[TrumpCard]

Although I agree with almost everything above, I want to note that Reynolds, the DL, and the Stanford defense in general might have been better in 2017 than we're acknowledging.  The defense did give up too many points in early games against UCLA and USC, but note that those team both had top 10 NFL draft picks at QB that year.  Also, Jackson and Cotton were rounding into form by midseason, and I was cautiously optimistic.  Even after Cotton went down in the close loss to WSU, the DL and the defense were pretty resilient and won two games against top 10 teams (UW and ND).  Stanford ended the regular season 9-3 and gave up more than 24 points only twice in those two early games against elite QBs.  If not for Cotton's injury, I think Stanford's defense would not have fallen apart in the post-season, and I think the team would have won the Pac-12 title, or if not, at least the team would have won the Alamo Bowl.  Going 1-1 in the post-season would have meant a 10-win season and a top-15 ranking in the final polls.  That would have changed the narrative a lot, and I think the defensive stats would have looked better too.

[TrumpCard]

Although I agree with almost everything above, I want to note that Reynolds, the DL, and the Stanford defense in general might have been better in 2017 than we're acknowledging.  The defense did give up too many points in early games against UCLA and USC, but note that those team both had top 10 NFL draft picks at QB that year.  Also, Jackson and Cotton were rounding into form by midseason, and I was cautiously optimistic.  Even after Cotton went down in the close loss to WSU, the DL and the defense were pretty resilient and won two games against top 10 teams (UW and ND).  Stanford ended the regular season 9-3 and gave up more than 24 points only twice in those two early games against elite QBs.  If not for Cotton's injury, I think Stanford's defense would not have fallen apart in the post-season, and I think the team would have won the Pac-12 title, or if not, at least the team would have won the Alamo Bowl.  Going 1-1 in the post-season would have meant a 10-win season and a top-15 ranking in the final polls.  That would have changed the narrative a lot, and I think the defensive stats would have looked better too.