Notebook: Arizona StateNotebook: Arizona State
Grant Shorin/Stanford Athletics
Football

Notebook: Arizona State

STANFORD, Calif. – Rest and recovery were the top priorities for the Stanford football team during its bye week.

With practice time reduced, David Shaw and his staff watched video of the first six games to get a better sense of what worked and what needs improving in the final six regular season games, starting Thursday at 6 p.m. at Arizona State.

Shaw promised tweaking in all three phases – offense, defense and special teams – and knows his squad (4-2, 2-1 Pac-12) has yet to play a complete game.

"The overall theme, which is probably the most bothersome to me, not only have we not reached our potential, I don't think we've approached it," the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football said Monday.

Shaw and his staff stressed technique and fundamentals once practices resumed and are optimistic players will respond. Both losses have come against quality teams – No. 4 Notre Dame and Utah. In each case, th Cardinal dug a hole, battled back, but couldn't overcome costly mistakes.

"We've had glimpses," Shaw said.  "There's so much more within us than we're showing on game day. Game day is not about potential, it's about execution."

In many ways, Thursday's game is a chance for Stanford's true character to emerge.

"This would be a good time for that," he said. "You'd love at the end of the year to point to this bye week as somewhat of a turning point for us."

Shaw is hopeful senior running back Bryce Love will be available after missing the Utah game with an injury. If he can't play, the offensive line must create running room for Cameron Scarlett, Trevor Speights and Dorian Maddox, so they can keep the Sun Devil defense honest and allow junior quarterback K.J. Costello time to find a talented group of wide receivers and tight ends.

"For the most part, there won't be a drastic change in our philosophy," said Shaw. "What's more important is for us to play a good game from start to finish."

Help on the way: Senior Casey Toohill and junior Devery Hamilton are expected back. Toohill started the first three games at outside linebacker and was playing at a high level before sustaining an injury against UC Davis. Hamilton started the first three games at left guard and can also play tackle.



Unstoppable: Last year against the Sun Devils, Love delivered the finest single-game rushing performance in Stanford history. He ran for 301 yards and scored three touchdowns in the 34-24 home win. Love surpassed 1,000 yards in five games, becoming only the third FBS player since 2004 to accomplish the feat.

Second-half push: The Cardinal is 10-4 under coming off a bye week and 18-5 after a loss under Shaw. Stanford has never sustained three consecutive games since he became head coach in 2011.

Four of the remaining six contests are on the road, culminated by outings at Cal and UCLA. Only two teams – No. 25 Washington State (5-1) and No. 15 Washington (5-2) have winning records. The six opponents have a combined mark of 18-19 (9-11 Pac-12).

Breakthrough imminent: Tough competition, stacked fronts and injuries have contributed to Stanford's sluggish ground game. Fifth-year senior offensive tackle A.T. Hall believes the line is poised for a break out game.

"We are so close, it's incredible," he said.

While several starters have missed playing time, Hall refused to cite it as an excuse.

"You're always playing hurt on the offensive line," he said. "We know what it takes to win. We have everything it takes to run the table these next six games. Everything is in front of us."

The Cardinal controls its destiny in the Pac-12 North. The current standings: Washington 3-1, Stanford 2-1, Washington State 2-1 and Oregon 2-1.
 


Triple threat: Arizona State offense boasts three explosive playmakers in quarterback Manny Wilkins, running back Eno Benjamin and wide receiver N'Keal Harry. Benjamin ranks seventh nationally in rushing with 715 yards and averages 119.2 per game, ninth-best in country. He has tallied seven rushing touchdowns.

"The hard part is accounting for a very good running back and a very good receiver, and quarterback that is not going to be surprised by anything that we do," said Shaw. "He has seen a lot of football, he is composed, he's comfortable, he's confident, he's a good athlete and he's got a strong arm. They're big and strong up front, they've got a running back who can break tackles and make big plays.

"Combine that with a receiver when he's covered -- he's still open – he's just that big, strong and athletic -- it's really the combination that we have to be most concerned about. We have to be better slowing down the running game."

Familiar face: Former Stanford offensive lineman Casey Tucker now plays for the Sun Devils as a graduate transfer. The Arizona native has started three games at left tackle and two at left guard for ASU.

At Stanford, Tucker earned a starting tackle job as a sophomore in 2015 and played eight games as a junior before being sidelined by injury. He redshirted last season.

Home slate: The Cardinal's home games are against Washington State on October 27 (Reunion Homecoming) and Oregon State on November 10 (Fan Appreciation Game). On Monday, it was announced the contest against the Cougars has been selected for a 4 p.m. kickoff and will be shown on Pac-12 Network.

The first 10,000 fans who enter the stadium with valid tickets for the Oregon State game will receive Christian McCaffrey bobbleheads (one person). Prizes will be given away during the game to thank Stanford supporters for their loyalty. There will also be a tribute to the military, veterans, and members of the fire and police departments.



Ascending: Senior JJ Arecga-Whiteside ranks second in the nation with eight receiving touchdowns and is No. 15 with 541 yards. He averages 90.2 per outing, No. 25 in the country.

Sophomore cornerback Paulson Adebo ranks second nationally with 12 pass breakups.

Junior quarterback K.J. Costello ranks No. 20 in the country with 12 scoring passes.
 


Fun fact: Fifth-year senior outside linebacker Bobby Okereke is well-rounded. He's an Eagle Scout and performed in Carnegie Hall with his high school choir (Foothill, Santa Ana, California).

Okereke leads Stanford in tackles with 43 and has recorded five or more stops in 16 of his last 18 games.

He has already earned a degree in management, science and engineering, and is working on his master's degree in media studies.
 


 Extra points: Stanford has won 19 of its last 22 games when scoring first … Junior Kaden Smith's 120 receiving yards against Utah were the most by a Cardinal tight end since Zach Ertz in 2012, when he collected 134 against Cal … Thursday's forecast in Tempe calls for sunny skies and a game-time temperature of 75 degrees.

Quotable: "We haven't really put together that great team effort. That's what we're looking for." Bobby Okereke