08-21-2014, 06:08 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-21-2014, 06:49 AM by OutsiderFan.)
Stanford's OL is not too green relative to the talent of the players and their experience in the program. Many programs are fully capable of plugging in this many new talented OL in their third year out of high school just fine. Admittedly, if they all started together in 2013, they would be better in 2014, but elite programs have better, more experienced players in front of the young guys, so younger players tend to have to bide their time.
The lack of a "bell cow" RB in the mold of Gaffney, Taylor, and Gerhart, might be considered an issue, but not when you look at the depth of talent available, and the fact the WR corps and QB are very experienced and talented in their own rights.
Stanford's DB depth is the best its ever had. That's not an issue.Â
Relative to other programs, Stanford might be a bit thin on DL depth and have more TE inexperience, but the odds of those other programs being as deeply talented and experienced at all those other positions plus DL and TE, is extremely low.
The only real threats to Stanford are the consistency of the tough games on the schedule and the risk of injury. Given every team faces injury risk, the only material obstacle Stanford faces that others don't, is the schedule. This is exactly why Stanford isn't being picked to win the Pac-12 or go to the play-off.Â
There may have been some more individually talented players at certain positions in the past, but the LBs, DBs, WRs and RBs are collectively faster and quicker than any Stanford team I can remember, on par with the best teams in the country.
The lack of a "bell cow" RB in the mold of Gaffney, Taylor, and Gerhart, might be considered an issue, but not when you look at the depth of talent available, and the fact the WR corps and QB are very experienced and talented in their own rights.
Stanford's DB depth is the best its ever had. That's not an issue.Â
Relative to other programs, Stanford might be a bit thin on DL depth and have more TE inexperience, but the odds of those other programs being as deeply talented and experienced at all those other positions plus DL and TE, is extremely low.
The only real threats to Stanford are the consistency of the tough games on the schedule and the risk of injury. Given every team faces injury risk, the only material obstacle Stanford faces that others don't, is the schedule. This is exactly why Stanford isn't being picked to win the Pac-12 or go to the play-off.Â
There may have been some more individually talented players at certain positions in the past, but the LBs, DBs, WRs and RBs are collectively faster and quicker than any Stanford team I can remember, on par with the best teams in the country.