[stupac2]

The speed differential on defense was stark.  What the heck happened?  You saw Patterson firing them up before going in at halftime.  Basically 'you are faster than them - get it together.'  Once Hill stopped making stupid throws and they stopped going north-south, they couldn't be stopped.  Turns out Stanford "only" needed 40 to win and they almost got there.

With a defense like that, there is no margin for error and the offense made too many mistakes to get to 40.

Think you are right that Stanford relied way too much on 'Bryce will break it' or 'JJ will make an impossible catch' and both things happened last night.  But
the hit or miss doesn't get a massive TOP advantage. They had a decent TOP advantage last night, with much of that built from just running clock at the LOS. Hopefully they can pare down the playbook, but make the offense more truly balanced (not just run/pass ratio) next year. TCU really had an offensive rhythm; Stanford had none.  They need to get a rhythm back and that rhythm can be Power. 

Still holding out hope that the defense can be much improved too.

A number of frustrating plays last night, that in isolation or taken together, would have made a big difference.

Dropped interception: -3 points
Outkicking the punt coverage: -7 points (unless that's the one where they missed the PAT)
Costello's locked eyes: -4 points

Costello's interception in the end zone was also likely -3 points. Then again I don't think I'd count the punt TD as -7, did we make TCU punt in the fourth quarter? Best-case outcome there was probably a FG.

[stupac2]

The speed differential on defense was stark.  What the heck happened?  You saw Patterson firing them up before going in at halftime.  Basically 'you are faster than them - get it together.'  Once Hill stopped making stupid throws and they stopped going north-south, they couldn't be stopped.  Turns out Stanford "only" needed 40 to win and they almost got there.

With a defense like that, there is no margin for error and the offense made too many mistakes to get to 40.

Think you are right that Stanford relied way too much on 'Bryce will break it' or 'JJ will make an impossible catch' and both things happened last night.  But
the hit or miss doesn't get a massive TOP advantage. They had a decent TOP advantage last night, with much of that built from just running clock at the LOS. Hopefully they can pare down the playbook, but make the offense more truly balanced (not just run/pass ratio) next year. TCU really had an offensive rhythm; Stanford had none.  They need to get a rhythm back and that rhythm can be Power. 

Still holding out hope that the defense can be much improved too.

A number of frustrating plays last night, that in isolation or taken together, would have made a big difference.

Dropped interception: -3 points
Outkicking the punt coverage: -7 points (unless that's the one where they missed the PAT)
Costello's locked eyes: -4 points

Costello's interception in the end zone was also likely -3 points. Then again I don't think I'd count the punt TD as -7, did we make TCU punt in the fourth quarter? Best-case outcome there was probably a FG.