10-17-2012, 07:54 AM
I'll add a nuance to my perspective based on the last two posts.
Unlike somnambule, I do think we have players with the talent and skill to make our offense exciting and fun to watch. I actually think we have a lot of them. Even though Josh has consistently struggled other than the 2nd half vs. Arizona, I am not even convinced that he (much less Nottingham, Hogan, et al) doesn't have the ability to lead an offense that is fun to watch -- the jury is out on that for me, but Josh has thrown a number of catchable balls that have been dropped in every game. But Josh has played best when he (in my opinion) hasn't been forced to play in the handcuffs I think the coaches have put on him. He played well in the 2nd half vs. Arizona when we had to go for it to keep up with Arizona's torrid offense, as he did in the last drive of the 1st half at ND. My sense is that Shaw's approach is always to take the absolute minimum risks he can in order to win -- that is what I have called a play-not-to-lose approach which I find hugely frustrating and polar opposite of Harbaugh's approach. The result has been an offense that is leaden, slow (do we lead in the nation in delay of game penalties?), rigid and uncreative.
In reference to needle's comment, I think we have a lot of play-makers on this team but they either aren't getting enough chances to make plays (e.g., Kelsey Young) or they somehow haven't been able to play with the confidence they have to have to make plays. But I think the ability to do far more is there.
Unlike somnambule, I do think we have players with the talent and skill to make our offense exciting and fun to watch. I actually think we have a lot of them. Even though Josh has consistently struggled other than the 2nd half vs. Arizona, I am not even convinced that he (much less Nottingham, Hogan, et al) doesn't have the ability to lead an offense that is fun to watch -- the jury is out on that for me, but Josh has thrown a number of catchable balls that have been dropped in every game. But Josh has played best when he (in my opinion) hasn't been forced to play in the handcuffs I think the coaches have put on him. He played well in the 2nd half vs. Arizona when we had to go for it to keep up with Arizona's torrid offense, as he did in the last drive of the 1st half at ND. My sense is that Shaw's approach is always to take the absolute minimum risks he can in order to win -- that is what I have called a play-not-to-lose approach which I find hugely frustrating and polar opposite of Harbaugh's approach. The result has been an offense that is leaden, slow (do we lead in the nation in delay of game penalties?), rigid and uncreative.
In reference to needle's comment, I think we have a lot of play-makers on this team but they either aren't getting enough chances to make plays (e.g., Kelsey Young) or they somehow haven't been able to play with the confidence they have to have to make plays. But I think the ability to do far more is there.