Stanford Beat Writer Answers Five Questions About the Cardinal

Each week we ask someone who covers Cal’s next football opponent five questions about that opponent.

This week we asked Harold Gutmann, who covers Stanford for the Bay Area News Group, five questions about Stanford (3-7, 2-6 Pac-12), which hosts Cal (4-6, 2-5) in the 126th Big Game on Saturday (3:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network).

We provide excerpts from each of his answers, but his entire answers are in the videos.

--- 1. How would you assess how former Cal quarterback Troy Taylor has done in his first season as Stanford’s head coach?

“I think he’s done well,” Gutmann said in the video atop this story. “This team went 3-9 last year, and at worst they’re going to go 3-9 this year, which maybe doesn’t sound like that much of an improvement, [but] they lost 17 expected starters, either turned pro or transferred out. They were picked to finish last, and they’re probably not going to finish last.”

--- 2. Ashton Daniels, who started eight games, left Saturday’s game with a hand injury. Who do you expect to be Stanford’s quarterback on Saturday, and what does that play do well?

“Coach Taylor said [Tuesday] Ashton is day-to-day. I would expect Justin Lamson to start. It’s not really that much of a difference. Justin started two games this season, and they were kind of used interchangeably, at least at the start of the season. Both are good, [but] not game-changing quarterbacks. Justin’s the better runner. He’s by far the team’s leading rusher. Daniels is more of a passer. As long as Ashton is healthy I expect both to play.”

--- 3. Stanford seemed to be improving as the season went on, but what happened in that 62-17 loss to Oregon State?

“For the most part Stanford has been blown out when they played ranked teams. . . . I think it was more a reflection of the team they played.”

--- 4. Why has wide receiver Eric Ayomanor been so productive in recent games?

“Partly it is a reflection of guys that gone out [with injuries],” said Gutmann, who noted that tight end Benjamin Yurosek and wide receiver John Humphreys, two proven receivers, have been lost because of injuries.

“Ayomanor has always been a speedy guy. He was battling a pretty significant leg injury, which is why he didn’t play last year and even the start of this year, kind of with a brace, so I think he’s gotten healthier, more confident. Certainly nearly 300 yards against Colorado, I don’t think anyone was expecting that, but I think people were expecting him to emerge, and I think he’s found his level . . . He has become their top receiving threat.”

--- 5. Stanford and Cal are both among the worst in the nation in scoring defense, and Stanford is also among the worst in the country in total defense. What has been the Cardinal’s problem(s) on defense?

“They just don’t have the playmakers they’ve had in the past. . . . They haven’t been disruptive, they haven’t gotten to the quarterback, they haven’t forced turnovers. I think maybe they’ve forced five turnovers all season [actually six], which is bottom five in the country. . . . They even changed their alignment, but it’s been a tough go of it.”

Cover photo of Elic Ayomanor by Sergio Estrada, USA TODAY Sports

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