STANFORD – Saturday could have been the begin to the Elijah Brown period at Stanford. However breakdowns within the secondary and all through the offense confirmed that the Cardinal will want greater than a change at quarterback if it hopes to make the most of a softer closing schedule.
Stanford’s depleted secondary gave up 205 yards passing and three lengthy touchdowns – together with an 87-yard cross on the primary play from scrimmage – within the first quarter of the 40-10 loss to No. 21 SMU.
After Stanford (2-5, 1-3 ACC) gained a complete of 25 yards within the first three collection underneath second-year starter Ashton Daniels, head coach Troy Taylor – who can also be the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach – turned to Brown, whose solely earlier collegiate expertise was in mop-up responsibility towards Cal Poly.
Brown threw an 18-yard landing cross to Elic Ayomanor however was in any other case ineffective towards the Mustangs, finishing 16 of 32 passes for 153 yards and two interceptions and being sacked six instances, together with as soon as for a security.
However apart from the rating by the 6-foot-2 Ayomanor, who outjumped 5-10 Cole Sanders Jr. to make the catch, Brown didn’t have a lot assist. One of many interceptions got here off the arms of receiver Emmett Mosley V, who additionally dropped an extended fourth-down cross.
“(Brown was) very powerful,” Taylor stated. “He hung in there and he took some hits. He continued to undergo his development. For probably the most half he made good selections. He had a pair drops, I believed had been actually good throws. Simply his psychological toughness, consistency and hanging in there. It’s not simple to do as a real freshman to come back in underneath that situation. I used to be pleased with how he hung in there. Clearly he can play higher. He’ll. However I used to be pleased with how he competed.”
SMU (6-1, 3-0 ACC) entered the sport with an FBS-best 15 takeaways. The Cardinal operating backs contributed 34 yards on 19 carries, which didn’t assist alleviate the strain on Brown.
“We’ve to run the soccer to assist out our quarterbacks,” Taylor stated. “That’s one factor, to allow them to’t tee off on you.”
Brown had accomplished all seven of his cross makes an attempt in Week 2 towards Cal Poly, however was injured in observe a few month in the past and wasn’t out there once more till final week. He went 42-2 at powerhouse Mater Dei and was the one QB at school historical past to win two state championships.
“I feel he settled in a little bit bit,” Taylor stated. “I feel when you begin enjoying, you get a rhythm. That’s a fairly large stage for a child, even for a man like Elijah who has performed quite a lot of big-time video games. I actually thought he began to settle in and play higher. He’ll proceed to really feel extra snug.”
Taylor didn’t decide to Brown beginning Saturday towards Wake Forest (3-4, 1-2). However Stanford entered the weekend ranked 122nd out of 133 groups with 165.8 passing yards a sport underneath Daniels and the Cardinal had averaged 16.2 factors a sport towards FBS groups.
Then once more, the beginning QB gained’t matter if Stanford’s protection doesn’t enhance. Taking part in with out three common starters within the secondary — safeties Jay Inexperienced and Scotty Edwards and cornerback Zahran Manley – the Cardinal allowed 501 yards to SMU, together with TD throws of 87, 45, and 38 yards within the first quarter because the Mustangs went up 21-0.
“I feel they hung in there and began to play a little bit bit higher as the sport went on,” Taylor stated. “We simply weren’t in a position to maintain something on offense. Sadly they had been on the sphere rather a lot.”
Security Mitch Leigber did intercept a cross on the SMU 14, organising the Cardinal’s solely landing. The punt protection crew additionally compelled a fumble that arrange Stanford’s subject aim.
However the highlights had been few and much between for a crew that misplaced its fourth straight sport by at the least 24 factors.
Three of these losses got here to ranked groups. However not one of the remaining 5 groups on Stanford’s schedule are ranked, beginning with Wake Forest Saturday at 12:30 p.m., and the one crew left with a profitable report is 4-3 Louisville.
“We’ve a possibility, one other shot subsequent week,” Taylor stated. “They’ll really feel dangerous for twenty-four hours. Robust stretch of actually good opponents the previous couple of weeks. Now we acquired a possibility to play one other house sport towards Wake Forest. We’ll lick our wounds and can be able to roll.”
The Cardinal hasn’t overwhelmed an FBS crew at house since Oct. 22, 2022.
“I’ll say this. These are probably the most resourceful younger males that I’ve ever been round,” Taylor stated. “They only continued to battle. The psychological toughness is unbelievable. I do know they’ll proceed to compete and we’ll bounce again from it, for positive.”
