Cardinal looking for better effort vs. USC
Stanford’s season didn’t exactly get off on the right foot last Friday against San Diego State.
The Cardinal called a timeout before their first play, allowed SDSU running back Juwan Washington to gain 84 yards and a touchdown in one drive in the first quarter, missed a 38-yard field-goal attempt and didn’t score its first offensive points until the final minute of the first half.
The Cardinal dominated the second half, scoring four touchdowns on five drives and held the Aztecs to 113 yards in a 3110 win at Stanford Stadium. But whether it was first-game jitters or deeper issues, No. 10 Stanford (1-0) can’t afford another slow start Saturday when it hosts No. 17 USC (1-0).
Here are five things Stanford needs to do to win its Pac12 opener:
1. PLAY BETTER DEFENSE >> In two games against USC last year — a 42-24 loss at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, in Week 2 and a 31-28 loss in the Pac-12 championship game at Levi’s Stadium — the Cardinal gave up a combined 1,124 yards. Sam Darnold, now starting for the New York Jets, has been replaced by JT Daniels, who became the second true freshman to start at quarterback in USC history (Matt Barkley in 2009 was the other). Daniels was 22 of 35 passing for 282 yards in a 43-21 victory over UNLV. Stanford should have an advantage in the rookie’s first road start, especially with senior cornerback Alijah Holder back after missing the SDSU game because of an injury.
2. GET LOVE ON TRACK >> While Bryce Love was held to 29 yards in 18 carries against an Aztecs defense that was laser-focused on stopping him, the Trojans allowed 308 rushing yards against UNLV. It’s doubtful that USC will sell out against the run the way SDSU did — or have the same success even if it did. That should give Love some opportunities to show off more than his improved pass blocking on Saturday. Love had 285 yards and two touchdowns in 39 carries in the two games against USC last season.
3. KEEP THROWING >> Stanford coach David Shaw will never be confused with Mike Leach, but after unsuccessfully trying to stick with a run-first scheme last week, he finally switched to a pass-heavy approach. No one benefitted more than wide receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside, who had six receptions for 226 yards (third-most in program history) and three touchdowns. Quarterback K.J. Costello threw for four touchdowns and had Stanford’s first 300-yard passing game (332 yards) since 2015.
4. STAY DISCIPLINED >> Shaw joked that the standard coaching answer when teams are evenly matched is that the game will come down to turnovers. In that department, Stanford had mixed results last week. Stanford’s defense didn’t force any turnovers, though wide receiver Trenton Irwin stripped a defensive tackle who had intercepted pass and recovered the fumble himself. Then again, that interception was also the only turnover the Cardinal’s offense committed. Another good sign for Stanford was that it only had three penalties against a chippy Aztec team that committed 11.
5. WIN FIELD POSITION >> Stanford’s first points of the season came thanks to punter Jake Bailey, whose 63-yard punt rolled out at the 1-yard line. Two plays later, Bobby Okereke sacked the quarterback in the end zone. All 11 times SDSU’s offense took the field, it was inside its 30. The further back USC’s explosive offense starts, the better Stanford will be.