[OutsiderFan]

It is painfully obvious how little Stanford WRs are producing with Moorhead.  I'm guessing Shaw might make a change there after the season.

If he does, one guy he might look to is Wes Chandler, currently California's WR coach, who likely won't be part of the new head coach's staff.  This was his first year at California, and he did a great job developing their Frosh WRs.  He's had NFL coaching experience, and he was of course a former All-Pro NFL WR.

Just some grist for the mill.

[OutsiderFan]

It is painfully obvious how little Stanford WRs are producing with Moorhead.  I'm guessing Shaw might make a change there after the season.

If he does, one guy he might look to is Wes Chandler, currently California's WR coach, who likely won't be part of the new head coach's staff.  This was his first year at California, and he did a great job developing their Frosh WRs.  He's had NFL coaching experience, and he was of course a former All-Pro NFL WR.

Just some grist for the mill.

[DC]

Given that David Shaw was a WR and is now a coach, I am unable to figure out why our WRs are so bad.

[DC]

Given that David Shaw was a WR and is now a coach, I am unable to figure out why our WRs are so bad.

[needle]

Oddly, Mason has been a receivers coach at four different schools, most recently in 2005-2006 at Ohio.

[needle]

Oddly, Mason has been a receivers coach at four different schools, most recently in 2005-2006 at Ohio.

[washingtonismoney]

I can't figure it out either and wouldn't mind a WR hire. Kal's wideouts have impressed me this year so chandler seems as good a choice as any.

In terms of theories, here's what I've got:
1) coaching? It's not as if wideouts can't improve or make it to the pros --Whalens plus Baldwin plus Owusu are proof of that.

2) Defense? It seems to me some potential high-quality WRs were put on D. Carter, Richards and Amanam could all be wideouts in another era and time.

3) evaluation?

4) injury? Owusu is one; Cajuste supposedly impressed his true freshman year before blowing out his knee (he's been getting more snaps recently and was disastrously overthrown against OSU); Rector was all set to be a factor this year, supposedly, before getting injured; injury has recently put a crimp in Montgomery's year

5) recruiting? Harbaugh not bringing anyone in in 2010 was probably an error. And while the number of blue chip wideouts isn't SC-esque, it's more than enough to get the job done, you'd think.

So don't quite know what to think. Shaw has to be very good about evaluating this over the offseason and honest, too, as it's the main obstacle blocking a potential national title run.

[washingtonismoney]

I can't figure it out either and wouldn't mind a WR hire. Kal's wideouts have impressed me this year so chandler seems as good a choice as any.

In terms of theories, here's what I've got:
1) coaching? It's not as if wideouts can't improve or make it to the pros --Whalens plus Baldwin plus Owusu are proof of that.

2) Defense? It seems to me some potential high-quality WRs were put on D. Carter, Richards and Amanam could all be wideouts in another era and time.

3) evaluation?

4) injury? Owusu is one; Cajuste supposedly impressed his true freshman year before blowing out his knee (he's been getting more snaps recently and was disastrously overthrown against OSU); Rector was all set to be a factor this year, supposedly, before getting injured; injury has recently put a crimp in Montgomery's year

5) recruiting? Harbaugh not bringing anyone in in 2010 was probably an error. And while the number of blue chip wideouts isn't SC-esque, it's more than enough to get the job done, you'd think.

So don't quite know what to think. Shaw has to be very good about evaluating this over the offseason and honest, too, as it's the main obstacle blocking a potential national title run.

[Redrum]

Just to be clear: Wes Chandler was not fired by K.al  though his boss and some colleagues were.  He was one of five coaches retained to maintain recruiting while a new HC is hired.  He could very well transition to the new staff.

I think those K.al guys are simply more talented as a group, particularly Harper.  Also, it's hard to compare because we really didn't have a fully serviceable QB until 7 or 8 games into the season.  For us,  Montgomery has speed but, at this point, ummmm,  questionable hands and catching instinct would be a fair description .  Too early in Whitfield's career to know how much he'll contribute.  And the injuries to other candidates mentioned.  Owusu II arrives next fall but he's a different receiver than his brother and is probably two years away from really contributing.  Too bad Ertz is leaving for the NFL...well, he's nuts if he doesn't.  How could he have a better season?

[Redrum]

Just to be clear: Wes Chandler was not fired by K.al  though his boss and some colleagues were.  He was one of five coaches retained to maintain recruiting while a new HC is hired.  He could very well transition to the new staff.

I think those K.al guys are simply more talented as a group, particularly Harper.  Also, it's hard to compare because we really didn't have a fully serviceable QB until 7 or 8 games into the season.  For us,  Montgomery has speed but, at this point, ummmm,  questionable hands and catching instinct would be a fair description .  Too early in Whitfield's career to know how much he'll contribute.  And the injuries to other candidates mentioned.  Owusu II arrives next fall but he's a different receiver than his brother and is probably two years away from really contributing.  Too bad Ertz is leaving for the NFL...well, he's nuts if he doesn't.  How could he have a better season?

[socalstanfan1]

This thread raises what I think will be a critical issue for shaw in the next year or so: the hiring of good assistants.  With as much team success as Stanford is having, you've got to expect some of the assisants to move on.  The obvious candidate this year is Mason; the offense hasn't been too great so I'm guessing Pep Hamilton is safe for the time being; Randy Hart and David Kotulski seem lifelong college position coaches, though I wondered at the time of his hiring if Kotulski was chosen in part because he has some experience at DC. so he could work with Mason for a year and be ready in case Mason moves on.  Hiring strong assistants will be critical to the continued success of the team.

[socalstanfan1]

This thread raises what I think will be a critical issue for shaw in the next year or so: the hiring of good assistants.  With as much team success as Stanford is having, you've got to expect some of the assisants to move on.  The obvious candidate this year is Mason; the offense hasn't been too great so I'm guessing Pep Hamilton is safe for the time being; Randy Hart and David Kotulski seem lifelong college position coaches, though I wondered at the time of his hiring if Kotulski was chosen in part because he has some experience at DC. so he could work with Mason for a year and be ready in case Mason moves on.  Hiring strong assistants will be critical to the continued success of the team.

[fullmetal]

Maybe the WRs could train with the track team for a season if speed is really their issue.

[fullmetal]

Maybe the WRs could train with the track team for a season if speed is really their issue.

[washingtonismoney]

By having a serviceable quarterback for the first seven games of the season.

Nunes passed much more to wideouts than Hogan has.

[washingtonismoney]

By having a serviceable quarterback for the first seven games of the season.

Nunes passed much more to wideouts than Hogan has.

[fullmetal]

That's a playcalling issue, isn't it?

[fullmetal]

That's a playcalling issue, isn't it?

[washingtonismoney]

That's a playcalling issue, isn't it?

Could be. My guess--it's a security blanket type of deal for a young QB, both in the playcalling and in Hogan's mentality. Ertz, Hewitt and Taylor are really reliable, so he directs passes to him. The coaches aren't asking as much of Hogan in terms of complicated reads, etc., and are drawing up shorter passes, which targets security-blanket types. Hence more passes to TEs/RBs. I would guess that we'll see more passes to wideouts for the rest of the (hopefully three-game, two at the Rose Bowl) season.

ADD: That being said, I think this only is an at-the-margin issue. The wideouts aren't good enough anyway. As I said earlier, I don't have a good explanation as to why, but it's still undeniable the wideouts have not been satisfactory. It's possible things will sort themselves out next season -- Montgomery bounces back (he didn't seem to have catching issues his freshman year), Kodi Whitfield and Kelsey Young step forward. Young, I know, has been frustrating due to lack of touches and a frustrating drop against kal, but for a freshman his season has been solid. (Bad from the perspective of what we needed, solid from the age-adjusted perspective.)

[washingtonismoney]

That's a playcalling issue, isn't it?

Could be. My guess--it's a security blanket type of deal for a young QB, both in the playcalling and in Hogan's mentality. Ertz, Hewitt and Taylor are really reliable, so he directs passes to him. The coaches aren't asking as much of Hogan in terms of complicated reads, etc., and are drawing up shorter passes, which targets security-blanket types. Hence more passes to TEs/RBs. I would guess that we'll see more passes to wideouts for the rest of the (hopefully three-game, two at the Rose Bowl) season.

ADD: That being said, I think this only is an at-the-margin issue. The wideouts aren't good enough anyway. As I said earlier, I don't have a good explanation as to why, but it's still undeniable the wideouts have not been satisfactory. It's possible things will sort themselves out next season -- Montgomery bounces back (he didn't seem to have catching issues his freshman year), Kodi Whitfield and Kelsey Young step forward. Young, I know, has been frustrating due to lack of touches and a frustrating drop against kal, but for a freshman his season has been solid. (Bad from the perspective of what we needed, solid from the age-adjusted perspective.)

[OutsiderFan]

I haven't been to any Stanford games this year, only seen them on TV.  This makes it very difficult to really understand why the WRs aren't making a larger impact.

When you are at the games you can see the whole field and see if the WRs are running good routes, getting separation, etc.  As it relates to Montgomery, he's been as large a disappointment as James Vaughters.  Drew Terrell isn't dynamic, but he is by far the most consistent at what he does.  He catches everything thrown to him, just doesn't get open down field.

It is amazing to me how Whitfield has done so little.  Perhaps he'll have a breakout game this weekend in his old So Cal stomping grounds.

[OutsiderFan]

I haven't been to any Stanford games this year, only seen them on TV.  This makes it very difficult to really understand why the WRs aren't making a larger impact.

When you are at the games you can see the whole field and see if the WRs are running good routes, getting separation, etc.  As it relates to Montgomery, he's been as large a disappointment as James Vaughters.  Drew Terrell isn't dynamic, but he is by far the most consistent at what he does.  He catches everything thrown to him, just doesn't get open down field.

It is amazing to me how Whitfield has done so little.  Perhaps he'll have a breakout game this weekend in his old So Cal stomping grounds.

[Extra Point]

I am confused about which coach is directly responsible for the receivers. Aaron Moorehead is listed as an "offensive assistant" working with the receivers. Pep Hamilton is mentioned on an obscure web page as working with the receivers as well. But, no where in the media guide does it say who the receiver coach is.  Can someone shed some light on this?

[Extra Point]

I am confused about which coach is directly responsible for the receivers. Aaron Moorehead is listed as an "offensive assistant" working with the receivers. Pep Hamilton is mentioned on an obscure web page as working with the receivers as well. But, no where in the media guide does it say who the receiver coach is.  Can someone shed some light on this?

[DC]

That's a playcalling issue, isn't it?

When he wasn't locking onto his receivers from the moment the ball was snapped, or throwing into double coverage, or throwing inaccurately, Nunes made some decent throws to the WRs.  The problem was that he couldn't make short passes to save his life, even with good protection.  He somehow lacked the ability to throw screen passes or to backs out of the backfield, or even spiderybanana.  This is why he couldn't be a serviceable qb.  Ironically, he was a better medium-to-long passer than he was a short passer.  Thus, the playcalling reflected that.

[DC]

That's a playcalling issue, isn't it?

When he wasn't locking onto his receivers from the moment the ball was snapped, or throwing into double coverage, or throwing inaccurately, Nunes made some decent throws to the WRs.  The problem was that he couldn't make short passes to save his life, even with good protection.  He somehow lacked the ability to throw screen passes or to backs out of the backfield, or even spiderybanana.  This is why he couldn't be a serviceable qb.  Ironically, he was a better medium-to-long passer than he was a short passer.  Thus, the playcalling reflected that.