Go Mighty Card

Stanford 62, Rice 7

During the days leading up to Stanford's season opener on Sunday afternoon in Sydney, Australia (Saturday night stateside), head coach David Shaw said that his primary goal was for the team to look prepared. Even though it was August 27th, he didn't want it to look like they were playing their first game of the season.

Mission accomplished.

Depth Chart Observations

In 24 hours the speculation will finally end and we'll have something tangible to discuss regarding Stanford Football. For now, however, we're left to look at all the tea leaves we can in our attempts to discern what we might see on the field. The first depth chart of the season has been released, and there are a few interesting tidbits sprinkled here and there. If you click the photo of the depth chart to the left, it should enlarge in another window so you can follow along. We'll start with offense and move from top to bottom.

1. Jay Tyler will get the first start of his Stanford career. In the preview of the wide receivers that I published recently, I mentioned that I was looking forward to what I expected to be an expanded role for Tyler this season, but I certainly never thought he'd be starting alongside Trent Irwin. The reason for this move up the depth chart is that J.J. Arcega-Whiteside apparently won't be playing. There's been no word on any specific injury, but he has been held out of recent practices. This isn't a concern for this game with this opponent, but it's definitely something to watch over the next two weeks. He'll be needed.
2. The top two lines of the tight end depth chart look exactly as expected with senior Dalton Schultz followed by sophomore Kaden Smith. The fourth line, however, is intriguing. Consider the long line of great tight ends we've seen over the past eight years. Not one played as a true freshman, yet there sits Colby Parkinson. Redshirts are sometimes burned midway through a season, as with Harrison Phillips three years ago, but Parkinson's presence here indicates that a decision has already been made. Parkinson will not be redshirting, which speaks to his prodigious talent.
3. The starting five along the offensive line is always a question leading up to the season opener, and we finally have a partial answer. We learned a few days ago that A.T. Hall, who was expected to start at right tackle, did not make the trip to Sidney due to an undisclosed injury. That opened up a spot for the monstrous Devery Hamilton. Will Hamilton end up being Gehrig to A.T. Hall's Wally Pipp? Don't be surprised if Hamilton claims that spot and refuses to relinquish it. The rest of the starters aren't much of a surprise, but it's nice to see freshmen phenoms Foster Sarell and Walker Little with backup spots, a clear indicator that they'll make their collegiate debuts on Saturday night. Can't wait.
4. Another interesting development with the wide receivers. Two weeks ago I speculated that Connor Wedington would find his role as a running back, but here he is at wideout, the fourth true freshman listed on the depth chart. If any freshman wide receiver was going to see the field this fall, I think most everyone would have expected his name would be Osiris St. Brown, but that name (due to a nagging hip injury) is conspicuously absent. I still think we'll eventually see him this fall, just not this week. It'll be odd to see the number five out there on offense so soon, but Wedington could prove to be deserving of such a hallowed number.
5. As was announced two weeks ago, Keller Chryst is the starting quarterback, but note that there doesn't appear to be a distinction between backups Ryan Burns and K.J. Costello. This is another competition to watch, especially since Costello will likely be Chryst's successor down the road.
6. The expectation at inside linebacker was that Bobby Okereke and Joey Alfieri would be the starters, but lingering injuries have bumped Alfieri to a backup role this week, giving Sean Barton the start. All of these linebackers will play all season long, the only question yet to be answered is how much time each player will get.
7. Peter Kalambayi was always g0ing to start at one outside position, but it was assumed that Mike Tyler would earn the other. This appears to be another injury situation, as Tyler's name isn't even on the depth chart. He'll definitely be needed against USC and the rest of the Pac-12, so hopefully the injury isn't serious.
8. I can't tell you much I've enjoyed watching the defensive backs over the last two seasons, but what leaps out to me here is how much experience there is now. As great as this unit has been recently, much of their success has been a result of their raw talent; with the added benefit of experience and more time working with Coach Duane Akina, there's no telling how good this group can be. I can't wait to find out.
9. Jet Toner! That's all I have to say about this. Jet Toner!