Stanford, CA (Sports Network) - In one of only two home games that it has the
rest of the season, the 19th-ranked Stanford Cardinal will host the reeling
Washington State Cougars in a Pac-12 conference matchup at Stanford Stadium on
Saturday.
Things have not gone the Cougars' way in their first season under head coach
Mike Leach. Despite Leach's presence the squad has gone just 2-5 and is
currently riding a four-game losing streak that dates back to mid-September.
The only wins this season have come against FCS foe Eastern Washington and a
1-7 UNLV squad. Most recently Washington State dropped a 31-17 decision to
California before a bye last weekend.
"I thought we played really hard but I think we missed some opportunities in
key situations," Leach said in a press conference last Monday. "We're a team
that either tightens up or tries to make too much happen, gets frantic and
tries to get all of it in one play."
Stanford enters this game coming off a 21-3 win over rival California in the
115th installment of the 'Big Game'. The win soothed some of the pain of a
crushing 20-13 overtime loss to Notre Dame in South Bend two weeks ago when
Stepfan Taylor was stopped on a controversial fourth and goal play at the end
of overtime. Stanford is now 5-2 overall this season and 3-1 in conference
play.
This series dates back to 1936 with this game being the 63rd installment. In
that time Stanford has amassed a 36-25-1 record against Washington State
including victories in each of the last four meetings. Last season Stanford
posted a 44-14 win in Pullman behind a strong defensive effort that allowed
only 257 yards of total offense to the Cougars.
Lauded during his career for his offensive prowess, Leach has yet to find the
same type of success early in his tenure at Washington State. The Cougars are
ranked just ninth in the Pac-12 in total offense (362.9 ypg) and scoring
offense (21.1 ppg). Still Leach has remained true to his philosophy relying
almost exclusively on the pass. The Cougars throw for 322.3 yards per game,
which is second in the Pac-12, while rushing for only 40.6 yards which is
second to last in the nation.
For a team that is so reliant on the pass, Washington State has not really had
consistency at quarterback. Jeff Tuel began the season as the starter but
Connor Halliday took over after Tuel struggled. In the loss to California,
Halliday threw two early interceptions and was pulled in favor of Tuel who
threw for 320 yards and two touchdowns on 29-of-53 passing. Tuel's number have
been superior this season as he has completed 65.5 percent of his passes for
five touchdowns and three interceptions. Halliday has completed only 52.9
percent of his throws, with nine touchdowns to 11 interceptions.
No matter who has been throwing to him, Marquess Wilson has continued to have
success. Wilson eclipsed the 3,000-yard mark for his career with an 87-yard
effort against California and has caught a pass in all 31 games of his career.
He is only the 16th player in Pac-12 history to reach 3,000 career receiving
yards. Wilson has a team-high in receptions (38), yards (640) and touchdowns
(5) this season.
Isiah Myers (37 receptions, 380 yards, 4 TDs), Brett Bartolone (33 receptions,
267 yards, 3 TDs) and Gabe Marks (28 receptions, 404 yards, 2 TDs) have also
been important targets in the passing game.
As would be expected of a team with only a 2-5 record, Washington State has
not had a great deal of success on defense either. The Cougars are 10th in the
Pac-12 in both scoring (30.4 ppg) and total defense (461.7 ypg). The unit has
really struggled to end drives effectively with teams converting at a Pac-12
high rate of 48.7 percent on third down.
"Our overall physicality on both sides of the ball. Especially on defense.
(Stanford) like's to pound the ball," defensive end Travis Long said in
explaining how the team needed to improve. "We're going to have to out-
physical them if we're going to have any success to force them into throwing
situations."
Deone Bucannon has played very well in the secondary despite the team's
defensive shortcomings, amassing a team-high 60 tackles and four
interceptions. Travis Long has also been a bright spot for the unit with 10
tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.
The Cardinal like to get their ground game going. This season Stanford has had
261 running plays to 215 pass plays. A key to the play-calling has been the
confidence that head coach David Shaw has in his workhorse running back
Stepfan Taylor. The senior has rushed for 846 yards and six touchdowns on 175
carries this season. Taylor's rushing yards ranks third in the Pac-12. No
other back on the team has more than 100 yards or 21 carries.
For all of Taylor's efforts the Cardinal are still a mediocre offensive team
at best in comparison to the rest of the conference. Stanford is ranked eighth
in total yards (381.7 ypg) and sixth in scoring (27.4 ppg) in the Pac-12.
Those struggles come from the drop off the team has seen in the passing game
with Josh Nunes taking over for now Indianapolis Colt Andrew Luck. Nunes has
shown flashes of ability this season but has completed only 53 percent of his
pass attempts for 1.484 yards and nine touchdowns to go with seven
interceptions.
Nunes has relied heavily on check down passes to backs and tight ends with
Zach Ertz leading the team with 31 receptions and 505 yards, while Taylor is
second with 21 receptions. Ertz's 505 yards is almost twice as much as the
next most productive receiver Levine Toilolo (288 yards).
Stanford has excelled on defense. The Cardinal are giving up 347.7 yards per
game (fourth in the Pac-12) but have been especially stingy against he run
with teams picking up only 77 yards per game on the ground. That is the best
mark in the Pac-12 this season and the fourth best in the nation overall.
Chase Thomas cemented himself as the key to Stanford's defensive success in
the win over California. Thomas had three tackles for loss, including a sack
and a forced fumble.
"We preach stopping the run every week," Thomas, who was named Pac-12
Defensive Player of the Week, said. "It doesn't matter who we're playing.
First things first, stop the run and make them one dimensional and then get
after them in the pass rush."
That pass rush has been strong for the Cardinal with the team ranked fourth in
sacks (22) and second in tackles for loss (61) in the Pac-12.
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