[washingtonismoney]

Looks like our special teams. Our returns last year were so-so--21 yards/kick return and 10 yards/punt return. Today they were 30 and 20, respectively. That's the Chris Owusu and Drew Terrell effect; Owusu is a well-known quantity while Terrell made honorable mention all Pac-10 last year despite only being the primary punt returner for half the season, IIRC.

[washingtonismoney]

Looks like our special teams. Our returns last year were so-so--21 yards/kick return and 10 yards/punt return. Today they were 30 and 20, respectively. That's the Chris Owusu and Drew Terrell effect; Owusu is a well-known quantity while Terrell made honorable mention all Pac-10 last year despite only being the primary punt returner for half the season, IIRC.

[CowboyIndian]

Looks like our special teams.

I agree on the improvement in those areas, but maybe not ALL special teams. I thought our KOs were surprisingly short (they were nicely placed but if I were watching film, I'd tell my returners to let 'em go out of bounds) and coverage just OK, which could be a function of the KO length.
Field goals were excellent and punts OK, after a tough one to start.

[CowboyIndian]

Looks like our special teams.

I agree on the improvement in those areas, but maybe not ALL special teams. I thought our KOs were surprisingly short (they were nicely placed but if I were watching film, I'd tell my returners to let 'em go out of bounds) and coverage just OK, which could be a function of the KO length.
Field goals were excellent and punts OK, after a tough one to start.

[Farm93]

Well, Ted Miller's view of the Pac-12 now has Stanford as the best team in the conference.  Sadly, that is not saying much as ESPN also noted that it was not a great Saturday for the conference.

In any event, put those things together and it is highly likely that Stanford will be the highest ranked team in the Pac-12.

Others may know this without hunting AP ranking archives.  When was the last time that Stanford was the highest ranked team in its conference.  Perhaps 1999?

[Farm93]

Well, Ted Miller's view of the Pac-12 now has Stanford as the best team in the conference.  Sadly, that is not saying much as ESPN also noted that it was not a great Saturday for the conference.

In any event, put those things together and it is highly likely that Stanford will be the highest ranked team in the Pac-12.

Others may know this without hunting AP ranking archives.  When was the last time that Stanford was the highest ranked team in its conference.  Perhaps 1999?

[washingtonismoney]

I agree on the improvement in those areas, but maybe not ALL special teams.

Probably should've been clear I meant "returns" specifically.

The Owusu effect, by the way, is pretty incredible. Football Outsiders has a good stat where they rank teams by field position. When Owusu was healthy, we were 4th in the country. In 2010 we were 23rd and in 2008 we were 67th.

[washingtonismoney]

I agree on the improvement in those areas, but maybe not ALL special teams.

Probably should've been clear I meant "returns" specifically.

The Owusu effect, by the way, is pretty incredible. Football Outsiders has a good stat where they rank teams by field position. When Owusu was healthy, we were 4th in the country. In 2010 we were 23rd and in 2008 we were 67th.