[OutsiderFan]

<p>After watching the&nbsp;Northwestern week presser yesterday, a few&nbsp;things stand out.</p><p><br></p><p>1. KJ Costello&nbsp;has mastered his position and is very ready to play the game on Saturday.</p><p><br></p><p>2. Shaw wants to establish a run, but the goal is to be balanced. To me, balance doesn't matter as much as keeping the opponent off balance. If that means 80/20 pass, fine. &nbsp;If that means 50-50 run/pass, fine. &nbsp;If that means 80/20 run, fine. It will vary by opponent. Northwestern seems to be build to stop the run on defense, so more passing of the play-action variety especially early in the game seems advisable.&nbsp;<span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; display: inline !important; float: none;">They want to establish a credible running game, but are going to take what the defense gives them.</span></p><p><br></p><p>3. Stanford's offense has definitely changed. There will be a lot more quick release throws that might have been runs before, and the RBs will get more involved as receivers. KJ&nbsp;even said the goal on first down is a 4 yard gain, and that can come by running&nbsp;or passing. He said he hopes Scarlett can have 30-40 catches this year. And I believe other RBs will get catches as well. &nbsp;To put this in perspective, CMac had 45 catches in his epic 2015 season. I know from watching his H.S. videos, Austin Jones can line up at WR and run routes. &nbsp;Not sure about the others, but the reality is we'll see a lot more check downs to RBs and swing passes&nbsp;than we have seen from Stanford lately.</p><p><br></p><p>4. We'll see a lot more deep passing, to Fehoko and St. Brown specifically, because "they can take the top off" according to Costello.</p><p><br></p><p>While watching Costello speak, I was struck by his command of everything Stanford will do on offense,&nbsp;what Northwestern will do on defense, and his ability to explain the differences from last year to this year on the Stanford offense. Hard to think the Northwestern QBs are going to be as prepared, so Costello is a giant advantage for Stanford in this game, and why I don't think it will be that close.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

[OutsiderFan]

<p>After watching the&nbsp;Northwestern week presser yesterday, a few&nbsp;things stand out.</p><p><br></p><p>1. KJ Costello&nbsp;has mastered his position and is very ready to play the game on Saturday.</p><p><br></p><p>2. Shaw wants to establish a run, but the goal is to be balanced. To me, balance doesn't matter as much as keeping the opponent off balance. If that means 80/20 pass, fine. &nbsp;If that means 50-50 run/pass, fine. &nbsp;If that means 80/20 run, fine. It will vary by opponent. Northwestern seems to be build to stop the run on defense, so more passing of the play-action variety especially early in the game seems advisable.&nbsp;<span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; display: inline !important; float: none;">They want to establish a credible running game, but are going to take what the defense gives them.</span></p><p><br></p><p>3. Stanford's offense has definitely changed. There will be a lot more quick release throws that might have been runs before, and the RBs will get more involved as receivers. KJ&nbsp;even said the goal on first down is a 4 yard gain, and that can come by running&nbsp;or passing. He said he hopes Scarlett can have 30-40 catches this year. And I believe other RBs will get catches as well. &nbsp;To put this in perspective, CMac had 45 catches in his epic 2015 season. I know from watching his H.S. videos, Austin Jones can line up at WR and run routes. &nbsp;Not sure about the others, but the reality is we'll see a lot more check downs to RBs and swing passes&nbsp;than we have seen from Stanford lately.</p><p><br></p><p>4. We'll see a lot more deep passing, to Fehoko and St. Brown specifically, because "they can take the top off" according to Costello.</p><p><br></p><p>While watching Costello speak, I was struck by his command of everything Stanford will do on offense,&nbsp;what Northwestern will do on defense, and his ability to explain the differences from last year to this year on the Stanford offense. Hard to think the Northwestern QBs are going to be as prepared, so Costello is a giant advantage for Stanford in this game, and why I don't think it will be that close.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>