Stanford's Offensive Line Has Been Hurt All Year, but the Sack Numbers Don't Show It

Key pieces of Stanford's offensive line have spent most of the season on the injury report, so it is fair to be surprised by one number. Through nine games, the Cardinal have allowed 15 sacks, seventh in the ACC.

That is a respectable total for a unit that has been without three projected starters for much of the season: left tackle Niki Prongos, guard Simione Pale and center Aidan Kilstrom.

The trend helps explain why Davis Warren has had more room to work. Eight of those 15 sacks came in the losses at Duke and Wake Forest, and Louisville added two more on Oct. 31.

Over his last three games, Warren threw for 279 yards against Elon, 303 against NC State and 270 at Louisville, an 852-yard, eight-touchdown stretch. Protection is not the only reason, since receivers, scheme and how quickly the quarterback gets rid of the ball all affect sack totals. The sack total is still the clearest sign of progress up front.

The case for calling it a finished product falls apart in the run game. Stanford ranked 131st nationally in rushing through six games at 103.4 yards per game. The Elon win produced a season-high 222 rushing yards and the NC State win added 174, but 114 of those 174 yards came on seven explosive plays, which leaves only 60 yards on the remaining carries.

At Louisville, Micah Ford ran for 72 yards on 20 carries, a 3.6-yard average. Ford has shown he can break long runs, but the line has not yet created the steady lanes that keep an offense on schedule.

The scoreboard numbers point to the same gap. Stanford averages 20.3 points per game, last in the ACC, and 5.5 yards per play, 13th in the conference. It is 11th in the ACC in total yards at 360.3 a game.

An offense can survive with a few explosive plays and a decent pocket, but it needs more help from the line to sustain drives, finish in the red zone and stay ahead of the sticks on third down.

Continuity is part of the problem. The line hasn't had the same group together for a long stretch, and when injuries pile up, Stanford has to lean on players with less experience.

Prongos has returned, but Kilstrom has remained out of action. A unit that is still shuffling players has a hard time building the timing and trust that good run blocking requires.

The next test is a harsh one. Virginia Tech leads the ACC with 27 sacks, and Stanford, 4-5 overall, travels to Blacksburg on Nov. 14.

If the line can hold up against that pass rush while giving Ford a few more clean lanes, the progress will be easier to trust. If not, the sack total may turn out to be a product of the schedule and the quarterback more than the blocking.