[BostonCard]

In thinking about the question of why we couldn't get our best offense and best defense together the same year, I started thinking what if we could get our best players since Harbaugh became our coach.

Offense
QB: Andrew Luck.  This is probably the easiest position, and yet if you think about it, Hogan (to his credit) probably makes this a bit closer than you would think with a two-time Voldemort runner up.
RB: Toby Gerhart.  If you ask me again at the end of the season, there's a good chance I'll say McCaffrey, because he is so versatile.  But still, Toby is built for the offense we run.  And Stepfan Taylor and Tyler Gaffney are not far behind.  An embarrassment of riches at the position.
FB: Owen Marecic.  Another position with lots of great candidates between Marecic, Hewitt, and, if he continues the current trajectory Marx, who may be the best blocker of the three.  Still, hard to argue with "the perfect football player".
TE: Zach Ertz.  Seems like every offensive position, you could pick multiple players out of a hat, and Fleener and now Hooper would be reasonable choices.
WR: Ty Montgomery and Ryan Whalen. Doug Baldwin also merits consideration here, but some of that is based on what he's accomplished in the NFL, and Chris Owusu might have had a chance here had he not been victimized by concussions.
LT: Jonathan Martin.  Andrus Peat had more potential, Murphy is having an awesome season this year, and Yankey also deserves mention, but no one made me feel safer than having Martin as the LT.
RT: Kyle Murphy. Although he is having a much better season this year as a left tackle, he did play as a RT last year.
RG: David DeCastro. Best pulling guard I have ever seen, bar none.  The easiest position to pick.
LG: Josh Garnett. Having a monster season this year; our best guard since DeCastro.  The second easiest position to pick.
C: Chase Beeler. Sam Schwartztein also merits consideration.


Defense
NT: David Parry.  He may have been a converted walk-on offensive lineman, but he was as close as we've had to a dominant tackle.  Fua and Stephens were good, but Parry was an anchor.
DE: Ben Gardner and Henry Anderson.  Also considered Matt Masifilo, but talk about a dominant line with those two.
ILB: Shayne Skov and Blake Martinez.  I wonder which one would lead the team in tackles?
OLB: Trent Murphy and Chase Thomas. Both two-time all-Pac-12 selections.  Talk about a #PartyInTheBackfield
S: Michael Thomas III and Ed Reynolds.  Tough call between Richards and Reynolds at Safety.
CB: Alex Carter and Richard Sherman.  Carter is obvious; Sherman might be influenced by his success in the NFL, and may be eclipsed by Harris, who has 9 pass break-ups so far this year (tops in the conference).  In a few years, I expect one of Akina's disciples to be a lock-down corner.

Special teams
PK: Nate Whitacker First team all-Pac-12 hitting 17/19 FG in 2010 (but for some reason, struggled with extra points).  Jordan Williamson deserves consideration as a four year starter, but Whitacker had a better career percentage.  Ukropenia, BTW is 8/9 so far this year, and if he keeps it up will match Whitacker's season.
P: David Green.  Thankfully, not a position that's been used too much of late, but Green was a 4 year starter with a 41 yard punt average
KOR: Ty Montgomery.  I went back and forth between Montgomery and Chris Owusu, who had three KOR for TD in a single year, but ultimately I picked Montgomery, in part because I thought even when he didn't return one to the house, he got very good yardage.
PR: Drew Terrell.  Mister reliable returning punts.  Only broke one for a TD, but there was no surer pair of hands returning punts than Terrell.

[BostonCard]

In thinking about the question of why we couldn't get our best offense and best defense together the same year, I started thinking what if we could get our best players since Harbaugh became our coach.

Offense
QB: Andrew Luck.  This is probably the easiest position, and yet if you think about it, Hogan (to his credit) probably makes this a bit closer than you would think with a two-time Voldemort runner up.
RB: Toby Gerhart.  If you ask me again at the end of the season, there's a good chance I'll say McCaffrey, because he is so versatile.  But still, Toby is built for the offense we run.  And Stepfan Taylor and Tyler Gaffney are not far behind.  An embarrassment of riches at the position.
FB: Owen Marecic.  Another position with lots of great candidates between Marecic, Hewitt, and, if he continues the current trajectory Marx, who may be the best blocker of the three.  Still, hard to argue with "the perfect football player".
TE: Zach Ertz.  Seems like every offensive position, you could pick multiple players out of a hat, and Fleener and now Hooper would be reasonable choices.
WR: Ty Montgomery and Ryan Whalen. Doug Baldwin also merits consideration here, but some of that is based on what he's accomplished in the NFL, and Chris Owusu might have had a chance here had he not been victimized by concussions.
LT: Jonathan Martin.  Andrus Peat had more potential, Murphy is having an awesome season this year, and Yankey also deserves mention, but no one made me feel safer than having Martin as the LT.
RT: Kyle Murphy. Although he is having a much better season this year as a left tackle, he did play as a RT last year.
RG: David DeCastro. Best pulling guard I have ever seen, bar none.  The easiest position to pick.
LG: Josh Garnett. Having a monster season this year; our best guard since DeCastro.  The second easiest position to pick.
C: Chase Beeler. Sam Schwartztein also merits consideration.


Defense
NT: David Parry.  He may have been a converted walk-on offensive lineman, but he was as close as we've had to a dominant tackle.  Fua and Stephens were good, but Parry was an anchor.
DE: Ben Gardner and Henry Anderson.  Also considered Matt Masifilo, but talk about a dominant line with those two.
ILB: Shayne Skov and Blake Martinez.  I wonder which one would lead the team in tackles?
OLB: Trent Murphy and Chase Thomas. Both two-time all-Pac-12 selections.  Talk about a #PartyInTheBackfield
S: Michael Thomas III and Ed Reynolds.  Tough call between Richards and Reynolds at Safety.
CB: Alex Carter and Richard Sherman.  Carter is obvious; Sherman might be influenced by his success in the NFL, and may be eclipsed by Harris, who has 9 pass break-ups so far this year (tops in the conference).  In a few years, I expect one of Akina's disciples to be a lock-down corner.

Special teams
PK: Nate Whitacker First team all-Pac-12 hitting 17/19 FG in 2010 (but for some reason, struggled with extra points).  Jordan Williamson deserves consideration as a four year starter, but Whitacker had a better career percentage.  Ukropenia, BTW is 8/9 so far this year, and if he keeps it up will match Whitacker's season.
P: David Green.  Thankfully, not a position that's been used too much of late, but Green was a 4 year starter with a 41 yard punt average
KOR: Ty Montgomery.  I went back and forth between Montgomery and Chris Owusu, who had three KOR for TD in a single year, but ultimately I picked Montgomery, in part because I thought even when he didn't return one to the house, he got very good yardage.
PR: Drew Terrell.  Mister reliable returning punts.  Only broke one for a TD, but there was no surer pair of hands returning punts than Terrell.

[Leftcoast]

Great list and well researched. 

My only quibble is I suspect you are choosing Sherman due to his NFL mastery rather than his Stanford apprenticeship.  Sherman struggled after his transition from WR and often wasn't the best DB on the field during his two year stint at Stanford.  His potential was obvious even when the results were average and it was that potential which attracted Carroll and the Seahawks.  I enjoy the delicious irony of Carroll drafting one of the prime architects of his 2nd greatest college defeat.

I might take Owusu over Montgomery at KR - his returns were electric, must see events prior to his concussions.  Clearly Montgomery's All-American year is a worthy alternative.  They may both make way for McCaffrey by the end of his Stanford career.

[Leftcoast]

Great list and well researched. 

My only quibble is I suspect you are choosing Sherman due to his NFL mastery rather than his Stanford apprenticeship.  Sherman struggled after his transition from WR and often wasn't the best DB on the field during his two year stint at Stanford.  His potential was obvious even when the results were average and it was that potential which attracted Carroll and the Seahawks.  I enjoy the delicious irony of Carroll drafting one of the prime architects of his 2nd greatest college defeat.

I might take Owusu over Montgomery at KR - his returns were electric, must see events prior to his concussions.  Clearly Montgomery's All-American year is a worthy alternative.  They may both make way for McCaffrey by the end of his Stanford career.

[fullmetal]

I gotta go with Jordan Williamson, if only for that kick to beat Oregon at Oregon, paving the way for the Rose Bowl.

Also, sp: Whitaker, Ukropina.

[fullmetal]

I gotta go with Jordan Williamson, if only for that kick to beat Oregon at Oregon, paving the way for the Rose Bowl.

Also, sp: Whitaker, Ukropina.

[cardcoug]

Man, what a collection of talent. Thanks for this BC. It's really pleasant to look at this and remember the amazing football we've seen over the last few years.
I take issue with your comment about Hogan in relation to Luck, though. Hogan does what Shaw asks of him about as well as anyone could hope for, but that has not been true of his entire career, as it was for Luck. More than that, though, Luck was the type of QB that could carry the team when nothing else worked. When he took the field, regardless of basically everything, if Stanford needed to score, you could feel confident that he would make something happen. I don't think Hogan would have been able to keep up with Oklahoma State like Luck did, or lead us to that epic 3OT victory over USC. We'll be lucky to have another QB of his caliber again, ever.

[cardcoug]

Man, what a collection of talent. Thanks for this BC. It's really pleasant to look at this and remember the amazing football we've seen over the last few years.
I take issue with your comment about Hogan in relation to Luck, though. Hogan does what Shaw asks of him about as well as anyone could hope for, but that has not been true of his entire career, as it was for Luck. More than that, though, Luck was the type of QB that could carry the team when nothing else worked. When he took the field, regardless of basically everything, if Stanford needed to score, you could feel confident that he would make something happen. I don't think Hogan would have been able to keep up with Oklahoma State like Luck did, or lead us to that epic 3OT victory over USC. We'll be lucky to have another QB of his caliber again, ever.

[Hulk01]

Good thoughts.  I'd take Richards by a standard deviation over Reynolds, however.  Ed took so many bad angles.

[Hulk01]

Good thoughts.  I'd take Richards by a standard deviation over Reynolds, however.  Ed took so many bad angles.

[washingtonismoney]

Agree -- Richards much better than Reynolds. There's revealed preference here: the coaches sometimes subbed off Reynolds. They never subbed off Richards.

[washingtonismoney]

Agree -- Richards much better than Reynolds. There's revealed preference here: the coaches sometimes subbed off Reynolds. They never subbed off Richards.

[StanfordMatt]

Impressive list. Anyone else have Fua over Parry?

Fua: Honorable mention All-PAC 10 as a junior, 2nd Team All-PAC 10 as a senior, 3rd round draft pick (#97 overall)

Parry: No all-conference recognition as a junior, honorable mention All-PAC 12 as a senior, 5th round draft pick (#151 overall)

On the flip side, Parry did have slightly better stats as a senior: 33 tackles, 7 TFL, 5 sacks vs. 23 tackles, 6 TFL, 4.5 sacks

[StanfordMatt]

Impressive list. Anyone else have Fua over Parry?

Fua: Honorable mention All-PAC 10 as a junior, 2nd Team All-PAC 10 as a senior, 3rd round draft pick (#97 overall)

Parry: No all-conference recognition as a junior, honorable mention All-PAC 12 as a senior, 5th round draft pick (#151 overall)

On the flip side, Parry did have slightly better stats as a senior: 33 tackles, 7 TFL, 5 sacks vs. 23 tackles, 6 TFL, 4.5 sacks

[OutsiderFan]

Defense
DE Anderson
NT Fua 
DE Gardner
OLB Thomas
ILB Skov
ILB Martinez
OLB Murphy
SS Richards
FS Howell
CB Carter
CB Brown

Offense
LT Martin
LG Garnett
C  Beeler
RG DeCastro
RT Murphy
QB Luck
RB McCaffrey
FB Marx
TE Ertz
WR Baldwin
WR Montgomery

KOR Montgomery
PR  Terrell

Don't think the Kickers/Punters have been particularly great, so throw a blanket over them all.

[OutsiderFan]

Defense
DE Anderson
NT Fua 
DE Gardner
OLB Thomas
ILB Skov
ILB Martinez
OLB Murphy
SS Richards
FS Howell
CB Carter
CB Brown

Offense
LT Martin
LG Garnett
C  Beeler
RG DeCastro
RT Murphy
QB Luck
RB McCaffrey
FB Marx
TE Ertz
WR Baldwin
WR Montgomery

KOR Montgomery
PR  Terrell

Don't think the Kickers/Punters have been particularly great, so throw a blanket over them all.

[BostonCard]

My only quibble is I suspect you are choosing Sherman due to his NFL mastery rather than his Stanford apprenticeship.  Sherman struggled after his transition from WR and often wasn't the best DB on the field during his two year stint at Stanford.  His potential was obvious even when the results were average and it was that potential which attracted Carroll and the Seahawks.  I enjoy the delicious irony of Carroll drafting one of the prime architects of his 2nd greatest college defeat.

I admitted as much when I wrote Sherman in.  The problem is that aside from Carter, we haven't had too much in the way of corners.  Harris, I think is shaping up to be an all-conference corner this year and after the year is over would probably be my pick, but still hasn't been a starter for a year.  Beyond that, there's Lyons, who was a multi-year starter, but lost his job out to Harris towards the end of last year, and is having trouble cracking the depth chart in Michigan (and would probably have been a better safety than corner), and Brown who was quietly effective.

As for Reynolds vs. Richards, I think I was unduly influenced by Reynolds' 6 INT's, three of which were pick sixes.  He had a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and in a defense that has sometimes struggled to generate turnovers, I thought he'd be a good addition.

As for Luck, I don't disagree; he was obviously my pick for QB.  But I thought Hogan has been accomplished enough over the last three plus years to merit having a discussion, even if it reaffirms how special Luck was.  Hogan is quietly having himself a tremendous season, and when all is said and done will occupy a space among the QB's that are in the group just behind the elites (Luck, Elway, and Plunkett).

BC

[BostonCard]

My only quibble is I suspect you are choosing Sherman due to his NFL mastery rather than his Stanford apprenticeship.  Sherman struggled after his transition from WR and often wasn't the best DB on the field during his two year stint at Stanford.  His potential was obvious even when the results were average and it was that potential which attracted Carroll and the Seahawks.  I enjoy the delicious irony of Carroll drafting one of the prime architects of his 2nd greatest college defeat.

I admitted as much when I wrote Sherman in.  The problem is that aside from Carter, we haven't had too much in the way of corners.  Harris, I think is shaping up to be an all-conference corner this year and after the year is over would probably be my pick, but still hasn't been a starter for a year.  Beyond that, there's Lyons, who was a multi-year starter, but lost his job out to Harris towards the end of last year, and is having trouble cracking the depth chart in Michigan (and would probably have been a better safety than corner), and Brown who was quietly effective.

As for Reynolds vs. Richards, I think I was unduly influenced by Reynolds' 6 INT's, three of which were pick sixes.  He had a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and in a defense that has sometimes struggled to generate turnovers, I thought he'd be a good addition.

As for Luck, I don't disagree; he was obviously my pick for QB.  But I thought Hogan has been accomplished enough over the last three plus years to merit having a discussion, even if it reaffirms how special Luck was.  Hogan is quietly having himself a tremendous season, and when all is said and done will occupy a space among the QB's that are in the group just behind the elites (Luck, Elway, and Plunkett).

BC

[CTcard]

My only quibble is I suspect you are choosing Sherman due to his NFL mastery rather than his Stanford apprenticeship.  Sherman struggled after his transition from WR and often wasn't the best DB on the field during his two year stint at Stanford. 

In 2009 Sherman was still learning to play CB, though he was still easily our best CB that year. In 2010 Sherman was extremely good, though that was widely missed by many Stanford fans.
His stats in 2010: 50 tackles, 4 INTs, and 13 passes defended. More importantly, teams quit throwing to his side of the field - the true sign of a great CB.
In 2009 he had 62 tackles, 2 INTs, 10 passes defended.

The only other CB candidate I saw listed in this thread was Terrence Brown. Brown had two good years: 2011 with 43 tackles, 1 INT, and 6 passes defended; 2012 with 65 tackles, 1 INT, and 10 passes defended. However, we noticed him a lot because teams were still throwing at him. I don't think he was as good as Sherman.

Carter in 2014 41 tackles, 1 INT, and 10 passes defended ... and a fair amount of having teams look to the other side of the field.
In 2013 he had 59 tackles, 1 INT and 8 passes defended.

I think the only other possible CB candidate was Wopamo Osaisai. He developed into a pretty good CB as well. In 2008 he had 67 tackles (was too many tackles by our defensive backfield that year - and previously), 0 INTs, 8 passes defended. In 2007 he had 45 tackles, 1 INT, and 8 passes defended. Based on my memory of the sum total of his contributions, he wouldn't beat out the other three (though he was faster).

Finally, while it won't make the cut, Ronnie Harris is quietly on pace for a pretty good single season - though picking up some INTs would help. At what we hope is about the halfway point of the season, he has 25 tackles, 0 INTs, and 9 passes broken up ... and opposing teams starting to go after Holder instead of his side. If he were to get to 18 passes broken up that would be in the region of the national leaders over the past several season (currently he's tied for ninth).

[CTcard]

My only quibble is I suspect you are choosing Sherman due to his NFL mastery rather than his Stanford apprenticeship.  Sherman struggled after his transition from WR and often wasn't the best DB on the field during his two year stint at Stanford. 

In 2009 Sherman was still learning to play CB, though he was still easily our best CB that year. In 2010 Sherman was extremely good, though that was widely missed by many Stanford fans.
His stats in 2010: 50 tackles, 4 INTs, and 13 passes defended. More importantly, teams quit throwing to his side of the field - the true sign of a great CB.
In 2009 he had 62 tackles, 2 INTs, 10 passes defended.

The only other CB candidate I saw listed in this thread was Terrence Brown. Brown had two good years: 2011 with 43 tackles, 1 INT, and 6 passes defended; 2012 with 65 tackles, 1 INT, and 10 passes defended. However, we noticed him a lot because teams were still throwing at him. I don't think he was as good as Sherman.

Carter in 2014 41 tackles, 1 INT, and 10 passes defended ... and a fair amount of having teams look to the other side of the field.
In 2013 he had 59 tackles, 1 INT and 8 passes defended.

I think the only other possible CB candidate was Wopamo Osaisai. He developed into a pretty good CB as well. In 2008 he had 67 tackles (was too many tackles by our defensive backfield that year - and previously), 0 INTs, 8 passes defended. In 2007 he had 45 tackles, 1 INT, and 8 passes defended. Based on my memory of the sum total of his contributions, he wouldn't beat out the other three (though he was faster).

Finally, while it won't make the cut, Ronnie Harris is quietly on pace for a pretty good single season - though picking up some INTs would help. At what we hope is about the halfway point of the season, he has 25 tackles, 0 INTs, and 9 passes broken up ... and opposing teams starting to go after Holder instead of his side. If he were to get to 18 passes broken up that would be in the region of the national leaders over the past several season (currently he's tied for ninth).

[washingtonismoney]

I'd do one add: since nickel is basically a starting position, let's put Usua Amanam there.

[washingtonismoney]

I'd do one add: since nickel is basically a starting position, let's put Usua Amanam there.

[BostonCard]

I'd do one add: since nickel is basically a starting position, let's put Usua Amanam there.

Yes!  Was going to mention that as an add.  Thanks for doing it for me.

BC

[BostonCard]

I'd do one add: since nickel is basically a starting position, let's put Usua Amanam there.

Yes!  Was going to mention that as an add.  Thanks for doing it for me.

BC

[kuz]

Crazy that no one has picked Yankey yet. Crazier that I don't even really disagree. It just shows how strong our OL has been in the Harbaugh/Shaw years.

[kuz]

Crazy that no one has picked Yankey yet. Crazier that I don't even really disagree. It just shows how strong our OL has been in the Harbaugh/Shaw years.

[Treebound]

I think when all is said and done, our M&M backfield of McCaffrey and Marx is going to eclipse Toby and Owen.      I said last year that I thought Cmac would be our next Voldemort runner-up!  He's a year ahead of where I thought he would be.  I hope I underestimated what he can do.  As for Marx, he has really come into his own in the last few games and is blowing people up on his blocking schemes.  Let's keep the M&Ms rolling!

[Treebound]

I think when all is said and done, our M&M backfield of McCaffrey and Marx is going to eclipse Toby and Owen.      I said last year that I thought Cmac would be our next Voldemort runner-up!  He's a year ahead of where I thought he would be.  I hope I underestimated what he can do.  As for Marx, he has really come into his own in the last few games and is blowing people up on his blocking schemes.  Let's keep the M&Ms rolling!

[Leftcoast]

Also crazy that Stepfan Taylor, all-time Stanford yardage leader is barely mentioned in this discussion .... and we all  understand why despite his acknowledged greatness.    Stanford fans have experienced an embarrassment of riches at Stanford Stadium over the last 10 years. 

[Leftcoast]

Also crazy that Stepfan Taylor, all-time Stanford yardage leader is barely mentioned in this discussion .... and we all  understand why despite his acknowledged greatness.    Stanford fans have experienced an embarrassment of riches at Stanford Stadium over the last 10 years. 

[Hulk01]

Amazed to see how on board I was with the players who got subbed out above.

I was going to take Brown over Sherman.  Terrence had a very good senior year.  But it's almost certain that I would name Harris over Brown after this season. 

Ditto, Marx over Marecic.  I know it's early and that Marx is young, but holy cow--he's something.

And Christian over Toby, Voldemort runner up not withstanding.  I've never a Stanford skill player like Mac, nor another Stanford underclassman player held in such regard by his teammates. 

[Hulk01]

Amazed to see how on board I was with the players who got subbed out above.

I was going to take Brown over Sherman.  Terrence had a very good senior year.  But it's almost certain that I would name Harris over Brown after this season. 

Ditto, Marx over Marecic.  I know it's early and that Marx is young, but holy cow--he's something.

And Christian over Toby, Voldemort runner up not withstanding.  I've never a Stanford skill player like Mac, nor another Stanford underclassman player held in such regard by his teammates.