We can take a sigh of relief; K.J. Costello is starting. I mean, how could he not? He sparked the offense against UCLA and impressed everyone with his legs and his arm. Still, even with K.J. behind center, a win over the Sun Devils is no sure thing.
Stanford struggles to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and Arizona State's Manny Wilkins might pick apart the Stanford secondary. He threw for 347 yards against Oregon and also collected a couple touchdowns on the ground. Wilkins is a solid player that gets the ball to his playmakers, and the Arizona State passing game a chance in this game.
It's worth noting Stanford's secondary is much more talented than Oregon's. Alijah Holder and Quenton Meeks are stars, and together, they might be the best corner duo in the nation. However, Holder won't be playing in the first half after being ejected for targeting, and his absence might allow the Sun Devils to strike early.
Even without Holder, Stanford's secondary should be able to stop the Sun Devils periodically. Arizona State practically doesn't have a run game, so the Cardinal can focus solely on the passing game. In my opinion, Arizona State reminds me a lot of UCLA on offense; they can pass but can't run. Expect the Sun Devils to score around 30 points in this game.
Stanford needs to put points up on the board, and all signs indicate that they will. The Sun Devils' defense has struggled to stop the run, and Bryce Love should have another Heisman performance. Arizona State is allowing 6.58 yards per carry, so it's crazy to think Love's numbers could improve after Saturday.
The biggest question heading into this game: what will K.J. Costello do? Was last week just a fluke? Or is K.J. a future star? It's too soon to tell after one game, but K.J. definitely made a big difference last week. The Arizona State secondary is just as bad as the UCLA secondary, so K.J. will make a strong case to keep the starting job.
Arizona State can score, but they can't stop anyone from scoring. This game will be high scoring, but Stanford will come away with a 42-31 victory.
The game kicks off at 1 PM PT on PAC-12 Network.
Comments
Here's my analysis
And it’s certainly not a creative stroke of genius. KJ Costello gives the Stanford offense two added dimensions; and both are crucial for success in the Stanford system. First, he is mobile, so that forces the defense to play honest and not just key on Love or Scarlett. Second, he gets the ball out quickly and has shown he can use the tight ends. This, as well, loosens up the middle and forces the linebackers to drop back. With fewer players in the box, the O-line is more effective in run-blocking and pass-protection. Drives last longer and are more methodical. TOP increases. The defense is more rested, while the opposing offense is off the field. This is the Stanford system; and KJ fits it.
If the defense comes to play and stays fresh, and if KJ, Love and the offense can execute with minimal errors and turnovers, I see this game playing out very similarly to the last game against UCLA. Love should rush for 200+ yards; KJ should add another 200 yards through the air; and the Cardinal should prevail 48-28. I hope Holder’s absence in the first half can be compensated for by the other DBs: we need him against Wilkins.
By Jeff Tarnungus on 09.30.17 9:18am
So, with Alijah out...
…for the half, do we send extra pressure early and often, or BNB and hope open yards don’t translate into RZ production? Haven’t seen Wilkins play…
By Plan Man on 09.30.17 10:24am
I think we have enough depth at the DB positions to compensate for Holder's first half absence
But there are so many gunslingers in the Pac-12 that we need him back in the line-up as soon as possible.
By Jeff Tarnungus on 09.30.17 10:53am
While I like both Burns and Chryst as Stanford players...
I am so happy to see the Costello era beginning now. I think we lose against USC no matter what, but Costello could have saved our season against SDSU. Reeks of the Nunes → Hogan era transition.
By drkato9 on 09.30.17 11:45am
Agree
We could end up having a very good season that will fall short of expectations due to that egg in San Diego. Shades of UW in 2012 and Northwestern in 2015.
By Jeff Tarnungus on 09.30.17 11:56am