Comments on: Football: Spring practice preview — quarterbacks

By: Kent Wilson

Kent Wilson — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 11:19:41 +0000

As we all know the ultimate success for the Cal football program lies on the shoulders of the QB…Cal will be a below average team if we get QB play as we have the past 4 seasons…and its also clear that Tedford and his coaching staff have not been successful in developing improved QB play from their so-called HS & (JC) All-American recruits. (Ayoob, Longshore, Riley, Mansion). Our only hope is that Zach Maynard is good…because I have little confidenc that Tedfords staff actually trains QB for improved performance…the players either have the ability on their own or not. None of the QBs seem to get better after experiencing coaching from Tedford. One certainly can NOT argue that Rogers got better over his tenure at Cal…he was darn good when he first got into a game. Longshore and Riley’s performances regressed throughout their career. So, either Zach Maynard or Allen Bridgeford are good from the start or we are doomed.

By: Bob49

Bob49 — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 02:29:13 +0000

Milo,

I never said that having more Elite 11 QB’s than any other school (I haven’t had time to check the data, but I am almost sure of it) GUARANTEES anything. However, much more likely than not, it indicates that, overall, Tedford received top-quality QB talent to work with, though maybe not the absolute best in the nation, to mold into a nationally recognized top notch QB. Out of the six Elite 11 QB’s so far that went to Cal during Tedford’s tenure there, I think that only Longshore can be said to have ever achieved national top notch status. Riley finished his career being the third to fifth best QB in the Pac 10 conference, not the nation.

Bob

By: milo

milo — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 20:40:45 +0000

Bob49, you’re right that Tedford has had Elite 11 talent but that really means little. Elite 11 means the same as 1st or 2nd round draft picks..little and no guarantees. Example: Aaron Rodgers wasn’t an Elite 11, he turned out fine. Montana and Brady were 3rd and 6th round picks. I wish it were as easy as Elite 11 status but it’s not.

By: Bob49

Bob49 — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 05:37:38 +0000

While not totally determinative, the fact that Tedford has received top rated talent, most likely more Elite 11 QB’s than any other school during Tedford’s tenure at Cal, and in general not developing that talent into top-notch COLLEGE QB’s, substantially detracts from Tedford’s reputation as a QB guru. Of the six Elite 11 QB’s that Tedford has had, only one, Longshore, was ever rated as one of the top QB’s in the country (though he may have continued that level of play had he not hurt his ankle and had to play on it because Tedford wouldn’t pull him). Riley could be regarded as fairly close to a top notch college QB, but his level of play is generally considered to have slid from his freshman and sophomore year until the time he graduated. Reed was a total bust, Mansion has only one year left to not be considered almost a total bust, and we haven’t seen what Bridgford and Hinder can do, but they do not seem to be coming on strong to take the starting QB job, unlike the fact that many top notch QB’s challenge for the top spot early in their college careers.

Anyone disagree with my assessment that Tedford has had top notch QB talent at Cal but Cal/Tedford has not developed that talent commensurate with its potential?

By: milo

milo — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 04:55:09 +0000

Rodgers cements Tedford as a QB guy, he did find him at Butte JC. While not on the level of Bill Walsh spotting Jerry Rice on a hotel TV but seeing Rodgers and immediately offering him a scholarship and the subsequent success says enough.

The rest of Tedford’s QBs listed, those guys were all excellent college QBs. Tedford maximized their talent and he can only really be responsible in and at his level, BCS conference D1 college. What happens in the NFL isn’t his doing. The success rate of top notch NFL QB (90+ QB rating) is long and narrow odds no matter who you are. Look at where Montana and Brady were drafted (3rd and 6th).

By: Bob49

Bob49 — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 04:46:37 +0000

Tyler M and others,

I think, at one time, Tedford turned many QB’s into pro’s. But for some reason, he has lost his touch in being able to do this (maybe because he could not focus on QB’s as much when he became coach at Cal. I believe I have evidence that Tedford has had many more Elite 11 QB’s enroll at at Cal since he became head coach there than at any other school, but I just need to find time to check through the data. Go to the following website for the data –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESPN_RISE_Elite_11

The above link indicates that Tedford has had the following Elite 11 QB’s since he has been the head coach at Cal — Longshore, Reed, Riley, Mansion, Bridgford, Hinder. Maybe someone will have the time to check before I do what the next highest Elite 11 QB’s enrolled at another school during Tedford’s head coaching time frame.

By: Hunter

Hunter — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:53:57 +0000

Kevin we are judging him on his ability to make productive college quarterbacks and get them to the NFL. All of those guys had great college careers. That list surpasses most other D1 coaches, but you are right if no one on the roster pans out there should be questions as to what is going on now.

By: therb

therb — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:48:21 +0000

Kevin T – don’t confuse success with the pro’s with success in college. There are plenty of great college qb’s that for various reasons don’t translate well to the NFL. Arguably, the fact that Tedford could get tremendous production (and all of those listed had excellent college careers) out of people who for the most part underwhelmed in the NFL should be a boost to his reputation; not a knock.

By: Kevin Thomas

Kevin Thomas — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:00:51 +0000

To Hunter,

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a list with so many mediocre quarterbacks on it, as was your list of QB’s that Tedford has tutored. Milo was dead right. If Tedford hadn’t found Rodgers, he’d have very little guru reputation left.

And just because some of your quarterbacks get drafted, doesn’t mean you are a guru. It’s also a question of what has he done for us lately? And since Rogers, we’ve had Longshore, Ayoob, Riley, and now Mansion and Sweeney.

Tedford took Longshore, who was hobbled by injury, and tried to make him a mobile spread QB. He took Ayoob, who played only the spread at JC, and tried to make him a pocket passer. Tedford is a good coach, but I don’t see him as a guru anymore.

By: Bears

Bears — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:26:04 +0000

I can see Bridgford and Maynard running a tandem QB system unless one of them become the clear #1.
Whoever and whenever someone is behind center they need to be a leader, smart and tough directing the offense with confidence and poise.
The team, coaches and fans can feel and sense when a QB has control and confidence. Hope we have two that step forward this fall. Be bold QB’s!
If Bridg or Zack fail or get hurt Hinder or Boehm will have to step up to be QB #1b.
Mansion is clear #3 and only should play in emergency unless he makes dramatic improvements across the board. Sweeney same, or maybe he can move to TE, FB or Special teams. Maybe even a player coach if the team and coaches like him. They need to be a UNIT, competing every day but on gameday pulling for each other and executing their role for the win.
This position needs to figure it out and step up!