Pac-10 Position Breakdown: Offensive Line – Stanford Cardinal
Comments (3) After losing virtually the entire 2007 campaign to injury, Toby Gerhart showed just what he was capable of doing in a full healthy season in 2008. Gerhart racked up 1,136 yards over 210 carries with 15 touchdowns, solidifying himself as one of the top running backs in the conference.
Toby Gerhart hit the holes with authority in 2008, and there were plenty of them thanks to the outstanding play of the offensive line. Even when defenders cheated run, the Cardinal line kept opening up holes and Gerhart kept powering through them.
The passing attack was a disappointment last season, averaging only 152.2 yards a game (105th in the nation), but it was certainly no fault of the offensive line, which surrendered a respectable 21 sacks on the season. With redshirt freshman Andrew Luck being penciled in to take over the starting job, hopes are high in Stanford that the passing game can do more damage in 2008.
In order for the passing game to take a step forward and the running game to continue to be as strong as it was in 2008, the offensive line will have to find a way to lessen the blow of losing three seniors, including Second Team All-Pac-10 center Alex Fletcher and First All-Pac-10 left tackle Ben Muth.
It won’t be easy, but head coach Jim Harbaugh has amassed plenty of talent to work with.
Chris Marinelli and Andrew Phillips celebrate a win over Arizona
Continue reading 'Pac-10 Position Breakdown: Offensive Line – Stanford Cardinal'»
