[CTcard]

Fewer if's in my mind than in most of the last half-dozen years (OT, DL, ILB). If they nail one of these cold and do OK at the other two I think this team goes 10-2 at worst.

Well, I'd replace OT with OL, and ILB with QB.
[I'm also not yet thrilled about the WR situation, but for Stanford it's probably good enough.]

I am cautiously optimistic on Stanford's prospects this season, but with a healthy dose of caution.

I don't believe that anybody really knows if the OL can actually coordinate their pass blocking, how well whomever ends up at QB will play, and whether our DL will hold up.

On the other hand, I did think that Chryst was looking much better at the end of last season - above and beyond the quality of defense thing, that the extra experience (and perhaps talent infusion) should greatly help the OL, and I am bearish enough on the LBers that I think they'll help out a lot with deficiencies on the DL.

The other looming problem is that I agree with Mr. Ancient City in the other thread that the likely best (other?) team in the Pac 12 is UW, so we could be quite good and still not win our division.
http://thecardboard.org/board/index.php?...#msg195522

WAST faces SDST in Vegas.  This is a basketball game -- over 100 pts. Bring extra balls.

Since we are about to play them, it's worth noting that SDST has been a defensively-oriented team for some time now. While they lose a fair amount on both sides of the ball, much more on offense so it is likely to remain true.

So, I think it may be more likely that our game vs SDST has a baseball score than WSU vs SDST has a basketball score.

[CTcard]

Fewer if's in my mind than in most of the last half-dozen years (OT, DL, ILB). If they nail one of these cold and do OK at the other two I think this team goes 10-2 at worst.

Well, I'd replace OT with OL, and ILB with QB.
[I'm also not yet thrilled about the WR situation, but for Stanford it's probably good enough.]

I am cautiously optimistic on Stanford's prospects this season, but with a healthy dose of caution.

I don't believe that anybody really knows if the OL can actually coordinate their pass blocking, how well whomever ends up at QB will play, and whether our DL will hold up.

On the other hand, I did think that Chryst was looking much better at the end of last season - above and beyond the quality of defense thing, that the extra experience (and perhaps talent infusion) should greatly help the OL, and I am bearish enough on the LBers that I think they'll help out a lot with deficiencies on the DL.

The other looming problem is that I agree with Mr. Ancient City in the other thread that the likely best (other?) team in the Pac 12 is UW, so we could be quite good and still not win our division.
http://thecardboard.org/board/index.php?...#msg195522

WAST faces SDST in Vegas.  This is a basketball game -- over 100 pts. Bring extra balls.

Since we are about to play them, it's worth noting that SDST has been a defensively-oriented team for some time now. While they lose a fair amount on both sides of the ball, much more on offense so it is likely to remain true.

So, I think it may be more likely that our game vs SDST has a baseball score than WSU vs SDST has a basketball score.