[Goose]

Again, not the most elite unit in the world, but I would be really quite surprised if the 2018 defense isn't better than the 2017 version because the DL will be better at stopping the run than it has been lately. Pretty hard not to improve on giving up 4.6 YPC (good for #80 in FBS) when there are 65 Power 5 schools. Improvement in run defense will also create longer 3rd down situations to help improve Stanford's also dismal #102-ranked, 43.4% yielding 2017 3rd down defense.

I am of the same opinion. This years defense probably won't be a world-beater, but is should be steadier against the run than last year's defense. The upside for more  is there, but at least the DL will be more "in system" as you point out, which will help the LBs do their job. That is what the 3-4 is supposed to be, but it is hard to play when the DL can't keep the LBs "clean", at least most of the time.
I am also expecting that a more efficient offense will keep the defense off the field longer. Last year, we often needed just "one more stop" to win, and we didn't get it. It may well be that the defense wasn't completely gassed, but often they needed time to regroup and instead the O handed them  a 3 and out. Hopefully, not this year.

[Goose]

Again, not the most elite unit in the world, but I would be really quite surprised if the 2018 defense isn't better than the 2017 version because the DL will be better at stopping the run than it has been lately. Pretty hard not to improve on giving up 4.6 YPC (good for #80 in FBS) when there are 65 Power 5 schools. Improvement in run defense will also create longer 3rd down situations to help improve Stanford's also dismal #102-ranked, 43.4% yielding 2017 3rd down defense.

I am of the same opinion. This years defense probably won't be a world-beater, but is should be steadier against the run than last year's defense. The upside for more  is there, but at least the DL will be more "in system" as you point out, which will help the LBs do their job. That is what the 3-4 is supposed to be, but it is hard to play when the DL can't keep the LBs "clean", at least most of the time.
I am also expecting that a more efficient offense will keep the defense off the field longer. Last year, we often needed just "one more stop" to win, and we didn't get it. It may well be that the defense wasn't completely gassed, but often they needed time to regroup and instead the O handed them  a 3 and out. Hopefully, not this year.