STANFORD, Calif. — The first week of Stanford football spring practice is officially in the books, with four practices down during week one. There was a lot to like from the large number of returning players, as well as the group of early enrollees who got their first practices in a Stanford uniform.
Starting spring off on the right foot makes all the difference, and preparation for April begins in the winter. The guys hit the weight room leading up to OTAs and again throughout March, with just about everyone on the team shattering records.
"Our guys train really hard and are in great shape," explained Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football Troy Taylor. "They are bigger, they've gained a ton of muscle mass, gained speed and acceleration, all of those things."
Those building blocks helped set the tone for the first week of practice, which showed the improvements from where players were at the end of fall and at the end of winter OTAs. There might have been some nerves, as Coach Taylor mentioned to media following Monday's first practice, but it was still a great start to spring.
Day 1 ? pic.twitter.com/j4PIi9fdgB
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) April 2, 2024
"We got a lot of young guys who are getting their first reps against each other, but I think they did a good job."
That was echoed by the Willie Shaw Director of Defense Bobby April, who liked what he saw from the defense during the first week. He knows that the physicality of the group will continue to ramp up over the course of spring but mentioned to the media that "they are playing hard and playing fast. I like the approach so far."
While Stanford improved throughout its first season with Taylor at the helm of the program, there are still areas to address. With another young roster set to play in 2024, depth will be tested as it was last season. So many players got their first real taste of playing time under Taylor, causing Stanford to finish seventh in college football in snaps taken by freshmen.
Not only were there several snaps given to underclassmen, even some of the veterans of the team found themselves with significant increases in playing time. 20 Cardinal made their collegiate debuts in 2023, and 18 found themselves as starters for the first time.
"We're looking for improvement, consistency, and also the competition element where you see who is emerging," Coach Taylor mentioned. "How it starts off and how it ends can change, but we do know we need depth. I think our depth will be better this year, but we're going to need a number of guys to step forward."
Depth was also mentioned by Coach April as a key point to improve in 2024, but so much of the difference this season will hinge on players having those reps from one season ago against some of the best offenses in the country.
"Last year we had to spend so much time on schematics and getting the playbook in," explained Coach April. "Now we get to watch tape of them doing the plays which is totally different than watching someone else do it. We can focus really on the individual more than the schematics which is great. We have the ability to show them the issues that are coming up consistently that we need to improve on, and we can create concrete drills to help them improve in those areas."
The week began with helmets and stepped up to shells by the end of the week. The final turnaround of the week was perhaps the toughest, as the team practiced on both Friday and Saturday, going back-to-back days for the first time. That is when the intensity really cranked up, and Coach Taylor applauded his team's aggression and competitive nature.
"I feel like a kid on Christmas, being back playing spring football," senior linebacker Gaethan Bernadel said earlier in the week. "Getting to put the pads on is the best time of year."
One significant step during spring practice is getting newcomers on the field and in the system before the others show up in the fall. Stanford has nine newcomers in the program this spring, with 25 more set to join in June.
That's significant for their development, according to Coach Taylor. Take Tiger Bachmeier, for instance. He was an early enrollee in 2023 and wound up settling in as the second-leading receiver for the Cardinal as a true freshman, leading the Pac-12 in receptions and receiving yards among freshman receivers.
There are a lot of opportunities for growth during these four weeks of practice, and that's necessary given the expectation of the freshman this season. "During these 15 practices, they will grow a ton just from being a freshman and learning the system," Coach Taylor told the media. "They'll gain some confidence and show us what they can do because we expect them all to compete for playing time."
The spring is also a perfect time to instill the core tenants of the Stanford football program into the players. One thing that always stands out about the Cardinal is how tight the locker room is and the bond the players have with one another. While putting in the work together on the field plays a big role, time spent together off the field is just as important.
Bachmeier explained that to Stanford Athletics the relationship he has with the quarterbacks on the roster. "It's a really good atmosphere whenever we watch film together. I don't know if there's a time where we aren't laughing and having a good time, especially off the field. It's pretty easy to say that we are building chemistry and it's very easy to do with the group we have."
That is exactly how Bernadel views culture building in the Cardinal football program, and he credits Coach Taylor for creating that expectation on day one. "[Coach Taylor is] big on team. We take care of each, not just on the field, but off the field as well," Bernadel noted. "We're not just around each other only at practice. We do a lot of things together. He's really built that family aspect and we always break it down on love when we break down a team meeting."
Four more practices are on tap next week as the team continues to ramp up activity. Fans will have a chance to see the Cardinal in action during the team's annual Spring Showcase, as part of Cardinalpalooza, on Saturday, April 20 at 12:30 pm inside Stanford Stadium.