Stanford Football: Spring Practice Storylines That Matter

2016 Stanford Spring Football: What’s the big deal, what to worry about, and what’s all set.

Stanford working to remain atop the Pac-12 mountain …

The Cardinal, fresh off last year’s third conference crown in the last four years, is the school everyone else in the Pac-12 is chasing. And with RB Christian McCaffrey and head coach David Shaw still on the Farm, there’s reason to believe that the trend will continue in 2016. Still, Stanford will be busy this offseason replacing the latest wave of departures, including QB Kevin Hogan and a handful of gifted linemen. The spring and the summer will be busy periods for the staffers, as they gradually start to piece together a reshaped lineup that can fend off the growing number of challengers in the conference.

No One Is Worried About …

The running game. Naturally, McCaffrey is one of the game’s superstars, neither winning the Heisman Trophy in his first season as a full-timer. But the ground game is more than just the efforts of one individual. Daniel Marx is an all-star fullback, and despite wholesale changes in the trenches Stanford is never at a loss for road grading offensive linemen.

Extra Attention Must Be Given To …

The quarterbacks. Oft-criticized for his inconsistencies, Hogan will be missed for his leadership and experience. It’ll be a new era at quarterback for the Cardinal, which will spend the next few months deciding between Keller Chryst and Ryan Burns. If Stanford misfires in the passing game, slowing McCaffrey becomes a little easier for opposing defenses.