Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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STANFORD CARDINAL BY DAN MURPHY tanford head coach David Shaw is two for two on Pac-12 Coach Of The Year awards since taking over the Cardinal program. Any lingering questions about whether he was simply riding the wave of momentum created by former head coach Jim Harbaugh were answered last year with a Rose Bowl victory sans All-American quarterback Andrew Luck. Shaw's team is primed for another season of double-digit wins, and this time around it will be the defense taking center stage. The Cardinal defense starts the year with as many as four All-America candidates. Fifthyear seniors Trent Murphy and Shayne Skov will lead a violent, aggressive group of linebackers again this season. The unit lost Chase Thomas, who led the team with 7.5 sacks last season, but he'll be replaced by very capable junior James Vaughters opposite Murphy at the other outside linebacker spot. A somewhat underrated senior, A.J. Tarpley, rounds out that veteran nucleus at the other inside linebacker position. Senior Ed Reynolds and junior Jordan Richards are also candidates to be the best safety tandem in the nation this fall. Reynolds is listed as the No. 2 safety prospect in next year's draft by ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr., while Richards is listed at No. 3. "Defensively, I really don't see any weaknesses," ESPN.com Pac-12 reporter Kevin Gemmell said. "They were No. 1 in the country last year in sacks and top five in rushing defense. In the front seven, they're ridiculously loaded. They're going to be a really good defense." That stout defense should make it easier for Stanford to find its way on offense while replacing several huge pieces from a year ago. The most prominent is running back Stepfan Taylor, who carried the lion's share of the rushing game last year with 1,530 rushing GAME 12 • NOV. 30 • STANFORD STADIUM S 2013 Schedule Date Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Oct. 26 Nov. 7 Nov. 16 Nov. 23 Nov. 30 Opponent San Jose State at Army Arizona State at Washington State Washington at Utah UCLA at Oregon State Oregon at USC California Notre Dame 2012 Result W, 20-17 — — W, 24-17 L, 17-13 — W, 35-17 W, 27-23 W, 17-14 (OT) W, 21-14 W, 21-3 L, 20-13 (OT) X-FACTOR: Senior David Yankey is the top member of another road-grading Stanford offensive line. The 6-5, 311-pound offensive guard won consensus All-America honors last year and is an early candidate for the 2013 Outland Trophy, given each December to the nation's best lineman on offense or defense. PHOTO BY JIM SHORIN/COURTESY STANFORD yards. In the past, Stanford used more of a running-back-by-committee approach and will likely return to that system in 2013. Senior Anthony Wilkerson brings plenty of experience to the backfield. His classmate Tyler Gaffney will also be a boost for the team. He returned to football this spring after missing last season while playing minor league baseball. Gaffney's return caused Shaw to call his running back depth "an embarrassment of riches" this spring. Behind Gaffney and Wilkerson, young talented backs like Barry Sanders Jr. and Kelsey Young will get to play complementary roles as runners and pass catchers in the fall. Strength: Offensive Line This category is a toss-up between the offensive line and linebackers. Both have a chance to be the best in the country at their respective units. Senior offensive guard David Yankey will provide veteran leadership for the massive 2012 blue-chip recruiting class that has come of age this season. The headliner of that group, Andrus Peat, is slotted to start at left tackle. Fifth-year senior Kevin Danser, a second-team all-conference guard in 2012, may shift down a spot to center. If he can handle snapping duties, that would allow sophomore Josh Garnett to get into the starting lineup and create the finishing touches on a frighteningly talented offensive line. Weakness: Pass Catchers Five of the team's top six receivers from a year ago are gone, including the two tight ends that were an integral part of Stanford's pounding West Coast offense. Those five players made 73.3 percent of the team's catches last year. The top returner is junior Ty Montgomery, who underachieved as a sophomore with 26 catches for 213 yards. "He was hurt a lot last year," ESPN.com Pac-12 reporter Kevin Gemmell said. "As a true freshman, he came on really strong in the second half of the season. He's a legitimate Pac-12 receiver." Sophomore tight end Luke Kaumatule and junior receiver Devon Cajuste will be called on to help fill some of the void. Prediction Stanford 20, Notre Dame 13 — The season finale could have BCS bowl implications for both teams. Notre Dame eked out an overtime win last season, but this time around the Cardinal defense is just too stocked with dominant players to lose at home to an Irish offense that doesn't have any established game-breakers. Quick Facts All-Time Series: Notre Dame leads 18-9 Last Meeting: Notre Dame 20, Stanford 13 (Oct. 13, 2012, at South Bend, Ind.) Head Coach: David Shaw, 23-4 (3rd year) 2012 In Review: 12-2 overall, 8-1 Pac-12 (champions) Final 2012 Ranking: No. 7 (AP) and No. 6 (coaches) 2012 Stats Rankings: 84th total offense (374.4 yards per game) and 20th total defense (336.2 yards allowed per game) Returning Starters: 15 (6 offense and 9 defense) Key Losses: LB Chase Thomas (7.5 sacks) and RB Stepfan Taylor (1,530 rushing yards) 2013 Preseason Rankings: No. 3 by Lindy's, No. 7 by Athlon and No. 11 by Phil Steele's Last Bowl Appearance: 2012 (Rose Bowl, Wisconsin, W 20-14) Did You Know?: Stanford safety Ed Reynolds and offensive guard David Yankey are both on Lindy's preseason All-America team. Reynolds is listed as the top safety in the country … The Cardinal's linebacker corps is ranked as the best group in the country this year by Athlon … Stanford's 4.07 sacks per game last year was the highest mark in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and its 8.86 tackles for loss per game were second only to Arizona State. Returning Leaders Rushing: Kevin Hogan (263 yards, 2 TD) Passing: Kevin Hogan (1,096 yards, 9 TD) Receiving: Ty Montgomery (213 yards, 0 TD) Tackles: Shayne Skov (81) Sacks: Trent Murphy (10) Interceptions: Ed Reynolds (6) BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 116-127.Opponent Previews.indd 127 ! 127 6/25/13 2:55 PM