(09-05-2021, 08:43 AM)Mick Wrote: (09-05-2021, 08:41 AM)winflop Wrote: (09-04-2021, 02:02 PM)gailtate Wrote: I didn't and I tried. Seriously. This was worse than even I had imagined. Yes, there were some respectable moments and efforts. But, overall, this SUCKED. Big time. Eerily reminiscent of Wlat games, 2006. We'll know more, I guess, after Vandy.
1. The defense played well in the second half and Anderson actually made halftime adjustments
2. No serious injuries - sadly this is a positive in the post-Turley era
3. There is clarity on who the starting QB should be
Also, teams tend to make their biggest improvement between games 1 and 2...and Stanford won't be playing any more games getting up at 6 a.m. body clock time.
Mick, I'm willing to concede that having a 9:00 a.m. body clock game isn't ideal. But you make it sound like it was outcome-determinative. Is there some study showing 9:00 a.m. games ==> 85% Ls (or worse) for team within 3-5 point spread - i.e., competitive games? If so, I'd like to see it before going "hook, line and sinker" on Shaw's pre-game excuse of starting time. I mean, burning a timeout on 2nd and 17 because the brain trust doesn't know what to call on 2nd and 17 has nothing to do with body clock for the players.
BTW, I watched the game on tape for a more dispassionate viewing last night. For a team that gained 240 yards total offense (which sucks, btw), it actually was not hopeless. Real time it was so exasperating because we see the same game management $hit we've seen for 11 years under this regime, but there are some signs of hope (that have been noted here). And that's irrespective of the P12 North perhaps being awful (frankly, that doesn't give me much solace - I want Stanford to up its game). So there are some Ws on the schedule - or at least good opportunities for same.
BTW, the D held KSU to 360 yards of total offense, which is pretty good (at least). And if the safety takes a decent angle on the 59 yard TD run, then maybe it's even a very good D performance.
P.S. I wouldn't discount a W over Fresno State. Those teams historically play you hard and physically and any W is a good W. tOSU could well blow out Oregon next week - and maybe because Fresno State took its pound of flesh from the Ducks. Regardless, I see that as a pretty good W for Oregon.