There's so much negativity around here, I wanted to add the perspective that I think Stanford really can beat SC tomorrow.
I don't think that's the likeliest outcome -- in 2019 SC roasted us 45-20, and the past few years, we have struggled to bring down QBs like Slovis, and he shuffles around great, and I fear he will carve us up again. And from the SJ State game, it looks like they have another wealth of big, fast, physical receivers.
But we all already know the negatives and seem fixated on them. I'm going to list the positives, leading to why I think there's a real solid chance -- let's say 40% -- that Stanford beats SC tomorrow.
#1) The number one reason is that this is a conference game. One trend I see in Shaw's coaching and preparation, is that he saves the most for Big Game, followed by Pac-12 North Games, then prepares for the Pac-12 South Games, and prepares the least for non-conference games. It's infuriating because Stanford keeps getting beat by non-conference opponents -- K State, UCF, SD State, Wake Forest, and it's in those games I hit the lowest lows wondering if Stanford has anything in its darn playbook. But then during the next conference game I see that Shaw did have a lot of new things up his sleeve, he just wouldn't reveal them, even if he's down by 3 and has the ball for the final drive against SD State. After losing to SD State by 3 in 2017, the next week Stanford put up 58 points blowing up UCLA.
#2) As far as I know, the team is healthier than in the last few years.
#3) While the physical mismatch between SC and SJ State almost looked comical, I know Stanford has the physical attributes and the physicality to beat SC. You can't take SC's domination of S J State and assume anything like that will happen to Stanford. It will be a different game.
#4) I think people are a bit too down on the past few years of recruiting and on the athletic talent on this year's squad. Against K State, the team just looked like a mess. People missed their assignments. The line didn't get push. I even saw a blocker *flinch* and whiff instead of making contact on the defender. Say what you will about the Stanford football coaching staff, but by later in the season, the team usually executes a lot better. It's not like these guys don't know how to coach. So, there are no excuses for being so much less prepared than K State last week, but by historical standards, the team will get there, it's just the question of whether they will have gotten there by tomorrow.
#5) I think Stanford has been developing QBs in the post-Luck era. I think McKee has a great ceiling. I don't know how far along he is just yet, but the potential is there. *This* season.
#6) One positional positive -- probably the most frustrating aspect of Stanford's losses to SC in recent years has been the team's inability to bring down the SC quarterback. They move around, shrug off weak arm tackles, slide away from one piece of a pocket collapsing, and 6-8 seconds into a play they hit a receiver deep downfield, wide open. Stanford got 3 sacks last week. I'm not saying the party is back in the backfield, but I saw a glimmer of hope last week. If they can bring some heat and actually Sack the Slovis, there's a much better chance.
#7) And let's not forget how good this team was last year. I think it was a really good squad. I think were it not for the testing bull*hit at Oregon, the team had the potential to go 6-0. And most of that team is back. If these guys play better than they did those final 4 games last season -- a level they already achieved last fall -- it can be a really good squad, even with a new QB and center.
We know we have a the talent for a really good line. We know we have a bunch of big, fast receivers that can make spectacular catches. We know what Austin Jones can do at RB. And supposedly we have some good talent on this year's defense. We've been waiting years for the injured linebackers to rejoin the line-up. So I know they are capable of a lot, lot more.
I don't think that's the likeliest outcome -- in 2019 SC roasted us 45-20, and the past few years, we have struggled to bring down QBs like Slovis, and he shuffles around great, and I fear he will carve us up again. And from the SJ State game, it looks like they have another wealth of big, fast, physical receivers.
But we all already know the negatives and seem fixated on them. I'm going to list the positives, leading to why I think there's a real solid chance -- let's say 40% -- that Stanford beats SC tomorrow.
#1) The number one reason is that this is a conference game. One trend I see in Shaw's coaching and preparation, is that he saves the most for Big Game, followed by Pac-12 North Games, then prepares for the Pac-12 South Games, and prepares the least for non-conference games. It's infuriating because Stanford keeps getting beat by non-conference opponents -- K State, UCF, SD State, Wake Forest, and it's in those games I hit the lowest lows wondering if Stanford has anything in its darn playbook. But then during the next conference game I see that Shaw did have a lot of new things up his sleeve, he just wouldn't reveal them, even if he's down by 3 and has the ball for the final drive against SD State. After losing to SD State by 3 in 2017, the next week Stanford put up 58 points blowing up UCLA.
#2) As far as I know, the team is healthier than in the last few years.
#3) While the physical mismatch between SC and SJ State almost looked comical, I know Stanford has the physical attributes and the physicality to beat SC. You can't take SC's domination of S J State and assume anything like that will happen to Stanford. It will be a different game.
#4) I think people are a bit too down on the past few years of recruiting and on the athletic talent on this year's squad. Against K State, the team just looked like a mess. People missed their assignments. The line didn't get push. I even saw a blocker *flinch* and whiff instead of making contact on the defender. Say what you will about the Stanford football coaching staff, but by later in the season, the team usually executes a lot better. It's not like these guys don't know how to coach. So, there are no excuses for being so much less prepared than K State last week, but by historical standards, the team will get there, it's just the question of whether they will have gotten there by tomorrow.
#5) I think Stanford has been developing QBs in the post-Luck era. I think McKee has a great ceiling. I don't know how far along he is just yet, but the potential is there. *This* season.
#6) One positional positive -- probably the most frustrating aspect of Stanford's losses to SC in recent years has been the team's inability to bring down the SC quarterback. They move around, shrug off weak arm tackles, slide away from one piece of a pocket collapsing, and 6-8 seconds into a play they hit a receiver deep downfield, wide open. Stanford got 3 sacks last week. I'm not saying the party is back in the backfield, but I saw a glimmer of hope last week. If they can bring some heat and actually Sack the Slovis, there's a much better chance.
#7) And let's not forget how good this team was last year. I think it was a really good squad. I think were it not for the testing bull*hit at Oregon, the team had the potential to go 6-0. And most of that team is back. If these guys play better than they did those final 4 games last season -- a level they already achieved last fall -- it can be a really good squad, even with a new QB and center.
We know we have a the talent for a really good line. We know we have a bunch of big, fast receivers that can make spectacular catches. We know what Austin Jones can do at RB. And supposedly we have some good talent on this year's defense. We've been waiting years for the injured linebackers to rejoin the line-up. So I know they are capable of a lot, lot more.
