[Goose]

The OL was jumpy because they were being beaten by the Duck DL.  The obvious solution is to get a better OL who isn't beaten, and it is disappointing that this OL, which was supposed to be an improvement over the last few years, is still under par.  As a side bonus, it would help cut down on holding penalties.  But the point is not that we play penalty-free football (we are fourth in the conference in penalty yards/game, with Oregon and our next opponent, ASU, 11th and 12th respectively), but that we cut down on the particular penalty that for some reason really bothered you.

During the game I was really bothered by false start penalties. I know that our OL is "jumpy" because they know they needed to attack the Oregon DL quickly. We got badly out-quicked by UCLA and Oregon could have possibly done the same without having to blitz like UCLA did. However giving up five yards because you are trying to anticipate your own snap count is a losing proposition. It is a mostly mental error, and those are errors that a Stanford team should not commit. That said, I do recall a right tackle we had a few years ago who left about half a count early on just about every play. He did it all the time, and got quite a few penalties. He amazingly got away with it most of the time.
I subsequently found out that Oregon was "simulating the snap count" and undoubtedly contributing mightily to our false starts. That is a source of even greater irritation, as it obviously was to coach Shaw.

All told, I would rather 30 yards worth of penalties from false starts than 30 yards worth of targeting penalties (with a roughing the passer to boot).


BC

So would I, but targeting and roughing the passer penalties are seldom incurred often by an OL. It certainly isn't an either/or, and our OL even with all its "issues" is better than that. Oregon was using yet another of their questionable practices to induce false starts, and yes, I am upset by that. They are the #3 team in the nation and yet they feel compelled to use such stunts? Their coaches not only allow it but encourage it? Something pretty rotten there as well IMHO. I guess given their history it is not unexpected, but it is still infuriating that no penalties were called and no warnings issued in response.

[Goose]

The OL was jumpy because they were being beaten by the Duck DL.  The obvious solution is to get a better OL who isn't beaten, and it is disappointing that this OL, which was supposed to be an improvement over the last few years, is still under par.  As a side bonus, it would help cut down on holding penalties.  But the point is not that we play penalty-free football (we are fourth in the conference in penalty yards/game, with Oregon and our next opponent, ASU, 11th and 12th respectively), but that we cut down on the particular penalty that for some reason really bothered you.

During the game I was really bothered by false start penalties. I know that our OL is "jumpy" because they know they needed to attack the Oregon DL quickly. We got badly out-quicked by UCLA and Oregon could have possibly done the same without having to blitz like UCLA did. However giving up five yards because you are trying to anticipate your own snap count is a losing proposition. It is a mostly mental error, and those are errors that a Stanford team should not commit. That said, I do recall a right tackle we had a few years ago who left about half a count early on just about every play. He did it all the time, and got quite a few penalties. He amazingly got away with it most of the time.
I subsequently found out that Oregon was "simulating the snap count" and undoubtedly contributing mightily to our false starts. That is a source of even greater irritation, as it obviously was to coach Shaw.

All told, I would rather 30 yards worth of penalties from false starts than 30 yards worth of targeting penalties (with a roughing the passer to boot).


BC

So would I, but targeting and roughing the passer penalties are seldom incurred often by an OL. It certainly isn't an either/or, and our OL even with all its "issues" is better than that. Oregon was using yet another of their questionable practices to induce false starts, and yes, I am upset by that. They are the #3 team in the nation and yet they feel compelled to use such stunts? Their coaches not only allow it but encourage it? Something pretty rotten there as well IMHO. I guess given their history it is not unexpected, but it is still infuriating that no penalties were called and no warnings issued in response.