[Hulk01]

The head coach is only one of the constants.  Hogan and Bloomgren are, too. 

The ultimate responsibility rests with the QB.  He has to check out of bad plays and into the better one. 

You also have to account for the variables, particularly our radical shift from a run-first power game featuring two NFL draftees at running back to an offense without a true power back in any sense, much less one worthy of second team all conference, and last year's radical shift to an offense without one tight end, much less two.  The power game relies on a block-first TE capable of making some catches. 

And finally, the power game rests on a pulling guard; Power is a pulling-guard scheme.  We haven't had one in either of the last two years.  It appears that our best candidate, and only the one ready to play this year, is Graham Shuler.

The fans calling for different and better playcalling very often suggest plays for which our talent is not well-suited, and just as often suggest plays which work once a game: Hogan keeping on the read-option.  Hogan doesn't pressure a defense with a strong threat of running away for the play side; he's capable but not dangerous.  A defense is perfectly willing to bend and allow him the occasional keeper to the back side.  It's a five-yard keeper, perhaps, with a once-every-three games exception.

And finally, we played in three consecutive BCS bowl games under Shaw.  He was the constant.  That has to be worth something.

[Hulk01]

The head coach is only one of the constants.  Hogan and Bloomgren are, too. 

The ultimate responsibility rests with the QB.  He has to check out of bad plays and into the better one. 

You also have to account for the variables, particularly our radical shift from a run-first power game featuring two NFL draftees at running back to an offense without a true power back in any sense, much less one worthy of second team all conference, and last year's radical shift to an offense without one tight end, much less two.  The power game relies on a block-first TE capable of making some catches. 

And finally, the power game rests on a pulling guard; Power is a pulling-guard scheme.  We haven't had one in either of the last two years.  It appears that our best candidate, and only the one ready to play this year, is Graham Shuler.

The fans calling for different and better playcalling very often suggest plays for which our talent is not well-suited, and just as often suggest plays which work once a game: Hogan keeping on the read-option.  Hogan doesn't pressure a defense with a strong threat of running away for the play side; he's capable but not dangerous.  A defense is perfectly willing to bend and allow him the occasional keeper to the back side.  It's a five-yard keeper, perhaps, with a once-every-three games exception.

And finally, we played in three consecutive BCS bowl games under Shaw.  He was the constant.  That has to be worth something.