10-28-2016, 10:50 AM
This is an excellent article, and Hank has made a tremendous effort here to put things in perspective. I've a small disagreement with him regarding the presumption that most of the discontented fans (are there any satisfied ones this week?) are worried about an apocalyptic decline in Stanford football. Winning the remaining games is certainly not out of question, but I remember consoling my buddy at Old Pro with that thought after the game against the Huskies :)
I'd guess that most of the discontented Cardinal fans are frustrated by the under-performance of a talented team, despite injuries. Overall, Stanford is more talented than Wazoo or Colorado yet they lose at home to both in disheartening fashion. The offense sputters with the best college football player in the backfield and a QB who has spent 3+ seasons in the system. Yes, there are 3 starters in the O line but it isn't like they are true freshmen. Fans like me who have followed Cardinal football from the mid-80s and have witnessed multiple rise and fall of the program are astounded by the high talent level of the players in the team over the last 5 years. My frustration has been that these talented players on offense have not got the high level of coaching (or imaginative play calling) they deserve under Shaw's tenure. Our best coaches are on defense (except Bloomgren as O line coach).
However, this year my frustration has mellowed into acceptance that David Shaw will remain who he is. He has brought spectacular success using a formula where defense is stout (except when beset with injuries) and the offense hums along every two out of three years when the O line is clicking. One can't question success, especially survivors of Teevens-Harris catastrophe. Shaw will not bring in innovative offensive coaching minds who may stray from his approach. We need a Akina-level experienced QB coach (Pritchard could learn from him). But I don't think that will happen. I'm just disappointed at wasting McCaffrey's talent this season. And I hope that Shaw finds another stud DC when Anderson leaves for a HC position.
I'd guess that most of the discontented Cardinal fans are frustrated by the under-performance of a talented team, despite injuries. Overall, Stanford is more talented than Wazoo or Colorado yet they lose at home to both in disheartening fashion. The offense sputters with the best college football player in the backfield and a QB who has spent 3+ seasons in the system. Yes, there are 3 starters in the O line but it isn't like they are true freshmen. Fans like me who have followed Cardinal football from the mid-80s and have witnessed multiple rise and fall of the program are astounded by the high talent level of the players in the team over the last 5 years. My frustration has been that these talented players on offense have not got the high level of coaching (or imaginative play calling) they deserve under Shaw's tenure. Our best coaches are on defense (except Bloomgren as O line coach).
However, this year my frustration has mellowed into acceptance that David Shaw will remain who he is. He has brought spectacular success using a formula where defense is stout (except when beset with injuries) and the offense hums along every two out of three years when the O line is clicking. One can't question success, especially survivors of Teevens-Harris catastrophe. Shaw will not bring in innovative offensive coaching minds who may stray from his approach. We need a Akina-level experienced QB coach (Pritchard could learn from him). But I don't think that will happen. I'm just disappointed at wasting McCaffrey's talent this season. And I hope that Shaw finds another stud DC when Anderson leaves for a HC position.