08-31-2018, 03:06 PM
CT, good post. While I do not buy the narrative, there will be several things relating to the narrative I will be watching closely.
It will be interesting to see how the O looks this year with TP elevated and MB gone. Shaw was quoted as saying he will still be discussing each play call with the assistants, and one criticism I have had in the past is that this approach makes it difficult to follow through on the strategy you do have. With TP young and Carberry new, my hope with the DS does less talking and more calling the games.
I do not think Shaw has been too conservative in his philosophy, but the run-pass dichotomy does not really reach the question. But I sure hope to see better use of play action, more passes and more flexible formations this year. We have a lot of receivers and I hope they see plenty of balls. I don't expect a new philosophy, but I will be looking for a little more air and more frequent sets that threatening more of the field.
More specific to the SDSU game, last year's loss may have been DS's worst game planning. We certainly don't know all the went into it, but Chryst and Love both struggled with reads (as Love admitted again this week), and the fronts and blitzes baffled the OL. Especially with Burkett out, the early series will show us a lot about what the staff learned about SDSU.
I'm exciting for this year. I'm optimistic on all of these points, I love our O weapons, and I think the D has the talent to surprise in a good way. I'm looking forward to seeing how all the young guys step up. That's what's great about college football.
It will be interesting to see how the O looks this year with TP elevated and MB gone. Shaw was quoted as saying he will still be discussing each play call with the assistants, and one criticism I have had in the past is that this approach makes it difficult to follow through on the strategy you do have. With TP young and Carberry new, my hope with the DS does less talking and more calling the games.
I do not think Shaw has been too conservative in his philosophy, but the run-pass dichotomy does not really reach the question. But I sure hope to see better use of play action, more passes and more flexible formations this year. We have a lot of receivers and I hope they see plenty of balls. I don't expect a new philosophy, but I will be looking for a little more air and more frequent sets that threatening more of the field.
More specific to the SDSU game, last year's loss may have been DS's worst game planning. We certainly don't know all the went into it, but Chryst and Love both struggled with reads (as Love admitted again this week), and the fronts and blitzes baffled the OL. Especially with Burkett out, the early series will show us a lot about what the staff learned about SDSU.
I'm exciting for this year. I'm optimistic on all of these points, I love our O weapons, and I think the D has the talent to surprise in a good way. I'm looking forward to seeing how all the young guys step up. That's what's great about college football.