[Goose]

I think that is easier said than done.  How many opponents successfully defended the "jump ball" to JJ Arcega Whiteside, even though it was no secret that we were going to run it?  And that was back when JJAW was our only truly tall receiver (6'2").  We now feature three receivers taller than he was (Humphreys is 6'5", Higgins is 6'3", and Tremayne is 6'4", plus Yarusek is 6'5", and that's not including Wilson 6'2" and a few guys we don't feature much who are well over 6 foot tall).


I don't think future teams will be as futile as USC was, but saying that you can defend that height is like saying you can defend elite speed by playing your defensive backs 10 yards off the receiver; you can do that, and it will prevent you from being beaten over the top, but you will give up plays underneath, provided that the coaching staff is inclined to call them.



BC

Actually BC, the fade in the end zone was quite efficient, but similar plays in the field were often defended, quite catastrophically for Stanford a few times with the ball coming away at high speed in the DB's hands. If it was basically unstoppable, we would have been undefeated every year. It is eminently stoppable. Sometimes we stopped ourselves by just missing the throw. However, as you correctly point out the defense has to leave other vulnerabilities to do that.  Obviously the more weapons the offense has, the harder it is to defend them. What good defenses can do is change up the defense from play to play in ways that cause the offense to make  mistakes. The "elite speed" example you gave above is a good one for that. You make them think you are playing soft and then press. The receiver is running a stop because he expected a cushion, but the defense is right there. Obviously it is a chess game, but both sides can play it.
I simply don't believe that we are going to win 6+ games relying on our receivers size and ability to compete for the ball. We are going to need more than that. Yes, it is a factor, but if that is all we have it will not go well.

[Goose]

I think that is easier said than done.  How many opponents successfully defended the "jump ball" to JJ Arcega Whiteside, even though it was no secret that we were going to run it?  And that was back when JJAW was our only truly tall receiver (6'2").  We now feature three receivers taller than he was (Humphreys is 6'5", Higgins is 6'3", and Tremayne is 6'4", plus Yarusek is 6'5", and that's not including Wilson 6'2" and a few guys we don't feature much who are well over 6 foot tall).


I don't think future teams will be as futile as USC was, but saying that you can defend that height is like saying you can defend elite speed by playing your defensive backs 10 yards off the receiver; you can do that, and it will prevent you from being beaten over the top, but you will give up plays underneath, provided that the coaching staff is inclined to call them.



BC

Actually BC, the fade in the end zone was quite efficient, but similar plays in the field were often defended, quite catastrophically for Stanford a few times with the ball coming away at high speed in the DB's hands. If it was basically unstoppable, we would have been undefeated every year. It is eminently stoppable. Sometimes we stopped ourselves by just missing the throw. However, as you correctly point out the defense has to leave other vulnerabilities to do that.  Obviously the more weapons the offense has, the harder it is to defend them. What good defenses can do is change up the defense from play to play in ways that cause the offense to make  mistakes. The "elite speed" example you gave above is a good one for that. You make them think you are playing soft and then press. The receiver is running a stop because he expected a cushion, but the defense is right there. Obviously it is a chess game, but both sides can play it.
I simply don't believe that we are going to win 6+ games relying on our receivers size and ability to compete for the ball. We are going to need more than that. Yes, it is a factor, but if that is all we have it will not go well.