[CTcard]

The one assessment that as far as I know nobody (including the media and coaching staff) got right was the fact Stanford would not be able to run the ball.

This is certainly correct, though I don't know why you specifically include the media. As far as I know, there is no media out there with any particular expert and insider knowledge of the Stanford team.

It is the issue that most concerns me about the staff. It's their job to know their team, and it is quite clear they expected to be able to run well this year.

The lack of a run games is the number one question on this team. Everything else, while possibly important, is secondary.

I am not sure I would go that far. That's the far and away number one question for the offense. There's still a host of issues on the defensive side of the ball that only secondarily depend upon our lack of run game [though yes, the defense and offense should be designed to mesh].

In fact, CTCard’s theory is that the coaching staff was so concerned about our atrocious pass blocking that they made it a point of emphasis, at the expense of good run blocking.  That suggests that it is a fixable problem, if one places more emphasis on run blocking.

Well, I wasn't being entirely serious with that.
My best guess as to the run blocking woes is that it's primarily due to the injury hits that go well beyond guys being able to suit up for a game or not - then possibly that coupled to some lack of emphasis on run blocking/teaching/training in favor of pass protection.  


But I am in no position to know. The coaches are in position, what they understand isn't clear to me.

[CTcard]

The one assessment that as far as I know nobody (including the media and coaching staff) got right was the fact Stanford would not be able to run the ball.

This is certainly correct, though I don't know why you specifically include the media. As far as I know, there is no media out there with any particular expert and insider knowledge of the Stanford team.

It is the issue that most concerns me about the staff. It's their job to know their team, and it is quite clear they expected to be able to run well this year.

The lack of a run games is the number one question on this team. Everything else, while possibly important, is secondary.

I am not sure I would go that far. That's the far and away number one question for the offense. There's still a host of issues on the defensive side of the ball that only secondarily depend upon our lack of run game [though yes, the defense and offense should be designed to mesh].

In fact, CTCard’s theory is that the coaching staff was so concerned about our atrocious pass blocking that they made it a point of emphasis, at the expense of good run blocking.  That suggests that it is a fixable problem, if one places more emphasis on run blocking.

Well, I wasn't being entirely serious with that.
My best guess as to the run blocking woes is that it's primarily due to the injury hits that go well beyond guys being able to suit up for a game or not - then possibly that coupled to some lack of emphasis on run blocking/teaching/training in favor of pass protection.  


But I am in no position to know. The coaches are in position, what they understand isn't clear to me.