I want to say here and now that I have a supporter of Nate Longshore, at least in the sense that I think it stinks the way the posters on the boards have been dogging Nate. He is a good QB, and I do think that he will end up on an NFL team somewhere next season. Yes, Tedford should ahve played Riley more, but as I go back and look at the games last year, there was never really a point where it would have made sense, unless you just gave him the UCLA call and went from there.
I also believe that Kevin Riley is a great talent, and will also end up on an NFL: team, and probably do great things. It is probably the one time when having your dad as your football coach turns you into a better player instead of a head case (in fact, I think that there is probably something there with Tedford, but who knows).
In any event, Longshore clearly was pressing on the two stupid throws that he made, and for JT, that was enough for him. It is hard when you are told for three years by your coach that experience, managing the huddle, managing the game, was the most important aspect of the game and that you were the best at it. And then, the week before your senior year, the same coach comes to you and says, well, yes, you are the better game manager, and you are the more experienced, but he is just a better play-maker. Oh yeah - I will put you in for a series or two and see how you do in real competition.
Instead of Nate being Nate, he tried to be Riley. And of course failed at the end by trying to throw into quadruple coverage. You could see the frantic look as he went to his third progression and no one was open. He had a few yards in front of him, and he should have run. Oh well.
Tedford should not have put Nate in that position, although I will say this. Riley did not look good until after the Longshore expedition. Then, he seemed to get his but kicked a bit. In other words, against MSU, Riley was trying to be too much like Nate and Nate was trying to be too much like Riley. And frankly, what we need is both doing what they do. And we need both this season. Nate is not going to be a come from behind 35 points kind of guy. He is a game manager, and generally does not lose his cool. But he needs players who are also somewhat professional out there, and, the Cal players maybe are not there yet. I bet he does better in the pros- frankly.
Riley is a rally the troops kind of guy. I actually think he will do better if Nate is looking over his shoulder, to kick him in the ass. Which is why I am a bit worried about JT taking the Longshore experiment off the shelf. I think he needs to keep pressure on KR to keep him going. He came on in the fall practice when Nate looked to be moving ahead near the end of the camp. He came on near the end of the OSU game and when we were down big in the Air force game. And he came on after Nate went in this weekend. I am not going to say he is a slacker, but maybe he is a guy who needs to be pushed. So Nate having the crappy game I think is bad for Cal.
Furthermore, we need to get Nate back up and running for his own sake. We need a capable backup who is not a head case if something happens to Riley. Last year, if Riley was ready, he could have taken the team onward, and we would have been fine. Maybe not national champs, but certainly Holiday bowl material. So no more complaints when Tedford puts in Longshore to get his head back on. In fact, it could be sooner than you think. Let's see what happens when Riley starts in a hostile environment. Maybe Nate comes in to save the day this time (God I hope not).
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6 comments:
Great insight on Riley trying to be Nate and Nate trying to be Riley. I totally agree with that comment. But I would rather have Riley trying to manage a game and be a play-maker when he needs to, than Nate doing the opposite. That said, Nate is an awesome quarterback who can get the ball to his playmakers, but he is not a playmaker himself.
You are dreaming if you think Nate is a good QB
Nate is, so far, number three on the all time Cal QB list. Not too bad for a dream.
i love nate soooo much! i think he is an amazing qb and i think he does not get enough respect. people continue to look at the negatives of his career and forget to look at this year... he has had an awsome year. he has not thrown very many interceptions and he has had some pretty great plays and passes this year, so we need to appreciate him. it is very good that we have 2 working and great qbs... riley and longshore are both pretty good, so it is great we have a back up plan. i hope we continue to have an awsome 08- 09 season! GO BEARS & LONGSHORE!!!!
about the qb situation: longshore deffinatlely has the better arm, as long as it goes to a cal player, riley throws alot harder than longshore does. riley is more consistant in his passes. longshore is alot better under pressure, but riley is a playmaker. both of them are great... i think that longshore should be started because he is a senior with more experience. if he messes up, put riley in. riley will have his change to be starter in later years... he is only a sophmore, longshore is a senior. longshore is an awsome holder of the ball on punts!!!! i hope we continue to have a great season, whoe ever the qb is. rose bowl???? i hope so!!!! GO BEARS!!!! :~)
about the qb situation: longshore deffinatlely has the better arm, as long as it goes to a cal player, riley throws alot harder than longshore does. riley is more consistant in his passes. longshore is alot better under pressure, but riley is a playmaker. both of them are great... i think that longshore should be started because he is a senior with more experience. if he messes up, put riley in. riley will have his chance to be starter in later years... he is only a sophmore, longshore is a senior. longshore is an awsome holder of the ball on punts!!!! i hope we continue to have a great season, whoever the qb is. rose bowl???? i hope so!!!! GO BEARS!!!! :~)
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