Stanford Football: 5 Best and the 5 Worst Offseason Developments
Stanford football has had a very interesting off season with new developments daily.
After going 12-1 last season, it should be very interesting to see how the 2011 season plays out for the Cardinal. The team has many things that should work in its favor to go along with a couple of questions that could be disastrous.
With the start of the season less than three months away, its time for the Stanford Cardinal to start fixing some problems and follow their natural born leader to the promised land
Worst: #5: The Formation of Northern and Southern Conference of the PAC-12
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The Stanford Cardinal will have a very tough season this year playing in the Northern Division of the PAC-12. The obvious reason is that they have to face the Oregon Ducks.
This year will favor the Cardinal because they are playing at home against the Ducks, but if they were in the Southern Division, they would have a one third chance of not having to face the Ducks at all.
This is a weakness in that the Ducks will be just as good if not better than last year and it will take a brilliant performance by the whole team to make it to this year’s national championship.
Best #5: Stephan Taylor and the Running Game
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Stephan Taylor is only a true sophomore and yet as a freshman he rushed for 1,137 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The Stanford Cardinal offense has the chance to be extremely special if Stephan Taylor can produce another 1000 yard, 15 touchdown season.
Worst #4: Loss of Vic Fangio
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With the loss of Jim Harbaugh on everyone’s mind, many seem to forget that Vic Fangio left the Cardinal for the 49ers as well.
He was a fantastic coach himself having coached in the NFL for over 25 years. Although the Cardinal's defense was nothing stellar last season, expect them to have some kinks to work out come the start of September.
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Best #4: 2011 Recruiting Class
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The Stanford Cardinal have a great group of incoming freshman. This year's Cardinal class was ranked 19th best by Scout.com and there are a couple names that will be starting in the future.
Wayne Lyons, safety, is a freak of an athlete running a 4.5 40 yard dash and bench pressing 275 pounds. Patrick Skov, Shayne’s younger brother is a highly touted fullback that can play both sides of the ball.
He can bench press 225 pound an amazing 25 times. The Cardinal also got Kevin Hogan to commit, a six foot four quarterback that hopefully will be able to replace Andrew Luck after this season
Worst #3: Depleted Receiving Core
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Doug Baldwin and Ryan Whalen both graduated leaving Andrew Luck with a depleted receiving core.
Although he does have Chris Owusu returning, the Cardinal will have to find a way to make up for the 99 catches, 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns.
If anyone is ready to find some new targets, it is the best quarterback in college, Andrew Luck
Best #3: Delano Howell
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One of the perks of the rule that every player must stay for three years benefits the team’s that have star sophomores return for their junior year.
Delano Howell is going to be a force in the secondary for the Cardinal. He recorded 60 tackles and five interceptions to receive Second Team All PAC-10.
T.J. McDonald and Delano Howell will prove that the PAC-12’s safeties are a force to be reckoned with.
Worst #2: Losing Three of Five Starting Offensive Lineman
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With the loss of three of the five starters from last season, the Cardinal will have to have new players step up.
Jonathan Martin and David DeCastro will be returning, both are outstanding themselves, but Andrew Luck will have to release the ball early and often to help this young offensive line.
Best #2: Committment of James Vaughters
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Stanford is going to have a very good group of linebackers next season. They are returning Chase Thomas at outside linebacker and Shayne Skov at inside linebacker.
In my opinion, Shayne Skov will be one of the best linebackers in the conference this year. With their addition of James Vaughters, the fifth best linebacker in this year’s recruiting class.
Stanford should be amazing at the second level. He runs at 4.55 40 yard dash and is already the size of a college linebacker at six two and 232 pounds.
Worst #1: Losing Jim Harbaugh to the San Francisco 49ers
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The most obvious and most destructive way for the Stanford Cardinal to start their off season is the loss of Jim Harbaugh.
He left for the San Francisco 49ers and left the Cardinal in the dust. He was the offensive mastermind behind the offense and helped lead Stanford to a 12-1 season, the best in a long time.
This loss might be too big to overcome, but again when you have Andrew at the helm, a little bit of Luck could go a long way.
Best #1: Andrew Luck Returns for Senior Season
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Arguably the best player in all of college football is returning for the Cardinal.
He threw for 3,338 yards and 32 touchdowns. He broke the Stanford record for most touchdown passes in a season.
He is the front runner for the Heisman trophy and is projected to be the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
