2007 Stanford Cardinal Football Preview
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by user The Beast
Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh
Home Field Advantage: Stanford Stadium 10 out of 10 in Pac Ten
Season Opener: September 1st versus UCLA
Pac Ten Forecast: 10 out of 10
Offense: Senior Quarterback T.C. Ostrander has been here before. He has played in twenty-two games over his career, usually after Trent Edwards got hurt. Last season he threw for 918 yards and three touchdowns. What makes his job even more challenging is the fact that he will have to throw begind the Pac 10’s worst offensive line. Last season, Stanford quarterbacks were sacked fifty times, the most in the country. If he does have time to throw, he’ll have a solid receiving group to thow to. The Cardinal feature one of the Pac Ten’s better groups in Evan Moore, Mark Bradford, and Richard Sherman. However, both Moore and Bradford have been prone to foot injuries. Health will certainly be a concern. Tailback will be a major issue for the Cardinal. New Head Coach Jim Harbaugh will have to decide between Junior Anthony Kimble and Sophomore Toby Gerhart. Kimble started eleven out of twelve games last season, but barely rushed for 400 yards and only had two touchdowns. Gerhart showed some promise as a true freshman in 2006 as he rushed for 375 yards.
Defense: While the Cardinal were busy giving up fifty sacks in 2006, they only had fourteen itself. Senior Defensive End Udeme Udofia is being counted upon by Harbaugh to be “like a Dwight Freeney.” Unrealistic expectations to say the least. Pannel Egboh return as the other starting defensive end. The Cardinal must replace All-Pac 10 Linebacker Michael Okwo, as a playmaker and a leader. Sophomores linebacker Brian Bulcke and Clinton Snyder, will be depended upon to do just that. Saftey appears to be the biigest problem facing Harbaugh. No starters return at either free safttey or strong safety. Carolos McFall is pegged in at free safety based on his limited experience.
Special Teams: The Cardinal should be fine here. Punter Jay Ottovegio and Kicker Aaron Zagory both return.
X-Factor: Offensive line. Last year they have up the most sacks in the entire nation and averaged just 65.1 rushing yards per game. This must improve if the Cardinal are going to escape the Pac Ten cellar.
Overall: Harbaugh has established a new attitude up on The Farm. He was 29-6 as the Head Coach at the University of San Diego. However, he still has to deal with many of the same players that went 1-11 under Walt Harris. With no pushovers on the schedule, another long season awaits Cardinal fans.
