[OutsiderFan]

[quote author=stan01 link=topic=6667.msg49705#msg49705 date=1350275213]
Number 20 in the BCS poll.

this is a year of rebuilding.
[/quote]

How exactly is this a re-building year?  As I see it, the challenge for Stanford was to replace two OL, a QB, and a pair of Safeties from 2011 to 2012.  On Defense Howell, MT3, and Masifilo were easily replaced by Reynolds, Richards, and Anderson.  The Wilkes, Danser, Yankey, Peat rotation hasn't been elite, but it's been good enough for Stanford to maintain Top 10 in the country or better.  Maybe Griff Whalen hasn't been replaced as easily as thought, but his absence isn't the issue.

In other words, the Defense and OL have effectively re-loaded.

The only issue is the QB play.  It didn't have to be elite for Stanford to be in the running for a BCS game in 2012.  It just had to be mediocre.  It isn't even that.  From my experience watching football, a QB has "it" or not as a passer.  I've never seen a guy improve his accuracy so late into his career.  He might improve his decision making in terms of trying to force balls into tight coverage, but he doesn't improve his ability to throw accurately to open receivers.  You are either consistently accurate or you aren't by the time you are a RS Junior QB. 

Nunes may limit his mistakes more over time, but not making mistakes is totally different than making plays.  Even if Nunes hadn't thrown any interceptions, would Stanford have beat UW or ND?  Doubtful.  I'd way rather have a guy who makes more mistakes, but also makes more plays, than a guy who makes fewer mistakes but doesn't make many plays, especially when I have a great defense that can erase a lot of mistakes. 

If Nunes doesn't improve dramatically and/or isn't replaced, 2013 will turn into another re-building year.

[OutsiderFan]

[quote author=stan01 link=topic=6667.msg49705#msg49705 date=1350275213]
Number 20 in the BCS poll.

this is a year of rebuilding.
[/quote]

How exactly is this a re-building year?  As I see it, the challenge for Stanford was to replace two OL, a QB, and a pair of Safeties from 2011 to 2012.  On Defense Howell, MT3, and Masifilo were easily replaced by Reynolds, Richards, and Anderson.  The Wilkes, Danser, Yankey, Peat rotation hasn't been elite, but it's been good enough for Stanford to maintain Top 10 in the country or better.  Maybe Griff Whalen hasn't been replaced as easily as thought, but his absence isn't the issue.

In other words, the Defense and OL have effectively re-loaded.

The only issue is the QB play.  It didn't have to be elite for Stanford to be in the running for a BCS game in 2012.  It just had to be mediocre.  It isn't even that.  From my experience watching football, a QB has "it" or not as a passer.  I've never seen a guy improve his accuracy so late into his career.  He might improve his decision making in terms of trying to force balls into tight coverage, but he doesn't improve his ability to throw accurately to open receivers.  You are either consistently accurate or you aren't by the time you are a RS Junior QB. 

Nunes may limit his mistakes more over time, but not making mistakes is totally different than making plays.  Even if Nunes hadn't thrown any interceptions, would Stanford have beat UW or ND?  Doubtful.  I'd way rather have a guy who makes more mistakes, but also makes more plays, than a guy who makes fewer mistakes but doesn't make many plays, especially when I have a great defense that can erase a lot of mistakes. 

If Nunes doesn't improve dramatically and/or isn't replaced, 2013 will turn into another re-building year.