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Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - Printable Version

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Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - Redrum - 11-16-2013

EVER EVER EVER EVER.  David Shaw's contract will be modified to reflect that if he EVER runs the wildcat play in the first half of a game, he will be terminated at halftime OR  if he runs the wildcat in the second half he will be terminated  before he gets on the team bus.  Lane Kiffin will be put on retainer to drive Shaw home.

Re: Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - stupac2 - 11-16-2013

Huh? Didn't the first wildcat play gain a bunch of yards?

Re: Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - needle - 11-16-2013

I've been a solid (albeit silent) Hogan backer throughout this season (it probably helped that I only saw the second half of the Utah game).

I still think he should be the starter heading into spring ball (as opposed to open competition). But if Burns or even Crower look better, let the competition begin.

Re: Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - pincemob - 11-16-2013

I agree the Wildcat is horrible.  Hogan can run the fly sweep if that is the intention of it. 

The only thing I was not clear on was whether Hogan's cramps explained why Gaffney was in there on 1st-and-Goal at the 5. 

Redzone playcalling was atrocious.  Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't we almost run the clock out on ourselves at the end of the 1st half by running a slant that could have been tackled in-bounds? 

Re: Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - OutsiderFan - 11-16-2013

(11-16-2013, 10:10 PM)norcalcard link Wrote:I agree the Wildcat is horrible. Redzone playcalling was atrocious.  Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't we almost run the clock out on ourselves at the end of the 1st half by running a slant that could have been tackled in-bounds?

I don't like the wildcat either.  I groaned when Gaffney went into the wildcat on 1st and goal from the 5.  The only way that formation really works is when the runner is a passing threat.  I've never seen a Stanford RB throw in the wildcat, and neither has USC, so they stuffed it.  Frankly, I'd rather spread the field and run a QB draw with Hogan or run the zone read.

And yes, they almost did fritter away the FG at the end of the first half.  Shaw ran the play clock down and then they ran a slant thrown outside the end zone.  Had Montgomery caught it and been tackled before the end zone, Stanford would have trailed 17-7 at half.

Stanford's red zone offense is generally awful.  I haven't liked the Lloyd package, the Rollins Stallworth fades, the wildcat, or the end arounds with extra ball handling that have routinely been called this year. 

Except when it works! - jacketree - 11-16-2013

I'd like to see a ban on calling for field goals that get blocked

Re: Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - washingtonismoney - 11-16-2013

I've never understood the generalized animus against the wildcat. The deployment here sucked, but it's exponentially more effective when Young or Sanders is running the fly sweep option. Other than that it's nowhere near as ineffective as it's portrayed.

Anybody enough of a maven to have kept track? - Redrum - 11-16-2013

Of it's success vs. failure?  My notional memory is that it fails more than it succeeds, mainly because  opposing coaches know we are one of the few teams that keep it in our active playbook.  It's a RUN every time.  The wildcat's teeth have been pulled.

Re: Anybody enough of a maven to have kept track? - washingtonismoney - 11-16-2013

(11-16-2013, 10:35 PM)Redrum link Wrote:Of it's success vs. failure?  My notional memory is that it fails more than it succeeds, mainly because  opposing coaches know we are one of the few teams that keep it in our active playbook.  It's a RUN every time.  The wildcat's teeth have been pulled.

Whether or not the defense can identify it's a run for sure doesn't matter. That's always been the case for the wildcat formation for whichever team is running it. No, the question is whether there are sufficient options offered by the play to distract the defense. If Young or Sanders is running the fly sweep, there is -- feel free to continue. If they aren't it's stupid.

Re: Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - pincemob - 11-16-2013

Quote:Stanford's red zone offense is generally awful.  I haven't liked the Lloyd package, the Rollins Stallworth fades, the wildcat, or the end arounds with extra ball handling that have routinely been called this year.

Add to that the plays at the end of the Utah game with Charlie Hopkins and some other guy with a number in the 90s running some sort of pick play or whatever that was supposed to be.   


Re: Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - washingtonismoney - 11-16-2013

(11-16-2013, 10:40 PM)norcalcard link Wrote:Add to that the plays at the end of the Utah game with Charlie Hopkins and some other guy with a number in the 90s running some sort of pick play or whatever that was supposed to be. 

Yeah, you've identified one of the three big problems with the offense:
1) Hogan: the most erratic QB in the conference, possibly the country. See here: http://www.ruleoftree.com/2013/11/4/5055850/behind-the-numbers-putting-stanfords-passing-game-under-the-microscope (and the mystery has only deepened with Hogan's 99 QBR game against Oregon, followed by...whatever that was today.)
2) offensive line road struggles: 6 of Stanford's 9 sacks have been on the road; and while I'm sure dabigv will be happy to disagree, but it wasn't great today either.
3) the bizarre personnel choices from the offensive braintrust, which has loved to throw out converted defensive ends and walk-ons when there are athletes like Rector, Young and Sanders who are underused.

Re: Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - OutsiderFan - 11-16-2013

The Niners and Stanford are practically mirror images of each other.  Great defense, physical run games, and passing attacks that are as dull as a bowling ball.

Given the WR talent Stanford now has, and the young TEs, not to mention Barry Sanders, who I nelieve can be a dominant 3rd down RB, it seems it would behoove Stanford to bring in a passing game expert to add some more dynamic offensive schemes to the power run game.

Re: Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - washingtonismoney - 11-16-2013

(11-16-2013, 10:56 PM)OutsiderFan link Wrote:The Niners and Stanford are practically mirror images of each other.  Great defense, physical run games, and passing attacks that are as dull as a bowling ball.

Very similar, but the Niners' playmakers are all out. Stanford's keeps its healthy playmakers off the field far too often. But the QBs are living somewhat similar stories: both dual-threat QBs who shone as midseason replacements who are up-and-down in their second seasons. And both weaknesses are similar: don't seem to process the game quickly and accurately enough. The trouble with that problem, from the coach's perspective, is sometimes it works itself out with experience...but usually it doesn't.

So, among other things, Shaw should think about a QB competition next year. (He should also designate or hire an assistant whose sole job is to yell at him, "ARE YOU PLAYING YOUR BEST PLAYERS THIS PLAY? YOU SURE?" every single play.)

Re: Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - Extra Point - 11-16-2013

The wild cat has almost always gotten positive yardage. While it has not produced many long gains, it has done something that never shows up in the box score: Opponents have to spend significant practice time preparing for it. I also find it interesting that every week there is a new wrinkle added. Today the fly sweep was run out of the wild cat.

Re: Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - fullmetal - 11-17-2013

I swear the fly sweep has been run out of the wildcat before...?  But maybe we can do something conventional, like start out in the wildcat but just run a simple counter to the side from which the sweeping receiver is running.  You know, simple plays that come out of an exotic formation.

Re: Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - JohnR34231 - 11-17-2013

(11-17-2013, 07:06 AM)garvin link Wrote:I'm not sure that wildcat play failed conceptually. Its not like the whole thing blew up; a single U.S.C. guy (I believe a linebacker) beat his man and got into the backfield. That could have happened with another formation, too.

Yeah, I think the wildcat has become kind of a lightning rod for the frustration many fans feel over the play calling.

Re: Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - Oasis - 11-17-2013

On first and goal from the six, we had better options.

Re: Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - Rando - 11-17-2013

Barry Sanders would have guided is to a win. .............    ::)

Re: Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - Hank 91 - 11-17-2013

I've gone back and forth on the Wildcat, from loving it to hating it. I still like it when the jet sweep is involved and it really plays more like a read option. At least then the defense has to react to one thing or another. I definitely do NOT like it when it's simply Gaffney and no other options. I think that any time the defense doesn't have to honor any other possibilities -- no pass, no outside run, no option -- the offense is doing them a favor.

Re: Rule #1. From now on NO WILDCAT! NEVER EVER... - Rando - 11-17-2013

I think wildcat isn't our biggest problem right now. If  it's anything more than anything else it's playcalling; specifically when to run and when to pass. But honestly you can place the blame on the entire team. We were outplayed on the road against a really good team. It happens. It took Luck 3 OT's to beat this team.