There is at least one moment in everyone’s life when frustration builds while trying to accomplish a goal that seems inexplicably both out of reach and at the tips of your fingers all at once.
Whether you are pounds away from that max rep in the gym, a few delicate strokes from perfecting that painting, pages behind truly understanding a scientific concept or any number of goals we try to reach throughout life, the difference (so often) between failure and jubilant success seem insurmountable and inevitable simultaneously.
That, in a nutshell, seems to be the Stanford offense. Big receivers, dual-threat tight ends, a Heisman runner-up at tailback, a veteran offensive line and a quarterback that was ready to run the show.
But the offensive line is lost, the Heisman shine is nowhere to be seen on Bryce Love, and the quarterback has made questionable throws to receivers who have disappeared at times.
It seems ludicrous to claim that the same offense which scored 24 points in the second half against Oregon is the same unit that was floundering in the first half against Utah. But that is where we are.
Surely, with the collection of talent available, there is a way to tinker with the offense without throwing out the ground and pound staple that is Cardinal football.
Moving The Pocket
The Cardinal can use a few simple tools to help protect quarterback K.J. Costello while still maintaining the pillars of offense that Stanford holds dear.
1) Deep Boot-leg Play Action
Getting Costello away from the mess and out to the field not only gives Stanford’s offensive line a bit more wiggle room for error but will also maximize some of the best parts of the passing game.
Stanford’s tight ends (Colby Parkinson and Kaden Smith) have been Costello’s safety blanket this season and the most dependable part of this offense. Going to the power formation with tight ends dragging across the field off play action plays into that strength. We also know from last season that Costello excels off play action, finding success when running play action from the pistol.
But with the weak offensive line play, Costello needs to get out of the pocket and in space, while finding tight ends downfield. A deep boot-leg would pair the best of both last years success and this season’s silver lining.
2) RPOs
This one is a little more off the beaten path, as the run-pass option is not in the Stanford playbook, nor is Costello an especially dangerous dual-threat QB.
However, the consistent success in Stanford’s running game has been outside, and betting on the Stanford front to make a push through the middle is risky at best. Shaking it up from pitches and outside draws to involve some read-option and keep defenses on their toes would make for a nice flair to the Cardinal call sheet. Again, the idea here is getting away from the pocket, while also sticking with the running game that Stanford is married to.
3) Extra Blockers
When the Kansas City Chiefs struggled early against the Denver Broncos pass rush, they kept three extra blockers in and sent just two players downfield.
The Cardinal could deploy a similar strategy if they want to keep Costello in the pocket. Play action off a simple draw, while keeping the tight ends in on the edge to assist the tackles, would give Costello much needed protection. The added blockers would let Stanford’s two receivers run deeper routes, allowing plays to truly develop and letting big wideouts cause havoc on the outside.
For each of these, the critical thing is abandoning the idea that the Cardinal should forget the run altogether. No team should try to leave balance by the wayside. But the Cardinal are also a mere few tweaks from success with the talent on their offense. Some version of these play types injected into the scheme might shake things up enough for them to find success.
Comments
Deaf ears
Commentators on the Rule of Tree, including myself, have been making these same points for a few weeks now but I am afraid all this is falling on the coach’s deaf ears. It is tragic that Stanford has performed below expectations in every game this year considering the talent.
By farmboy2 on 10.12.18 6:28am
QB
A strong team starts w superb QB play. Costello has been good but well below average the last 3 games and his ability to make plays is lacking. In the first couple games he was content making his living on 50/50 jump ball passes lol. If he continues to start and play the entire game Stanford will lose ALL of their remaining games…
By Slot_Man22 on 10.12.18 11:31pm
Did u see the backup qb play against UC Davis?
Uninspiring to say the least. Costello is the best we got for this year. Maybe mills makes a full recovery from his multiple leg injuries and takes the job next year, although his mobility will probably not be on par with even costello. So far mills performance against inferior competition has been not good to say the least
By stanford6thman on 10.13.18 6:56am
Are u referring to the game where KJ opened w 2 interceptions?
Shaw basically cleared the bench towards to end of the game…. I do not expect players to do anything superb at this point of the game…At this point it’s clear their contributions are irrelevant. Nice symbolic gesture by the coaches
By Slot_Man22 on 10.17.18 9:13am
Check out rivals website
Shaw just offered a 2019 qb very late in the game. I hope mills is fine with his recovery but not a good sign
By stanford6thman on 10.17.18 10:27am
Costello is not the problem
People forget that the best quarterback in the NFL (Tom Brady) was drafted in the 6th round at #199. His first season with the Patriots, he was 1 for 3 passing. But Belichick believed in him and, more significantly, built a system that made great use of his arm talent and his brain. David Shaw obviously believed in Andrew Luck and eventually in Kevin Hogan, sufficiently to allow them to dictate plays. Even though he says that Costello has that same freedom, he clearly does not, in large part because Shaw dictates the personnel. So when Costello has 3 plays to choose from, each one has to use the people Shaw sends in the game. And all the opposing teams know Stanford’s options simply by looking at the players he sends in. When you add to that Shaw’s greater than usual stubbornness this year you get useless power runs into a loaded box — again and again. So my suggestion is to agree upon a starting 11 and a starting formation. Five linemen, one tight end, two WR’s, and three in the backfield. Then let Costello move them around once the defensive personnel are set. If there are 8 or 9 in the box, Love moves into a slot receiver position. If a linebacker is covering the tight end, you put him in motion. If you have 3 or 4 players downfield, you have 7 or 6 left to protect the QB. Have your offensive line shift. Whatever. Something to force the defense to adjust. Costello, like Brady, is a drop back passer with a good arm and a brain. Trust him to choose what will work. Don’t handcuff him by sending in player after player whom the other side knows what they can and cannot do.
By SU74 on 10.13.18 7:27pm
Are you kidding?
Costello is no where close to Tom Brady lol. Tom Brady is a professional who consistently completes his passes. Costello has a loooooong way to go…
By Slot_Man22 on 10.17.18 9:17am
Let me ask you a question SU74................
If The Cardinal had Tua or Justin Herbert as their starting QB would the team be better overall?
By Slot_Man22 on 10.17.18 9:27am
I find it humorous
That so many posters think David Shaw has no clue what he is doing on offense.
By Blackjoy on 10.16.18 12:05pm
The results aren't so humorous
By DCCARDINAL on 10.16.18 12:37pm
Shaw is #7 in active coaches win %
So you’re right, his results are nothing to laugh at. How many college football games have you won as a coach?
By Blackjoy on 10.16.18 1:03pm
How many have you won Woody?
I can see a trend in performance without having been an NFL assistant or college football coach. I can also see your arrogance and disdain for being challenged, even mildly.
By DCCARDINAL on 10.17.18 6:44am
Funny
You aren’t challenging me, not even mildly. I’m not the coach, I don’t call the plays. What is arrogant is the idea that any random person on these forums knows more about offensive play calling than Shaw and his staff. It’s arrogant to believe that random posters on these forums have some insight into football that Shaw does not.
But you’re not alone. Football fans, the world over, target play calling when a team loses. Everyone who has a tele thinks they know how to call plays and that is humorous. Fans tend to be myopic. More so when their team is losing.
By Blackjoy on 10.17.18 9:22am
You should see the grief...
Shanahan is getting on the Niner boards for the same thing. If they couldn’t execute a slam from the end zone, no way a screen was going to fly…
By Plan Man on 10.17.18 4:54pm
The offense's fortunes
live and die with the O-line. If the offensive line can start creating some holes, the running game will work. If they get better at protecting Costello, the passing game will work. There’s not a lot of mystery here. There’s also not much mystery in the fact that we are 126th out of 129 FBS programs in rushing yards. This is not where you want to be in a system that claims to be run-first. This is not about offensive schemes at this point. This about owning the line of scrimmage. And we are not doing that at all right now. Huge disappointment considering the talent we have. And yes, this is on the coaches. Carberry first, Pritchard second, Shaw third. http://stats.ncaa.org/rankings?sport_code=MFB&division=11
By Jeff Tarnungus on 10.16.18 12:56pm
Amen - But we need to add D-line to that.
This, and a 1000 times this. Anyone who thinks Stanford’s troubles are about play calling has no clue about football.
It still falls on the coach, but play calling is not the issue.
By Blackjoy on 10.16.18 1:05pm
Yes, I didn't mention that because this article is about the offense
D-line is fundamental to Stanford’s football system. I am chagrined to see the state it is in right now. We were smashmouth. Not so much right now.
By Jeff Tarnungus on 10.16.18 1:43pm