back from two-years away from the game, away from competitive sports, and pick up the QB position again.

[oman]

Very excited about D-Lloyd.

[oman]

Very excited about D-Lloyd.

[pcgoode]

Rector could be one of the sleepers of this year's class.  He was an early commit to UW, which meant he didn't get the love from as many programs as he might of, and all the things that go with it likea star ratings.  We offered him and he switched late in the process. He has good size and has claimed a 4.3 40.

[pcgoode]

Rector could be one of the sleepers of this year's class.  He was an early commit to UW, which meant he didn't get the love from as many programs as he might of, and all the things that go with it likea star ratings.  We offered him and he switched late in the process. He has good size and has claimed a 4.3 40.

[washingtonismoney]

He has good size and has claimed a 4.3 40.

Rector is fast, but it's doubtful he actually runs a 4.3 40. His fastest 100 time is 10.8, and it looks like his average is around 10.85. That's pretty fast indeed, but not quite super-burner a 4.3 time would suggest. (For example, Chris Owusu had a 4.35 40, and his fastest 100 time was 10.42, albeit wind-aided. At any rate, one can play really football fast but not actually have elite elite speed--DeAnthony Thomas had a 10.65 100, for example, and he plays much faster than Owusu.)

Sources:
http://dyestat.rise.espn.go.com/search.jsp?athID=179237
http://dyestat.rise.espn.go.com/search.jsp?athID=50515

[washingtonismoney]

He has good size and has claimed a 4.3 40.

Rector is fast, but it's doubtful he actually runs a 4.3 40. His fastest 100 time is 10.8, and it looks like his average is around 10.85. That's pretty fast indeed, but not quite super-burner a 4.3 time would suggest. (For example, Chris Owusu had a 4.35 40, and his fastest 100 time was 10.42, albeit wind-aided. At any rate, one can play really football fast but not actually have elite elite speed--DeAnthony Thomas had a 10.65 100, for example, and he plays much faster than Owusu.)

Sources:
http://dyestat.rise.espn.go.com/search.jsp?athID=179237
http://dyestat.rise.espn.go.com/search.jsp?athID=50515

[OutsiderFan]

IF  Michael Rector and Kodi Whitfield can play, JRP has improved, and Kelsey Young can effectively play slot receiver...

Stanford may actually have more weapons at WR in 2012 than Andrew Luck ever had, and the offense might not actually slip very much at all from the last two seasons.  I mean if the WRs can get open, the TEs are dominant, and the running game strong, you don't have to be a truly elite QB to win a lot of games, including against some of the better teams.  The QB position could drop off and the upgrades at WR, front seven, and secondary could largely make up for it.

I went with 8-9 wins as my reg season projection going into the season.  Based on camp reports so far, I might have to increase my number to 9-10 wins. 

[OutsiderFan]

IF  Michael Rector and Kodi Whitfield can play, JRP has improved, and Kelsey Young can effectively play slot receiver...

Stanford may actually have more weapons at WR in 2012 than Andrew Luck ever had, and the offense might not actually slip very much at all from the last two seasons.  I mean if the WRs can get open, the TEs are dominant, and the running game strong, you don't have to be a truly elite QB to win a lot of games, including against some of the better teams.  The QB position could drop off and the upgrades at WR, front seven, and secondary could largely make up for it.

I went with 8-9 wins as my reg season projection going into the season.  Based on camp reports so far, I might have to increase my number to 9-10 wins. 

[oman]

I went with 8-9 wins as my reg season projection going into the season.  Based on camp reports so far, I might have to increase my number to 9-10 wins.

Based on various articles and tweets over the last few days at some other schools I follow, I am adding two victories to my prior predictions for every program in the nation.

[oman]

I went with 8-9 wins as my reg season projection going into the season.  Based on camp reports so far, I might have to increase my number to 9-10 wins.

Based on various articles and tweets over the last few days at some other schools I follow, I am adding two victories to my prior predictions for every program in the nation.

[FarmBoy]

Based on various articles and tweets over the last few days at some other schools I follow, I am adding two victories to my prior predictions for every program in the nation.

I love how the Bay Area media is presenting David Shaw quotes as "news." With practices being closed to public, I guess it's all they have. I will be interested to see the write ups from Saturday's practice, though I wouldn't be surprised if Shaw just used that time fro 2 hours of team conditioning to piss off the writers.

[FarmBoy]

Based on various articles and tweets over the last few days at some other schools I follow, I am adding two victories to my prior predictions for every program in the nation.

I love how the Bay Area media is presenting David Shaw quotes as "news." With practices being closed to public, I guess it's all they have. I will be interested to see the write ups from Saturday's practice, though I wouldn't be surprised if Shaw just used that time fro 2 hours of team conditioning to piss off the writers.

[97fan]

I'm not crazy about David Shaw's penchant for effusively praising young players who've never proven much, if anything, in a game. How does it help Wayne Lyons, or the team, for Lyons to hear that his coach thinks he can be an All-American? Or for Andrus Peat and Kyle Murphy to hear that they're further along than a future first-round draft pick was at the same stage?

There's a way to provide positive reinforcement without going over the top. I hope Shaw learns this soon.

[97fan]

I'm not crazy about David Shaw's penchant for effusively praising young players who've never proven much, if anything, in a game. How does it help Wayne Lyons, or the team, for Lyons to hear that his coach thinks he can be an All-American? Or for Andrus Peat and Kyle Murphy to hear that they're further along than a future first-round draft pick was at the same stage?

There's a way to provide positive reinforcement without going over the top. I hope Shaw learns this soon.

[washingtonismoney]

I'm not crazy about David Shaw's penchant for effusively praising young players who've never proven much, if anything, in a game.

Coaches do this all the time. For example: http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumor...ebow-mccoy

[washingtonismoney]

I'm not crazy about David Shaw's penchant for effusively praising young players who've never proven much, if anything, in a game.

Coaches do this all the time. For example: http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumor...ebow-mccoy

[washingtonismoney]

Anonymous Pac-12 coach praises David Shaw: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_...david-shaw

[washingtonismoney]

Anonymous Pac-12 coach praises David Shaw: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_...david-shaw

[ChicagoCard]

Anonymous Pac-12 coach praises David Shaw: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_...david-shaw

Yeah that was one of two interesting comments Gemmell made, well, this one that he relayed to us and the other where he says he's privy to what Shaw has already decided re QB. So who was this coach? Obviously not something that can be determined but after applying some fuzzy criteria I say it's either Kiffin or Mike Riley and I somehow don't see Kiffin being that charitable so I say Riley. Then again I ruled out the four new head coaches. Maybe it was one of them.

[ChicagoCard]

Anonymous Pac-12 coach praises David Shaw: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_...david-shaw

Yeah that was one of two interesting comments Gemmell made, well, this one that he relayed to us and the other where he says he's privy to what Shaw has already decided re QB. So who was this coach? Obviously not something that can be determined but after applying some fuzzy criteria I say it's either Kiffin or Mike Riley and I somehow don't see Kiffin being that charitable so I say Riley. Then again I ruled out the four new head coaches. Maybe it was one of them.

[oman]

I'm not crazy about David Shaw's penchant for effusively praising young players who've never proven much, if anything, in a game. How does it help Wayne Lyons, or the team, for Lyons to hear that his coach thinks he can be an All-American? Or for Andrus Peat and Kyle Murphy to hear that they're further along than a future first-round draft pick was at the same stage?

There's a way to provide positive reinforcement without going over the top. I hope Shaw learns this soon.

It's got to be a tough job, balancing the personalities of your players, etc.  I get the sense that both Harbaugh and now Shaw are pretty fair minded guys who are trying to maximize performance in a humane and still competitive way.  With younger, unjaded players, you probably try to get their spirits up as they are getting hit by some tough linebackers.  With older guys  you perhaps are more honest about the reality of the situaiton.  They are tougher, and they probably have a clearer picture of what "play" for performance means.

With Luck gone, the biggest story of this year was our recruting catch -- in order to keep that going, maybe Shaw feels he must send a message to potential recruits that new players are taken very seriously and have a shot to play early.  The older guys probably understand that.

[oman]

I'm not crazy about David Shaw's penchant for effusively praising young players who've never proven much, if anything, in a game. How does it help Wayne Lyons, or the team, for Lyons to hear that his coach thinks he can be an All-American? Or for Andrus Peat and Kyle Murphy to hear that they're further along than a future first-round draft pick was at the same stage?

There's a way to provide positive reinforcement without going over the top. I hope Shaw learns this soon.

It's got to be a tough job, balancing the personalities of your players, etc.  I get the sense that both Harbaugh and now Shaw are pretty fair minded guys who are trying to maximize performance in a humane and still competitive way.  With younger, unjaded players, you probably try to get their spirits up as they are getting hit by some tough linebackers.  With older guys  you perhaps are more honest about the reality of the situaiton.  They are tougher, and they probably have a clearer picture of what "play" for performance means.

With Luck gone, the biggest story of this year was our recruting catch -- in order to keep that going, maybe Shaw feels he must send a message to potential recruits that new players are taken very seriously and have a shot to play early.  The older guys probably understand that.

[97fan]

[quote author=97fan link=topic=6157.msg45632#msg45632 date=1344620227]
I'm not crazy about David Shaw's penchant for effusively praising young players who've never proven much, if anything, in a game.

Coaches do this all the time. For example: http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumor...ebow-mccoy
[/quote]

You're right, coaches do it all the time. But that doesn't mean it's always smart.

Harbaugh's comments about Luck obviously didn't backfire, but Luck proved to be a remarkably self-motivated, humble athlete. I doubt that this will prove to be the case for every player that Shaw is praising publicly.

[97fan]

[quote author=97fan link=topic=6157.msg45632#msg45632 date=1344620227]
I'm not crazy about David Shaw's penchant for effusively praising young players who've never proven much, if anything, in a game.

Coaches do this all the time. For example: http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumor...ebow-mccoy
[/quote]

You're right, coaches do it all the time. But that doesn't mean it's always smart.

Harbaugh's comments about Luck obviously didn't backfire, but Luck proved to be a remarkably self-motivated, humble athlete. I doubt that this will prove to be the case for every player that Shaw is praising publicly.

[washingtonismoney]

Harbaugh's comments about Luck obviously didn't backfire, but Luck proved to be a remarkably self-motivated, humble athlete. I doubt that this will prove to be the case for every player that Shaw is praising publicly.

Yeah, I mean, this is just one example that came to mind immediately. Really, every coach in every camp says at least some hyperbolic stuff. That's why oman can add 2 wins to everyone's projected win total. Will it spoil the athletes somehow? Perhaps, I suppose. But if they're liable to being spoiled by a quote in the press, chances are they wouldn't've been much good anyway.

That being said, I don't think what Shaw has been saying is terribly hyperbolic. For example, if you look at the full quote where he's talking about the o-linemen, he says, yeah, Peat and Garnett are better than Martin and DeCastro were at the same time--which is probably just true, considering we've heard Martin came in at 260 lbs and DeCastro didn't really know how to pass block--but DeCastro + Martin made as big a leap from year one to year two as he's ever seen. It's hardly as if Shaw is claiming Peat will be Jonathan Ogden right off the bat.

I'm not at all surprised we've got a lot of freshmen who have come in and looked impressive. They're an extremely highly-rated class. We haven't had any that have been as highly-rated as this, but it's pretty common for highly-rated freshmen to come in and contend for important roles.  And while high ratings aren't a certain guarantee, but they do offer some signal amidst the noise. Frankly, I expected a lot of guys from the freshmen class to come in and be really impressive.

[washingtonismoney]

Harbaugh's comments about Luck obviously didn't backfire, but Luck proved to be a remarkably self-motivated, humble athlete. I doubt that this will prove to be the case for every player that Shaw is praising publicly.

Yeah, I mean, this is just one example that came to mind immediately. Really, every coach in every camp says at least some hyperbolic stuff. That's why oman can add 2 wins to everyone's projected win total. Will it spoil the athletes somehow? Perhaps, I suppose. But if they're liable to being spoiled by a quote in the press, chances are they wouldn't've been much good anyway.

That being said, I don't think what Shaw has been saying is terribly hyperbolic. For example, if you look at the full quote where he's talking about the o-linemen, he says, yeah, Peat and Garnett are better than Martin and DeCastro were at the same time--which is probably just true, considering we've heard Martin came in at 260 lbs and DeCastro didn't really know how to pass block--but DeCastro + Martin made as big a leap from year one to year two as he's ever seen. It's hardly as if Shaw is claiming Peat will be Jonathan Ogden right off the bat.

I'm not at all surprised we've got a lot of freshmen who have come in and looked impressive. They're an extremely highly-rated class. We haven't had any that have been as highly-rated as this, but it's pretty common for highly-rated freshmen to come in and contend for important roles.  And while high ratings aren't a certain guarantee, but they do offer some signal amidst the noise. Frankly, I expected a lot of guys from the freshmen class to come in and be really impressive.

[FarmBoy]

That being said, I don't think what Shaw has been saying is terribly hyperbolic.

His comment about Peat being a "freak" that whose size, speed, strength and youth were remarkable definitely ventures into the realm hyperbole.

Harbaugh definitely participated in gushing about players, but all of his comments were either justified by performance already or proved out to be true. I don't remember him gushing about a player who didn't live up to the hype. Part of Harbaugh's magic may have his ability to push players to those levels of performance by his praise and believe in the abilities though. I do believe that was part of his greatness.

[FarmBoy]

That being said, I don't think what Shaw has been saying is terribly hyperbolic.

His comment about Peat being a "freak" that whose size, speed, strength and youth were remarkable definitely ventures into the realm hyperbole.

Harbaugh definitely participated in gushing about players, but all of his comments were either justified by performance already or proved out to be true. I don't remember him gushing about a player who didn't live up to the hype. Part of Harbaugh's magic may have his ability to push players to those levels of performance by his praise and believe in the abilities though. I do believe that was part of his greatness.

[fullers]

That Owen Marecic was the "perfect" football player?
That Howell could be compared to Polamalu?

Owen was a great player. He was not--and hasn't turned out to be--'perfect'.
I think we'd all agree that Howell, a solid safety, has not developed into someone who can be compared to Polamalu. He wasn't even drafted.

Harbaugh did it, too.

Also, based on Murphy and Peat's recruiting profiles, there is no reason they shouldn't develop into players as talented or more talented than Martin. They may not, but it seems odd to doubt this.

[fullers]

That Owen Marecic was the "perfect" football player?
That Howell could be compared to Polamalu?

Owen was a great player. He was not--and hasn't turned out to be--'perfect'.
I think we'd all agree that Howell, a solid safety, has not developed into someone who can be compared to Polamalu. He wasn't even drafted.

Harbaugh did it, too.

Also, based on Murphy and Peat's recruiting profiles, there is no reason they shouldn't develop into players as talented or more talented than Martin. They may not, but it seems odd to doubt this.