Quick notes: Stanford offense
Though the starting unit is not quite solidified, Stanford's top six offensive linemen appear relatively settled: Casey Tucker, Dave Bright, Jesse Burkett, Johnny Caspers, A.T. Hall and Brandon Fanaika.
There's ongoing competition for spots seven and eight, though, which is significant not only for the depth those players will provide, but also because the Cardinal utilizes as many as eight offensive linemen in various packages.
"(The seventh offensive lineman) depends what we're doing right now," Cardinal offensive coordinator Mike Bloomgren said on Saturday after Stanford's open practice. "We've seen some great stuff from our true freshmen that are really just giving us a taste as they're starting to really learn how to play the tempo and the strain that this level demands. But we're seeing some great things athletically. So it's going to be great to see where they are a week from now. So, again, I don't want to discount any of them.
"From guys who have been here, Austin Maihen is better than he's ever been in the run game. Nick Wilson is an elite puller and a guy that absolutely will have a role for us somewhere on this offensive line. So again, my comfort level with those guys is really high right now."
###
Stanford will hold its first short yardage and goalline session of fall camp on Tuesday. The Cardinal will look to replace specialist Remound Wright, who did a terrific job in that role in 2015.
Among the contenders for short yardage responsibilities will be running back Cameron Scarlett, fullback Daniel Marx - and Christian McCaffrey.
"We're going to have Christian involved in the goalline offense this year," Bloomgren said. "He's earned that right, and certainly none of us have any doubts about how he'll perform. But it will really not be his first time every doing it, because certainly he did it in practice before, but we're going to get him in that role. Short yardage wise we'll see who it ends up being and who can earn it. And maybe it does end up being a combination of different backs in short yardage, which would be weird for us. And you wish you could clone Daniel Marx and have him block for himself, but we can't do that."
Regardless of how he fares in the short yardage situations, redshirt freshman running back Cameron Scarlett is making a push for a more significant role within the Cardinal offense. Bloomgren noted that Scarlett "kind of stole the show" during Friday and Saturday's practices, and singled out the Oregon native as the offensive player who has taken the largest strides since spring ball.
"Cameron Scarlett has taken a huge jump," Bloomgren said. "I think his teammates are taking notice and I think everybody on that defense is taking notice. You saw him finish a run (Saturday) that was just unbelievable - great job on a screen making somebody miss and then running through a safety."
###
According to Bloomgren, Stanford's quarterback competition remains too close to call.
"My company line right now... it's true, it is truth right now: One period. Burns, he's really taking charge, he's really doing great," Bloomgren said. "The next period Keller comes in and makes one of these unbelievable throws. He's got charge of the huddle. Again, it's still a competition because they're both doing well. I believe we could play with either, but it's not clear to me right now who's going to be No. 1. And it's still a competition because they're both doing good things, not because they suck."