STANFORD, Calif. - The Stanford defense faces another stiff challenge Saturday night in the Pac-12 home opener against Arizona.
Although the Wildcats stumbled a week ago against UCLA, they top the league in scoring (48.2), total offense (555.5) and rushing (329.0). Sophomore running back Nick Wilson leads the conference by averaging 142.5 yards/game and has produced three-consecutive 100-yard games.
“There can’t be many in the country better than what they’re doing right now,” said defensive line coach Randy Hart.
Conversely, the 18th-ranked Cardinal is second in the Pac-12 in total defense (331.0) and rushing defense (132.4).
“I’m definitely pleased with the effort,” Hart said. “Guys are working hard and they’re doing what we ask them to do and they’re getting more experience, which is what we needed from the get-go.”
Once again, Hart will need a group effort from his players, who have overcome injuries and performed well against USC and Oregon State. Senior Nate Lohn, who has contributed in a backup role, will not play Saturday.
“Just play the defense,” said Hart. “There are no tricks or secrets. You have to do what we do and somehow be able to slow them down.”
First-year starter sophomore Solomon Thomas lines up at nose tackle and end.
“We have all we need,” Thomas said of the defensive line. “If another guy goes down, the next guy is going to step up. We believe in each other. We believe the next guy is going to come in and do his job. That’s what Coach Hart preaches, that’s what Coach (Lance) Anderson preaches -- just do your job and we’ll be fine.”
Hart loves Thomas’ effort and work ethic.
“He’s conscientious at what he does and you get everything that’s in the tank,” said Hart.
Thomas is his own toughest critic. He spends extra time after every practice trying to improve his skills and technique.
“I’m very hard on myself because I want to be the best player I can be,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been doing some things alright, but I want to play better in all aspects of the game. Still warming up to college football, but I feel I can do a lot better.”
He’s also adjusting to a new position.
“I played one game of nose tackle in high school, but I’ve played a lot for Stanford the first four games,” said Thomas. “More than I expected, especially with Harrison (Phillips) out. It’s been new for me, but I’m getting the hang of it.”
A five-star recruit by Scout out of Coppell, Texas, Thomas recorded 167 tackles, 44 for loss, and 21 sacks as a junior and senior.
When he announced his commitment to Stanford University, he did so in an unusual way.
“I don’t wear hats,” he said. “I didn’t have a Stanford hat, so I couldn’t do it the original way, so I had to come up with a different way. We had this little tree on our kitchen counter and I was like, ‘That was the perfect way, I guess.’ It ended up working out.”
Senior inside linebacker Blake Martinez grew up in Tucson, Arizona, and will be making his final regular-season appearance against the Wildcats. He leads the Pac-12 in tackles with 50 -- 30 solo -- and averages 12.5 tackles/game.
“I wasn’t heavily recruited by the previous coach (Mike Stoops), but when Coach (Rich) Rodriguez got there he offered me a scholarship,” Martinez said this week. “I guess not being offered by the previous coach put a chip on my shoulder to show them that I was good enough, but doesn’t really give me any extra motivation when playing Arizona.”
Martinez attended a summer football camp at Stanford and made an immediate impression on David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football.
“I remember the part where Coach Shaw came up to me during the camp and told me not to kill or hurt anyone because I was showing some physicality out there,” he said. “I thought I did well but never got my hopes up because I was a low-rated player.”
Shortly after camp, Martinez received a scholarship offer.
A team captain and the undisputed leader of the defense, Martinez knows the unit will be tested against Arizona.
“I haven’t played against Nick Wilson, but as we have seen on film, he is a tremendous back and he has the ability to run through you or juke you on any play,” said Martinez. “Based on that, he is just as good, if not better, than any back we have faced this year.”
As has been the case the previous three weeks, Stanford held a light walk through practice Thursday to keep players fresh. Since making the change, the team is 3-0.
“I think it’s been noticeable,” Shaw said. “This is a physical sport and we practice the way I’ve always been around practices. It’s a big difference to go two days in a row being physical and three days in a row. So be physical and get after it, because we haven’t changed the first two practices at all. Wednesday is short yardage and goal line day, and we’re physical, and it’s hard. Now, to get a day off your legs on Thursday and then go fast on Friday … I think it’s helped a lot.”
Seven true freshmen have played for Stanford this season: Mustafa Branch, Jake Bailey, Ben Edwards, Justin Reed, Quenton Meeks, Trent Irwin and Bryce Love. Shaw said the rest of the class will likely redshirt “unless something catastrophic happens.”
Senior outside linebacker and defensive lineman Luke Kaumatule has yet to play this season, but could provide depth for the Cardinal next year with the loss of Aziz Shittu, Brennan Scarlett and Torsten Rotto.
“There have been a lot of internal discussions,” Shaw said. “It’s going to be week-to-week based on the health of our football team. It sounds great to redshirt Luke, but if we need him to win a football game, we’re going to throw him in there to win a football game.”
Extra Points
Arizona’s last win at Stanford was in 2006
Stanford owns the only 2-0 record in Pac-12 play
Kevin Hogan has 27 career wins, tied for the most by active quarterbacks with Connor Cook of Michigan State
In his last three games, Hogan has thrown for 788 yards, five touchdowns, one interception and completed 66 percent of his passes
Stanford ranks first in the conference in average time-of-possession at 34:26
Christian McCaffrey ranks first in the Pac-12 in all-purpose yards at 222.2 yards/game
McCaffrey revealed this week that Barry Sanders, the father of teammate Barry J. Sanders, was a childhood inspiration and he had posters of him on his bedroom wall
Quotable
"He’s always challenging us to be better." » Solomon Thomas on Blake Martinez