By John Reid
Cardreider
STANFORD – The key to a successful season for Stanford is having the offensive line stay healthy to create holes for the likes of electric running back Bryce Love to run through. While that isn’t rocket science analysis, it was no coincidence injuries to the offensive last year and to fullback Daniel Marx, for that matter, were factors in the Cardinal’s three losses.
Stanford coach David Shaw said on Thursday four starting spots in the offensive line were secure, though the battle rages on for the right guard position.
“We’re still competing at right guard,” Shaw said. “We’re close to being set on the other four spots. Dave Bright has done really well at left tackle. Nate Herbig continues to grow. He has a chance to be really good at left guard. He’s only a sophomore. Jesse Burkett is playing well at center. A.T. Hall is at right tackle. (Tackle) Devery Hamilton is coming on strong. We can use his versatility.”
True freshmen Foster Sarell and Walker Little, the top two offensive line recruits in the nation, will get their chances to compete, Shaw said.
“The freshmen are looking good,” Shaw said. “There is a lot to learn. We’re not making any decisions, but at the same time, we’ve only been here for over a week. Those guys are better than they were when they walked on campus. We’re going to continue to push those guys and see what they can do.”
Brother Marx
Marx missed six games last year after wrecking a knee against UCLA in the Rose Bowl.
“We have confidence in our teammates to fill in,” said Marx, who missed three games due to an injury two years ago. “It’s always tough when you lose.”
Marx had offseason surgery to clean out his messed up knee.
“I’m ready to go now,” Marx said. “Hopefully, I got all the injuries out of the way.”
Marx is considered one of the best blocking fullbacks in the Pac-12, if not the nation. It’s early in the year, but Marx feels the team is on the right track.
“We have some good guys to replace,” Marx said. “Our leadership has stepped up, taking its form. We’re excited for everything to come together. We have a lot of potential.”
Marx had to get to the point-of-attack quickly to help spring All-American Christian McCaffrey, now toiling as a rookie for the Carolina Panthers. Love might be even faster than McCaffrey to the hole.
“Love is very fast and agile,” Marx said. “He makes guys miss, lot of similarities to Christian. It’s great blocking for both of them.”
Last week, Shaw came out and tabbed Keller Chryst his starting quarterback. Chryst played well in relief of Ryan Burns last season, but injured a knee in the Sun Bowl vs. North Carolina.
“Chryst has been taking most of the No. 1 reps,” Marx said. “We have confidence whomever coach Shaw has out there.”
Marx likes what he sees with the offensive line, thus far.
“With our history, we’ve had big, strong offensive linemen,” Marx said. “The key is to run the football.”
Stanford opens with Rice in Sydney, Australia on Aug. 26. Marx is looking forward to the long flight, er, rather, the experience.
“We’re focusing on camp right now,” Marx said. “We’re excited for the experience. A lot of camaraderie will come with that, the team bonding. At the end of the day, it is a business trip. Any time you get to do something with the teammates, it’s special.”
Action Jackson
Defensive end Dylan Jackson is listed at 6-foot-6, but he has himself at 6-5, weighing around 270 pounds. Either way, Jackson is expected to stand tall for the Cardinal on the defensive front this season. He’ll play mostly on the right side.
“Losing Solomon Thomas is going to be hard,” Jackson said. “Everyone in this year’s group brings something to the table. We’re focusing on our technique and making good strides.”
Jackson and the rest of the defensive front have the luxury of having much of the back 7 returning.
“They’ll give us a lot of time to get to the quarterback,” Jackson said. “We’re working a lot on the pass rush.”
Jackson won three state titles in his days at Maryville High in Tennessee.
“Football is big out there,” Jackson said.
How Jackson arrived at Stanford is an interesting story. Stanford tight ends coach Morgan Turner saw a tape of Jackson and took to the phone line.
“Got a phone call one day from coach Turner,” Jackson said. “I got a call the next day and he offered me a scholarship.”
Jackson visited Stanford when the USC Trojans were at Stanford Stadium three years ago.
“I fell in love with it,” Jackson said.
Palma pipeline
Stanford has two players from Palma High in Salinas on the roster, both bearing Stanford lineage. Quarterback Jack Richardson set the career passing yards mark at Palma with 4,300, also holding the career touchdown passes mark (39). Richardson’s father, Kevin, played linebacker at Stanford (1984-89). Richardson’s mother, Teresa, is a member of the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame after a stellar volleyball career, earning Pac-10 player of the year honors in 1986. Kevin proposed to Teresa via a plane flying over Memorial Stadium during the 1991 Big Game.
Center Drew Dalman, a true freshman, is the son of Chris Dalman, a former star lineman at Stanford who went on to play professionally for the San Francisco 49ers. Chris Dalman, himself a Palma alum, was a member of the 49ers’ Super Bowl XXIX title team. Coming out of Palma, Drew Dalman was rated the nation’s third-best center by PrepStar. Drew’s sister, Kate, is Stanford’s Operations and Recruiting Assistant.
An interesting aside, Stanford’s new baseball coach, David Esquer, also prepped at Palma.
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