(10-08-2020, 01:57 PM)Believer Wrote: After watching last season I'll make my assumptions based on my own experiences and observations and not get upset at what a few local sports writers think. Their attempt to analyze the game and predict the outcome of a 2020 season is strictly viewed by me as pure entertainment. While 4th place is not far fetched being that Cal, Oregon and UW will be (for good reasons) formifable opponents. I will look to my own criteria on why I believe that a 4th place finish is as likely as a 1st place finish:
-In 2019, 18 true freshman saw legit play time
-An injury descimated offensive line with a true Freshman OT, true freshman OG's provided ptotection that only allowed 29 sacks and paved the way for over 1200 yards rushing. The group was anchored by a DUDE who I think could be an All American Center in 2020. With a TE and a T&F athlete walk-on as the only depth at one point. This group is built on adversity. 2020 brings health and depth and an opportunity to shine this year. (In 2019 Stanford QBs were sacked 29 times in 444 attempts. Compare that with Cal-47/366, Oregon-41/446 and UW-29/411. All along leaning on arguably the greenist OL in P5 football- too me thats a miracle)
-Stanford secondary also saw an injury bug and rolled out a true freshman safety starter who played with the spark of a veteran and a freshman corner who ran stride for stride with most every WR faced
-Two freshman RB's played maningful snaps and showed that they could have started on many if not most P5 squads. (Austin Jones averaging 5.0 yards per carry and Nathaniel Peat going for 6.3 yards per carry) all while playing behind a line playing way over their head
-Break out WR play: likely one of the most talented WR rooms in recent memory if not ever. No injuries, no opting out, and adding to the room with talented 2020 players
-QB position that in 2019 had a question mark from week to week/play to play but still manage to toss for more yards in one game than any other QB in the history of Stanford Football all the while playing and competing in games that that they had no business being in with such an injury stricken program. And that QB (the former #1 High School QB in America) is back. And hes backed up by another very talented QB
Meanwhile in Oregon they lose a QB that is/was likely the most underrated QB in the NFL draft and possibly the best QB in the Class of 19' (only time will tell) They also lost 4 of their best eligible players who were active last year that have opted out to prepare for the draft. Thats a hit! Fact is, Oregon had a DUDE in Herbert and knowing what I know now, its likely that Oregon underachieved with him. How will they perform now that they don't have one of the best QB's in America?
In Cal you have a team that could barely beat us when they were at their best and when we were at our worst. While I give Wilcox credit, and see the same momentum as everyone else, they are still grossly under staffed when comparing rosters with Stanford. Its not close. (side note: Cal just lost prized 2020 4* TE who up and quit before his first camp began. Its the 2nd TE in two seasons with a promising future that quit the program. Not a good look for Wilcox who trying his hardest to build up a dominant TE room)
UW no longer has one of the best coaches they have ever had. Changes in the coaching carousel outside of the head coaches office arent going to help them either. Anyway you look at it, first year college head coaches are challenged. UW will still be a fight, but without the crowd, I will put my Stanford
The stats you cited in bold type are not correct because, unlike the NFL, the Pac-12 reports sacks as rushing attempts. As a result, the passing stats are skewed.
Also, the Cal TE that you mentioned as having “quit” did not quit. His scholarship was revoked for reasons that Stanford fans are well aware of.
