Stanford Cardinal football was well represented at Pac-12 Conference Media Day by Harrison Phillips and Bryce Love. They discussed the expectations, opportunities, and challenges that Stanford faces headed into the 2017. Two quotes from David Shaw succinctly sum up where the Stanford football program is at right now:

Shaw on last season:

“We won ten games last year and it felt like a disappointment”

Shaw looking ahead to this season:

"We have a chance to be a better team than we were a year ago. A complete team, even though we lose two of the better players in the nation last year."

Stanford football has more depth and Experience:

While the media, experts, fans and just about everyone else will naturally want to focus on how Stanford plans to replace Christian McCaffrey and Solomon Thomas, Coach Shaw preferred to focus on what the team has now which as he said was far more depth and experience than they had a year ago. Shaw awesome was excited about the way the offensive line finished off the year last season and he looks forward to seeing them in action this season.

The Defensive Backfield will be strong:

On defense the backfield is the deepest position on the team according to Shaw. The Cardinal roster is loaded with plenty of studs in the secondary with guys like Quenton Meeks, Frank Buncom, Justin Reid, Alijah Holder, and more. With a unit like that opposing teams may find it difficult to pass the ball against the Cardinal. Rarely one for hyperbole Coach Shaw summed it up best:

“These guys have a chance to be one of the better units in America”

You can watch the full video on Facebook here:

David Shaw Press Conference · Pac-12 Media Days "We have a chance to be a better team than we were a year ago. A complete team, even though we lose two of the better players in the nation last year." The head man has spoken. Watch David Shaw's press conference at #Pac12FB Media Days. #GoStanford Posted by Stanford Football on Thursday, July 27, 2017

Replacing Christian McCaffrey:

Inevitably the conversation had to turn toward replacing Christian McCaffrey. While David Shaw did joke that if there was another Christian McCaffrey he’d take him, but the reality is that Coach Shaw is really excited about running back Bryce Love. Shaw also thinks Love could be one of the better players in the nation:

“Every time Bryce has touched the ball for the last two years there is a collective pause that happens on our sideline and the other sideline. There’s a gasp that happens, you can kind of hear that anticipation because he’s so explosive he averages 7 yards per carry, so many long touchdowns, so many explosive plays. He’ll have an opportunity in the run game as well.”

Go behind the scenes with Harrison Phillips and Bryce Love:

Stanford at 2017 Pac-12 Media Days Cardinal in the bright lights. Go behind the scenes with Harrison Phillips, Bryce Love and David Shaw in Hollywood. #GoStanford #Pac12FB Posted by Stanford Football on Friday, July 28, 2017

Stanford football returns to the field Saturday, August 26th.