I’m perplexed by the narrative that we ran the ball down USC’s throat, echoed in the Stanford Daily story that our running game "imposed its will on USC" routinely getting three or more yards every carry.
Excluding short yardage plays and Hogan scrambles, only 24 of our 39 carries went for three or more yards.
In the second half, nine of our 21 planned runs, other than short yardage calls, gained less than three yards.
I don’t see evidence of imposing our will, or of the old Stanford offense.
Instead, I see Big Ball: Go deep, go wide, have Hogan scramble when the routes are covered.
It looks more like Air Coryell, with the new bubble screen and jet sweep combinations thrown in.
How much true Power is left—guard pulling, fullback leading?
Sure doesn’t seem like a lot.
Now, I’m delighted by our performance—one of my favorite wins ever—but it didn’t look like “Impose our will" that won it. It looked like great deep throws and catches, timely Hogan scrambles, and the now-expected magic of Mac and Love in space, plus the typical USC foolishness thrown in to help.
No?
Excluding short yardage plays and Hogan scrambles, only 24 of our 39 carries went for three or more yards.
In the second half, nine of our 21 planned runs, other than short yardage calls, gained less than three yards.
I don’t see evidence of imposing our will, or of the old Stanford offense.
Instead, I see Big Ball: Go deep, go wide, have Hogan scramble when the routes are covered.
It looks more like Air Coryell, with the new bubble screen and jet sweep combinations thrown in.
How much true Power is left—guard pulling, fullback leading?
Sure doesn’t seem like a lot.
Now, I’m delighted by our performance—one of my favorite wins ever—but it didn’t look like “Impose our will" that won it. It looked like great deep throws and catches, timely Hogan scrambles, and the now-expected magic of Mac and Love in space, plus the typical USC foolishness thrown in to help.
No?
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