If Zach Maynard plays as well on Saturday as Russell Wilson is for Wisconsin tonight, what would that do for your expectations of the season?

If you're not watching, Wilson, the transfer from NC State, is 9/12 for 214 yards, 2 TD passes, and 2 carries for 62 yards and 1 TD - and honestly he looks even better than that (even assuming UNLV is a putrid defense).

I think if Maynard is this good... then the Pac-12 North is by far the toughest division in college football and I like our chances.

If Maynard looks against Fresno like Wilson looks against UNLV, I'll be pleased inasmuch as I expect the Necks to have at least a reasonably competent D (which the Rebels clearly do not).

grandmastapoop;556527 said:

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If Zach Maynard plays as well on Saturday as Russell Wilson is for Wisconsin tonight, what would that do for your expectations of the season?

If you're not watching, Wilson, the transfer from NC State, is 9/12 for 214 yards, 2 TD passes, and 2 carries for 62 yards and 1 TD - and honestly he looks even better than that (even assuming UNLV is a putrid defense).

I think if Maynard is this good... then the Pac-12 North is by far the toughest division in college football and I like our chances.

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Wilson is also that good because Wisky always has a pretty good OL and tonight it is no different...they are man handling UNLV.....but if our OL is above average and Maynard passes and run circles around Fresno like Wilson is doing, I'll probably wet myself with glee......but my expectations will remain somewhat muted until we play Colorado ..and then the initial Pac 12 schedule.....

Cal_Fan2;556546 said:

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Wilson is also that good because Wisky always has a pretty good OL and tonight it is no different...they are man handling UNLV.....but if our OL is above average and Maynard passes and run circles around Fresno like Wilson is doing, I'll probably wet myself with glee....

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Yeah, this is more to the point.

If our OL looks like Wisconsin's, Maynard and the rest of the offense will have a tough time looking anything less than great and I'll see you all in Pasadena...

Cal_Fan2;556546 said:

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Wilson is also that good because Wisky always has a pretty good OL and tonight it is no different...they are man handling UNLV.....but if our OL is above average and Maynard passes and run circles around Fresno like Wilson is doing, I'll probably wet myself with glee......but my expectations will remain somewhat muted until we play Colorado ..and then the initial Pac 12 schedule.....

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COME ON, CF2! Join me!



gettingpumpedgettingpumped

grandmastapoop;556559 said:

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COME ON, CF2! Join me!



gettingpumpedgettingpumped

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LOL.....OTOH, I feel sorry for Rece Davis... he must $hit in his pants having to work with Jesse Palmer and Craig James while they jerk each other off...

Very big if, but a comparable performance by Maynard this season would certainly put us in a bowl. Wilson's obviously much more experienced (and accomplished) than Maynard at this stage but, even so, I didn't get the sense UNLV was much of a test.

I watched parts of the first half and didn't come away that impressed. Lets consider he was playing against UNLV, and they were gaining 10 yards plus on every running play, and every WR was WIDE open and that Wisconsin O-line was giving him literally all day to throw. He missed several receivers early on, including a TE who ran absolutely free right down the seam. Grant it, this was his first game and obviously you could just chalk it up as first game jitters. And he does look very very fast. But lets see what this kid can do against an actual D1 defense first. If Fresno St.'s defense is as bad as UNLV, I'd expect Maynard to look at least as good, if not better.

He didn't have to throw a pass to beat them. It makes things easier when that is the case.

If we beat up on FSU the way Wisconsin beat up on UNLV, and Maynard looks that good, I'll feel very, very good about Maynard and the rest of the season.

Looking back on last season, it's a small wonder the team even managed 5 wins with such horrendous QB play following Riley's season ending injury. Looking at our schedule, even with solid QB play, I think it's going to be tough to get 6 wins. I'll say our best case scenario is 7-5 with a solid bowl win a la Aaron Rodgers winning the Insight Bowl against Virginia Tech in 2003. Next season is the year we make some noise and contend for a Pac-10 championship.

Wisconsin is definitely a team to emulate in the PAC. I like their style. Maybe not quite a 100% emulation/copycat, but 75% Wisky 25% Spread-variant would be a nice offense.

Russell Wilson? I said last September he could take us to the Rose Bowl. Slightly exaggerated but I really, really liked him early last year and now everyone knows about him. I wish him well at Wiscy.

Zach = Russell? Hmmm, that might be unfair to Zach because every QB has their own style. Plus, Zach is a lefty QB and a lot of those cats walk their own path in life.

If we're willing to put up with some growing pains/pangs from a new QB, then I think we will see Zach's style emerge and yes, it could be similar to Russell's in some respects. It may be more Cade McNown (lefty) though...but that still might be cool for Cal.

I agree with those that mentioned the OL. Wisconsin has great line play and I'm sure Maynard would look great behind those guys. But the question is will he be given the time and protection Wilson got? I'm gonna say no until proven otherwise.

That said, I fully expect Maynard and the OL to kill it tomorrow - the real question is, will that still be happening 5 weeks from now.

Wisconsin's OL sure looked good to me. Just posing, they stood out.
We will see how their season plays out...............