[OutsiderFan]

Based on my one viewing of the contest, which included some in-game DVR rewinding and re-watching, here are some things that grabbed my attention.  I'm leaving out the expected or not particularly noteworthy and focusing on the good and not good around question marks we have had about this team.

The Good
Offense
- Herbig was dominant
- Burkett looked much better than I can ever remember him being
- Insane OL depth in general
- Walker Little sure can bend his hips and move his feet; he and Sarell played together a lot
- Best TEs in the country?
- Parkinson and Wedington look like best True Frosh receiving options in a long time
- Costello (so clearly better than Burns)
Defense
- Phillips was pretty much unblockable
- Cotton really seemed to have an impact
- Did they even throw a single ball at Meeks?
- Reid really strong performance
- Malik Antoine looks like the top Nickel option, seems to have surpassed Buncom
- Nice to see Barton, Okereke, and Alfieri get most of the reps with 1st unit

The not Good
Offense
- Burns is a capable #3, but he's a #3, the passing game is just too fast for him
- Hamilton clear weak link; Hall was presumably #1, but I don't see how Little isn't the starter at RT very soon
Defense
- Nothing I saw against Rice in any way changes my DL concern, in fact, I'm now more concerned*

* I'm guessing Rice got 2/3 of its rushing yards when Phillips wasn't playing.

Overall, what is there to really complain about?  As I mentioned last week, a blowout doesn't guarantee a championship team, but only teams that blowout teams like Rice can be considered that caliber.  It was great to see validation of Shaw's assertion the offense would be more productive because they would spread the ball to more people, and Parker and Wedington are clearly special talents. When's the last time at least seven Stanford receivers had at least 40 yards?  And people were concerned about WRs...

One note.  Some people will be concerned about the lack of a pass rush, but the Rice offensive scheme made it difficult to conventionally rush the passer as a result of the constant jet sweep threat. In fact, Rice scored its only touchdown when several Stanford defenders thought the QB had the ball when he didn't. 

[OutsiderFan]

Based on my one viewing of the contest, which included some in-game DVR rewinding and re-watching, here are some things that grabbed my attention.  I'm leaving out the expected or not particularly noteworthy and focusing on the good and not good around question marks we have had about this team.

The Good
Offense
- Herbig was dominant
- Burkett looked much better than I can ever remember him being
- Insane OL depth in general
- Walker Little sure can bend his hips and move his feet; he and Sarell played together a lot
- Best TEs in the country?
- Parkinson and Wedington look like best True Frosh receiving options in a long time
- Costello (so clearly better than Burns)
Defense
- Phillips was pretty much unblockable
- Cotton really seemed to have an impact
- Did they even throw a single ball at Meeks?
- Reid really strong performance
- Malik Antoine looks like the top Nickel option, seems to have surpassed Buncom
- Nice to see Barton, Okereke, and Alfieri get most of the reps with 1st unit

The not Good
Offense
- Burns is a capable #3, but he's a #3, the passing game is just too fast for him
- Hamilton clear weak link; Hall was presumably #1, but I don't see how Little isn't the starter at RT very soon
Defense
- Nothing I saw against Rice in any way changes my DL concern, in fact, I'm now more concerned*

* I'm guessing Rice got 2/3 of its rushing yards when Phillips wasn't playing.

Overall, what is there to really complain about?  As I mentioned last week, a blowout doesn't guarantee a championship team, but only teams that blowout teams like Rice can be considered that caliber.  It was great to see validation of Shaw's assertion the offense would be more productive because they would spread the ball to more people, and Parker and Wedington are clearly special talents. When's the last time at least seven Stanford receivers had at least 40 yards?  And people were concerned about WRs...

One note.  Some people will be concerned about the lack of a pass rush, but the Rice offensive scheme made it difficult to conventionally rush the passer as a result of the constant jet sweep threat. In fact, Rice scored its only touchdown when several Stanford defenders thought the QB had the ball when he didn't.