[OutsiderFan]

Need to see a few more games before deciding if Stanford can beat Oregon or not, but here's one fan's assessment of the situation.

The consensus seems to be Stanford's offense will get better and better as the season goes on as Peat takes over at LT and Nunes gains experience.  We'll see if this is the case.

My biggest question is does Stanford have the depth on defense to be able to keep from getting worn out by Oregon? 

NT:  Yes.  Stephens and Parry have been great.
DE: Not sure.  Gardner, Anderson, and Mauro have been great, but who is the 4th guy?  Is he good enough?
OLB:  Yes.  Murphy, Thomas, and Debniak have been great, but is Kevin Anderson ready to do the job if needed?
ILB.  No doubt.  Skov, Vaughters, Tarpley, and Lancaster have all played great.
CB. Yes.  Brown, Lyons, Browning, Carter have been a revelation
Nickel:  Yes.  Amanam and Harris have shown they can really ball.
Safety.  Not sure.  Reynolds and Richards have been very good, but who is behind them?  Carrington isn't good enough to avoid being a brobdingnagian drop-off at FS.  That leaves Olugbode (when he returns) and Hoffpauir as the likely backups.

If Stanford can get one more DE on the field playing at a high level, and two more Safeties, without much drop-off from the starters, Stanford's defense will have the depth it needs to really slow Oregon's offense, probably to its lowest output of the season.

Whether this is enough to win will depend on Stanford's Offense, which to me was the primary culprit when Stanford lost in 2011. 

Another thing.  David Shaw has to realize he's playing a different game against Oregon.  He's playing a team that will go for it on 4th down from its own 30 yard line, that will go for two when it isn't necessary, and will onside kick.  Stanford will have to be similarly aggressive.  Stanford's game plan should call for going for it on 4th down on every single 4th and 1 or less it has outside its own 30 yard line.

[OutsiderFan]

Need to see a few more games before deciding if Stanford can beat Oregon or not, but here's one fan's assessment of the situation.

The consensus seems to be Stanford's offense will get better and better as the season goes on as Peat takes over at LT and Nunes gains experience.  We'll see if this is the case.

My biggest question is does Stanford have the depth on defense to be able to keep from getting worn out by Oregon? 

NT:  Yes.  Stephens and Parry have been great.
DE: Not sure.  Gardner, Anderson, and Mauro have been great, but who is the 4th guy?  Is he good enough?
OLB:  Yes.  Murphy, Thomas, and Debniak have been great, but is Kevin Anderson ready to do the job if needed?
ILB.  No doubt.  Skov, Vaughters, Tarpley, and Lancaster have all played great.
CB. Yes.  Brown, Lyons, Browning, Carter have been a revelation
Nickel:  Yes.  Amanam and Harris have shown they can really ball.
Safety.  Not sure.  Reynolds and Richards have been very good, but who is behind them?  Carrington isn't good enough to avoid being a brobdingnagian drop-off at FS.  That leaves Olugbode (when he returns) and Hoffpauir as the likely backups.

If Stanford can get one more DE on the field playing at a high level, and two more Safeties, without much drop-off from the starters, Stanford's defense will have the depth it needs to really slow Oregon's offense, probably to its lowest output of the season.

Whether this is enough to win will depend on Stanford's Offense, which to me was the primary culprit when Stanford lost in 2011. 

Another thing.  David Shaw has to realize he's playing a different game against Oregon.  He's playing a team that will go for it on 4th down from its own 30 yard line, that will go for two when it isn't necessary, and will onside kick.  Stanford will have to be similarly aggressive.  Stanford's game plan should call for going for it on 4th down on every single 4th and 1 or less it has outside its own 30 yard line.