Thoughts on QB Battle

In some ways, this post is a long time coming since it’s been a while since Coach Tedford announced that the starting quarterback battle is essentially a three-way race between RS senior Brock Mansion, RS sophomore Allan Bridgford, and Buffalo junior transfer Zach Maynard.

On the other hand, this QB battle is far from being over. Although Tedford has indicated that it could be conceivable that a QB could separate himself by the end of Spring Ball, it will likely be a few weeks into Fall camp before a starter is established.

Below are some thoughts as to what each QB brings to the table, as well as what will be necessary to win the starting job.


Allan Bridgford

Background
Allan Bridgford was one of the highest touted QB recruits of the Tedford era. A four star recruit on both Rivals and Scout, Bridgford finished his senior season rated as high as the 10th best QB in the nation by Rivals.com.

As a three year starter at Mission Viejo High, Bridgford shattered numerous QB records, including the single season record for touchdown passes with 38, previously set by Mark Sanchez who had 29 in 2004. Bridgford finished the 2008 season with over 3000 yards passing.

Other pre-college accomplishments include being an Elite 11 Camp QB (finishing 3rd in the MVP voting), second in the four-day accuracy challenge, and was an US Army All-American selection.

In coming up with my writeup for Bridgford, I stumbled upon my recruiting analysis of Bridgford from two years ago. Here’s what I wrote:

Things to Be Excited About
Bridgford is a fundamentally sound, prototypical pro-passer, in the model of previous Tedford QBs. He features good size, standing at 6’3, 215 pounds and pretty good arm strength, although not quite Kyle Boller-esque. Bridgford has shown about the prettiest touch I’ve seen out of a high school QB in a while. He can really fit the ball just about anywhere, particularly over the heads of linebackers into tight coverage, and is about as accurate as you can ask for. He isn’t much of a threat to take off with the ball, but shows good pocket presence and is quick to throw the ball away if pressured. He is really a timing and rhythm passer, who excels most on short-intermediate routes, and appears to be a smart student of the game.

Areas of Concern
It’s strange, although Bridgford has a quick release, it is a bit of a windup one that makes it seem as if his passes take a bit longer to get out. While displaying good touch, a number of his passes will get picked off at the collegiate level if he can’t show a tad more zip. He also hasn’t shown a big enough arm to be a true vertical threat just yet. As a rhythm passer, Bridgford relies heavily on his timing with his receivers, and can force passes at times if it’s not there, made apparent when he struggled during his Army All-American performance working out with brand new receivers.

Outlook
You can’t help but not feel secure with Bridgford as a future Cal quarterback. Most of all the physical skills are there, and he seems heady enough to be ready to take on Tedford’s offensive system. My estimation is that Bridgford will really challenge for the starting spot in 2011.

Check out his mechanics.

Elite 11: Allan Bridgford @ Rivals Video

Updated Outlook
Bridgford promptly injured his shoulder upon arriving at Cal during a workout, and not much has changed since the time of my original writeup. Of the three quarterbacks, Bridgford is still said to be the most accurate, though questions about his longer throwing motion still exists. Bridgford is also the least mobile of the quarterbacks, and poses little threat as a runner.

He has arguably looked the most consistent of the three quarterbacks but has yet to get any scrimmage snaps with the first team unit, which might greatly skew perceptions of his performance. Reading into Tedford’s quotes on Bridgford, it seems as if Tedford appears to be fairly content with what he’s seen, but is far from impressed enough yet to hand over the keys to Bridgford. He likely shares a lot of concerns about Bridgford in terms of throwing motion as well as his command of the offense, given that these are the most significant snaps Bridgford has received in over two years.

My prediction however is that Bridgford will enter fall camp as one of the top two quarterbacks, with a real shot at being the starter at some point this season.

Zach Maynard

Background
As most know by now, Maynard is Keenan Allen’s half-brother and was part of a package deal that had Maynard transferring to Cal from Buffalo after Turner Gill’s departure, along with Allen who had then been an Alabama soft verbal.

Maynard wasn’t the most highly sought after prospect out of Grimsley High School in Greensboro, NC, but passed and rushed for more than a combined 3,000 yards and 34 scores in his senior season. His athleticism helped him become a starter by his sophomore season in 2009 at Buffalo. He completed 218 of 379 passes (57.5%) for 2,694 yards and 18 TDs with 15 interceptions. He also had 455 yards on the ground, along with a rushing score.

Things to be excited about
Maynard is easily the Bears’ most athletic quarterback. He is the Bears’ most mobile and best running threat of a quarterback since Aaron Rodgers. He has always been able to rush for a good chunk of yards, and has made plays with his feet in spring ball, whether by design or by improvisation.

It’s obvious that Maynard is an incredibly intriguing prospect to Tedford. Take this quote that Tedford had on Maynard:

“He’s doing really well. He throws the ball with authority. He’s understanding more every day of what goes on. He’s a really quick learner. He’s the guy that can make a difference wit his legs. He can run. Everyday is something new for him. When we’re starting to repeat things, he’s getting it. We put a lot in. The more repetitions he gets, the better he gets every day."

Tedford’s interest in Maynard isn’t a surprise. Maynard has a full year of experience starting at the FBS level, is the most athletic of the QB candidates, can make all the throws, and presents a running threat that might open up the playbook for the Bears in some tantalizing ways. It’s been reported that Maynard has taken the most snaps out of the gun in practice, and has also kept the ball more in some designed QB roll outs. It also helps that Maynard has the best rapport both on and off the field with the Bears’ best offensive weapon in Keenan Allen.

Areas of Concern
Maynard didn’t exactly light the Mid-American conference on fire in his one season as the starter. It’s hard to hold anyone’s first year as a starter against them, but I think it is a legitimate question as to whether Maynard has the stuff to be a starting quarterback in the Pac-12 if he were to replicate the level of up-and-down play he had at Buffalo.

What also hurts Maynard is his lack of experience with Tedford’s playbook. He is going to be a bit behind the eight ball in familiarity with the offense, and has some catching up to do. In Tedford’s mind, this appears to the biggest hindrance to Maynard stepping out and really showing what he can do.

Outlook
I think that Maynard is intriguing enough of a prospect that he’ll enter fall camp taking either first or second-team snaps. He’s been getting most of the first team snaps as of late, though his play has been erratic. There’s a bit of breathing room with Maynard in terms of allowing him to get his feet under him and get comfortable with the offense, but his play in scrimmages will have to be markedly improved in the fall for him to continue to get the bulk of first team reps.

Brock Mansion

Background
Most fans are fairly familiar with Mansion at this point. A touted Elite 11 QB prospect from Dallas, Texas, Mansion led his team to a state title during his senior year. Owner of one of the coolest QB names in Cal history, Mansion has spent a majority of his career at Cal as a backup.

Mansion was rushed into duty last season, taking over for an injured Kevin Riley in the OSU game. Mansion went on to start the final four games of the season, where the Bears stumbled to a 1-3 record.

Things to be excited about
Mansion returns as the most veteran quarterback on the Cal roster in terms of starts with the Bears. Both he and the staff are hopeful that his experience as a starter last year will prove to be invaluable moving forward. Tedford has stated that there’s a clear difference in terms of poise, command of the offense, and ball handling when Mansion is taking snaps.

While Mansion isn’t quite as quick-footed as Maynard, he is still a fairly mobile quarterback for his 6’5 frame, and is capable of pulling the ball down and running. Any thoughts of utilizing the quarterback more in the running game wouldn’t completely be thrown out the window with Mansion under center.

Mansion probably also has the strongest arm of three quarterbacks. The guy can absolutely uncork the ball, and is capable of making every throw on the field. The zip on some of his passes is pretty impressive.

Check out his first scoring drive last year.


Areas of Concern
In sum, you’re concerned if you think Mansion has made little improvement since his junior season. Here’s what I wrote following the Washington loss last season:

At this point, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen all there is to see with Brock Mansion. I feel the sample size is large enough with 4 starts including one road game and three at home (and at OSU game where he played a majority of the game). He’s played against very good defenses, and poor ones. He’s had a full month as the starter, and I’m just not seeing it with him.



I really have nothing bad to say about Brock Mansion as a student athlete. By all accounts, he’s an upstanding individual, a total team player, and works his tail off on and off the field.



Yet, if you take in what you’ve seen over the last month, how can you really put your confidence in him as next year’s starting quarterback?



Mansion was just 12 for 22 for 92 yards and an interception. Most of his completions came on quick screens and swing passed that went for little no yardage, and I really saw only two passes in the game I was impressed with. Mansion can deliver beautiful passes when he sets his feet, but he doesn’t have the field vision nor the pocket awareness at this point to set himself up for success.

I’m not sure my opinion has changed all that much. A part of me is actually really pulling for Brock, and is hoping that the light goes on for him much in the same way it has for a number of senior quarterbacks.

But another part of me still feels I have a good sense as to what we’re going to get with Mansion: an athletic quarterback who can make all the throws, but doesn’t show the consistency to do that enough when needed.

Again, I hate to keep pulling up last year’s games against him, as he was clearly unready to lead the team, but his numbers speak for themselves. Mansion completed just 48.9 percent of his passes with 2 TDs (one coming on a hook at lateral) and 5 interceptions. He averaged under 130 yards per game passing, and his 85.5 passer rating wouldn’t put in him the Top 100 in the nation in that category. Again, his games weren’t under the most ideal circumstances, but as a redshirt junior, it’s hard to be pleased about those numbers.

Outlook
I think Mansion will prove to be a valuable asset to the team next year, just not as a starter. I wouldn’t rule him out, as there’s still a chance for him to be in the starter conversation midway through fall camp. Yet, I think if Bridgford and Maynard show any consistency, they might prove to be too intriguing of prospects to deny taking a chance on.