[msqueri]

7. In a rebuild in which you know short-term prospects are exceedingly bleak, it's hard to find something more exciting than a true freshman showing some utility. We won't be any good this year and it might be a tall order to be any good next year, but true freshmen have horizons beyond that. Pale's run blocking against USC was the first sign of a brighter future we got and then Irvin joined the club, but by the time the Arizona game ended Irvin wasn't even the true freshman who made the biggest impact on offense in the game. That was Bachmeier. [This week's moving the chains (first down) leaderboard: Bachmeier (4, plus a chunk play that came back due to a holding call on Berzins), Lamson (3), Irvin (3), Farrell (2), Yurosek (2), Ayomanor (2), Roush, Daniels, Reuben (also drew a pass interference)] Yes, I know the dropped touchdown was one of the pivotal/game-costing plays, but arguably the player who did the most to even make us competitive was Bachmeier. Just like Ayomanor and Reuben had coming out parties the previous week in far exceeding their previous best games (I remarked that they both more than tripled their previous career best output), Bachmeier outdid their games against Sacramento State (in his case more than octupling his previous career best). In fact, 93 yards receiving is the most by a true freshman at Stanford (again, if I'm not mistaken) since Bryce Love's two catch 135 yard explosion against UCF in 2015 and the most by a WR since Ty Montgomery's Fiesta Bowl performance in 2011. I also like that Bachmeier looked good both by traditional stats and by the eye test of making some tough catches. This is a year in which we're going to need glimpses of things to be excited about in the future, and the offense is starting to have a few players announce themselves as guys for whom it's worth looking forward to the future. If Leyrer keeps struggling at left tackle, maybe Anderson gets another shot at some point to join this list.

8. The biggest personnel story on defense probably continues to be the game, high motor competence of the DL, especially Phillips and Franklin. It seems to embody the effort and competitiveness we want to see across the roster and the good things that can happen if it's sustained. It's not the most talented, elder, or experienced DL room around but they're giving us a chance. And as somebody who likes to see players, even DL, show up in the box score, Franklin showed up with a few run stops and being part of the gang tackle on a sack. The corners also continue to be competent even in facing a decent degree of difficulty, though there are issues too. Bailey showed some signs of life but not enough. He had as many drive-impacting plays as anybody (the sack to end the half, a run stop on 3rd and 1, and a hurry to force a punt), but he had big struggles otherwise. He's having a disappointing season in terms of percentage of games he's positively impacting, but the sacks are adding up (currently 10th in the nation). The thing I wish I could see on defense is that side's version of Pale/Irvin/Bachmeier/Ayomanor/Reuben showing some flashes. Right now it's Wright, Bailey, and Moi among the youngsters, so it's less of them and no true freshmen emerging as of yet. I hope the true and redshirt freshmen can have some emergences on defense beyond what we've seen.

[msqueri]

7. In a rebuild in which you know short-term prospects are exceedingly bleak, it's hard to find something more exciting than a true freshman showing some utility. We won't be any good this year and it might be a tall order to be any good next year, but true freshmen have horizons beyond that. Pale's run blocking against USC was the first sign of a brighter future we got and then Irvin joined the club, but by the time the Arizona game ended Irvin wasn't even the true freshman who made the biggest impact on offense in the game. That was Bachmeier. [This week's moving the chains (first down) leaderboard: Bachmeier (4, plus a chunk play that came back due to a holding call on Berzins), Lamson (3), Irvin (3), Farrell (2), Yurosek (2), Ayomanor (2), Roush, Daniels, Reuben (also drew a pass interference)] Yes, I know the dropped touchdown was one of the pivotal/game-costing plays, but arguably the player who did the most to even make us competitive was Bachmeier. Just like Ayomanor and Reuben had coming out parties the previous week in far exceeding their previous best games (I remarked that they both more than tripled their previous career best output), Bachmeier outdid their games against Sacramento State (in his case more than octupling his previous career best). In fact, 93 yards receiving is the most by a true freshman at Stanford (again, if I'm not mistaken) since Bryce Love's two catch 135 yard explosion against UCF in 2015 and the most by a WR since Ty Montgomery's Fiesta Bowl performance in 2011. I also like that Bachmeier looked good both by traditional stats and by the eye test of making some tough catches. This is a year in which we're going to need glimpses of things to be excited about in the future, and the offense is starting to have a few players announce themselves as guys for whom it's worth looking forward to the future. If Leyrer keeps struggling at left tackle, maybe Anderson gets another shot at some point to join this list.

8. The biggest personnel story on defense probably continues to be the game, high motor competence of the DL, especially Phillips and Franklin. It seems to embody the effort and competitiveness we want to see across the roster and the good things that can happen if it's sustained. It's not the most talented, elder, or experienced DL room around but they're giving us a chance. And as somebody who likes to see players, even DL, show up in the box score, Franklin showed up with a few run stops and being part of the gang tackle on a sack. The corners also continue to be competent even in facing a decent degree of difficulty, though there are issues too. Bailey showed some signs of life but not enough. He had as many drive-impacting plays as anybody (the sack to end the half, a run stop on 3rd and 1, and a hurry to force a punt), but he had big struggles otherwise. He's having a disappointing season in terms of percentage of games he's positively impacting, but the sacks are adding up (currently 10th in the nation). The thing I wish I could see on defense is that side's version of Pale/Irvin/Bachmeier/Ayomanor/Reuben showing some flashes. Right now it's Wright, Bailey, and Moi among the youngsters, so it's less of them and no true freshmen emerging as of yet. I hope the true and redshirt freshmen can have some emergences on defense beyond what we've seen.