[Mick]

Not sure if it was planned or not, but a decade or so, Stanford seemed to put together a very viable competitive strategy.

Offensive linemen tend to be the smartest players on the field. Defensive linemen tend to be the smartest on D (per several studies--google it). Harbaugh built the program around really good linemen that could get into, and would be attracted to, a school like Stanford. We were line focused and line driven--what prospect wouldn't want to play in that scheme? After the line, he filled in the rest of the team with smart kids, with talent sure, but a lot of heart--kids that were incredibly driven (like Shayne Skov).

It worked then. And could still work now. Own the line of scrimmage. That's where the smart kids are.

I've been thinking about this as well. Why aren't we attracting the very best OLs? I don't quite understand it. The phenomenon is reasonably well documented:
https://benfry.com/writing/archives/147/

Here's the average Wunderlic score by position. OTs, 26; Centers, 25; QBs, 24; Guards 23:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderlic_...y_position

Sports Illustrated wrote a great article on it:
https://www.si.com/vault/2003/08/11/3477...-intellect

So why don't we get five Dave DeCastros a year and go ogre almost all the time? I don't get it.

[Mick]

Not sure if it was planned or not, but a decade or so, Stanford seemed to put together a very viable competitive strategy.

Offensive linemen tend to be the smartest players on the field. Defensive linemen tend to be the smartest on D (per several studies--google it). Harbaugh built the program around really good linemen that could get into, and would be attracted to, a school like Stanford. We were line focused and line driven--what prospect wouldn't want to play in that scheme? After the line, he filled in the rest of the team with smart kids, with talent sure, but a lot of heart--kids that were incredibly driven (like Shayne Skov).

It worked then. And could still work now. Own the line of scrimmage. That's where the smart kids are.

I've been thinking about this as well. Why aren't we attracting the very best OLs? I don't quite understand it. The phenomenon is reasonably well documented:
https://benfry.com/writing/archives/147/

Here's the average Wunderlic score by position. OTs, 26; Centers, 25; QBs, 24; Guards 23:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderlic_...y_position

Sports Illustrated wrote a great article on it:
https://www.si.com/vault/2003/08/11/3477...-intellect

So why don't we get five Dave DeCastros a year and go ogre almost all the time? I don't get it.