[fullmetal]

I finally saw the game (40 min recap on YT).  The defense played about a B- game imo, and most of that was whiffed tackles.  I can't fault the players for only rushing three.  Apparently the Stanford defensive coordinator forgot that rushing three with an extremely mobile QB is a recipe for a first down, because that's pretty much what happened there.  Book made a few great throws and exploited the three-man rush, Boykin was a powerful receiver, and that flow-right, throw-left uncovered TD was the story of the ND offense.  Solid offense, but if Stanford tackles like I wish they would have, I think maybe ND scores 10 fewer points.

Stanford on offense: that offensive line...gives up sacks, can't make holes, and lets rushers in while zone blocking (that's an assignment thing, I think, right?).  Hell, watching the backside rusher make the tackle on Love behind the LOS just hurt me inside.  I don't think the OL looked fast enough or was strong enough to reach block.  The line gave up pressure and penalties too.  I think I saw ND DL stutter step toward the OTs and force them back, allowing the DL to read and choose a gap or a route around the OT...that's what happens when the OT is worried about speed on the edge, I guess.

KJ made some of those quick slant throws I've been looking for, and that was good...but ND caught on eventually and turned one into an INT.  KJ was playing with fire a bit as there were a couple other throws that could have been INTs.  He doesn't use the RB check down much, seemingly preferring to take his chances with a receiver in coverage (I'm...not a fan of those decisions).  

Love can't run sideline-to-sideline without an effective OL.  ND was committing borderline defensive PI several times.  But as everyone could plainly see, losing the LOS on offense isn't a recipe for success.

[fullmetal]

I finally saw the game (40 min recap on YT).  The defense played about a B- game imo, and most of that was whiffed tackles.  I can't fault the players for only rushing three.  Apparently the Stanford defensive coordinator forgot that rushing three with an extremely mobile QB is a recipe for a first down, because that's pretty much what happened there.  Book made a few great throws and exploited the three-man rush, Boykin was a powerful receiver, and that flow-right, throw-left uncovered TD was the story of the ND offense.  Solid offense, but if Stanford tackles like I wish they would have, I think maybe ND scores 10 fewer points.

Stanford on offense: that offensive line...gives up sacks, can't make holes, and lets rushers in while zone blocking (that's an assignment thing, I think, right?).  Hell, watching the backside rusher make the tackle on Love behind the LOS just hurt me inside.  I don't think the OL looked fast enough or was strong enough to reach block.  The line gave up pressure and penalties too.  I think I saw ND DL stutter step toward the OTs and force them back, allowing the DL to read and choose a gap or a route around the OT...that's what happens when the OT is worried about speed on the edge, I guess.

KJ made some of those quick slant throws I've been looking for, and that was good...but ND caught on eventually and turned one into an INT.  KJ was playing with fire a bit as there were a couple other throws that could have been INTs.  He doesn't use the RB check down much, seemingly preferring to take his chances with a receiver in coverage (I'm...not a fan of those decisions).  

Love can't run sideline-to-sideline without an effective OL.  ND was committing borderline defensive PI several times.  But as everyone could plainly see, losing the LOS on offense isn't a recipe for success.