[VB Card]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ConnorWedington/status/1346675456758562816?s=20 [/tweet]

Wish him well. Hopefully OSB comes back now. 

[VB Card]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ConnorWedington/status/1346675456758562816?s=20 [/tweet]

Wish him well. Hopefully OSB comes back now. 

[teejers1]

https://twitter.com/ConnorWedington/stat...62816?s=20 

Wish him well. Hopefully OSB comes back now. 

I heard that OSB is not coming back.  Something is not right there.

[teejers1]

https://twitter.com/ConnorWedington/stat...62816?s=20 

Wish him well. Hopefully OSB comes back now. 

I heard that OSB is not coming back.  Something is not right there.

[cardcrimson]

https://twitter.com/ConnorWedington/stat...62816?s=20 

Wish him well. Hopefully OSB comes back now. 

I heard that OSB is not coming back.  Something is not right there.

[cardcrimson]

https://twitter.com/ConnorWedington/stat...62816?s=20 

Wish him well. Hopefully OSB comes back now. 

I heard that OSB is not coming back.  Something is not right there.

[fullmetal]

Higgins, Tremaine, and Wilson should be all right...I hope.

[fullmetal]

Higgins, Tremaine, and Wilson should be all right...I hope.

[Phogge]

What comes to mind is Terrence Brown.

Life can be tough on undrafted free agents. Taxi squads should be smaller next season.

[Phogge]

What comes to mind is Terrence Brown.

Life can be tough on undrafted free agents. Taxi squads should be smaller next season.

[needle]

What comes to mind is Terrence Brown.

Life can be tough on undrafted free agents. Taxi squads should be smaller next season.

Wedington never really got to show what he could do, mainly because of injuries. He finished the year hurt. I can't help but think his pro prospects would have only improved if he had stuck around for a fifth year or, heck, even grad transferred. I guess for some four years of college is enough.

[needle]

What comes to mind is Terrence Brown.

Life can be tough on undrafted free agents. Taxi squads should be smaller next season.

Wedington never really got to show what he could do, mainly because of injuries. He finished the year hurt. I can't help but think his pro prospects would have only improved if he had stuck around for a fifth year or, heck, even grad transferred. I guess for some four years of college is enough.

[Mick]

What comes to mind is Terrence Brown.

Life can be tough on undrafted free agents. Taxi squads should be smaller next season.

I went back to see what happened to the Niners' 11 UDFAs.  One made the club and did well (JaMycal Hasty).  One played on special teams for two games, the safety from Alabama.  And one made the active roster for the last game of the season, the DL from Nebraska.  About half of the remaining eight made the practice squad.  Most were waived and released then brought back.  And one of them ended up getting playing time for the Dolphins.

[Mick]

What comes to mind is Terrence Brown.

Life can be tough on undrafted free agents. Taxi squads should be smaller next season.

I went back to see what happened to the Niners' 11 UDFAs.  One made the club and did well (JaMycal Hasty).  One played on special teams for two games, the safety from Alabama.  And one made the active roster for the last game of the season, the DL from Nebraska.  About half of the remaining eight made the practice squad.  Most were waived and released then brought back.  And one of them ended up getting playing time for the Dolphins.

[BobK]

I believe declaring for the draft in many cases is simply I’m graduating and what’s next. Whatever is next each player is excited for the outcome.

[BobK]

I believe declaring for the draft in many cases is simply I’m graduating and what’s next. Whatever is next each player is excited for the outcome.

[donkey687]

I believe declaring for the draft in many cases is simply I’m graduating and what’s next.  Whatever is next each player is excited for the outcome.

Yes, but there does seem to have been a cultural change of mindset within Stanford football. If you charted number of seniors returning for a fifth year, I think you will see a major decline in the last 4 years. Guys who weren't projected to be drafted in early rounds would come back. Now they may try their luck with making a team or retire from football rather than stay at Stanford for another year and potentially improve their draft stock or get a second degree. There probably isn't one factor to blame but my biggest theory is that the demands of college football have become greater and it is a year round grind and these guys are tired of doing it (especially for free) after four years and the poorer performance in recent years is more of a grind. It isn't fun and that permeates the culture which is why we are seeing people leave as soon as they get their degree.

Michael Wilson's decision looms large given the declarations of Wedington, Fehoko and sense that OSB is not returning.

It seems like transfers are going to become a bigger and bigger part of college football. If Stanford truly wants to remain competitive, Stanford administration will need to find a way to accommodate transfers. It will require a big change in philosophy, but it isn't impossible. Otherwise, we will only be on one side of the roster turnover that is only going to increase when the NCAA likely relaxes transfer rules in March while all other schools play both sides of the turnover.

[donkey687]

I believe declaring for the draft in many cases is simply I’m graduating and what’s next.  Whatever is next each player is excited for the outcome.

Yes, but there does seem to have been a cultural change of mindset within Stanford football. If you charted number of seniors returning for a fifth year, I think you will see a major decline in the last 4 years. Guys who weren't projected to be drafted in early rounds would come back. Now they may try their luck with making a team or retire from football rather than stay at Stanford for another year and potentially improve their draft stock or get a second degree. There probably isn't one factor to blame but my biggest theory is that the demands of college football have become greater and it is a year round grind and these guys are tired of doing it (especially for free) after four years and the poorer performance in recent years is more of a grind. It isn't fun and that permeates the culture which is why we are seeing people leave as soon as they get their degree.

Michael Wilson's decision looms large given the declarations of Wedington, Fehoko and sense that OSB is not returning.

It seems like transfers are going to become a bigger and bigger part of college football. If Stanford truly wants to remain competitive, Stanford administration will need to find a way to accommodate transfers. It will require a big change in philosophy, but it isn't impossible. Otherwise, we will only be on one side of the roster turnover that is only going to increase when the NCAA likely relaxes transfer rules in March while all other schools play both sides of the turnover.

[Spiny_Norman]

Players are deciding to complete their degree and get on with their lives. We can speculate on their reasons (which may be different in each case and may have nothing to do with what we might think). But I don't understand why one might infer internal problems from players saying that they are ready to graduate and move on to the working world rather than play more football.

[Spiny_Norman]

Players are deciding to complete their degree and get on with their lives. We can speculate on their reasons (which may be different in each case and may have nothing to do with what we might think). But I don't understand why one might infer internal problems from players saying that they are ready to graduate and move on to the working world rather than play more football.

[BobK]

As of two days ago Northwestern has lost 7 early. So this is Stanford only

[BobK]

As of two days ago Northwestern has lost 7 early. So this is Stanford only

[donkey687]

Players are deciding to complete their degree and get on with their lives. We can speculate on their reasons (which may be different in each case and may have nothing to do with what we might think). But I don't understand why one might infer internal problems from players saying that they are ready to graduate and move on to the working world rather than play more football.

Something has changed. Stanford used to rely heavily on 5th years and a large number of seniors most years would return for their fifth year. That has changed in recent years. What do you attribute that change to in the last few years?

[donkey687]

Players are deciding to complete their degree and get on with their lives. We can speculate on their reasons (which may be different in each case and may have nothing to do with what we might think). But I don't understand why one might infer internal problems from players saying that they are ready to graduate and move on to the working world rather than play more football.

Something has changed. Stanford used to rely heavily on 5th years and a large number of seniors most years would return for their fifth year. That has changed in recent years. What do you attribute that change to in the last few years?

[Spiny_Norman]

Players are deciding to complete their degree and get on with their lives. We can speculate on their reasons (which may be different in each case and may have nothing to do with what we might think). But I don't understand why one might infer internal problems from players saying that they are ready to graduate and move on to the working world rather than play more football.

Something has changed. Stanford used to rely heavily on 5th years and a large number of seniors most years would return for their fifth year. That has changed in recent years. What do you attribute that change to in the last few years?

Yes, there has been a reduction of 5th year seniors even since 2016 or 2017. What has changed? It is as likely or perhaps more likely due to external rather than internal factors. The external factors may be football related (hey, even practice squad players in the NFL make $8400 a week). Or they might be non-football related. A lot has changed just in the last few years in the world around us. Unless any of us has been privy to the discussions that have led to these decisions, we don't know what the driving factors are. But don't assume that they mean internal dysfunction.

What we can judge is what we see on the field. Stanford plays hard. I don't see evidence that the players aren't motivated, aren't responding to the coaches or don't care about winning.

We still think of this as college football, rah-rah, playing for your brothers and your school, the pageantry of football Saturday. But for many of the players, it's a way station on the road to what comes next, not an end unto itself.

[Spiny_Norman]

Players are deciding to complete their degree and get on with their lives. We can speculate on their reasons (which may be different in each case and may have nothing to do with what we might think). But I don't understand why one might infer internal problems from players saying that they are ready to graduate and move on to the working world rather than play more football.

Something has changed. Stanford used to rely heavily on 5th years and a large number of seniors most years would return for their fifth year. That has changed in recent years. What do you attribute that change to in the last few years?

Yes, there has been a reduction of 5th year seniors even since 2016 or 2017. What has changed? It is as likely or perhaps more likely due to external rather than internal factors. The external factors may be football related (hey, even practice squad players in the NFL make $8400 a week). Or they might be non-football related. A lot has changed just in the last few years in the world around us. Unless any of us has been privy to the discussions that have led to these decisions, we don't know what the driving factors are. But don't assume that they mean internal dysfunction.

What we can judge is what we see on the field. Stanford plays hard. I don't see evidence that the players aren't motivated, aren't responding to the coaches or don't care about winning.

We still think of this as college football, rah-rah, playing for your brothers and your school, the pageantry of football Saturday. But for many of the players, it's a way station on the road to what comes next, not an end unto itself.

[winflop]

Unlike past years, I believe everyone who's declared for the draft is graduating. Congratulations to all of them on earning their degrees and I wish them nothing but success however they choose to define it.

I'm wondering to what extent some of these players are leaving early because they either haven't gotten into grad school at Stanford or they know they won't get in because their grades aren't good enough? Maybe there's just not an option for them to return for another year? Just speculation but I'm trying to put myself in the shoes of guys like Weddington and Antoine who I don't see having much if any chance of being drafted and I'm not seeing another explanation. The UDFA route is really, really hard.

[winflop]

Unlike past years, I believe everyone who's declared for the draft is graduating. Congratulations to all of them on earning their degrees and I wish them nothing but success however they choose to define it.

I'm wondering to what extent some of these players are leaving early because they either haven't gotten into grad school at Stanford or they know they won't get in because their grades aren't good enough? Maybe there's just not an option for them to return for another year? Just speculation but I'm trying to put myself in the shoes of guys like Weddington and Antoine who I don't see having much if any chance of being drafted and I'm not seeing another explanation. The UDFA route is really, really hard.

[BobK]

Return take a class you’re set. Look at other team rosters and see 5th year students

[BobK]

Return take a class you’re set. Look at other team rosters and see 5th year students

[BostonCard]

Right, there is no requirement to graduate in five years.  I think the issue is that, and this has been decades in the making, college football has gone from a game you play with your friends that oh by the way pays for your college to a profit-maximizing business that doesn't pay its players.  Is it any wonder that the players now view playing as a means to an end (an NFL payday for those good enough to get one, or at least a degree and a chance to earn a living for those not) than an end in itself?  Taking one or two classes just to stay in school an extra year to play football will be the exception and not the rule.  The majority of our players will go to the NFL, graduate and get a job at something else, or grad transfer and at least earn a masters degree for their trouble.

I think we have to assume that incoming recruits will be playing for no more than four year, if we are lucky.

BC

[BostonCard]

Right, there is no requirement to graduate in five years.  I think the issue is that, and this has been decades in the making, college football has gone from a game you play with your friends that oh by the way pays for your college to a profit-maximizing business that doesn't pay its players.  Is it any wonder that the players now view playing as a means to an end (an NFL payday for those good enough to get one, or at least a degree and a chance to earn a living for those not) than an end in itself?  Taking one or two classes just to stay in school an extra year to play football will be the exception and not the rule.  The majority of our players will go to the NFL, graduate and get a job at something else, or grad transfer and at least earn a masters degree for their trouble.

I think we have to assume that incoming recruits will be playing for no more than four year, if we are lucky.

BC

[slide]

...I think we have to assume that incoming recruits will be playing for no more than four year, if we are lucky.
BC

agreed.  need to accelerate their maturation curve & usage in our system including simplifying our playbook.

[slide]

...I think we have to assume that incoming recruits will be playing for no more than four year, if we are lucky.
BC

agreed.  need to accelerate their maturation curve & usage in our system including simplifying our playbook.

[fullmetal]

Especially because the data shows that a thick playbook has not correlated to wins.

[fullmetal]

Especially because the data shows that a thick playbook has not correlated to wins.

[CompSci87]

Especially because the data shows that a thick playbook has not correlated to wins.

Oh, was it thinner in Shaw's Rose Bowl years? Or the same?

[CompSci87]

Especially because the data shows that a thick playbook has not correlated to wins.

Oh, was it thinner in Shaw's Rose Bowl years? Or the same?

[BostonCard]

Question to people who know, is our defensive scheme especially complicated?  My sense is that it is not, but I could be wrong.

And if that is the case, then can the “thick playbook” really be used as an excuse when our defensive failings have been more acute.

BC

[BostonCard]

Question to people who know, is our defensive scheme especially complicated?  My sense is that it is not, but I could be wrong.

And if that is the case, then can the “thick playbook” really be used as an excuse when our defensive failings have been more acute.

BC