03-12-2013, 03:50 AM
I've seen enough to conclude the passing game is going to improve, and the OL will enable a more productive rushing attack than 2012, which frankly was not that great when you look at the numbers.
To me the biggest question to be answered is who are the playmakers, the guys who will make the second half TDs scored by Taylor against USC and Oregon State, and by Ertz against USC and Oregon?
Don't sleep on Cal either. They have loads of talent and are now being competently coached for the first time in years. They have the potential to wear down what *could* be a thin Stanford secondary late in the season.
That all said, ask any coach if they'd rather have a veteran defense and OL with inexperienced TEs and WRs OR veteran WRs and TEs and inexperienced defense and OL, and they would take the former any time. Stanford will likely have the best defense in the PAC-12 and a dominant OL, led by an experienced QB. That should be good for at least 5 conference wins, and if last year is a judge, more.
To me the biggest question to be answered is who are the playmakers, the guys who will make the second half TDs scored by Taylor against USC and Oregon State, and by Ertz against USC and Oregon?
Don't sleep on Cal either. They have loads of talent and are now being competently coached for the first time in years. They have the potential to wear down what *could* be a thin Stanford secondary late in the season.
That all said, ask any coach if they'd rather have a veteran defense and OL with inexperienced TEs and WRs OR veteran WRs and TEs and inexperienced defense and OL, and they would take the former any time. Stanford will likely have the best defense in the PAC-12 and a dominant OL, led by an experienced QB. That should be good for at least 5 conference wins, and if last year is a judge, more.