Another season is in the books, and a new beginning looms ahead.
Answer the question honestly: When Stanford was 4-3, did you really think a 10-win season was possible?
While the play of Ryan Burns was less than inspiring against North Carolina, the defense was absolutely triumphant. Solomon Thomas couldn’t be blocked, or even slowed down, as he set up shop in the Tar Heels backfield all game long. The rotating linebacker crew were swarming from all directions, and the DBs were playing at a high level. The Sun bowl performance by the defense has them primed as the strength of the team moving forward. It was another 10-win season, and while the quarterback play was inconsistent at times, the other position groups stepped up in a big way to allow the Cardinal to come away with the victory.
Other things that made us Stanford fans happy this year included seeing the O-line come together mid-way through the season, because as the run game goes, so does the Stanford offense. Nate Herbig looks like the next sure-fire NFL prospect Stanford guard in the making, following in the tradition of David DeCastro and Joshua Garnett. And that’s really saying something given his young age and the injury situation that lead to his insertion to the lineup.
As Stanford fans must bid farewell and good luck to our stars from this recent year, I’ve been wondering:
Is Christian McCaffrey the greatest Stanford running back? Similarly, is Solomon Thomas the best D-Line force that saw domination of his position group on the Farm? While Toby Gerhart and Tommy Vardell were used quite differently than the WildCaff, I don’t think anybody can really match the versatility and flat out lightning quickness that Christian displayed. Those ankle-breaking moves and how he could make cuts at top speed just aren’t that common. Oh yeah, he also put in one of the greatest seasons in all of college football history, shattering the total yards record of Barry Sanders in the process. Still, I never saw anyone move the pile like Toby, he would charge headfirst into a mass of humanity and shove everybody in the fray another 2 or 3 yards. Vardell was like a runaway freight train behind an O-line full of battering rams, and the legend of the Now Boys will forever be remembered (thanks for the memories, Denny!). For Solomon, yeah, I really do think he’s number one. That guy was so strong and elusive off the snap to those poor souls lined up against him, he seemed to just blow right by the guy assigned to block him with great regularity. Though it isn’t easy to see some of the most elite players we’ve had leave the Farm, and leave early at that, but moving on to the next level is a part of the game.
As we fans do after the celebrations of a bowl victory and a 10-win season wind down, let’s look ahead to what 2017 may bring to the Farm. There is going to be a brutal stretch of games near the end of the new season (Utah, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington and Washington State), but if we get solid play at quarterback, I think the Cardinal will be plenty dangerous. At the same time, it’s hard to know just how well we will match up with USC and Washington, who have a lot of strengths coming off this past season.
Keller Chryst was starting to show some greatness as last year was winding down, so let’s hope he has a speedy recovery and can still take some of that momentum into the new season. He truly reminds a lot of Randy Fasani, with his running, passing, and natural leadership. If he can take his play to the next level this year, we may be able to give the Pac-12 title a real chase. Unfortunately we’ll be hoping for that next level to start sooner than later as the USC game comes early in the season. It’s going to be very interesting to see what K.J. Costello can do during the spring with an increase of reps, as he’s the true Dark Horse in this contest, against a motivated Ryan Burns as he strives to improve on last season.
Bryce Love is a homerun threat every time he touches the ball, and may wind up with one of the highest average-yards-per-carry in school history. But how much depth is there behind him? Will Scarlett get a larger number of carries, or will somebody else step up in the backfield? Is it time for Trevor Speights? As for the Scarlett-Love duo goes I’d predict we see a similar relationship that McCaffrey shared with Wright, one that saw Wright take the majority of the 3rd and short or goal-line carries. Like the Tight End position, Stanford always seems to have one of the best fullbacks in the country, thankfully, because Daniel Marx brings the thunder when in the lineup. Chris Harrell plays a lot like Ryan Hewitt in the way he lines up all over the field in various formations.
And speaking of the Tight Ends, the Cardinal has another stellar group on the roster, but most people are wondering just how quickly incoming freshman Colby Parkinson may get on the field. Dalton Schultz is one of my favorite players on this team, and seems to do everything extremely well. I think he’s due for a breakout year, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Kaden Smith is be the next TE to really make a name for himself this year. With two strong options playing this spring and another coming off a red shirt year in Scooter Harrington, I doubt we’ll see much of Colby Parkinson in his first year.
The offensive line play is obviously a litmus test for the Cardinal effectiveness on any given Saturday (and sometimes Thursday or Friday). I’m sure it’s comforting to Coach Shaw to have David Bright back for one more year. The O-lineman group of Nick Wilson, A.T. Hall, Brandon Fanaika, and Casey Tucker are all solid as can be, but "Big Island" Nate Herbig may just be on the short list for the All-Pac-12 team. Another impressive prospect includes the two best Offensive Tackles in the nation arriving to campus in the Fall though it’s not a given that the coach will be burning those Redshirts. I’m also wondering if this is the year Devery Hamilton will start getting some meaningful game time. It’s pretty cool that the starting center, Jesse Burkett, is majoring in Japanese, can you imagine that on any SEC team?
This is a very good year for the Cardinal Wide Receiver corp. Trenton Irwin is Mr. Reliability (especially on 3rd down), JJ Arcega-Whiteside is an absolute mismatch and red zone nightmare for corners to deal with, Isiah Brandt-Sims has speed to spare, and incoming freshman Osiris St. Brown is getting a lot of buzz. While Stanford isn’t a team to air-it-out like Wazzu, these guys can make play-action calls a whole lot of fun to watch.
While it may be another year of Stanford being slightly "thin" on the D-Line, there is some talent here all the same. Harrison Phillips is a wrecking ball right in the middle that plays with a violent motor, Dylan Jackson showed some spark off the bench and I’m hoping Bo Peek and Michael Williams are ready to put in some quality minutes this year.
Linebacker is the deepest of all the position groups, and if last year was any indication there will be a lot of rotating in 2017. Picking a starting group is like debating Brady vs. Montana: There simply is no wrong answer. Jordan Perez and Bobby Okereke both played like starters on the inside, but there was no drop off when Mustafa Branch or Kevin Palma jumped into the fray. Mike Tyler always seems to be in the right place at the right time, Joey Alfieri had his best season, Peter Kalambayi has been a joy to watch, Casey Toohill has been getting some time and I’m excited about the rise of Curtis Robinson. With the way our defense played last year I’ve got no reason to expect anything but improvement here.
The Stanford Defensive Backfield is envy of the entire Pac-12, especially considering how many teams in the conference like to throw the ball, and I couldn’t imagine a better position coach than Duane Akina (thanks Texas!). I’m guessing Quenton Meeks will be bolting for the NFL after this year (surprising no one with his ball hawking skills), Alameen Murphy, Terrence Alexander and Alijah Holder have proven to be outstanding, and have played at an extremely high level. I expect Frank Buncom and Obi Eboh to see some action this season, and Treyjohn Butler has an impressive skillset, but its tough competition at the corner position. Brandon Simmons and Ben Edwards have both played great, but Justin Reid has really stood out with his tackles in the open field and range.
Overall, a dominant offensive line, health on the D-line and stability at the quarterback position are the most important factors for the upcoming season. Stanford will be breaking in a new kicker (and Jet Toner is such an awesome name), but there is loads of talent on this roster. The coaching staff is experienced, and while competition will be as expected in one of the toughest conferences, this is a team that is in the mix for the title.