Analyzing the Stanford Cardinal
by ucla13_usc9 on Sep 28, 2009 4:32 AM PDT
34 comments
Bumped. Solid analysis to set up a huge game week on BN. GO BRUINS. -N
After watching a few games, I have found a few different trends and weaknesses... and strengths in the Stanford offense and defense. I'll try to really dissect the pictures that I have collected. So here we go!
The first thing that really jumped out at me while I was watching the Stanford defense is their alignment, which is really awkward, especially since they don't have the right speed to match up with everyone so here's the picture.
Notice the close LB, he should, at least, be splitting the difference between the slot receiver, and the right Tackle. Because of that space, there is an immediate void between him and the not only the slot receiver, but the running back. Here's how the play developed:
The Slot receiver runs a slant against the zone,forcing everyone to move back. This covers the entire deep portion of the field, but this new cushion allows Montgomery, the upper left guy running towards the camera, to have at least 10 yards to make a move and adjust to the coverage. Here's the easy read.
Open space, and an easy first down. If UCLA want's to move the ball without taking risks, the flats, especially against the Cover-3 principle shown above, are the best place to go against the inexperienced Stanford LB's, who don't have quite enough speed to really get over to the flats in time.
Cover 3, in contrast to Cover 2, uses three men, often a corner, and 2 safeties to cover the three zones in the deepest part of the field. Cover 3 is great against the long ball, not the flat passing places. Here's Monte Kiffin's cover 2 breaking down from a blitz.
That same open space, which was evenly distributed here by a better defense, still ended up hurting the Vols. Everyone remembers what happened here. The LB's blitzed, passing up Chane Moline, leaving him 1 on 1 with a corner, similar to Stanford play. To attack these two principals, you are going to need to run off the corner with a streak, force the LB's to keep the play in front of them with the crossing WR, and then quickly reach the flats, with a RB, TE, or FB, which already got us 6 against a superior defense.
Following up on the point about the LB's being the weakness for the Cardinal, I found another play the really showed it. The guys in the blue circle are two backers, strangely close together. Their zone is right behind the ref in the yellow circle. They can either cover it, or cover the 3-5 yard zone... leaving a massive hole in the middle of the field.
Hmm... Wrong choice. Against WSU too... hmm... these two backers seem pretty inadequate, they still have the same spacing and everything. Big weakness. Hopefully we can exploit it with our bigger WR's like Embree, Rosario, and Presley.
Let's move to offense now.
This is their standard 2 TE set. WSU aligns conservatively. Let's look closer.
Their blocking involves something called chip-blocking, or 2 level blocking; first, their will usually be a double team on the D-Tackles, then the strong, or play side blocker would chip off to block the second level, and let the running back show his stuff against the 3rd level. It works, more often then not. Here is how WSU stopped it though.
The LB's crashed the offensive line when they saw the separation, then the backside line didn't give up on the play and eventually got to Gerhart while he was still looking for the hole. This was the result.
Nice stop. For once say the Cougs. Well they just mastered the art of stopping a pretty good blocking scheme... for one play at least.
Here's another look at zone blocking.
Notice the double-team In the middle, they're blocking the second closest lineman.
The tackle moved over to block the backer correctly, leaving a massive hole for Gerhart, TD Stanford.
In conclusion, this is how you can beat Stanford:
- Beat Stanford to the flats to get the intermediate passing game in swing
- Attack the Inside Line backers especially through passing to start picking up yards in bigger chunks.
- Beat Stanford off the ball, crash the line of scrimmage, and never give up on plays on the backside.
I'm really pumped for this game because of how important it is for the Bruins. Another thing that UCLA has going for them is the revenge factor. Revenge is the most overrated motivator in the world, just ask Penn State or Ohio State.
I hope you enjoyed it!
ucla13_usc9
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.
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Really Great Post.
Shows a lot of effort and analysis. I’ll be better watching the game having read it.
sjh
by Class of 66 on Sep 27, 2009 5:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks
I’m working on a BN axis to really get into analysis, but I just need more angles to get it done
by ucla13_usc9 on Sep 27, 2009 5:59 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Ya
Hopefully you know what that means, like ESPN axis, I figured out how to do that just need to start video capturing the FSN telecasts.
by ucla13_usc9 on Sep 27, 2009 6:54 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Me too
I’ve been trying to better learn this game called football and for a guy like me this is great!
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
by bruin8uclap on Sep 27, 2009 11:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
www.smartfootball.com
Read the entire archives. ywia
by 4.0 Point Stance on Sep 28, 2009 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Love this sort of stuff
Keep it coming, I’ll read it.
Troy will fall...AGAIN!
by Bruins102NCAA on Sep 27, 2009 8:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Ya
After looking around other blogs, I thought it was weird that we didn’t do that, so I volunteered myself to do that. I’ll try to transition into video at one point like I mentioned above
by ucla13_usc9 on Sep 27, 2009 9:04 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
Our motto here is we write what we have fun writing about. If you are into this … you should totally feel free to go nuts. This way you have fun and everyone else becomes even more informed as a UCLA sports fan. So thanks again and keep it coming.
by Nestor on Sep 28, 2009 4:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dang
Thanks for all the recs everyone!
by ucla13_usc9 on Sep 27, 2009 10:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Wow
Great stuff. You did all the work I would usually do for me. Thanks!
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Sep 28, 2009 12:35 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
You guys should get together
and do a weekly podcast like the SEC boys do! You guys talk X’s and O’s, invite a guest from the other side, throw a video game guy in there and you’ve got a podcast!
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
by bruin8uclap on Sep 28, 2009 6:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ya
I’d be more than happy to help set that up! I really enjoyed listening to the RTT Podcast before the Tennessee game
by ucla13_usc9 on Sep 28, 2009 7:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A podcast would be cool
I was a guest on the one the RTT guys did before our game with Tennessee and it was fun. I’ll look into it.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Sep 28, 2009 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Podcast
I looked in to the site that they used and I would definately Be interested in helping out.
by ucla13_usc9 on Sep 28, 2009 1:32 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah Rye you did a great job!
That is why I thought if you guys combined your football knowledge we could have a pretty cool weekly podcast to listen to every week.
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
by bruin8uclap on Sep 28, 2009 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Post
I just put up a post about how it could throw down, leave me a comment
by ucla13_usc9 on Sep 28, 2009 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kudos
The Axis would truly be awesome but this is great too.
by BlueReign on Sep 28, 2009 8:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
WOW
Great Analysis – is someone sending this to the UCLA coaches?
I’m not joking.
GO BRUINS!! See you on the Farm!!
by bruin4life1993 on Sep 28, 2009 8:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Hmm... I 'd accuse you of cherry picking plays
But that’s kind of the point. :)
Two things I’d add to your first picture. First, Stanford CBs (especially #9 Sherman) tend to play well off the ball, moreso than I’d like. Second, Stanford doesn’t spend a lot of time in nickel formations. You bring in a third wide receiver, we’ll probably keep in 4-3 and rely on the weakside backer to play the short pass.
As to your second set of photos, I think that’s just a play where Wazzu got good push on the line. But it’s worth noting that they had TEN MEN IN THE BOX and we ran the ball anyway. True, it was a goal line situation. But the willingness to run against that kind of a front in any situation says something about the way Stanford plays.
by 4.0 Point Stance on Sep 28, 2009 9:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
4.0
You are dropping a lot of great nuggets in here (and I am assuming you are a Staford fan). It would be great if you want to cobble all of your notes (in various comments) into one place and put it up as a fanshot. Always, love hearing and reading about respectful posts and comments with x and o perspective from fans following the other team.
by Nestor on Sep 28, 2009 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bleh
Feel free to quote me if you want but I’m not going to make a fan post. I tried starting a Stanford football blog last year but no one read it. Like, at all. I kind of miss it, and you guys have unwittingly provided me with a forum.
by 4.0 Point Stance on Sep 28, 2009 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also, I don't have the tech savvy to take still pics and do the telestrator thing
Which is pretty necessary for these discussions.
by 4.0 Point Stance on Sep 28, 2009 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Forget about the fancy telestrator
Just put up your thoughts.
As for Stanford blog, it’s big mystery why there isn’t one? Do you have recommendations besides reading Bootleg?
by Nestor on Sep 28, 2009 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The "mystery" is that I was averaging about 5 hits per post. :)
As far as I know the Bootleg is all there is.
by 4.0 Point Stance on Sep 28, 2009 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ok
I actualy looked through all of the highlights, so I had to find trends. Those were the most evident to me at least
by ucla13_usc9 on Sep 28, 2009 10:02 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
It's hard to really get a feel for a team unless you watch them week in and week out.
But you did a pretty good job, especially made some good points on the Cardinal defense.
It boggles my mind that coaches only have 3-4 days to watch all that film and pick out the tendencies.
by 4.0 Point Stance on Sep 28, 2009 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
They are mostly guessing until gametime
by ucla13_usc9 on Sep 28, 2009 10:56 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Rock SOLID work 13-9.
Thanks for taking the time and making the effort.
M
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
by Meriones on Sep 28, 2009 11:44 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
np
you ask and you shall receive ;)
by ucla13_usc9 on Sep 28, 2009 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
Truly impressive. Great work!
It especially makes a lot of sense when you remember how we were able to utilize short passes to beat them last year on the last drive. Stanford’s strength isn’t really schematic, it’s more about execution and discipline. It’s going to be a very, very tough game, and I think we are definitely the underdogs.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
by tasser10 on Sep 29, 2009 2:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
FANtastic
Loved reading your breakdown!!
I don’t think Stanford will utilize much cover 3 with Carft at the helm though.
I really look for them to crowd the box and even press our receivers.
I am hoping we can hit something deep early to keep them honest.
I know this isn’t Craft strong suit, I think we need to throw deep regardless.
by Rico Bruin on Sep 30, 2009 9:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure
WSU doesn’t have much of a deep threat qb either
There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.
by ucla13_usc9 on Sep 30, 2009 10:30 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
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