[Hulk01]

Excellent observations.

I'd offer an added reason that many Stanford fans think Stanford's offense is too predictable, and even dull. 

It's because those fans have seen this Stanford offense now for a decade.  It's the Harbs offense with a few new wrinkles and plays each year.

And fans have seen it so often there is no element of surprise--until Hogan fakes a fumble and throws deep for a TD, say.

I suspect fans would have the same reaction if they'd rooted for Chip Kelly's team for several years.  (Thanks for the lead in).  Inside zone-read give, inside zone-read keep--over and over.  And over.

Then there's the zone-read fake, quick bubble right. 
Then the zone-read fake, bubble fake, deep ball.

Over and over.

Not much more than that.

The pros figured it out.  They knew what Kelly was going to do from the formation alone.  And not just generally--not just "they're going to run."  Defenses knew exactly where the Eagles were going to run.  End of Chip Kelly's offense in the NFL.

Scott Frost's very good UCF offense isn't that different.  And you watched his offenses 13-14 times a year for a couple seasons, you might start yearning for less predictability and more variety--particularly if your Frost team is losing a couple or more games a year.  You'd start blaming the apparent sameness of the offense for the losses.

Again, terrific post.  Thank you!

[Hulk01]

Excellent observations.

I'd offer an added reason that many Stanford fans think Stanford's offense is too predictable, and even dull. 

It's because those fans have seen this Stanford offense now for a decade.  It's the Harbs offense with a few new wrinkles and plays each year.

And fans have seen it so often there is no element of surprise--until Hogan fakes a fumble and throws deep for a TD, say.

I suspect fans would have the same reaction if they'd rooted for Chip Kelly's team for several years.  (Thanks for the lead in).  Inside zone-read give, inside zone-read keep--over and over.  And over.

Then there's the zone-read fake, quick bubble right. 
Then the zone-read fake, bubble fake, deep ball.

Over and over.

Not much more than that.

The pros figured it out.  They knew what Kelly was going to do from the formation alone.  And not just generally--not just "they're going to run."  Defenses knew exactly where the Eagles were going to run.  End of Chip Kelly's offense in the NFL.

Scott Frost's very good UCF offense isn't that different.  And you watched his offenses 13-14 times a year for a couple seasons, you might start yearning for less predictability and more variety--particularly if your Frost team is losing a couple or more games a year.  You'd start blaming the apparent sameness of the offense for the losses.

Again, terrific post.  Thank you!