If Mendoza ends up being the guy, which seems highly probable at this point, I hope the coaches can figure out how to get SJ5 involved in the offense. Wide receiver/QB2/Wildcat option, you just can't let that kind of speed sit on the sideline.

Muncie42 said:

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If Mendoza ends up being the guy, which seems highly probable at this point, I hope the coaches can figure out how to get SJ5 involved in the offense. Wide receiver/QB2/Wildcat option, you just can't let that kind of speed sit on the sideline.

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Agreed. I think as a WR and watch for YAC. Could be wow.

Mendoza is the guy but if Sam Jackson ever takes the field it is a giveaway to the opposing defense that we are dialing up something cute and stupid.

Why can't we have Mendoza, SJV, Ott, and Ifanse all on the field at the same time?

Strykur said:

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Mendoza is the guy but if Sam Jackson ever takes the field it is a giveaway to the opposing defense that we are dialing up something cute and stupid.

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Not true, turn SJV into a receiver. Put him on the field as a WR3 or a WR4 on 4 WR sets. The defense will have fits wondering if we are going to lateral to SJV then to throw a pass. Get creative with the offense

BearHunter said:

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Why can't we have Mendoza, SJV, Ott, and Ifanse all on the field at the same time?

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This reminds me a little bit of !he basketball question, "Why not start your 5 tallest guys? Who could guard them and we'd get all the rebounds?"

But, actually you make a good point: We have a WR position and a slot receiver position that haven't been super productive. Ott-in-the-slot could be deadly. Maybe SJV would be a productive receiver. So we should try some of that stuff, probably. (not sure about SJV... he would have to want to do it, really want it)

SJV converted in high school from a receiver to a QB. I doubt he wants to go back to receiver. https://calbears.com/sports/football/roster/sam-jackson-v/22457

Brings to mind former Raiders QB Terrelle Pryor (6'4 230 lbs 4.3 40 time).
After Raiders cast him off he got retooled as a WR. He made several million doing that and had a good season or two before injuries derailed him.

Chabbear said:

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SJV converted in high school from a receiver to a QB. I doubt he wants to go back to receiver. https://calbears.com/sports/football/roster/sam-jackson-v/22457

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Too bad. If that's the only way he gets on the field, he should welcome it.

Big C said:

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BearHunter said:

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Why can't we have Mendoza, SJV, Ott, and Ifanse all on the field at the same time?

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This reminds me a little bit of !he basketball question, "Why not start your 5 tallest guys? Who could guard them and we'd get all the rebounds?"

But, actually you make a good point: We have a WR position and a slot receiver position that haven't been super productive. Ott-in-the-slot could be deadly. Maybe SJV would be a productive receiver. So we should try some of that stuff, probably. (not sure about SJV... he would have to want to do it, really want it)

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He could still be a quarterback but we could have a set with him in the left slot and run jet sweeps. Mendoza could: 1) hand off or pitch to Ott left 2) hand off or pitch to Jackson who could sprint right or stop, pull up and throw or 3) drop back and throw with Ott and Jackson as secondary receivers.

Strykur said:

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Mendoza is the guy but if Sam Jackson ever takes the field it is a giveaway to the opposing defense that we are dialing up something cute and stupid.

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You can run a million variations off a simple jet sweep, so it's impossible to key onto one thing

Osu made a living using rodgers on jet sweeps when everyone knew it was coming. SJ is about the same size and build

I doubt he would switch. If he doesn't get to play QB here, he'll move on next year to a school where he can be starting QB.

ninetyfourbear said:

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I doubt he would switch. If he doesn't get to play QB here, he'll move on next year to a school where he can be starting QB.

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Not likely.
He's used his one transfer. He can't go anywhere.

Alkiadt said:

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ninetyfourbear said:

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I doubt he would switch. If he doesn't get to play QB here, he'll move on next year to a school where he can be starting QB.

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Not likely.
He's used his one transfer. He can't go anywhere.

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He can graduate and transfer or try for a hardship waver. I don't think I've seen the hardship waver ever rejected.

Strykur said:

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Mendoza is the guy but if Sam Jackson ever takes the field it is a giveaway to the opposing defense that we are dialing up something cute and stupid.

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Lots of teams use two QBs. If SJV comes out, they expect something cute, then that gives us a vanilla option.

eastbayyoungbear said:

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Alkiadt said:

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ninetyfourbear said:

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I doubt he would switch. If he doesn't get to play QB here, he'll move on next year to a school where he can be starting QB.

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Not likely.
He's used his one transfer. He can't go anywhere.

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He can graduate and transfer or try for a hardship waver. I don't think I've seen the hardship waver ever rejected.

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The bigger question is where is he starting QB.

wavers are much harder now, several players's requests were rejected this year

Here are the starting Cal QBs since the year 2000 that have missed significant time to injury:
Boller
Rodgers
Longshore (every year)
Riley
Maynard
Goff
Garbers
And maybe even one year QBs Webb, Bowers and Plummer, I don't recall.

As Bill Walsh said, "The two most important players on a football team are the quarterback and the backup quarterback."

Cal would be best served by continuing to develop Jackson (and Finley) in a backup QB role. Simultaneously getting Jackson on the field in the slot and for some Wildcat makes sense for an Air Raid team that does not have enough playmakers at WR.

UCLA has, what? 6 good QB prospects on their roster? We can't have 2?

Right now Mendoza looks to be the man, and the presumed starter for the rest of 2023 and beyond, I think his future looks great, but the future is also uncertain. Jackson is inconsistent but is playing better than Kyler Murray did his first year. His upside is real but also far from guaranteed. Mahomes backed up Davis Webb at Texas Tech for two years. Why not have more than one QB with high level potential on the roster? We need depth at every position. Jackson is very supportive of Mendoza, the Qb room has good chemistry. But yes, find a way to involve Jackson in the offense simultaneously.

Let's be honest - the coaches aren't going to figure anything out.

ducky23 said:

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Strykur said:

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Mendoza is the guy but if Sam Jackson ever takes the field it is a giveaway to the opposing defense that we are dialing up something cute and stupid.

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You can run a million variations off a simple jet sweep, so it's impossible to key onto one thing

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^Very much this!

Line up SJV in the slot and also have him run jet sweeps or just have him in motion regularly. It'll help keep the defense honest and prevent an all out blitz. If Cal throws in a double handoff every now and again, that'll really stress out opposing defenses who have to account for SJV and Ott. Heck, it'd even be possible to have SJV throw a pass on a double handoff to a receiver. The sky's the limit with the plays Cal could run with SJV and Ott lined up as weapons for Fernando.

ninetyfourbear said:

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I doubt he would switch. If he doesn't get to play QB here, he'll move on next year to a school where he can be starting QB.

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If SJV doesn't want to try to do what he can to make this team successful then f him and don't let the door hit you on the way out.

The encouraging note he left FM before the game makes me think he's better than that, however.

This team can't spend time doing all the cutesy and trickeration things until it can get the basics right such as kickoff coverage and extra points.

bluehenbear said:

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ninetyfourbear said:

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I doubt he would switch. If he doesn't get to play QB here, he'll move on next year to a school where he can be starting QB.

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If SJV doesn't want to try to do what he can to make this team successful then f him and don't let the door hit you on the way out.

The encouraging note he left FM before the game makes me think he's better than that, however.

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If SJV has hopes of making it as a pro, he needs to play to his strengths. Right now, that means being a speedy receiver. The coaching staff would be doing a disservice to tell him otherwise.

bluehenbear said:

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This team can't spend time doing all the cutesy and trickeration things until it can get the basics right such as kickoff coverage and extra points.

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Agreed the team has to fix the other avenues. However, based on last night's promising performance, the offense seems like it could be well-prepared to take the next leap with Fernando instead of taking Remedial Football 1A with the defense and special teams. That said, my comment was more that having SJV as a receiver would open up the possibilities on offense.

Mendoza looked good but I don't think he looked so good that he now has the starting spot nailed down for the next 3 years.

Cal fans get way ahead of themselves sometimes.

dimitrig said:

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Mendoza looked good but I don't think he looked so good that he now has the starting spot nailed down for the next 3 years.

Cal fans always get way ahead of themselves sometimes.

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Unless we get an awesome recruit or transfer in the off-season (or Mendoza has injuries or leaves) he has the job going forward.

Chabbear said:

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SJV converted in high school from a receiver to a QB. I doubt he wants to go back to receiver. https://calbears.com/sports/football/roster/sam-jackson-v/22457

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I doubt he wants to sit.

Econ141 said:

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Let's be honest - the coaches aren't going to figure anything out.

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Sadly, this may be the more likely scenario.

Old Blues remember LaShaun Ward a highly decorated athlete who wasn't a very good DB for us (he was a QB in HS) but late in his career was converted to a WR and was a great target for Kyle Boller. Also recall Deltha O'Neal started off as a RB then became a such a great CB and punt returner, he was drafted.

Get our best athletes on the field!

Strykur said:

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dimitrig said:

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Mendoza looked good but I don't think he looked so good that he now has the starting spot nailed down for the next 3 years.

Cal fans always get way ahead of themselves sometimes.

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Unless we get an awesome recruit or transfer in the off-season (or Mendoza has injuries or leaves) he has the job going forward.

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Mendoza has the job as long as he can play at the same level he played versus OSU, but that is not a given. It is also not a very high bar for another QB to hurdle.

Right now Mendoza has earned a start versus Utah. That is all and his leash may be short given how the QB situation has played out so far this season.

dimitrig said:

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Strykur said:

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dimitrig said:

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Mendoza looked good but I don't think he looked so good that he now has the starting spot nailed down for the next 3 years.

Cal fans always get way ahead of themselves sometimes.

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Unless we get an awesome recruit or transfer in the off-season (or Mendoza has injuries or leaves) he has the job going forward.

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Right now Mendoza has earned a start versus Utah. That is all and his leash may be short given how the QB situation has played out so far this season.

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Given Jackson's inconsistencies and Finley's horrid decision-making, Mendoza is good the rest of the season, unless he has an awful game.

NFL teams wanted to convert Heisman Trophy winning QB Lamar Jackson to WR:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/american-sports/nfl-lamar-jackson-baltimore-ravens-29573741.amp

Kyler Murray transferring from Texas A&M
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2600151-kyler-murray-transferring-from-texas-am-latest-details-and-reaction#:~:text=Uncertainty%20with%20the%20direction%20of,sources%20indicated%20to%20ESPN.com.

Muncie42 said:

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If Mendoza ends up being the guy, which seems highly probable at this point, I hope the coaches can figure out how to get SJ5 involved in the offense. Wide receiver/QB2/Wildcat option, you just can't let that kind of speed sit on the sideline.

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Personally I think Mendoza and Jackson should share the job. We have a ton of great RBs so maybe put Jackson in the slot if he is not QB. I believe Jackson was a productive WR in HS.

So, I know you specified the offense, but you know what we need is a good kick returner and a good gunner on STs. But that risks injury so maybe not.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Luke Rubenzer. Although I think SJV has more upside at QB than Luke.

ducky23 said:

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Strykur said:

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Mendoza is the guy but if Sam Jackson ever takes the field it is a giveaway to the opposing defense that we are dialing up something cute and stupid.

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You can run a million variations off a simple jet sweep, so it's impossible to key onto one thing

Osu made a living using rodgers on jet sweeps when everyone knew it was coming. SJ is about the same size and build

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I still have horrible memories of Rodgers and that play!!!

ninetyfourbear said:

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I doubt he would switch. If he doesn't get to play QB here, he'll move on next year to a school where he can be starting QB.

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yes, easy to do these days

None of the other qbs have looked as good as Mendoza and they had their shot. They need to improve, but Mendoza is far and away the best QB I've seen, so whatever they do is on them.

75bear said:

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I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Luke Rubenzer. Although I think SJV has more upside at QB than Luke.

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SJV is fast. I thought Luke was shifty, but never blazingly fast. If he'd been fast, they probably would have converted him to CB rather than safety.