Know the Enemy 2022: Stanford Cardinal

The 125th Edition of the Big Game

We asked our friends over at Gate13 Podcast to answer some questions about the Cardinal for us. Eric and Isaac graciously answered the call to be our interviewees!

Photo by Sheng L on Unsplash

Simply put, why has the offense not been able to put it together this year? One would think that the combination of McKee to Humphreys, Tremayne, and Yurosek would be really good and it seems it has been inconsistent at best.

One would think. Simply put: the coaches suck.

In more detail: 

• We have no running backs. Our top two running backs (Austin Jones, Nathaniel Peat) transferred to try to have fun playing football. Everyone else got injured. Our current starting running back (Mitch Leigber) is a redshirt freshman who was playing safety two weeks ago.

• We give up a ton of sacks, and our run blocking isn’t exactly what it used to be.

• McKee has struggled under all the pressure. He makes some incredible throws but has so little time and so little to work with.

• The offensive scheme has no margin for error. Receivers are never open, and it seems to be by design.

• The Shaw offense needs transcendent players (Luck, McCaffrey, Love) not to suck, and always has. We don’t have that anymore.

What is your assessment of the Wake Forest like wrinkles that Stanford is employing this season on offense? Has it given any sort of new creative direction or is it simply a bandaid on a wound?

“Wound” is a generous way of describing the Stanford offense.

It hasn’t really worked. Nothing has worked. A gimmick won’t save us. The offense is too fundamentally broken for it to have made any difference.

Which player on offense should Cal fans know about?

Well, the offense is pretty terrible, so not sure there’s someone you really need to know about. But we’ll use this chance to highlight our center, senior Drake Nugent, who has been our best and most consistent offensive player for the last two years.

Which player on defense should Cal fans know about?

True freshman edge rusher David Bailey. He is a highly rated recruit who has shown improvement throughout the season. He’s a big part of why we’ve been getting some decent pass rush pressure even in these terrible games.

Who’s one under-the-radar or X-factor player who could swing this game for you?

Kicker Josh Karty. Is he under the radar? He’s a Lou Groza Award semifinalist. He is the best kicker you will see this year. He hasn’t missed a kick all season. We’ve been hoping to see him make a 60-yarder at some point, because he easily could. Stanford beat Arizona State due to defense, luck, and Josh Karty crushing field goals. 

What does Stanford need to do to win the game?

It depends, who are they playing again?

(*Editor’s note: Sent them the question as What does Oregon need to do to win the game. Kept the answer because I thought it was hilarious.)

Assuming you meant Stanford:

The Stanford offense will not show up. We know that already. We will not score more than 17 points. Don’t turn the ball over, get into field goal range, and #letkartykick.

We have won games this season when the defense plays its best and when we catch the opposing offense on a bad day. Pressure the quarterback and limit the bleeding on run defense. Hope that Cal tries to throw a whole lot. Force Cal to kick field goals, they don’t seem to be very good at it.

What does Cal need to do to win the game?

On offense: Run the ball relentlessly, even if you think you’re bad at it. Go for it on every fourth down. Score 20 points.

On defense: Show up. Pressure McKee. Play vanilla, get us into third and long. Be better than Colgate.

How do you see the game going?

Complete offensive ineptitude all over the place. Punters featured heavily. Definitely under the 46.5 O/U. Josh Karty outscores both teams on his own, kicks the game winner, and carries the Axe out of the stadium himself.

Whom do you most want to punch in the face?

Anyone in the Stanford Athletic Department who thinks that this is fine.