[washingtonismoney]

Lotta people taking the points in SJSU @ Stanford. (Kawakami, Wilner, couple of guys on ESPN...)

Hopefully they're under- rather than properly estimating us.

[washingtonismoney]

Lotta people taking the points in SJSU @ Stanford. (Kawakami, Wilner, couple of guys on ESPN...)

Hopefully they're under- rather than properly estimating us.

[washingtonismoney]

I can't say I'd be shocked or appalled if SJSU covers. If it's, say, 30-10, will I be the angriest human being ever? No, I won't.

But I do think it's interesting that the doubt has started early. I would've figured the heavy skepticism would start Week 3.

[washingtonismoney]

I can't say I'd be shocked or appalled if SJSU covers. If it's, say, 30-10, will I be the angriest human being ever? No, I won't.

But I do think it's interesting that the doubt has started early. I would've figured the heavy skepticism would start Week 3.

[oman]

In prep for the USC game, would you rather this team have two blowouts, or a slow buildup of confidence, and a "remember though art mortal messages" by simple improvements from SJS to Duke?

I'm in favor of the former on defense and the latter on offense.

[oman]

In prep for the USC game, would you rather this team have two blowouts, or a slow buildup of confidence, and a "remember though art mortal messages" by simple improvements from SJS to Duke?

I'm in favor of the former on defense and the latter on offense.

[Redrum]

Thou not  Though, methinks. 

[Redrum]

Thou not  Though, methinks. 

[oman]

In the orignal Latin, it actually reads "remember, though thou forgetteth, that thou art mortal, though".  My bad.

[oman]

In the orignal Latin, it actually reads "remember, though thou forgetteth, that thou art mortal, though".  My bad.

[Redrum]

I hear she turns into giant snake, a right Harry Potter basilisk, when she encounters word redundancy...and one of them just dangling off the end, to boot.

[Redrum]

I hear she turns into giant snake, a right Harry Potter basilisk, when she encounters word redundancy...and one of them just dangling off the end, to boot.

[oman]

This is why I was English, With a (very) Creative Writing Emphasis.

[oman]

This is why I was English, With a (very) Creative Writing Emphasis.

[fullmetal]

Rooting for a defensive shutout.  I picked the Stanford defense/special teams in my college fantasy league :)

[fullmetal]

Rooting for a defensive shutout.  I picked the Stanford defense/special teams in my college fantasy league :)

[Redrum]

...our front 7 is pressuring the passer against attacks that get the ball out to receivers quickly.  USC / Barkley are particularly good at this.  Supposedly Mike Leach offenses are, too, but based on watching WSU flounder last night,  it might be a while before they test us.  But if pressure isn't working and our OLBs are always having to drop into coverage, we might not be as dominating as we puff we are.  Of course, then Stanford drops into the nickle, but accepts our ability to disrupt the game with our front 7 is diminished.    Will be interesting to see how it works out.

[Redrum]

...our front 7 is pressuring the passer against attacks that get the ball out to receivers quickly.  USC / Barkley are particularly good at this.  Supposedly Mike Leach offenses are, too, but based on watching WSU flounder last night,  it might be a while before they test us.  But if pressure isn't working and our OLBs are always having to drop into coverage, we might not be as dominating as we puff we are.  Of course, then Stanford drops into the nickle, but accepts our ability to disrupt the game with our front 7 is diminished.    Will be interesting to see how it works out.

[oman]

More nervous or less than last year at this time?

I was really worried about protection for Andy last year and maybe some fear about Coach.  This year, I am actually less worried, with kind of a "our quarterback just has to be okay" mentality.

[oman]

More nervous or less than last year at this time?

I was really worried about protection for Andy last year and maybe some fear about Coach.  This year, I am actually less worried, with kind of a "our quarterback just has to be okay" mentality.

[washingtonismoney]

I have a vague bad feeling about this. Probably just random paranoia.

[washingtonismoney]

I have a vague bad feeling about this. Probably just random paranoia.

[Redrum]

"Go out and hit 'em right in the mouth early.  Show them you're not intimidated and not going to let them dominate you.  The longer we stay in this game the wobblier they'll get.  I won't call out any player who makes a mistake while being aggressive, while taking the game to them. Straight at them!"   

And that's how San Jose should play it.  I hope they do.  Maybe if we can handle San Jose St. while they're all jacked up on adrenaline and hope,  we can also handle Duke all jacked up on adrenaline and hope.  And maybe if we can, then maybe we can handle USC when they are all jacked up on adrenaline and revenge.

[Redrum]

"Go out and hit 'em right in the mouth early.  Show them you're not intimidated and not going to let them dominate you.  The longer we stay in this game the wobblier they'll get.  I won't call out any player who makes a mistake while being aggressive, while taking the game to them. Straight at them!"   

And that's how San Jose should play it.  I hope they do.  Maybe if we can handle San Jose St. while they're all jacked up on adrenaline and hope,  we can also handle Duke all jacked up on adrenaline and hope.  And maybe if we can, then maybe we can handle USC when they are all jacked up on adrenaline and revenge.

[81alum]

More nervous or less than last year at this time?

I was really worried about protection for Andy last year and maybe some fear about Coach.  This year, I am actually less worried, with kind of a "our quarterback just has to be okay" mentality.

I'm much more worried than a year ago.  One year ago we were coming off an Orange Bowl win and Luck was coming back.  What on earth was there the be nervous about?  The coaching change was pretty much the only thing.

This year, the "our quarterback just has to be OK" is exactly what our coaches have to say to reduce the pressure on our quarterback and hopefully work him into a good frame of mind.  In fact, they are doing a great job by saying that and convincing as many people as possible to believe it.  But I'm not sure I really do.  If I did, that would mean we should expect a season a little like Tavita's year before Luck--good running game with a quarterback who had flashes of brilliance but generally was just OK.  And that was a 5-7 year.

Now it is true that our defense is probably much better than 2008.  On the other hand, we don't really know.  How well will our defense hold up if our offense cannot be as consistent at keeping the ball as it was the last three years?  How much of our defensive success the last couple of years was due to our defense always being relatively fresh?

For that matter, how good is Shaw?  We know he can be excellent with really good material to work with.  How will he be when he hits more adversity, a quarterback with growing pains?  This is the year he has to come completely out of the Harbaugh/Luck shadow and show us all that he is a great coach completely in his own right.  I think/hope he will. 

I expect we will do just fine and have a good year.  But my shadowy subconscious is cooking up all kinds of ugly thoughts that were absent one year ago.

[81alum]

More nervous or less than last year at this time?

I was really worried about protection for Andy last year and maybe some fear about Coach.  This year, I am actually less worried, with kind of a "our quarterback just has to be okay" mentality.

I'm much more worried than a year ago.  One year ago we were coming off an Orange Bowl win and Luck was coming back.  What on earth was there the be nervous about?  The coaching change was pretty much the only thing.

This year, the "our quarterback just has to be OK" is exactly what our coaches have to say to reduce the pressure on our quarterback and hopefully work him into a good frame of mind.  In fact, they are doing a great job by saying that and convincing as many people as possible to believe it.  But I'm not sure I really do.  If I did, that would mean we should expect a season a little like Tavita's year before Luck--good running game with a quarterback who had flashes of brilliance but generally was just OK.  And that was a 5-7 year.

Now it is true that our defense is probably much better than 2008.  On the other hand, we don't really know.  How well will our defense hold up if our offense cannot be as consistent at keeping the ball as it was the last three years?  How much of our defensive success the last couple of years was due to our defense always being relatively fresh?

For that matter, how good is Shaw?  We know he can be excellent with really good material to work with.  How will he be when he hits more adversity, a quarterback with growing pains?  This is the year he has to come completely out of the Harbaugh/Luck shadow and show us all that he is a great coach completely in his own right.  I think/hope he will. 

I expect we will do just fine and have a good year.  But my shadowy subconscious is cooking up all kinds of ugly thoughts that were absent one year ago.

[oman]

You worry too much...

[oman]

You worry too much...

[jayasena]

You worry too much...

You are not a true Stanford fan  >:(

[jayasena]

You worry too much...

You are not a true Stanford fan  >:(