Many people think Stanford will take a step back every year. They're one of, if not the best schools in the country academically, and can (uniquely for such a school) recruit wherever the fuck they want. Now they have a reputation as a consistent winner. They're bringing back their qb and Montgomery this year, and it appears shaw is going to utilize smaller, but more agile backs in misdirection while still claiming that they have good enough lineman to continue the power running game as a staple. How about you Quooks prove you can beat this team once again, and bounce back from an absolute ball-stomping from last year? They have a better coach as well, no fucking question about that.
No Murphy (the Yeti), Skov, Gardner, Gaffney, etc. They will take a step back. And I'm sure Oregon will take advantage of that to step over them.
They're reloading with better, more traditional football players (than what Oregon recruits). You know, the big kind that let a running back like Barry Sanders or even a veteran QB gash your pussy quook defense. Good line prospects come at a premium and Stanford has been one of the few teams on the West Coast with a healthy supply. Montgomery will cancel out With Ekpre, and the card is reloading with talent like the number 1 tight end recruit in the country from last year.
My point is that they reload with top talent and have a much better coach. My guess is their defense takes a small step down but their offense takes a big step up. Also, they know they own your feathered clits lately.