[washingtonismoney]

Here (http://espn.go.com/blog/stanford-footbal...pring-wrap)

Aren't you tired of reading about the drop-off Stanford is going to suffer with the graduation of Luck? Well, so are the players. Several have said off the record that it's a great motivational tool because they believe the defense and running game are stronger than they've ever been. Whatever the public thinks, it hasn't penetrated the locker room. Not yet, anyway.

The defense, we've known and discussed about. Obviously there are some well-founded qualms with the defensive backfield, and it's reassuring that the players are bullish. The running game is an interesting one. I was personally hoping the running game would be...about as strong as this year or maybe a little worse. Better would change my expectations.

[washingtonismoney]

Here (http://espn.go.com/blog/stanford-footbal...pring-wrap)

Aren't you tired of reading about the drop-off Stanford is going to suffer with the graduation of Luck? Well, so are the players. Several have said off the record that it's a great motivational tool because they believe the defense and running game are stronger than they've ever been. Whatever the public thinks, it hasn't penetrated the locker room. Not yet, anyway.

The defense, we've known and discussed about. Obviously there are some well-founded qualms with the defensive backfield, and it's reassuring that the players are bullish. The running game is an interesting one. I was personally hoping the running game would be...about as strong as this year or maybe a little worse. Better would change my expectations.

[slide]

I wonder if the running game comparison is 2012 start versus 2011 start?  we had to replace 3 OL starters in '11; now we replace 2 AAs in '12 (looking at the OL recruiting haul we enjoyed)

[slide]

I wonder if the running game comparison is 2012 start versus 2011 start?  we had to replace 3 OL starters in '11; now we replace 2 AAs in '12 (looking at the OL recruiting haul we enjoyed)

[socalstanfan1]

I'm glad the players are motivated by all the talk about an inevitable drop off (obviously they have heard it, even if it hasn't "penetrated the locker room."  And I certainly hope the running game is improved.  But part of this could be the equivalent of Spring Training optimism in baseball.  The real test will only come against live competition, when opposing defenses start putting extra safeties near the line of scrimmage, daring Quarterback X to go deep while they commit everyone except the CBs to stopping the run.  Of course, if QB X can hit Montgomery, Ertz, Toilolo, and whoever else develops a few times, we may really be on to something.  Like last year, I expect the running game to get better as the OL gels and new starters gain more real game experience.  That 3rd game of the year against USC will be a real baptism by fire, but hopefully it also becomes a springboard for big improvement.

I understand the concern about the DBs, but I'm actually feeling ok about them.  The silver lining of Barry Browning being injured last year was the emergence of Terrance Brown as another quality CB.  Assuming Lyons can stay healthy, and regular development of some of the other players, I think we will be at least satisfactory in the defensive backfield.

[socalstanfan1]

I'm glad the players are motivated by all the talk about an inevitable drop off (obviously they have heard it, even if it hasn't "penetrated the locker room."  And I certainly hope the running game is improved.  But part of this could be the equivalent of Spring Training optimism in baseball.  The real test will only come against live competition, when opposing defenses start putting extra safeties near the line of scrimmage, daring Quarterback X to go deep while they commit everyone except the CBs to stopping the run.  Of course, if QB X can hit Montgomery, Ertz, Toilolo, and whoever else develops a few times, we may really be on to something.  Like last year, I expect the running game to get better as the OL gels and new starters gain more real game experience.  That 3rd game of the year against USC will be a real baptism by fire, but hopefully it also becomes a springboard for big improvement.

I understand the concern about the DBs, but I'm actually feeling ok about them.  The silver lining of Barry Browning being injured last year was the emergence of Terrance Brown as another quality CB.  Assuming Lyons can stay healthy, and regular development of some of the other players, I think we will be at least satisfactory in the defensive backfield.

[washingtonismoney]

The real test will only come against live competition, when opposing defenses start putting extra safeties near the line of scrimmage, daring Quarterback X to go deep while they commit everyone except the CBs to stopping the run.  Of course, if QB X can hit Montgomery, Ertz, Toilolo, and whoever else develops a few times, we may really be on to something.  Like last year, I expect the running game to get better as the OL gels and new starters gain more real game experience.  That 3rd game of the year against the University of South Central will be a real baptism by fire, but hopefully it also becomes a springboard for big improvement.

I understand the concern about the DBs, but I'm actually feeling ok about them.  The silver lining of Barry Browning being injured last year was the emergence of Terrance Brown as another quality CB.  Assuming Lyons can stay healthy, and regular development of some of the other players, I think we will be at least satisfactory in the defensive backfield.

I'm not really worried about stacking the box. Teams did that last year starting in the Colorado game through the 59er game, and we had pretty good success. It's not an insuperable barrier for us.

In terms of the DBs, the corners have me a bit worried but I'm pretty worried about the safeties.

[washingtonismoney]

The real test will only come against live competition, when opposing defenses start putting extra safeties near the line of scrimmage, daring Quarterback X to go deep while they commit everyone except the CBs to stopping the run.  Of course, if QB X can hit Montgomery, Ertz, Toilolo, and whoever else develops a few times, we may really be on to something.  Like last year, I expect the running game to get better as the OL gels and new starters gain more real game experience.  That 3rd game of the year against the University of South Central will be a real baptism by fire, but hopefully it also becomes a springboard for big improvement.

I understand the concern about the DBs, but I'm actually feeling ok about them.  The silver lining of Barry Browning being injured last year was the emergence of Terrance Brown as another quality CB.  Assuming Lyons can stay healthy, and regular development of some of the other players, I think we will be at least satisfactory in the defensive backfield.

I'm not really worried about stacking the box. Teams did that last year starting in the Colorado game through the 59er game, and we had pretty good success. It's not an insuperable barrier for us.

In terms of the DBs, the corners have me a bit worried but I'm pretty worried about the safeties.

[socalstanfan1]

I'm not really worried about stacking the box. Teams did that last year starting in the Colorado game through the 59er game, and we had pretty good success. It's not an insuperable barrier for us.

In terms of the DBs, the corners have me a bit worried but I'm pretty worried about the safeties.

Of course, that was a stacked box when we had two All-American offensive linemen, a TE who was a deep threat down the middle, and the best college QB in America.  4 players who were judged to be among the top offensive players in the land by NFL scouts and general managers.  The new offensive 11 will have to prove that they can make defenses pay for moving the safeties up.  If Montgomery continues to develop into a deep threat who can beat man coverage, and the QB proves he can get him the ball, that will go a long way to forcing opposing defenses to keep the safeties back.  But if I were a defensive coordinator, early in the season especially, I'd make us prove it.  Hopefully, we will.

[socalstanfan1]

I'm not really worried about stacking the box. Teams did that last year starting in the Colorado game through the 59er game, and we had pretty good success. It's not an insuperable barrier for us.

In terms of the DBs, the corners have me a bit worried but I'm pretty worried about the safeties.

Of course, that was a stacked box when we had two All-American offensive linemen, a TE who was a deep threat down the middle, and the best college QB in America.  4 players who were judged to be among the top offensive players in the land by NFL scouts and general managers.  The new offensive 11 will have to prove that they can make defenses pay for moving the safeties up.  If Montgomery continues to develop into a deep threat who can beat man coverage, and the QB proves he can get him the ball, that will go a long way to forcing opposing defenses to keep the safeties back.  But if I were a defensive coordinator, early in the season especially, I'd make us prove it.  Hopefully, we will.

[washingtonismoney]

Of course they'll make us prove it. I'm just not sure it matters all that much from the run game perspective--we'll still grind out drives. Performance will suffer on third downs and options for big plays. But we suffered from the same issues in 2008 and still had an effective running game with less overall talent.

[washingtonismoney]

Of course they'll make us prove it. I'm just not sure it matters all that much from the run game perspective--we'll still grind out drives. Performance will suffer on third downs and options for big plays. But we suffered from the same issues in 2008 and still had an effective running game with less overall talent.