Stanford had 33 touchdowns for the first time in its last game, the most since 2007, but lost to USC 41-28 due to a minus 4 spin margin, including two endowments inside the 5-yard line.
In fact, the Cardinal was last of FBS’s 131 teams with a turnover margin per game at -3.5, something he knows he needs to fix during his 18th visit to Washington on Saturday (7:30 p.m., FS1).
“We are not far from where we need to be, but we have to take care of football,” said Stanford coach David Shaw.
Stanford (1-1, 0-1 pac 12) had four turnovers each against Colgate and USC. This includes a flip-and-take pass that leads to three interceptions by Tanner McKee, three fumbles by running back E.J. Smith, and a trip by throwback return Casey Filkins.
Meanwhile, the defense only has one meal ready, the Colgate Road Intercept.
Shaw said defenses force a flip either through putting pressure on the quarterback and forcing fouls, or from crowding and technique.
So, while the attack is focused on protecting the ball, the defense is practically tearing up the ball before the confrontation with the huskies (3-0, 0-0).
“The game boils down to explosive spins and plays,” Shaw said this week. (USC) won both battles. If we can be ahead or ahead in these two fights, we’ll give ourselves a chance to win against anyone, but you can’t give this team that many chances.”
FILKINS BEGINS AT THE START
Smith, the second Pac-12 rider at 103 yards per game, will miss the Washington game due to an undisclosed injury. That means Filkins, a 5-foot-11, 198-pound junior, would make his debut.
After essentially showing up as a kick returner last year, Filkins has 22 holders for 97 yards and two TDs, as well as four catches for 58 yards this season.
“Casey is a dynamic athlete,” Shaw said. “He ran the ball in, ran the ball out, and got some passes from the backcourt. He was a dominant soccer player coming from Oregon, so we knew this was a very versatile athlete. Combined with EJ, I really thought over time this was going to be one of the The best running groups in America. Casey will get better and get better and better.”
Filkins graduated from Lake Oswego High School with Oregon records for career landings (100), career multi-purpose yards (6786) and career rush yards (4,596).
He will be supported this week by young Caleb Robinson and second student Brendon Barrow. The pair combined for seven campaigns for 25 yards in the season opener against Colgate.
Shaw is hoping Smith will be back for next week’s game in Oregon.
stop Washington
Of course, shifts weren’t the only problem for Stanford vs. USC. The Trojans scored downs on their first five drives without the need for a third downshift.
Senior quarterback Levani Damoni said space interference was a big problem, so during his farewell week the defense emphasized dealing with the basics like closing, driving on your feet and having good leverage.
USC QB Caleb Williams was at the age of 20 by 27 pass for 341 yards, four TDs and no spin. Next up is UW QB Michael Penix, Jr., who has passed 10 TDs (one shy of the national lead). He threw for 397 yards, the eighth-highest total in UW history, last week against Michigan State.
Penix went to 12-5 as a starter in the QB game in Indiana before moving to Washington before spring training in 2022, throwing no less than 337 yards in all three games with the Huskies.
“(He is) a very explosive quarterback and an athlete who can do all the throws,” Shaw said. “He has a big arm.”
Shaw said the best throw he’s seen this year was from Penix when he rolled left to right and he made a right-side throw in the win over the Spartans.
Never Run From The King(s) Tweet embed @jpolk_22
#no limits #PurpleReign pic.twitter.com/EvRyKHug0n
– Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 18 2022
first road game
After opening with two games at home, Stanford is about to embark on a challenging road trip to the Pacific Northwest, first with Washington and then next week at No. 15 in Oregon.
A noise machine was raised during training to simulate play at Husky’s court, forcing the cardinal to work on hand signals and other forms of nonverbal communication.
“I told the whole team it was composure and communication,” Shaw said. “We can’t panic, we can’t be outcasts.”
Stanford on the road 6-4 over the past two seasons, including a 31-26 win on its last visit to Seattle in 2020, even though this game was played in an empty stadium due to COVID-19 restrictions.
from San Jose News Bulletin https://sjnewsbulletin.com/cardinal-seeks-to-fix-worse-trading-spreads-at-fbs/
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