So wrap up all this happy-happy circle jerking you pu$$ies.  You have 12 more hours to enjoy this. 

The good
We could potentially lose one starter from the defense of a Rose Bowl champion that won with defense.  (Although I think Stephens was missed, especially in the first half) 

We will have seven experienced o-lineman returning and fighting for playing time next year.

We have a quarterback who has won the first five games he has started, four against ranked teams, and the other in the Rose Bowl.

The Questions
We don't need one guy to replace Stepfan, but if two of Young, Wilkerson, Sanders, and Wright assert themselves we shouldn't backslide too much there. 

If Ertz leaves (no idea how he is leaning, but I'd advise him to go) we need to find a new security blanket for Hogan.  I think this is going to be the biggest hole to fill.  There is no way I am goign to bother looking it up but I wouldn't be suprised if Ertz and Terrell  accounted for 75% of Hogans passing third down conversions.

Speaking of Terrell, we are losing a sure handed punt returner and the devastatingly effective Polish Rifle.  
 
There Bottom line is there is no ceiling for next years team.  If they fall short, I think it will be because we just don;t have anybody that can reliably get open or get deep.  Wisconsin was daring us to hit the deep ball all second half and we had our shot, but missed.  (Would Nunes have made that throw?  If the throw were there would TY have caught it?)

Washington, ND, Oregon and UCLA at home next year is huge.  The Scum Devils might be tough, SC might be a smoking hole in the ground by August.  Not being back in Pasadena would be disappointing.  If we keep Ertz, Murphy, Skov, and Gardner, not playing the second game in Pasadena will be disappointing.

I think the O-Line is the key.  New center and a chance for the new guys to emerge.  I'm bullish on Garnett, Murphy and Andrus Peat.  It will be hard to replace a workhorse stud like Stepfan Taylor though.  Losing Ertz will hurt.  Never thought 11 really developed outside of his blocking. Maybe Peat should be converted to TE?

My last thought on the Rose Bowl goes to Coach David Shaw.  I think he more than demonstrated his own growth and improvement after the Notre Dame game as the team stayed on task and focused.   Some teams (like USC) would merely fade into oblivion but not Stanford.   I am starting to enjoy his resolve to speak quietly and carry a big defensive stick.  Let's hope that he will make Derek Mason an offer he can't refuse.  Why not keep the combo in place and continue to develop the most punishing defense in the nation.

I hope he sticks around for one more year, but I have to believe someone as intense as he is wants to try running the show.  I certainly won't begrudge him that, and I think he is smart enough to wait for the right opportunity (SJSU would have been the right opportunity, the AD ought to be fired if he didn't make that call.)

And, while I certainly enjoy watching our defense bully everyone, I do think there are some adjustments to be made on the offensive side of the ball.  This was always going to be a transition year on offense, and I don;t think that transitin is fully complete. Even if you a are a great defense, one bad play can cost you 7 points (4th and 1 vs the Huskies, for example)  and you can never take those points off the board.

Have to replace Thomas and possibly Murphy and Skov too.  

Offense needs a new look but I'm wondering if Peat can't convert to TE now? Peat is more athletic than baby giraffe.

nfm

F that 12 hour crap I'm going to enjoy this for 9 months!

Ertz is gone - first TE pick in the draft.  Scouts know Eifert can't hold his jock strap.  Not sure what the answer is in the TE/WR corps but there needs to be one.  Good news is that Hogan will have time to find receivers and RBs will be fine behind that OL.

I think Murphy and Skov stay if Mason stays.  They all know that next year they have a legit shot at the NCG.  Murphy is still raw - another year under Mason and he's a -1st/2nd rounder.  Skov needs to stay healthy and be 100% for a full year, although I could see him going if he has good workouts/combine.

WHICH WOULD BE DUMB ON HIS PART. GOODBYE TO CHASE THOMAS, STEPHENS, HOPE GARDNER AND THE REST STAY... WE NEED WR'S AND A PASSING QB FUNDAMENTALS COACH WE COULD'VE BLOWN IT OPEN IF HOGAN LEARNS NOT TO SAIL THE BALL...

NEXT YEAR AND PLAY FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

johnnyo53 wrote:  WE NEED WR'S AND A PASSING QB FUNDAMENTALS COACH WE COULD'VE BLOWN IT OPEN IF HOGAN LEARNS NOT TO SAIL THE BALL...

          Amen. Who is gonna catch the ball next year???  And Hogan needs help...the touch is just not there yet...

Toilolo - Put the crack pipe down....you are far from ready fr the league.   IMO...never will be IMO....glad to have you here but....some outside LB will KILL you in a nano second in the NFL....stay...learn....bulk up....

Many question the receivers but I see lots of talent there, just a lack of coaching. Probably because of the no listed coach thing. LBs and OL have been great for years but both have two coaches devoted to the units. I don't know that we want to break this up but it is definitely a thing.

Call me crazy but I still really like Montgomery, despite his regression season. Though we didn't see it, there's supposed to be some talent among Whitfield, et al.

Kelsey Young looks like a RB to me.

Also, even with Luck, the Shaw/Roman/Hamilton offense has never really been exceptional in the air except to throw it to the elite TEs. Just because you have an imaginative, punishing running game doesn't mean you can't have some imagination in the passing game. That's really the most significant coaching problem I've seen, more than the kicking game. At this point we know that Shaw is going to kick. But the passing game just seems to get shortchanged…and it did even with Saint Andrew.

All that said, I LOVE pounding the ball. I LOVE the "party in the backfield" mentality. I LOVE the toughness and swagger the team has. So I understand there will be tradeoffs. I just think that the ability to complete a 12-yard pass on second and seven will really help avoid those third and sixes.

REMAIN OUR BIGGEST PROBLEMS, WE HAVE TO DEVELOP THESE GUYS AND WE NEED DEPTH AT BOTH. OUR WR'S ACTUALLY LOOKED BETTER IN THE RB WHEN WE GOT THE BALL NEAR THEM

Great pic--I'm stealing it for my FB page

82lsju wrote:

. . . but still cannot throw ropes like other PAC QBs.

Our best pass of the day was made by our wideout. Too bad he's out of eligibility.

Bring in Wes Chandler.

And throw it to Kelsey in the flat. One on one with an OLB is a mismatch.

I like Hogan as our QB. However, next season he will be challenged by Dallas Lloyd and an incomming frosh, (name , I forgot), and that will be good for the overall QB position. I saw that Hogan took a big hit on his pass to Ertz down to the Wisconsin 3 yard line. After that he kept throwing too high to his open receivers. In the second half, he had Toilolo open in the end zone and the throw was too high for Toilolo to catch. (of course "T" can't jump so it was a lost opportunity to score.). Current and incomming receivers will play a big part in our offensive game next fall. So, until we know who will return and who will join the team, we wait.

I have heard zip about how he did this year. I realize his role was probably confined to scout team play, but anyone have any impressions or observations?

johnnyo53 wrote: WHICH WOULD BE DUMB ON HIS PART. GOODBYE TO CHASE THOMAS, STEPHENS, HOPE GARDNER AND THE REST STAY... WE NEED WR'S AND A PASSING QB FUNDAMENTALS COACH WE COULD'VE BLOWN IT OPEN IF HOGAN LEARNS NOT TO SAIL THE BALL...

Hogan didn't sail the ball in any other game this year.  71.7% ain't bad you know.

fischtank wrote: . . . but still cannot throw ropes like other PAC QBs.

Our best pass of the day was made by our wideout. Too bad he's out of eligibility.

I'll take 72 % any day of the week. 

And the best pass of the day was the deep ball to Ertz - made as he was getting slobberknocked.  He just went 5-0 against Ore, OSU, UCLA, UCLA and Wis.  Makes plays with his arm and his feet. Started 4th on the depth chart.  Ended leading a rose bowl championship. And he does throw ropes.  Particularly on out routes. Heck he threw a rope to Toilolo.  Just a bit high and too hot.  I don't think he relaized how open Levine was.  Course, if the guy could jump an inch or two he might have caught it. 

Best thing - FRESHMAN.  So it's fair to conclude he will get better. 

I guarantee you one thing:  Unless hurt, he's the guy next year.  He earned that.

lex24 wrote: 
 

And the best pass of the day was the deep ball to Ertz - made as he was getting slobberknocked.  He just went 5-0 against Ore, OSU, UCLA, UCLA and Wis.  Makes plays with his arm and his feet. Started 4th on the depth chart.  Ended leading a rose bowl championship. And he does throw ropes.  Particularly on out routes. Heck he threw a rope to Toilolo.  Just a bit high and too hot.  I don't think he relaized how open Levine was.  Course, if the guy could jump an inch or two he might have caught it. 

Best thing - FRESHMAN.  So it's fair to conclude he will get better. 

I guarantee you one thing:  Unless hurt, he's the guy next year.  He earned that.

Yep, he threw a rope to Terrell in the flat early on. Very nice pass.

Watch the replay, and you will see that Netherlands-Patterson made an acrobatic catch to come down with the ball. That pass was overthrown.

The best thrown ball by a Stanford player was indeed the one Hogan made to Ertz.

lex24 wrote: 
I'll take 72 % any day of the week. 

And the best pass of the day was the deep ball to Ertz - made as he was getting slobberknocked.  He just went 5-0 against Ore, OSU, UCLA, UCLA and Wis.  Makes plays with his arm and his feet. Started 4th on the depth chart.  Ended leading a rose bowl championship. And he does throw ropes.  Particularly on out routes. Heck he threw a rope to Toilolo.  Just a bit high and too hot.  I don't think he relaized how open Levine was.  Course, if the guy could jump an inch or two he might have caught it. 

Best thing - FRESHMAN.  So it's fair to conclude he will get better. 

I guarantee you one thing:  Unless hurt, he's the guy next year.  He earned that.

I never said he shouldn't be our guy next year. 

But honestly, the Ertz throw was ballsy but wasn't completely beautiful. Should have been a TD.

Hogan is our man. I'm on board.

But I also wouldn't vote for McCarron for Heisman even thought he's a likely double NC winner. Pointing out weakness isn't the same as losing faith.

The key is that Hogan has the ingredients to be great.  He has the decision making (which will only get better with more experience).  He has the arm.  He has the touch.  He has the legs and athleticism to beat teams that way.  He's not without weakness, and right now he does not (generally) throw an accurate deep ball.  The overthrow of Montgomery (I think) on the go route, and Toilolo in the end zone.  But I think that is fixable, and will get better with experience.

The question is whether we will have receivers for him to throw to.

BC