The college game has evolved quickly in the past years. Teams such as Oregon and Auburn (and Nevada two seasons ago), and many others, have shown that you need a mobile QB to maximize your offensive potential and make it explosive. So pocket passers represent 20th century offenses, not the 21st century ones. Optimally, what is needed is a fast QB who can run directly, move about in the pocket, and elude the rush because of their mobility, as well as pass accurately. Longshore had a great arm and was a very good QB for his time, before his injury, but he is a perfect illustration of an old style QB that is not optimal in this new day and age.

Maynard has the ability to be a mobile passer and to run directly and when flushed out of the pocket (I saw Kline do a bit of that as well). Maynard’s problem is that he is not a consistently accurate passer. And (and this may be just because I did not watch all of the games and thus did not watch all of Maynard’s plays on TV), I don’t think he can roll right and throw accurately (in contrast, Kline can roll left and throw very accurately, as he did that in the Norcal championship game a few times).

Tedford considered switching to Bridgford when Maynard was having his mid-season problems, but essentially said he was sticking with Maynard because of his mobility and ability to escape the rush. I think he will have a difficult time departing from that decision again next year unless Kline and/or Boehm show an acceptable amount of mobility and also that they are much more accurate passers than Maynard.

And i hope it wasn’t lip service when jt said Kline will be able to compete in the Spring.

EPIC!

Are we making fun of Moren’s mom again? Or the lackthereof?

Maynard will break down again, and probably often. Look at his stats last year and his year at Buffalo. He padded his numbers against crappy teams late in the season, but the good defenses like SC’s and Oregon’s will force him into bad decisions. Call me old fashioned, but I want to see a Cal qb who can operate mainly from the pocket with poise and just enough mobility to sidestep most of the defensive pressure while delivering a ball to a receiver in stride.

The last time I saw that? Nate Longshore before the ankle injury in 06 and 07.

I disagree. I don’t think Kline plays until 2013 unless Maynard really stinks up the place next year (and he came close to that for awhile this past season, before recovering). The reason is what you would expect — Tedford won’t want to burn a year of Kline’s eligibility and play him before he’s truly ready. Also, since you think Boehm is a transfer candidate (I don’t, as I think it will be tough to sign a really good QB in the next class with Kline around, making Boehm at least the consensus #2 in 2013), delaying playing Kline until 2013 will delay having him win out over Boehm until then, when Boehm will be a sophomore. By then, Boehm should be a bit ahead of Kline, at least at the start, as hopefully Boehm will have a chance to play a little next year.

I have an open mind as to who is best — Bridgford, Boehm, or Kline. I have seen all three play (though not much) and I think all throw a very nice ball. Kline has a bit more escapability to him to avoid the rush than Boehm but Boehm is a very good runner when his number is called. Kline is not as good a runner but has lots of guts and thus gets the job done when he runs out of the pocket, though I don’t think you would ask him to run a direct running play. I haven’t seen Bridgford in the pocket when the protection breaks down nor run at all and certainly has not been asked to run directly from scrimmage.

I say let the real competition between them begin in 2013, though I agree Tedford may be under the gun to win bigger in 2012 or else, but Maynard now has the experience to get the job done so I think it would take a major breakdown from him for Tedford to bring in someone to replace him who lacks real experience..