Opponent First Look: Stanford Cardinal

2021 Season Recap:

Head Coach:  David Shaw (Career Record: 94-46)

2021 Schedule: W-L: 11-2

• Kansas State – Loss – 7-24 – 194 Pass Yards, 1 Pass TD  – 39 Rush Yards, 0 Rush TD
• @USC – Win – 42-28 – 234 Pass Yards, 2 Pass TD – 141 Rush Yards, 3 Rush TD
• @Vanderbilt – Win – 41-23 – 218 Pass Yards, 2 Pass TD – 204 Rush Yards, 3 Rush TD
• UCLA – Loss –  24-35 – 293 Pass Yards, 3 Pass TD – 67 Rush Yards, 0 Rush TD
• Oregon –  Win – 31-24 – 230 Pass Yards, 3 Pass TD – 124 Rush Yards, 1 Rush TD
• @ Arizona St – Loss – 10-28  – 356 Pass Yards, 1 Pass TD – 13 Rush Yards, 0 Rush TD
• @ WSU – Loss – 31-34 – 273 Pass Yards, 2 Pass TD – 76 Rush Yards, 1 Rush TD
• Washington – Loss – 13-20 – 194 Pass Yards, 0 Pass TD – 67 Rush Yards, 1 Rush TD
• Utah – Loss – 7-52 – 85 Pass Yards, 0 Pass TDs – 82 Rush Yards, 1 Rush TD
• @ Oregon St – Loss – 14-35 – 94 Pass Yards, 1 Pass TDs – 136 Rush Yards, 1 Rush TD
• Cal – Loss – 11-41 – 239 Pass Yards, 0 Pass TDs – 43 Rush Yards, 1 Rush TD
• Notre Dame – Loss – 14-45 – 172 Pass Yards, 1 Pass TDs – 55 Rush Yards, 1 Rush TD

 

2021 Offense:

• 20.4 Points per game
• 215 Passing Yards per game
• 87 Rushing Yards per game
• 15 Passing TDs
• 13 Rushing TDs

2021 Defense:

• 32.4 Points per game
• 215 Passing Yards allowed
• 237 Rushing Yards allowed
• 15 Passing TDs allowed
• 33 Rushing TDs allowed

2021 Impact Players:

• Tanner Mckee – QB – 206-315 2327 yards 15 TDs
• Austin Jones – RB – 107 carries 378 yards and 2 TD
• Nathaniel Peat – RB – 79 carries 404 yards 3 TD
• Ben Yurosek – TE – 43 catches 658 yards 3 TD
• Elijah Higgins – WR – 45 catches 500 yards 4 TD
• Kyu Blu Kelly – CB – 58 Tackles, 2 Int, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 TD

Key Losses from 2021 team:

• Austin Jones – RB – 107 carries 378 yards and 2 TD
• Nathaniel Peat – RB – 79 carries 404 yards 3 TD

 

2022 Stanford Cardinal:

2022 Schedule: W-L: 1-1

• Colgate – Win – 41-10 – 328 Pass Yards, 3 Pass TD  – 169 Rush Yards, 3 Rush TD
• USC – Loss – 28-41 – 220 Pass Yards, 1 Pass TD – 221 Rush Yards, 3 Rush TD

2022 Offense:

• 34.5 Points per game
• 274 Passing Yards per game
• 195 Rushing Yards per game
• 4 Passing TDs
• 6 Rushing TDs

2022 Defense:

• 25.5 Points per game
• 200 Passing Yards allowed
• 161 Rushing Yards allowed
• 4 Passing TDs allowed
• 1 Rushing TD allowed

Key Returning Starters:

• QB – Tanner Mckee
• TE – Ben Yurosek
• WR – Elijah Higgins
• WR – John Humphreys

 

2022 Team Preview

 

Stanford has been on a downward trend since 2017 but after a slight uptick in 2020 they had an especially disappointing season in 2021. After an opening week loss to Kansas State, Stanford decided to make a change at QB going with Tanner McKee as the starter. It looked to be the right decision as they went on to win three of the next four games including wins over #14 USC and #3 Oregon.  However the success was short lived, after the win over #3 Oregon Stanford lost every remaining game on the schedule. In Tanner Mckee’s first five games as starter he threw for 11 TDs and no interceptions but in his final 5 games he threw for only 4 TDs compared to 7 interceptions. As much as the offense struggled passing the ball they were even worse on the ground. The Cardinal ranked last in the conference and 126th out of 130 Division I teams in rushing yards per game in 2021 (86.9). To make matters worse Stanford lost its top two running backs from last season to the transfer portal. Austin Jones (transferred to USC) and Nathaniel Peat (transferred to Missouri) accounted for 782 of Stanford’s 1,047 rushing yards in 2021. After things seemed like they were turning around two years ago, last season the ground game failed to get to 90 yards eight times, Stanford lost all eight games. Stanford had a talented group of receivers going into the 2021 season with Michael Wilson, Brycen Tremayne, Elijah Higgins and John Humphreys. After injuries to Wilson and Tremayne, the Cardinal had to rely heavily on tight end Ben Yurosek to carry the receiving load. Yurosek finished the season leading the team in receiving with 658 yards.

After years of running heavy power I formation, David Shaw has begun to see the light that is modern offenses. After watching tape on Wake Forest and other heavy RPO scheme teams he as made a slight switch in his offense this season. “That style of RPO really puts a lot of pressure on the defense,” said Shaw. “They have to make a decision, and we’re buying some time for the quarterback to make his decision.” What has not changed is the type of receiver Stanford produces and will use in their offense. The WRs are the strength of the offense and probably the deepest postion group on the team. Leading receiver Benjamin Yurosek is back at tight end, WR Elijah Higgins is a 6-3, 235-pound physical matchup problem who led the team in catches, WR John Humphreys brings that 6-5 size and downfield ability and Brycen Tremayne and Michael Wilson are also big, physical receivers. After failing to average 4 yards per carry three of the last four years Stanford will be looking to get their running game back on track in 2022. However the Cardinal will be without leading rusher EJ Smith this week because of an injury suffered last week vs USC. Casey Filkins who rushed for 77 yards on 16 carries against USC will get the start and will be heavily relied upon this week. Left tackle Walter Rouse and left guard Barrett Miller are the best of an offensive line that returns all its starters. But that group, which allowed 31 sacks last season, hasn’t shown the ability to provide McKee protection and create holes for the running game.

For so many years Stanford relied on ball control offense with a tough defense. In 2021 they were not able to count on either. The Cardinal ranked last in the Pac-12 in total defense last season allowing 451.2 yards per game.   The Cardinals couldn’t force takeaways, couldn’t come up with sacks, and they were particularly ineffective against the run. Stanford allowed 235 yards per game on over 5.5 yards per carry both ranking last in the Pac-12 and 127th in FBS. Much of the problem was along the line, and the loss of its two best defensive linemen will not help. The defense struggled, and it’s all but starting over after losing a ton of seniors and key parts. Also Stanford’s ineffectiveness on defense led to a significant change from the 3-4 alignment it had used for years to a four-man front. Tobin Phillips, who started one game last season, is the only current defensive lineman who has started a college game, so the Cardinal will continue to be vulnerable in the middle of their defensive front. Not only is there a lack of experience but also a lack of size in the interior. It’ll be a quick group of smaller lineman built around 6-4, 290-pound Phillips. On the edge Stanford has True Freshman David Bailey, a huge recruit who’ll be turned loose right away, and edge rusher Stephen Herron, back after leading the team with just three sacks in 2021. The Cardinal have two experienced linebackers returning for 2022 in Levani Damuni and Ricky Miezan, who were the team’s top two tacklers last season. If Stanford has a strength on defense it is in the secondary, which features second-team all-conference cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly and returning starting safety Kendall Williamson. Patrick Fields, a three-year starter at Oklahoma before transferring, will provide solid play alongside Williamson at safety.

After a couple down years David Shaw has to started to shift his philosophy to better fit the roster he currently has. The Cardinal will rely heavily on the experience they are returning at QB, WR, and DB to help carry the team into a new era of success. After a much expected blowout win over Colgate, and a tough loss to USC, it is yet to be seen which direction these scheme changes will take the team. As Stanford comes into Husky Stadium it will be important for the Huskies to stay focused on putting away a less talented team but not overlook a team that has made many changes in an effort to win.

 

 

2022 Depth Chart:

Offense:

QB:

#18__ Tanner McKee ____________ Jr. ____6-6 ___ 230 ___ Corona, Calif.

#11__ Ari Patu__________________So. ____6-4 ___ 213 __ Folsom, Calif.

#14__ Ashton Daniels____________ Fr. ____6-2 ___ 215 __ Buford, Ga.

RB:

#2___ Casey Filkins _____________ Jr. ___ 5-11 __ 198 ___ Lake Oswego, Ore.

#21__ Caleb Robinson ___________ Jr. ___ 5-10 __ 202 ___ Silver Spring, Md.

#8___ Brendon Barrow___________So. ____5-8 ___ 182 __Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada

FB:

#24__ Jay Symonds _____________ 5th ____6-3 ___ 251 ___Melrose, Mass.

#85__ Shield Taylor ______________So. ____6-3 ___ 242 ___ Alexandria, La.

WR:

#81__ Brycen Tremayne__________ 5th ____6-4 ___ 212 ___ Los Angeles, Calif.

#5___ John Humphreys ___________ Jr. ____6-5 ___ 209 ___Newport Beach, Calif.

WR:

#6___ Elijah Higgins ______________Sr. ____6-3 ___ 234 ___ Austin, Texas

#0___ Mudia Reuben _____________ Fr. ____6-2 ___ 209 ___Kansas City, Mo.

WR:

#4___ Michael Wilson_____________Sr. ____6-2 ___ 210 ___Simi Valley, Calif.

#19__ Silas Starr _________________ Jr. ____6-2 ___ 221 ___ Portland, Ore.

TE:

#84__ Benjamin Yurosek __________ Jr. ____6-4 ___ 242 ____Bakersfield, Calif.

#87__ Bradley Archer _____________Sr. ____6-3 ___ 255 ___ Livermore, Calif.

#86__ Sam Roush ________________ Fr. ____6-5 ___ 245 ___ Nashville, Tenn.

LT:

#75__ Walter Rouse ______________Sr. ____6-6 ___ 318 ___Silver Spring, Md.

#63__ Barrett Miller ______________Sr. ____6-5 ___ 311 ___ Aurora, Colo.

LG:

#73__ Jake Hornibrook ____________Sr. ____6-5 ___ 308 ___ West Chester, Pa.

#63__ Barrett Miller ______________Sr. ____6-5 ___ 311 ___ Aurora, Colo.

C:

#60__ Drake Nugent ______________Sr. ____6-1 ___ 300 ___Lone Tree, Colo.

#55__ Drake Metcalf _____________ Jr. ____6-2 ___ 292 ___ Orange, Calif.

RG:

#57__ Levi Rogers_________________ Jr. ____6-4 ___ 306 ___Woodinville, Wash.

#55__ Drake Metcalf ______________ Jr. ____6-2 ___ 292 ___Orange, Calif.

RT:

#78__ Myles Hinton ______________ Jr. ____6-7 ___ 320 ____John’s Creek, Ga.

#71__ Connor McLaughlin _________ Jr. ____6-7 ___ 300 ____Tampa, Fla.

 

Defense:

EDGE:

#15__ Stephen Herron____________ Sr. __ 6-3 ___237 ______ New Albany, Ind.

#9___ Aaron Armitage ____________ So. __ 6-5 ___260 ______Ajax, Ontario, Canada

DT:

#40__ Tobin Phillips_______________Jr.___ 6-3 ___295 _____ Fresno, Calif.

#98__ Zach Buckey ______________   So. __ 6-3 ___265 _____ Bakersfield, Calif.

DT:

#94__ Anthony Franklin___________ So. __ 6-3 ___267 ______ Phoenix, Ariz.

#51__ Jaxson Moi________________Fr.___ 6-2 ___282 ______ Oceanside, Calif.

EDGE:

#23__ David Bailey_______________Fr.___ 6-3 ___238 ______Irvine, Calif.

#0___ Aeneas DiCosmo __________  Sr. __ 6-2 ___251 ______ Montclair, N.J.

LB:

#14__ Jacob Mangum-Farrar______ 5th __ 6-4 ___235 ______Sugar Land, Texas

#8___ Tristan Sinclair ___________    Sr. __ 6-1 ___221 ______ Alamo, Calif.

LB:

#3___ Levani Damuni ____________ Sr. __ 6-2 ___242 _______ Providence, Utah

#10__ Spencer Jorgensen ________   Sr. __ 6-3 ___229 _______Provo, Utah

LB:

#45__ Ricky Miezan _____________ 5th __ 6-2 ___237 _______ Alexandria, Va.

#8___ Tristan Sinclair ___________   Sr. __ 6-1 ___221 _______ Alamo, Calif.

CB:

#17__ Kyu Blu Kelly ______________Sr. __ 6-1 ___188 _______ Las Vegas, Nev.

#6___ Nicolas Toomer ___________  Sr. __ 6-2 ___185 _______Tyrone, Ga.

S:

#21__ Kendall Williamson ________ 5th __ 6-0 ___203 _______ Snellville, Ga.

#24__ Patrick Fields_____________ 5th __ 6-0 ___203 _______ Tulsa, Okla.

S:

#2___ Jonathan McGill __________ Sr. __ 5-9 ___183 ________ Coppell, Texas

#18__ Jimmy Wyrick ____________So. __5-10___183 ________ Dallas, Texas

CB:

#13__ Ethan Bonner _______ ____5th __ 6-1 ___190 ____ The Woodlands, Texas

#4___ Salim Turner-Muhammad __Sr. __5-11___190 _________ Corona, N.Y.

NB:

#24__ Patrick Fields____________5th __ 6-0 ___203 __________ Tulsa, Okla.

#18__ Jimmy Wyrick ___________ So. __5-10___183 _________ Dallas, Texas