Gone is Blake Martinez. Gone is Kevin Anderson. Stanford loses two veteran linebackers heading into 2016, and particularly, Blake Martinez was a team star throughout his Stanford career. Martinez was on the All-Pac 12 first team and the USA Today All-America second team; he'll be a very hard player to replace. How will Stanford replace their star linebacker from 2015?
Stanford returns eight of ten linebackers who recorded over 9.5 tackles last year. Stanford loses no one besides Martinez and Anderson. That's a good start. At outside linebacker, Peter Kalambayi, Joey Alfieri, and Mike Tyler all return and will most likely rotate for two positions. Out of the three, Peter Kalambayi will most likely lead the way after finishing with fifty two tackles last year and after being named to Phil Steele's first team All Pac-12 team. With Kevin Anderson injured periodically last year, Stanford played mostly without him and should only improve this year at outside linebacker.
Inside linebacker is a different story. Year in and year out, Stanford has had star middle linebackers. First it was Shayne Skov. Then, AJ Tarpley shined. Last year, Blake Martinez stood out. Who will it be this year? Kevin Palma and Bobby Okereke are both possible solutions. As a junior, Palma finished with forty four tackles, and Okereke finished with seven. Compared to Blake Martinez's 141 tackles last year, Palma and Okereke combined tackles are minimal, and they have a long way to go if they hope to make up for Martinez missing. As a fifth year senior, Palma has already shown his potential and will be a similar player from last year. He'll most likely finish with sixty or so tackles and be a good linebacker. Meanwhile, Bobby Okereke was only a redshirt freshman last year. He should improve tremendously but can't possibly make the jump from a backup to an immediate star; he's simply too young and inexperienced. In 2016, the inside linebackers won't be able to fill the shoes of Blake Martinez, and they'll be significantly worse without a star.
The secondary has incredible depth. The defensive line has a star in Solomon Thomas. The linebackers have neither. The outside linebackers will be a solid group. They have some depth and three solid players. However, I'm scared for the inside linebackers, but hopefully, I'm wrong. Every year Stanford finds a way to replace linebackers, but I don't see that happening this year. In 2016, the linebackers will just be an average group.
Comments
How awesome were our LBs in the last 5 yrs?
I just loved watching trent murphy, shayne skov, aj tarpley, chase thomas, blake martinez and kevin anderson wreck havoc on the pac-12 and ND. If our offensive line class of 2011 paved the foundation, this position group was the one that led the card to 3 rose bowls. This will also be the key group that determines if our defense will be dominant or merely sustainable.
My intial reaction after losing blake last year was that the defense would regress because of no star power but I am quietly buying the OLB group. Kalambayi had a quiet year by his standards but his pass rushing specialities needs a good DL to engage lineman. We saw his destructive capability in the rose bowl as a reminder that he is not finished yet. Joey alfieri had a trial by fire after replacing kevin anderson and had a few nice plays and some gaffes in the run game. But expect him to be better combined with mike tyler who became a nice situational pass rusher as the year rolled on (also casey toohil).
Inside LBs do worry me as stated above. Kevin palma had excellent instincts but did not have the athleticism to tackle sideline to sideline and often got burned covering HBs out of the backfield. Jordan perez was very raw when thrust into the same role and took poor angles in the run game. The other contenders include noor davis, a former 5* who hasnt taken the next step but has all the tools to remain in the rotation. While replacing blake martinez is impossible (yeah we said that abt a one certain shayne skov), this group will have some growing pains but by the end of the year develop into a solid group.
By layman on 08.20.16 12:11pm
Things I wish would happen this year. 1) I hope Shaw keeps his T/O’s in the 2nd half. That last T/O with 4 seconds to go against N. Dame. One team goes home happy as a lark. The other team suffers for 365 days asking, "What if?" 2) Be more innovative when running the short yardage play on 3rd/4th down. Way too many options than just running a 200 lb back straight up the middle. Shades of Tyler Gaffney against Michigan State. The kid was stopped stone cold and may have even lost a yard or two. 3) Bryce can be a threat on end a rounds, when everyone is concentrating on McCaffrey. Please don’t forget we lost nine (9)defensive off the 2014 team. The 2015 "D" did just fine. The QB (???) needs to know he has talent on both sides of the ball. Just keep things simple, mistakes to a minimum.
By bodumb on 08.20.16 12:46pm
With a new QB
I suspect they’ll burn TOs early in the halves unfortunately.
My biggest concern is related, how quickly does the offense gel (coordinated line blocking, QB reads, minimal penalties, etc)?
By Cardinal-in-TX on 08.20.16 8:07pm
We are in better shape than we were last August.
Sure, losing Hogan, Martinez, and Garnett hurts.
That’s college football. They key is Shaw & Co have a TOP FIVE track record and SYSTEM in place, and now we get 4stars and some 5s at every spot now.
Ten years ago, some 3stars was a "good year".
We have 5star QBs lined up thru 2022. That means we get WRs. Ditto TE, OLine.
If you are a bright 5star OLine now, starting for Stanford means a solid shot at NFL.
The "Richard Sherman" effect, plus Coach Akina’s record of placing guys in the NFL gets us top DBs nationally. Frosh SS Pryts was a legacy for PNST and we intercepted him last minute in Feb. Last year’s frosh class of DBs (Meeks, Reid, Edwards, Buncom) was the best haul at DB ever. Look what Meeks did as a Frosh!
C.Robinson, a quick 5star OLB from perennial power Mater Dei, was a straight up poach from USC. He plays just like Sua Cravens at USC last year. We got him.
We have dozens of stories now like that.
Ten years ago… None.
Here — blow your mind: Since 2010 only one other Pac12 team (Oregon) has posted a regular season record with 2 losses or less. Stanford (2011-2015) has done it FOUR times. RECALIBRATE your expectations… THIS * IS * STANFORD !
By ADPATERSON on 08.21.16 3:17pm