Stanford Cardinal
Preview 2009 - Cardinal Offense
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2009 CFN Stanford Preview |
2009 Stanford
Offense
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2009 Stanford
Defense |
2009 Stanford Depth
Chart
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2008 Stanford Preview |
2007 Stanford Preview |
2006 Stanford
Preview
What you need to know:
Since when did Stanford become Michigan during the Bo
Schembechler days? Sure, head coach Jim Harbaugh spent his
college years in Ann Arbor, but no one could have imagined his
Cardinal teams would be led by a power ground game, while
struggling to mount a consistent passing attack. No, Harbaugh
hasn’t changed his philosophy or his desire to attack with an
up-tempo style. He’s just playing to his personnel, which is
heavy on north-south runners, fullbacks, and tight ends. The big
picture, however, includes resuscitating an aerial game that
ranked 103rd nationally last year. Will that big picture include
redshirt freshman QB Andrew Luck in 2009? If his spring
performance counts for anything, you bet.
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Returning
Leaders
Passing: Tavita Pritchard
147-254, 1,633 yds, 10 TD, 13
INT
Rushing: Toby Gerhart
210 carries, 1,136 yds, 15 TD
Receiving: Ryan Whalen
41 catches, 506 yds, 1 TD
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Star of the offense:
Senior RB Toby Gerhart
Player who has to step up
and become a star: Sophomore WR Chris Owusu
Unsung star on the rise:
Redshirt freshman QB Andrew Luck
Best pro prospect:
Gerhart
Top three
all-star candidates: 1) Gerhart
2) Junior RT Chris
Marinelli 3) Junior FB
Owen Marecic
Strength
of the offense: Power running game, tight ends
Weakness of the offense:
No sure-thing at quarterback, the passing game, playmakers
Quarterbacks
Projected Starter:
Although nothing is set in stone, or will be until August,
redshirt freshman Andrew
Luck was clearly in the driver’s seat coming out of spring
practice. The headliner of the 2008 recruiting class, he emerged
in March and April, closing out the session by going 19-of-26
for 383 yards and five touchdowns in the Cardinal and White
game. At 6-4 and 225 pounds, he’s much bigger and stronger than
when he arrived from Stratford (Tex.) High School. He also has
the arm strength and the touch to make all of the throws, which
has been missing for years in this offense. Mentally and
emotionally ready for this challenge, he’ll try to close the
deal in the summer.
Projected Top
Reserves: The incumbent at the position is 6-4,
215-pound senior Tavita Pritchard, a two-year starter under center. Easily the most
experienced of the quarterbacks, that’s where the advantage ends
in the battle with Luck. He’s been a marginal performer over the
last two seasons, known best for throwing the game-winning pass
in the stunning 2007 upset of USC. He made strides as a junior,
but not enough, finishing 147-of-254 for 1,633 yards, 10
touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. When the pocket breaks down,
he has the quick feet to escape pressure and make something out
of nothing.
Third-string junior
Alex Loukas tore his
ACL at the end of March, and is not expected back until after
the season begins. While considered a longshot to win the
starting job, it never hurts having a fourth-year player on the
bench in the event of an emergency. A 6-4, 223-pound student of
the game, he took snaps in eight games last year, bringing a
mobile element to the position.
Watch Out For…
Luck. He’s the most gifted passer on the Farm, but is he ready
for this promotion in just his second season? After the
eye-popping effort in the spring, he’ll have to start getting
used to more attention and media scrutiny, especially when
practice resumes in August.
Strength: Arm
strength. All three of the quarterbacks stand 6-4, with enough
pop in their arms to challenge defensive backs on deep routes.
If it winds up being Luck behind center, he has exceptional zip
on his passes, getting the ball to his receiver before it can be
deflected away.
Weakness: Proven passers. Sure, the future appears
bright, but what about right now? The returning starter ranked
89th nationally in passing efficiency. The likely
starter has never taken a snap at this level. And the
third-stringer is rehabbing an ACL tear. That’s hardly a recipe
to instill confidence in the passing game.
Outlook: For
the first time in a few years, there’s reason for excitement at
quarterback in Palo Alto. Harbaugh has been waiting for the
right moment to get one of his hand-picked recruits at the
controls of the offense. If Luck continues to mature over the
next couple of months, that time just might be upon us.
Rating: 6.5
Running Backs
Projected Starters: When senior
Toby Gerhart rumbled
for 140 yards on just 12 carries in his lone appearance of 2007,
who knew it was a precursor of things to come? The 6-1,
237-pound wrecking ball returned with a vengeance from
season-ending knee surgery, finishing third in the Pac-10 with
1,136 yards and 15 touchdowns on 210 carries. A physical,
north-south runner in the John Riggins mold, he has good balance
and does an outstanding job of picking up yards after contact.
When the Cardinal needs a first down or a touchdown, he’s a
load to bring to the ground.
Creating space for Gerhart
in the running game is 6-1, 241-pound junior
Owen Marecic, one of
the game’s better fullbacks. A tough, no-nonsense blocker, he’s
earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 recognition in each of his
first two seasons. He didn’t log a single carry a year ago, yet
was one of the unsung heroes of Stanford’s improbable No. 19
national ranking in rushing.
Projected Top Reserves:
The top backup in the running game is 6-0, 218-pound junior
Jeremy Stewart, a capable every-down back if the need arises. A
physical downhill runner, he’s lettered in each of his first two
seasons, rushing a total of 119 times for 440 yards and two
scores. While his playing time decreased as Gerhart emerged,
he’s hoping to fill the role left by the graduating Anthony
Kimble.
Rounding out the depth chart is 5-11, 190-pound
senior Blaise Johnson, a career backup, who’s played on both sides of the
ball and made most of his appearances on special teams. An
emergency player only, he’ll be vulnerable to the wave of young
backs in this latest recruiting class.
Watch Out For…
the incoming freshmen. There’s an opening on the depth chart
behind Stewart, which might be filled by one of the recruits
from the 2009 recruiting class. There’s a very good chance
Tyler Gaffney,
Usua Amanam, and
Stepfan Taylor, or both will avoid a redshirt season this fall.
Strength:
Between-the-tackles runners. Gerhart, Stewart, and even Marecic
have the necessary girth, power, and mentality to bludgeon
opposing defenses when the Cardinal needs to move the chains in
short yardage. Look for plenty of missed tackles as opponents
fail to wrap up Gerhart, when he busts past the first line of
defense.
Weakness: A
change-of-pace. Gerhart was the all-star, but Kimble was also
very valuable, rushing for 717 yards and averaging six yards a
carry. He was the playmaker of the Pac-10’s No. 2 ground game,
an element of the attack which looks as if it’ll be missing this
fall.
Outlook:
The Cardinal came a very long way on the ground in 2008, a trend
it hopes to continue this season. As long as Gerhart and Marecic
are on the field, Stanford will boast one of the more physical
attacks in the country. It will, however, need someone to pick
up some of the production of Kimble, who had an underrated
career with the program.
Rating: 7
Receivers
Projected Starters:
While Stanford’s top two receivers return, that does not mean
the offense feels secure at the position. A lot of work still
needs to be done here. Junior
Ryan Whalen led the
program a year ago with 41 receptions for 508 yards and a
touchdown. Although the 6-2, 203-pound former walk-on doesn’t
have the speed to blow by defenders, he catches everything in
sight, runs tight routes, and uses his size well to shield
defenders in the middle of the field.
Joining Whalen is
5-11, 189-pound junior
Doug Baldwin, the big-play threat of the duo. He’s had a
hand in seven career plays of at least 35 yards, busting loose
catching passes, taking handoffs, and returning kicks. A starter
for the first time last year, he had 23 receptions for 332 yards
and four touchdowns, while running four times for 81 yards and a
score.
In the competitive situation at tight end, 6-5,
253-pound senior Jim Dray
is attempting to complete his recovery from a serious knee
injury by winning the starting job. Although a once-promising
career was derailed by two surgeries in 2007, he persevered
through extensive rehab to make it back last year and even start
five games. Prior to the injury, he’d shown signs as a freshman
of becoming an elite pass-catcher at the position.
Projected Top Reserves:
One of the priorities this year is to get sophomore
Chris Owusu more involved with the passing game. Although his rookie
season was sidetracked by a torn MCL just before the opener, he
recovered in time to play in five games and turn heads on the
coaching staff. At 6-2 and 199 pounds, he’s the best combination
of size and speed on the unit, playing light out and at full
strength throughout the spring session.
A year after
playing in nine games and catching three passes, sophomore
Warren Reuland is
currently slated to back up Whalen on the outside. A former high
school basketball player, he has the 6-5, 207-pound frame and
leaping ability to go up and snatch balls out of the air. Unlike
many players his size, he’s a fluid athlete and skilled
route-runner.
Sophomore
Coby Fleener is,
well, a tweener, a 6-6, 241-pound tight end with the speed and
moves of a receiver. Think former Cardinal Evan Moore without
all the injury problems. While he’s not going to wow anyone with
his blocking skills at this stage, he will stretch a secondary,
catching 13 balls for 176 yards in his debut.
Watch Out For…
Owusu. He’s young and still a little raw, but the upside and
ability are there for him to eventually be the playmaker of this
group. The coaching staff plans to move him around in an effort
to get him in space, an indication he’s on the brink of a
breakout year.
Strength: Tight
end. Dray is healthy again, looking to recapture his pre-injury
form. Fleener is a bona fide playmaker at the position. And 6-6,
252-pound junior Konrad Reuland, one of the nation’s top-rated tight end recruits of
2006, has sat out the necessary time after transferring from
Notre Dame.
Weakness: Big
plays. Baldwin had a few last season, but the Cardinal receivers
did most of their work in the middle of the field and about
10-15 yards from the line of scrimmage. While the quarterbacks
share some of the blame, it’s incumbent upon the outside guys to
make more plays over the top in 2009.
Outlook:
By Pac-10 standards, this remains an average group lacking scary
talent, especially on the perimeter. Owusu is an exception, who
bears a close watch as the season develops. If strong-armed
Andrew Luck gets the nod at quarterback, all of the receivers
and tight ends stand to benefit.
Rating: 6.5
Offensive Line
Projected Starters:
The immediate priority of the line will be to develop
replacements for C Alex Fletcher and LT Ben Muth, a couple of
All-Pac-10 performers. Slated to take over at left tackle is
6-6, 297-pound Matt Kopa,
a versatile fifth-year senior, who’s earned playing time at
defensive tackle, defensive end, left guard and right tackle. He
started five games a year ago, but shifting to the left side
will really test his pass protection skills.
Over on the
right side is the team’s most consistent blocker, 6-7, 298-pound
senior Chris Marinelli,
a rock with 28 career starts on his resume. After earning
All-Pac-10 honorable mention honors the last two seasons, he’s
planning to break through and impress NFL scouts, who might look
to convert him into a guard.
Although he won’t be handed
the job, the favorite to replace Fletcher at the pivot is 6-3,
276-pound junior Chase
Beeler, a decorated high school player and Oklahoma
transfer. While not very big, he moves extremely well and has an
outstanding feel for the position. At a position where
experience and intellect really matter, he’s liable to flourish
at center after starting seven games at guard for the Cardinal
in 2008.
Lining up at left guard is 6-5, 294-pound junior
Andrew Phillips, a starter in all but the Oregon game a year ago.
One of the headliners of the 2006 recruiting class, he’s very
tough and physical at the point of contact, a plus for the
improving Cardinal ground game.
The baby of the bunch up
front is 6-5, 307-pound redshirt freshman
David DeCastro, who
has played his way into the regular rotation at right guard.
Quick with his feet and his head, he moves extremely well and is
flexible for such a big interior lineman. Because of his
maturity and preparation, there’s a real good likelihood he
won’t perform like a first-time starter this season.
Projected Top Reserves:
Poor Allen Smith.
Just when it looked like the 6-4, 296-pound senior tackle was
going to make it back from a torn patella tendon that cost him
most of the last two seasons, he re-injured the same knee on
April 1. And just when he was pushing for an expanded role. It
has yet to be determined how much time this latest injury is
going to cost him.
Battling Beeler for the starting job
at center is 6-3, 303-pound junior
Bert McBride,
Fletcher’s backup a year ago. Very quick off the snap and
capable of also playing guard, he’s an important part of the
rotation even if he doesn’t land the start.
In the
unlikely event that DeCastro can’t handle the job, junior
Derek Hall is
preparing as if he’ll be on the field at a moment’s notice. Now
in his fourth year with the program, he’s a converted defensive
lineman coming off his first letter with the offense. At 6-5 and
311 pounds, he has the necessary bulk and upper body strength to
create space for the backs.
Watch Out For…
Kopa. He’s the key to this line, the player being counted on to
replace Muth and protect the backside of the quarterback. If
that quarterback happens to be redshirt freshman Andrew Luck,
it’s absolutely imperative that he isn’t forced to improvise on
every other passing down. Kopa has a chance to play his way into
the NFL Draft with a strong year.
Strength: Run blocking. This group has 12 games worth of
tape from a year ago in which it routinely got a push up front,
allowing Toby Gerhart and Anthony Kimble combine for almost
2,000 yards combined on the ground. It’s a physical and imposing
unit that averages about 6-5 and 300 pounds.
Weakness: Pass
protection. Yes, the Cardinal made noticeable strides in this
area last year, but it needs to get it done for a second
straight season…and without two of its best blockers, Fletcher
and Muth, who are off the NFL.
Outlook:
Veteran coach Chris Dalman did a nice job with this crew before
stepping down after the season. The job of keeping the momentum
going now belongs to Tim Drevno. Losing all-stars at the two
most important positions on the line, left tackle and center,
signals an uphill climb in repeating the results of 2008.
Rating: 7