[CTcard]

I know this isn't exactly the type of clock management being discussed here, but it's related. I've gotten used to the fact that every offensive snap will happen with one or two seconds left on the play clock and that at least one or two timeouts per game will be burned to avoid delay penalties. And some delay penalties will still occur. It's frustrating, but it seemed like another reality connected to the Stanford play book -- or another reason to simplify the play book, depending on your point of view.

Anyway, one thing I noticed while watching the Vanderbilt game was that not only was McKee avoiding these situations, he almost always took the snap with more than ten seconds on the clock. It was stunning, really, and I don't think that it's just a reflection of a quarterback knowing the plays, especially since it's not an experienced quarterback. (Now that I write that, I realize it could be McKee's inexperience that's caused this. Maybe he just isn't being given as many options to sift through at the line of scrimmage.) Anyway, it seems like a change of philosophy that could only come from Shaw. It might be only incrementally so, but the offense is moving faster.

That's front and center to at least one of the issues being discussed here and in other threads.

It certainly appears that the DOG and near-DOG penalties are/were closely linked to Stanford's strategy to shorten games by always running the play clock near zero. While not necessarily tied together, the running of the play clock seemed to induce some lack of urgency in making decisions and getting plays in. Whether it is also associated with a large playbook and complicated terminology is unclear to me - though certainly possible.

However, as Stanford has moved away from a traditional control-the-clock, more-consistent-less-explosive-plays type of offense, it seems they have also generally stopped taking the play clock to zero so regularly despite still huddling and playing at a relatively slow tempo.  It's noticeable with McKee, but I thought we also saw it with Mills. I'd have to go back and watch a few games to be sure.

Because of another thread, I went back to check the play clock during Stanford's plays during the final 10 minutes of the game. Over that stretch most of the plays began with under 5 seconds on the play clock, but the actual snapping was somewhat leisurely as McKee apparently was waiting about for the clock to run down near 5.

[CTcard]

I know this isn't exactly the type of clock management being discussed here, but it's related. I've gotten used to the fact that every offensive snap will happen with one or two seconds left on the play clock and that at least one or two timeouts per game will be burned to avoid delay penalties. And some delay penalties will still occur. It's frustrating, but it seemed like another reality connected to the Stanford play book -- or another reason to simplify the play book, depending on your point of view.

Anyway, one thing I noticed while watching the Vanderbilt game was that not only was McKee avoiding these situations, he almost always took the snap with more than ten seconds on the clock. It was stunning, really, and I don't think that it's just a reflection of a quarterback knowing the plays, especially since it's not an experienced quarterback. (Now that I write that, I realize it could be McKee's inexperience that's caused this. Maybe he just isn't being given as many options to sift through at the line of scrimmage.) Anyway, it seems like a change of philosophy that could only come from Shaw. It might be only incrementally so, but the offense is moving faster.

That's front and center to at least one of the issues being discussed here and in other threads.

It certainly appears that the DOG and near-DOG penalties are/were closely linked to Stanford's strategy to shorten games by always running the play clock near zero. While not necessarily tied together, the running of the play clock seemed to induce some lack of urgency in making decisions and getting plays in. Whether it is also associated with a large playbook and complicated terminology is unclear to me - though certainly possible.

However, as Stanford has moved away from a traditional control-the-clock, more-consistent-less-explosive-plays type of offense, it seems they have also generally stopped taking the play clock to zero so regularly despite still huddling and playing at a relatively slow tempo.  It's noticeable with McKee, but I thought we also saw it with Mills. I'd have to go back and watch a few games to be sure.

Because of another thread, I went back to check the play clock during Stanford's plays during the final 10 minutes of the game. Over that stretch most of the plays began with under 5 seconds on the play clock, but the actual snapping was somewhat leisurely as McKee apparently was waiting about for the clock to run down near 5.