Stanford football: Expect more offense next season

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Los Angeles -- While Stanford licks its wounds from the Rose Bowl, it can look ahead to another promising season in 2014, when the defense might not be quite so stout but the offense should be more exciting.

Quarterback Kevin Hogan will have all his receivers back, led by the dangerous Ty Montgomery. The offensive line should be at least as good, and three redshirt freshmen should put the tight end position back in the passing attack.

The big question, of course, will be how the Cardinal will replace 1,600-yard tailback Tyler Gaffney. There are quick and talented running backs on the roster, including holders Remound Wright and Ricky Seale, but let's face it - the man everybody wants to see in action is Barry Sanders.

The son of the Pro Football Hall of Famer of the same name had just nine touches on scrimmage plays this season. He could wind up as the starter in 2014.

Stanford should be well stocked on special teams because the kicker (Jordan Williamson), punter (Ben Rhyne), kickoff return man (Montgomery, the best in the country) and punt returners Sanders and Kodi Whitfield will all be back.

Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan will have a lot to work with when he returns for his senior season. All his wide receivers are returning, and the tight ends should be improved. Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan will have a lot to work with when he returns for his senior season. All his wide receivers are returning, and the tight ends should be improved. Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Stanford football: Expect more offense next season 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

There are some questions to be answered among players who could leave for the NFL with college eligibility remaining. Left guard David Yankey is considered the most likely of that group to turn pro, followed by safety Ed Reynolds. Eligible non-seniors have until Jan. 15 to declare for the draft.

Stanford fans who were critical of head coach David Shaw for his conservative play-calling in the Rose Bowl might envision a more wide-open offense next year. Besides the bounty of skill-position people, Stanford won't have a 225-pound back like Gaffney, or his lighter backup, Anthony Wilkerson.

"Even though we're losing two great ones," offensive coordinator Mike Bloomgren said, "there's still some talent there, to say the least."

It could be that the ill-fated decision to run on 4th-and-3 in the third quarter of the Rose Bowl and the four straight runs Shaw called on the final possession might give way to more orthodox passing plays in those situations.

Shaw will always want to pound out yardage on the ground, but he's able to adapt to his personnel too.

Hogan, for example, will have another year under his belt and should improve his timing with his receivers. Besides Montgomery, those receivers will include Devon Cajuste, Michael Rector, Jordan Pratt, Whitfield, Kelsey Young and Francis Owusu.

Departing fullback Ryan Hewitt will give way to Lee Ward and Patrick Skov. Meanwhile, tight ends Austin Hooper, Greg Taboada and Eric Cotton should emerge from their redshirt season and make the position more than just a blocking job. This season tight ends caught 10 passes, or roughly what Zach Ertz used to accomplish in a good game.

Hooper, a former De La Salle-Concord standout, had no problem with redshirting this season.

"The playbook was the most overwhelming piece because there's so many intricacies within each play, and you have to understand them all," he said. If he had played this year, he said, "I was on the borderline where you'd get maybe one or two plays a game. You might go the year getting only 10 snaps."

Graham Shuler should take over at center for Khalil Wilkes, and Josh Garnett and Johnny Caspers could step in at guard for Yankey and Kevin Danser. If Cameron Fleming doesn't come back, that will open a spot at right tackle for Kyle Murphy opposite the already impressive Andrus Peat.

On defense, the Cardinal will have to replace outside linebacker Trent Murphy and inside backer Shayne Skov - both All-Americans - along with end Josh Mauro and nickel back Usua Amanam. Just about everybody else on the defense will be back, depending on Reynolds' decision.

In the locker room after the Rose Bowl, Reynolds said he hadn't decided. If he leaves, maybe Zach Hoffpauir will team with Jordan Richards at safety. Cornerbacks Wayne Lyons and Alex Carter will be back, and Ronnie Harris might take over at nickel back.

James Vaughters and Kevin Anderson could present a formidable tandem of outside linebackers, while returning starter A.J. Tarpley might pair with Blake Martinez or Kevin Palma on the inside.

Assuming Henry Anderson returns, he could team with David Parry and Aziz Shittu or possibly ex-linebacker Blake Lueders on the defensive line.

Plus there may be an incoming freshman who figures in the two-deep mix. Some great players will be leaving, but the cupboard won't be empty.