"Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution."

"Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - Printable Version

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"Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - cardcrimson - 09-21-2019

David Shaw, post game presser.

"Three weeks in a row, we were evenly matched, but we make a few errors against really good football teams that lead to points." Shaw again, post game presser.

Was I watching the same games? We weren't evenly matched in any of the three games. Sadly, where we've been most over-matched has been in coaching. . . .

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - winflop - 09-22-2019

Can't begin to say how utterly pissed off I am by this statement, for multiple reasons.

This is the third week in a row that Shaw's thrown his players under the bus and taken ZERO accountability for him or his coaching staff. That just doesn't fly with me.

Also, he may be right about the execution, but he's not right about anything else and his answer is incomplete because he won't place take any responsibility.

Sorry to say but that is not the kind of thing someone says that I want leading the team I root for.

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - SF_Cardinal_Fan - 09-22-2019

(09-22-2019, 05:46 AM)winflop Wrote: Can't begin to say how utterly pissed off I am by this statement, for multiple reasons.

This is the third week in a row that Shaw's thrown his players under the bus and taken ZERO accountability for him or his coaching staff. That just doesn't fly with me.

Also, he may be right about the execution, but he's not right about anything else and his answer is incomplete because he won't place take any responsibility.

Sorry to say but that is not the kind of thing someone says that I want leading the team I root for.

Maybe when Shaw talks about "lack of execution" he means players and coaching staff.

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - BostonCard - 09-22-2019

I’ll say the obvious, which is that “lack of execution” is not an indictment of the players; it’s an indictment of the coaches. What Shaw is saying is that the talent level is there, which it largely is. Recruiting has been in the top-25 for years, with one bad year in 2018. Based on the talent and ability of the high school kids that came into the roster, this team should be good, or at least better than average. That we haven’t played up to our potential, whose fault do you think that is? And do you think Shaw doesn’t know that?

BC

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - cardcrimson - 09-22-2019

(09-22-2019, 08:57 AM)BostonCard Wrote: I’ll say the obvious, which is that “lack of execution” is not an indictment of the players; it’s an indictment of the coaches. What Shaw is saying is that the talent level is there, which it largely is. Recruiting has been in the top-25 for years, with one bad year in 2018. Based on the talent and ability of the high school kids that came into the roster, this team should be good, or at least better than average. That we haven’t played up to our potential, whose fault do you think that is? And do you think Shaw doesn’t know that?

BC

If it's NOT the players' execution he's referring to, what did he mean by this statement?

"Three weeks in a row, we were evenly matched, but we make a few errors against really good football teams that lead to points."

Whose errors lead to points?

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - BostonCard - 09-22-2019

Whose job is it to get the players ready to execute? I mean, who runs the practices, the film study, the scheme... maybe it’s a semantic difference, but I don’t read that as the players having made mistakes in a vacuum. I mean I suppose that he was using “we” to mean “they”, but when Shaw’s teams play well, he tends to single out players who had good games by name. And maybe he called out individual players who played poorly in the press conference, but otherwise I see no reason to believe that Shaw threw his players under the bus to excuse himself and the staff from criticism.

Otherwise, you are left with one of two conclusions. First, that no amount of improvement in how the team plays is possible, because we are qualitatively less talented than our last three opponents, and we have no right to expect better play going forward. I think that is silly and defeatist. Alternatively, one could believe that it is nothing but a few playcalling adjustments; that if we had run instead of passed, or blitzed instead of rushing four, that all our our problems would magically disappear. Personally, I think that’s too facile, but it is a non-falsifiable hypothesis.

My instinct is that Shaw is right, that the primary problem is that the plays aren’t run effectively. And I think you can fairly blame the coaches for not putting the players in a position to execute the plays effectively.

BC

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - qwerty49 - 09-22-2019

Don’t forget that Shaw has to keep the players motivated, which is immensely important at this point. By laying it on execution, he’s telling them that things will get better if they just work harder and learn their assignments better. That’s probably a better motivator than “my bad, we didn’t prepare you correctly.”

Coachspeak is like politispeak - you can parse it any way you want to.

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - CornFed - 09-22-2019

(09-22-2019, 09:04 AM)cardcrimson Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 08:57 AM)BostonCard Wrote: I’ll say the obvious, which is that “lack of execution” is not an indictment of the players; it’s an indictment of the coaches. What Shaw is saying is that the talent level is there, which it largely is. Recruiting has been in the top-25 for years, with one bad year in 2018. Based on the talent and ability of the high school kids that came into the roster, this team should be good, or at least better than average. That we haven’t played up to our potential, whose fault do you think that is? And do you think Shaw doesn’t know that?

BC

If it's NOT the players' execution he's referring to, what did he mean by this statement?

"Three weeks in a row, we were evenly matched, but we make a few errors against really good football teams that lead to points."

Whose errors lead to points?

And it would be your assertion that the players were perfect in their execution? I agree with BC. Shaw does not strike me as a person lacking introspection; nor does he seem to lack a sense of responsibility. Your effort to interpret his comments in order to imply otherwise is, I think, disingenuous.

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - ADPinWDC - 09-22-2019

IT AIN'T ABOUT EXECUTION... THE PLAYBOOK STINKS. SHADDUP!
How does WAST have an Offense 5x more productive than us? We get better athletes and play in the same division.
What do they have that we don't have? Mike Leach's innovative Playbook.
For the record, Shaw is an excellent coach and has compiled a superb record at Stanford (most wins ever; and a winning record against most of his peers) -- plus the 4 North Titles, 3 Pac-12 Crowns, and 3 Rose Bowls (all without Harbaugh; those are Shaw's), in just 8 years.
We need new blood in the Offensive Playbook. Other schools import intelligence via a new OffCO ALL THE TIME.
Just for comparison: the Hall of Famer, Bill Walsh, over FIVE seasons as Head Coach for Stanford (1977-78; 1992-94) won one Pac-10 title, with three bowl victories, compiling a record of 34-24-1, and 19-19 in Conference. Shaw by the numbers is much better than the legendary Bill Walsh, and Shaw has already demonstrated superior Recruiting capability to even Jim Harbaugh.
The issue is not CONSERVATIVE play calling, IMO. We do not have a Playbook Design AS INNOVATIVE as the University's PEDIGREE.
Walsh DID INNOVATE, with the West Coast short-passing, ball control offense (built around Darrin Nelson) to compensate for bigger defensive lines we faced back then. SO -- INNOVATE ! THIS IS STANFORD !! Obviously, what we have now IS NOT WORKING.
At 1-3, we do not have a turnaround strategy going into Corvallis, and then the Huskies come to PA.
At 2-4, if we are lucky, will we still be saying, "We were equally matched but a few plays went the other way; we did not execute our brand of football... yadda, yadda."? STOP IT. Make the decision. The Playbook stinks -- It is not just execution. Look at our simplistic grade school route combos that are EASY to cover, no guys in motion, no misdirection.
We are a 21st Century Univ with a 19th Century Offensive scheme.
DESIGN – not just execution -- is the problem! Perfect execution of lousy play schemes FAILS.

We do not show evidence of a STRATEGY to analyze and then exploit where other TEAMS are weak. The OTHER teams look at film on US, and then attack our weaknesses -- while we "try to execute our brand of football." REBOOT!
Some of the elite HIGH SCHOOLS where our players come from -- St. John Bosco, Corona Centennial, Mater Dei, have better offensive schemes than we do. MAKE THE DECISION, or we might be looking at 3-9 with THIS BRAND OF FOOTBALL.
At Stanford we expect excellence in the classroom, lab, and on the field.
The 2016 Rose Bowl with Hogan & McCaffrey was BRILLIANT; Shaw did that -- I was there. More of that.
Shaw has never lost Big Game -- DO WE NEED TO LOSE BIG GAME IN PA, before somebody makes a decision?

As of TODAY we are not “equally matched” with CAL; they are 4-0 and ranked #15, while we are on Couch Bowl alert.

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - cardcrimson - 09-22-2019

(09-22-2019, 01:51 PM)CornFed Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 09:04 AM)cardcrimson Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 08:57 AM)BostonCard Wrote: I’ll say the obvious, which is that “lack of execution” is not an indictment of the players; it’s an indictment of the coaches. What Shaw is saying is that the talent level is there, which it largely is. Recruiting has been in the top-25 for years, with one bad year in 2018. Based on the talent and ability of the high school kids that came into the roster, this team should be good, or at least better than average. That we haven’t played up to our potential, whose fault do you think that is? And do you think Shaw doesn’t know that?

BC

If it's NOT the players' execution he's referring to, what did he mean by this statement?

"Three weeks in a row, we were evenly matched, but we make a few errors against really good football teams that lead to points."

Whose errors lead to points?

And it would be your assertion that the players were perfect in their execution? I agree with BC. Shaw does not strike me as a person lacking introspection; nor does he seem to lack a sense of responsibility. Your effort to interpret his comments in order to imply otherwise is, I think, disingenuous.

Did I even mention the players performance. No. Just Shaw's comments. Nothing disingenuous at all in my interpretation, simply because it's how I interpreted his comments. Glad you read introspection and personal responsibility in his post game presser, I don't see it.

Glad both you and BC think all we need to do is execute better and we'll win the next 8, there's hope then. Relieved you think the talent level was equal the last three games, as well.

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - d4cohn - 09-22-2019

(09-22-2019, 06:15 AM)SF_Cardinal_Fan Wrote: Maybe when Shaw talks about "lack of execution" he means players and coaching staff.

Shaw specifically said, with regards to the "lack of execution", that it starts with him.

So yes, he is blaming himself and his staff for not putting his players in positions to succeed.

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - Snorlax94 - 09-22-2019

I, for the most part, agree with the statement that the problem *this week* was execution, not scheme. I think *the game's* problem, given the assets they had going into the week, was execution. There are longer-term, organizational issues that *led* to the bad situation going into the week, but I think the game plan was a good one for what they had on Monday.

I was there and was quite optimistic for a good amount of the game. First, the defense kept the team in it. That's an impressive thing to do against Oregon.

Second, more importantly, I agree with the game plan to mostly run the ball. As people around me screamed for more passing, I liked the run plays. Even in the first quarter, Oregon players weren't able to effectively tackle Cameron Scarlett. He was running great. This has been a signature way Stanford has had recent success against Oregon, and to a longer degree, UCLA. And if you can run the ball with success via PHYSICALITY in the first quarter, you're gonna run the ball even more effectively in the fourth quarter.

The problem was threefold. For this game plan to work, you needed a passing game with at least a tiny bit of credibility, which Stanford did not show yesterday. If you can mix in some passes, if you can fake some runs and successfully catch the ball, that helps ensure your running continues in its success. Second, to effectively run the ball with 3-10 yard run plays, you can't get penalties. Running the ball consistently can work if it's 1st and 10 and even 2nd and 7, but you are screwed with 1st and 25. And last, to stick with the run, you can't be behind by too many points.

The boredom, to me, is not a run-first, huddle, read-the-defense scheme. It's the lack of touchdowns. If Stanford had executed the drives without penalties, if Costello had thrown consistently, and if the receivers pulled down the balls, the drives (some of them long and consistent) could have yielded some touchdowns instead of just FG attempts, or sputtering out midfield. I would have been perfectly entertained if Stanford was able to execute its early drives mistake-free in the first half, leaned on a lead, grinded the clock, and worn down the defense late in the game. If there had been a credible threat of passing, if Stanford had been able to actually complete a drive without shooting themselves in the foot with penalties, the run game would have become even more and more successful as the game wore on.

I do think this has been a bad year, and I think it's fair for there to be some pressure and consequences for Shaw. I do think there have been some recruiting failures (in terms of numbers and targeting thin areas) in the past few years, and the thinness is coming back to haunt the team. There have been some staff changes in strength & conditioning & training, and Stanford has had a much higher rate of injury, and ultimately, the coach is responsible for the program. They are sitting next to one of the greatest research hospitals in the world with extraordinary medical professionals all over the areas, with a university that out-fundraises any other school on the planet (overall, not necessarily for sports, but it shows the potential). And, there is growing evidence that Shaw has used at least one new hire to value loyalty and buy-in and chemistry when other programs have been showing a greater willingness to find exceptional new minds to challenge him. So yes, I think it'd be fair that he should get some pressure and face some consequences to fix the organizational issues. But I don't see much benefit howling for staff changes at this moment -- it's not like you're going to get a great QBs coach in week 5 of the season.

I disagree with the constant calls for a Leach-type offense. I don't think that's necessarily the right call. I wouldn't give up on the offensive scheme yet. I'd say, fill your darn scholarship slots, recruit with more fire (like the UCF coach who drove out to the airport to convince a QB who was flying out to visit USC), get the darn medical, strength & conditioning and training support you need, demand that the AD create a schedule that isn't stupid (there would be fewer injuries and more time to practice if they were playing San Jose State, Davis, Nevada, UNLV... etc for 2 of the 3 non-conference games) and hire and fire staff in a manner more reflective of the fast-moving, super-demanding landscape. I think if Shaw did those things -- if he still has the fire in his belly to do those things -- then the offensive scheme could lead to even greater future success -- even greater than 2010, 2011 and 2015.

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - qwerty49 - 09-22-2019

I just checked the play-by-play.  Shooting ourselves in the foot killed EVERY meaningful drive we had from after our opening FG until the beginning of the 4Q.

12:27 in Q2: We're only down 7-3.  After two first downs OSB's clip turned 2nd and 10 at our 35 into 1st and 25 at the 20. Drive stalls, we punt.

1:42 in Q2: We're down 14-3 and need to get back in.  After two first downs, to the Ore 39, 2 inc's and a sack. Drive stalls, we punt.

Open the 2nd half by forcing Ore to punt. Still trying to get back in it, down 14-3.  Take over at our 8, then get a first down to the 26, then a false start by Rouse, a DOG, and a sack brings up 3rd and 28, back at the 8 again. Drive stalls, we punt.

2:27 in Q3: Still trying to get back in, down 14-3. Force Oregon to punt AGAIN, take over at our 8. Get a first down to the 27. Then complete to Parkinson for another first down at our 42, BUT Dalman caught holding and we're back to 2nd and 17 at our 17. Drive stalls, we punt.

12:41, Q4: Force Oregon to punt AGAIN. After an inc and a holding penalty that was declined, KJ throws the pick and Oregon subsequently scores to put the game away at 21-3.

So, yeah, that's FIVE straight terrible possessions while the game was arguably still in doubt. 5 penalties and 2 sacks on 5 drives.  Had we eliminated ANY of those mistakes we might have been looking at 14-10 going into Q4.

So yeah, by definition, if "execution" is not making mistakes, there's definitely a lack of execution going on. But it seems to me a better-coached team doesn't foul its own nest like that.

Say what you will about Tyrone, but his teams didn't commit stupid penalties.

It doesn't help that we are going to be behind the field position 8-ball all year with our less-than-average punting game. Tough to win when you stop them but start behind your own 10 a lot.

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - winflop - 09-22-2019

(09-22-2019, 08:57 AM)BostonCard Wrote: I’ll say the obvious, which is that “lack of execution” is not an indictment of the players; it’s an indictment of the coaches. What Shaw is saying is that the talent level is there, which it largely is. Recruiting has been in the top-25 for years, with one bad year in 2018. Based on the talent and ability of the high school kids that came into the roster, this team should be good, or at least better than average. That we haven’t played up to our potential, whose fault do you think that is? And do you think Shaw doesn’t know that?

BC

I don't think the talent level is there this year at certain position groups. Other than Michael Wilson, we don't have a single WR who can get separation. Our ILBs are a complete disaster with a converted OLB and the others hadn't played much before this season. Our safeties are converted CBs who are undersized, out of position, and taking bad angles on tackles where they are the only thing between a stop and a TD. OL is getting by but playing true freshmen.

Whose fault is that? The coaches. They haven't recruited or developed a sufficient number of talented players to match up at these positions.

(09-22-2019, 06:15 AM)SF_Cardinal_Fan Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 05:46 AM)winflop Wrote: Can't begin to say how utterly pissed off I am by this statement, for multiple reasons.

This is the third week in a row that Shaw's thrown his players under the bus and taken ZERO accountability for him or his coaching staff. That just doesn't fly with me.

Also, he may be right about the execution, but he's not right about anything else and his answer is incomplete because he won't place take any responsibility.

Sorry to say but that is not the kind of thing someone says that I want leading the team I root for.

Maybe when Shaw talks about "lack of execution" he means players and coaching staff.

Except that he then goes on to describe specific plays where execution was lacking. So it's the players. And he never says "we needed to better prepare them for the game." Nope, he's thrown his players under the bus three weeks in a row.

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - CornFed - 09-22-2019

(09-22-2019, 02:31 PM)cardcrimson Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 01:51 PM)CornFed Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 09:04 AM)cardcrimson Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 08:57 AM)BostonCard Wrote: I’ll say the obvious, which is that “lack of execution” is not an indictment of the players; it’s an indictment of the coaches. What Shaw is saying is that the talent level is there, which it largely is. Recruiting has been in the top-25 for years, with one bad year in 2018. Based on the talent and ability of the high school kids that came into the roster, this team should be good, or at least better than average. That we haven’t played up to our potential, whose fault do you think that is? And do you think Shaw doesn’t know that?

BC

If it's NOT the players' execution he's referring to, what did he mean by this statement?

"Three weeks in a row, we were evenly matched, but we make a few errors against really good football teams that lead to points."

Whose errors lead to points?

And it would be your assertion that the players were perfect in their execution? I agree with BC. Shaw does not strike me as a person lacking introspection; nor does he seem to lack a sense of responsibility. Your effort to interpret his comments in order to imply otherwise is, I think, disingenuous.

Did I even mention the players performance. No. Just Shaw's comments. Nothing disingenuous at all in my interpretation, simply because it's how I interpreted his comments. Glad you read introspection and personal responsibility in his post game presser, I don't see it.

Glad both you and BC think all we need to do is execute better and we'll win the next 8, there's hope then. Relieved you think the talent level was equal the last three games, as well.

Well, yes, in fact you did mention the players' performance. Odd that you don't recall.

And are you saying that you are limited in your insight to Coach Shaw's character entirely to the content of that press conference?

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - cardcrimson - 09-22-2019

(09-22-2019, 07:03 PM)CornFed Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 02:31 PM)cardcrimson Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 01:51 PM)CornFed Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 09:04 AM)cardcrimson Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 08:57 AM)BostonCard Wrote: I’ll say the obvious, which is that “lack of execution” is not an indictment of the players; it’s an indictment of the coaches. What Shaw is saying is that the talent level is there, which it largely is. Recruiting has been in the top-25 for years, with one bad year in 2018. Based on the talent and ability of the high school kids that came into the roster, this team should be good, or at least better than average. That we haven’t played up to our potential, whose fault do you think that is? And do you think Shaw doesn’t know that?

BC

If it's NOT the players' execution he's referring to, what did he mean by this statement?

"Three weeks in a row, we were evenly matched, but we make a few errors against really good football teams that lead to points."

Whose errors lead to points?

And it would be your assertion that the players were perfect in their execution? I agree with BC. Shaw does not strike me as a person lacking introspection; nor does he seem to lack a sense of responsibility. Your effort to interpret his comments in order to imply otherwise is, I think, disingenuous.

Did I even mention the players performance. No. Just Shaw's comments. Nothing disingenuous at all in my interpretation, simply because it's how I interpreted his comments. Glad you read introspection and personal responsibility in his post game presser, I don't see it.

Glad both you and BC think all we need to do is execute better and we'll win the next 8, there's hope then. Relieved you think the talent level was equal the last three games, as well.

Well, yes, in fact you did mention the players' performance. Odd that you don't recall.

And are you saying that you are limited in your insight to Coach Shaw's character entirely to the content of that press conference?

Where in this thread did I comment on player's performance? It's not there.

And where did I say I'm basing my insights on Shaw's character to the content of the press conference. Again, no mention of his character by me. Sheesh.

All I said that we've been outcoached in the last three games and inferred that Shaw's comments seemed to point the blame at the players execution.

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - CornFed - 09-22-2019

(09-22-2019, 07:37 PM)cardcrimson Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 07:03 PM)CornFed Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 02:31 PM)cardcrimson Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 01:51 PM)CornFed Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 09:04 AM)cardcrimson Wrote: If it's NOT the players' execution he's referring to, what did he mean by this statement?

"Three weeks in a row, we were evenly matched, but we make a few errors against really good football teams that lead to points."

Whose errors lead to points?

And it would be your assertion that the players were perfect in their execution? I agree with BC. Shaw does not strike me as a person lacking introspection; nor does he seem to lack a sense of responsibility. Your effort to interpret his comments in order to imply otherwise is, I think, disingenuous.

Did I even mention the players performance. No. Just Shaw's comments. Nothing disingenuous at all in my interpretation, simply because it's how I interpreted his comments. Glad you read introspection and personal responsibility in his post game presser, I don't see it.

Glad both you and BC think all we need to do is execute better and we'll win the next 8, there's hope then. Relieved you think the talent level was equal the last three games, as well.

Well, yes, in fact you did mention the players' performance. Odd that you don't recall.

And are you saying that you are limited in your insight to Coach Shaw's character entirely to the content of that press conference?

Where in this thread did I comment on player's performance? It's not there.

And where did I say I'm basing my insights on Shaw's character to the content of the press conference. Again, no mention of his character by me. Sheesh.

All I said that we've been outcoached in the last three games and inferred that Shaw's comments seemed to point the blame at the players execution.

"If it's NOT the players' execution he's referring to, what did he mean by this statement?"

"Glad you read introspection and personal responsibility in his post game presser, I don't see it."

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - cardcrimson - 09-22-2019

(09-22-2019, 08:08 PM)CornFed Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 07:37 PM)cardcrimson Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 07:03 PM)CornFed Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 02:31 PM)cardcrimson Wrote:
(09-22-2019, 01:51 PM)CornFed Wrote: And it would be your assertion that the players were perfect in their execution? I agree with BC. Shaw does not strike me as a person lacking introspection; nor does he seem to lack a sense of responsibility. Your effort to interpret his comments in order to imply otherwise is, I think, disingenuous.

Did I even mention the players performance. No. Just Shaw's comments. Nothing disingenuous at all in my interpretation, simply because it's how I interpreted his comments. Glad you read introspection and personal responsibility in his post game presser, I don't see it.

Glad both you and BC think all we need to do is execute better and we'll win the next 8, there's hope then. Relieved you think the talent level was equal the last three games, as well.

Well, yes, in fact you did mention the players' performance. Odd that you don't recall.

And are you saying that you are limited in your insight to Coach Shaw's character entirely to the content of that press conference?

Where in this thread did I comment on player's performance? It's not there.

And where did I say I'm basing my insights on Shaw's character to the content of the press conference. Again, no mention of his character by me. Sheesh.

All I said that we've been outcoached in the last three games and inferred that Shaw's comments seemed to point the blame at the players execution.

"If it's NOT the players' execution he's referring to, what did he mean by this statement?"

"Glad you read introspection and personal responsibility in his post game presser, I don't see it."

HE'S BLAMING THE PLAYERS EXECUTION. NOT ME! Good Lord.

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - 81alum - 09-22-2019

Our defense played much better in our Saturday loss than I expected. It played well enough to win, had the offense held up better. And of course the defense would have looked better yet if our offense had given them more to work with. The defensive success was despite the fact that we were going up against arguable the best passing quarterback in college football. So for all the problems with safety and inner linebacker--the defense played well enough to win against the high powered offense of the Ducks, and utterly unlike prior weeks, we actually got some pressure on the quarterback.

The running game, too, is doing well enough to win. Scarlett is averaging 4.6 yards per carry this season, which is better than we mostly expected, I think, given the uncertainties about the O-line. Certainly good enough to support a ball control offense if the passing game were there. Stefan Taylor averaged 4.8 his senior year, for comparison.

I agree that much of the offense's problem are holding penalties committed by our shallow O-line. That probably is a function of starting so many youngsters. Hopefully that will improve.

But the shock came where many of us least expected it. Our passing game has dramatically regressed. We were led to believe that our wide receivers were young but excellent--just needing opportunities to step up. But it seems as if this is where we badly miscalculated. The receivers so far seem too slow and also often fail to run good routes, such as when Fehoko allows his cover to nudge him out of bounds.

As for quarterback, Costello has--for one reason or another--lost his accuracy. Shaw said that for our offense to work well this year Costello needed to up his accuracy to the 70% range. Last year was 65%. He is now down to 56%. Worse, he is averaging only 5 yards per attempt--far too few to keep the secondary back on its heels. They can easily cover all our wide receivers 1 on 1 and then double on Parkinson.

I'm not sure how to diagnose this disease. Is it the talent level of the receivers? Weddington and St. Brown were 4 stars. Is it that Costello has been injured and is not his old self? He doesn't look like last year's Pac 12 efficiency leader. Is it an unimaginative passing game? Is it all of these things at once?

We need our defense and running game not to regress, we need our frosh linemen to iron out how to block without holding, and we need for Costello to become more accurate (or we need to start Mills.) If we can do all those things, then we will win some games this year.

Will we do these things? Only time will tell.

RE: "Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution." - Snorlax94 - 09-22-2019

I think a fuller excerpt of his post-game statement makes things quite clear.

“So we are in process to play our best football. We haven’t seen it, haven’t shown it on game day. There’s so much more on this football team, and we’ve got to get it out of us. It starts with me, finding a way to get us to play better.

There are times where we play really, really well, and there are times where we're a little sloppy. Not going to blame it on anything other than our execution...

So I'm not going to hit the panic button. I don't have a panic button. There's no panic button. There is focusing on what we need to focus on, make sure we have guys in position to do their jobs, make sure we have the right guys in there to do those jobs.

Trust the character of this football team, trust our work ethic, trust our resilience.”

I don’t see how one interprets this as throwing the players under the bus.

I will repeat, for clarity, “There’s so much more on this football team, and we’ve got to get it out of us. It starts with me, finding a way to get us to play better.”

Source: https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2019/09/what-stanford-coach-david-shaw-said-after-losing-to-oregon-ducks.html