Stanford
Stanford

Stanford Team Report

Updated: April 22, 2012 04:21 EST

Stanford had a three-week break for exams between its first group of seven spring practice sessions and its final eight spring practices scheduled to begin April 2, but the major question remains the same: Who will replace Andrew Luck at quarterback?

Five players are competing for the job, and as the team headed into the second half of spring practices, it remained an unsettled issue. In fact, it probably will remain unsettled through much of fall camp. Sophomore Brett Nottingham, the backup to Luck in 2011, is the presumed favorite to win the job, with junior Josh Nunes looking like the best bet to be his backup. That could change, however.

"No one has separated themselves yet, but they are all executing very well," coach David Shaw said. "We've put a lot on them mentally to handle our pass protection checks, run audibles and operate the huddle quickly with a clock on them."

None of the quarterbacks is going to be able to handle the on-field audibles as well as Luck did, but quarterback play will go a long way toward determining whether the Cardinal can come close to duplicating the success it had the past two years, when it played in consecutive BCS bowl games. Stanford figures to drop out of national prominence, but it should be strong at running back, and the running game could make the Cardinal a factor in the Pac-12 North Division.

Alhough Coby Fleener is gone, the tight end position should continue to be a strength with Levine Toilolo and Zach Ertz returning. However, the wide receiver position, which was a weakness last season, continues to be a concern.

Three other issues remain unresolved in the spring.

Standout linebacker Shayne Skov is expected to play in 2012 after sustaining a serious knee injury that included a torn anterior cruciate ligament early last season. However, he was not participating in spring ball, and he also was arrested on suspicion of DUI in the offseason.

The Cardinal also lose two key offensive linemen -- Jonathan Martin and David DeCastro -- both of whom are expected to be first-round NFL draft choices, and both starting safeties -- Michael Thomas and Delano Howell.

Nobody emerged at any of those four positions during the first half of spring drills.

This is a critical spring for Shaw, who no longer has the luxury of having Luck at quarterback. The 2012 season will go a long way toward determining whether he is a good college head coach or was just beneficiary of good timing in his first season because Luck was his quarterback. He needs to develop talent during the spring.

It's also a critical spring for Derek Mason, who was co-defensive coordinator last season but assumes the role by himself this season.

The Cardinal's defense has been overlooked to some degree because of the success of Luck and the offense, and despite the concern at safety, a wealth of talent returns at linebacker to create a solid front seven. Stanford's defense should be adequate with or without Skov.

--Jason Tarver, who was Stanford's co-defensive coordinator with Derek Mason last season, was hired by the Oakland Raiders to be their defensive coordinator in late February, leaving the defensive coordinator role to Mason exclusively. That should not be a major problem, because Mason handled much of the job last season.

--By all accounts, QB Andrew Luck had an outstanding pro day workout for NFL scouts on March 21. He was particularly impressive because he held his Pro Day despite the presence of strong winds and threw accurately. He acknowledged afterward he purposely threw a few balls off line so Stanford receivers could show their ability to catch passes that were off target. Luck was not in school during the winter quarter but is scheduled to return to classes for the spring quarter to get his diploma in June.

--Despite having multiple concussions that kept him out of action for much of the 2011 season, WR Chris Owusu participated in the NFL combine and plans to try to play professionally. His performance in the combine may get him drafted; it's just a matter of whether a team wants to take a chance on a player who's had multiple head injuries.

--For the third straight year, Stanford will play its spring intrasquad game in San Francisco at Kezar Field. The game is scheduled for April 14.

KEY QUESTIONS: There are three main questions: Who will replace Andrew Luck at quarterback? Can Stanford's offensive line be as dominant as it was the past two years with the loss of its two best linemen, Jonathan Martin, and David DeCastro? Will LB Shayne Skov be able to return at the level he played at in 2010 and early 2011? None of the three was close to being answered midway through spring practice.

SPRING MOVERS:

WR Drew Terrell -- Coach David Shaw said Terrell has been having a good spring, particularly in terms of being more in command of the offense. The Cardinal needs a big-time wide receiver, and the hope is that Terrell can be that guy. He is already an accomplished punt returner.

WR/RB/DB Kelsey Young -- Young, a redshirt freshman, has been so impressive that the Stanford coaching staff is trying to find a way to get him on the field. He was recruited as a running back but has spent most of his time in the spring at wide receiver, a position of greater need. Young might even get a look at cornerback. Coach David Shaw calls Young "an X-factor."

S Ed Reynolds -- Although he is slightly behind others competing for the starting safety spots because he is still recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Reynolds has impressed coaches with his grasp of the defense and his smarts.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's not an average player, so his rehab and attention to detail can't be average. He's getting ready to dominate; he's not getting ready to play." -- Stanford coach David Shaw on LB Shayne Skov, who is recovering from a severe knee injury. It's still unclear whether Skov will be 100 percent healthy when the 2012 season begins.

2012 OUTLOOK: Because the Cardinal is losing a quarterback (Andrew Luck) who is expected to be the first overall pick in the NFL Draft, Stanford is unlikely to duplicate its success of the past two seasons, winning the Orange Bowl following the 2010 season and losing in overtime to Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl last season. If the Cardinal gets adequate play from its quarterback, it could still be a prominent factor in the Pac-12 North race, because it has a good corps of running backs and some pretty good defensive players.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: The offense won't be as good as it was last season for two reasons -- Andrew Luck is no longer the quarterback, and the two best players on the Cardinal's dominant offensive line -- David DeCastro and Jonathan Martin -- are gone. Nonetheless, the focus will be the same; Stanford will again try to be a physical team that relies on the running game. Versatile TB Stepfan Taylor will be back after rushing for 1,330 yards and catching 25 passes. He is also an excellent pass-protection blocker. Sophomore QB Brett Nottingham will not be as good as Luck, of course, but if he can provide a passing threat to make the running game effective, the offense can be all right. The team still has two standout tight ends in Levine Toilolo and Zach Ertz -- but those two must make up for a weakness at wide receiver, which was a problem area last season as well.

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: Stanford returns K Jordan Williamson, who was outstanding for the first half the season but struggled the second half after missing two games with a leg injury. He has to shake off two missed field goals in the Fiesta Bowl that cost Stanford the game. Daniel Zychlinski will take over for David Green as the punter, but Zychlinski averaged just 31.1 yards on his three punts in 2011. Drew Terrell gives Stanford a good punt returner, and Ty Montgomery has shown flashes of being a quality kick-returner.

TOP NEWCOMERS:

OG Joshua Garnett -- The highest rated of Stanford's incoming freshmen, Garnett is rated the nation's No. 33 overall recruit by Rivals.com. He will fit in well with the Cardinal's run-oriented offense, and he has a chance to see playing time immediately.

RB Barry Sanders -- The son of the great NFL back, Sanders could see playing time in 2012 as a freshman even though Stanford has a number of quality backs. Whether Tyler Gaffney returns may determine whether Sanders plays much as a freshman. Gaffney might go pro in baseball.

OT Andrus Peat -- At 6-foot-7, 305 pounds, Peat is still growing. Already a good pass-blocker, Peat has the makings of something special because of his quick feet.

ROSTER REPORT:

--LB Shayne Skov was progressing in his recovery from major knee surgery, but he was not participating in spring drills, and it remains uncertain whether he will be 100 percent when the 2012 season begins. There is also the issue of a DUI allegation against Skov during the offseason. Coach David Shaw has not said what kind of discipline Skov will receive as a result, but it will probably mean Skov sitting out a game or two at the start of next season.

--RB Tyler Gaffney, who received a lot of playing time last season and would be a prominent member of the running game in 2012, was not participating in spring ball because he was playing baseball. It is possible he will be selected in the June baseball draft and opt not to return to play football.

--S Ed Reynolds was participating in spring drills but still was not 100 percent physically as he recovers from anterior cruciate ligament surgery.

--CB Wayne Lyons was at about 85 percent efficiency in the spring, according to coach David Shaw. He missed most of his freshman season in 2011 with a broken foot.

--WR Ty Montgomery was participating in some contact work in the spring as he continues to recover from a hand injury.