[82lsju]

Relevantly, Stanford had a rushing success rate of 38.9% in 2017: that is, Stanford running backs gained less than 50% of needed yardage on first down, 70% on second down, and 100% on third and fourth downs just less than 4 in 10 times. That was 101st last year. So stacking the box was indeed quite successful from the perspective of making Stanford's rushing offense inefficient. On the other hand, when Stanford was successful, it was extremely explosive. It was the latter part that makes fans think things were great. 

Have things changed this year? Obviously the Stanford rushing offense is still inefficient in the sense of setting up favorable downs and distances. But it's not getting as many explosive runs, at least so far this year. (Only 3 runs at 20 yards or more, or about 1 explosive run every 30 carries. That compares to a 7% explosive run rate in 2017.) 

last year Bryce Love was "Mr. Explosive"

• 20-yard rushes - 30
• 30-yard rushes - 24
• 40-yard rushes - 15
• 50-yard rushes - 13 
• 60-yard rushes - 7

so 30 runs of 20+ yards totaled ~1,300 yards (~60% of his total) on 30 carries (~11% of his total)

~43 yards per carry on the 20+ yard runs, for the other ~800 yards ~3.4 yards per carry

2.3 runs of 20+ yards per game

this year he has not been as explosive

- 28 yard run vs SDSU
- 59 yard run vs USC

40 total carries for 165 yards

so his 20+ yard runs are ~53% of his total yards (a little less than last year) and ~5% of his carries (half of last year)

~43 yards/carry on the explosive runs (about the same as last year), for the other 78 yards ~2.1 yards per carry (much worse than last year)

1 run of 20+ yards per game, almost 60% less than last year

[82lsju]

Relevantly, Stanford had a rushing success rate of 38.9% in 2017: that is, Stanford running backs gained less than 50% of needed yardage on first down, 70% on second down, and 100% on third and fourth downs just less than 4 in 10 times. That was 101st last year. So stacking the box was indeed quite successful from the perspective of making Stanford's rushing offense inefficient. On the other hand, when Stanford was successful, it was extremely explosive. It was the latter part that makes fans think things were great. 

Have things changed this year? Obviously the Stanford rushing offense is still inefficient in the sense of setting up favorable downs and distances. But it's not getting as many explosive runs, at least so far this year. (Only 3 runs at 20 yards or more, or about 1 explosive run every 30 carries. That compares to a 7% explosive run rate in 2017.) 

last year Bryce Love was "Mr. Explosive"

• 20-yard rushes - 30
• 30-yard rushes - 24
• 40-yard rushes - 15
• 50-yard rushes - 13 
• 60-yard rushes - 7

so 30 runs of 20+ yards totaled ~1,300 yards (~60% of his total) on 30 carries (~11% of his total)

~43 yards per carry on the 20+ yard runs, for the other ~800 yards ~3.4 yards per carry

2.3 runs of 20+ yards per game

this year he has not been as explosive

- 28 yard run vs SDSU
- 59 yard run vs USC

40 total carries for 165 yards

so his 20+ yard runs are ~53% of his total yards (a little less than last year) and ~5% of his carries (half of last year)

~43 yards/carry on the explosive runs (about the same as last year), for the other 78 yards ~2.1 yards per carry (much worse than last year)

1 run of 20+ yards per game, almost 60% less than last year