Stanford is going back to David Shaw’s signature brand of “intellectual brutality,” but dropping the intellectual for simple brutality. The Cardinal will focus on 12 personnel (i.e., 1 RB, 2 TEs & 2 WRs) and 13 personnel (i.e., 1 RB, 3 TEs & 1 WR), pulling offensive linemen, and classic gap schemes like Power (pull and attack a gap: pulling guard → lead blocker → RB downhill), Counter (pull/misdirect and attack opposite direction: show left → blockers pull right → RB comes back right), and Duo (double-team and let RB read crease: two blockers move one defender → RB presses downhill → RB chooses the crease). Their simplified brutality game plan is to use extra blockers at the line of scrimmage to create numerical advantages, consistently grind four yards per carry, and decrease the total plays per game for both teams. (FYI: LA Rams Head Coach Sean McVay used 13 personnel on more than 30% of their offensive plays in 2025, helping Matthew Stafford win MVP.)
Miami DC Corey Hetherman builds his unit around modern speed, edge disruption, and fast-flowing linebackers. The strength of the Hurricanes’ front seven is quickness off the ball, using interior penetration and lateral pursuit to destroy plays in the backfield. But pure speed is self-destructive if players lose gap discipline against a disciplined downhill rushing attack. If Miami’s linebackers over-pursue the initial flow or misread the pulling guard, Stanford RBs will have wide-open cutback lanes between the tackles.
If Miami’s defense absorbs double-teams, sets the edge, and holds Stanford’s RBs to a couple yards per carry, Miami’s aggressive pass rush can terminate Stanford’s drives on 3rd-and-long and give Miami’s offense the big stage.
If Stanford’s offensive line, including tight ends, consistently wins the point of attack, Miami’s explosive offense will spend the night backstage watching the Stanford show, including the silly dancing dork wearing a Spirit Halloween tree costume.
Insights By Scott Ernst 