[JPR36]

The dysfunctional play of the O-line represents the current ceiling for this team.  Without substantial improvement in this unit, the 2018 version of the Cardinal football team will struggle to end the regular season 9-3 and is more likely an 8-4 team with a Sun Bowl in its future.  I know nothing about the new O-line coach, Kevin Carberry.  In Stanford's current run of success, there is this expectation that O-line excellence is only a function of the talent we have and that player development and coaching are sort of built into the framework.  Maybe we are truly seeing a drop off from Bloomgren's O-line leadership.  Whatever the cause, the O-line has been the single largest disappointment this season.  I thought it would be our salvation; instead, it has become a liability.          

The defense is not nearly as stout as we had imagined (or hoped) after the first three games.  Against San Diego State, we could scheme against a rather one-dimensional offense.  In the USC game, an inexperienced QB made our defensive work easier.  Then came UC Davis.  Not a real challenge.  But in the last two games, facing a balanced offense run by excellent QBs, the defense has been exposed.  I predict the defense will struggle against UW, WSU, ASU and potentially Cal.  

It would be easy to call out the lack of creativity in the play-calling; but the real problem right now is the O-line.  If there is no effective run or pass blocking, the play-calling is really secondary.  

I did predict that we would lose this game; but I expected it to be much closer (a FG or so) and a very even match-up.  But ND doubled our offensive production, which was anemic.

It is probably too early for any updates on Love's injury.  This is what I feared would happen if Shaw insisted on slamming him up the middle repeatedly.  And with the O-line not opening any holes, the wear and tear is even worse. 

On a more optimistic note, a 6-1 USC team ventured to South Bend last season and was annihilated by the Irish 49-14.  USC went on to win the Pac-12 that year (against us in the championship game) and played in the Cotton Bowl.  And Stanford took apart that same Notre Dame team that decimated USC.  We are almost certainly out of the CFP discussion; but, frankly, I never considered this team CFP-worthy.

We struggle on the road (a lot of teams do), and when we play a good team we can't expect them to bail us out with miscues the way the Ducks did last week. At least we played ND tough for three quarters (unlike the 2016 Washington game where we collapsed from the opening kickoff). Like everyone else, I'm puzzled as to why the OL is playing so poorly. Injuries no doubt have something to do with it, but I can't believe that is the entire reason. 
Anyone's guess as to how we will do the rest of this season. It's easy after a game like this to start predicting doom and gloom, but I think that's an overreaction. I agree 8-4 or 9-3 makes sense right now.

[JPR36]

The dysfunctional play of the O-line represents the current ceiling for this team.  Without substantial improvement in this unit, the 2018 version of the Cardinal football team will struggle to end the regular season 9-3 and is more likely an 8-4 team with a Sun Bowl in its future.  I know nothing about the new O-line coach, Kevin Carberry.  In Stanford's current run of success, there is this expectation that O-line excellence is only a function of the talent we have and that player development and coaching are sort of built into the framework.  Maybe we are truly seeing a drop off from Bloomgren's O-line leadership.  Whatever the cause, the O-line has been the single largest disappointment this season.  I thought it would be our salvation; instead, it has become a liability.          

The defense is not nearly as stout as we had imagined (or hoped) after the first three games.  Against San Diego State, we could scheme against a rather one-dimensional offense.  In the USC game, an inexperienced QB made our defensive work easier.  Then came UC Davis.  Not a real challenge.  But in the last two games, facing a balanced offense run by excellent QBs, the defense has been exposed.  I predict the defense will struggle against UW, WSU, ASU and potentially Cal.  

It would be easy to call out the lack of creativity in the play-calling; but the real problem right now is the O-line.  If there is no effective run or pass blocking, the play-calling is really secondary.  

I did predict that we would lose this game; but I expected it to be much closer (a FG or so) and a very even match-up.  But ND doubled our offensive production, which was anemic.

It is probably too early for any updates on Love's injury.  This is what I feared would happen if Shaw insisted on slamming him up the middle repeatedly.  And with the O-line not opening any holes, the wear and tear is even worse. 

On a more optimistic note, a 6-1 USC team ventured to South Bend last season and was annihilated by the Irish 49-14.  USC went on to win the Pac-12 that year (against us in the championship game) and played in the Cotton Bowl.  And Stanford took apart that same Notre Dame team that decimated USC.  We are almost certainly out of the CFP discussion; but, frankly, I never considered this team CFP-worthy.

We struggle on the road (a lot of teams do), and when we play a good team we can't expect them to bail us out with miscues the way the Ducks did last week. At least we played ND tough for three quarters (unlike the 2016 Washington game where we collapsed from the opening kickoff). Like everyone else, I'm puzzled as to why the OL is playing so poorly. Injuries no doubt have something to do with it, but I can't believe that is the entire reason. 
Anyone's guess as to how we will do the rest of this season. It's easy after a game like this to start predicting doom and gloom, but I think that's an overreaction. I agree 8-4 or 9-3 makes sense right now.