[fullmetal]

Stewart Mandel, writing for The Athletic, has published his State of the Program piece for Stanford football.  Good rundown.

https://theathletic.com/2664812/2021/06/...he-pac-12/

[fullmetal]

Stewart Mandel, writing for The Athletic, has published his State of the Program piece for Stanford football.  Good rundown.

https://theathletic.com/2664812/2021/06/...he-pac-12/

[gailtate]

Stewart Mandel, writing for The Athletic, has published his State of the Program piece for Stanford football.  Good rundown.

https://theathletic.com/2664812/2021/06/...he-pac-12/

Spot-on assessment. Anything above .500 this year assumes Divine Providence, but, what the hey? Not unlike my golf game: those two or three good shots in a round keep hopes alive for the next one.

[gailtate]

Stewart Mandel, writing for The Athletic, has published his State of the Program piece for Stanford football.  Good rundown.

https://theathletic.com/2664812/2021/06/...he-pac-12/

Spot-on assessment. Anything above .500 this year assumes Divine Providence, but, what the hey? Not unlike my golf game: those two or three good shots in a round keep hopes alive for the next one.

[Phogge]

The trick to feeling good about your game is by playing only par 3 courses like Golden Gate Park in The City.

[Phogge]

The trick to feeling good about your game is by playing only par 3 courses like Golden Gate Park in The City.

[gailtate]

The trick to feeling good about your game is by playing only par 3 courses like Golden Gate Park in The City.

Well played. Pun intended.

[gailtate]

The trick to feeling good about your game is by playing only par 3 courses like Golden Gate Park in The City.

Well played. Pun intended.

[winflop]

The trick to feeling good about your game is by playing only par 3 courses like Golden Gate Park in The City.

Unfortunately our fall schedule has Olympic, Shinnecock Hills, Chambers Bay, Bethpage Black, and a few others.

[winflop]

The trick to feeling good about your game is by playing only par 3 courses like Golden Gate Park in The City.

Unfortunately our fall schedule has Olympic, Shinnecock Hills, Chambers Bay, Bethpage Black, and a few others.

[lex24]

If they can run the ball and control the run they will finish over.500. If not, it will be a long year.  Biggest stat at end of the year will be offensive run-pass ratio.  If they run it 55% or more , good things will have happened. If it’s around 45% it will be a long season.

[lex24]

If they can run the ball and control the run they will finish over.500. If not, it will be a long year.  Biggest stat at end of the year will be offensive run-pass ratio.  If they run it 55% or more , good things will have happened. If it’s around 45% it will be a long season.

[old spanish trail]

If they can run the ball and control the run they will finish over.500. If not, it will be a long year.  Biggest stat at end of the year will be offensive run-pass ratio.  If they run it 55% or more , good things will have happened. If it’s around 45% it will be a long season.

I still think the O will be excellent . Excellent OL, two or three excellent rb's, terrific receivers, one excellent TE who probably needs to stay healthy, and I believe McKee will be a revelation. The defense though? No idea.

[old spanish trail]

If they can run the ball and control the run they will finish over.500. If not, it will be a long year.  Biggest stat at end of the year will be offensive run-pass ratio.  If they run it 55% or more , good things will have happened. If it’s around 45% it will be a long season.

I still think the O will be excellent . Excellent OL, two or three excellent rb's, terrific receivers, one excellent TE who probably needs to stay healthy, and I believe McKee will be a revelation. The defense though? No idea.

[Spiny_Norman]

If they can run the ball and control the run they will finish over.500. If not, it will be a long year.  Biggest stat at end of the year will be offensive run-pass ratio.  If they run it 55% or more , good things will have happened. If it’s around 45% it will be a long season.

I still think the O will be excellent . Excellent OL, two or three excellent rb's, terrific receivers, one excellent TE who probably needs to stay healthy, and I believe McKee will be a revelation. The defense though? No idea.

I like the O and think it will have its moments. But it will hard to maintain that high level over the course of a game and from week to week. I expect to be frustrated by bad decisions, OL mistakes, penalties and miscommunications that kill drives. It's common for a first-year starting QB and a first-year starting center. Even Andrew Luck was 5-7 as a frosh. I still remember the game vs. Arizona. Stanford was down 43-38 late in the 4th quarter when Luck led Stanford inside the Arizona 15 yard line where the team was poised to take the lead. Luck then threw 4 consecutive incomplete passes to end the game. Very, very frustrating.

Or perhaps the coaching staff will call very conservative games to reduce the likelihood of mistakes. That will become predictable and make it easier for opponents to scout and prepare for Stanford. That too will be very frustrating.

Key indicators of progress - when opponents commit their safeties and/or ILBs to the line to stop the run, can Stanford make them pay? Or will they try to run into the strength of a defense with 8 or 9 in the box (as we have often seen lately)? Can the Stanford offense keep opposing defenses off balance?

[Spiny_Norman]

If they can run the ball and control the run they will finish over.500. If not, it will be a long year.  Biggest stat at end of the year will be offensive run-pass ratio.  If they run it 55% or more , good things will have happened. If it’s around 45% it will be a long season.

I still think the O will be excellent . Excellent OL, two or three excellent rb's, terrific receivers, one excellent TE who probably needs to stay healthy, and I believe McKee will be a revelation. The defense though? No idea.

I like the O and think it will have its moments. But it will hard to maintain that high level over the course of a game and from week to week. I expect to be frustrated by bad decisions, OL mistakes, penalties and miscommunications that kill drives. It's common for a first-year starting QB and a first-year starting center. Even Andrew Luck was 5-7 as a frosh. I still remember the game vs. Arizona. Stanford was down 43-38 late in the 4th quarter when Luck led Stanford inside the Arizona 15 yard line where the team was poised to take the lead. Luck then threw 4 consecutive incomplete passes to end the game. Very, very frustrating.

Or perhaps the coaching staff will call very conservative games to reduce the likelihood of mistakes. That will become predictable and make it easier for opponents to scout and prepare for Stanford. That too will be very frustrating.

Key indicators of progress - when opponents commit their safeties and/or ILBs to the line to stop the run, can Stanford make them pay? Or will they try to run into the strength of a defense with 8 or 9 in the box (as we have often seen lately)? Can the Stanford offense keep opposing defenses off balance?

[lex24]

If they can run the ball and control the run they will finish over.500. If not, it will be a long year.  Biggest stat at end of the year will be offensive run-pass ratio.  If they run it 55% or more , good things will have happened. If it’s around 45% it will be a long season.

I still think the O will be excellent . Excellent OL, two or three excellent rb's, terrific receivers, one excellent TE who probably needs to stay healthy, and I believe McKee will be a revelation. The defense though? No idea.

I like the O and think it will have its moments. But it will hard to maintain that high level over the course of a game and from week to week. I expect to be frustrated by bad decisions, OL mistakes, penalties and miscommunications that kill drives. It's common for a first-year starting QB and a first-year starting center. Even Andrew Luck was 5-7 as a frosh. I still remember the game vs. Arizona. Stanford was down 43-38 late in the 4th quarter when Luck led Stanford inside the Arizona 15 yard line where the team was poised to take the lead. Luck then threw 4 consecutive incomplete passes to end the game. Very, very frustrating.

Or perhaps the coaching staff will call very conservative games to reduce the likelihood of mistakes. That will become predictable and make it easier for opponents to scout and prepare for Stanford. That too will be very frustrating.

Key indicators of progress - when opponents commit their safeties and/or ILBs to the line to stop the run, can Stanford make them pay? Or will they try to run into the strength of a defense with 8 or 9 in the box (as we have often seen lately)? Can the Stanford offense keep opposing defenses off balance?

Andrew Luck as a Frosh was on the team that went 5-7.  He redshirted.

[lex24]

If they can run the ball and control the run they will finish over.500. If not, it will be a long year.  Biggest stat at end of the year will be offensive run-pass ratio.  If they run it 55% or more , good things will have happened. If it’s around 45% it will be a long season.

I still think the O will be excellent . Excellent OL, two or three excellent rb's, terrific receivers, one excellent TE who probably needs to stay healthy, and I believe McKee will be a revelation. The defense though? No idea.

I like the O and think it will have its moments. But it will hard to maintain that high level over the course of a game and from week to week. I expect to be frustrated by bad decisions, OL mistakes, penalties and miscommunications that kill drives. It's common for a first-year starting QB and a first-year starting center. Even Andrew Luck was 5-7 as a frosh. I still remember the game vs. Arizona. Stanford was down 43-38 late in the 4th quarter when Luck led Stanford inside the Arizona 15 yard line where the team was poised to take the lead. Luck then threw 4 consecutive incomplete passes to end the game. Very, very frustrating.

Or perhaps the coaching staff will call very conservative games to reduce the likelihood of mistakes. That will become predictable and make it easier for opponents to scout and prepare for Stanford. That too will be very frustrating.

Key indicators of progress - when opponents commit their safeties and/or ILBs to the line to stop the run, can Stanford make them pay? Or will they try to run into the strength of a defense with 8 or 9 in the box (as we have often seen lately)? Can the Stanford offense keep opposing defenses off balance?

Andrew Luck as a Frosh was on the team that went 5-7.  He redshirted.

[Spiny_Norman]

If they can run the ball and control the run they will finish over.500. If not, it will be a long year.  Biggest stat at end of the year will be offensive run-pass ratio.  If they run it 55% or more , good things will have happened. If it’s around 45% it will be a long season.

I still think the O will be excellent . Excellent OL, two or three excellent rb's, terrific receivers, one excellent TE who probably needs to stay healthy, and I believe McKee will be a revelation. The defense though? No idea.

I like the O and think it will have its moments. But it will hard to maintain that high level over the course of a game and from week to week. I expect to be frustrated by bad decisions, OL mistakes, penalties and miscommunications that kill drives. It's common for a first-year starting QB and a first-year starting center. Even Andrew Luck was 5-7 as a frosh. I still remember the game vs. Arizona. Stanford was down 43-38 late in the 4th quarter when Luck led Stanford inside the Arizona 15 yard line where the team was poised to take the lead. Luck then threw 4 consecutive incomplete passes to end the game. Very, very frustrating.

Or perhaps the coaching staff will call very conservative games to reduce the likelihood of mistakes. That will become predictable and make it easier for opponents to scout and prepare for Stanford. That too will be very frustrating.

Key indicators of progress - when opponents commit their safeties and/or ILBs to the line to stop the run, can Stanford make them pay? Or will they try to run into the strength of a defense with 8 or 9 in the box (as we have often seen lately)? Can the Stanford offense keep opposing defenses off balance?

Andrew Luck as a Frosh was on the team that went 5-7.  He redshirted.

Doh! Thanks for pointing out my error, Lex. Luck's frosh team was 8-4 in 2009 (not counting the Sun Bowl loss when he did not play). The Arizona loss was in 2009 as was the maddening Wake Forest loss on the road and the crushing Big Game loss that ended with Luck throwing an INT. In between were fabulous highlights. But the lowlights still have left scars.

[Spiny_Norman]

If they can run the ball and control the run they will finish over.500. If not, it will be a long year.  Biggest stat at end of the year will be offensive run-pass ratio.  If they run it 55% or more , good things will have happened. If it’s around 45% it will be a long season.

I still think the O will be excellent . Excellent OL, two or three excellent rb's, terrific receivers, one excellent TE who probably needs to stay healthy, and I believe McKee will be a revelation. The defense though? No idea.

I like the O and think it will have its moments. But it will hard to maintain that high level over the course of a game and from week to week. I expect to be frustrated by bad decisions, OL mistakes, penalties and miscommunications that kill drives. It's common for a first-year starting QB and a first-year starting center. Even Andrew Luck was 5-7 as a frosh. I still remember the game vs. Arizona. Stanford was down 43-38 late in the 4th quarter when Luck led Stanford inside the Arizona 15 yard line where the team was poised to take the lead. Luck then threw 4 consecutive incomplete passes to end the game. Very, very frustrating.

Or perhaps the coaching staff will call very conservative games to reduce the likelihood of mistakes. That will become predictable and make it easier for opponents to scout and prepare for Stanford. That too will be very frustrating.

Key indicators of progress - when opponents commit their safeties and/or ILBs to the line to stop the run, can Stanford make them pay? Or will they try to run into the strength of a defense with 8 or 9 in the box (as we have often seen lately)? Can the Stanford offense keep opposing defenses off balance?

Andrew Luck as a Frosh was on the team that went 5-7.  He redshirted.

Doh! Thanks for pointing out my error, Lex. Luck's frosh team was 8-4 in 2009 (not counting the Sun Bowl loss when he did not play). The Arizona loss was in 2009 as was the maddening Wake Forest loss on the road and the crushing Big Game loss that ended with Luck throwing an INT. In between were fabulous highlights. But the lowlights still have left scars.

[Red80]

If they can run the ball and control the run they will finish over.500. If not, it will be a long year.  Biggest stat at end of the year will be offensive run-pass ratio.  If they run it 55% or more , good things will have happened. If it’s around 45% it will be a long season.

Completely agree. Return to smash mouth football, heavy running, preferably with the QB behind Center. I'm not a big fan of running from the shotgun formation, for multiple reasons. Three TE sets, fullback on the field at least 50% of the time. This type of offense, as it did during Stanford's P12 Championship seasons, keeps its defense (and opposing offenses) where it belongs...on the sidelines. I don't see this team winning much any other way. Give me an offense with around 50 rushing attempts per game at a 4.0 ypc threshold and they will be very tough to beat. I have high hopes for the return of "Bully Ball".

[Red80]

If they can run the ball and control the run they will finish over.500. If not, it will be a long year.  Biggest stat at end of the year will be offensive run-pass ratio.  If they run it 55% or more , good things will have happened. If it’s around 45% it will be a long season.

Completely agree. Return to smash mouth football, heavy running, preferably with the QB behind Center. I'm not a big fan of running from the shotgun formation, for multiple reasons. Three TE sets, fullback on the field at least 50% of the time. This type of offense, as it did during Stanford's P12 Championship seasons, keeps its defense (and opposing offenses) where it belongs...on the sidelines. I don't see this team winning much any other way. Give me an offense with around 50 rushing attempts per game at a 4.0 ypc threshold and they will be very tough to beat. I have high hopes for the return of "Bully Ball".

[fullmetal]

I feel like that offensive run/pass ratio is more of a lagging indicator than anything.  Game flow (and even opponents' defensive strengths) can dictate your offensive formation preference (just to present the look, not what play gets called).  But yes, even as a lagging indicator, a high percentage of runs does indicate that Stanford probably either dominated with the run or got a lead and controlled the clock.  The odds are good if those are the cases.

[fullmetal]

I feel like that offensive run/pass ratio is more of a lagging indicator than anything.  Game flow (and even opponents' defensive strengths) can dictate your offensive formation preference (just to present the look, not what play gets called).  But yes, even as a lagging indicator, a high percentage of runs does indicate that Stanford probably either dominated with the run or got a lead and controlled the clock.  The odds are good if those are the cases.

[Goose]

I think that the run/pass ratio this year will be significantly affected by the Stanford defense. I am not sure that the offensive strategy will be "run first", but rather "run if we can, control the clock, minimize opponents possessions". This strategy will allow a defense that lacks a deep DL to have a chance against the offenses Stanford ill see this year. If the opponent loads up against the run, or if the defense isn't able to stop our opponent, it will be pass city. In years past (with Shaw), Stanford wasn't really geared up to execute a pass dominated offense. Recently, the coaches have adapted and are willing to do so. At least, this gives us a chance when the D just isn't getting it done. Lets hope we don't see a lot of that next year.

[Goose]

I think that the run/pass ratio this year will be significantly affected by the Stanford defense. I am not sure that the offensive strategy will be "run first", but rather "run if we can, control the clock, minimize opponents possessions". This strategy will allow a defense that lacks a deep DL to have a chance against the offenses Stanford ill see this year. If the opponent loads up against the run, or if the defense isn't able to stop our opponent, it will be pass city. In years past (with Shaw), Stanford wasn't really geared up to execute a pass dominated offense. Recently, the coaches have adapted and are willing to do so. At least, this gives us a chance when the D just isn't getting it done. Lets hope we don't see a lot of that next year.

[Hurlburt88]

I like the idea of being strong in the run and using many jumbo formations.   above and beyond this what I hope for is strong ability to pass out of said jumbo formations, and do so unpredictably, which reduces ability of defenses to sell-out to stop the run.

[Hurlburt88]

I like the idea of being strong in the run and using many jumbo formations.   above and beyond this what I hope for is strong ability to pass out of said jumbo formations, and do so unpredictably, which reduces ability of defenses to sell-out to stop the run.

[TrumpCard]

Sorry for the superfulous post. I was just testing my new signature and can't figure out how to delete this post.

[TrumpCard]

Sorry for the superfulous post. I was just testing my new signature and can't figure out how to delete this post.

[82lsju]

Sorry for the superfulous post.  I was just testing my new signature and can't figure out how to delete this post.

to delete your post

- select full edit
- at the top of the page select the box next to "to delete this post..."
- select "delete now" to the right of that text

[82lsju]

Sorry for the superfulous post.  I was just testing my new signature and can't figure out how to delete this post.

to delete your post

- select full edit
- at the top of the page select the box next to "to delete this post..."
- select "delete now" to the right of that text