In almost any game, even the best parts of the team are going to make mistakes. So, I don't fault the defense for the final play. The best we could have hoped for is holding them to a field goal, which would have taken us to a third overtime. The defense played their *sses off. The offense was, well, the offense.
There are multiple problems on offense:
1. Mistakes at key times. How many times has a penalty or turnover negated a big play, or even a touchdown?
2. An offensive line that has lost its identity. The OL came in with much acclaim, and I thought it would move on without a hiccup. Then when it didn't I thought it would improve over the course of the season. It didn't.
3. Running backs who aren't the kind needed for the type of offense that Stanford has had since its turnaround.
4. A kicker who has been erratic, at best.
5. A coaching staff that has been slow to change the offense to the type of players we have.
Can those be fixed? Probably, but not this year. I don't expect another win.
Nevertheless, I reject the repeated assertion that the drop-off is a reflection of Shaw's character. Most of those look at all the losses over the course of the last four years and attribute them to Shaw, but don't attribute any of the wins to him. Moreover, the slowness to change, often referred to as "stubbornness" is considered "patience" when it works. As we saw with the elevation of Hogan, we don't know what's going on behind the scenes. The highly regarded Nunes and Nottingham did not develop and they were recruited on the previous head coach. (Interestingly, quarterback is a weakness on the 49ers.)
Here's what I do criticize the coaching staff for:
1. Not recruiting offensive players, and particularly, running backs suited to its type of play.
2. Not bringing in new blood to replace coaches on the offensive side of the ball.
Finally, those who think Shaw is Jack Christianson should be careful. The next guy up may not be Walsh. There's a much greater probability that he'll be Teevens.
There are multiple problems on offense:
1. Mistakes at key times. How many times has a penalty or turnover negated a big play, or even a touchdown?
2. An offensive line that has lost its identity. The OL came in with much acclaim, and I thought it would move on without a hiccup. Then when it didn't I thought it would improve over the course of the season. It didn't.
3. Running backs who aren't the kind needed for the type of offense that Stanford has had since its turnaround.
4. A kicker who has been erratic, at best.
5. A coaching staff that has been slow to change the offense to the type of players we have.
Can those be fixed? Probably, but not this year. I don't expect another win.
Nevertheless, I reject the repeated assertion that the drop-off is a reflection of Shaw's character. Most of those look at all the losses over the course of the last four years and attribute them to Shaw, but don't attribute any of the wins to him. Moreover, the slowness to change, often referred to as "stubbornness" is considered "patience" when it works. As we saw with the elevation of Hogan, we don't know what's going on behind the scenes. The highly regarded Nunes and Nottingham did not develop and they were recruited on the previous head coach. (Interestingly, quarterback is a weakness on the 49ers.)
Here's what I do criticize the coaching staff for:
1. Not recruiting offensive players, and particularly, running backs suited to its type of play.
2. Not bringing in new blood to replace coaches on the offensive side of the ball.
Finally, those who think Shaw is Jack Christianson should be careful. The next guy up may not be Walsh. There's a much greater probability that he'll be Teevens.