[BostonCard]

You argue that Shaw was out-coached by Washington (as well as the other two games) because we couldn't solve Wilcox' defense and "we only won because of special teams".  Arguably, the exact same situation occurred this year against USC.  USC struggled mightily against our defense; a team that gained 701 total yards and 52 points in 105 plays against Fresno State, got less than 300 yards and only 13 points Saturday, and of course it gave up 413 yards against up.  Arguably, special teams (Heidari 2/2 on field goals, vs. Williamson 1/3 on field goals) was the difference.  So, if you are going to give last year's UW game to Sarkisian/Wilcox, then you kind of have to give this year's game to Shaw.

More importantly, the other problem with this game-by-game analysis is that it neglects the fact that there is going to be a lot of natural week-to-week variation in how a team performs.  Sometimes, everything clicks and we put up 42 and 38 points against a Pac-12 South leading ASU.  That's not because David Shaw is a genius that week, yet the subsequent games against Washington and Michigan States he reverted to being a mediocre game-calling coach.  It is a combination of match-up, luck, and just plain variation you  are going to see from week-to-week.  Good teams are good not because they always play their "A" game but because they are better enough than their opposition that they still have a chance to win when they bring their "C" game.  It's easy to ascribe these variations to "the play calling", but then how do you account for the games where everything clicks?

BC

[BostonCard]

You argue that Shaw was out-coached by Washington (as well as the other two games) because we couldn't solve Wilcox' defense and "we only won because of special teams".  Arguably, the exact same situation occurred this year against USC.  USC struggled mightily against our defense; a team that gained 701 total yards and 52 points in 105 plays against Fresno State, got less than 300 yards and only 13 points Saturday, and of course it gave up 413 yards against up.  Arguably, special teams (Heidari 2/2 on field goals, vs. Williamson 1/3 on field goals) was the difference.  So, if you are going to give last year's UW game to Sarkisian/Wilcox, then you kind of have to give this year's game to Shaw.

More importantly, the other problem with this game-by-game analysis is that it neglects the fact that there is going to be a lot of natural week-to-week variation in how a team performs.  Sometimes, everything clicks and we put up 42 and 38 points against a Pac-12 South leading ASU.  That's not because David Shaw is a genius that week, yet the subsequent games against Washington and Michigan States he reverted to being a mediocre game-calling coach.  It is a combination of match-up, luck, and just plain variation you  are going to see from week-to-week.  Good teams are good not because they always play their "A" game but because they are better enough than their opposition that they still have a chance to win when they bring their "C" game.  It's easy to ascribe these variations to "the play calling", but then how do you account for the games where everything clicks?

BC