More on Stanford

[mmboys07]

Since I live on the west coast I have been watching a lot of Stanford. I envy Stanford. Offense thrives on multiple formations, very difficult to stop. Mccaffrey is everywhere; wide out; running back; flanker; returning kicks. Tight ends are everywhere; tight end screens, down the middle; crossing; and on and on. Everything goes north to south. Hogan is under center, in shotgun; with one back; two back and three back sets. Three backs are in the rotation. Reminds me of ND under Ara; tons of miss direction and multiple formations. As the announcers in last nights game kept repeating; "much more difficult to defend than the spread." And, no TOs
and very few penalties.

Defense is not as strong, but has several playmakers, especially at linebacker; big and active.

Announcers also emphasized: "If Stanford and ND meet in late November with one loss each, in effect
it will be a quarter final game."

 

[basketlax41]

I fear Joe Schmidt is in for a long day against Stanford.

 

[Toby Smart]

Missed tackles will doom the Irish. This has to be corrected immediately if not sooner.

 

[Telx1]

mmboy, agree with your OP. I likewise live on the West Coast and have seen Stanford play nearly every game. Their offense is outstanding, but McCaffrey is the key. He reminds me a little of Cam in how hard he runs through traffic, with a lot more speed and shiftiness. As always, the OL is very big and very good, and they open and wall off lanes that McCaffrey excels at reading. However, as you stated, the defense is not nearly as good as the offense. They have given up more big plays and more 10 plus yard runs than what we've come to expect from a Stanford defense. Hope like hell we both have one loss when we play.

 

[deadirishpoet]

Since I live on the west coast I have been watching a lot of Stanford. I envy Stanford. Offense thrives on multiple formations, very difficult to stop. Mccaffrey is everywhere; wide out; running back; flanker; returning kicks. Tight ends are everywhere; tight end screens, down the middle; crossing; and on and on. Everything goes north to south. Hogan is under center, in shotgun; with one back; two back and three back sets. Three backs are in the rotation. Reminds me of ND under Ara; tons of miss direction and multiple formations. As the announcers in last nights game kept repeating; "much more difficult to defend than the spread." And, no TOs
and very few penalties.

Defense is not as strong, but has several playmakers, especially at linebacker; big and active.

Announcers also emphasized: "If Stanford and ND meet in late November with one loss each, in effect
it will be a quarter final game."

Ball control help Stanford defense immensely.

 

[deadirishpoet]

mmboy, agree with your OP. I likewise live on the West Coast and have seen Stanford play nearly every game. Their offense is outstanding, but McCaffrey is the key. He reminds me a little of Cam in how hard he runs through traffic, with a lot more speed and shiftiness. As always, the OL is very big and very good, and they open and wall off lanes that McCaffrey excels at reading. However, as you stated, the defense is not nearly as good as the offense. They have given up more big plays and more 10 plus yard runs than what we've come to expect from a Stanford defense. Hope like hell we both have one loss when we play.

As good as McCaffrey is you have Sanders Jr and a verity of others to blug in not to mention their QB

 

[mmboys07]

Ball control help Stanford defense immensely.

Exactly. If I recall correctly, last night they had a 15 play drive that ate up 8 minutes and resulted in a touchdown. This is what drives me crazy about the spread; strike it rich or 3 and out. ND's offense needs to help out its defense more.

 

[FightingIrish44]

If it was so much more difficult to defend, why isn't everyone doing that? The game comes down to execution.

 

[Pennick4]

I think Stanford's defense has much more to fear than Nd's.

 

[kellys heroes 35]

I think Stanford's defense has much more to fear than Nd's.

Agreed - Fuller and Co are the real deal . By late november Hunter and Jones will be a complete bitch for Stanford to deal with . When Hunter caught that pass and was heading to the end zone vs USC I thought to myself ND is really big time . Stanford will see that in November. Also don't count out Eq St Brown in five weeks.

 

[kellys heroes 35]

If it was so much more difficult to defend, why isn't everyone doing that? The game comes down to execution.

and talent

Stanford recruits to that style

Kelly recruits to his style - these guys don't wake up one day and change the culture of the program they recruited to . BTW ND has had 7-8 minute drives -- the formation has nothing to do with the time of possession the time between plays dictates that as much as anything

don't confuse spread offense with hurry up offense .

 

[captstabbin]

Missed tackles will doom the Irish. This has to be corrected immediately if not sooner.

That is kinda impossible.