[TrumpCard]

Here are team stats for Pac-12 conference games to date.  There is a separate page for stats from all games.  For absolute (as opposed to per game or per play stats), note that Stanford has played 6 conference games, whereas most other teams have played 5: http://pac-12.com/content/football-statistics

Here are a few that caught my attention:
#1 in scoring offense/game.  (Impressive since Stanford runs fewer plays than most and is middle of the pack in total offense.)
#1 in passing efficiency.  (Impressive because Stanford is known as a running team, but it makes sense because of play action.)
#1 in opponent 3rd down conversion percentage.  (Everyone expects Stanford to be #1 in converting 3rd down, and that expectation is correct, because Stanford has a lot of short yardage 3rd downs.  It's not clear to me why Stanford leads in opponent's third down percentages.)
#1 in most opponent penalty yards/game.  (Surprising because Stanford doesn't play hurry-up and doesn't run a lot of plays.)

[TrumpCard]

Here are team stats for Pac-12 conference games to date.  There is a separate page for stats from all games.  For absolute (as opposed to per game or per play stats), note that Stanford has played 6 conference games, whereas most other teams have played 5: http://pac-12.com/content/football-statistics

Here are a few that caught my attention:
#1 in scoring offense/game.  (Impressive since Stanford runs fewer plays than most and is middle of the pack in total offense.)
#1 in passing efficiency.  (Impressive because Stanford is known as a running team, but it makes sense because of play action.)
#1 in opponent 3rd down conversion percentage.  (Everyone expects Stanford to be #1 in converting 3rd down, and that expectation is correct, because Stanford has a lot of short yardage 3rd downs.  It's not clear to me why Stanford leads in opponent's third down percentages.)
#1 in most opponent penalty yards/game.  (Surprising because Stanford doesn't play hurry-up and doesn't run a lot of plays.)

[Hulk01]

Stanford leads in defending against third downs because our DBs watch a ton of film, and the veterans--Whitfield, Harris, and Lloyd--take turns telling Meeks, Holder, and Murphy what's coming. 

There are other parts to be sure--Martinez has very good instincts in pass coverage, and our pass rush, while it doesn't get sacks, collapses the pocket well and contains the Qb and forces him to throw into good coverage. 

It also helps a little that we haven't faced QBs who scramble well when their 3rd down throwing options and cut off. 

But it starts with a back four that often knows just what is coming, based on a lot of film review. 

[Hulk01]

Stanford leads in defending against third downs because our DBs watch a ton of film, and the veterans--Whitfield, Harris, and Lloyd--take turns telling Meeks, Holder, and Murphy what's coming. 

There are other parts to be sure--Martinez has very good instincts in pass coverage, and our pass rush, while it doesn't get sacks, collapses the pocket well and contains the Qb and forces him to throw into good coverage. 

It also helps a little that we haven't faced QBs who scramble well when their 3rd down throwing options and cut off. 

But it starts with a back four that often knows just what is coming, based on a lot of film review. 

[BostonCard]

Opponent third down conversion percentage by game:

USC 4/10
OSU 7/16
UofA 8/17
UCLA 3/16 (!)
UW 4/11
WSU 2/14 (!)

No opponent broke 50% against us, and UCLA and WSU were below 20% (though WSU did get a number of 4th downs).  Utah is second, a fraction of a percentage point above us.

BC

[BostonCard]

Opponent third down conversion percentage by game:

USC 4/10
OSU 7/16
UofA 8/17
UCLA 3/16 (!)
UW 4/11
WSU 2/14 (!)

No opponent broke 50% against us, and UCLA and WSU were below 20% (though WSU did get a number of 4th downs).  Utah is second, a fraction of a percentage point above us.

BC

[Hulk01]

9-41 third down conversion defense in our last three games hints that our DBs may be catching on. 

[Hulk01]

9-41 third down conversion defense in our last three games hints that our DBs may be catching on. 

[CTcard]

Here are a few that caught my attention:
...
#1 in passing efficiency.  (Impressive because Stanford is known as a running team, but it makes sense because of play action.)

As a generic rule, the more often you do something, the less you get per try. Particularly in something like offensive stats broken down into passing or running and a team can choose between the two. So, as you lean more toward passing, your per pass numbers go down while your per run numbers go up. The goal isn't to maximize either one, but the sum total.

There are quite a few examples of teams that pass rarely but for a high yds/attempt (see Army, Air Force, Stanford, typically Ga Tech ...) and teams that pass a lot but for low yds/attempt (see UMass, Illinois, and really WSU).

Running is a little different as most teams run a lot if they can, but we do have some teams that run rarely but for a high average (Texas Tech) and more that run frequently for a low average (Tulsa, WVU, UNC-Charlotte, Northern Illinois, Army).

[CTcard]

Here are a few that caught my attention:
...
#1 in passing efficiency.  (Impressive because Stanford is known as a running team, but it makes sense because of play action.)

As a generic rule, the more often you do something, the less you get per try. Particularly in something like offensive stats broken down into passing or running and a team can choose between the two. So, as you lean more toward passing, your per pass numbers go down while your per run numbers go up. The goal isn't to maximize either one, but the sum total.

There are quite a few examples of teams that pass rarely but for a high yds/attempt (see Army, Air Force, Stanford, typically Ga Tech ...) and teams that pass a lot but for low yds/attempt (see UMass, Illinois, and really WSU).

Running is a little different as most teams run a lot if they can, but we do have some teams that run rarely but for a high average (Texas Tech) and more that run frequently for a low average (Tulsa, WVU, UNC-Charlotte, Northern Illinois, Army).

[TrumpCard]

BC and Hulk are onto something.  Here are opposing teams' passing stats for the last three games:
UCLA:  22-42, 354 yds, 3 td, 2 int
UW: 9-21, 118 yds, 0 td, 0 int
WSU: 35-63, 354 yds, 2 td, 2 int

Carta-Samuels was not trusted to pass much, and he didn't find a lot of open receivers.  Falk and Rosen are touted QBs, yet neither of them completed 60%, plus four of Stanford's five interceptions this year were in those two games.  That's not picking on weak offenses; that's good work by Stanford's DBs.  The UCLA stats are even more impressive when you consider that Rosen racked up most of his yards and tds in garbage time against Stanford's second string defense.   

[TrumpCard]

BC and Hulk are onto something.  Here are opposing teams' passing stats for the last three games:
UCLA:  22-42, 354 yds, 3 td, 2 int
UW: 9-21, 118 yds, 0 td, 0 int
WSU: 35-63, 354 yds, 2 td, 2 int

Carta-Samuels was not trusted to pass much, and he didn't find a lot of open receivers.  Falk and Rosen are touted QBs, yet neither of them completed 60%, plus four of Stanford's five interceptions this year were in those two games.  That's not picking on weak offenses; that's good work by Stanford's DBs.  The UCLA stats are even more impressive when you consider that Rosen racked up most of his yards and tds in garbage time against Stanford's second string defense.   

[CTcard]

The UCLA stats are even more impressive when you consider that Rosen racked up most of his yards and tds in garbage time against Stanford's second string defense. 

That's only partly true - though certainly true on points.

In the fourth quarter, UCLA played their first string offense against the deepest part of our bench. That group did let in two TDs, but wasn't just getting rolled.

So, in the fourth quarter UCLA had:
Passing: 4-10, 92 yds, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
Running: 9 carries, 56 yds, 6.2 yds/carry
Total offense: 148 yds, 7.8 yds/play

The numbers for the first three quarters of the game were:
Passing: 18-32 (or 6-10.7 per quarter), 234 yds (78 yds/quarter), 1 TD, 2 INTs
Running: 22 carries (7.3 per quarter), 144 yds (48 yds/quarter), 6.5 yds/carry
Total offense: 358 yds (119 yds/quarter), 6.6 yds/play

Really, if it hadn't been for UCLA completing two desperation 4th down passes we would have seen the defensive bench matching the starters (though versus a tired, demoralized UCLA).

[CTcard]

The UCLA stats are even more impressive when you consider that Rosen racked up most of his yards and tds in garbage time against Stanford's second string defense. 

That's only partly true - though certainly true on points.

In the fourth quarter, UCLA played their first string offense against the deepest part of our bench. That group did let in two TDs, but wasn't just getting rolled.

So, in the fourth quarter UCLA had:
Passing: 4-10, 92 yds, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
Running: 9 carries, 56 yds, 6.2 yds/carry
Total offense: 148 yds, 7.8 yds/play

The numbers for the first three quarters of the game were:
Passing: 18-32 (or 6-10.7 per quarter), 234 yds (78 yds/quarter), 1 TD, 2 INTs
Running: 22 carries (7.3 per quarter), 144 yds (48 yds/quarter), 6.5 yds/carry
Total offense: 358 yds (119 yds/quarter), 6.6 yds/play

Really, if it hadn't been for UCLA completing two desperation 4th down passes we would have seen the defensive bench matching the starters (though versus a tired, demoralized UCLA).

[TrumpCard]

9-41 third down conversion defense in our last three games hints that our DBs may be catching on.

The Merc seems to agree with you, Hulk:
http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula-spo...t-surprise

[TrumpCard]

9-41 third down conversion defense in our last three games hints that our DBs may be catching on.

The Merc seems to agree with you, Hulk:
http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula-spo...t-surprise

[BostonCard]

Stanford coach David Shaw, whose Cardinal plays at Colorado on Saturday, credits his unsung senior safeties -- free safety Kodi Whitfield and strong safety Dallas Lloyd.

Looks like Shaw disagrees with the armchair coaches here.

BC

[BostonCard]

Stanford coach David Shaw, whose Cardinal plays at Colorado on Saturday, credits his unsung senior safeties -- free safety Kodi Whitfield and strong safety Dallas Lloyd.

Looks like Shaw disagrees with the armchair coaches here.

BC

[TrumpCard]

Tough to rate the DBs against that Colorado offense, but you have to feel reasonably good when the opposing quarterback gets pulled from the game after 3 quarters of mediocrity.  10-18 for 125 yards, 1 INT, 0 TDs. 

By the way, Stanford's DBs now have 6 INTs in the last 4 games after 0 in the first 5 games.  I'd say the back of the defense is coming together just in time to face a couple of pass-happy offenses.

[TrumpCard]

Tough to rate the DBs against that Colorado offense, but you have to feel reasonably good when the opposing quarterback gets pulled from the game after 3 quarters of mediocrity.  10-18 for 125 yards, 1 INT, 0 TDs. 

By the way, Stanford's DBs now have 6 INTs in the last 4 games after 0 in the first 5 games.  I'd say the back of the defense is coming together just in time to face a couple of pass-happy offenses.