Pivotal game today - Printable Version
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Pivotal game today - JohnR34231 - 10-06-2012
Win it, (preferably impressively) and we can demonstrate that last week's performance was an aberration.
Blow it, and we are probably looking at coming out of next weeks ND game with a 3-3 record, on our way to a very disappointing 6-6 season.
Arizona's defense is clearly not an immovable object, and if the offense struggles against it the way it did against Washington something will need to be done.
And it won't be a toga party.
Go Cardinal!
Re: Pivotal game today - oman - 10-06-2012
I think it will be a teachable moment.
Re: Pivotal game today - washingtonismoney - 10-06-2012
This is a hard game to peg, I think. When Stanford has the ball it's a case of the resistible force versus the moveable object. Everything about the matchup suggests Stanford should move the ball fairly easily against 'Zona, except of course the fact that Stanford has moved the ball easily against anyone. Making it harder to predict is that the offense has basically three problems: a) conceptual/coaching problems, b) somewhat underwhelming personnel and c) underachieving/poor execution. Hard to tell how much is in each category. So I guess it's plausible that the lightbulb flicks on and we see pretty good execution and something closer to the offense we hoped to see.
Obviously you have to feel better about the matchup when Arizona has the ball--Arizona's offense is pretty good, but it's not as good as S.C.'s. And, well, Stanford's defense, we all know. Add in Arizona's injury problems on offensive line (one of Stanford's coaches sold his soul to face nothing but backup centers, I'm certain. Which helps the defense, but oh lord, why couldn't he have sold his soul for Brett Hundley?), and you'd think things are just swell there. I'm still confident but can't discount that this is the first spread-to-run, high-tempo offense the team has faced so far. Theoretically the defensive recruiting the past few years has been geared to stopping Oregon (and we've been seeing the dividends against, well, non-spread-run teams), but theory and reality have a funny way of not corresponding.
I'll say STAN 24 ARZ 14, just as a guess, with a game that leaves neither the optimists nor the sky-is-falling crew completely satisfied with their version of the world. But I wouldn't be surprised by: a closer Stanford win, a Stanford blowout, or a Arizona blowout.
Re: Pivotal game today - fullmetal - 10-06-2012
Defensive touchdowns for the win! Woohoo! :)
But to be honest, I'm a little worried about the havoc Matt Scott could wreak.
I'll take any win, but.... - JohnR34231 - 10-06-2012
......if we have to rely on defensive touchdowns to do it it's not going to make me feel too sanguine about the rest of the season.
As we found out last week, the offense can't just not show up and expect the defense to win the game.
Our defense is good, but it's not that good.
Re: Pivotal game today - dabigv13 - 10-06-2012
I'm hopeful that with the extra couple days of practice, the coaches will have had some time to improve execution on our existing offense and work a few plays in that will reduce the number of decisions Josh has to make so he can focus on making the throw. Rollouts and such perhaps.
I also think that despite our overall defensive advantage, with enough 3 and outs on our end offensively, Arizona's tempo will result in us giving up a couple big plays for scores.
I think it will be close, and maybe a bit higher scoring than our previous games, say 31-28 or something. Hopefully we're on the winning end.
Re: Pivotal game today - Renaissance Man - 10-06-2012
One team is playing to win, one is playing not to lose--guess which one is wearing white helmets.
Re: Pivotal game today - TreeFitty - 10-06-2012
Nunes practicing his Magic Johnson bounce passes.