Stanford head coach Frank Reich looks ahead to Miami 

On Monday, Stanford interim head coach Frank Reich spoke to members of the media in advance of Saturday’s game at No. 9 Miami (4:00 PM PT on ESPN). Below are some thoughts and takeaways. 

VIDEO: Stanford Football Weekly Press Conference | Miami Week-Frank Reich 

Starting with the win over Florida State, Reich said it was another opportunity to gain confidence. Having a home victory over a team of Florida State’s caliber was great for them. He said it was a big step for them as they continue to build the program. 

Reich had great things to say about how redshirt freshman quarterback Elijah Brown did coming in under the circumstances that he came under. He liked how Brown stuck to the script, didn’t try to do too much, and just did what was asked of him. Brown also had a big throw to CJ Williams. So that was a real confidence booster for Brown. 

When he was in college, Reich led Maryland to a massive comeback against Miami in which they were down 31-0 at halftime. Reich said the things he thinks about that game are the same things he preaches to Stanford to this day. Just one play at a time. Stay locked in. He said that’s the biggest takeaway from that game. Just chip away one play at a time and stack good plays together. Pretty simple. 

Regarding redshirt freshman running back Cole Tabb winning ACC Running Back and Rookie of the Week, Reich said Tabb worked really hard to get that result. Great contact balance, a lot of poise, and a high IQ. A guy who has power to move the pile and speed to get around the edge. Which is a rare combination. On top of that, Reich felt like the offense as a whole played great. The offensive line did their job, etc. 

When asked of tight end Sam Roush, Reich said the offense is starting to get rhythm and confidence. That’s the biggest key. Reich likes how the offense is starting to gel and how Roush is taking advantage of that. A guy who can be a big time playmaker. It’s just matter of the offense clicking and him taking advantage of that. 

On Miami, Reich said they are super talented on both offense and defense. A well-coached team. Reich said they’re a tough team. No other way to sugarcoat it. Reich praised their toughness up front and the way they are a physical team. He feels like Mario Cristobal is a great coach who coaches his team the right way. A team that has NFL talent up and down the field. A lot of pro talent. And they run it like an NFL program. That’s why he feels they’re so good. So, this will be a great test for them. 

Reich did not have any injury updates as of Monday. So, it sounds like they’re still figuring things out on that front. Elijah Brown did speak to the media on Tuesday, but when asked if that meant he was starting, he said he wasn’t the right guy to ask on that and that they are still figuring that out. So, I guess we’ll just have to see what Thursday’s injury report brings. 

On Miami’s starting quarterback Carson Beck, Reich said he’s an excellent player who has had a great season overall. Beck had a rough outing against Louisville, throwing four picks, but Reich knows that will happen. He said even the best quarterbacks have rough outings, but they often bounce back the next week. So it’s going to be a real challenge to keep him down. 

Without safety Mitch Leigber in the first half against Miami due to his targeting penalty against Florida State, Reich said it’s a real loss to the defense, but it’s going to be a next man up mentality. They’ll figure out how to adjust until he’s available. 

Leigber’s play happened as Florida State’s quarterback was giving himself up and sliding. I asked Reich if he would want to see a rule change there given that sliding can lead to those kind of targeting penalties, but he isn’t sure what rule change should happen if at all since prioritizing the quarterback’s safety is atop the list of priorities. 

True freshman Josh Williams got his first start on the offensive line. Reich said he played well and graded out well. A guy who has a lot of poise and stepped up. A guy who has looked great since training camp and has a high IQ. He said the arrow is up for Williams. He’s excited about his first start. 

As for the Miami defense, Reich said they are big, physical, and experienced. A unit that mixes up coverages and gives a lot of variation, which makes things tough. A lot of single high man or zone. A well schemed and well coached defense with a lot of talent. A great secondary and front seven with guys that have played a lot of college football. 

On winning close games at home, Reich said it’s a real confidence builder. He said it gives them a lot of faith in trusting the process. He also praised the coaching staff for putting the players in good position to make the right plays to win games. So it’s been an all-around team effort. 

One guy who has been key to making those three home wins possible is safety Jay Green. Reich praised his IQ, toughness, and having a knack for making big plays in big moments. He feels like Green has as high of an IQ of anyone on the defense. He’s been fantastic all season long and provided great leadership. 

Finally, Reich is excited for the challenge of facing Miami. He likes how the team is growing and competing. He loves the progress and feels like they keep making steps in the right direction. He’s looking forward to seeing Stanford take another step towards success this weekend. 

Overall, Reich seems upbeat about how the team is looking going into this weekend’s game at Miami. He knows it’s going to be a challenging matchup, but he loves the fight of the players and the way everyone is sticking together. It’ll be fun to see how they do. 

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