Midweek Thoughts: Is Maynard better this year?

I've come to realize there's a bit of a midweek lull on this blog. Usually, I'll have my game recap and Pac-12 roundup at the beginning of the week, and Thursday and Friday is when readers can expect the Pac-12 predictions and Keys to the Game feature respectively.

Wednesday's got nothing. So in honor of Hump Day, which I recently found out does not mean what I thought it did, I've decided to share some thoughts on the team and around the conference. No structure, just some observations as we move forward.

This week, I ponder whether QB Zach Maynard is a better QB through the first three games of this season than where he was at this point last year.

Through the first two games of the season, most fans would state that strictly from observations, Maynard looked like the same inconsistent QB he had shown to be last season. He could be pressured into mistakes, his throws on routine passes varied in accuracy, and most importantly, failed to put his team on his back in tight games.

Then the OSU game happened, and fans were exposed to some of the best of Maynard in an entertaining, but disappointing loss at the Horseshoe. He looked composed, he didn't force throws, and he exhibited some of the best accuracy in his time at Cal.

It got me thinking though, was this a blip or has Maynard turned the corner? Can we at least admit that Maynard is better now than where he was at this point last season?

Check out every throw from his first three games.
Nevada
(Credit Oski Bear and TouchedtheAxein82)

Southern Utah

(Credit Oski Bear and TouchedtheAxein82)

Ohio State
(Credit Oski Bear and TouchedtheAxein82)

He looks like a different QB so far, especially as the quarter has gone on. But let's dig into the numbers.

Through his first three games of the 2011 season, Maynard was completing 51.6% of his passes for 724 yards, 9 TDs and 3 INTs. He was averaging a QB rating of 142.8.

This year, through the first three games, Maynard is completing 66.7% of his passes for 754 yards, 4 TDs and 2 INTs. His average QB rating is 149.3.

In comparing where Maynard is this year compared to last, the stat that most jumps out to you is his huge jump in completion percentage (about 15%). Keep in mind that the gameplans for Maynard in the past few games are markedly different from the approach they took with the passing offense last year. The Bears have committed to short and intermediate routes, where you saw Maynard throwing downfield far more often early last season.

It's also worth noting the change in the level of competition from this year and last year. The Bears' first three opponents last year were Fresno State, Colorado, and Presbyterian. This year, the Bears started off with Nevada, Southern Utah and Ohio State. That's a stark contrast in level of quality opponents, with Nevada being far better than Fresno State last year, Southern Utah being better than Presbyterian, and Ohio State being exceedingly better than Colorado. Heck, Southern Utah is exceedingly better than Colorado.

As for what this says about Maynard, I'm not sure. I do think he is better now than he was at this point last season. I'm not sure you can truly dispute that. At Ohio State, he played about as well as he did during last year's 3-1 season finish, if not as well as he's ever played for the Bears. He's still inaccurate with some throws and can be flushed into forcing balls, but he's shown an increased ability to stand in the pocket and deliver throws even as things are collapsing around him. His last pass that sailed on him against OSU was his first jump pass all year, something that had been a regular (mis)tool in his arsenal last year. And again, the coaching staff is asking him to do different things this year, all for the better.

The more pressing question is whether Maynard will be a better QB this entire season, than he was last year.

Afterall, the most important stat are the wins. The Bears opened 3-0 last season in their soft opening stretch, while the Bears stumbled out of the gates this year with a 1-2 record. However, in 2011, the Bears then dropped their next three games against Washington, Oregon and USC. During this stretch, Maynard was averaging 53.5% of his passes for 861 yards, while his TD:INT ratio dropped to 2:3, and his QB rating plummetted to 110.8.

It will be very interesting to see how Maynard does in the coming weeks against USC, ASU, and UCLA. If Maynard can maintain his level of play, it might put to rest arguments that he isn't a better QB this year once and for all. As the stats have shown, it's certainly possible to have stretches of solid play only to stumble against different competition in the next.

And who knows, maybe this will translate into more wins?