[Spiny_Norman]

[quote author=Spiny_Norman link=topic=12063.msg117204#msg117204 date=1429833646]
Great report, Hank!  But, dang, what am I going to ask Shaw about tonight?  You covered quite a lot.

Here's what I really wanted to ask but didn't: what goes into the thought process when deciding whether or not to redshirt a kid.
[/quote]

First of all, it was a pleasure chatting with TCUFrog, another CardBoarder, at the LA Coaches event.  Despite his handle, he does have Stanford ties as a law school alum.  He is a gentleman and a scholar.  Even though he is rarely active on the board, he is a regular reader so maybe I can coax him into adding his comments on the event.

Hank, Coach Shaw indirectly addressed your question about redshirting.  He said that he does not want to play a kid until he is convinced that the player is physically, emotionally and mentally ready.  Sometimes the players make the decision for him.  Shaw used the example of Kelsey Young who asked to sit out his freshman year. And of course Andrew Luck needed a redshirt year to get a handle on the QB requirements. 

I asked about the fullback position.  Since Stanford will only have 3 FBs on the roster (a true soph, a true frosh and a walkon), might we see some different players in the backfield?  I continue to be curious about what Joey Alfieri might do back there.  Coach Shaw did not directly answer.  He said that while Stanford is perceived as a 2 back, power running team, they actually use a lot of different sets.  I think he was implying that other position players like TEs can be used as blocking backs too.  I guess we will see once the season begins.

My takeaway is that the nothing has changed with the offensive philosophy of the team.  Coach Shaw said that he underestimated how long it would take for the OL to gel.  It was 8-9 games, not 3-4.  With an experienced QB and an experienced OL, we will probably see the same offensive approach we saw in 2014.  I guess the coaches know what they are doing, but I am concerned that it makes Stanford predictable and easier for opponents to prepare for.  You are in pretty bad shape when even fans like me can predict the play from the formation which happened a fair bit towards the end of the season.

[Spiny_Norman]

[quote author=Spiny_Norman link=topic=12063.msg117204#msg117204 date=1429833646]
Great report, Hank!  But, dang, what am I going to ask Shaw about tonight?  You covered quite a lot.

Here's what I really wanted to ask but didn't: what goes into the thought process when deciding whether or not to redshirt a kid.
[/quote]

First of all, it was a pleasure chatting with TCUFrog, another CardBoarder, at the LA Coaches event.  Despite his handle, he does have Stanford ties as a law school alum.  He is a gentleman and a scholar.  Even though he is rarely active on the board, he is a regular reader so maybe I can coax him into adding his comments on the event.

Hank, Coach Shaw indirectly addressed your question about redshirting.  He said that he does not want to play a kid until he is convinced that the player is physically, emotionally and mentally ready.  Sometimes the players make the decision for him.  Shaw used the example of Kelsey Young who asked to sit out his freshman year. And of course Andrew Luck needed a redshirt year to get a handle on the QB requirements. 

I asked about the fullback position.  Since Stanford will only have 3 FBs on the roster (a true soph, a true frosh and a walkon), might we see some different players in the backfield?  I continue to be curious about what Joey Alfieri might do back there.  Coach Shaw did not directly answer.  He said that while Stanford is perceived as a 2 back, power running team, they actually use a lot of different sets.  I think he was implying that other position players like TEs can be used as blocking backs too.  I guess we will see once the season begins.

My takeaway is that the nothing has changed with the offensive philosophy of the team.  Coach Shaw said that he underestimated how long it would take for the OL to gel.  It was 8-9 games, not 3-4.  With an experienced QB and an experienced OL, we will probably see the same offensive approach we saw in 2014.  I guess the coaches know what they are doing, but I am concerned that it makes Stanford predictable and easier for opponents to prepare for.  You are in pretty bad shape when even fans like me can predict the play from the formation which happened a fair bit towards the end of the season.