Watch this compilation of all his plays (passes and scrambling) and judge for yourself.

Looked worse in person. After watching the highlights, he actually did not look bad other than a couple of throws...

That was helpful. He doesn't look nearly as bad on film as he did in person. Did notice a distinct lack of throws over the middle but that may be because our WR are young and we are trying not to get KA killed.

This was not an impressive performance by a D1 QB against a lower division team. Here are the throws (I am ignoring the runs and not commenting on whether he should've run. I do note that he had time to throw all game):

Throw/Result.

1. Inc. Way overthrown to wide open receiver. Throw on outside shoulder is a big gain.
2. Comp. Throw at LOS. Too high for any YAC
3. Comp. Throw behind LOS
4. Comp. Throw at LOS
5. Comp. Throw behind LOS. Long run gave TD.
6. Interception
7. Comp. Throw at LOS
8. Comp. Throw 3 yards down field
9. Comp. Nice throw after moving in pocket.
10. Inc. Overthrown to wide open guy 3 yards away in end zone.
11. Inc. Overthrown behind LOS
12. Comp. Good throw after scramble
13. Comp. Throw behind LOS
14. Comp. Good throw over middle from pocket
15. Comp. Not good throw. Overgrown so no YAC.
16. Comp. Throw behind LOS.
17. Inc. Overthrown short route
18. Inc. Sack with a poor decision to try to thrown. Couldn't been a fumble
19. Comp. Behind LOS
20. Comp. OK throw for 5 yards.
21. Comp. OK short out route.
22. Comp. At LOS.
23. Comp. Best throw. Crossing route over middle from pocket
24. Inc. Overgrown short route.

So, there we are. Of the 24 throws on the video,18 were at LOS or only 5 yards or less down field. You don't help your running game by nor being able to throw down field. Of those 18 throws,6 were overthrown resulting in Inc or no YAC. That's 33% gone wrong on easy throws. He had 4 or 5 decent throws ans all but 2 were on the run/scramble. So the stats in this game were not indicative of a successful qb day. I am not coming down on ZM because a lot may be play calling. Or he may not be looking dowmfiled. I don't know. But comp % and yards here were not indicative of a particularly good day vs a mower divisiom team.

Please forgive my spelling.

Wow - if it looked worse in person I am glad I couldn't be there. Does Maynard ever look off the safety or go through progressions? A good D will have a field day with him as he pretty much locks on and throws to his first option every time. Too bad we don't run more option plays with him as he does have some running sills.

Thanks for posting....I admit that statistically ZM had a good game and he doesn't turn the ball over nearly as much as he used to, but I also was debating with someone that a lot of that was because he threw a ton of swing passes or screen plays....This somewhat validates my memory that he had a bunch of easier throws not downfield to allow for the better stats....NOW, if the is gonna win a game then so be it, but this just shows the "stats" don't tell the whole story...

This was the first time I saw any highlights from the game and he looked like he always does: not good enough to play qb at a bcs conference school. 40 to 50 percent of those throws were fully 18 inches to 2 feet away from where they should have been resulting in incompletions and reduced yardage. Totally unexceptable. The fact that there is no one better is shocking.

FWIW, the first overthrow was on the WR. After the incompletion, Maynard made a signal to Harper that he ran the wrong route. And then you could see Wes Chandler talk to Harper for a few minutes on the sideline.

consistency isn't there. i'm not sure how much more upside is there, and to me his physique just doesn't look D1 level. He looks like a buck 70 at most ...

CalGaoTe;841944901 said:

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This was not an impressive performance by a D1 QB against a lower division team. Here are the throws (I am ignoring the runs and not commenting on whether he should've run. I do note that he had time to throw all game):

Throw/Result.

1. Inc. Way overthrown to wide open receiver. Throw on outside shoulder is a big gain.
2. Comp. Throw at LOS. Too high for any YAC
3. Comp. Throw behind LOS
4. Comp. Throw at LOS
5. Comp. Throw behind LOS. Long run gave TD.
6. Interception
7. Comp. Throw at LOS
8. Comp. Throw 3 yards down field
9. Comp. Nice throw after moving in pocket.
10. Inc. Overthrown to wide open guy 3 yards away in end zone.
11. Inc. Overthrown behind LOS
12. Comp. Good throw after scramble
13. Comp. Throw behind LOS
14. Comp. Good throw over middle from pocket
15. Comp. Not good throw. Overgrown so no YAC.
16. Comp. Throw behind LOS.
17. Inc. Overthrown short route
18. Inc. Sack with a poor decision to try to thrown. Couldn't been a fumble
19. Comp. Behind LOS
20. Comp. OK throw for 5 yards.
21. Comp. OK short out route.
22. Comp. At LOS.
23. Comp. Best throw. Crossing route over middle from pocket
24. Inc. Overgrown short route.

So, there we are. Of the 24 throws on the video,18 were at LOS or only 5 yards or less down field. You don't help your running game by nor being able to throw down field. Of those 18 throws,6 were overthrown resulting in Inc or no YAC. That's 33% gone wrong on easy throws. He had 4 or 5 decent throws ans all but 2 were on the run/scramble. So the stats in this game were not indicative of a successful qb day. I am not coming down on ZM because a lot may be play calling. Or he may not be looking dowmfiled. I don't know. But comp % and yards here were not indicative of a particularly good day vs a mower divisiom team.

---

Seriously?

Sure, 74% is not good. Should have been 100% against a lower division team, that is what all the good D1 QBs do against the lower division. Right?

The screens to Sofele and Stevens were just bad. No question. The Stevens one hurt the most because that looked like a TD.

Other than the first long throw to Harper and Allen in the endzone when he drew three defenders, didn't he complete all of his down field passes? He looked pretty good doing so.

"May be" play calling? You are actually criticizing Maynard for completions because they were not long enough now? Still saying he does not go through his reads? Do you really think our game plan was to throw more balls to Harper than Allen and Treggs?

My guess is we threw 8, including all of those screens, to Harper because they were double-teaming Allen and Treggs and the right play was called or he made the right read. If they leave that open and do not adjust, keep doing it. That is good play calling or a good QB read. That is what S. Utah did against us with our soft coverage. That is what we did with Rodgers against SC in 2004 (and even against New Mexico State in a 41-14 win in our home opener that same year).

"You don't help your running game" by completing wide receiver screens? So now Maynard competing passes is blamed for the early problems in the running game (mostly first down runs?). Sure seems to work for other spread offenses. That is the idea behind a spread. By completing all those throws to Harper outside when they were stacking the box, we forced the defense to spread out and that DID open up the running game for Sofele and Anderson up the middle in the second half. Our problem with our running game early was running that play when they were still stacking the box and not defending all three of our receivers. Those completions to Harper (and others) are exactly what opened up the run game.

That hits on what I think is one of our problems so far--going to a spread formation which uses the pass to set up the run, but maintaining a pro-set, establish the run to set up the pass mentality and play calling (run up the middle on first down). I really liked the idea of a 2 TE Patriot style offense for us, because I think it is easier to change formations than mentalities, but if Rodgers is hurt....

One thing about the interplay between ZM's limitations and the play calling. The lack of an accurate deep ball means that the safeties cheat up. The cheating up of the safeties limits our running game. The limitations on our running game mean our passing game is less effective. It feeds back on itself.

Not sure this is ON ZM. I think it is just his limitation but I do know with the backs we have we would be so much more effective if we had a fast WR that demanded over the top help each and every time he lined up. That would required, however, for ZM to deliver that ball (and the WR to make the play).

CalGaoTe;841944901 said:

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This was not an impressive performance by a D1 QB against a lower division team. Here are the throws (I am ignoring the runs and not commenting on whether he should've run. I do note that he had time to throw all game):

Throw/Result.

1. Inc. Way overthrown to wide open receiver. Throw on outside shoulder is a big gain.
2. Comp. Throw at LOS. Too high for any YAC
3. Comp. Throw behind LOS
4. Comp. Throw at LOS
5. Comp. Throw behind LOS. Long run gave TD.
6. Interception
7. Comp. Throw at LOS
8. Comp. Throw 3 yards down field
9. Comp. Nice throw after moving in pocket.
10. Inc. Overthrown to wide open guy 3 yards away in end zone.
11. Inc. Overthrown behind LOS
12. Comp. Good throw after scramble
13. Comp. Throw behind LOS
14. Comp. Good throw over middle from pocket
15. Comp. Not good throw. Overgrown so no YAC.
16. Comp. Throw behind LOS.
17. Inc. Overthrown short route
18. Inc. Sack with a poor decision to try to thrown. Couldn't been a fumble
19. Comp. Behind LOS
20. Comp. OK throw for 5 yards.
21. Comp. OK short out route.
22. Comp. At LOS.
23. Comp. Best throw. Crossing route over middle from pocket
24. Inc. Overgrown short route.

So, there we are. Of the 24 throws on the video,18 were at LOS or only 5 yards or less down field. You don't help your running game by nor being able to throw down field. Of those 18 throws,6 were overthrown resulting in Inc or no YAC. That's 33% gone wrong on easy throws. He had 4 or 5 decent throws ans all but 2 were on the run/scramble. So the stats in this game were not indicative of a successful qb day. I am not coming down on ZM because a lot may be play calling. Or he may not be looking dowmfiled. I don't know. But comp % and yards here were not indicative of a particularly good day vs a mower divisiom team.

---

This is play calling to account for a QB who has no arm. You assess what he can do and give him that.

If tOSU has a brain in their head, they will press our WRs at the line and dare ZM to throw over the top of them. That will also crowd the line to stuff any running plays.

Rushinbear;841945166 said:

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This is play calling to account for a QB who has no arm. You assess what he can do and give him that.

If tOSU has a brain in their head, they will press our WRs at the line and dare ZM to throw over the top of them. That will also crowd the line to stuff any running plays.

---

You mean the way that both defenses played us so far and about 3/4 of our games last year?

Defensive Game planning against 2012 Cal Bears - Walk through on Monday and Tuesday and get some good tee times for the rest of the week.

calumnus;841944950 said:

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Seriously?

Sure, 74% is not good. Should have been 100% against a lower division team, that is what all the good D1 QBs do against the lower division. Right?

The screens to Sofele and Stevens were just bad. No question. The Stevens one hurt the most because that looked like a TD.

Other than the first long throw to Harper and Allen in the endzone when he drew three defenders, didn't he complete all of his down field passes? He looked pretty good doing so.

"May be" play calling? You are actually criticizing Maynard for completions because they were not long enough now? Still saying he does not go through his reads? Do you really think our game plan was to throw more balls to Harper than Allen and Treggs?

My guess is we threw 8, including all of those screens, to Harper because they were double-teaming Allen and Treggs and the right play was called or he made the right read. If they leave that open and do not adjust, keep doing it. That is good play calling or a good QB read. That is what S. Utah did against us with our soft coverage. That is what we did with Rodgers against SC in 2004 (and even against New Mexico State in a 41-14 win in our home opener that same year).

"You don't help your running game" by completing wide receiver screens? So now Maynard competing passes is blamed for the early problems in the running game (mostly first down runs?). Sure seems to work for other spread offenses. That is the idea behind a spread. By completing all those throws to Harper outside when they were stacking the box, we forced the defense to spread out and that DID open up the running game for Sofele and Anderson up the middle in the second half. Our problem with our running game early was running that play when they were still stacking the box and not defending all three of our receivers. Those completions to Harper (and others) are exactly what opened up the run game.

That hits on what I think is one of our problems so far--going to a spread formation which uses the pass to set up the run, but maintaining a pro-set, establish the run to set up the pass mentality and play calling (run up the middle on first down). I really liked the idea of a 2 TE Patriot style offense for us, because I think it is easier to change formations than mentalities, but if Rodgers is hurt....

---

Chill out coach Tedford. I was merely pointing out to those who cited his comp % that due to the type of throws that stat is not particularly helpful.

Maynard just doesn't seem to look like he knows what to do in the pocket. When he gets out of the pocket and is throwing on the run he seems to have an accurate gauge of what his arm can do, and throws it relatively well.

When he is in the pocket and manages to plant his feet and get his legs under him, the ball seems to sail. Its like he isn't expecting the extra power from actually having good form and he doesn't know how to gauge/use it properly.

Maybe that's why he likes to "vibrate in place" when he's in the pocket sometimes...

~MrGPAC

MrGPAC;841945271 said:

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Maynard just doesn't seem to look like he knows what to do in the pocket. When he gets out of the pocket and is throwing on the run he seems to have an accurate gauge of what his arm can do, and throws it relatively well.

When he is in the pocket and manages to plant his feet and get his legs under him, the ball seems to sail. Its like he isn't expecting the extra power from actually having good form and he doesn't know how to gauge/use it properly.

Maybe that's why he likes to "vibrate in place" when he's in the pocket sometimes...

~MrGPAC

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Some of this, unfortunately, is not the kid's fault. As pointed out, he LOOKS skinny in person. REALLY skinny. And so you have this kid - good wheels and all - with a suspect line and 280 pound studs running full speed to KILL HIM.

I would have happy feet as well.

I bet Jeff thought he might beef up a bit over the course of 2 years. That didn't happen. So it is going to get really ugly when ZM starts getting hit - cause so far that hasn't happened but I expect it to starting Saturday.

Davidson;841944932 said:

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FWIW, the first overthrow was on the WR. After the incompletion, Maynard made a signal to Harper that he ran the wrong route. And then you could see Wes Chandler talk to Harper for a few minutes on the sideline.

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We had like a third and 6 or 7 or something at that point. To call pretty much a long fade to Harper, such a low percentage play, whether he ran the wrong way or not, was a head-scratching moment. I will take the 6 yard hitches down the middle that Nevada and SUU executed efficiently, all day. Can we please just incorporate that into our offense, to move the chains?

it looked a lot like last season against WSU, OSU and utah where tedford basically gave maynard easy throws and simplified the offense for him.

He is trying to throw crisp strikes to the receiver. In some cases, successful and others not so much. He's like a baseball pitcher that has something wrong with his mechanics. Far too many high throws. The receiver shouldn't have to jump to catch the ball. He is throwing well, but the accuracy is directed at the head or above the head. He just needs to bring it down a bit. Watching Aaron Rodgers yesterday should have been instructive to Maynard. AR got pinpoint accuracy in tiny little spaces. I wouldn't expect ZM to do that, but watch how he does it and learn. If he can emulate even 50% of AR we have a winner as a QB.

6bear6;841945324 said:

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He is trying to throw crisp strikes to the receiver. In some cases, successful and others not so much. He's like a baseball pitcher that has something wrong with his mechanics. Far too many high throws. The receiver shouldn't have to jump to catch the ball. He is throwing well, but the accuracy is directed at the head or above the head. He just needs to bring it down a bit. Watching Aaron Rodgers yesterday should have been instructive to Maynard. AR got pinpoint accuracy in tiny little spaces. I wouldn't expect ZM to do that, but watch how he does it and learn. If he can emulate even 50% of AR we have a winner as a QB.

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It is because he isn't getting all his weight through the rock and he isn't doing THAT because he is, if even not conscious about it, worried about getting KILLED by linemen that outweigh him by 100 pounds. I bet if you spend the time going through the mix tape slowly and zoomed in every high pass has that element of weight on the back foot.

I'm gonna have to agree with most of the posters here. Dude doesn't have the tools to be a good qb. He reminds me of the way Tebow looked in the NFL at times, like a deer in headlights. His throwing motion sucks also. The way some of those passes looked was heartbreaking and made me long for the days of Kevin Riley. If hes the best we got then....sigh!!!

:tedford Nah, not so much!!

socaltownie;841945331 said:

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It is because he isn't getting all his weight through the rock and he isn't doing THAT because he is, if even not conscious about it, worried about getting KILLED by linemen that outweigh him by 100 pounds. I bet if you spend the time going through the mix tape slowly and zoomed in every high pass has that element of weight on the back foot.

---

Yeah, ZM has to follow-through more by shifting weight to his front foot on his throws.

You're right -- the sailing and overthrows are because he's still on his backfoot for some reason and NOT following-through like he was doing at times last season when he was doing good.

If he can go back to throwing off his front-foot, there might be hope for him after all.

Based on what I just reviewed, it will become very clear next week that Maynard is a "C" level talent with a "D" level sense of leadership and composer.Once we get into the Pac-12 we might score some points because defense is not the conference's strenght but wins are a whole other thing.

What is pathetic to me is how little Tedford is asking of a qb who has been at the helm for two years now. How many tough throws did he ask him to make? How many times did you feel like Maynard actually looked off a receiver and went another way. Look at how much time he had to throw. Think that is going to be there this week.....I doubt it. Does anybody think those LOS screens are going to move the ball against Ohio St.? Doubt it?

What use to be a complex pro-set offense is now a cup half empty. I would love to know how much of the playbook Rodgers worked with in 2003-4 is even in play with Maynard?

calumnus;841944950 said:

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Seriously?

Sure, 74% is not good. Should have been 100% against a lower division team, that is what all the good D1 QBs do against the lower division. Right?

---

Utah State's QB completed 88% of his passes against SUU 2 weeks ago. 22/26 for 304 yards. Still impressed by Maynard's 74%? I'm not saying Maynard is our biggest problem because the OL needs to step up and our defense needs to do better (Utah State gave up only 3 points to SUU and held Sorensen to 153 yards on 31 attempts), but it's a little early to beat our chest about Maynard's "hot" start to the year. The fact is that Maynard hasn't morphed from Bad Maynard to Good Maynard this year - he looks like he looked last year and like he did at Buffalo. We need a great QB to overcome our other problems and he's not that guy. Doesn't mean he isn't the best we have, but what people are saying is that it's still not good enough.

One positive: there have been hurries and sacks, but far fewer than in past years. I attribute that to the work of Jim Michalczik. Maynard has had many seconds in the pocket looking for an open receiver. That wasn't the case last year.

kasaja;841945389 said:

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Look at how much time he had to throw.

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Hah, nice, you were really fooling me there for a while until I got to that line. Clearly you reviewed a different game than the rest of us.

CalGaoTe;841945266 said:

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Chill out coach Tedford. I was merely pointing out to those who cited his comp % that due to the type of throws that stat is not particularly helpful.

---

Quote:

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1. Inc. Way overthrown to wide open receiver. Throw on outside shoulder is a big gain.

---

[COLOR="Black"][COLOR="Navy"]Perhaps, but look again, Harper gets jammed at the LOS, with his route altered, you and I really don't know where the play was supposed to go. [/COLOR] [/COLOR]

Quote:

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2. Comp. Throw at LOS. Too high for any YAC

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[COLOR="black"][COLOR="navy"]The throw was NOT at the LOS. It gained 7 yards with no RAC. The ball was at shoulder height--right about where you want it for a hands catch (try catching something lower). Allen slipped. [/COLOR][/COLOR]

Quote:

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3. Comp. Throw behind LOS

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[COLOR="black"][COLOR="navy"]True[/COLOR][/COLOR]

Quote:

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4. Comp. Throw at LOS

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[COLOR="black"][COLOR="navy"]Down and out five yards to the sideline five 2 yards after the catch.[/COLOR][/COLOR]

Quote:

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5. Comp. Throw behind LOS. Long run gave TD.

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[COLOR="navy"]True, but no credit for hitting him in stride?[/COLOR]

Quote:

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6. Interception

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[COLOR="black"][COLOR="navy"]True. But watch the video again. 53 came through unblocked. Not 100% on Maynard[/COLOR][/COLOR]

Quote:

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7. Comp. Throw at LOS

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[COLOR="black"][COLOR="navy"]True[/COLOR][/COLOR]

Quote:

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8. Comp. Throw 3 yards down field

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[COLOR="black"][COLOR="navy"]Five yards. Look at the video. LOS was the 43, he caught it on the 48. 6 YAC [/COLOR][/COLOR]

Quote:

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9. Comp. Nice throw after moving in pocket.

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[COLOR="black"][COLOR="navy"]Yep. 20 yards downfield.[/COLOR][/COLOR]

Quote:

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10. Inc. Overthrown to wide open guy 3 yards away in end zone.

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[COLOR="black"][COLOR="navy"]Yes badly overthrown, but again you mischaracterize it. Stevens was at least 20 yards away from Maynard. Maynard threw from the 9. He did have #18, the guy Sevens had to let by, in his face.[/COLOR][/COLOR]

Quote:

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11. Inc. Overthrown behind LOS

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[COLOR="black"][COLOR="navy"]You went easy on him here. Maynard's worst throw of the day on an easy swing pass to Sofele.[/COLOR][/COLOR]

Quote:

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12. Comp. Good throw after scramble

---

[COLOR="navy"]Agreed.[/COLOR]

Quote:

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13. Comp. Throw behind LOS

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[COLOR="navy"]True. We were killing them with this play.[/COLOR]

Quote:

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14. Comp. Good throw over middle from pocket

---

[COLOR="navy"]Yep, a big third and long conversion.[/COLOR]

Quote:

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15. Comp. Not good throw. Overgrown so no YAC.

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[COLOR="navy"]Holly sh*t! That was a GREAT throw! Low snap, he hits Allen streaking 25 yards down the sideline in stride and you call that "not a good throw"? Allen was tackled, that was why there was only a few yards after the catch. This is one of your worst characterizations.[/COLOR]

Quote:

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16. Comp. Throw behind LOS.

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[COLOR="navy"]True. Nice play call off play action.[/COLOR]

Quote:

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17. Inc. Overthrown short route

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[COLOR="navy"]The fade on the right side of the end zone, from the 10 (ball on the left hash mark). Allen was covered. [/COLOR]

Quote:

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18. Inc. Sack with a poor decision to try to thrown. Couldn't been a fumble

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[COLOR="navy"]It was not an incomplete. He was SACKED by a guy who came in unblocked! If you say it was not a fumble, but a forward pass attempt to Sofele, then an incomplete would have been a good thing, right?[/COLOR]

Quote:

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19. Comp. Behind LOS

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[COLOR="navy"]Same play to Harper. If it works, why complain about it?[/COLOR]

Quote:

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20. Comp. OK throw for 5 yards.

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[COLOR="navy"]It was 3rd and 6. Another low snap. He threw a great throw for a first down.[/COLOR]

Quote:

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21. Comp. OK short out route.

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[COLOR="navy"]Nicely thrown out, again on the right side.[/COLOR]

Quote:

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22. Comp. At LOS.

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[COLOR="navy"]Nice play.[/COLOR]

Quote:

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23. Comp. Best throw. Crossing route over middle from pocket

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[COLOR="navy"]Agreed. Another nice throw after a low snap. [/COLOR]

Quote:

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24. Inc. Overgrown short route.

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[COLOR="navy"]Weird, that is the second time you called it "overgrown." But yes, his second worst throw of the game. His three worst throws were to RBs (Sofele, Stevens, Anderson)[/COLOR]

Unit2Sucks;841945400 said:

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Utah State's QB completed 88% of his passes against SUU 2 weeks ago. 22/26 for 304 yards. Still impressed by Maynard's 74%? I'm not saying Maynard is our biggest problem because the OL needs to step up and our defense needs to do better (Utah State gave up only 3 points to SUU and held Sorensen to 153 yards on 31 attempts), but it's a little early to beat our chest about Maynard's "hot" start to the year. The fact is that Maynard hasn't morphed from Bad Maynard to Good Maynard this year - he looks like he looked last year and like he did at Buffalo. We need a great QB to overcome our other problems and he's not that guy. Doesn't mean he isn't the best we have, but what people are saying is that it's still not good enough.

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Wait, who said Maynard had a "hot" start again? People aren't saying he's the best we have. People are eviscerating him and saying crap like he can't start for a high school team, 90% of BCS QBs are better than him, etc. There's so much hyperbole flying around that you could cut it with a knife.

I think mvargas had a post with the most reasonable assessment of Maynard in the game, he gave him a B- and I think that's fair. For me it could have been a B+ if he hit a couple of those screen passes that he whiffed on including the one that should have been a TD.

Looking at the Utah State stats vs Southern Utah were pretty alarming. In comparison Maynard might be the best point of comparison for us, not only did they shut down the SUU QB they also threw for 302 yards and rushed for 277.

alarsuel;841944922 said:

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This was the first time I saw any highlights from the game and he looked like he always does: not good enough to play qb at a bcs conference school. 40 to 50 percent of those throws were fully 18 inches to 2 feet away from where they should have been resulting in incompletions and reduced yardage. Totally unexceptable. The fact that there is no one better is shocking.

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IMO what is worse is that no one is beign given a decent chance to do better. By keeping ZM as the QB JT is saying to the other QB's ZM may stink but he is better than you so I am not even going to give you a chance.

MrGPAC;841945271 said:

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.
Maybe that's why he likes to "vibrate in place" when he's in the pocket sometimes...

~MrGPAC

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Peyton Manning Drill





Multiple College Quarterbacks footwork:


Mark Sanchez


I could post tons of these. It is what quarterbacks are taught to do.

Rushinbear;841945166 said:

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This is play calling to account for a QB who has no arm. You assess what he can do and give him that.

If tOSU has a brain in their head, they will press our WRs at the line and dare ZM to throw over the top of them. That will also crowd the line to stuff any running plays.

---

I think they will do this follow this game plan and press, Im very confident in our young WRs getting off the press. It will be key for Maynard to deliver accurate passes when our WRs do shed the press coverage. I do expect tOSU to keep a safety over KA at all times as well. This game is where I think Tedford's time with the Patriots comes into play, He should be able to work the short area with the TEs and check downs to the Rbs. I also hope to see some plays where we try to get bigs in space.
As for Defense, Im sure Clancy P will play more of his nickel packages but won't be surprised if we see some Dime with some 3-2-6(3 safeties) scheme similar to what we seen when we last played Arizona.tOSUs passing game is nothing special. I also expect Clancy to reinforce the importance on defending the pistol as Im sure Meyer will run a little.

socaltownie;841945099 said:

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One thing about the interplay between ZM's limitations and the play calling. The lack of an accurate deep ball means that the safeties cheat up. The cheating up of the safeties limits our running game. The limitations on our running game mean our passing game is less effective. It feeds back on itself.

Not sure this is ON ZM. I think it is just his limitation but I do know with the backs we have we would be so much more effective if we had a fast WR that demanded over the top help each and every time he lined up. That would required, however, for ZM to deliver that ball (and the WR to make the play).

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I think a lot of it is our predictability. On first down, the safeties cheat up because we almost always run. Even when we are in spread with three receivers. We still run. On third and long, they double cover Allen and Treggs. It doesn't take a rocket science to have a defensive game plan for us.

elpbear;841945431 said:

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Wait, who said Maynard had a "hot" start again? People aren't saying he's the best we have. People are eviscerating him and saying crap like he can't start for a high school team, 90% of BCS QBs are better than him, etc. There's so much hyperbole flying around that you could cut it with a knife.

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I think Calumnus is giving more credit to Maynard than is warranted so that was who the post was intended for. I agree that most people seem to be disappointed that Maynard hasn't improved more this season. After watching the highlights again, what I see is a few easy missed passes, a few nice passes down field, a few poor passes down field, and a bunch of easy completions.

In response to Calumnus' breakdown - (i) no one disputes that the defender was unblocked on the INT - this is the 2nd time it's happened in 2 games and Maynard should know better than to throw without looking first, (ii) on the sack (play 18) the guy was not unblocked and there appeard to be enough time for Maynard to recognize the pressure and do something about it. Separately I will add that I've been disappointed by Maynard's running this year. He goes down like a lump at first contact and is without a doubt the easiest guy on the team to tackle. He has some wiggle in the open field but doesn't use it well near defenders. If he weighed 20 lbs more he would be able to turn more of these scrambles into first downs (I think there were at least 2 where he had a good shot but got blown up by a safety short of the first down). Turning those kinds of plays from 4th and short to first downs would help this team a lot and make the defense worry about Maynard's running ability.

gobears3000;841944856 said:

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Looked worse in person. After watching the highlights, he actually did not look bad other than a couple of throws...

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Yeah I was sitting in the end zone, and the cross-field throws (swings, screens) that he overthrew were WAY overthrown. They looked horrifically bad. But on TV, from the sideline view, they didn't look as bad.

Unit2Sucks;841945400 said:

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The fact is that Maynard hasn't morphed from Bad Maynard to Good Maynard this year - he looks like he looked last year and like he did at Buffalo.

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This is what amazes me about the pumpers who expect to see throwing improvements out of our QBs from year to year. Just like Kevin Riley, Maynard's comfort at the line of scrimmage has improved just from game rep experience, but his throwing is exactly the same. They both run (ran) hot and cold, and even when playing well, both throw (threw) the occasional wild pitch. Wasn't it Bill Walsh who famously said the most important attribute he looked for in a QB is accuracy? You can teach the game, but you can't teach accuracy. It's probably hard wired into your brain as you learn to throw as a child.

Yeah Maynard may give us the "best chance to win" this year, but I understand those who would like to break in a QB with higher potential sooner rather than later. IF Kline is as good as advertised, then he'll probably leave after his 3rd year, so I can understand those who want to see him get significant playing time this year.

:hammer: