[stupac2]

That's what gets me, this team didn't start sucking until playing UCLA, where everyone got hurt. How did we go from 100+ rushing yards before contact to <100 total rushing yards? Either KSU and USC are just terrible (which I don't think is true) or something changed, and we didn't change scheme so I'm wondering if everyone's just hurt.

So far no one has mentioned McCaffrey coming off the field, did the broadcast talk about it? I'd been wondering about him and am starting to think that he was hurt against UCLA (or early against UW) as well. Little things can have dramatic effects if it's a lower body issue.

Also of note: Shaw called a lot of the stuff people were calling for, rollouts, deep passes, etc. None of it really worked.

[stupac2]

That's what gets me, this team didn't start sucking until playing UCLA, where everyone got hurt. How did we go from 100+ rushing yards before contact to <100 total rushing yards? Either KSU and USC are just terrible (which I don't think is true) or something changed, and we didn't change scheme so I'm wondering if everyone's just hurt.

So far no one has mentioned McCaffrey coming off the field, did the broadcast talk about it? I'd been wondering about him and am starting to think that he was hurt against UCLA (or early against UW) as well. Little things can have dramatic effects if it's a lower body issue.

Also of note: Shaw called a lot of the stuff people were calling for, rollouts, deep passes, etc. None of it really worked.

[81alum]

Well, it is clear now that our defense is good when healthy and mediocre when not.  But with a few injuries it seems we do not have as much quality depth as we hoped.  Still, if our offense controlled the ball more, as it did during our first two games, our defense is good enough to put us in a position to win.

So while the defense is a mixed bag, there is nothing mixed about our offense.  Our receiving corps is probably better, but everything else has degraded.  Our quarterback is capable but inexperienced and we are seeing exactly how damaging that is in this kind of offensive scheme.  Todd Husak pointed out frequent broken coverages by WSU that Burns simply did not see.  Getting the game to slow down to the point you can see the whole field and take advantage of defensive mistakes is something that does not happen instantly.  Even so, Burns looks like he can be capable enough provided we are running a balanced offense.

So let's be absolutely clear.  The last two games have been a disaster because the opposing defensive coordinators were able to lock down our running game.  All those offensive linemen did not suddenly become incompetent between one game and the next--it cannot ALL be execution.  This is scheme in some way.  Opposing coaches are deliberately exploiting something they see in our scheme.  I'm not competent to say what it is--whether it is run blitzes or overstacked boxes or whatever.  We simply must find a way to counter whatever it is they are doing, and it is not enough to say that we just need to play better.  We don't seem to have a Murphy or a Garnett to take off the shelf.

[81alum]

Well, it is clear now that our defense is good when healthy and mediocre when not.  But with a few injuries it seems we do not have as much quality depth as we hoped.  Still, if our offense controlled the ball more, as it did during our first two games, our defense is good enough to put us in a position to win.

So while the defense is a mixed bag, there is nothing mixed about our offense.  Our receiving corps is probably better, but everything else has degraded.  Our quarterback is capable but inexperienced and we are seeing exactly how damaging that is in this kind of offensive scheme.  Todd Husak pointed out frequent broken coverages by WSU that Burns simply did not see.  Getting the game to slow down to the point you can see the whole field and take advantage of defensive mistakes is something that does not happen instantly.  Even so, Burns looks like he can be capable enough provided we are running a balanced offense.

So let's be absolutely clear.  The last two games have been a disaster because the opposing defensive coordinators were able to lock down our running game.  All those offensive linemen did not suddenly become incompetent between one game and the next--it cannot ALL be execution.  This is scheme in some way.  Opposing coaches are deliberately exploiting something they see in our scheme.  I'm not competent to say what it is--whether it is run blitzes or overstacked boxes or whatever.  We simply must find a way to counter whatever it is they are doing, and it is not enough to say that we just need to play better.  We don't seem to have a Murphy or a Garnett to take off the shelf.

[winflop]

I don't care who's under center or who's at DL & ILB & DB.  If this OL can't block anyone this team's season will end in November (i.e., sub-.500 and no bowl game).

Bloomgren has now be OL & OC the last four seasons.  In 2013 & 2015 he had NFL talent on the line and they didn't need a full-time coach.  In 2014 with a lot of new and relatively inexperienced players, they struggled.  I see the same thing this year.

I really think Shaw needs to find someone to be a full-time OL coach.  Maybe combine TE & OC.  I doubt Bloomgren would take the demotion, and I'm not going to shed any tears if he left.

[winflop]

I don't care who's under center or who's at DL & ILB & DB.  If this OL can't block anyone this team's season will end in November (i.e., sub-.500 and no bowl game).

Bloomgren has now be OL & OC the last four seasons.  In 2013 & 2015 he had NFL talent on the line and they didn't need a full-time coach.  In 2014 with a lot of new and relatively inexperienced players, they struggled.  I see the same thing this year.

I really think Shaw needs to find someone to be a full-time OL coach.  Maybe combine TE & OC.  I doubt Bloomgren would take the demotion, and I'm not going to shed any tears if he left.

[Viking_Guy]

The OL struggles had one exemplar for me last night.

Midway through the third quarter, game still somewhat in sight.  3rd and 5 or so deep in our own end, Burns drops to pass.  Unfortunately, the entire right side of Stanford's line gets pushed right into his lap step-for-step as he drops, and in trying to slip through, the d-lineman sheds his block and locks up Burns' legs.

RT and RG literally being pushed backwards as fast as the QB can drop.  Ugh.

VG

[Viking_Guy]

The OL struggles had one exemplar for me last night.

Midway through the third quarter, game still somewhat in sight.  3rd and 5 or so deep in our own end, Burns drops to pass.  Unfortunately, the entire right side of Stanford's line gets pushed right into his lap step-for-step as he drops, and in trying to slip through, the d-lineman sheds his block and locks up Burns' legs.

RT and RG literally being pushed backwards as fast as the QB can drop.  Ugh.

VG

[thunder_chik]

I don't care who's under center or who's at DL & ILB & DB.  If this OL can't block anyone this team's season will end in November (i.e., sub-.500 and no bowl game).

Bloomgren has now be OL & OC the last four seasons.  In 2013 & 2015 he had NFL talent on the line and they didn't need a full-time coach.  In 2014 with a lot of new and relatively inexperienced players, they struggled.  I see the same thing this year.

I really think Shaw needs to find someone to be a full-time OL coach.  Maybe combine TE & OC.  I doubt Bloomgren would take the demotion, and I'm not going to shed any tears if he left.

I concur.  Our key problem right now is the O line.  Without adequate blocking for QB protection and opening lanes for the running game, we are toast.

Given our deficiencies, some reorganization of coaching assignments seems reasonable.  Not sure what that specifically looks like.  I'm concerned that Tavita P., whose only experience as a player and a coach is at Stanford, doesn't have the breadth or depth of experience to develop our QBs, who look to need more help than Luck and Hogan did.

[thunder_chik]

I don't care who's under center or who's at DL & ILB & DB.  If this OL can't block anyone this team's season will end in November (i.e., sub-.500 and no bowl game).

Bloomgren has now be OL & OC the last four seasons.  In 2013 & 2015 he had NFL talent on the line and they didn't need a full-time coach.  In 2014 with a lot of new and relatively inexperienced players, they struggled.  I see the same thing this year.

I really think Shaw needs to find someone to be a full-time OL coach.  Maybe combine TE & OC.  I doubt Bloomgren would take the demotion, and I'm not going to shed any tears if he left.

I concur.  Our key problem right now is the O line.  Without adequate blocking for QB protection and opening lanes for the running game, we are toast.

Given our deficiencies, some reorganization of coaching assignments seems reasonable.  Not sure what that specifically looks like.  I'm concerned that Tavita P., whose only experience as a player and a coach is at Stanford, doesn't have the breadth or depth of experience to develop our QBs, who look to need more help than Luck and Hogan did.

[TRD]

I don't think those hits are the problematic ones, because there's not really enough space for players to get moving rapidly and collide with a lot of energy.

I'm not worried about lower body injuries, I'm specifically troubled by head injuries. If you haven't seen Frontline's two part report on head injuries, I strongly recommend it (available on line).

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/l...of-denial/

The part related to the high school players who did not experience a concussion (based on accelerometer data) but demonstrated decreased cognitive function post-season, was particularly disturbing.

[TRD]

I don't think those hits are the problematic ones, because there's not really enough space for players to get moving rapidly and collide with a lot of energy.

I'm not worried about lower body injuries, I'm specifically troubled by head injuries. If you haven't seen Frontline's two part report on head injuries, I strongly recommend it (available on line).

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/l...of-denial/

The part related to the high school players who did not experience a concussion (based on accelerometer data) but demonstrated decreased cognitive function post-season, was particularly disturbing.