[BostonCard]

“Even the best offensive coordinators call the perfect play just seven or eight times a game,’’ said Todd Husak, the Stanford radio analyst and former quarterback. “The other 80 or 90 percent of the time, it’s up to the players.

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegespor...more-37838

BC

[BostonCard]

“Even the best offensive coordinators call the perfect play just seven or eight times a game,’’ said Todd Husak, the Stanford radio analyst and former quarterback. “The other 80 or 90 percent of the time, it’s up to the players.

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegespor...more-37838

BC

[washingtonismoney]

Well, unless you're Chip Kelly...and create an offense that eliminates the need for quality playcalling.

Anyway, I find Husak's comments to stop a bit short of fully thinking through the issue. Who recruits the players? Teaches them? Decides which ones play and which ones sit?

[washingtonismoney]

Well, unless you're Chip Kelly...and create an offense that eliminates the need for quality playcalling.

Anyway, I find Husak's comments to stop a bit short of fully thinking through the issue. Who recruits the players? Teaches them? Decides which ones play and which ones sit?

[BostonCard]

Yes, you are correct in the broad view.  But on the much narrower view of an individual game, I think Husak is making a point that you've probably made (in somewhat different words) before, which is that there is only so far that play-calling can take you.  There is a tendency of us fans to overemphasize the effect of play-calling, that if only the coaches changed their play-calling approach, outcomes would necessarily be different.

Obviously, in the broader view, the coaches are responsible for identifying, signing, and developing players.  But given all that, once you get down to a specific game, the players have to execute the football game.

Let me put it to you another way: Was Shaw that much better of a coach back when Andrew Luck was our QB, or was it that Luck was simply a once-in-a-generation QB who could have made me look like a great coach.

BC

[BostonCard]

Yes, you are correct in the broad view.  But on the much narrower view of an individual game, I think Husak is making a point that you've probably made (in somewhat different words) before, which is that there is only so far that play-calling can take you.  There is a tendency of us fans to overemphasize the effect of play-calling, that if only the coaches changed their play-calling approach, outcomes would necessarily be different.

Obviously, in the broader view, the coaches are responsible for identifying, signing, and developing players.  But given all that, once you get down to a specific game, the players have to execute the football game.

Let me put it to you another way: Was Shaw that much better of a coach back when Andrew Luck was our QB, or was it that Luck was simply a once-in-a-generation QB who could have made me look like a great coach.

BC

[OutsiderFan]

There may be only 7-8 plays a game that can be considered great play calls, but there sure as heck can be a lot more bad ones.  Moreover, great play callers are considered great simply because they keep the defense guessing, or otherwise have identified a way to attack a defense effectively.

[OutsiderFan]

There may be only 7-8 plays a game that can be considered great play calls, but there sure as heck can be a lot more bad ones.  Moreover, great play callers are considered great simply because they keep the defense guessing, or otherwise have identified a way to attack a defense effectively.

[Bruce Wang]

7 or 8 plays makes the difference in close games. Plus theres the issue of poor development and tons of mental errors. Pep was much better than Bloomgren.

[Bruce Wang]

7 or 8 plays makes the difference in close games. Plus theres the issue of poor development and tons of mental errors. Pep was much better than Bloomgren.

[fullmetal]

Seven or eight plays that just *work* usually earn 15-20 yds each...if not a score.

[fullmetal]

Seven or eight plays that just *work* usually earn 15-20 yds each...if not a score.

[Bruce Wang]

We should get the AI in an NCAA for Xbox call plays for us.

[Bruce Wang]

We should get the AI in an NCAA for Xbox call plays for us.