Stanford’s triple overtime win over USC this past weekend will go down as one of the best games of the 2011 season, and as we’ve opined on this very site, as a defining Heisman moment for Andrew Luck.
But it wasn’t an easy win. USC’s defense did a fantastic job at penetrating Stanford’s burly offensive line, getting pressure on Luck in the process. Sacked only twice in the first seven games of the season, Luck took as many sacks that night and was hurried several other times.
On defense, Stanford was vulnerable to the run, as USC running back Curtis McNeal rushed 20 times for 145 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
That got the guys over at “College Football Talk” on Versus thinking. Was Stanford exposed by the 56-48 win, and are there concerns for the Cardinal in the last month of the season?
What is there to expose? Standford is a great team, but USC should be competative with them. USC pulls in so much talent year after year in recruiting. If anything, USC is finally playing up to expectations.
Give credit to USC, but don’t take anything away from Stanford.
My .02 – just because teams don’t ‘blow out’ opponents every week, it doesn’t equate to ‘exposure’. The guys on the other side of the ball might just have a stellar game.
The fact that a team like Stanford prevailed, tells us they’re for real.
Not many PAC-12 teams have the defense to force pressure… so I’m not sure the Stanford Offense is exposed to most teams they will play.
The Stanford Defense did look weak in the 2nd half. Though I believe only Oregon has the offense to take advantage in the regular season. Championship game might be interesting if ASU makes it.
I love the media. You get a story line and you are a pit bull with a bone. Andrew Luck, Andrew Luck, Andrew Luck………..take a breath for a minute.
Stanford’s opponents have a combined winning percentage of .430. Their first real challenge at USC goes to triple overtime. Lets see how Stanford fares against Oregon in two weeks. If you remember, the media’s now long forgotten Heisman finalist LaMichael James (not this yrs media darling), was a part of the 388 rushing yards the Ducks put on Luck’s Cardinal when Oregon beat the Luck led Stanford team 52-31 last year. Luck went 29-46 in that game with 2TD’s. This years Oregon squad will return with a healthy James, Kenyon Barner, and the best true freshman in the country, Snoop Dog’s God-son, the Black Mamba, DeAnthony Thomas. (better than Reggie Bush) That game will be a repeat of last years and Luck will come down to earth as the medial darling will not be able to score enough points. Remember Oregon only lost to LSU by 13, while turning the ball over 4 times breaking in new players in essentially a LSU home game in Dallas. Not taking anything away from Luck, but he can’t play 22 positions. If you listen to the media, you would think that he does.
No, it didn’t expose Stanford at all. USC is a good team.