Four burning questions about Stanford following Week 2 loss to USC

Stanford did not have the strongest showing in their Week 2 loss to USC

Stanford got their first punch in the mouth on Saturday in a loss to No. 6 USC that was quite frankly out-of-hand by the end of the first quarter.

They ended up losing 56-10, which marks the most points that the Trojans had scored against Stanford since the matchup began in 1905. Anything that could go wrong for Stanford did, as Caleb Williams was abusing the defense as he does every defense, while the Stanford offense had issues with moving the ball forward. 

Before going down with an injury, Ashton Daniels looked rattled, completing just 2-of-7 passes, and threw an interception after just chucking it up to a receiver that wasn't looking. 

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Now to be fair, when looking at anything Stanford does this season it must be taken with a grain of salt. They lost around 20 players to the transfer portal, most of whom would have been starters. They also lost a handful of key players to the NFL, and the previous regime wasn't keen on rotating as often, so the guys that are playing now are all very green. 

This season was always meant to be a rebuilding year, and while Troy Taylor and his staff would love to see improvements and win games, they also know it is all about development. Keeping these things in mind, I still have questions about a few things I have noticed in the first couple of weeks. So, here are my four burning questions about Stanford.

---

Which wide receiver will step up?

When watching Stanford in their first two games it has been abundantly clear that outside of tight end Benjamin Yurosek, there has yet to be a receiver who establishes himself as the go-to target. Last season it was Michael Wilson who prior to injury was seemingly always open, and frequently making big plays. This season, in which it was expected for Yurosek to shine as he has 13 catches for nearly 200 yards, there doesn't appear to be an alpha at receiver. There were murmurs that Media Reuben would be that guy, John Humphreys who was the most experienced coming into the year could be too, or even freshman Tiger Bachmeier who was raved about all offseason. Those three combined have 10 catches for 95 yards, which quite frankly Stanford will need more than that. Obviously, it depends on the success of the quarterback but I think it also requires someone in this room to take it upon themselves to take that next step. According to PFF, Humphreys has the highest rating of 71.5 with three other receivers being at 61 or worse. A quarterback's best friend is a reliable pass catcher, and Stanford only has one right now.

---

What can the defenses do to combat high-powered offenses?

USC has the best quarterback and play caller in the country on their side, but they aren't the only prolific offense that Stanford will face. Stanford is set to play five more offenses that rank within the top 25 in total offense, so something needs to change. USC seemed to overwhelm them with pace and the fact that Caleb Williams is so mobile. This defense needs to work on containing quarterbacks in the pocket better, while also forcing some turnovers. They have yet to force in one in either game, and while it's easier said than done surely that is something that Bobby April III and company will figure out to create more of. 

---

Who is the lead running back?

Stanford fans witnessed David Shaw rarely ever rotate players on offense, but now Troy Taylor appears to be the antithesis of that. Despite having E.J. Smith who has the playmaking capabilities to be one of the best running backs in the country there doesn't seem to be a clear-cut No. 1 running back. Casey Filkins leads the team in rushing yards and attempts, while Smith has as many carries as Princeton transfer Ryan Butler. Smith has not looked like himself yet this season which could be why, but when you look at Taylor's last season at Sacramento State he was handing the ball off to Cameron Skattebo at least 15 teams a game, whereas Filkins who has the most carries of any of the running backs has 11 total. It could be a case of trying to mix things up and ease guys who were injured back in, but more production from a lead back with compliments from others could be huge for this offense. 

---

Is the quarterback battle up for grabs again?

I fully understand that Daniels was injured in the game, but before going down he was a shell of his Week 1 self. There was no confidence, anticipation, or accuracy on his throws. When Justin Lamson came into the game, there was a true dual threat there and he was having more success pushing the ball downfield. The battle between these two was close during the offseason, so it will be interesting to see if Taylor gives Daniels another shot or if he will turn to Lamson who fared better. Lamson finished the game 8-of-18 for 121 yards while rushing 16 times for 36 yards and a score.