[Austroturf]

<p>

I'm not worried about the lack of depth in multiple areas on the roster for this weekend's game, but I am VERY worried about it over the course of a 12-game season. One of the contributors to this is not having enough scholarship players. I get that Shaw wants to have a couple available for walk-ons coming out of spring practice and/or fall camp, but he doesn't need to be &lt;80 to do that.

I'd feel better about OL depth with an 8- or 9-man two-deep. There was a time when we had 10 guys on the two-deep OL
I'd feel better about ILB depth with 4 solid reliable players. We have 1, maybe 2.
I'd feel better about SS/FS with at least 2&nbsp;solid reliable players. I'm concerned we don't even have 1
Last year there was a big injury risk at QB because of the failure to have a scholarship QB in every class. Thankfully KJ stayed healthy all year.

Recruiting hasn't adjusted to the new reality which is that more players are leaving early, grad transferring, or taking medical retirement. I really hope that RJ, Troy Clardy, or someone else who covers Stanford football starts asking Shaw these questions because I think it is at the core of problems not just for this year but in the past and especially going forward.

</p><p><br></p><p>Excellent post.&nbsp; This is also a development I am concerned about.&nbsp; Players, on the whole, used to complete their eligibility.&nbsp; With Shaw's penchant for red-shirting all but a tiny minority of players, it often means we only get two years of solid production out of really good&nbsp;players before the lure of the NFL becomes (economically) irresistible.&nbsp; Costello already flirted with the draft last year (after his red-shirt sophomore year!).&nbsp; Imagine if JJ and Kaden Smith had returned for their final years of eligibility (JJ played three years, Kaden only two).&nbsp; In any case, it is a development that needs to be taken into account, together with the phenomenon of grad transfers.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

[Austroturf]

<p>

I'm not worried about the lack of depth in multiple areas on the roster for this weekend's game, but I am VERY worried about it over the course of a 12-game season. One of the contributors to this is not having enough scholarship players. I get that Shaw wants to have a couple available for walk-ons coming out of spring practice and/or fall camp, but he doesn't need to be &lt;80 to do that.

I'd feel better about OL depth with an 8- or 9-man two-deep. There was a time when we had 10 guys on the two-deep OL
I'd feel better about ILB depth with 4 solid reliable players. We have 1, maybe 2.
I'd feel better about SS/FS with at least 2&nbsp;solid reliable players. I'm concerned we don't even have 1
Last year there was a big injury risk at QB because of the failure to have a scholarship QB in every class. Thankfully KJ stayed healthy all year.

Recruiting hasn't adjusted to the new reality which is that more players are leaving early, grad transferring, or taking medical retirement. I really hope that RJ, Troy Clardy, or someone else who covers Stanford football starts asking Shaw these questions because I think it is at the core of problems not just for this year but in the past and especially going forward.

</p><p><br></p><p>Excellent post.&nbsp; This is also a development I am concerned about.&nbsp; Players, on the whole, used to complete their eligibility.&nbsp; With Shaw's penchant for red-shirting all but a tiny minority of players, it often means we only get two years of solid production out of really good&nbsp;players before the lure of the NFL becomes (economically) irresistible.&nbsp; Costello already flirted with the draft last year (after his red-shirt sophomore year!).&nbsp; Imagine if JJ and Kaden Smith had returned for their final years of eligibility (JJ played three years, Kaden only two).&nbsp; In any case, it is a development that needs to be taken into account, together with the phenomenon of grad transfers.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>