David Shaw explains how the staff get players invested in the game plan

Being able to lead your team to consecutive ten win seasons is impressive. Especially when it happens after following up a head coach like Jim Harbaugh that revitalized a program around and the #1 overall draft pick in the NFL draft shows just how good of a head coach David Shaw is. For the record, we hear that same sentiment from many coaches  around the country.

Being able to entice some of the best and brightest players in the country with a Stanford degree has undoubtedly played a role in that success. But as Shaw explains, he also thinks part of their key to success has been making players feel a sense of investment of the game plan week to week. 

Shaw explained the reason behind that outlook with Tom Tolbert of KNBR in San Francisco.

"I tell our guys all the time that if they do that just be ready to hear the words ‘no, no way and not going to happen.’ For us to be receptive it keeps these guys looking ahead and I want them to be proactive and I want them to look at film and say ‘hey here’s what I see coach, I would love to run this route.’

"Especially quarterbacks, receivers and running backs and even linebackers sometimes, they see a certain protection and say ‘hey if I blitz this way I can get home.’ I like that as players if you feel completely invested in the way the game plan is put together it kind of makes you want to play that much harder because you each have a hand in it.”

Interesting advice. It will be interesting to see the how everything plays out tonight in the Pac 12 title game when the Cardinal take on UCLA at 8pm ET on FOX.