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Football: Is Maynard the man?
By Jonathan Okanes
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011 at 11:02 am in Football, off-season stuff.
The quarterback competition obviously will attract the most attention during the spring. Jeff Tedford faces a major challenge attempting to get all of his signal-callers enough significant reps to make accurate evaluations.
But there are signs that Buffalo transfer Zach Maynard could be in a pretty good position. Maynard is believed to be the Bears’ best dual-threat quarterback. As Buffalo’s starting quarterback in 2009, he rushed for 455 yards. Tedford has acknowledged that more and more successful college offenses across the country are employing spread option-type attacks that requires a quarterback who possesses the threat of running.
Furthermore, Tedford hired Marcus Arroyo as his quarterbacks coach. As the offensive coordinator at Wyoming, Arroyo installed the spread offens and Tedford welcomes Arroyo’s ideas.
That all being said, the bottom line is Maynard still has to be good enough. While throwing for 18 touchdowns in 2009, he also threw 15 interceptions. And the competition in the Pac-12 will be substantially more stiff than it was in the Mid-American Conference.
There is no question there is some uncertainty about Maynard. When he takes the field for Cal’s first spring practice on March 29, it will be Tedford’s first time watching him in person. But Tedford has said he’s eager to see what Maynard can do.
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March 2nd, 2011 at 11:36 am
This is why Tedford gets paid so handsomely. Maynard obviously has the tools and talent, so it’s Jeff’s job to bring it on. Go Bears! Is Maynard going to be a sophomore or junior?
March 2nd, 2011 at 11:41 am
Also hope this isn’t Justin Vedder all over again
March 2nd, 2011 at 12:18 pm
ScottyBear! You just evoked so many bad memories by mentioning that name…
March 2nd, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Sorry. Bobby Douglass?
Kidding, Michael Vick!!!
March 2nd, 2011 at 12:31 pm
A few months ago I believe I was the first one on these blogs to suggest Cal needed to get a quarterback who could run as well as pass well to keep up with the modern trend of having a dual-threat QB running out of the spread and its variations. I was also the first one to push Kyle Boehm, a freshman next year, as one who possessed both running and passing talents. I have seen the kid play and he is not only a QB with the classic build (6’3″ and about 210 lbs.) and talents as a passer (strong arm and a quick release), but also is an excellent runner and is used to running on plays which call for him to do that. I hope that Tedford will strongly consider Boehm as his second string QB until he can mature.
March 2nd, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Bridgford will get a look before Kyle. With 4 QBs already in the mix (Mansion, Sweeney, Maynard and Bridgford), Boehm will redshirt. We also have Austin Hinder as a possibility, but he would have to be considered farther down the ladder as well.
March 2nd, 2011 at 1:07 pm
Ozone, do you honestly think Mansion or Sweeney have a prayer to start? Check out kcal’s voluntary practice reports, and you’ll see it’s Bridg or Maynard or Hinder. I do agree with you that Boehm will BLUE-shirt (take off that red-shirt?).
Go BEARS!
March 2nd, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Do you think that the D-Line watched the Oscars Monday night?
You know, to get acting lessons?
March 2nd, 2011 at 1:32 pm
it’s between Bridgeford and Maynard!
March 2nd, 2011 at 1:43 pm
Bridgeford & Maynard = 8th best RB stable in PAC 12
March 2nd, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Good observation, Kevin, although i think that the Bears are still leagues behind the Volunteers and the Cardinal, who have proved themselves to be much more convincing actors.
That point conceded, i do hope that Cal doesn’t get too good at abusing unwritten football-etiquette – the NCAA probably won’t let Oregon play the two-minute drill for 60 minutes forever.
March 2nd, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Jan K Oski- I would be very surprised to see Mansion or Sweeney start. I only meant to convey that they are in the mix and are competing at QB….which is accurate. My bad on the red…I mean blueshirt…I should know better.
March 2nd, 2011 at 2:06 pm
If Maynard does become the starting QB, I would really question Tedford’s ability to recruit quality QB’s. All Maynard has going for him is a year experience with a low level Buffalo team. He didn’t play for a major college program, nor was he recruited to play for one.
Bridgeford was a top rated QB, has played in a top notch high school program, has been with the CAL offense for 2 years and with spring and fall practice behind him should be able to secure the starting QB job against Fresno State.
March 2nd, 2011 at 3:43 pm
Do we really want to show our ignorance again by dragging Vedder’s name through the mud for the umpteenth time?
Vedder was a gutty and smart kid who was saddled with perhaps the most inept head coach/OC combo in the history of college football. He played behind a suspect line with a lame running game and had eseentially one option play after play — Dameane Douglas. In spite of these enormous deficiencies, he managed a positive TD/Int ratio and had Cal on the verge of a bowl berth his second year.
I feel really sad for him and for the excellent defensive players whose talents were wasted in 1997-98. With any kind of an offensive game plan, those teams might have won 8 games a season and 2 mid-level bowls.
March 2nd, 2011 at 3:49 pm
We need a QB who wants to kick some ass! Mike Pawlawski came out on the field like he owned it and dared the opponent to mix it up with him. That swagger has been missing ever since, although Aaron had enough confidence that it was contagious. It appears Mansion or Sweeney don’t even want to be out on the field, and that’s contagious also. Maybe a result of Tedford’s recent “Don’t mess up” philosophy versus the aforementioned ‘kick some ass” of his early coaching philosophy. Maynard, Hinder, Bridgford: Let’s kick some ass! Go Bears!
March 2nd, 2011 at 3:53 pm
OK, Bob49, we’re with you. Kyle Boehm starts as a redshirt freshman in 2012 at the new Memorial Stadium. Zach Maynard becomes Reggie Robertson and comes in on wildcat formations only. Bears kill Oregon and Stanford at home and win the Pac 12 North. We’re all going to Vegas for the Pac 12 Championship game!
March 2nd, 2011 at 4:16 pm
ScottyBear, c’mon “it appears Mansion or Sweeney don’t even want to be out on the field” where is that coming from? There’s no such thing as a Div I qb who doesn’t want to be on the field. All of our qb’s want to be on the field. Don’t confuse ‘skill’ and ‘will’, because all of our guys have the ‘will’. Don’t be a hater.
March 2nd, 2011 at 4:18 pm
Hey Kevin, remember when you posted that comment on an earlier post and nobody responded to it? Maybe you should go post on CGB, College Hotline, Crumpacker, or even BI and see if anyone else bites!
I understand why reporters discuss Maynard’s TD-to-INT ratio, and not to get too homerish, but he was a RS freshman when he put up those numbers. Yes, he hasn’t played in a game in over a year, but still maybe a year to focus on the mental aspects of the game will prove beneficial.
March 2nd, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Regardless of who is the QB, absent a substantial upgrade in play-calling and inspiration from the coaching staff, it will be a struggle this year. I still don’t see us getting to .500.
March 2nd, 2011 at 4:43 pm
Bobby:
Yes, I was trying to get a rise out of someone. But I really do want to know how you guys feel about what happened against the Ducks?
March 2nd, 2011 at 4:55 pm
Dball:
A hater? The exact opposite. My point was those two seemed to have that posture of intimidation and deer in the headlights. Maybe I should have said didn’t look at comfortable in their leadership role out there. Mansion seemed to regress – remember his two fumbles on the opening series against Stanford. Didn’t help when Tedford has him take a knee before halftime. A QB’s job is to lead and inspire. Look at Luck or Locker. We need that.
LR:
My point with Vedder was misunderstood by you. I was a fan. Vedder was another scrambling lefty QB whose strengths weren’t properly incorporated in the game plan and it was more about coaching. We don’t want the same with Maynard. I thought Vedder was a good QB and a great Cal Bear.
March 2nd, 2011 at 5:19 pm
question?
Does Maynard have two or three years left to play?
Go Bears!
March 2nd, 2011 at 8:11 pm
Maynard is transferring from a D-1 school, Vetter transferred from a JC-how is that even a comparison?
There is no way that Mansion isn’t in the running…
March 2nd, 2011 at 10:59 pm
Please, please, whoever it is, beat Fresno State week 1 and make my year
March 2nd, 2011 at 11:47 pm
I’m not counting on it but perhaps Tedford’s repurposed work with the QBs will make a difference. The guy did develop quite a few good QBs and got the most out of them.
Is it a coincidence that QB production dropped off when Tedford shifted his focus from QBs to HC’ing duties? The guy did scout and sign Aaron Rodgers. Still need the talent but coaching makes a difference on the D1 level.
Lets hope someone emerges immediately and develops quickly.
March 3rd, 2011 at 12:06 am
Scottybear,
I said Boehm would be second string next year, not the starter. Nobody is focusing on what Tedford said — he needs to have a quarterback who can run the ball. I think Maynard, Boehm, and Sweeney are the only ones I have heard who can fit that bill. And Sweeney does not seem to have adequate passing skills.
Since Tedford announced, a month or so after I suggested it, that he include running plays for the QB in his spread offense, he should take me up on the second and last suggested change he should make to his offense — greatly simplify it so that a substitute QB can come in and have a chance to run it well.
March 3rd, 2011 at 8:30 am
I thought Vedder was pretty good. Mansion is also a very good runner.
March 3rd, 2011 at 12:02 pm
foolish speculation. tedford is never going to switch to a ridiculous system where a qb runs all the time. i don’t even know why JO posted this garbage. tedford incorporates different aspects from different offenses all the time but they’re never going to make that our team’s offensive identity. we dont have the personnel for a spread attack and hed much rather have a balanced offense. that doesnt mean you won’t see the concepts but they’re never going to be our bread and butter. we are going to run the ball and be multiple in our sets
March 3rd, 2011 at 12:21 pm
This post adds really nothing new or additional insight (granted there isn’t much to be gleaned before spring practice).
From what I can tell, Bridgford will be the man and Maynard will be a solid backup.
March 3rd, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Calbear,
The article never talked about how much the QB was going to run and certainly not all of the time. It is obvious to anyone watching football that, if your running the spread, what the defense has to worry about increases a lot if the quarterback has a direct running play called for him or fakes a handoff and then runs. It increases even more if there is a play where the quarterback has the option of pitching the ball back to a trailing back. Cal’s current offensive scheme does provide these types of plays, which makes the defenses job much more difficult.
Covinated,
I have seen both Mansion and Boehm run the ball, and Boehm is much, much better.
March 3rd, 2011 at 1:44 pm
Tedford’s actually already stated Boehm will redshirt. There are too many QB’s in the mix and adding Boehm isn’t worth it. Even Hinder’s a stretch, where Tedford said he’s only really in the competition in name and probably needs another year or two to develop. The real competition is between Maynard and Bridgford, with Sweeney and Mansion showing us hey’re never gonna be ready. Bridford looks to be accurate with good timing on his short passes, which is great. Maynard doesn’t have much video out and about, so it’s hard to say.
Also, about what was stated above… just because the current flavor of the month is the spread option, it doesn’t mean we have to join the bandwagon. I actually really hope we don’t because it’s a total paradigm shift from what we’ve been doing with Tedford these last 10 years. It would take another 5-10 years just to recruit the personnel to run a spread option and then find a system that works for us, probably some more years on top to perfect it. While it is sexy to have a QB that can run as well as he passes, I’d rather stick with a prototypical pocket QB that can throw the ball first, run second.
March 3rd, 2011 at 2:40 pm
cal runs wildbear with threat of run and pass from the wildbear spot. has the same effect. This QB race is open and no one knows and this article is just speculation. You know nothing, i know nothing about who is going to be QB. only a fool would expect boehme a FRESHMAN to be QB when it’s always stated how complicated our offense is.
March 3rd, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Calbear:
It may be stated how complicatd our offense is, but last year it couldn’t have been more pedestrian. Handoff every play, then once in awhile run the wildcat so no handoff. Poof. 3 and out.
March 3rd, 2011 at 8:40 pm
OH OK. BOHEM IS OBVIOUSLY AS TALENTED AS MATT BARKLEY. LETS HAVE HIM START AND THEN WHEN WE GO 4-8 AND TEDFORD GETS FIRED WELL ALL REMARK HOW RIGHT IT WAS FOR BOHEM TO START.
Look, we have a new offensive coordinator. Better OL coach. Our personnel is best suited to a pro-style offense. It would take YEARS to recruit to a base spread-attack. Tedford has been on record saying this. Now stop your speculation. We’ll incorporate some concepts and keep our pro-style attack. JO please write a decent article next time with QUOTES instead of providing speculation and letting poor ill-informed Cal Fans’ minds marvel at how we’re going to be the next Oregon.
ScottyBear – try calling a better game when you have no-throw mansion as your QB…that’s why we gave the ball to KA so much during the Stanfurd game and that’s why he had a TD pass…
We all want to put 5-7 behind us. Stop dreaming about nonsense though.
March 3rd, 2011 at 10:02 pm
This doesn’t seem like a good time for an Oregon fan to bring up the subject of cheating
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/03/04/oregon.payments.insider/index.html
March 4th, 2011 at 8:26 am
Bob 49. thank you for your exclusive insight about how well Boehmer runs against high schoolers. I am hoping for Bridgford. He is the only socal guy.
March 4th, 2011 at 8:39 am
Covinared,
Boehm probably is the only QB (maybe besides Maynard) that has had high school experience in running the ball a lot when the play calls for him to run the ball. Maybe I should post some film clips of Boehm running from the spread. Then I’ll challenge anyone to find just one film clip of any other current Cal quarterback who has done the same (including Maynard at Buffalo). Anyone out there want to accept the challenge?
Calbear,
I don’t think you have watched Cal play football the last few years. They have run many plays from the spread offense. So given that, they obviously think they have the existing personnel to run plays from the spread. I really don’t know why I read most of the comments on this board. A lot of comments just show a total lack of knowledge about Cal sports.
March 4th, 2011 at 10:44 am
Bob 49 ,…watch Hinder run.
March 4th, 2011 at 1:57 pm
Cheating? We paid for tape, video highlights and player bio/info. All above board! You dont think Texas, Alabama, LSU etc do this? If you dont…you are crazy!
March 4th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Having a coach tell a kid to lie and pretend he is hurt, according to CALDUKE, isnt cheating??? LOL
Are you kidding me? Then why did you suspend your coach?
You just lost all your cred!!!!!!!!
March 4th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
As a SR in HS, Maynard had 1,400 yds rushing (9.3 avg, 14 TDs) and 1,600 yds passing (20 tds, 5 int).
March 4th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
This all sounds so exciting! Not to appear a child, but I cannot wait until football starts. To have a real quarterback, a committed, excited team, an ever-improving defense and all that clear blue sky and those sunny autumn Saturday afternoons, well, it won’t be Berkeley this year but for sure the football will be better. So, Go Bears! Roll on, Blue!
March 4th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
Bob49 –
I refer you to a video of 2002 Cal Football highlights. Tedford states his offensive philosophy:
“We’ll be multiple in our sets”. Look it up.
As for the spread and Cal’s offense, Dunbar comes around in 2006 and helps incorporate spread ideas into the Cal offense. I never said we didn’t use spread concept and you have grossly misrepresented my words.
As for which the question of which QBs can run, people have provided Maynard stats. Here are Mansion’s high school stats:
attended the Elite 11 quarterback camp in 2006 … threw for 2,200 yards and 26 touchdowns, adding 989 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground in his final campaign as a senior in 2006 to lead his team to a state title.
While we’re at it, compare Boehm’s stats:
Max preps reports 877 rushing yards
Boehm’s 40 time is 4.89. Mansion’s is 4.75.
Does this mean anything? NO. Tedford will decide who the best QB is. High school stats mean squat. Our team’s identity is never going to be based on the QB running the ball. As for the threat of the run, Mansion provided that. See his scamper vs Washington State. That was from a spread formation…you don’t always need that to keep the defense honest though. See Luck vs US 2010.
There are Pro-style QBs and spread style QBs. We recruit pro-style QBs. Just because we have spread concepts in our offense doesn’t mean we have the personnel to STAY IN THAT FORMATION ALL THE TIME. We would need different OL as well. Compare Oregon’s OL to Cal’s. The media is fond of telling how in-shape the Oregon OL is. While our OL isn’t as big as it used to be, they’re nowhere near as athletic as Oregon’s. Again I will repeat Tedford is on record saying that you need to RECRUIT to that style if you’re going to make it your team’s identity.
March 4th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
BTW here’s Mansion highlights and he runs from the spread. So much for QBs who can run as we were 5-7 in 2010.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7kvOuo7dwo
March 4th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
Kevin,
The coach was suspended for sleazy/tacky tactics, embarassing the school, not cheating. The NCAA never ‘investigated’ those leg cramp.
Why is the NCAA looking into Oregon’s huge payments for, ‘ahem’, consultants. Nike money is second only to Trojan’s cash flow.
March 4th, 2011 at 5:20 pm
Are you saying that when a coach looks a kid in the eye and tells him to do something untruthful during a game that will effect THAT game in the favor of that kids team…. THAT, that is not cheating???
WOW!
Just answer that last one, YES? or NO? so everyone on here can see it on record!!!!!
March 4th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
UB Bulls fan here. Have fun with Maynard. UB fans had a love-hate relationship with sir Zach. It was love when he threw for 5 touchdowns against Pitt in his second-career start. It was hate later in the season when he couldn’t hit anyone but players on the other team. He has an absolute cannon for an arm, but his accuracy can be below average at points. When he played at 09 he had tons of trouble with the deep ball; he had absolutely no touch. He is lightening quick and shows good instincts as a runner. At the same time he has a slender frame (he was 6’3″ 185 at UB) and doesn’t exactly shy away from contact). If he’s matured as a quarterback and has acquired any touch on his throws, he’ll be a good one.
Personally I hope he fails miserably. I understand why he left here but he didn’t even give our new coaching staff a chance. No UB fans thought he’d ever battle for the starting spot at Cal.
March 4th, 2011 at 5:23 pm
We paided recruiting services just like all the other teams that made the BCS games this year. ALL RUUMORS!
And if you think USC has more $money$ then us… check out the facilities at each place and the plans for the next few years…
Strike two CalDuke!
March 4th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
Bob49: saw Boehm running on youtube. Reminded me of a young Nate Longshore.
March 5th, 2011 at 9:33 am
Maynard is actually a very good option. I watched him play at Buffalo, where he had a mediocre line, and no running threat after the injury to James Starks in preseason camp. If you havent heard of Starks he just won a Superbowl with the packers, after leading the NFL in Playoff rushing yards, so Maynard didnt get much help the year he started. Also found this online for those interested in his credentials to play for a big school, Before grades caused some schools to back off (which is how he ended up at Buffalo), Maynard was being heavily recruited by the likes of Oregon, LSU, Kentucky, and West Virginia- ESPN
March 5th, 2011 at 9:40 am
Also for the people who say Tedford wont go spread, but in-fact run a Multiple offense, which some people are trying to say Maynard won’t fit in, well he was actually recruited to Buffalo to run a Multiple offense under Turner Gill, the Spread wasn’t installed until Jeff Quinn took over at Buffalo. So it seams he would fit in just fine, and not just be a wildcat option like I’ve seen alot of people saying.
March 5th, 2011 at 7:53 pm
Hey Kevin don’t be so defensive. Sugar Daddy Phil Knight will make sure your “Nike Ducks” have the best facilities money can buy, your teams will be the best equipped and your coaches the best paid. Still, the University of Oregon will be what it always has been, a second rate jerkwater university.
March 6th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
Calbear,
I agree that most of the time QB’s are either primarily a pro-style QB or a spread style QB. But sometimes a QB can be both — witness the Auburn QB from last year or even the Florida QB who won the Heisman. I’d say Boehm is one of those rare birds who has the attributes of a pro-style QB (big and has a strong arm) but can also run the spread offense very well.
Also, BTW, you last post indicates that “. Just because we have spread concepts in our offense doesn’t mean we have the personnel to STAY IN THAT FORMATION ALL THE TIME.” Nobody said we need to run the spread all of the time, and I challenge you to find anyone who said that. It certainly wasn’t me. All I said was that he have run the spread in recent years.
March 7th, 2011 at 8:47 am
More Duck and Cover
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/03/04/oregon.payments.insider/index.html#