05-22-2021, 06:53 PM
I'd say this was the best Spring Game in a long long time. Great format, kind of like a full game of over-time possessions. And it was in the big stadium where football belongs! The team seems to have way more depth across the board than years past, especially on offense.
Biggest surprises for me were Patu at QB, and Filkens at RB. Both looked slight/small when they came out, but both played like future starters. (As an aside, I watched the game on TV when I got home and laughed out loud when the announcers said it took McKee the same time to become fluent in Portuguese as it did for him to learn the Stanford playbook.). EJ Smith also looked great, but expectations were high for him, so less of a surprise (for me) than Patu and Filkins.
As for QB's, based on today only, I'd rank them:
1. McKee -- clearly the best in my view; passes the eye test, great form, quick arm, worked his progressions well, and run-away best stats at 6 of 8, 68 yards, 1 TD. (Needs to work on snaps.)
2. Patu -- looked like skinny high school player when he came out -- but he looked like a starter once they snapped the ball -- strong very quick arm and production on par (per play) with McKee -- 2 of 4, 25 yards, 1 TD.
3. Plautz -- you could make the argument he had the best day statistically -- 4 of 5, 38 yards. I would have put him above Patu, but Patu just seems to have a special arm and speed.
West was 4 of 8 for 4 yards. He had a couple chances for big throws, but just missed.
When Jet Toner was hurt, Ryan Sanborn kicked 7 of 9 FGs with a long of 48 yards. I'm wondering if he has a few more in him...
Biggest surprises for me were Patu at QB, and Filkens at RB. Both looked slight/small when they came out, but both played like future starters. (As an aside, I watched the game on TV when I got home and laughed out loud when the announcers said it took McKee the same time to become fluent in Portuguese as it did for him to learn the Stanford playbook.). EJ Smith also looked great, but expectations were high for him, so less of a surprise (for me) than Patu and Filkins.
As for QB's, based on today only, I'd rank them:
1. McKee -- clearly the best in my view; passes the eye test, great form, quick arm, worked his progressions well, and run-away best stats at 6 of 8, 68 yards, 1 TD. (Needs to work on snaps.)
2. Patu -- looked like skinny high school player when he came out -- but he looked like a starter once they snapped the ball -- strong very quick arm and production on par (per play) with McKee -- 2 of 4, 25 yards, 1 TD.
3. Plautz -- you could make the argument he had the best day statistically -- 4 of 5, 38 yards. I would have put him above Patu, but Patu just seems to have a special arm and speed.
West was 4 of 8 for 4 yards. He had a couple chances for big throws, but just missed.
When Jet Toner was hurt, Ryan Sanborn kicked 7 of 9 FGs with a long of 48 yards. I'm wondering if he has a few more in him...