[teejers1]

What we know:

1.  Stanford's offense has been middling to bad the last 3 years;
2.  The constant in this period is the head coach, who by all appearances, is "involved" in the play calling on offense.
3.  Stanford moved the ball quite effectively against SC outside the red zone, and stunk up the joint in the red zone.

What we think we know:

1.  Shaw was/is responsible for red zone calls (per comment from T. Husak on radio broadcast).

What we don't know:

1.  Exactly who calls the plays and who has responsibility for what.  I suspect Shaw has final say on everything, based on his constant examination of that plastic card in front of him and speaking into the headset when Stanford is on offense (and oh yeah, signaling in the plays to Hogan).

Based on the above, my belief is  that until Shaw removes himself from input into play calling, Stanford's offense will be consigned to mediocrity.  He can decide whether to go for it or punt; he can make a suggestion during a TO before a big/important play.  But the OC has to be given the leeway during games to make the calls.  Otherwise, (a) how can you have consistency?, and (b) how can you have accountability?  For all we know, Bloomgren is suggesting perfectly good play calls, only to be overridden by Shaw.  That is why the dumping on Bloomgren is, at best, not on a solid base.

The above, of course, is based on a certain belief as to what is actually happening now.  If, in fact, Bloomgren is calling all the plays and making all the decisions, then the argument that he has to relinquish those responsibilities is strong (if not ironclad).

But we fans really don't know for sure what the hell is going on, beyond the fact that "it isn't working." 

[teejers1]

What we know:

1.  Stanford's offense has been middling to bad the last 3 years;
2.  The constant in this period is the head coach, who by all appearances, is "involved" in the play calling on offense.
3.  Stanford moved the ball quite effectively against SC outside the red zone, and stunk up the joint in the red zone.

What we think we know:

1.  Shaw was/is responsible for red zone calls (per comment from T. Husak on radio broadcast).

What we don't know:

1.  Exactly who calls the plays and who has responsibility for what.  I suspect Shaw has final say on everything, based on his constant examination of that plastic card in front of him and speaking into the headset when Stanford is on offense (and oh yeah, signaling in the plays to Hogan).

Based on the above, my belief is  that until Shaw removes himself from input into play calling, Stanford's offense will be consigned to mediocrity.  He can decide whether to go for it or punt; he can make a suggestion during a TO before a big/important play.  But the OC has to be given the leeway during games to make the calls.  Otherwise, (a) how can you have consistency?, and (b) how can you have accountability?  For all we know, Bloomgren is suggesting perfectly good play calls, only to be overridden by Shaw.  That is why the dumping on Bloomgren is, at best, not on a solid base.

The above, of course, is based on a certain belief as to what is actually happening now.  If, in fact, Bloomgren is calling all the plays and making all the decisions, then the argument that he has to relinquish those responsibilities is strong (if not ironclad).

But we fans really don't know for sure what the hell is going on, beyond the fact that "it isn't working."