96
Inside linebacker is
crucial in Stanford’s
3–4; coach David
Sha w ’s de f ens e s
have been at their
best with lockdown
LBs manning the
middle. The two
inside LBs were
the team’s two
top tacklers last
season—they lost
one to the NFL
(Bobby Okereke),
the other to
graduation (Sean
Barton). While
one starting ILB
spot is still open,
Rick y Miez an played
in Stanford’s final
four games last
season, and the
sophomore—a top
lacrosse recruit
before choosing
football—stood
out with his speed.
The Cardinal have
experience across
the rest of the front
seven, but finding
the answer at inside
linebacker will be
key for getting this
defense going,
and it starts with
Miezan.X-FACTOR
2019
SCHEDULE
THE BIG STORY Under nine-
year head coach David
Shaw, Stanford has relied on a
punishing ground game and a
bruising defense, but in 2018
the combination of star running
back Bryce Love’s injuries and a
regression on the defensive side
forced the Cardinal to turn to a
more vertical passing attack. The
result? Senior K.J. Costello led the
Pac-12 in passing efficiency and
put up the second most passing
yards in school history (3,540).
With dark horse Heisman
candidate Costello back under
center, the Cardinal will continue
to air it out this season.CAN’ T MISS There was one
big bright spot in the
Cardinal defense last year: Junior
PAULSON ADEBO emerged as one of
the top corners in the nation,
breaking up 20 passes (second in
FBS) with four interceptions. In
the inexperienced Stanford D, the
secondary, anchored by the
NFL-ready Adebo, should be a
strength.KE Y QUESTION Can Costello
perform at a similar level
this season after losing Love, his
three top pass catchers and four
starting offensive linemen? The
line is the biggest concern: Aside
from All–Pac-12 left tackle Walker
Little, the Cardinal starters have
appeared in a combined total of
13 games.KEY MATCHUP
BIGGEST GAME
SI RANKING
AUG. 31
NORTHWESTERN
SEPT. 7
@ USC
SEPT. 14
@ UCF (15)
SEPT. 21
OREGON (9)
SEPT. 28
@ OREGON
STATE
OCT. 5
WASHINGTON (12)
OCT. 17
UCLA
OCT. 26
ARIZONA
NOV. 9
@ COLORADO
NOV. 16
STATE
NOV. 23
CALIFORNIA
NOV. 30
NOTRE DAME (7)
THE RUNDOWN
3
6
9
12
15
12
-^2
(P
AC
-^12
CH
AM
PS
)^
10
-^3
9 -^5
9 -
4
8 -
4
WINS
Stanford has been one
of the country’s most
consistent programs, with
eight to 12 wins every year
for the last decade. There’s
uncertainty this year, but
K.J. Costello will prevent a
YEAR 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019* major regression.
*SI PROJECTION5 -YEAR TREND
7. 5
There are few walkovers
on the schedule—
Northwestern and UCF are tough
nonconference matchups—though
Stanford does get Washington,
Oregon and Notre Dame at home
and avoids the top team in the
Pac-12 South, Utah.OVER OR UNDER
FRO
M (^) L
EFT
: (^) JO
E (^) R
OB
BIN
S/G
ETT
Y (^) IM
AG
ES;
(^) JO
RDA
N (^) N
AH
OLO
WA
’A (^) M
UR
PH
Stanford