I've watched most of the game a couple three times since Saturday and there's a few things I noticed -- or at least think I did -- that I wanted to mention.
- I'll start with an easy one: Christian McCaffrey is a football stud. The great plays he makes once he gets the ball are obvious, but there was something I only saw when Stanford included some field shots during the press conference video. On the pass to Bryce Love, McCaffrey is being covered by one-time Stanford recruit Chris Hawkins. McCaffrey knocks him down with a lunging block but both Hawkins and McCaffrey are back up on their feet when Love cuts back toward the middle of the field. So what does McCaffrey do? He knocks him down again.
- I want to talk about one play for several reasons: The run when McCaffrey faked a pitch to Love and ran for a first down. First, that was not the first time Stanford has run that play, but, by my memory, it's been a while. Tyler Gaffney ran it and I want to say it was in his first stint with the team. Second, McCaffrey executed it perfectly and froze Cameron Smith, a freshman linebacker for USC. Third, Remound Wright made one of his few mistakes of the night on that play. Or did he? Wright sprinted in front of McCaffrey and Love like a lead blocker but he blew right past Smith and another USC defender. He appears so oblivious to the defenders I had to go back and focus on him. It almost looks like he's running a route. Could there be a pass option in that play? On the WatchESPN replay the play starts a little before 1 hour, nine minutes 30 seconds. I would appreciate second opinions.
- About USC freshmen on defense, they did not have a good day. Iman Marshall is going to be a great player but there was a couple plays he'd like back. He got out-muscled by Francis Owusu on a deep pass and Chris Spielman pointed out that his misstep/misread allowed Hogan to throw the jump ball to Hooper. Marvell Tell also was targeted by Hogan in a matchup with Hooper, who positioned himself perfectly to shield Tell from the ball and catch the pass at the one-yard line to set up the final touchdown. I already mentioned Smith and he had the roughest night. He had the PI on McCaffrey and dropped back too far to stop Cajuste from running his route to convert a third down. These freshmen will grow up and it could be interesting if there's a rematch.
- Speaking of Cajuste, he's had a bit of an up and down start to the season. There have been some drops and, I believe against UCF, a holding call that brought back a first down. McShay also mentioned that Cajuste not knowing where to line up contributed to the delay of game in the fourth quarter. But he also flashed his solid blocking skills in the USC game (including on the Love reception) and he had the touchdown catch. We need him to even out his performances for the better because his versatility, especially as a blocker out wide when we stretch the field with McCaffrey and Love, is incredibly valuable.
- Regarding talk of the jumbo (or whatever it's called) formation when there are no tight ends: Several times Marx went in motion but, when he got set, the play ran to the opposite side and a guard on his side (Caspers on one play and Garnett on the other) pulled to lead McCaffrey, who was pitched the ball. The one where Caspers led gained four yards and the other six or seven down to the one-yard line. I don't remember seeing that variation before. I liked it.
- Trent Irwin not only converted two third downs, but, to my relatively untrained eyes, they were perfect routes. Impressive for him to carve out a niche so early when you consider the timeline of previous freshmen receivers.
- What happened with special teams on returns? It was not a good night. The coverage unit also was very shaky. It's hard to keep track of all the moving parts of special teams on TV because the camera quickly shifts to the returner. I'd be interested in what the tape shows in terms of blocking and maintaining lane assignments. Could it be as simple as USC was way too fast for our guys on those units?
- Last thing is about the press conference and several of Shaw's statements. He said at one point recently (sounds like leading up to USC game) he went to Bloomgren's office to talk about how badly the offense was doing on first down. Shaw also said Bloomgren had to talk to him about not giving up on the offensive line/power run game. At least that's how I heard it. I found both comments interesting and thought others would, too, given conversations in the past on this forum.
I could go on but that's enough. A great win that I likely will revisit many times to watch for fun.
- I'll start with an easy one: Christian McCaffrey is a football stud. The great plays he makes once he gets the ball are obvious, but there was something I only saw when Stanford included some field shots during the press conference video. On the pass to Bryce Love, McCaffrey is being covered by one-time Stanford recruit Chris Hawkins. McCaffrey knocks him down with a lunging block but both Hawkins and McCaffrey are back up on their feet when Love cuts back toward the middle of the field. So what does McCaffrey do? He knocks him down again.
- I want to talk about one play for several reasons: The run when McCaffrey faked a pitch to Love and ran for a first down. First, that was not the first time Stanford has run that play, but, by my memory, it's been a while. Tyler Gaffney ran it and I want to say it was in his first stint with the team. Second, McCaffrey executed it perfectly and froze Cameron Smith, a freshman linebacker for USC. Third, Remound Wright made one of his few mistakes of the night on that play. Or did he? Wright sprinted in front of McCaffrey and Love like a lead blocker but he blew right past Smith and another USC defender. He appears so oblivious to the defenders I had to go back and focus on him. It almost looks like he's running a route. Could there be a pass option in that play? On the WatchESPN replay the play starts a little before 1 hour, nine minutes 30 seconds. I would appreciate second opinions.
- About USC freshmen on defense, they did not have a good day. Iman Marshall is going to be a great player but there was a couple plays he'd like back. He got out-muscled by Francis Owusu on a deep pass and Chris Spielman pointed out that his misstep/misread allowed Hogan to throw the jump ball to Hooper. Marvell Tell also was targeted by Hogan in a matchup with Hooper, who positioned himself perfectly to shield Tell from the ball and catch the pass at the one-yard line to set up the final touchdown. I already mentioned Smith and he had the roughest night. He had the PI on McCaffrey and dropped back too far to stop Cajuste from running his route to convert a third down. These freshmen will grow up and it could be interesting if there's a rematch.
- Speaking of Cajuste, he's had a bit of an up and down start to the season. There have been some drops and, I believe against UCF, a holding call that brought back a first down. McShay also mentioned that Cajuste not knowing where to line up contributed to the delay of game in the fourth quarter. But he also flashed his solid blocking skills in the USC game (including on the Love reception) and he had the touchdown catch. We need him to even out his performances for the better because his versatility, especially as a blocker out wide when we stretch the field with McCaffrey and Love, is incredibly valuable.
- Regarding talk of the jumbo (or whatever it's called) formation when there are no tight ends: Several times Marx went in motion but, when he got set, the play ran to the opposite side and a guard on his side (Caspers on one play and Garnett on the other) pulled to lead McCaffrey, who was pitched the ball. The one where Caspers led gained four yards and the other six or seven down to the one-yard line. I don't remember seeing that variation before. I liked it.
- Trent Irwin not only converted two third downs, but, to my relatively untrained eyes, they were perfect routes. Impressive for him to carve out a niche so early when you consider the timeline of previous freshmen receivers.
- What happened with special teams on returns? It was not a good night. The coverage unit also was very shaky. It's hard to keep track of all the moving parts of special teams on TV because the camera quickly shifts to the returner. I'd be interested in what the tape shows in terms of blocking and maintaining lane assignments. Could it be as simple as USC was way too fast for our guys on those units?
- Last thing is about the press conference and several of Shaw's statements. He said at one point recently (sounds like leading up to USC game) he went to Bloomgren's office to talk about how badly the offense was doing on first down. Shaw also said Bloomgren had to talk to him about not giving up on the offensive line/power run game. At least that's how I heard it. I found both comments interesting and thought others would, too, given conversations in the past on this forum.
I could go on but that's enough. A great win that I likely will revisit many times to watch for fun.
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