[OutsiderFan]

Pretty good break down on the Stanford team I would say.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--fbc-...nford.html

Only things I take exception to are Devon Carrington at FS, which IMO, would be disastrous, and calling Barry Sanders  a "Jr."

It seems Stanford's ability to win more than 8-9 games will be a direct function of how good Lyons and Carter are.  But in order to beat Oregon and USC, one of the True Frosh WRs is going to have to be a sensation like Robert Woods or Marqise Lee the last two years for the Condoms.

[OutsiderFan]

Pretty good break down on the Stanford team I would say.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--fbc-...nford.html

Only things I take exception to are Devon Carrington at FS, which IMO, would be disastrous, and calling Barry Sanders  a "Jr."

It seems Stanford's ability to win more than 8-9 games will be a direct function of how good Lyons and Carter are.  But in order to beat Oregon and USC, one of the True Frosh WRs is going to have to be a sensation like Robert Woods or Marqise Lee the last two years for the Condoms.

[OutsiderFan]

Tarpley is a better player than Lancaster, IMO.  I'm curious if Vaughters is as well. 

[OutsiderFan]

Tarpley is a better player than Lancaster, IMO.  I'm curious if Vaughters is as well. 

[washingtonismoney]

Yeah, I think it'll end up being Reynolds and Richards at the safety position. Wouldn't be shocked if Hoffpauir passed Carrington quickly, either. (assuming Carrington hasn't had some eureka moment in his ability to properly take tackling angles and tackle...which seems highly unlikely.)

[washingtonismoney]

Yeah, I think it'll end up being Reynolds and Richards at the safety position. Wouldn't be shocked if Hoffpauir passed Carrington quickly, either. (assuming Carrington hasn't had some eureka moment in his ability to properly take tackling angles and tackle...which seems highly unlikely.)

[fullers]

Agree. Safeties will be Reynolds (healthy again) and Richards. Depth at safety is an issue...

I expect Lancaster to start alongside Skov. Lancaster took brobdingnagian steps forward at the end of last year and was fanastic in the Fiesta Bowl. Tarpley will rotate in at MLB, and Vaughters and Hemschoot will get some time.

Getting Lyons back is brobdingnagian. Impact starter. Does he replace Brown or Browning?

[fullers]

Agree. Safeties will be Reynolds (healthy again) and Richards. Depth at safety is an issue...

I expect Lancaster to start alongside Skov. Lancaster took brobdingnagian steps forward at the end of last year and was fanastic in the Fiesta Bowl. Tarpley will rotate in at MLB, and Vaughters and Hemschoot will get some time.

Getting Lyons back is brobdingnagian. Impact starter. Does he replace Brown or Browning?

[socalstanfan1]

I know that both Lyons and true-freshman Alex Carter are projected as cornerbacks, and I'm certain that the coaching staff wants relatively tall corners (6 foot +) both to help handle some of the larger receivers in the conference (i.e., Woods and Marquis from USC), and for help against the run.  BUT, circumstances have a way of changing things, and it really wouldn't be a surprise if we find that we have a surplus of solid CBs (Brown, Browning, Lyons, Carter, Ronnie Harris) if one of them was moved over to a S position for a year.  If Hoffpauir and Madhu develop sufficiently in their first year, you can always move Lyons/Carter back to CB.  It might not be ideal, but if it shored up the defense for this year I would say its a real possibility, especially if injuries hit (as they already have with Olugbode)

[socalstanfan1]

I know that both Lyons and true-freshman Alex Carter are projected as cornerbacks, and I'm certain that the coaching staff wants relatively tall corners (6 foot +) both to help handle some of the larger receivers in the conference (i.e., Woods and Marquis from USC), and for help against the run.  BUT, circumstances have a way of changing things, and it really wouldn't be a surprise if we find that we have a surplus of solid CBs (Brown, Browning, Lyons, Carter, Ronnie Harris) if one of them was moved over to a S position for a year.  If Hoffpauir and Madhu develop sufficiently in their first year, you can always move Lyons/Carter back to CB.  It might not be ideal, but if it shored up the defense for this year I would say its a real possibility, especially if injuries hit (as they already have with Olugbode)

[OutsiderFan]

It's much better to play a Corner at Safety than a Safety at Corner.  In general, Safeties do not have the speed/quickness need to cover receivers in space or man-to-man.  Corners of course do (at least good ones).  It's quite common for NFL Corners to move to Safety to extend their career.  Ronnie Lott and Rod Woodson are two notable examples. 

What you would lose with a Corner playing Safety might be size, physicality, and sometimes the ability to "play centerfield" as a ball hawk, but Corners can be just as instinctive. 

As it relates to Stanford, Lyons and Carter both have pretty good size, so they both should be able to play Safety.  They were both ranked as Safeties coming out of H.S.

[OutsiderFan]

It's much better to play a Corner at Safety than a Safety at Corner.  In general, Safeties do not have the speed/quickness need to cover receivers in space or man-to-man.  Corners of course do (at least good ones).  It's quite common for NFL Corners to move to Safety to extend their career.  Ronnie Lott and Rod Woodson are two notable examples. 

What you would lose with a Corner playing Safety might be size, physicality, and sometimes the ability to "play centerfield" as a ball hawk, but Corners can be just as instinctive. 

As it relates to Stanford, Lyons and Carter both have pretty good size, so they both should be able to play Safety.  They were both ranked as Safeties coming out of H.S.

[Hank 91]

I think Lyons is locked in at corner. Shaw has said this many times, and apparently feels Lyons is not just a corner, but a player with the potential to be one of the best cornerbacks in the nation.

[Hank 91]

I think Lyons is locked in at corner. Shaw has said this many times, and apparently feels Lyons is not just a corner, but a player with the potential to be one of the best cornerbacks in the nation.

[Hank 91]

Here's a free article from Drukarev at Cardinal Report about the safety situation. Posted this morning.
http://stanford.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1391496

[Hank 91]

Here's a free article from Drukarev at Cardinal Report about the safety situation. Posted this morning.
http://stanford.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1391496

[terry]

Shaw said at an event today that the best tacklers will play at safety. He said he's looking for safeties who can make open-field tackles against Oregon and U.S.C.

[terry]

Shaw said at an event today that the best tacklers will play at safety. He said he's looking for safeties who can make open-field tackles against Oregon and U.S.C.

[OutsiderFan]

Shaw said at an event today that the best tacklers will play at safety. He said he's looking for safeties who can make open-field tackles against Oregon and U.S.C.

If this is the case, Carrington is a non-starter as a starter and you can pen Jordan Richards in as a starter because he's the best tackling Safety with any college game experience on the roster.  I'll agree Lyons will be a Corner for certain, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say Alex Carter is going to be plugged in at Safety behind Reynolds, unless Madhu is so impressive that he plays as a Frosh. 

Conventional wisdom might be that you need a veteran guy to play Safety, but really, if a guy can't do the job even with experience because he doesn't have the physical ability, you have to play the inexperience with the athletic ability and greater upside.  It will be a lot to ask a True Frosh to battle a guy like Barkley should he need to spell Ed Reynolds in the 3rd game of his college career, but I'm guessing Alex Carter will be the best option Stanford has at FS, maybe even including Reynolds.

[OutsiderFan]

Shaw said at an event today that the best tacklers will play at safety. He said he's looking for safeties who can make open-field tackles against Oregon and U.S.C.

If this is the case, Carrington is a non-starter as a starter and you can pen Jordan Richards in as a starter because he's the best tackling Safety with any college game experience on the roster.  I'll agree Lyons will be a Corner for certain, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say Alex Carter is going to be plugged in at Safety behind Reynolds, unless Madhu is so impressive that he plays as a Frosh. 

Conventional wisdom might be that you need a veteran guy to play Safety, but really, if a guy can't do the job even with experience because he doesn't have the physical ability, you have to play the inexperience with the athletic ability and greater upside.  It will be a lot to ask a True Frosh to battle a guy like Barkley should he need to spell Ed Reynolds in the 3rd game of his college career, but I'm guessing Alex Carter will be the best option Stanford has at FS, maybe even including Reynolds.