Scoring 34 points apiece in wins against San Jose State and Army doesn't necessarily speak to it, but Arizona State coach Todd Graham is convinced No. 5 Stanford is operating one of the nation's more innovative offenses.
He's also convinced the caliber of the Cardinal's first two opponents is masking that -- at least to a degree.
"Obviously there is a lot more (than what they've shown)," Graham said. "They're very unique, very innovative offensively. People a lot of times get excited about the spread no huddles. They're equally dynamic in their schemes.
"One of the best-coached teams that I've watched on film and, yes, it has been pretty basic in the first two games."
That figures to change Saturday as Stanford (2-0) hosts the No. 23-ranked Sun Devils (2-0) in the weekend's only matchup of ranked teams. It's the first meeting between the two programs since Stanford's 17-13 win in Tempe in 2010.
Stanford's use of fullbacks, tight ends and a power, downhill running philosophy would usually make the necessary preparation unique, but that's not the case this week for ASU. Having prepared for Wisconsin, which employs a similar scheme, the Sun Devils will stay in the same mindset for two straight weeks.
Advantage ASU? It's not that simple.
"The crazy thing, I think, is that it actually helps both of us," Stanford coach David Shaw said of ASU's game against Wisconsin. "It helps them as far as playing a team that will play with the tight end and the fullback on the field at the same time, which is becoming rare, but to kind of stay in that same mode for two weeks straight as far as game planning."
And the advantage for Stanford?
"I think it helps us sometimes because sometimes we have a hard time anticipating what people are going to do," Shaw said. "When we're watching film and we never see a tight end or a fullback on the field, then we don't know how people are going to play us."
Shaw and first-year offensive coordinator Mike Bloomgren came into the season preaching a running-back-by-committee approach, but so far that hasn't been the case. Running back Tyler Gaffney has rushed for 236 yards and three touchdowns on 40 carries without a negative play. He looks every bit to be filling the workhorse role carried out by Stepfan Taylor a year ago.
Stablemate Anthony Wilkerson has just 13 carries for 76 yards, but the biggest surprise is the lack of running by quarterback Kevin Hogan. Before taking over as the starter, Hogan earned playing time early last season in packages that took advantage of his ability to run. His production running the ball keyed big regular-season wins against Oregon State (11 carries, 49 yards) and Oregon (eight carries, 37 yards, one TD) last year and proved crucial in the Pac-12 championship (11 carries, 47 yards, one TD) and Rose Bowl (seven carries, 54 yards).
But through two games this season, he's carried just seven times for 32 yards. Regardless of the rationale -- keeping it off film, keeping him healthy -- his role figures to change some point soon. Soon as in Saturday.
