[OutsiderFan]

If David Shaw wants to get his team extra motivated for UW, he need only tell them how the college football punditocracy and by extension, poll voters, are not giving Stanford their due.  Everywhere I look the story is how the University of South Central lost and is going to have to work hard to get back in national title contention, even how the loss hurts the Pac-12's ability to get a team in the BCS title game.

Not a single mention of how Stanford is one of the better teams in the country.  Not a single mention of how Stanford could be a contender nationally, or even in the Pac-12.  The reality is Stanford has a great defense, it's rush D is only behind Alabama and Oregon State, and ahead of LSU.  And Stanford pounds the run.  At any level of football, teams that can do that are championship caliber.

The consensus weakness on this team coming into this year was the Safety position, and to a lesser degree the DBs in general.  Well, they now have six interceptions in three games, and have played much better than anticipated.  Lyons and Carter both made plays and an impact, and the Safeties, particularly Richards, were awesome last night.

Stanford has to beat Oregon, and likely the University of South Central again, but Stanford's front seven will dominate Oregon just like the University of South Central, and Stanford is so much better in the secondary now that they will be able to slow Oregon too.  Remember, last year Stanford's defense was not the reason Stanford lost to Oregon in 2011 (the offense didn't do its part), and Stanford's defense is way better in 2012 than 2011.  Stanford is a Top 10 team and should be talked about as a contender until it loses a game.  They are just too good in the trenches, and now in the secondary, to not be given that respect.

[OutsiderFan]

If David Shaw wants to get his team extra motivated for UW, he need only tell them how the college football punditocracy and by extension, poll voters, are not giving Stanford their due.  Everywhere I look the story is how the University of South Central lost and is going to have to work hard to get back in national title contention, even how the loss hurts the Pac-12's ability to get a team in the BCS title game.

Not a single mention of how Stanford is one of the better teams in the country.  Not a single mention of how Stanford could be a contender nationally, or even in the Pac-12.  The reality is Stanford has a great defense, it's rush D is only behind Alabama and Oregon State, and ahead of LSU.  And Stanford pounds the run.  At any level of football, teams that can do that are championship caliber.

The consensus weakness on this team coming into this year was the Safety position, and to a lesser degree the DBs in general.  Well, they now have six interceptions in three games, and have played much better than anticipated.  Lyons and Carter both made plays and an impact, and the Safeties, particularly Richards, were awesome last night.

Stanford has to beat Oregon, and likely the University of South Central again, but Stanford's front seven will dominate Oregon just like the University of South Central, and Stanford is so much better in the secondary now that they will be able to slow Oregon too.  Remember, last year Stanford's defense was not the reason Stanford lost to Oregon in 2011 (the offense didn't do its part), and Stanford's defense is way better in 2012 than 2011.  Stanford is a Top 10 team and should be talked about as a contender until it loses a game.  They are just too good in the trenches, and now in the secondary, to not be given that respect.