[BostonCard]

https://twitter.com/GoStanford/status/66...7948338176

What's impressive is that three of them (the play fake out of the Ogre, the reverse to Love, and the halfback toss, were "trick plays").

BC

[BostonCard]

https://twitter.com/GoStanford/status/66...7948338176

What's impressive is that three of them (the play fake out of the Ogre, the reverse to Love, and the halfback toss, were "trick plays").

BC

[cardcrimson]

Brilliant calls.An epiphany perhaps?

[cardcrimson]

Brilliant calls.An epiphany perhaps?

[BostonCard]

Maybe, but the way we were rolling, conventional plays would have also worked.  We scored the old fashioned way on a goal to go play with Wright earlier in the game.  By the time McCaffrey was throwing touchdown passes, the Colorado defense had been on the field 30 minutes, and probably would have rolled over for anything we ran.

BC

[BostonCard]

Maybe, but the way we were rolling, conventional plays would have also worked.  We scored the old fashioned way on a goal to go play with Wright earlier in the game.  By the time McCaffrey was throwing touchdown passes, the Colorado defense had been on the field 30 minutes, and probably would have rolled over for anything we ran.

BC

[cardcrimson]

Maybe I'm giving too much credit or missed that we tipped our hand, but they certainly give Oregon, Cal, and Notre Dame something to think about.

[cardcrimson]

Maybe I'm giving too much credit or missed that we tipped our hand, but they certainly give Oregon, Cal, and Notre Dame something to think about.

[Hank 91]

Maybe I'm giving too much credit or missed that we tipped our hand, but they certainly give Oregon, Low APR U, and the University of Dead Fake Girlfriends something to think about.

The more they have to think about -- and game plan for -- the better.

[Hank 91]

Maybe I'm giving too much credit or missed that we tipped our hand, but they certainly give Oregon, Low APR U, and the University of Dead Fake Girlfriends something to think about.

The more they have to think about -- and game plan for -- the better.

[French Rage]

[quote author=cardcrimson link=topic=13555.msg140202#msg140202 date=1446951436]
Maybe I'm giving too much credit or missed that we tipped our hand, but they certainly give Oregon, Low APR U, and the University of Dead Fake Girlfriends something to think about.

The more they have to think about -- and game plan for -- the better.
[/quote]

They should spread their defense all over the field and leave no one on the line.

[French Rage]

[quote author=cardcrimson link=topic=13555.msg140202#msg140202 date=1446951436]
Maybe I'm giving too much credit or missed that we tipped our hand, but they certainly give Oregon, Low APR U, and the University of Dead Fake Girlfriends something to think about.

The more they have to think about -- and game plan for -- the better.
[/quote]

They should spread their defense all over the field and leave no one on the line.

[winflop]

Maybe I'm giving too much credit or missed that we tipped our hand, but they certainly give Oregon, Low APR U, and the University of Dead Fake Girlfriends something to think about.

Let them think all they want.  If they prepare for the trickeration, they won't be as prepared for the basics and the TWU can mow them down.  And if they don't prepare for the trickeration, then they will be susceptible to it.

Stanford has so many weapons on offense I don't think any team can fully prepare in a single week.  But with the layoff before a bowl game, especially if it's a playoff game - different story.

[winflop]

Maybe I'm giving too much credit or missed that we tipped our hand, but they certainly give Oregon, Low APR U, and the University of Dead Fake Girlfriends something to think about.

Let them think all they want.  If they prepare for the trickeration, they won't be as prepared for the basics and the TWU can mow them down.  And if they don't prepare for the trickeration, then they will be susceptible to it.

Stanford has so many weapons on offense I don't think any team can fully prepare in a single week.  But with the layoff before a bowl game, especially if it's a playoff game - different story.

[stupac2]

Stanford has so many weapons on offense I don't think any team can fully prepare in a single week.  But with the layoff before a bowl game, especially if it's a playoff game - different story.

Which is why bowl games are kind of annoying. It's not really football if you have a season's worth of tape and 6 weeks to prepare. Oh well, it is what it is.

[stupac2]

Stanford has so many weapons on offense I don't think any team can fully prepare in a single week.  But with the layoff before a bowl game, especially if it's a playoff game - different story.

Which is why bowl games are kind of annoying. It's not really football if you have a season's worth of tape and 6 weeks to prepare. Oh well, it is what it is.

[CowboyIndian]

Which is why bowl games are kind of annoying.

Yes, so annoying. I wish we could just go 3-9 and be done with them.

[CowboyIndian]

Which is why bowl games are kind of annoying.

Yes, so annoying. I wish we could just go 3-9 and be done with them.

[stupac2]

::)

That's clearly not what I meant, but rather that the giant layoff makes them significantly more random and weird than if it didn't exist. They're exhibition games that are way too important to be played like exhibition games. As far as these things go it's fine, but it's definitely silly.

[stupac2]

::)

That's clearly not what I meant, but rather that the giant layoff makes them significantly more random and weird than if it didn't exist. They're exhibition games that are way too important to be played like exhibition games. As far as these things go it's fine, but it's definitely silly.

[Rally]

::)

That's clearly not what I meant, but rather that the giant layoff makes them significantly more random and weird than if it didn't exist. They're exhibition games that are way too important to be played like exhibition games. As far as these things go it's fine, but it's definitely silly.

I disagree.  The current setup produces some of the best football games.  Each team can get as healthy as possible and prepare to play their best football.  It isn't like the regular season but it seems to me that is the point.  The point is to allow teams to properly prepare to play their best game of the year against a team with equal opportunity.  Well, and pick up the cash.

[Rally]

::)

That's clearly not what I meant, but rather that the giant layoff makes them significantly more random and weird than if it didn't exist. They're exhibition games that are way too important to be played like exhibition games. As far as these things go it's fine, but it's definitely silly.

I disagree.  The current setup produces some of the best football games.  Each team can get as healthy as possible and prepare to play their best football.  It isn't like the regular season but it seems to me that is the point.  The point is to allow teams to properly prepare to play their best game of the year against a team with equal opportunity.  Well, and pick up the cash.

[fullmetal]

Didn't see the game.  Did we have to unveil all our trick plays before our final gauntlet of play??

[fullmetal]

Didn't see the game.  Did we have to unveil all our trick plays before our final gauntlet of play??

[rastaman85]

My guess is that Shaw and Bloomgren have more creativity up their sleeves.

[rastaman85]

My guess is that Shaw and Bloomgren have more creativity up their sleeves.

[fullmetal]

I don't buy the idea that time spent prepping for an opponent's trick plays takes away from their ability to play fundamental defense in any meaningful way...

[fullmetal]

I don't buy the idea that time spent prepping for an opponent's trick plays takes away from their ability to play fundamental defense in any meaningful way...

[KartyFan]

I don't buy the idea that time spent prepping for an opponent's trick plays takes away from their ability to play fundamental defense in any meaningful way...

Agreed, but it does mean that when we line up with 11 players in a phone booth, the defense will need to think about guarding the eligible receivers rather than sending a "suicide blitz" of 11 players. They will also need to reconsider keeping all eyes on McCaffrey if he can throw the ball over their heads.

[KartyFan]

I don't buy the idea that time spent prepping for an opponent's trick plays takes away from their ability to play fundamental defense in any meaningful way...

Agreed, but it does mean that when we line up with 11 players in a phone booth, the defense will need to think about guarding the eligible receivers rather than sending a "suicide blitz" of 11 players. They will also need to reconsider keeping all eyes on McCaffrey if he can throw the ball over their heads.

[stupac2]

[quote author=fullmetal link=topic=13555.msg140664#msg140664 date=1447117717]
I don't buy the idea that time spent prepping for an opponent's trick plays takes away from their ability to play fundamental defense in any meaningful way...

Agreed, but it does mean that when we line up with 11 players in a phone booth, the defense will need to think about guarding the eligible receivers rather than sending a "suicide blitz" of 11 players. They will also need to reconsider keeping all eyes on McCaffrey if he can throw the ball over their heads.
[/quote]

Exactly, the goal isn't so that preparation takes longer, but that teams have to stay honest and respect the fact that there might be more happening than the obvious.

Remember that Shaw likes to say that we establish tendencies, then break them.

[stupac2]

[quote author=fullmetal link=topic=13555.msg140664#msg140664 date=1447117717]
I don't buy the idea that time spent prepping for an opponent's trick plays takes away from their ability to play fundamental defense in any meaningful way...

Agreed, but it does mean that when we line up with 11 players in a phone booth, the defense will need to think about guarding the eligible receivers rather than sending a "suicide blitz" of 11 players. They will also need to reconsider keeping all eyes on McCaffrey if he can throw the ball over their heads.
[/quote]

Exactly, the goal isn't so that preparation takes longer, but that teams have to stay honest and respect the fact that there might be more happening than the obvious.

Remember that Shaw likes to say that we establish tendencies, then break them.

[Extra Point]

I don't buy the idea that time spent prepping for an opponent's trick plays takes away from their ability to play fundamental defense in any meaningful way...

From now on, the opposition will not be able stop the wildcat by stacking the line. If they don't prepare for a CMac pass they could get severely burned.

[Extra Point]

I don't buy the idea that time spent prepping for an opponent's trick plays takes away from their ability to play fundamental defense in any meaningful way...

From now on, the opposition will not be able stop the wildcat by stacking the line. If they don't prepare for a CMac pass they could get severely burned.

[BostonCard]

[quote author=fullmetal link=topic=13555.msg140664#msg140664 date=1447117717]
I don't buy the idea that time spent prepping for an opponent's trick plays takes away from their ability to play fundamental defense in any meaningful way...

From now on, the opposition will not be able stop the wildcat by stacking the line. If they don't prepare for a CMac pass they could get severely burned.
[/quote]

True, though the throw was not out of the wildcat; it was a conventional halfback toss.

BC

[BostonCard]

[quote author=fullmetal link=topic=13555.msg140664#msg140664 date=1447117717]
I don't buy the idea that time spent prepping for an opponent's trick plays takes away from their ability to play fundamental defense in any meaningful way...

From now on, the opposition will not be able stop the wildcat by stacking the line. If they don't prepare for a CMac pass they could get severely burned.
[/quote]

True, though the throw was not out of the wildcat; it was a conventional halfback toss.

BC

[CTcard]

[quote author=fullmetal link=topic=13555.msg140664#msg140664 date=1447117717]
I don't buy the idea that time spent prepping for an opponent's trick plays takes away from their ability to play fundamental defense in any meaningful way...

From now on, the opposition will not be able stop the wildcat by stacking the line. If they don't prepare for a CMac pass they could get severely burned.
[/quote]

My guess is that most of the time, opposing defenses will still flock towards McCaffrey on any sweep plays until he throws a few more times.


At any rate, I suspect that we saw that play precisely because up to this point, Shaw and co. wouldn't trust that play with a game on the line. It's pretty tough to ask a guy who never throws the ball to throw a key pass in a do or die situation. SJSU ran the same play for a do or die two-point conversion last Friday night ... and died.

So, I actually suspect that Shaw would agree with Wilner's take here,
"I disagreed mildly with the decision in general but strongly with the play itself: A pass from tailback Tyler Ervin to tight end Billy Freeman ... Because with everything at stake, the Spartans ... Asked Ervin to execute a play that he hadn’t attempted in a game — and throwing on the run, no less"

We ran essentially the same play, but certainly without the "with everthing at stake" part.

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegespor...e-week-73/

[CTcard]

[quote author=fullmetal link=topic=13555.msg140664#msg140664 date=1447117717]
I don't buy the idea that time spent prepping for an opponent's trick plays takes away from their ability to play fundamental defense in any meaningful way...

From now on, the opposition will not be able stop the wildcat by stacking the line. If they don't prepare for a CMac pass they could get severely burned.
[/quote]

My guess is that most of the time, opposing defenses will still flock towards McCaffrey on any sweep plays until he throws a few more times.


At any rate, I suspect that we saw that play precisely because up to this point, Shaw and co. wouldn't trust that play with a game on the line. It's pretty tough to ask a guy who never throws the ball to throw a key pass in a do or die situation. SJSU ran the same play for a do or die two-point conversion last Friday night ... and died.

So, I actually suspect that Shaw would agree with Wilner's take here,
"I disagreed mildly with the decision in general but strongly with the play itself: A pass from tailback Tyler Ervin to tight end Billy Freeman ... Because with everything at stake, the Spartans ... Asked Ervin to execute a play that he hadn’t attempted in a game — and throwing on the run, no less"

We ran essentially the same play, but certainly without the "with everthing at stake" part.

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegespor...e-week-73/

[winflop]

[quote author=fullmetal link=topic=13555.msg140664#msg140664 date=1447117717]
I don't buy the idea that time spent prepping for an opponent's trick plays takes away from their ability to play fundamental defense in any meaningful way...

From now on, the opposition will not be able stop the wildcat by stacking the line. If they don't prepare for a CMac pass they could get severely burned.
[/quote]

Or a jet sweep by Bryce Love, or a double reverse pass by Hogan...

[winflop]

[quote author=fullmetal link=topic=13555.msg140664#msg140664 date=1447117717]
I don't buy the idea that time spent prepping for an opponent's trick plays takes away from their ability to play fundamental defense in any meaningful way...

From now on, the opposition will not be able stop the wildcat by stacking the line. If they don't prepare for a CMac pass they could get severely burned.
[/quote]

Or a jet sweep by Bryce Love, or a double reverse pass by Hogan...