[CTcard]

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

Well, Hogan for only part of 2012, and Bloomgren was only Oline in 2012.

More importantly it's worth remembering what were not constants over 2012-14.

1. The type of offense we have run. [See next section of this post, for example.]

2. The quality of the offense.
In 2013, on its own terms, the offense was at least not bad. We ran exceedingly few plays, by design, so not using stats that don't adjust for pace of play is pointless. Pace of play stats aren't perfect either, but they are what we got.
In 2013 we were,
Yds/play - 6.35, 2nd in Pac 12, 26th nationally
pts/drive - 2.67,  30th nationally
Offensive Efficiency - 22nd nationally (Football Outsiders, opponent adjusted FEI).
Things are worse in 2013, were significantly worse in 2012.

You also have to account for the variables, particularly our radical shift from a run-first power game

It would seem I am in a distinct minority, but I think a primary reason for some of the troubles is the radical shifts we have seen, particularly this year away from the run-first power game. The backs themselves are still averaging decent numbers per carry, but their carries are way down.

The primary RBs
2011 - 5.55 yds/carry; 32.8 carries/gm
2012 - 5.04 yds/carry; 29.2 carries/gm
2013 - 5.26 yds/carry; 32.0 carries/gm
2014 - 5.43 yds/carry; 18.7 carries/gm

It would seem to me that the decrease in carries per game is not justified by a decrease in yds/carry.

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.

I think you got the years wrong. Last year we had Yankey at guard, who was a pretty decent pulling guard. In 2012 we had to play Yankey at LT, which left a problem at guard. As a result we rarely ran classic Power, but didn't abandon a power-ish run game.

I agree that Shuler seems to be the best puller among the interior linemen, but occasionally I see Garnett doing a good job of it. In particular I remember a couple of nice pulls vs OSU (Young's 34 yd run near in the 4th quarter, IIRC).

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.

I actually think that play works well enough I wouldn't mind seeing more of it - 5 yds a pop would be excellent. But, it's a minor thing in the grand scheme, and isn't going to change the overall look of the offense much.

[CTcard]

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

Well, Hogan for only part of 2012, and Bloomgren was only Oline in 2012.

More importantly it's worth remembering what were not constants over 2012-14.

1. The type of offense we have run. [See next section of this post, for example.]

2. The quality of the offense.
In 2013, on its own terms, the offense was at least not bad. We ran exceedingly few plays, by design, so not using stats that don't adjust for pace of play is pointless. Pace of play stats aren't perfect either, but they are what we got.
In 2013 we were,
Yds/play - 6.35, 2nd in Pac 12, 26th nationally
pts/drive - 2.67,  30th nationally
Offensive Efficiency - 22nd nationally (Football Outsiders, opponent adjusted FEI).
Things are worse in 2013, were significantly worse in 2012.

You also have to account for the variables, particularly our radical shift from a run-first power game

It would seem I am in a distinct minority, but I think a primary reason for some of the troubles is the radical shifts we have seen, particularly this year away from the run-first power game. The backs themselves are still averaging decent numbers per carry, but their carries are way down.

The primary RBs
2011 - 5.55 yds/carry; 32.8 carries/gm
2012 - 5.04 yds/carry; 29.2 carries/gm
2013 - 5.26 yds/carry; 32.0 carries/gm
2014 - 5.43 yds/carry; 18.7 carries/gm

It would seem to me that the decrease in carries per game is not justified by a decrease in yds/carry.

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.

I think you got the years wrong. Last year we had Yankey at guard, who was a pretty decent pulling guard. In 2012 we had to play Yankey at LT, which left a problem at guard. As a result we rarely ran classic Power, but didn't abandon a power-ish run game.

I agree that Shuler seems to be the best puller among the interior linemen, but occasionally I see Garnett doing a good job of it. In particular I remember a couple of nice pulls vs OSU (Young's 34 yd run near in the 4th quarter, IIRC).

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.

I actually think that play works well enough I wouldn't mind seeing more of it - 5 yds a pop would be excellent. But, it's a minor thing in the grand scheme, and isn't going to change the overall look of the offense much.