First defensive series:
--great all-around. Safeties (Elder and Yeast) were great. Elder made two tackles, and Yeast one. In the "little things" department, Hennington did a nice job of engaging the FB deep, which gave the RB no choice but to turn the play inside into the D. Our safeties closed fast--Smith and Yeast especially, but even Elder, vs. the run. Penalties changed that possession for Stanford.
First offensive series:
-That first run by Deuce: Jax got that punishing pancake that sprung the play...but it looked to me like he was slipping when Jax unloaded on him (helmet to helmet, even).
-Second run foreshadowed issues with the run game. Rivas is late and misses his block on the LB Damuni who shoots the gap and makes the play in the backfield. This became a theme (not just Rivas).
-First pass to Brooks was beautiful. Five OL handled the 4-man rush, Sky made a perfect pass in stride. Second pass to BheBhe was great, too--quick crossing route...MORE OF THIS PLEASE.
-Next play was a give to Ervin for about 7 yards. Well-blocked, Ervin hits the hole without hesitation.
-On the Knowles sweep, if Wheeler could have held his block on Damuni for just a bit longer, that would have been a big gainer.
-On the Skylar pick. Because Brooks never had any idea where the ball was, he never had a chance, even to break up the play. Bad ball, and poorly played by the receiver.
Second defensive series:
-we get them in third-and-two after a short run then a QB scramble. Anudike makes that play, though didn't make the tackle. He blows past the tackle and disrupts the play in the backfield, forcing the RB into the swarm in the middle. Stanford punts.
Second offensive series:
-first play was the big throw to Brooks...but it was a broken play. For the life of me, I have NO IDEA why Skylar didn't see Brooks MUCH earlier? he was open right on his break. . Hell, even Knowles was open. But DAMN, our routes are LONG. Either way...Sky looked like the same "afraid to pull the trigger" Sky we've seen throughout his career. This is something to watch going forward. My instinct is that our receivers are getting open far more than most fans think...and Sky is simply afraid to throw it.
-Sky runs the next play in for 6.
Third defensive series:
-Stanford runs off-tackle on the first play, for 2 yards. the DL and Fletcher do a great job of standing up their blockers, there's no room for the RB, and he's forced into the teeth of the defense.
-Second play is a 24 yard pass to Humphries, who out-duels Brents. It was covered well, just really good execution by Stanford on the back-shoulder throw.
-Third play, Stanford has a jumbo tight formation and a couple blockers get out on the LBs, take Fletcher out of the play, and Cincere Mason overruns it a bit and gets trapped behind Fletcher or he might have stopped the ball carrier for a 3-4 yard gain instead of 6. Mason, BTW, looks more like a guy who could be playing the same role Jones is playing...he's pretty damn big.
-We get a great rush on the next play, 2nd and 4, and the QB scrambles for a short gain. Stanord goes play-action, but none of the secondary bite. Pickle just MANHANDLES a double-team, driving them back until finally the QB has to throw or run, and Pickle gobbles him up. Great play!
END of QUARTER (but I'll finish the drive)
-on 3rd and 3, McKee finds his TE coming over the middle--he finds a soft-spot in the zone and picks up the first down. Good execution.
-McKee misses a SURE TD on the next play. The TE had Hennington BEATEN BADLY, and it would have been 6, but McKee overthrew him badly. VERY lucky break for us, as that would have tied the game. He could have also thrown to a slot who crossed in front of Yeast (on a bit of a rub with the TE). Yeast was late on the break and gave up leverage immediately. HUGE, HUGE break, and arguably one of the biggest moments that could have changed the momentum of the game.
-On 2nd and 10 we stop a counter sweep--Ross Elder beat a block to make the initial hit, and then we swarm. Brents was in on that play, too. BUT...Stanford gets called for holding, and it changes the possession. Now 2nd and 20.
-McKee throws to EJ Smith on the inside slant for 3. When the play sets up, it looks like they have lots of space, and the match-up they want, with Khalid Duke defending in space. But Duke beats his block and Daniel Green comes shooting in like a missile to blow up the play. WELL DEFENDED!
-3rd and 17 from the K-State 37, We rush three, drop 8. Stanford TE is again open on the seam. Elder slides over in help on the outside receiver, leaving Fletcher on the TE. Fletcher backpeddles, but the TE runs right by him, and TJ Smith gets caught too shallow. ONLY a slightly quick throw by the QB, and the TE not turning his head sooner prevent this from being a TD. We dodge the SECOND bullet on that series, as it was a SURE TD. Also, had the QB waited, the RB leaked out of the backfield and there was NO ONE around...I suspect this is what caused TJ Smith to start coming up. Either way, these TE seams are a problem.
-Stanford punts, BULLETS DODGED.
-
--great all-around. Safeties (Elder and Yeast) were great. Elder made two tackles, and Yeast one. In the "little things" department, Hennington did a nice job of engaging the FB deep, which gave the RB no choice but to turn the play inside into the D. Our safeties closed fast--Smith and Yeast especially, but even Elder, vs. the run. Penalties changed that possession for Stanford.
First offensive series:
-That first run by Deuce: Jax got that punishing pancake that sprung the play...but it looked to me like he was slipping when Jax unloaded on him (helmet to helmet, even).
-Second run foreshadowed issues with the run game. Rivas is late and misses his block on the LB Damuni who shoots the gap and makes the play in the backfield. This became a theme (not just Rivas).
-First pass to Brooks was beautiful. Five OL handled the 4-man rush, Sky made a perfect pass in stride. Second pass to BheBhe was great, too--quick crossing route...MORE OF THIS PLEASE.
-Next play was a give to Ervin for about 7 yards. Well-blocked, Ervin hits the hole without hesitation.
-On the Knowles sweep, if Wheeler could have held his block on Damuni for just a bit longer, that would have been a big gainer.
-On the Skylar pick. Because Brooks never had any idea where the ball was, he never had a chance, even to break up the play. Bad ball, and poorly played by the receiver.
Second defensive series:
-we get them in third-and-two after a short run then a QB scramble. Anudike makes that play, though didn't make the tackle. He blows past the tackle and disrupts the play in the backfield, forcing the RB into the swarm in the middle. Stanford punts.
Second offensive series:
-first play was the big throw to Brooks...but it was a broken play. For the life of me, I have NO IDEA why Skylar didn't see Brooks MUCH earlier? he was open right on his break. . Hell, even Knowles was open. But DAMN, our routes are LONG. Either way...Sky looked like the same "afraid to pull the trigger" Sky we've seen throughout his career. This is something to watch going forward. My instinct is that our receivers are getting open far more than most fans think...and Sky is simply afraid to throw it.
-Sky runs the next play in for 6.
Third defensive series:
-Stanford runs off-tackle on the first play, for 2 yards. the DL and Fletcher do a great job of standing up their blockers, there's no room for the RB, and he's forced into the teeth of the defense.
-Second play is a 24 yard pass to Humphries, who out-duels Brents. It was covered well, just really good execution by Stanford on the back-shoulder throw.
-Third play, Stanford has a jumbo tight formation and a couple blockers get out on the LBs, take Fletcher out of the play, and Cincere Mason overruns it a bit and gets trapped behind Fletcher or he might have stopped the ball carrier for a 3-4 yard gain instead of 6. Mason, BTW, looks more like a guy who could be playing the same role Jones is playing...he's pretty damn big.
-We get a great rush on the next play, 2nd and 4, and the QB scrambles for a short gain. Stanord goes play-action, but none of the secondary bite. Pickle just MANHANDLES a double-team, driving them back until finally the QB has to throw or run, and Pickle gobbles him up. Great play!
END of QUARTER (but I'll finish the drive)
-on 3rd and 3, McKee finds his TE coming over the middle--he finds a soft-spot in the zone and picks up the first down. Good execution.
-McKee misses a SURE TD on the next play. The TE had Hennington BEATEN BADLY, and it would have been 6, but McKee overthrew him badly. VERY lucky break for us, as that would have tied the game. He could have also thrown to a slot who crossed in front of Yeast (on a bit of a rub with the TE). Yeast was late on the break and gave up leverage immediately. HUGE, HUGE break, and arguably one of the biggest moments that could have changed the momentum of the game.
-On 2nd and 10 we stop a counter sweep--Ross Elder beat a block to make the initial hit, and then we swarm. Brents was in on that play, too. BUT...Stanford gets called for holding, and it changes the possession. Now 2nd and 20.
-McKee throws to EJ Smith on the inside slant for 3. When the play sets up, it looks like they have lots of space, and the match-up they want, with Khalid Duke defending in space. But Duke beats his block and Daniel Green comes shooting in like a missile to blow up the play. WELL DEFENDED!
-3rd and 17 from the K-State 37, We rush three, drop 8. Stanford TE is again open on the seam. Elder slides over in help on the outside receiver, leaving Fletcher on the TE. Fletcher backpeddles, but the TE runs right by him, and TJ Smith gets caught too shallow. ONLY a slightly quick throw by the QB, and the TE not turning his head sooner prevent this from being a TD. We dodge the SECOND bullet on that series, as it was a SURE TD. Also, had the QB waited, the RB leaked out of the backfield and there was NO ONE around...I suspect this is what caused TJ Smith to start coming up. Either way, these TE seams are a problem.
-Stanford punts, BULLETS DODGED.
-
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