|
QB
Andrew Luck |
2011
SCHEDULE
|
9-3-11 |
SAN
JOSE STATE |
9-10-11 |
at
Duke |
9-17-11 |
at
Arizona |
10-1-11 |
UCLA |
10-8-11 |
COLORADO |
10-15-11 |
at
Washington State |
10-22-11 |
WASHINGTON |
10-29-11 |
at
Southern California |
11-5-11 |
at
Oregon State |
11-12-11 |
OREGON |
11-19-11 |
CALIFORNIA |
11-26-11 |
NOTRE
DAME |
|
Coach:
David Shaw
1st
year |
2010
Statistics |
2010
RESULTS: 12-1 |
SACRAMENTO
ST |
WON
52-17 |
at
UCLA |
WON
35-0 |
WAKE
FOREST |
WON
68-24 |
at
Notre Dame |
WON
37-14 |
at
Oregon |
LOST
31-52 |
USC |
WON
37-35 |
WASHINGTON
ST |
WON
38-28 |
at
Washington |
WON
41-0 |
ARIZONA |
WON
42-17 |
at
Arizona State |
WON
17-13 |
at
California |
WON
48-14 |
OREGON
STATE |
WON
38-0 |
ORANGE
BOWL |
Virginia
Tech |
WON
40-12 |
|
|
2010 Final Rankings
AP-4, Coaches-4, BCS-4
|
OUTLOOK |
One
aspect of the Stanford
2011 outlook that has
been obscured by the return
of Heisman finalist Andrew
Luck and top billing in
most every preseason poll
is that the turnover within
the Stanford football
program has been colossal.
Half of last year’s
starters will not return.
Stanford has been quietly
stockpiling some incredible
talent, but many of these
former prep stars lack
game experience. This
is a common occurrence
at a number of positions
on both sides of the ball.
First year head coach
David Shaw has been mum
when it comes to producing
a depth chart due in part
to the fact many of these
position battles are far
from settled. The most
glaring deficiencies are
along the offensive line
and in the defensive front
seven, where they lost
a combined seven starters.
There are also gaps at
wide receiver, fullback
and cornerback. Not to
mention the biggest question
mark of all will be just
how this team can perform
with head coach John Harbaugh
bolting to coach at the
next level with the 49'ers.
However,
we did mention that Stanford
has been stockpiling talent.
Ergo, some truth does
lie behind the preseason
numbers. Just enough top
tier experience is available
to mix with the unproven
talents waiting in the
wings to merit a lofty
Top 5 beginning. The higher
ups at Stanford made the
right choice in promoting
offensive coordinator
David Shaw to take over
the program. Continuity
is the key after what
this team just accomplished
in 2010. These are exciting
times to be a Cardinal.
One
aspect this new coaching
staff will lean on is
the balance on offense.
Andrew Luck is apparently
good enough to play on
Sundays. He may be a one-man
show on most collegiate
teams, but he won't have
to be at Stanford where
Stepfan Taylor heads one
of the best set of running
backs on one of the most
successful rushing teams
in the Pac Ten. This team
can win games handing
the ball off. The wide
receivers may have some
issues. However, somebody
has to be catching Luck's
passes. Look for one or
two of these route runners
to become immediate stars
in this offense and don't
be surprised if one of
the tight end/H-backs
winds up gathering much
of that praise and post-season
accolades.
There
have been local rumblings
that the line of scrimmage
might be as good or better
than it was last year.
That's a tall order given
the personnel turnover
and is probably a little
wishful thinking. If skeptics
are going to point fingers
at glaring needs, both
the offensive and defensive
lines warrant the accusations.
As mentioned, a ton of
unproven talent is waiting
in the wings. Now it's
just a matter of mixing
them in with the veterans
while building the necessary
team chemistry. This is
all quite possible and
Stanford could be sitting
at the top of these standings
come late November. No
doubt though, there has
to be concern in the trenches.
Our
early predictions have
Stanford undefeated and
in the Top 3 heading into
Halloween weekend based
on a lighter schedule
the first two months --
not easy but lighter.
What happens next will
be Death Row as the Cards’
next five opponents consist
of USC, Oregon State,
Oregon, Cal and Notre
Dame. The last three are
at home. They better have
that injury bug under
control down on the Farm
heading into that closing
monster stretch. This
gauntlet is likely going
to prohibit Stanford from
playing for all the BCS
marbles. Heck, it would
most any team. Despite
some serious personnel
turnover, this early Top
5 billing is legit all
the same. Expect some
new names from this program
to emerge in the national
limelight.
|
Projected
2011 record: 9-3
|
|
|
DB
Delano Howell |
STANFORD
2010 Statistical Rankings |
OFFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
17 |
2 |
Passing: |
29 |
3 |
Total
Off: |
14 |
2 |
Sacks
Allow: |
2 |
1 |
|
DEFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
19 |
2 |
Passing: |
35 |
3 |
Total
Def: |
21 |
2 |
Sacks: |
15 |
2 |
|
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Andrew Luck, 263-372-8,
3338 yds., 32 TD
Rushing: Stepfan
Taylor, 223 att., 1137
yds., 15 TD
Receiving: Coby
Fleener, 28 rec., 434
yds., 7 TD
Scoring: Stepfan
Taylor, 16 TD, 96 pts.
Punting: Daniel
Zychlinski, 24 punts,
41.8 avg.
Kicking: None
Tackles: Shayne
Skov, 84 tot., 50 solo
Sacks: Shayne Skov,
Chase Thomas - 7.5 each
Interceptions:
Delano Howell, 5 for 0
yds.
Kickoff Returns:
Chris Owusu, 19 ret.,
24.3 avg., 0 TD
Punt Returns: Drew
Terrell, 18 ret., 12.2
avg., 0 TD
|
|
|
|
|
|
STANFORD
2011
College Football Preview
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 5 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 6 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Owen Marecic-FB, Ryan Whalen-WR,
Doug Baldwin-WR, Konrad
Reuland-TE, Andrew Phillips-OG,
Chase Beeler-C, Derek Hall-OT,
Nate Whitaker-K |
DEFENSE:
Sione
Fua-NT, Brian Bulcke-DE,
Owen Marecic-ILB, Richard
Sherman-CB, Austin Yancey-SS,
Taylor Skaufel-FS, Thomas
Keiser-OLB (NFL) |
|
|
2011
OFFENSE |
QUARTERBACK
The story is well documented
already. Andrew Luck passed
up millions of dollars and a
chance to be the No. 1 overall
pick in the NFL Draft to return
to Stanford for another year
and get his degree. Although
Luck will still only be a redshirt
junior, the nation's top gun
has "taken the next step"
according to new head coach
David Shaw. He is in complete
command of this offense as evidenced
in the spring game where Luck
finished 16 of 22 passing while
leading his Cardinal team to
touchdown drives on all four
of its possessions with him
under center. For those wondering
what might change under coach
Shaw, the answer is not much.
After all, he was the offensive
coordinator here the last four
seasons. The battle to name
the backup has not seen any
clear resolution yet. For the
moment Josh Nunes is penciled
in but Coach Shaw has said this
battle will continue all the
way into August training camp.
Nunes is a 6'4 pro-style drop
back quarterback similar in
nature to former QB Tavita Pritchard.
Many feel that true freshman
Brett Nottingham has a great
shot at wrestling this job away
after “decomitting”
from UCLA this past recruiting
season to land in a Cardinal
uniform this spring as an early
enrollee. Nottingham was widely
considered the top QB in Northern
California a year ago.
RUNNING
BACK
A main reason why Stanford is
ranked so high this preseason
has to do with more than just
having Andrew Luck under center.
This offensive backfield led
by senior workhorse Stepfan
Taylor is just as legit running
with the ball as Luck is capable
of throwing the ball. This factor
makes the Cardinal very balanced
and difficult to defend. Stepfan
Taylor has asserted his dominance
through the spring after toting
the rock on 223 occasions last
fall. He is on the verge of
becoming one of the Pac Ten's
top running backs. The depth
behind him is just as capable.
Highly touted Anthony Wilkerson
(11th-best HS running back prospect
in the nation by ESPN) led all
rushers in the spring game.
He will continue be the next
option after Taylor. Tyler Gaffney
is another alternative that
saw 60 solid carries last fall.
He will have to work his way
back into a stiff rotation after
electing to play college baseball
this spring. Redshirt freshman
Ricky Seale was another one
of the surprises from the spring
game and there is still Jeremy
Stewart, a standout from the
Orange Bowl that has received
a medical hardship sixth season
from the NCAA. Replacing Owen
Marecic at fullback is an important
piece of the puzzle. No one
may be able to replace him totally.
Ryan Hewitt will attempt to
fill this role but in a different
fashion. The former tight end
Hewitt has been Mr. Versatility
while playing more of a hybrid
role, which includes some H-back
duty. Sophomore Geoff Meinken,
a recruited defensive end, is
a bit more of a bull. Lee Ward
at 250 pounds appears to be
the most traditional fullback
of the bunch. Needless to say,
this entire backfield has a
ton of options from which coaches
can choose.
RECEIVER
This isn't a young group anymore.
Despite the experience the spring
reviews appear to be a mixed
bag with most of the qualms
being a lack of consistency.
Those issues are not easily
rendered considering the health
of Chris Owusu cannot be counted
on. Remove him from the mix,
and the returning wide receivers
had all of 24 catches last season.
The departed Doug Baldwin and
Ryan Whalen started the entirety
of last season, but Baldwin
was largely in that position
because of Chris Owusu’s
chronic injuries (exactly what
ails Owusu from week-to-week
has been kept top secret). When
healthy, as he should be for
the fall, Owusu is a starter.
Remember that in 2009, Owusu
led the team in touchdown grabs
and was an All-American kick
returner. The dependable Griff
Whalen (no relation to the departed
Ryan) is the most ideal No.
2 option, although he was seemingly
outperformed on numerous occasions
this spring by some of the others.
Former Georgia high school stud
Jamal-Rashad Patterson has taken
a few years to master the system
and has come on strong during
the absence of Owusu. Seeing
a considerable amount of time
catching passes from Luck this
spring has been rising junior
Drew Terrell, who has shown
a knack of making the spectacular
grab with defenders draped all
over him. Former quarterback
Darren Daniel looks like a playmaker
standing at 6'4 and will see
a few reps in the rotation on
occasion.
TIGHT
END/H-BACK
The wide outs may have a few
question marks that need ironed
out but the tight end/H-backs
on this roster are well equipped
to handle the load catching
those NFL darts Luck will be
tossing. In short, Stanford
is absolutely loaded for "Bear"
at this position. The fifth-year
senior Coby Fleener is the team's
leading returning receiver.
Standing at 6'6, the top tight
end out from the state of Illinois
has started to make his mark
with the Stanford program. This
spring Zach Ertz has been a
tremendous value for this offense.
He was responsible for three
of the Cardinal's six touchdowns
and caught six passes for 64
yards in the spring game. Look
for Ertz, who also stands a
sturdy 6'6, to become a regular
name called by play-by-play
commentators. If that were not
enough, coaches have to salivating
about the future of 6'8 Levin
Toilolo, who was rated as the
fourth-best prep tight end recruit
in the nation by Rivals.com.
Toilolo has three uncles who
played in the NFL but has been
held out of hard contact this
spring due to a bum knee. And
don't count out FB/HB Ryan Hewitt.
Somebody will make a living
off of Luck's arm. That somebody
is likely to be one of these
studs.
OFFENSIVE
LINE
Former head coach John Harbaugh
built this team with blocking
from inside the trenches. Last
year this was the nation's top
pass blocking unit by a landslide.
They finished ranked 2nd nationally
in sacks allowed (triple option
Air Force was No. 1) and opened
gaping holes for the running
backs to become the Pac Ten's
second best rushing attack.
The good news is that Stanford
will boast two NationalChamps.net
Preseason All-Americans in juniors
David DeCastro and Jonathan
Martin at guard and tackle respectively.
Both are mainstays from the
past two years and have started
every game during said stretch.
The bad news is that everyone
else has departed leaving DeCastro
and Martin as the only two returning
starters up front. This has
caused some problems for the
coaching staff. The only other
position that has been decided
is at left guard where the outstanding
spring play of Kevin Danser
has locked down his role as
a full-timer. The center and
right tackle spots are still
totally up for grabs. The main
battle is at center where Stanford
must replace All-American Chase
Beeler, one of the school's
best to ever play the position.
There is no clear frontrunner
between redshirt sophomore Khalil
Wilkes and redshirt junior Sam
Schwartzstein, though Schwartzstein
was getting more time with the
first team in the latter part
of spring. At right tackle is
a three-man race. Mabry is the
elder statesman of the group
and has been spending most of
his time with the first team,
but the other contenders have
gotten reps there, too. Fleming
has the ideal tackle frame,
while Yankey played as a true
freshman. This is far too close
to call and much like the right-tackle
battle last season will go into
summer camp. While this seems
to be more of a reloading effort
with DeCastro and Martin still
in the lineup to guide the new
faces, this line probably takes
a little step back from it's
top performance of a year ago.
Duplicating that kind of effort
might make this offense unstoppable.
|
|
OG
David DeCastro
|
|
|
STANFORD
2011 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Andrew
Luck-Jr (6-4, 235) |
Josh
Nunes-So (6-4, 209) |
FB |
Ryan
Hewitt-So (6-4, 240) |
Lee
Ward-RFr (6-1, 247) |
RB |
Stepfan
Taylor-Jr (5-11, 210) |
Anthony
Wilkerson-So (6-1,
215)
Tyler Gaffney-Jr (6-1,
216) |
WR |
Chris
Owusu-Sr (6-2, 199) |
Jamal-Rashad
Patterson-Jr (6-3,
205) |
WR |
Griff
Whalen-Sr (6-1, 192) |
Drew
Terrell-Jr (5-11,
179) |
TE |
Coby
Fleener-Sr (6-6, 244) |
Zach
Ertz-So (6-6, 249)
Levine Toilolo-So
(6-8, 255) |
OT |
Jonathan
Martin-Jr (6-6, 297) |
David
Yankey-RFr (6-5, 305) |
OG |
Kevin
Danser-So (6-6, 284) |
Dillon
Bonnell-RFr (6-4,
270) |
C |
Sam
Schwartzstein-Jr (6-3,
278) |
Khalil
Wilkes-So (6-3, 280) |
OG |
David
DeCastro-Jr (6-5,
307) |
Cole
Underwood-RFr (6-4,
275) |
OT |
Tyler
Mabry-Sr (6-7, 290) |
Cameron
Fleming-RFr (6-6,
299) |
K |
Jordan
Williamson-RFr (5-11,
179) |
Eric
Whitaker-So (5-9,
177) |
|
|
|
2011
DEFENSE |
DEFENSIVE
LINE
The defensive line is somewhat
of a question mark. The potential
exists for this group to be
productive much like it was
a year ago while being absolutely
stingy against the run (ranked
19th nationally) and getting
after opposing quarterbacks
(ranked 15th nationally in sacks).
But most of these numbers have
to do with a solid linebacking
core in this 3-4 alignment.
Senior defensive end Matt Masifilo
is the lone returning starter.
The Hawaiian was widely considered
one of the nation's top defensive
linemen coming out of high school.
Getting a full 12 games out
of him last year was a great
sign of his reliability after
an injury cut short his '09
campaign. Ben Gardner has made
strides this off-season and
will attempt to fill the shoes
of the departed Brian Bulcke,
the guy he backed up most of
last year. Terrence Stephens
is considered the leader to
step in at nose tackle. According
to co-defensive coordinator
Derek Mason, "It's his
time." Both David Parry
and Henry Anderson demonstrated
enough during the spring to
warrant equal playing reps.
Anderson will help on the D-line,
whether at nose tackle or end.
Stephens is the only player
on scholarship who fits the
profile of a true nose tackle,
but it's good to see enough
bodies exist for some semblance
of a rotation. The spring reviews
feel like this group can be
just as good, if not better
than last year. There's very
little experience however and
outside of Masifilo there's
only one sack between all the
incumbents.
LINEBACKER
While competitions to fill two
voids at linebacker are on going,
the talent and depth is encouraging.
This front seven is built around
inside backer Shayne Skov, who
looks to have taken over from
where he left off at the Orange
Bowl. Against a hot Virginia
Tech offense that night Skov
racked up 12 tackles, including
three sacks and five tackles
for loss. The man on the field
with the black face paint needs
no introduction. He has been
a menace to anyone standing
before him. The former five
star prep recruit according
to Scout.com has lived up to
his billing. Replacing FB/LB
Owen Marecic at the other inside
spot appears to be Max Bergen,
but this is not set in stone.
Bergen led the Cardinal in tackling
for a short time last season
as the starter in Shayne Skov’s
sat out the first two games
with injury. In the mix is the
redshirt freshman Tarpley who
has demonstrated a nose for
the ball and an ability to cover
a significant amount of ground.
Coaches and commentators have
also been raving about incoming
freshman James Vaughters and
what he will bring to the table
come August. Former Georgia
high school standout Chase Thomas
continues to man one of the
outside spots. He was the co-sack
leader with Skov last fall after
coming out of 2009 as a Freshman
All-American by most accounts.
On the other side coaches expressed
a desire for Indiana native
Blake Lueders to win a starting
role, but he spent most of his
time running with the second
team. Both Debniak and Murphy
have spent time with the first
team here but have battled injuries
throughout their early careers.
Debniak is a more prototypical
linebacker, while Murphy is
a gigantic specimen who might
be better suited as an end in
a 4-3 alignment. Both have played
with their hands on the ground.
With Chase Thomas sitting out
the spring game, Murphy and
Debniak each received extended
playing time.
DEFENSIVE
BACK
This backfield boasts three
proven seniors in the starting
line up. Ironically, many of
the participants in this backfield
were former running backs. Heading
the group is one of those in
Delano Howell, who has made
quite a splash at the safety
position. Howell, a NationalChamps.net
Preseason All-American, made
60 tackles, had five interceptions
and 10 passes deflected last
fall. He will enter his senior
season with 23 careers starts
under his belt. Locking down
the free safety spot is another
senior in Michael Thomas, the
former high school quarterback
with speed to burn. Thomas was
converted to defense midway
through his first preseason
camp on the Farm. Two years
later, the junior became a starter
at free safety demonstrating
quickness with his hands as
well as his feet. At cornerback,
senior Johnson Bademosi and
sophomore Barry Browning will
man the two cover corner positions.
Bademosi is a product of Washington
DC powerhouse Gonzaga HS where
he was also one of the nation's
premier high school rugby players.
Browning started three games
as a true freshman last year
and has won Shaw’s praise
for his continued progression
throughout spring practice.
Usua Amanam may be one of the
bigger spring position changes.
The former running back has
been enduring the learning curve
and with his athleticism has
a tremendous ceiling. He likely
won't be a starter but should
play a factor. Defensive coordinator
Derek Mason said that a handful
of incoming freshmen are likely
to play, particularly in the
secondary. So depth is no issue
with this unit either.
|
|
LB
Shayne Skov
|
|
|
STANFORD
2011 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Matt
Masifilo-Sr (6-3,
278) |
Josh
Mauro-So (6-6, 266) |
NT |
Terrence
Stephens-Jr (6-2,
287) |
David
Parry-RFr (6-2, 294) |
DE |
Ben
Gardner-So (6-4, 263) |
Henry
Anderson-RFr (6-6,
273) |
OLB |
Chase
Thomas-Jr (6-4, 240) |
Alex
Debniak-Jr (6-2, 234) |
ILB |
Shayne
Skov-Jr (6-3, 244) |
Joe
Hemschoot-RFr (6-1,
221) |
ILB |
Max
Bergen-Sr (6-2, 225) |
A.J.
Tarpley-RFr (6-2,
231) |
OLB |
Trent
Murphy-So (6-6, 242) |
Alex
Turner-RFr (6-1, 246) |
CB |
Barry
Browning-So (6-1,
176) |
Quinn
Evans-Jr (5-10, 179) |
CB |
Johnson
Bademosi-Sr (6-1,
197) |
Terrence
Brown-So (6-1, 171) |
SS |
Delano
Howell-Sr (5-11, 189) |
Myles
Muagtutia-So (6-2,
207) |
FS |
Michael
Thomas-Sr (5-11, 185) |
Ed
Reynolds-So (6-2,
201) |
P |
Daniel
Zychlinski-Jr (6-3,
203) |
David
Green-Sr (6-1, 205) |
|
|
|
|
2011
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Stanford
will need to offset the loss of kicker
Nate Whitaker, who earned first team
all-conference honors a year ago.
His .804 career field goal percentage
ranks first on the school's career
list. Rising sophomore Jordan Williamson
has spent the most time with the first
team this spring but coaches have
not named a starter. Pushing him is
Eric Whitaker who is a carbon copy
of his graduated brother Nate with
an exceptionally strong leg. There
is little drop-off in production between
the two. Stanford returns two punters
- Daniel Zychlinski and David Green
- who both saw action last season.
Zychlinski served as the primary punter
for the majority of the season with
24 attempts. Green was the team's
primary punter in 2008 and '09. Also
back are the top three return specialists
in senior Chris Owusu, Usua Amanam
and Drew Terrell. Owusu ranks as the
school's all-time leader in kickoff
return average although knee injuries
could force him to eventually give
up this job.
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