Offensive line coach is staying the course
The Tunnel Workers Union, otherwise known as the Stanford offensive line, is under new management.
Kevin Carberry, the first-year line coach and running game coordinator, came from the NFL, like his predecessor, Mike Bloomgren, who left in December to become head coach at Rice.
Both men were trained in offensive line play by former Raiders head coach Bill Callahan, Bloomgren with the New York Jets and Carberry with Washington.
Stanford head coach David Shaw said Callahan’s tutelage and his recommendation were “the main influence” in his hiring of Carberry. Callahan is “one of the best in the business,” he said.
On Saturday, the offensive line had the best of the defensive line for much of the 11-on-11 scrimmaging at the practice session and in the short-yardage and goal-line drills that followed.
Shaw was happy that the defense, with its inexperienced line, wasn’t completely dominated. “I hate for it to be lopsided because I start to worry about the other side,” he said.
But the offense had touchdown runs by Trevor Speights and Cameron Scarlett and two field goals in the 11-on-11 session. Both tailbacks repeatedly converted first downs on short yardage. Although cornerback Noah Williams nailed Scarlett for a loss on a fourth-down play, the defense had to perform 20 pushups for its overall defeat.
As for the offensive line, Shaw said, “we have a mode and a mentality that will never change. Kevin’s come in and is great with that. And I wanted him to bring some of his own flavor and some things that he likes, both schematically and technique-wise. And he’s done that.”
Carberry is delighted with the cards he’s been dealt in his return to college coaching. “They’re a great group,” he said. “They listen. They’re not stubborn. They’re a pleasure to coach. They work and play tremendously hard. They want to continue on in the tradition of great line play they’ve had since coach Shaw’s been the coach.”
With the exception of “a few intricacies,” Carberry said, the line techniques he’s teaching are much the same as Bloomgren’s.
Tackle A.T. Hall, who will be entering his fifth year on the Farm, agrees. “Some of the pass(-protection) techniques are a little different,” he said. “Just about everything is really the same. Some small details on footwork and hand placement — there’s no real drastic change.”
Starting center Jesse Burkett is out for the spring while he rehabs from a leg injury. But otherwise it’s a familiar cast: Hall and Walker Little at tackle and Nate Herbig and Brandon Fanaika at guard, with experienced backups including guard Nick Wilson and center Brian Chaffin.
Then there’s Foster Sarell, one of the nation’s top recruits last year. The coaches continue to try to find a place for him. He played mainly at guard the first half of spring ball; he’s mainly at tackle for the second half.
“We’re going to play the five best guys,” Carberry said. Briefly: Walk-on Jack Richardson continues to impress as the only quarterback available. His passes in the scrimmage Saturday were generally accurate, including three completions to JJ Arcega-Whiteside in one touchdown drive. … Bryce Love, wearing a yellow jersey (off limits to contact), carried once during a non-tackling drill but didn’t take part in the scrimmage. He won’t play in next Saturday’s spring game at Cagan Stadium either, Shaw said. … Shaw said he was “extremely pleased” that ex-Cardinal quarterback Kevin Hogan was traded by Cleveland to his hometown team, Washington. “Their system is very similar to ours,” he said.