[msqueri]

* I am glad Ben alluded to eligibility multiple times. Stanford does a terrible job informing fans and media of the eligibility of its players (which maybe was convenient for Shaw because hardly anybody ever completed their eligibility) but fans want to get excited about players they can watch for multiple years. Frankly, it is also exciting to think about how if Wright balls out he could be one of the best "freshmen" around (though may or may not actually get that recognition if Stanford continues to list him as a sophomore). But I'm also glad Ben asked the question because it elicited genuine insight that Wright does not plan on being around nearly long enough for his redshirt year to matter. He was clear that the goal is to go to the NFL potentially as soon as he is allowed - Meeks-style after three years - and accelerate academics to the extent possible. The redshirt is there "if I need it" but clearly that's a Plan B. His goals are graduating from Stanford and going to the NFL. I continue to think that the systematic acceleration of degree progress among Stanford football players may have detrimental impacts on our football competitiveness, but I am most concerned about the trenches. If we have DBs good enough to go to the NFL after three or four years, that's a nice problem to have and will make it easier to recruit the next generation of DBs to compete, just as Wright follows in the footsteps of Meeks and Kelly. Nonetheless, fans may have to brace themselves for the possibility of one of those frustrating what-could-have-been careers where a good player redshirts AND leaves early (Solomon Thomas, Austin Hooper, etc.).

* Wright had no problem answering the question on NFL corners he studies. That answer reads as both a student of the game and an NFL aspirant. That adds to my picture of his preparation, drive, and ambition.

* Quintessential DB attitude of loving to be the villain. Corners are built a bit differently and personally I love it. It makes me chuckle because I think about how crazy it drives one of my brothers when DBs celebrate every incomplete pass whereas I love the swagger and in some sense ridiculousness of a good cover corner. For me Deion Sanders is the standard and I don't begrudge corners when they strut their stuff and crow a bit. At another position it may be brash or unearned, but at corner if you don't walk the walk you get exposed. If you can stay the villain rather than the clown, do you!

* We hear some players be forthright about this and some allude to it obliquely: Wright was willing to directly compare the Taylor staff as "a lot more family-oriented" than the Shaw staff. I think it's obvious Shaw was imperial and aloof and Taylor is the opposite. They have similarities, but when it comes to the things players think of as "family-oriented" it's really night and day. It makes me a bit sad to hear the favorable comparisons to Shaw put like Wright did, as the implication is Shaw didn't care about them as people (not saying Wright thinks that), which I don't think is the case. I do think Shaw cared, but he had that detached way about him and I don't think it made people feel the love like Taylor does. I think this will continue to be a big deal for the program.

* The interview ended with a mature reflection on time management. I think this adds to my picture of Wright as a locked in/focused/goal-oriented guy. Again, I'm trying to restrain myself with somebody with 22 career snaps but I like this guy a lot.

[msqueri]

* I am glad Ben alluded to eligibility multiple times. Stanford does a terrible job informing fans and media of the eligibility of its players (which maybe was convenient for Shaw because hardly anybody ever completed their eligibility) but fans want to get excited about players they can watch for multiple years. Frankly, it is also exciting to think about how if Wright balls out he could be one of the best "freshmen" around (though may or may not actually get that recognition if Stanford continues to list him as a sophomore). But I'm also glad Ben asked the question because it elicited genuine insight that Wright does not plan on being around nearly long enough for his redshirt year to matter. He was clear that the goal is to go to the NFL potentially as soon as he is allowed - Meeks-style after three years - and accelerate academics to the extent possible. The redshirt is there "if I need it" but clearly that's a Plan B. His goals are graduating from Stanford and going to the NFL. I continue to think that the systematic acceleration of degree progress among Stanford football players may have detrimental impacts on our football competitiveness, but I am most concerned about the trenches. If we have DBs good enough to go to the NFL after three or four years, that's a nice problem to have and will make it easier to recruit the next generation of DBs to compete, just as Wright follows in the footsteps of Meeks and Kelly. Nonetheless, fans may have to brace themselves for the possibility of one of those frustrating what-could-have-been careers where a good player redshirts AND leaves early (Solomon Thomas, Austin Hooper, etc.).

* Wright had no problem answering the question on NFL corners he studies. That answer reads as both a student of the game and an NFL aspirant. That adds to my picture of his preparation, drive, and ambition.

* Quintessential DB attitude of loving to be the villain. Corners are built a bit differently and personally I love it. It makes me chuckle because I think about how crazy it drives one of my brothers when DBs celebrate every incomplete pass whereas I love the swagger and in some sense ridiculousness of a good cover corner. For me Deion Sanders is the standard and I don't begrudge corners when they strut their stuff and crow a bit. At another position it may be brash or unearned, but at corner if you don't walk the walk you get exposed. If you can stay the villain rather than the clown, do you!

* We hear some players be forthright about this and some allude to it obliquely: Wright was willing to directly compare the Taylor staff as "a lot more family-oriented" than the Shaw staff. I think it's obvious Shaw was imperial and aloof and Taylor is the opposite. They have similarities, but when it comes to the things players think of as "family-oriented" it's really night and day. It makes me a bit sad to hear the favorable comparisons to Shaw put like Wright did, as the implication is Shaw didn't care about them as people (not saying Wright thinks that), which I don't think is the case. I do think Shaw cared, but he had that detached way about him and I don't think it made people feel the love like Taylor does. I think this will continue to be a big deal for the program.

* The interview ended with a mature reflection on time management. I think this adds to my picture of Wright as a locked in/focused/goal-oriented guy. Again, I'm trying to restrain myself with somebody with 22 career snaps but I like this guy a lot.