01-03-2017, 07:33 PM
I join others in applauding the job that Coach Shaw has done since taking the reins.
That said, I think one of the nagging feelings that I have is that it seems like we leave more points on the field on a regular basis than some other teams of slightly higher success (and in this rarefied air small differences separate conference championship game contestants/Rose Bowl champs from playoff contestants/national champs).
Merely two data points:
(1) Conrad Ukropina has had an amazing career, but the greatness of his record 22 made FGs this season also, of course, reveals that he had at least 22 attempts. Indeed, he was 3rd nationally in attempts/game. He was 6/6 from 20-29 yards (meaning line of scrimmage was 3-12 yard line) and 6/7 from 30-39 (meaning line of scrimmage was 13-22 yard line).
(2) Among teams with this many (or more) made FGs, we are easily one of the lowest scoring teams (i.e. most teams that have a lot of made FGs are also scoring a lot of TDs (or at least significantly more than we do)).
Yes, there are alternate explanations for Ukropina's high usage rate, and there are other data points unrelated to placekicking that speak to leaving points on the field (or not leaving points on the field) - my post is already getting too long...
What would the ramifications be and why complain during the golden era of Stanford football? We've had ridiculously wonderful success in winning Pac 12 championships and Rose Bowls, but might we have made it to the CFP by now or played in (and won?) a national championship during this era? Not an exact parallel, but not completely lacking in usefulness, Ducks fans saw their team play in 2 championship games and lose both, and now fear they are on the downhill side without ever having reached the pinnacle (though having enjoyed a historically great run).
Far from a complaint about Shaw, but wouldn't it be great if this golden era included a national championship (or participation in a national championship game)?
That said, I think one of the nagging feelings that I have is that it seems like we leave more points on the field on a regular basis than some other teams of slightly higher success (and in this rarefied air small differences separate conference championship game contestants/Rose Bowl champs from playoff contestants/national champs).
Merely two data points:
(1) Conrad Ukropina has had an amazing career, but the greatness of his record 22 made FGs this season also, of course, reveals that he had at least 22 attempts. Indeed, he was 3rd nationally in attempts/game. He was 6/6 from 20-29 yards (meaning line of scrimmage was 3-12 yard line) and 6/7 from 30-39 (meaning line of scrimmage was 13-22 yard line).
(2) Among teams with this many (or more) made FGs, we are easily one of the lowest scoring teams (i.e. most teams that have a lot of made FGs are also scoring a lot of TDs (or at least significantly more than we do)).
Yes, there are alternate explanations for Ukropina's high usage rate, and there are other data points unrelated to placekicking that speak to leaving points on the field (or not leaving points on the field) - my post is already getting too long...
What would the ramifications be and why complain during the golden era of Stanford football? We've had ridiculously wonderful success in winning Pac 12 championships and Rose Bowls, but might we have made it to the CFP by now or played in (and won?) a national championship during this era? Not an exact parallel, but not completely lacking in usefulness, Ducks fans saw their team play in 2 championship games and lose both, and now fear they are on the downhill side without ever having reached the pinnacle (though having enjoyed a historically great run).
Far from a complaint about Shaw, but wouldn't it be great if this golden era included a national championship (or participation in a national championship game)?