- Stanford's history is filled with quarterbacks who waited a long time for their opportunity and took advantage.
That list includes Don Bunce, who was in the same class as Jim Plunkett and redshirted as a senior to have one chance to make his mark. Bunce led Stanford to a 1971 Pac-8 title and Rose Bowl victory. Steve Dils, Turk Schonert, and Mark Butterfield are other examples.
The emergence of senior Ryan Burns as Stanford's starting quarterback was not necessarily foreseen. He played in a spread offense in high school and never lined up under center, but came to a program that plays with a pro-style offense and had to relearn how to play the position.
David Shaw, Stanford's Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football, and Stanford's players took notice during training camp when all the work began to pay off for Burns.
"There's a moment where you can tell, and it's not a single moment in a day," said running back Christian McCaffrey. "It could be two or three days of repetition and repetition. It's consecutive very good days in a row, and I think that's what Burns did.
"You could see his confidence build, and his poise build. As an offense, that's very good for us, when you see a quarterback start to get into a rhythm and really start to feel the flow of the game. That definitely builds a positive vibe for our offense."
Shaw said that because those of college age mature at such different rates, there is no telling when that emergence will happen, if it happens at all.
"Ryan took a chance with us coming to an offense that was polar opposite of what he did in high school, and you can't just take four years of high school and throw it out and all of sudden become a West Coast, drop-back quarterback," Shaw said. "I don't mind if guys take a little while. I think they gain some maturity. Particularly, with all that we put on our quarterbacks. If he can't handle that, no matter how talented he is, he puts the other 10 guys at risk."
Burns also had to go through seasons in which he knew he had no chance of starting. Kevin Hogan was a four-year starter who led Stanford to three Rose Bowls. Yet Burns refused to be satisfied in a backup role.
"Some freshmen come in -- like Andrus Peat, and Ty Montgomery, or Christian McCaffrey -- and you have to put them on the field right now," Shaw said. "Other times, it takes a little while to truly grasp and be ready for college football -- Ryan Burns, and Jordan Watkins. As a coach, you have to remind yourself that they're not all going to be ready right when you want them to be. Some you have to push, some you have to allow to happen." - Just like a cleanup hitter needs a good batter in front of him to get better pitches to hit, so goes it for McCaffrey and Bryce Love.
Sophomore running back Love is on track to play Saturday, as long as he passes his final physical tests.
"We're fully anticipating he will," Shaw felt.
A speedster and breakaway threat, Love missed the opener against Kansas State with an injury and his absence was felt by the Stanford offense. The defense had an easier time bottling up McCaffrey because the offense lacked an additional threat.
"It definitely opens up a lot of windows," McCaffrey said. "It makes my job easier, but especially having another running back with the skill set that Bryce does."
McCaffrey broke away for touchdown runs of 41 and 35 yards in the 26-13 victory over Kansas State, but it was clear the Wildcats were able to focus on stopping the reigning AP Player of the Year. Love may see limited action if he does play, but his presence should make a difference in loosening up the USC defense.
"It's just another piece to the puzzle that the defense is going to have to worry about," said safety Dallas Lloyd. "I'm excited for him. He's worked really hard. He's going to have a great year."
"At some point, he'll be a feature back here," Shaw said. "If he walks into a room, he's not the biggest guy, but you watch him play, he's a true running back. He can run between the tackles. He's physical, he's tough, and he can run the ball outside and he can catch the ball. He's got great versatility." - After its blowout victory over Utah State last week, USC coach Clay Helton paid Stanford the ultimate compliment: "They are what we try to be."
"Our programs have a lot of mutual respect," Shaw said. "I take that as a compliment. But I also know that it's not completely literal. He individually has his own background. Along with (offensive coordinator) Tee Martin, their desires for what they see for their team is very unique to USC, and unique to their traditions as well.
"This has been a physical matchup. This has been an emotional matchup. These have been very tight close games. I take those sentiments with respect that goes both ways."
- McCaffrey will not be the only playmaker on the field. USC's Adoree Jackson is another. A phenomenal athlete -- he is a two-time long jump champion and 100-meter runner-up at the Pac-12 Conference Track and Field Championships -- Jackson is a cornerback, receiver, and returner.
"His speed stands out, but he's a pretty savvy corner, too," McCaffrey said. "He knows football very well. He does a pretty good job in the run game. But he's a complete corner. Also, just a complete football player. He's electric."
- When Stanford's defense faces exceptional receivers like Jackson or receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, they take a unique approach.
"We have this philosophy, where we call it 'Nameless, Faceless,' " Lloyd said. "Whenever we break down the other team on Monday, our coaches put up a slide, 'Quarterback No. 4, Wide Receiver No. 9.' We don't look at their face, we don't focus on their name.
"It's a mentality that we have. It's a game. We have a game plan, they have a game plan. So, we're going to go out and execute. We're not really worried what their name is or where they're from. We tend to focus more on ourselves and what we can do. That being said, we have great respect for all of them."
- Stanford assistant Duane Akina is regarded as perhaps the best secondary coach in the country. Lloyd, who switched from quarterback to defense two years ago when Akina arrived, has learned much from Akina.
"One of the reasons he's such a great coach -- obviously, he's really smart, he knows the X's and O's, he's really good at teaching -- is something that goes beyond football: He really loves us. He really cares about us. And that really brings out the best in all of us."
- Lloyd is the holder for kicker Conrad Ukropina, who booted a 50-yarder against Kansas State and made a 45-yard kick as time expired to beat Notre Dame last year.
He has great range, but how great?
"We were on vacation together in Hawaii this summer and I saw him make a 60-yarder," Lloyd said. "We have so much confidence in Conrad. When Conrad's in, I say, let's kick it, no matter where we are."
