I actually have posed the OC issue twice in the last couple of weeks. Not because I have any unique insights, but The Cardboard has examined every other explanation for the puzzling under performance of our offense this season. We have speculated about play calling (something of a "go-to" complaint of many here), and the injury situation has been posited. We have tried to seek explanations by analyzing our opponents' defenses and speculating that they are actually a lot better than we originally thought. We have questioned our players actualized skill levels compared to their recruiting rankings. Like these sorts of things, there is probably some effect from all of these factors. But it may be that what we are seeing is the unconstrained effect of David Shaw effectively being head coach and offensive coordinator. Can that be good?
It is unlikely that Pritchard could have had an influence of any sort on our offense, given the depth of Shaw's control of our offensive philosophy. It is understandable that Pritchard would be daunted. Even if he had a free hand, it would be surprising if he could offer any meaningful adjustments, since he has no experience outside of the system in which he has been singularly immersed throughout his football life after high school. If this is so, it is as though we are running our offense without an offensive coordinator. That cannot be good.
The other factor, by the way, that seems like it needs more examination than it has so far received here is the job being done by our new offensive line coach. Given the relative stability of the other factors, the change in OC and OL coaches this year is a simple explanation of what has gone wrong. Perhaps these two changes are the cause of a significant portion of the struggles we are seeing.
David Shaw is the greatest coach in the history of Stanford football. To even mention Jack Christiansen as a comparison in quality is simply absurd. Shaw has outperformed all those who proceeded him. Not just in win totals, but he has done more for the Stanford football "brand" than anyone before him. However, we have all discussed his stubbornness. There is a trade-off at some point between perseverance and obduracy. The simple explanation is usually the best. It could be that we just hired the wrong guy(s).
It is unlikely that Pritchard could have had an influence of any sort on our offense, given the depth of Shaw's control of our offensive philosophy. It is understandable that Pritchard would be daunted. Even if he had a free hand, it would be surprising if he could offer any meaningful adjustments, since he has no experience outside of the system in which he has been singularly immersed throughout his football life after high school. If this is so, it is as though we are running our offense without an offensive coordinator. That cannot be good.
The other factor, by the way, that seems like it needs more examination than it has so far received here is the job being done by our new offensive line coach. Given the relative stability of the other factors, the change in OC and OL coaches this year is a simple explanation of what has gone wrong. Perhaps these two changes are the cause of a significant portion of the struggles we are seeing.
David Shaw is the greatest coach in the history of Stanford football. To even mention Jack Christiansen as a comparison in quality is simply absurd. Shaw has outperformed all those who proceeded him. Not just in win totals, but he has done more for the Stanford football "brand" than anyone before him. However, we have all discussed his stubbornness. There is a trade-off at some point between perseverance and obduracy. The simple explanation is usually the best. It could be that we just hired the wrong guy(s).
"It's not what you don't know that gets you in trouble. It's what you think you know that just isn't so."
Mark Twain