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Yeah, that’s right. A RUN AT THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. Not another #KingsOfTheNorth or #KingsOfCali. Not another Pac-12 Championship or a Rose Bowl victory. Been there done that and I have multiple t-shirts to prove it. I’m talking what last year’s team deserved instead of Oklahoma – a spot in the College Football Playoff. But with nearly half of last year’s starters gone, and despite the depth that long-time Stanford fans are still getting used to, a few things are going to have to happen for this team to still be playing in the second & third weeks of January 2017.
The offensive line MUST gel into a functioning unit, and quickly. If you’re reading this, you likely remember 2014. That was with a QB who had a season and a half as a starter. This year there will be a new QB who’s not going to be as mobile as Hogan and is going to need time to make decisions. Stanford has arguably the most electric backfield in the nation, but if the OL isn’t opening holes for them then these guys are going struggle. It starts in the trenches. With the first half of the schedule looking more challenging than the second half, especially a Friday night in Seattle against a veteran, ferocious Husky defense, it needs to happen quickly. I hope Coach Bloomgren has learned from two years ago.
Shaw needs to decide who will be the QB before opening night. Name the last team to be in a CFP/NY6/BCS bowl game that played two QBs? I’m not talking about switching starters mid-season. I’m talking about rotating QBs back & forth during a game. I’m talking about Shaw’s recent comment that he might not name a starter before the season starts. I think this would be a terrible mistake. I read & hear that both Chryst and Burns are VERY talented. But it’s about the offense as a unit coalescing around a leader. Chryst and Burns are not the same person. They aren’t the same personality. One guy needs to be given that job, and if he isn’t performing then you make a change.
Someone needs to step up bigtime at ILB. Blake Martinez. A.J. Tarpley. Shayne Skov. Stanford fans have been seriously spoiled the last few years. Each these guys racked up 100+ tackles and is or was in the NFL. Who’s going to be that guy that makes opposing offenses reluctant to run between the tackles? The returning players in this group will need to step up bigtime from the level of play we saw from them last season. Mike Palma looks the part, but he needs to improve his lateral speed so that he can cover all the way out to the sideline. Jordan Perez is undersized and must make sure he’s in the right position with the right technique to compensate.
Sacks will need to come from the DBs. This doesn’t mean Lance Anderson dialing up blitzes right and left. It means the pass coverage will need to give the front seven that extra second to get to the QB. I love the power and surprise of a quick sack, but what I really enjoy coverage sacks even more because it takes an entire defensive unit to make it happen. Receivers need to be covered AND the front line needs to get pressure. It’s also more demoralizing to the opposing offense because it means that everything they tried to do on that play didn’t work.
Someone needs to step up bigtime at OLB. Chase Thomas, Trent Murphy, Kevin Anderson, James Vaughters. We’ve been even MORE spoiled at OLB than ILB! Stanford has the talent and depth at this position to make it happen, which is why this is the last item on my list. But who is going to step up and get it done? Lots of candidates here. I like Joey Alfieri to be that guy, and I hope Peter Kalambayi can be the player we saw in 2014 who rushed upfield with reckless abandon.
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Comments
You've left one other thing out
The defensive line only returns one starter, Solomon Thomas. This defensive pressure you mentioned starts with the front four, and that unit has to bring the pain if Stanford’s D expects to be able to shut down UCLA, Oregon, Wazzu and the lot. Good points here, though.
By John Loop on 08.17.16 9:24am
Also get H.Phillips (DT) back from injury-- equivalent to starter
By ADPATERSON on 08.21.16 8:59pm
Not as concerned about it
Thomas is all-conference and possibly all-american. Phillips is back and 100%. Also keep in mind that in facing so many pass-happy teams, Stanford will likely play only two down linemen on the majority of snaps.
By winflop on 08.23.16 6:39am
Nice article listing the things the Card need to iron out
I completely 100% agree that the season hinges on the OL and LBs. We all remember the scars of 2014 and so does coach shaw. I am pretty sure he will name his initial starters in a week or so. I am excited about david bright because unlike our recent stars, he has a chip on his shoulders and he willed his way on some of the jumbo and ogre sets last year. It is who steps up at LG that will determine the running success because of the scheme Stanford uses. With McC and Love we need guards who can pull which is such a timing based play, so the OL needs to gel quickly.
On the other side, LBs are crucial for the success of the defense and how well we navigate our first 6 games. Although we rotate in bodies regularly, we rely on the LBs in the 3-4 to bring the heat, stop the run, cover RBs and TEs and even some slot WRs. The reason we became a force in the pac-12 on defense was because our LBs completely shut down spread teams with sideline-to-sideline tackling. So here’s to hoping Palma and Alfieri step up, Kalambayi becomes a force and our other LBs contribute as a unit.
By layman on 08.17.16 10:35am
The real problem here is....
limited time for adjustment. I think we have the horses, but they need to gel. This is true of the OL. DL and LBs. We got caught with our pants down last year at Northwestern and have started slowly in previous years as well. Our schedule is very front loaded this year. At QB, we need a confident and game tested player for the USC game which argues for Shaw making a choice before K-State rather than platooning QBs. I am worried that Shaw will say that there is not enough separation between the QBs out of training camp and defer a decision. This would be a mistake. Big coaches make big decisions. He should make one, and remain open to alternatives if it proves not to work out as planned.
We have a great team, but as always, limited margin for error. It is up to the coach to put the odds in favor of Stanford in all of the ways he can. Sounds from an article I read today that the defense is going to work on getting more turnovers (we ranked in the bottom 15% of teams last year). The offense needs to be, within the bounds of a new QB, more creative in the early part of the year and we need to junk the punting from the opponents 40 yard line. In sum, Shaw needs to make sure that he gives the offense a chance to win rather than playing not to lose. While this historically has rectified itself by year end, it needs to start on day #1.
By hoyaparanoia on 08.17.16 1:54pm
Your early schedule looks like a very big hurdle to me.
You have young guys in the trenches on both sides of the line. How you come thru the first 3 games prior to the big date at Husky Stadium may make or break your season.
As a Husky fan I can tell you, Stanford will be facing a much tougher team than what you saw last year on the farm. We are getting a lot of hype but it very well may be deserved. Both the OL and DL are very solid and backed up also with veteran players. Our secondary IMO is the best in the PAC. We replace only 3 players from the best defense in the conference last season, and lose only one starter in the offensive line.
I’m pretty sure we should be close to full strength heading into the game against the Tree based on our weak early schedule. And this season we should have Jake Browning at QB who missed your game last season. Of course I’m biased, but Coach Petersen will have these youngsters playing a high level this season. I’m thinking your team will have it’s hands full being any better than 2 -2 after leaving Seattle.
By OsidePup on 08.18.16 2:18pm
I'm also guessing you may be missing Randy Hart as D-line coach more than you think.
He was not just good but a great D-line coach – at both Stanford and UW.
By OsidePup on 08.18.16 2:22pm
Coach Hart will be missed
I think the Sep 30 game in Seattle will be Stanford’s toughest of the season – yes, tougher than Autzen.
By winflop on 08.23.16 6:41am
As long as the OLine gels, Burns or Chryst will be fine.
Both Burns and Chryst can throw, and Burns might be more accurate than Hogan, who overthrew frequently.
Plenty of weapons who will get open.
Opposing Defs will attempt to stop McCaff with 8 in the box bcuz they all look at film and that works, until we throw downfield, or have Love circle out of backfield. Or fire it to a TE (more cowbell !).
So we throw the ball more this year, and that sets up the run.
By ADPATERSON on 08.21.16 9:10pm
Everyone realizes that Stanford has never in its history had a quarterback competition like this, right? We have 3 QB’s on the roster who were each among the top 5 pocket passers in their classes. I have full confidence that, whichever of the 3 gets the call, will be fully capable of managing our offense. And I would be very surprised if they do not look substantially better than Hogan when he first took over the team.
By OC Tax Man on 08.22.16 6:31pm
Palma
Good article. One correction: It’s Kevin Palma, not Mike.
By CompSci87 on 08.22.16 8:31pm