[washingtonismoney]

The difference in those other games was Stanford was running the ball effectively.  That was not the case against Michigan State.

Not really... Stanford's had a few games this year when we haven't been terribly effective running (e.g. SC*, Cal). That doesn't change those two observations about the passing offense. They don't trust Hogan to throw a lot or intermediate.

* this is a case when the stats are deceptive. Remember, half those yards were gained on a play that should've been a stop and a third-down draw play. Not really an effective running day at all.

Not to mention that during the loss against Utah, shaw was assailed for abandoning our identity.

Yeah, Shaw is attacked for lack of creativity/variety until he actually does something different and unpredictable.

The real problem with those two plays against Utah was targeting TEs and not involving some sort of play action or run fake. The other underlying issue is overreliance on TEs in the first place. I'm not a fan of having three of the five skill players not be threats to touch the ball, and I maintain the Cajuste/Rector/Montgomery/Hewitt/Gaffney combination was probably our best.

[washingtonismoney]

The difference in those other games was Stanford was running the ball effectively.  That was not the case against Michigan State.

Not really... Stanford's had a few games this year when we haven't been terribly effective running (e.g. SC*, Cal). That doesn't change those two observations about the passing offense. They don't trust Hogan to throw a lot or intermediate.

* this is a case when the stats are deceptive. Remember, half those yards were gained on a play that should've been a stop and a third-down draw play. Not really an effective running day at all.

Not to mention that during the loss against Utah, shaw was assailed for abandoning our identity.

Yeah, Shaw is attacked for lack of creativity/variety until he actually does something different and unpredictable.

The real problem with those two plays against Utah was targeting TEs and not involving some sort of play action or run fake. The other underlying issue is overreliance on TEs in the first place. I'm not a fan of having three of the five skill players not be threats to touch the ball, and I maintain the Cajuste/Rector/Montgomery/Hewitt/Gaffney combination was probably our best.