[BostonCard]

There's really so much good stuff here in this thread. Thanks to everyone for providing so many well-thought-out points of view. One of the most fascinating aspects of coaching -- one of several fascinating aspects -- is the long term game planning and play calling. In years past, it's seemed pretty obvious that Shaw has only used the Vanilla chapter of the playbook in the first couple weeks before turning to Rocky Road against SC. I'd love to talk to Shaw about his theory there. I know that in the past he's confessed to holding certain plays for Oregon, but I wonder how they balance that line between laying it all out there and holding some things back. After all, there's probably a temptation to run certain things against a live defense, even if that means putting it on tape for future opponents. One thing I have asked him is about individual plays that we've never seen. I think I asked in reference to the stumble-rooski play they ran against Iowa in the Rose Bowl. I seem to remember that after the game he said they had been hanging on to that one for three or four years.

Seems a bit odd to have pulled that one out when we were leading by 28 in the Rose Bowl.  Sure, its fun to run in a high profile game, and it is more likely to be successful when the defense is totally on its back.  But, I don't know.  I think it might have been more useful to have when you have a slim lead late in the game.

BC

[BostonCard]

There's really so much good stuff here in this thread. Thanks to everyone for providing so many well-thought-out points of view. One of the most fascinating aspects of coaching -- one of several fascinating aspects -- is the long term game planning and play calling. In years past, it's seemed pretty obvious that Shaw has only used the Vanilla chapter of the playbook in the first couple weeks before turning to Rocky Road against SC. I'd love to talk to Shaw about his theory there. I know that in the past he's confessed to holding certain plays for Oregon, but I wonder how they balance that line between laying it all out there and holding some things back. After all, there's probably a temptation to run certain things against a live defense, even if that means putting it on tape for future opponents. One thing I have asked him is about individual plays that we've never seen. I think I asked in reference to the stumble-rooski play they ran against Iowa in the Rose Bowl. I seem to remember that after the game he said they had been hanging on to that one for three or four years.

Seems a bit odd to have pulled that one out when we were leading by 28 in the Rose Bowl.  Sure, its fun to run in a high profile game, and it is more likely to be successful when the defense is totally on its back.  But, I don't know.  I think it might have been more useful to have when you have a slim lead late in the game.

BC