No replays as I forgot to DVR the game (a good thing). And does anyone really want to read ( or write) about a tough loss).
1. There were more than 78K there in attendance and the spirit was high at 21-10 and eroded by early third quarter.
2. Stanford is to be lauded...they outcoached USC but 3 things caused that...When protected, and Stanford had a superb Oline, Hogan is like the little girl with the curl...very bad or very very good. He was the latter in this game and survived 3 sacks (only 1 early). His TEs helped a lot and I wish USC used ours more in third downs. The Stanford D is not good and should have been exploited more. And Hogan attacked USCs young Dbacks.
3. The keys to the game....Stanford's vet Oline beat USCs newer DLine on preventing blitzes and opening holes. USC need to go long more often but Stanford was allowed to dictate the game and on O they sucked up the clock with 73 plays to USCs 60. The refs reverted back to the bad P12. On a game like this they called none in the first (good), 2 for each side in the second (OK), 4-0 versus USC in the critical third, and 2-3 in the 4th (had to make it look less disparate), They also blew several plays...on that Adoree TD they called it back on a hold that was 40 feet form where the runner was. Note , a hold can be called on any play...only the P12 refs try and do that. And the play called a fumble recovery that was reviewed. The Stanford man held the receivers left arm before the catch )PI) and after the ball tucked firmly in the receivers right hand, and had his buttocks, back and head hit the ground seconds before being stripped....it took a replay call, and 5 minutes and a arena full of boos, to decide they need to reverse it.
4. Overall its wasn't a good showing for many top teams: Not impressed: Ohio State beating No. Illinois 20-13, Clemson over 0-2 Louisville. FSU over BC , Missouri 9-6 over UConn. Auburn for the year-losing yesterday to LSU 21-65, USC defense, Alabama losing to Ole Miss at home 37-43, UCLA sneaking by BYU 24-23 and particularly Rosen who was touted loudly for a 91 QBR in his first game but ignored in his subsequent 54 (50 is average) and yesterday's 6 QBR.
5. Those that impressed: Stanford's playcalllng, Ole Miss gameplan, Notre dame (beating Georgia tech) Oregon's offense (but not their D) over Georgia something or other, UAs ability to rack up points (77) versus tough Northern Arizona (nice scheduling).
Forecast next week: I figured USC was 10-2 pre-season with 2 losses among Stanford, ASU, ND and Oregon so this one is critical and I think doable. Revenge for last year. USC over ASU 35-31.
1. There were more than 78K there in attendance and the spirit was high at 21-10 and eroded by early third quarter.
2. Stanford is to be lauded...they outcoached USC but 3 things caused that...When protected, and Stanford had a superb Oline, Hogan is like the little girl with the curl...very bad or very very good. He was the latter in this game and survived 3 sacks (only 1 early). His TEs helped a lot and I wish USC used ours more in third downs. The Stanford D is not good and should have been exploited more. And Hogan attacked USCs young Dbacks.
3. The keys to the game....Stanford's vet Oline beat USCs newer DLine on preventing blitzes and opening holes. USC need to go long more often but Stanford was allowed to dictate the game and on O they sucked up the clock with 73 plays to USCs 60. The refs reverted back to the bad P12. On a game like this they called none in the first (good), 2 for each side in the second (OK), 4-0 versus USC in the critical third, and 2-3 in the 4th (had to make it look less disparate), They also blew several plays...on that Adoree TD they called it back on a hold that was 40 feet form where the runner was. Note , a hold can be called on any play...only the P12 refs try and do that. And the play called a fumble recovery that was reviewed. The Stanford man held the receivers left arm before the catch )PI) and after the ball tucked firmly in the receivers right hand, and had his buttocks, back and head hit the ground seconds before being stripped....it took a replay call, and 5 minutes and a arena full of boos, to decide they need to reverse it.
4. Overall its wasn't a good showing for many top teams: Not impressed: Ohio State beating No. Illinois 20-13, Clemson over 0-2 Louisville. FSU over BC , Missouri 9-6 over UConn. Auburn for the year-losing yesterday to LSU 21-65, USC defense, Alabama losing to Ole Miss at home 37-43, UCLA sneaking by BYU 24-23 and particularly Rosen who was touted loudly for a 91 QBR in his first game but ignored in his subsequent 54 (50 is average) and yesterday's 6 QBR.
5. Those that impressed: Stanford's playcalllng, Ole Miss gameplan, Notre dame (beating Georgia tech) Oregon's offense (but not their D) over Georgia something or other, UAs ability to rack up points (77) versus tough Northern Arizona (nice scheduling).
Forecast next week: I figured USC was 10-2 pre-season with 2 losses among Stanford, ASU, ND and Oregon so this one is critical and I think doable. Revenge for last year. USC over ASU 35-31.
