11-09-2011, 04:37 PM
Cal had Cameron Jordan, Derrick Hill, and Earnest Owusu/Trevor Guyton.
Stanford doesn't have Cameron Jordan, but Matt Masifilo is no slouch. Derrick Hill was very good, but I think Terrence Stephens is about on par. And I have really liked Gardner this year. You don't get a Top 20 rush defense in the country without having capable DL, so the stats demonstrate Stanford's DL has some talent.
If I was Stanford, I would go with a 3-3-5 defense all game long, and spy MT3 on Darron Thomas. Even though DT isn't running much this year, he hadn't run much until the Stanford game last year, so I'd make sure he was accounted for on every snap. If MT3 is out, put Richards as the spy. Howell is too valuable as a tackler and ball hawk all over the field than to tie him up as a spy.
I would start Tarpley in the middle (who seems faster than Lancaster) and sub in Lancaster. Then I would rotate Chase T., Murphy, Lueders and Vaughters at OLB.
The DL is the position with the least depth it would appear. I would think Masifilo, Stephens, and Gardner better be ready to play the whole game. I'm not sold on any of the backups.
Oregon only averages 23 minutes of possession per game. If Stanford defenders are in shape and have been practicing for high tempo all year, they should not tire out. Most teams didn't prepare their whole season to beat Oregon. Stanford seems to have done that and I would think it will pay some dividends.
Stanford doesn't have Cameron Jordan, but Matt Masifilo is no slouch. Derrick Hill was very good, but I think Terrence Stephens is about on par. And I have really liked Gardner this year. You don't get a Top 20 rush defense in the country without having capable DL, so the stats demonstrate Stanford's DL has some talent.
If I was Stanford, I would go with a 3-3-5 defense all game long, and spy MT3 on Darron Thomas. Even though DT isn't running much this year, he hadn't run much until the Stanford game last year, so I'd make sure he was accounted for on every snap. If MT3 is out, put Richards as the spy. Howell is too valuable as a tackler and ball hawk all over the field than to tie him up as a spy.
I would start Tarpley in the middle (who seems faster than Lancaster) and sub in Lancaster. Then I would rotate Chase T., Murphy, Lueders and Vaughters at OLB.
The DL is the position with the least depth it would appear. I would think Masifilo, Stephens, and Gardner better be ready to play the whole game. I'm not sold on any of the backups.
Oregon only averages 23 minutes of possession per game. If Stanford defenders are in shape and have been practicing for high tempo all year, they should not tire out. Most teams didn't prepare their whole season to beat Oregon. Stanford seems to have done that and I would think it will pay some dividends.