[Row80Critic]

Which is to say, I would rather do a few unimaginative things really well, than fail to execute a brilliant plan.  The biggest indictment of the coaches is not that they call a predictable game, it’s that they have failed to teach the kids how to play fundamental football: blocking, tackling, assignments, etc.  “better play calling” ain't fixing that.


BC

Agree. The team did not exhibit any degree of basic competence. That is on everybody, players, coaches, administrators. Losing a game is bad. Looking like you have no clue what you are doing and are totally unable to execute anything is several orders of magnitude worse.

Not to quibble, since I think we all agree Shaw fielded one of the worst Stanford football efforts of our lifetimes last night. But, the difference I see with Shaw in terms of predictability and play-calling is that Shaw keeps doing things that don't work, drive-to-drive, quarter-to-quarter, week-to-week, and season-to-season.  It's one thing to run up the middle with Gerhart 37 times a game, if it's working.  It's an entirely different thing to run the same plays week after week that simply are not working, and then to do it with such amazing predictability. It's just inexplicable.  

It's not just the play calls, it's his overall inability or unwillingness to see and/or react to reality.  I'm sure West is a great kid, but how many times does he need to get sacked before trying someone else -- maybe someone who could roll the pocket or keep his eyes up in the total absence of protection.  Shaw picked West to start at the beginning of the season, and so far he looks to be 4th on the depth chart in terms of on-field performance.  Is that stubborn adherence to starting upper classman or just an inability to see who's better?   Neither is a good trait for a head coach.  And what about Sanders.  The wildcat DOESN'T WORK in the middle of drives like that when everyone knows what's coming, yet Shaw keeps sending Sanders out there with a target on his head to play kill the pill against two and a half tons of humanity.  It's not fair to the players.  At one point, even the band started chanting "let him throw, let him throw."  And another thing....   ah, never mind.  Looks like I picked the WRONG week to quit sniffing glue.

[Row80Critic]

Which is to say, I would rather do a few unimaginative things really well, than fail to execute a brilliant plan.  The biggest indictment of the coaches is not that they call a predictable game, it’s that they have failed to teach the kids how to play fundamental football: blocking, tackling, assignments, etc.  “better play calling” ain't fixing that.


BC

Agree. The team did not exhibit any degree of basic competence. That is on everybody, players, coaches, administrators. Losing a game is bad. Looking like you have no clue what you are doing and are totally unable to execute anything is several orders of magnitude worse.

Not to quibble, since I think we all agree Shaw fielded one of the worst Stanford football efforts of our lifetimes last night. But, the difference I see with Shaw in terms of predictability and play-calling is that Shaw keeps doing things that don't work, drive-to-drive, quarter-to-quarter, week-to-week, and season-to-season.  It's one thing to run up the middle with Gerhart 37 times a game, if it's working.  It's an entirely different thing to run the same plays week after week that simply are not working, and then to do it with such amazing predictability. It's just inexplicable.  

It's not just the play calls, it's his overall inability or unwillingness to see and/or react to reality.  I'm sure West is a great kid, but how many times does he need to get sacked before trying someone else -- maybe someone who could roll the pocket or keep his eyes up in the total absence of protection.  Shaw picked West to start at the beginning of the season, and so far he looks to be 4th on the depth chart in terms of on-field performance.  Is that stubborn adherence to starting upper classman or just an inability to see who's better?   Neither is a good trait for a head coach.  And what about Sanders.  The wildcat DOESN'T WORK in the middle of drives like that when everyone knows what's coming, yet Shaw keeps sending Sanders out there with a target on his head to play kill the pill against two and a half tons of humanity.  It's not fair to the players.  At one point, even the band started chanting "let him throw, let him throw."  And another thing....   ah, never mind.  Looks like I picked the WRONG week to quit sniffing glue.