Injuries
Bryce Love is day-to-day, according to David Shaw, and the injury is "not as severe as last year". There is a "chance he plays this week. We'll see how he is late in the week. We'll make the right decision for him later in the week."
Shaw doesn't expect anyone else who missed the ND game to be back.
Shaw described Hall as closer to 100 percent this week than last week. Said playing a half at Oregon was "probably perfect for him." But this past week "didn't have the luxury to rest him a little bit. We didn't have enough guys."
"Devery was just coming back and relatively healthy. Now hopefully Devery is more healthy this week. If we need to rest A.T. we can."
Hope to get Connor Wedington back "in some capacity in a couple weeks."
Stanford only did a walk through Monday night instead of a practice to give guys more rest and time to recover after consecutive road games: "Hopefully this week will be the healthiest we've been in a month."
Quotes
"We played against a top-10, borderline top-five football team and did not play our best football. There were a lot of errors, coaching and players. All that being said, we're down by seven in the fourth quarter with the ball. From there our poor play continued and the score got out of hand. But as many mistakes we made in all three phases, the game was still within reach in the fourth quarter. That's what we're holding our hat on.
"Notre Dame is an outstanding football team. Best defense we've played, best defensive line we've played. The quarterback was on fire. I have all the respect in the world for that young man. The running backs and receivers don't get enough credit. They're pretty good, too. They made a lot of plays. We believe we're better than we played and we have an opportunity this week to prove it."
Shaw praised the play of Joey Alfieri, Mustafa Branch, Sean Barton, Bobby Okereke and Trent Irwin. He was disappointed by more dropped passes than he has seen in a while.
"We had some guys run some unbelievable routes but we didn't get the protection. We had scoring opportunities and big-play opportunities that we didn't allow ourselves to make. There were parts of some really bad plays that were really good, but it doesn't matter."
"Three run plays we blocked really well: One went for a touchdown, another went for an explosive (play), another went for a nice gain. For us it's about consistency. We're not there as an entire team this past game. On the road against what may eventually be a top four team, we didn't play our best football."
Shaw dismissed comparisons to last season's run game production because what Love accomplished was historic: "The fact that we have been inconsistent, that we've had injury issues -- that's just where we are and we have to be more consistent. Our guys are getting back healthy. It's great to get Devery (Hamilton) back in there now. Brandon Fanaika is playing better than he has. He has done a great job the last two weeks at guard. A.T. Hall hopefully is a little healthier than he was a week ago and two weeks ago. We're not where we need to be up front. That includes tight ends and fullbacks and everybody. It's in progress. We had hoped to be much farther ahead ... as far as execution than we are now. But we have more games to play."
How would you assess the play of your two offensive tackles in the ND game?
"Not their best effort, either one. Both are really good football players. Both have a chance to play at the next level. Both guys went up some really good competition and did not play their best. It's not completely on them. It's partially on the Notre Dame guys. Those guys are good. They're experienced, physical pass rushers. If you're not quick enough out of your stance they're going to beat you around the edge. If you lean too much they're going to beat you underneath. It's about continuing to work on technique and being in great position. I think both guys will rebound."
This new protection scheme is supposed to give the running backs more opportunities to get out of the backfield. Do you think those opportunities have been there and has KJ been seeing them?
"This game was difficult because their front was really good. Pass protection is one of the best things we've done all year. We've been really good in pass protection. This was our worst pass protection game of the year partially because of us and partially because of them. That being said we've had a lot of -- I'll just say it. There's a ying and a yang. Whereas a week ago we talked about all the downfield passing and the passing yards we were getting is on pace for more than we've had the last seven years. But we're not hitting as many checkdowns. Well, we've had guys open. Those things will work against each other."
Have you adequately replaced Daniel Marx, Dalton Schultz and David Bright in the run game?
"That's a very fair question. I think we've gotten stellar play at times from Kaden Smith as an inline blocker, as well as Scooter Harrington and at times Tucker Fisk. I think Nate Herbig at times has played stellar. I think Walker Little at times has been stellar. I think A.T. when he's healthy has played well. I think we're continuing to grow at other positions. Our center is getting back to where he was before (he was injured). He's still not exactly where he was before but he's getting back there. I think a combination of losing guys who were seniors, leaders, consistent football players. Those are always hard to replace. When you combine that with youth, and a little injury, and guys gaining experience as we go. The good thing is we're not quite halfway done with the season and hopefully we've learned the lessons we need to learn.
"Talking to Coach Anderson last night the hard part about experience is usually experiences are negative. That's what you learn from. You learn from making mistakes. You learn from getting beat. With Casey Toohill out, Casey was playing at an extremely high level. Jordan Fox has been productive, but he has taken some bumps along the way because he hasn't played a lot. He is learning how to play and he's making plays. That combination of guys who, even if they're a little bit older, playing seven, eight, nine games that's not the same as playing 20. We're still going through a few growing pains."
Evaluate the play of Mustafa Branch and Gabe Reid: "I think Mustafa is playing at an extremely high level -- special teams and defense. The guy has been awesome. It's like we have three starters right now at inside linebacker. He comes in to rest the two guys and there is no drop off. He is explosive. He's physical. That play he made on the screen, not a lot of guys in college football can make that play. He sees is, diagnoses it, goes behind the tackle and speeds back around to catch up to the back. He made two more plays on special teams that were outstanding.
"Gabe Reid is in that category with Dalyn and those guys as a young guy who flashes talent and ability and had a great sack. But a few plays before that he missed a sack. He has a lot to learn but we believe his ceiling is high as well."
KJ is not a Kevin Hogan-type runner, but how have you evaluated his decisions there this year? Have there been opportunities for him or are you content with him playing the game the way he's played it?
"I think he has played really well. I think he's had a couple limited scramble opportunities. I want to say ... actually about five. Four of them were good and one of them he went too lateral and didn't go forward and get as much as he could. Up until this game our protection has been outstanding. Our guys have made plays so he hasn't had a lot of reason to scramble or check the ball down because of what JJ (Arcega-Whiteside) has been able to do, what Kaden (Smith) has been able to do, what Trent Irwin has been able to do, and Colby Parkinson. Those guys have kept the scrambling to a minimum, which I think is great. I think he has been a good decision maker."
Bryce Love is day-to-day, according to David Shaw, and the injury is "not as severe as last year". There is a "chance he plays this week. We'll see how he is late in the week. We'll make the right decision for him later in the week."
Shaw doesn't expect anyone else who missed the ND game to be back.
Shaw described Hall as closer to 100 percent this week than last week. Said playing a half at Oregon was "probably perfect for him." But this past week "didn't have the luxury to rest him a little bit. We didn't have enough guys."
"Devery was just coming back and relatively healthy. Now hopefully Devery is more healthy this week. If we need to rest A.T. we can."
Hope to get Connor Wedington back "in some capacity in a couple weeks."
Stanford only did a walk through Monday night instead of a practice to give guys more rest and time to recover after consecutive road games: "Hopefully this week will be the healthiest we've been in a month."
Quotes
"We played against a top-10, borderline top-five football team and did not play our best football. There were a lot of errors, coaching and players. All that being said, we're down by seven in the fourth quarter with the ball. From there our poor play continued and the score got out of hand. But as many mistakes we made in all three phases, the game was still within reach in the fourth quarter. That's what we're holding our hat on.
"Notre Dame is an outstanding football team. Best defense we've played, best defensive line we've played. The quarterback was on fire. I have all the respect in the world for that young man. The running backs and receivers don't get enough credit. They're pretty good, too. They made a lot of plays. We believe we're better than we played and we have an opportunity this week to prove it."
Shaw praised the play of Joey Alfieri, Mustafa Branch, Sean Barton, Bobby Okereke and Trent Irwin. He was disappointed by more dropped passes than he has seen in a while.
"We had some guys run some unbelievable routes but we didn't get the protection. We had scoring opportunities and big-play opportunities that we didn't allow ourselves to make. There were parts of some really bad plays that were really good, but it doesn't matter."
"Three run plays we blocked really well: One went for a touchdown, another went for an explosive (play), another went for a nice gain. For us it's about consistency. We're not there as an entire team this past game. On the road against what may eventually be a top four team, we didn't play our best football."
Shaw dismissed comparisons to last season's run game production because what Love accomplished was historic: "The fact that we have been inconsistent, that we've had injury issues -- that's just where we are and we have to be more consistent. Our guys are getting back healthy. It's great to get Devery (Hamilton) back in there now. Brandon Fanaika is playing better than he has. He has done a great job the last two weeks at guard. A.T. Hall hopefully is a little healthier than he was a week ago and two weeks ago. We're not where we need to be up front. That includes tight ends and fullbacks and everybody. It's in progress. We had hoped to be much farther ahead ... as far as execution than we are now. But we have more games to play."
How would you assess the play of your two offensive tackles in the ND game?
"Not their best effort, either one. Both are really good football players. Both have a chance to play at the next level. Both guys went up some really good competition and did not play their best. It's not completely on them. It's partially on the Notre Dame guys. Those guys are good. They're experienced, physical pass rushers. If you're not quick enough out of your stance they're going to beat you around the edge. If you lean too much they're going to beat you underneath. It's about continuing to work on technique and being in great position. I think both guys will rebound."
This new protection scheme is supposed to give the running backs more opportunities to get out of the backfield. Do you think those opportunities have been there and has KJ been seeing them?
"This game was difficult because their front was really good. Pass protection is one of the best things we've done all year. We've been really good in pass protection. This was our worst pass protection game of the year partially because of us and partially because of them. That being said we've had a lot of -- I'll just say it. There's a ying and a yang. Whereas a week ago we talked about all the downfield passing and the passing yards we were getting is on pace for more than we've had the last seven years. But we're not hitting as many checkdowns. Well, we've had guys open. Those things will work against each other."
Have you adequately replaced Daniel Marx, Dalton Schultz and David Bright in the run game?
"That's a very fair question. I think we've gotten stellar play at times from Kaden Smith as an inline blocker, as well as Scooter Harrington and at times Tucker Fisk. I think Nate Herbig at times has played stellar. I think Walker Little at times has been stellar. I think A.T. when he's healthy has played well. I think we're continuing to grow at other positions. Our center is getting back to where he was before (he was injured). He's still not exactly where he was before but he's getting back there. I think a combination of losing guys who were seniors, leaders, consistent football players. Those are always hard to replace. When you combine that with youth, and a little injury, and guys gaining experience as we go. The good thing is we're not quite halfway done with the season and hopefully we've learned the lessons we need to learn.
"Talking to Coach Anderson last night the hard part about experience is usually experiences are negative. That's what you learn from. You learn from making mistakes. You learn from getting beat. With Casey Toohill out, Casey was playing at an extremely high level. Jordan Fox has been productive, but he has taken some bumps along the way because he hasn't played a lot. He is learning how to play and he's making plays. That combination of guys who, even if they're a little bit older, playing seven, eight, nine games that's not the same as playing 20. We're still going through a few growing pains."
Evaluate the play of Mustafa Branch and Gabe Reid: "I think Mustafa is playing at an extremely high level -- special teams and defense. The guy has been awesome. It's like we have three starters right now at inside linebacker. He comes in to rest the two guys and there is no drop off. He is explosive. He's physical. That play he made on the screen, not a lot of guys in college football can make that play. He sees is, diagnoses it, goes behind the tackle and speeds back around to catch up to the back. He made two more plays on special teams that were outstanding.
"Gabe Reid is in that category with Dalyn and those guys as a young guy who flashes talent and ability and had a great sack. But a few plays before that he missed a sack. He has a lot to learn but we believe his ceiling is high as well."
KJ is not a Kevin Hogan-type runner, but how have you evaluated his decisions there this year? Have there been opportunities for him or are you content with him playing the game the way he's played it?
"I think he has played really well. I think he's had a couple limited scramble opportunities. I want to say ... actually about five. Four of them were good and one of them he went too lateral and didn't go forward and get as much as he could. Up until this game our protection has been outstanding. Our guys have made plays so he hasn't had a lot of reason to scramble or check the ball down because of what JJ (Arcega-Whiteside) has been able to do, what Kaden (Smith) has been able to do, what Trent Irwin has been able to do, and Colby Parkinson. Those guys have kept the scrambling to a minimum, which I think is great. I think he has been a good decision maker."
