GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA

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RE: GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA - BostonCard - 12-19-2020

(12-19-2020, 09:17 PM)needle Wrote: I agree with an earlier poster, this game had a fever-ish quality that, for this fan, was not super fun but of course I could not look away.

1.) Fehoko played a great game. I am too mentally exhausted to think about next year, but the announcers said he set a school record for receptions that was well earned.

2.) The defense did its job, all things considered, and the defensive MVP for me is Dalyn Wade-Perry, who btw gets my vote on the All-Time Improved Player Team. I wasn't sure he would be more than a role player the first time I saw him play, but tonight he recovered a key fumble and made sure that UCLA's Brown wouldn't be able to drag Herron into the end zone.

All this while playing way, way more snaps than must be comfortable for the XXL crowd (Booker and Schafer, too, were iron men tonight).

3.) Mills wasn't brilliant even in the first half, but he is truly a gifted passer and that shines through even when he has an off day like today. Today's game, believe it or not, did almost nothing to lower his draft stock. It's more likely than not that we have seen the last of him in a Stanford uniform, as he has a second-round grade, for sure.

4.) The first two-point conversion attempt by UCLA was just plain weird, and I was shocked and delighted to see UCLA on the second try opt for the most unimaginative play in the playbook, a dive up the middle. I think some will second-guess Kelly tonight.

5.) As for Shaw, the time management was pretty bad and it's easy to second-guess the lack of carries for Jones in the third quarter. Also, Toner was clearly not 100% and so Karty should have been kicking those PATs. But the team came out with great focus and kept enough poise to rally for an improbable victory against a solid opponent on the road.

Some good thoughts. Overall, Fehoko had a monster game, but he also dropped a couple of easy catches. Weird.

Herron coming off the edge won us the game. But the defense, as a whole, had an atrocious game.

Nothing weird about Kelley calling the play that Stanford seemingly couldn't stop, even knowing it was coming. I actually thought we had a better shot on the pass play, because although Griffin was 9 of 11 to that point, there was always a chance that he'd throw one a bit off or his receiver would drop it or something like that. On a night that UCLA gained almost 300 yards on the ground, I would have put better than even money on UCLA being able to pick up 2.5. it is amazing that the last half yard was the difference in the game.

All's well that ends well for Shaw, but I had visions of Teejers with a blown aneurysm the way we were managing the clock on that last drive.

BC

RE: GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA - needle - 12-19-2020

(12-19-2020, 09:44 PM)BostonCard Wrote:
(12-19-2020, 09:17 PM)needle Wrote: I agree with an earlier poster, this game had a fever-ish quality that, for this fan, was not super fun but of course I could not look away.

1.) Fehoko played a great game. I am too mentally exhausted to think about next year, but the announcers said he set a school record for receptions that was well earned.

2.) The defense did its job, all things considered, and the defensive MVP for me is Dalyn Wade-Perry, who btw gets my vote on the All-Time Improved Player Team. I wasn't sure he would be more than a role player the first time I saw him play, but tonight he recovered a key fumble and made sure that UCLA's Brown wouldn't be able to drag Herron into the end zone.

All this while playing way, way more snaps than must be comfortable for the XXL crowd (Booker and Schafer, too, were iron men tonight).

3.) Mills wasn't brilliant even in the first half, but he is truly a gifted passer and that shines through even when he has an off day like today. Today's game, believe it or not, did almost nothing to lower his draft stock. It's more likely than not that we have seen the last of him in a Stanford uniform, as he has a second-round grade, for sure.

4.) The first two-point conversion attempt by UCLA was just plain weird, and I was shocked and delighted to see UCLA on the second try opt for the most unimaginative play in the playbook, a dive up the middle. I think some will second-guess Kelly tonight.

5.) As for Shaw, the time management was pretty bad and it's easy to second-guess the lack of carries for Jones in the third quarter. Also, Toner was clearly not 100% and so Karty should have been kicking those PATs. But the team came out with great focus and kept enough poise to rally for an improbable victory against a solid opponent on the road.

Some good thoughts. Overall, Fehoko had a monster game, but he also dropped a couple of easy catches. Weird.

Herron coming off the edge won us the game. But the defense, as a whole, had an atrocious game.

Nothing weird about Kelley calling the play that Stanford seemingly couldn't stop, even knowing it was coming. I actually thought we had a better shot on the pass play, because although Griffin was 9 of 11 to that point, there was always a chance that he'd throw one a bit off or his receiver would drop it or something like that. On a night that UCLA gained almost 300 yards on the ground, I would have put better than even money on UCLA being able to pick up 2.5. it is amazing that the last half yard was the difference in the game.

All's well that ends well for Shaw, but I had visions of Teejers with a blown aneurysm the way we were managing the clock on that last drive.

BC

Maybe--and I mean *maybe*--the last play was supposed to be a read option? Certainly, that's a play Stanford has struggled to defend.

I dunno. Even then, that QB didn't seem the type to opt to run very often/effectively (see the single biggest play of the game, the fumble recovered by DWP).

RE: GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA - Farm93 - 12-19-2020

2020 Season - 4-2 - Good Enough IMHO

Lost to Oregon without Mills
Lost to Colorado when Mills had no prep
Beat Cal, Washington, Oregon State and UCLA in super close games all on the road.

I suspect the team understands that they were close to much better things than the 4-2 record, but at the same time were fortunate to get to 4-2. 4-2 should really help with recruiting and program morale, so it is all good.

It seems like this was a very tough season for the players and staffs around the Pac-12. I think many wanted to play to have a chance at the conference title and maybe the CFP, but once those dreams were shattered it was hard to keep playing. It was easy to start losing and then keep losing. Starting 0-2, playing 4 games on the road and finishing 4-2. Awesome job by the program to stay resilient and keep improving.

FWIW - Washington, Stanford, UCLA, USC and Utah are all opting out of playing in bowl games.
So for those that think every student-athlete LOVES playing no matter what even in this COVID era, I offer you Washington, Stanford, UCLA, USC and Utah.

Lots Stanford Football needs to address, but hopefully the 4-2 season hints at enough 2021 potential to keep down the number of transfers.

Now that the football season is finished, my focus will move to the idea that Stanford has 8 teams defending NCAA team titles.

RE: GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA - Red80 - 12-19-2020

(12-19-2020, 09:34 PM)newguy Wrote:
(12-19-2020, 08:30 PM)82lsju Wrote:
(12-19-2020, 08:02 PM)JohnR34231 Wrote: My God, we now give up a pick six. Incredible.
Speaking of Couging it, this is reminiscent of a game with Wazzu where we led 42-14 in the third quarter and ending up losing 49-42.

The Reuben Mays game in 1984...I was there...

as was i.
and you know who fumbled the kickoff return that led to Wazzu's comeback? the future executive vice president of the Chicago White Sox, Ken Williams.

Williams was a freshman in '82

yes, that Ken Williams. he left Stanford after his freshman year.

RE: GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA - French Rage - 12-19-2020

So....
with the CFP game that would have been held at the Rose Bowl now being played in Dallas...
that means we won the final game of the season held at the Rose Bowl...
so I'm gonna say it:

ROSE BOWL CHAMPIONS!

RE: GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA - CardinalSagehen - 12-19-2020

For those interested, I just noticed Shaw's post-game press conference here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVjxF4O5B4k

RE: GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA - cardcrimson - 12-19-2020

(12-19-2020, 09:12 PM)BostonCard Wrote:
(12-19-2020, 09:07 PM)cardcrimson Wrote: Can't wait to read the comments on our epic coaching and resiliency. . . . .

I'm wondering if you still have a draft of your post decrying the coaching staff's epic fail...

BC

Actually, was working on the laundry, dinner and dishes and wasn't about to comment on the epic fail that almost was. . . .

RE: GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA - martyup - 12-19-2020

What a perfectly weird ending to a strange season. When the UCLA starting QB went down, I thought we would win in a blowout. The team that took the field after halftime didn't resemble the team that took a 20-3 lead into the locker room. It was excruciating watching our lead dwindle and disappear. When Mills threw the pick-6 I almost stopped watching the game to watch the womens basketball team play USC, which I had recorded. I actually didn't think Mills made that first down on the QB sneak on the last drive in regulation. I think he got a very generous mark.

I think Shaw hit the nail on the head in his presser. This team handled adversity as well as any team I have seen. Cobbled together with second, third, and fourth stringers (including a bunch of walk-ons) this team played way over their heads against UW and UCLA. They showed extreme resiliency against Cal and ORST. They won ugly tonight, but they won. Bravo to our warriors. They will be happy to go home and get some well deserved rest in their own beds.

RE: GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA - SamuelMcF - 12-19-2020

(12-19-2020, 10:57 PM)cardcrimson Wrote:
(12-19-2020, 09:12 PM)BostonCard Wrote:
(12-19-2020, 09:07 PM)cardcrimson Wrote: Can't wait to read the comments on our epic coaching and resiliency. . . . .

I'm wondering if you still have a draft of your post decrying the coaching staff's epic fail...

BC

Actually, was working on the laundry, dinner and dishes and wasn't about to comment on the epic fail that almost was. . . .

Man, you want an epic fail, how about Chip Kelly choking away a 14-point lead in 2 and a half minutes, then going for 2 to win the game and RUNNING IT UP THE MIDDLE?!

RE: GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA - newguy - 12-19-2020

(12-19-2020, 10:29 PM)Red80 Wrote:
(12-19-2020, 09:34 PM)newguy Wrote:
(12-19-2020, 08:30 PM)82lsju Wrote:
(12-19-2020, 08:02 PM)JohnR34231 Wrote: My God, we now give up a pick six. Incredible.
Speaking of Couging it, this is reminiscent of a game with Wazzu where we led 42-14 in the third quarter and ending up losing 49-42.

The Reuben Mays game in 1984...I was there...

as was i.
and you know who fumbled the kickoff return that led to Wazzu's comeback? the future executive vice president of the Chicago White Sox, Ken Williams.

Williams was a freshman in '82

yes, that Ken Williams. he left Stanford after his freshman year.

i stand corrected.

RE: GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA - BostonCard - 12-19-2020

(12-19-2020, 11:45 PM)SamuelMcF Wrote:
(12-19-2020, 10:57 PM)cardcrimson Wrote:
(12-19-2020, 09:12 PM)BostonCard Wrote:
(12-19-2020, 09:07 PM)cardcrimson Wrote: Can't wait to read the comments on our epic coaching and resiliency. . . . .

I'm wondering if you still have a draft of your post decrying the coaching staff's epic fail...

BC

Actually, was working on the laundry, dinner and dishes and wasn't about to comment on the epic fail that almost was. . . .

Man, you want an epic fail, how about Chip Kelly choking away a 14-point lead in 2 and a half minutes, then going for 2 to win the game and RUNNING IT UP THE MIDDLE?!

In Kelly’s defense, for much of the game we didn’t defend runs up the middle.

To me, the real brain fart by Kelly was the sheer number of times they left Fehoko in single coverage, including the touchdown catch in the second overtime. By the fourth quarter, Mills to Fehoko was almost our only offense, and more often than not they left a DB on an island on him. You could almost see Mills ‘ eyes going wide every time he saw that alignment.

BC

RE: GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA - teejers1 - 12-20-2020

(12-19-2020, 09:44 PM)BostonCard Wrote: All's well that ends well for Shaw, but I had visions of Teejers with a blown aneurysm the way we were managing the clock on that last drive.

BC

Too exhausted and worn down to blow gaskets - it's more just me complaining out loud to my kids while watching. I join everyone is commending team and staff for finishing this weird season on a 4-game road winning streak. Was good luck involved? Certainly. But that's true in most all games, even in normal conditions.

The offensive play calling and management is getting better, despite one or two WTHs today? So that's a good sign. I especially like the team ready to snap with 12-15 seconds on the play clock . . . even if they often don't snap it till 5 seconds are left. It generally helps take DOGs out of the equation.

As for Kelly going for two . . . well, let's just say I wanted Stanford to go for two at both the end of regulation and then the end of the first OT. I guess I'm glad Stanford did not, although we all would have been spared the 4th and 18 conversion (with a 3-man rush and 4 Stanford defenders patrolling the 5-12 yard line . . . AAAARRRGGGHHHH - but that's on DC, not Shaw).

Anyway, just two comments:

(i) have you ever seen the TV-imposed yellow first down line to be as off as it was on Mills' fourth down sneak? [BTW, that play calling sequence was pretty sketchy, too]. How did Stanford get that first down? The yellow line had to be off . . . didn't it? I just don't think I've ever seen that before.

(ii) on the big sack in OT - I think in sequence leading up to the fourth and 18, a Stanford DL clearly lined up in the neutral zone. His hand was well past the TV-imposed black line LOS. No hankie. I thought that might have been the gift of the game, until I witnessed the fourth and 18 "efense" employed by Stanford - then I realized the biggest gift was from Anderson to the UCLA O. It was no coincidence that the only time Stanford disrupted UCLA's O late in the game was when bringing extra heat.

Oh well, all's well that ends well. And somehow, some way, this one ended well for the Cardinal.
Congrats to team and staff on a season very well finished.

P.S. Best day for Stanford sports in a loooooong time.

RE: GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA - Austroturf - 12-20-2020

(12-19-2020, 09:15 PM)Spiny_Norman Wrote: Did the defensive call for an all-out blitz on the 2 point tries look familiar?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=108&v=8U3lhyG-UCM&feature=youtu.be

Yes, I was thinking of that exact play!

RE: GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA - PVTree - 12-20-2020

(12-19-2020, 09:34 PM)newguy Wrote:
(12-19-2020, 08:30 PM)82lsju Wrote:
(12-19-2020, 08:02 PM)JohnR34231 Wrote: My God, we now give up a pick six. Incredible.
Speaking of Couging it, this is reminiscent of a game with Wazzu where we led 42-14 in the third quarter and ending up losing 49-42.

The Reuben Mays game in 1984...I was there...

as was i.
and you know who fumbled the kickoff return that led to Wazzu's comeback? the future executive vice president of the Chicago White Sox, Ken Williams.

yes, that Ken Williams. he left Stanford after his freshman year.

I was there too, late 80s.... Wassu was RPM...Rypien, Porter, and Mayes. We really Couged it that day.

Mudhead - Mudhead - 12-20-2020

(12-19-2020, 09:20 PM)Row80Critic Wrote: This game is why 50-season Stanford fans know they can never be too far ahead, or too far behind. It's a 60 minute game. Sometimes more. Wow.

Hell of a game! Hell of a season. Hats off to the team (and coaches) for a 4-game road winning streak under incredibly difficult circumstances. Image if they didn't mix up those covid tests....

Amen. Hats off to This team and this coaching staff. Shaw is a leader in the best sense of that word. These athletes overcame a lot,to win four straight road games. Pointless to wonder what might have been if not for an unforgivable screw up in the Covids testing arena ,but I do anyway .

No, I won’t either. I just want to enjoy this season and celebrate the players and coaches who found a way to overcome and win

RE: GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA - JohnR34231 - 12-20-2020

One more "memory lane" comment.

Mills's performance brought to mind Kenny "Snake" Stabler, the old Raiders QB.
Kenny would throw a bunch of picks and the fans would start booing. Then he would turn around and start throwing TD passes and the Raiders would pull it out.
I remember in one of those types of games he was standing next to Madden on the sidelines. He turned around, looked at the crowd and remarked to Madden "They're getting their money's worth today, aren't they?"

I remember that Mills's HS coach said one of his biggest assets was his coolness under fire. He demonstrated it last night.

lex24 - lex24 - 12-20-2020

So, what’s all the fuss about. I only saw the first half and from the time of the pick 6 on. Missed third q and half of 4th. They looked good all day to me......:)

(12-19-2020, 09:44 PM)BostonCard Wrote:
(12-19-2020, 09:17 PM)needle Wrote: I agree with an earlier poster, this game had a fever-ish quality that, for this fan, was not super fun but of course I could not look away.

1.) Fehoko played a great game. I am too mentally exhausted to think about next year, but the announcers said he set a school record for receptions that was well earned.

2.) The defense did its job, all things considered, and the defensive MVP for me is Dalyn Wade-Perry, who btw gets my vote on the All-Time Improved Player Team. I wasn't sure he would be more than a role player the first time I saw him play, but tonight he recovered a key fumble and made sure that UCLA's Brown wouldn't be able to drag Herron into the end zone.

All this while playing way, way more snaps than must be comfortable for the XXL crowd (Booker and Schafer, too, were iron men tonight).

3.) Mills wasn't brilliant even in the first half, but he is truly a gifted passer and that shines through even when he has an off day like today. Today's game, believe it or not, did almost nothing to lower his draft stock. It's more likely than not that we have seen the last of him in a Stanford uniform, as he has a second-round grade, for sure.

4.) The first two-point conversion attempt by UCLA was just plain weird, and I was shocked and delighted to see UCLA on the second try opt for the most unimaginative play in the playbook, a dive up the middle. I think some will second-guess Kelly tonight.

5.) As for Shaw, the time management was pretty bad and it's easy to second-guess the lack of carries for Jones in the third quarter. Also, Toner was clearly not 100% and so Karty should have been kicking those PATs. But the team came out with great focus and kept enough poise to rally for an improbable victory against a solid opponent on the road.

Some good thoughts. Overall, Fehoko had a monster game, but he also dropped a couple of easy catches. Weird.

Herron coming off the edge won us the game. But the defense, as a whole, had an atrocious game.

Nothing weird about Kelley calling the play that Stanford seemingly couldn't stop, even knowing it was coming. I actually thought we had a better shot on the pass play, because although Griffin was 9 of 11 to that point, there was always a chance that he'd throw one a bit off or his receiver would drop it or something like that. On a night that UCLA gained almost 300 yards on the ground, I would have put better than even money on UCLA being able to pick up 2.5. it is amazing that the last half yard was the difference in the game.

All's well that ends well for Shaw, but I had visions of Teejers with a blown aneurysm the way we were managing the clock on that last drive.

BC

I thought the clock management on the last drive was excellent. Scoring and leaving no time is perfect.

I wanted Shaw to go for 2 both times. Knew he wouldn’t. Knew Kelly would. That’s the way both roll.

RE: GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA - martyup - 12-20-2020

Somebody tell OF that he didn't miss much. Just another meaningless Pac-12 game. I heard there was a very good episode of Chopped on the Food Network. I hope he enjoyed watching it.

(12-19-2020, 06:32 PM)BostonCard Wrote:
(12-19-2020, 06:30 PM)martyup Wrote: Okay, we should have enough of a lead to squeak this one out by a FG. If DTR stays out, it might be a blowout.

By a blocked extra point.

BC

My comment was made at halftime, when we had a 20-3 lead and looked unstoppable on offense. You were almost correct BC.

RE: GAME THREAD -- Football vs. UCLA - Goose - 12-20-2020

Anybody who believes that Stanford is still a "run first" team need only look at the play calling in the second half of this game to know that isn't so. It may be that UCLA was just daring them to pass and was playing the run, but the Stanford of 6 years ago would have run right at them. Personally, I think we should have done exactly that. Instead, we threw the ball a lot and sometimes to the other team. Granted, Mills hadn't had that problem all year, but you only need to look at U$C-UCLA to know that their pass defense was capable of creating turnovers. When one looks at the play-by-play summary, it is stark. We ran few plays and then turned the ball over by interceptions. Having to punt would have been bad, but not as bad as INTs that gives UCLA a short field.
Our run game had been somewhat productive. More second down runs and long fields may have deprived UCLA of any chance to catch up. OTOH, Shaw would undoubtedly say that you run the best play against the defense you see, and if that is a pass, so be it.

RE: lex24 - teejers1 - 12-20-2020

(12-20-2020, 09:08 AM)lex24 Wrote: So, what’s all the fuss about. I only saw the first half and from the time of the pick 6 on. Missed third q and half of 4th. They looked good all day to me......:)

(12-19-2020, 09:44 PM)BostonCard Wrote:
(12-19-2020, 09:17 PM)needle Wrote: I agree with an earlier poster, this game had a fever-ish quality that, for this fan, was not super fun but of course I could not look away.

1.) Fehoko played a great game. I am too mentally exhausted to think about next year, but the announcers said he set a school record for receptions that was well earned.

2.) The defense did its job, all things considered, and the defensive MVP for me is Dalyn Wade-Perry, who btw gets my vote on the All-Time Improved Player Team. I wasn't sure he would be more than a role player the first time I saw him play, but tonight he recovered a key fumble and made sure that UCLA's Brown wouldn't be able to drag Herron into the end zone.

All this while playing way, way more snaps than must be comfortable for the XXL crowd (Booker and Schafer, too, were iron men tonight).

3.) Mills wasn't brilliant even in the first half, but he is truly a gifted passer and that shines through even when he has an off day like today. Today's game, believe it or not, did almost nothing to lower his draft stock. It's more likely than not that we have seen the last of him in a Stanford uniform, as he has a second-round grade, for sure.

4.) The first two-point conversion attempt by UCLA was just plain weird, and I was shocked and delighted to see UCLA on the second try opt for the most unimaginative play in the playbook, a dive up the middle. I think some will second-guess Kelly tonight.

5.) As for Shaw, the time management was pretty bad and it's easy to second-guess the lack of carries for Jones in the third quarter. Also, Toner was clearly not 100% and so Karty should have been kicking those PATs. But the team came out with great focus and kept enough poise to rally for an improbable victory against a solid opponent on the road.

Some good thoughts. Overall, Fehoko had a monster game, but he also dropped a couple of easy catches. Weird.

Herron coming off the edge won us the game. But the defense, as a whole, had an atrocious game.

Nothing weird about Kelley calling the play that Stanford seemingly couldn't stop, even knowing it was coming. I actually thought we had a better shot on the pass play, because although Griffin was 9 of 11 to that point, there was always a chance that he'd throw one a bit off or his receiver would drop it or something like that. On a night that UCLA gained almost 300 yards on the ground, I would have put better than even money on UCLA being able to pick up 2.5. it is amazing that the last half yard was the difference in the game.

All's well that ends well for Shaw, but I had visions of Teejers with a blown aneurysm the way we were managing the clock on that last drive.

BC

I thought the clock management on the last drive was excellent. Scoring and leaving no time is perfect.

I wanted Shaw to go for 2 both times. Knew he wouldn’t. Knew Kelly would. That’s the way both roll.

I actually wondered, after the blitz/sack/grounding/defensive holding/"let's replay the down" if Kelly would stick with the 2 point try. The play he called had no chance. The one after that, didn't have much chance, either (unless the QB had kept the ball on read option - do ya think Herron sold out just a little bit on that one?).