[BostonCard]

Indeed.  I wish we would have used Costello more in a running capacity.  I think he could be as good as Hogan.

BC

[BostonCard]

Indeed.  I wish we would have used Costello more in a running capacity.  I think he could be as good as Hogan.

BC

[washingtonismoney]

It was a 3-point game, there are probably 20 different plays you can point to and say "what if?"

But based on ESPN's graphic after the onside kick the ypp differential was 2.0 in U$C's favor. It's a minor miracle that we were still in it. It's just frustrating and sad that we lost in basically the same way as the earlier game, we just couldn't stop their offense.

Yeah, it was a miracle the game was close at all. The offense was OK. Could've been better, but not at all bad. The defense was poor. I have no way of going back to it, but it seemed like it surrendered brobdingnagian chunks of yardage routinely in 3rd down and other advantageous situations. That's frustrating, but perhaps indicates that this iteration was not so far away. Of course, Phillips' departure will knock the defense back several steps, and I don't think the upcoming defensive linemen have incubated yet.

[washingtonismoney]

It was a 3-point game, there are probably 20 different plays you can point to and say "what if?"

But based on ESPN's graphic after the onside kick the ypp differential was 2.0 in U$C's favor. It's a minor miracle that we were still in it. It's just frustrating and sad that we lost in basically the same way as the earlier game, we just couldn't stop their offense.

Yeah, it was a miracle the game was close at all. The offense was OK. Could've been better, but not at all bad. The defense was poor. I have no way of going back to it, but it seemed like it surrendered brobdingnagian chunks of yardage routinely in 3rd down and other advantageous situations. That's frustrating, but perhaps indicates that this iteration was not so far away. Of course, Phillips' departure will knock the defense back several steps, and I don't think the upcoming defensive linemen have incubated yet.

[lex24]

Agree btw that 3d down was the key. And they did run a rollout with TE drag on that 3d and 1. Picked up about 20. Absolute BS holding call.

[quote author=lex24 link=topic=18246.msg216412#msg216412 date=1512190820]
The way to deal with that weak side backer in short yardage is to keep him honest and make him stay home. Fake and boot with a TE drag. I think Costello would have walked in. Sigh.

Didn’t we basically do that on the 3rd and half yard when Marx held? Sometimes, this stuff just comes down to execution.

My bigger issue was with the 3rd down call.

Oh well!
[/quote]

[lex24]

Agree btw that 3d down was the key. And they did run a rollout with TE drag on that 3d and 1. Picked up about 20. Absolute BS holding call.

[quote author=lex24 link=topic=18246.msg216412#msg216412 date=1512190820]
The way to deal with that weak side backer in short yardage is to keep him honest and make him stay home. Fake and boot with a TE drag. I think Costello would have walked in. Sigh.

Didn’t we basically do that on the 3rd and half yard when Marx held? Sometimes, this stuff just comes down to execution.

My bigger issue was with the 3rd down call.

Oh well!
[/quote]

[lex24]

I thought Stanford’s defense played fairly well in second half. Got the turnover. The three and out for a short field. Seemed to take the air out when they failed to score. Momentum. That and  Reid slipping.

[lex24]

I thought Stanford’s defense played fairly well in second half. Got the turnover. The three and out for a short field. Seemed to take the air out when they failed to score. Momentum. That and  Reid slipping.

[jacketree]

I predict Holiday Bowl against....Northwestern.

[jacketree]

I predict Holiday Bowl against....Northwestern.

[jacketree]

I think Marx had a fistful of jersey and turned the guy. Sure looked like a hold, but I won’t be watching tape.

[jacketree]

I think Marx had a fistful of jersey and turned the guy. Sure looked like a hold, but I won’t be watching tape.

[BostonCard]

I predict Holiday Bowl against....Northwestern.

I was thinking Iowa.

BC

[BostonCard]

I predict Holiday Bowl against....Northwestern.

I was thinking Iowa.

BC

[cardcrimson]

[quote author=jacketree link=topic=18246.msg216420#msg216420 date=1512191788]
I predict Holiday Bowl against....Northwestern.

I was thinking Iowa.

BC
[/quote]

Farmers Only dot Com, baby!

[cardcrimson]

[quote author=jacketree link=topic=18246.msg216420#msg216420 date=1512191788]
I predict Holiday Bowl against....Northwestern.

I was thinking Iowa.

BC
[/quote]

Farmers Only dot Com, baby!

[BostonCard]

[quote author=stupac2 link=topic=18246.msg216408#msg216408 date=1512190597]
It was a 3-point game, there are probably 20 different plays you can point to and say "what if?"

But based on ESPN's graphic after the onside kick the ypp differential was 2.0 in U$C's favor. It's a minor miracle that we were still in it. It's just frustrating and sad that we lost in basically the same way as the earlier game, we just couldn't stop their offense.

Yeah, it was a miracle the game was close at all. The offense was OK. Could've been better, but not at all bad. The defense was poor. I have no way of going back to it, but it seemed like it surrendered of exceedingly large proportions chunks of yardage routinely in 3rd down and other advantageous situations. That's frustrating, but perhaps indicates that this iteration was not so far away. Of course, Phillips' departure will knock the defense back several steps, and I don't think the upcoming defensive linemen have incubated yet.
[/quote]

Interestingly, we actually converted a higher percentage of third downs (6/12) than USC (6/13). Of course, one of those non-conversions was Perez' unsportsmanlike that resulted in a first down.  And also, USC was 2/2 on fourth down, we were 0/1, and it was a very costly one.

BC

[BostonCard]

[quote author=stupac2 link=topic=18246.msg216408#msg216408 date=1512190597]
It was a 3-point game, there are probably 20 different plays you can point to and say "what if?"

But based on ESPN's graphic after the onside kick the ypp differential was 2.0 in U$C's favor. It's a minor miracle that we were still in it. It's just frustrating and sad that we lost in basically the same way as the earlier game, we just couldn't stop their offense.

Yeah, it was a miracle the game was close at all. The offense was OK. Could've been better, but not at all bad. The defense was poor. I have no way of going back to it, but it seemed like it surrendered of exceedingly large proportions chunks of yardage routinely in 3rd down and other advantageous situations. That's frustrating, but perhaps indicates that this iteration was not so far away. Of course, Phillips' departure will knock the defense back several steps, and I don't think the upcoming defensive linemen have incubated yet.
[/quote]

Interestingly, we actually converted a higher percentage of third downs (6/12) than USC (6/13). Of course, one of those non-conversions was Perez' unsportsmanlike that resulted in a first down.  And also, USC was 2/2 on fourth down, we were 0/1, and it was a very costly one.

BC

[washingtonismoney]

As for us, we seem to have found our QB. Costello played fantastic, I can only think of one throw he left on the field. Seems like WiM was right, we probably could've called more passes on early downs, but I get why we did what we did.

It was tricky. Costello went 10/22 for 192 yards passing. Add in rushing and you get 28 plays for 192 yards, i.e. 6.86 yards per play, right in-line with his season-long averages. The trouble is -- as 10/22 indicates -- that's very boom-and-bust, which is a tough place to live in for an offense, particularly one like Stanford's, which has few possessions (and therefore is sensitive to variance).

[washingtonismoney]

As for us, we seem to have found our QB. Costello played fantastic, I can only think of one throw he left on the field. Seems like WiM was right, we probably could've called more passes on early downs, but I get why we did what we did.

It was tricky. Costello went 10/22 for 192 yards passing. Add in rushing and you get 28 plays for 192 yards, i.e. 6.86 yards per play, right in-line with his season-long averages. The trouble is -- as 10/22 indicates -- that's very boom-and-bust, which is a tough place to live in for an offense, particularly one like Stanford's, which has few possessions (and therefore is sensitive to variance).

[washingtonismoney]

Interestingly, we actually converted a higher percentage of third downs (6/12) than U$C (6/13). Of course, one of those non-conversions was Perez' unsportsmanlike that resulted in a first down.  And also, U$C was 2/2 on fourth down, we were 0/1, and it was a very costly one.

Well, let's not forget Murphy's hold on .. what was it, 3rd and 6? Anyway SC was better on the high-leverage downs. Stanford's defense surrendered:

A 48 yard pass
A 10-yard hold
A 15-yard penalty
A 40-yard pass
A 54-yard pass

On third down. So not only did Stanford play poorly on third and fourth-down defensively, but it surrendered some gigantic plays on the money downs.

[washingtonismoney]

Interestingly, we actually converted a higher percentage of third downs (6/12) than U$C (6/13). Of course, one of those non-conversions was Perez' unsportsmanlike that resulted in a first down.  And also, U$C was 2/2 on fourth down, we were 0/1, and it was a very costly one.

Well, let's not forget Murphy's hold on .. what was it, 3rd and 6? Anyway SC was better on the high-leverage downs. Stanford's defense surrendered:

A 48 yard pass
A 10-yard hold
A 15-yard penalty
A 40-yard pass
A 54-yard pass

On third down. So not only did Stanford play poorly on third and fourth-down defensively, but it surrendered some gigantic plays on the money downs.

[BostonCard]

Costello's season completion is better.  He's a 60% passer, which is ok, but not great.  He really needs to raise that to 65%.  Fortunately, he's a redshirt freshman, and has ample time to improve.

Today, he had at least three passess batted down at the LOS.  That hurt the average and is something that he (and the line) will need to work on.

BC

[BostonCard]

Costello's season completion is better.  He's a 60% passer, which is ok, but not great.  He really needs to raise that to 65%.  Fortunately, he's a redshirt freshman, and has ample time to improve.

Today, he had at least three passess batted down at the LOS.  That hurt the average and is something that he (and the line) will need to work on.

BC

[washingtonismoney]

Today, he had at least three passess batted down at the LOS.  That hurt the average and is something that he (and the line) will need to work on.

SC continually harassed Stanford by batting down passes at the line, whether Chryst or Costello. In the September matchup, Rasheem Green and Uchenna Nwosu had 7 passes broken up against Chryst. So Costello improved (in that respect) relative to Chryst, but certainly not to an "adequate" level.

I imagine that's at least partially on the Stanford OL, which was vastly improved relative to September but I would score the matchup of OL vs. front 7 in SC's favor on both sides of the ball. Hard to win if both lines are getting beat.

[washingtonismoney]

Today, he had at least three passess batted down at the LOS.  That hurt the average and is something that he (and the line) will need to work on.

SC continually harassed Stanford by batting down passes at the line, whether Chryst or Costello. In the September matchup, Rasheem Green and Uchenna Nwosu had 7 passes broken up against Chryst. So Costello improved (in that respect) relative to Chryst, but certainly not to an "adequate" level.

I imagine that's at least partially on the Stanford OL, which was vastly improved relative to September but I would score the matchup of OL vs. front 7 in SC's favor on both sides of the ball. Hard to win if both lines are getting beat.

[winflop]

This one is going to leave a bitter taste in my mouth for some time. The team that played better won tonight, but this was a very winnable game.

1. The scheduling disadvantage hurt us significantly. Several players had their worst games of the season and I attribute that to the short week while U$¢ was sharp, had a full extra week to prepare, and it showed. Having the game on Friday vs. Saturday further compounded the disadvantage and I think it showed on the field. There should be no byes in November. The advantage down the stretch is too great.

2. Costello balled out tonight, but within a Shawgren-esque game plan that was predictable and pedestrian. I think we threw on first down ONCE. Costello kept the ball on the read option ONCE. Costello rolled out ONCE.

3. The officiating was as bad I can remember seeing. If the non-backward pass is called correctly - either on the field OR in the booth - Shaw doesn't lose his challenge and can use it on the 4th & 1 play where Scarlett landed on top of a lineman and was never down - and then lunged forward into the end zone.

I'm proud of our team. I think they played as well as they could have given the circumstances, but I can't say the same about the coaching staff and I sure as hell can't say the same about the Pac-12. Larry Scott needs to go - NOW.

[winflop]

This one is going to leave a bitter taste in my mouth for some time. The team that played better won tonight, but this was a very winnable game.

1. The scheduling disadvantage hurt us significantly. Several players had their worst games of the season and I attribute that to the short week while U$¢ was sharp, had a full extra week to prepare, and it showed. Having the game on Friday vs. Saturday further compounded the disadvantage and I think it showed on the field. There should be no byes in November. The advantage down the stretch is too great.

2. Costello balled out tonight, but within a Shawgren-esque game plan that was predictable and pedestrian. I think we threw on first down ONCE. Costello kept the ball on the read option ONCE. Costello rolled out ONCE.

3. The officiating was as bad I can remember seeing. If the non-backward pass is called correctly - either on the field OR in the booth - Shaw doesn't lose his challenge and can use it on the 4th & 1 play where Scarlett landed on top of a lineman and was never down - and then lunged forward into the end zone.

I'm proud of our team. I think they played as well as they could have given the circumstances, but I can't say the same about the coaching staff and I sure as hell can't say the same about the Pac-12. Larry Scott needs to go - NOW.

[lex24]

There were calls I didn’t like.  But I have to respond to a couple of your comments. Stanford passed or tried to (sacks or pressure run) 8 times. 6 before the last drive. Second a read-option is just that. An option. Perhaps KJ should have kept it more but that isn’t on the play call.  I remember at least three rollouts. One being the hold on third and one.  Would have liked to see a boot.  Sigh.

This one is going to leave a bitter taste in my mouth for some time. The team that played better won tonight, but this was a very winnable game.

1. The scheduling disadvantage hurt us significantly. Several players had their worst games of the season and I attribute that to the short week while U$¢ was sharp, had a full extra week to prepare, and it showed. Having the game on Friday vs. Saturday further compounded the disadvantage and I think it showed on the field. There should be no byes in November. The advantage down the stretch is too great.

2. Costello balled out tonight, but within a Shawgren-esque game plan that was predictable and pedestrian. I think we threw on first down ONCE. Costello kept the ball on the read option ONCE. Costello rolled out ONCE.

3. The officiating was as bad I can remember seeing. If the non-backward pass is called correctly - either on the field OR in the booth - Shaw doesn't lose his challenge and can use it on the 4th & 1 play where Scarlett landed on top of a lineman and was never down - and then lunged forward into the end zone.

I'm proud of our team. I think they played as well as they could have given the circumstances, but I can't say the same about the coaching staff and I sure as hell can't say the same about the Pac-12. Larry Scott needs to go - NOW.

[lex24]

There were calls I didn’t like.  But I have to respond to a couple of your comments. Stanford passed or tried to (sacks or pressure run) 8 times. 6 before the last drive. Second a read-option is just that. An option. Perhaps KJ should have kept it more but that isn’t on the play call.  I remember at least three rollouts. One being the hold on third and one.  Would have liked to see a boot.  Sigh.

This one is going to leave a bitter taste in my mouth for some time. The team that played better won tonight, but this was a very winnable game.

1. The scheduling disadvantage hurt us significantly. Several players had their worst games of the season and I attribute that to the short week while U$¢ was sharp, had a full extra week to prepare, and it showed. Having the game on Friday vs. Saturday further compounded the disadvantage and I think it showed on the field. There should be no byes in November. The advantage down the stretch is too great.

2. Costello balled out tonight, but within a Shawgren-esque game plan that was predictable and pedestrian. I think we threw on first down ONCE. Costello kept the ball on the read option ONCE. Costello rolled out ONCE.

3. The officiating was as bad I can remember seeing. If the non-backward pass is called correctly - either on the field OR in the booth - Shaw doesn't lose his challenge and can use it on the 4th & 1 play where Scarlett landed on top of a lineman and was never down - and then lunged forward into the end zone.

I'm proud of our team. I think they played as well as they could have given the circumstances, but I can't say the same about the coaching staff and I sure as hell can't say the same about the Pac-12. Larry Scott needs to go - NOW.

[TRD]

I feel a lot better this morning.

[TRD]

I feel a lot better this morning.

[Mick]

Looks like... HOLIDAY BOWL vs Harbaugh?

Supposedly the Holiday Bowl wants Iowa, but Michigan has been to Florida two years in a row already, and their other alternative would be the Outback Bowl in Tampa.  I think you're right, I think it will be Michigan.  And all of my Michigan friends think Stanford will defeat Michigan.

[Mick]

Looks like... HOLIDAY BOWL vs Harbaugh?

Supposedly the Holiday Bowl wants Iowa, but Michigan has been to Florida two years in a row already, and their other alternative would be the Outback Bowl in Tampa.  I think you're right, I think it will be Michigan.  And all of my Michigan friends think Stanford will defeat Michigan.

[Mick]

I'm gonna be really, really curious to see how Helton does next year without Darnold.

As for us, we seem to have found our QB. Costello played fantastic, I can only think of one throw he left on the field. Seems like WiM was right, we probably could've called more passes on early downs, but I get why we did what we did. That horrible call on the "lateral" was costly, but I can't really say that the refs cost us this one, our defense didn't play well for most of the game and the offense wasn't able to compensate.

Oh well, hopefully we get a good bowl matchup, and then on to next year!

Costello was 10 for 22.  His receivers made some great grabs, but I wonder...

[Mick]

I'm gonna be really, really curious to see how Helton does next year without Darnold.

As for us, we seem to have found our QB. Costello played fantastic, I can only think of one throw he left on the field. Seems like WiM was right, we probably could've called more passes on early downs, but I get why we did what we did. That horrible call on the "lateral" was costly, but I can't really say that the refs cost us this one, our defense didn't play well for most of the game and the offense wasn't able to compensate.

Oh well, hopefully we get a good bowl matchup, and then on to next year!

Costello was 10 for 22.  His receivers made some great grabs, but I wonder...

[Mick]

Defensively, if Phillips leaves (which seems like a certainty), it will likely get worse next year. Which is bad, because it was buoyed by turnovers luck and (in actuality) wasn't much good. We saw what happened when the team had almost no turnovers and it was bad. That being said, DBs should be reinforced by healthy Holder plus growth from incumbents plus coming-off-redshirt Paulson Adebo. That's good. LBs should get better by continuity. Maybe Alfieri can eclipse Perez. Or maybe returning/healthy Barton does. You lose Kalambayi (which is a problem) and Tyler (which is ... not a problem), but Fox and Toohill should be fine. Robinson needs to start playing like the blue-chip recruit he was rated as.

DL is the problem. Pray for multiple miracles from Wade-Perry plus non-Phillips continuity.

Offensively, losing Love (which again seems like a certainty) is unfortunate but nearly everyone else is returning and therefore continuity is good. Stewart, who had a very poor year, will either improve greatly or be eclipsed. I wonder what this game would've been like with a healthy Little, who (presumably) would be slightly better than Hamilton and create a better RT option. The OL wasn't overwhelmed against SC but could be better. Anyway continuity helps. Aside from the Nall speculation, Scarlett and Speights should be adequate assuming the rest of the offense is good.

Special teams...well, as is and continuity should be good. Irwin (or I suppose Wedington) means improvement on punt returns as the Jay Tyler experiment was bizarre and held the team back through the half of 2017 that he played in.

Impact freshman... redshirting Wade-Perry, Adebo, Head, St. Brown ... we'll see who's incoming, but if Hollifield comes in he might make a difference. Maybe Michael Wilson and/or Simi Fehoko takes a receiving spot. While there are plenty of good receivers, there are also some obvious holes at receiver that can be upgraded by merely average replacements.

BTW Holiday Bowl v. Michigan isn't happening. A few reporters have said Michigan's heading to the Outback Bowl.

We'll find out tomorrow afternoon, but I think the Big 10 doesn't want Michigan to go to Florida three years in a row.

[Mick]

Defensively, if Phillips leaves (which seems like a certainty), it will likely get worse next year. Which is bad, because it was buoyed by turnovers luck and (in actuality) wasn't much good. We saw what happened when the team had almost no turnovers and it was bad. That being said, DBs should be reinforced by healthy Holder plus growth from incumbents plus coming-off-redshirt Paulson Adebo. That's good. LBs should get better by continuity. Maybe Alfieri can eclipse Perez. Or maybe returning/healthy Barton does. You lose Kalambayi (which is a problem) and Tyler (which is ... not a problem), but Fox and Toohill should be fine. Robinson needs to start playing like the blue-chip recruit he was rated as.

DL is the problem. Pray for multiple miracles from Wade-Perry plus non-Phillips continuity.

Offensively, losing Love (which again seems like a certainty) is unfortunate but nearly everyone else is returning and therefore continuity is good. Stewart, who had a very poor year, will either improve greatly or be eclipsed. I wonder what this game would've been like with a healthy Little, who (presumably) would be slightly better than Hamilton and create a better RT option. The OL wasn't overwhelmed against SC but could be better. Anyway continuity helps. Aside from the Nall speculation, Scarlett and Speights should be adequate assuming the rest of the offense is good.

Special teams...well, as is and continuity should be good. Irwin (or I suppose Wedington) means improvement on punt returns as the Jay Tyler experiment was bizarre and held the team back through the half of 2017 that he played in.

Impact freshman... redshirting Wade-Perry, Adebo, Head, St. Brown ... we'll see who's incoming, but if Hollifield comes in he might make a difference. Maybe Michael Wilson and/or Simi Fehoko takes a receiving spot. While there are plenty of good receivers, there are also some obvious holes at receiver that can be upgraded by merely average replacements.

BTW Holiday Bowl v. Michigan isn't happening. A few reporters have said Michigan's heading to the Outback Bowl.

We'll find out tomorrow afternoon, but I think the Big 10 doesn't want Michigan to go to Florida three years in a row.

[Mick]

[quote author=ThePOC link=topic=18246.msg216400#msg216400 date=1512190291]
Football never comes down to ONE play but I was furious when Shaw trotted the offense out there and 4th and goal.

Poor Shaw, he gets skewered for going conservative; and he gets skewered for being aggressive.  Going for the TD was absolutely the right call.  The probability of making a TD is much higher than 50%.  And had we kicked we only would have gotten a tie in the end... I don’t know that I would have liked our chances in ot.

BC
[/quote]

+1, it was the right call.  Too bad we didn't make it, but it was the right call.

[Mick]

[quote author=ThePOC link=topic=18246.msg216400#msg216400 date=1512190291]
Football never comes down to ONE play but I was furious when Shaw trotted the offense out there and 4th and goal.

Poor Shaw, he gets skewered for going conservative; and he gets skewered for being aggressive.  Going for the TD was absolutely the right call.  The probability of making a TD is much higher than 50%.  And had we kicked we only would have gotten a tie in the end... I don’t know that I would have liked our chances in ot.

BC
[/quote]

+1, it was the right call.  Too bad we didn't make it, but it was the right call.