Four Takeaways From Stanford's Loss vs. Arizona

Stanford looked worlds better in the loss to Arizona compared to the weeks prior

Stanford may have been on the wrong end of the scoreboard for the third week straight, but to say they looked like a far better team than in weeks past would be an understatement.

They fell to Arizona by a score of 21-20, but realistically there were a lot more positives to takeaway when you compare this game and last weekend's Sacramento State game. I had four takeaways from the game, three of which had to do with the on-field product, so let's dive in!

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Stanford Stars Showing Support For Troy Taylor

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This may not be as big of a deal as people think, but to have former Stanford stars like Christian McCaffrey and Tyler Gaffney in attendance has to bode well for the confidence of Troy Taylor and Stanford fans. When recruits see a player like McCaffrey still supporting and involved with the program, it shows the buy-in surrounding the new era.

😤 @CMC_22
😤 @TyGaffney
😤 @fred_warner pic.twitter.com/iKhVDreSZl

— Stanford Cardinal 🌲🤓 (@GoStanford) September 23, 2023

Young Guys Stepped Up On Offense

John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

It is no secret that Stanford is home to one of the most inexperienced teams in the country, but even the few veterans at positions like receiver and running back that they have, haven't stepped up. Taylor turned to some younger guys like freshman receiver Tiger Bachmeier and running back Sedrick Irvin. Bachmeier is the first player not named Benjamin Yurosek to surpass 90 yards receiving in a game this year, and Irvin provided the toughness and spark that they needed at running back. It is also worth noting that Elic Ayomanor has been a revelation as well.

Bachmeier had a clutch catch that saw him go up and get it by the sideline, which helped set up the Irvin touchdown. 

The Freshman!! Tiger Bachmeier is putting on a clinic pic.twitter.com/W9UvpSeIwc

— Inside The Stanford Cardinal (@InsideStanford) September 24, 2023

Irvin showcased his ability to bounce off defenders, while also outrun people which the other backs haven't been able to do this season. He also had a nice 45-yard run early in the game. 

Here's the first career TD Run for Sedrick Irvin!!! pic.twitter.com/wGDOI1guLo

— Inside The Stanford Cardinal (@InsideStanford) September 24, 2023

The Defense Looked Much Improved

John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

The defense was consistently putting pressure on Jaden de Laura and forcing him to make errant throws throughout the game, and outside of a few plays they looked like a completely different unit. There were a couple of passes that could have been picked off and a few sacks avoided by de Laura who has an innate ability to to just flick the ball out of bounds before being brought down. They still managed two sacks, but left some out there. The thing that hurt this defense the most outside of only having two timeouts on the Wildcats' last possession, was when Noah Fifita came into the game at quarterback. He's a much quicker runner than de Laura, and also a better decision-maker. He looked like the more polished quarterback and again showcased how a true dual-threat quarterback changes things for this defense. There were also scoring chances that weren't capitalized on by the offense.  

Two-Quarterback System Is Here To Stay

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I don't think this will always be the case in the future, and maybe it shouldn't even be the case now, but if anyone knows how to use a two-quarterback system it's Troy Taylor. Ashton Daniels has shown that he can make throws down the field, and is solid when the offensive line is holding up. However, the line doesn't often hold up and he doesn't seem to have a good sense of or a desire to tuck it and run despite Taylor saying he is the faster of the two. Justin Lamson on the other hand came in and hit on the few passes he was given, but where he stands out is his running ability. He constantly was moving the ball down the field, and just added an element that Daniels doesn't have. It will be interesting to see how Taylor balances it, as there were moments where Lamson would have the hot hand and get pulled, but in a couple of those instances, the drive ended in points following a Daniels play. It will be interesting to see if Taylor eventually rolls with one, or uses them both consistently.