Stanford is now the favorite to win the Pac-12 Championship according to many advanced metrics and betting markets. Matt Vassar reacts and comments on why Oregon looks so vulnerable this year, and also talks a bit about Kevin Hogan's injury and how that might factor into Stanford's championship odds. He also previews the game against Oregon State and covers the recent statements made by Richard Sherman on the Black Lives Matters movement.
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Comments
Defense is still young and we have no depth on the D-Line
The Cardinal are making me proud.. They’re playing their tails off and that USC win was just amazing. I was there in person and there’s nothing better than watching USC fans bitch and moan.. LOL
Unfortunately I doubt the Cardinal can win the Pac-12 this year as their defense is extremely young and very thin on the d-line. Both of the safeties are converted offensive players and their corner backs are all sophomores or freshman with the exception of Ronnie Harris.
The main concern though is the defensive line. Going into the season Stanford was thin on the d-line,both from a talent and a body perspective. Now there has been numerous injuries (Phillips, Shittu, Scarlett) and we barley have enough bodies to put on the field.. This is a HUGE PROBLEM!
We will need to heavily rely on the Cardinal offense, specifically Kevin Hogan.. He is the key to making a run at the Pac-12 title and possibly the playoffs. Otherwise I see us still having a good year but somewhere around a 9 win season.
By t_smak on 09.27.15 5:46pm
Good Call t_smak
i’ve been talkin’ up the importance of the DL (both lines really) for months.. and the depth issue on the Tree DL especially..
Did some research a while back ‘n discovered many, if not most good teams have somewhere’s between 12 and 18 defensive linemen on the roster, sometimes even more.. whereas the Tree had 6 at the end of Spring + 2 more new recruits in Wesley Annan and Dylan Jackson + converted LB T. Rotto and converted TE/OLB Luke "Cool Hand" Kaumatule.. While all are good players, the lack of depth has been a classic and brewing "thin ice" scenario..
While i’m not worried about coach Aquina’s DBs (Whitfield, Lloyd, and the new kids on the block are doin’ a fantastic job) if there’s little or no pass rush that puts way too much pressure on them.
..plus i missed what happened to OLB Kevin Anderson ?
By maddogsfavsnpiks on 09.28.15 5:55pm
From what I've heard, Anderson will likely be back vs. UCLA
Anderson is out again for the game vs. Arizona, but next week Stanford has a bye for players to get back to healthy. From what I’ve heard, it sounds like Anderson is likely to be back in time for that next game against UCLA.
By Matt Vassar on 10.02.15 12:17am
Good points, t_smak!
You’re right that defensive line can be in perilous shape if injuries get in the way.
That said, Shittu and Scarlett are actually both expected to be back for the upcoming game against Arizona, so we’re not in doom-and-gloom territory just yet. Nate Lohn was also back for Oregon State, and is expected to be playing against Arizona as well.
So, as of right now, the only casualty on the defensive line is Harrison (who’s out for the season).
By Matt Vassar on 10.02.15 12:15am
I'd say
UCLA is fave in south, with Utah being an "alternative" south pick for people who are UCLA-skeptics.
In the North, I’d say we are slight favorites (noone will ever call us favorites outright before we play Oregon because they "have better athletes" … unless they lose some more before November), but the "hip/heart" pick is Cal, while ignoring us/assuming we lose to Oregon and are blasted easily by Goff.
Champ game? Jump ball.
By Brendan Ross on 09.28.15 9:50am
Don't count out USC just yet either!
I see the South as a three-horse race between USC/Utah/UCLA. Yes, USC lost early to Stanford, but they still have a lot of talent AND they host UCLA at the Coliseum this year.
By Matt Vassar on 10.02.15 12:18am
Cal
To be honest, I really don’t think Cal is that good. Goff is an excellent player and, if given enough time in the pocket, is a perpetual offensive threat. But what I saw against Washington last Saturday showed that even an average and inexperienced team like the Huskies, even in self-destruction mode with 5 turnovers, was competitive vs. the Bears. Once Cal faces more experienced teams with better D-lines and pass-rush, Goff will feel the pressure, and the offensive output will collapse. They should get by the Cougars this weekend, but then they face Utah and UCLA in successive road games, followed by USC at home, and then a trip to Autzen. They could be 5-4 by the time they return from Eugene (which is not saying the Ducks have a stout D-line, but they are still the Ducks, despite the implosion against Utah). It’s probably premature to make a prediction for the Big Game, but I still think the scenario that unfolded last year is again likely this year, depending to a large extent on the health of our own defense. If the Stanford D-line is decimated by the time the Big Game rolls around, it could be a shoot-out. But if we are healthy, I see the Cardinal troops imposing their will, running it up the gut in long, time-consuming drives, while the D shuts down the Bear-Raid. In essence, a repeat of the 2014 Big Game.
By Jeff Tarnungus on 09.29.15 6:05am
I agree!
I don’t see the Bears taking back the Axe this year, and if they don’t, that will make six in a row for Stanford. Go Cardinal!
By Matt Vassar on 10.02.15 12:20am