[Goose]

Johnny Manziel didn't do so badly, and playground football will still beat a fundamentally unsound defense.  U$C will look good until they run into a stout, disciplined defense.  I hope Stanford has one of those ready to go.

I might modify your statement to say "playground football with superior personnel will often beat a fundamentally unsound defense", but I think we mostly agree on that. I am pretty sure that, baring injury, we will have a stout and disciplined defense, at least the "back 8". The front 3 may need some help on the stout, we shall see. If we can control the tempo, I think USC will have real problems on offense. However, if we give them lots of chances, it could become more of a challenge. I haven't seen any evidence that the USC coaching staff are fast learners and make good in-game adjustments. If we don't give them time to "figure it out", I think we will be in great shape. A shootout is not our preferred outcome.

[Goose]

Johnny Manziel didn't do so badly, and playground football will still beat a fundamentally unsound defense.  U$C will look good until they run into a stout, disciplined defense.  I hope Stanford has one of those ready to go.

I might modify your statement to say "playground football with superior personnel will often beat a fundamentally unsound defense", but I think we mostly agree on that. I am pretty sure that, baring injury, we will have a stout and disciplined defense, at least the "back 8". The front 3 may need some help on the stout, we shall see. If we can control the tempo, I think USC will have real problems on offense. However, if we give them lots of chances, it could become more of a challenge. I haven't seen any evidence that the USC coaching staff are fast learners and make good in-game adjustments. If we don't give them time to "figure it out", I think we will be in great shape. A shootout is not our preferred outcome.