[GK3]

Quite the contrast between Athlon and Steele.  While Athlon only ranks one of our units in the top half of the Pac-12, Steele says:

Stanford has all-around strength at various position groups, Steele says. "They are actually one of nine teams to rank in my top units in all eight categories. Never discount David Shaw's chances of winning the Pac-12 North." 

Here's my assessment of the various units:
OL: High individual ceilings; has not shown that the unit can operate cohesively; little depth
RB: Love's graduation leaves big shoes to fill; Scarlett is only back with significant experience, but a question mark if he can become the go to starter.  Behind him there is potential but little experience
WR: High potential and depth; little returning production
TE: Parkinson has the potential to be an elite receiving talent and major mismatch; unproven depth behind him
QB: Costello has experience and is coming off a very good season.  I've expressed some concerns about how well he will work with the new receivers.  Back-ups have ? (Mills' health, West's ability)
DL: Best combination of talent, depth, and experience in years; should be strength of the team
LBs: OLB's have talent, experience, and depth; ILB's don't
DBs: Same as LB unit; CB's could be elite; Safeties could be a problem

Overall, 7-5 (5-4) and Vegas bowl smacks me as about right. Question marks at OL, and holes at RB, LB, DB hold back what should be an above average to excellent passing attack and a fierce D-line.

BC

I wonder how you see us getting to that 7-5 record.  Your 5-4 means we have to win two of the three out of conference games.  Logically, ND would appear to be your choice for a loss, but game is at Stanford.  If we can beat SC in LA, we then only have to play WSU on the road out of Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and Cal.  I agree with your position group thoughts, but Oregon, Washington, and WSU have their own uncertainties.  
I am not too worried about how Costello meshes with his new set of receivers.  By now he has thrown a lot of balls to them, should know where they like to get it, and how quick they come out of their cuts etc.  I am more concerned with are they good enough to gain separation before and after the pass.This is the year we need Weddington to live up to his recruiting hype.

If you get your wish and mine, that the offensive line jells and proves it can both run and pass block, then Scarlett should fill the need at RB.  But if we once again need a C Mac or Love who can simply beat people one on one, then we may need find out of Austin Jones has what it takes to be the next great running back.
If our defense proves to be truly good, then I think 7-5 would be an under performing result.

NW, UCF, Washington, and WSU all have unproven guys at Quarterback.  I think the Oregon and ND games may be our toughest, and we get them at home.  UCF will be tough simply because we have to play 3000 miles away.  I am hoping their QB problems will be unsolved by the time we play that game.  I am reasonably optimistic that 8-4 would be our most likely result.

One thing is certain is that it will be interesting to see how the season plays out not only for ourselves, but our opponents.

---

Last year was two different seasons, once Shaw relented on the Run game, and we became a PASS FIRST team. 
-- Finished SECOND in Pac12 in passing, and 11th in rushing.  Stark contrast.  
With Costello (and Mills with Tanner McKee after that) and with a VERY STRONG pipeline of WRs, we are making the shift: THROW. 
Throwing the ball will open the run.  Shaw said it mid-season, "We were pass-blocking a lot better than run blocking." 

In post-game comments, Shaw showed a LOT of confidence in Costello as the season matured.  We start where we left off:  THROW. 

Maybe some Frosh play:  Elijah Higgins (WR); if there are questions at RB, give Austin Jones some reps.  
Bryce played as a Frosh (jet sweeps), so did McCaffrey a bit, more at slot back. 

The other reason to THROW is in MORE games this year we may need to come from behind.

In addition to Jones and Higgens, I would pencil in Colby Bowman as a possible frosh who will see the field this year.  His personal story is compelling and guys with that level of drive to succeed are the guys I want on my team.  His 21.57 200 meter time is not all that shabby either.

[GK3]

Quite the contrast between Athlon and Steele.  While Athlon only ranks one of our units in the top half of the Pac-12, Steele says:

Stanford has all-around strength at various position groups, Steele says. "They are actually one of nine teams to rank in my top units in all eight categories. Never discount David Shaw's chances of winning the Pac-12 North." 

Here's my assessment of the various units:
OL: High individual ceilings; has not shown that the unit can operate cohesively; little depth
RB: Love's graduation leaves big shoes to fill; Scarlett is only back with significant experience, but a question mark if he can become the go to starter.  Behind him there is potential but little experience
WR: High potential and depth; little returning production
TE: Parkinson has the potential to be an elite receiving talent and major mismatch; unproven depth behind him
QB: Costello has experience and is coming off a very good season.  I've expressed some concerns about how well he will work with the new receivers.  Back-ups have ? (Mills' health, West's ability)
DL: Best combination of talent, depth, and experience in years; should be strength of the team
LBs: OLB's have talent, experience, and depth; ILB's don't
DBs: Same as LB unit; CB's could be elite; Safeties could be a problem

Overall, 7-5 (5-4) and Vegas bowl smacks me as about right. Question marks at OL, and holes at RB, LB, DB hold back what should be an above average to excellent passing attack and a fierce D-line.

BC

I wonder how you see us getting to that 7-5 record.  Your 5-4 means we have to win two of the three out of conference games.  Logically, ND would appear to be your choice for a loss, but game is at Stanford.  If we can beat SC in LA, we then only have to play WSU on the road out of Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and Cal.  I agree with your position group thoughts, but Oregon, Washington, and WSU have their own uncertainties.  
I am not too worried about how Costello meshes with his new set of receivers.  By now he has thrown a lot of balls to them, should know where they like to get it, and how quick they come out of their cuts etc.  I am more concerned with are they good enough to gain separation before and after the pass.This is the year we need Weddington to live up to his recruiting hype.

If you get your wish and mine, that the offensive line jells and proves it can both run and pass block, then Scarlett should fill the need at RB.  But if we once again need a C Mac or Love who can simply beat people one on one, then we may need find out of Austin Jones has what it takes to be the next great running back.
If our defense proves to be truly good, then I think 7-5 would be an under performing result.

NW, UCF, Washington, and WSU all have unproven guys at Quarterback.  I think the Oregon and ND games may be our toughest, and we get them at home.  UCF will be tough simply because we have to play 3000 miles away.  I am hoping their QB problems will be unsolved by the time we play that game.  I am reasonably optimistic that 8-4 would be our most likely result.

One thing is certain is that it will be interesting to see how the season plays out not only for ourselves, but our opponents.

---

Last year was two different seasons, once Shaw relented on the Run game, and we became a PASS FIRST team. 
-- Finished SECOND in Pac12 in passing, and 11th in rushing.  Stark contrast.  
With Costello (and Mills with Tanner McKee after that) and with a VERY STRONG pipeline of WRs, we are making the shift: THROW. 
Throwing the ball will open the run.  Shaw said it mid-season, "We were pass-blocking a lot better than run blocking." 

In post-game comments, Shaw showed a LOT of confidence in Costello as the season matured.  We start where we left off:  THROW. 

Maybe some Frosh play:  Elijah Higgins (WR); if there are questions at RB, give Austin Jones some reps.  
Bryce played as a Frosh (jet sweeps), so did McCaffrey a bit, more at slot back. 

The other reason to THROW is in MORE games this year we may need to come from behind.

In addition to Jones and Higgens, I would pencil in Colby Bowman as a possible frosh who will see the field this year.  His personal story is compelling and guys with that level of drive to succeed are the guys I want on my team.  His 21.57 200 meter time is not all that shabby either.