For one thing, it always seemed to have a large corps of experienced players and returning playmakers. Aside from cornerback Ronnie Harris, who has started three games, the only returning starters on defense are linebackers Blake Martinez and Kevin Anderson. The good news is that the offense could be the most potent since 2011, when Stanford went 11-2 in Andrew Luck’s final season. “Even when he took us to back to back Rose Bowls, he didn’t play as well as he did in those three games,” head coach David Shaw said. Wide receivers Devon Cajuste — assuming he’s all the way back from an ankle injury — Michael Rector and Francis Owusu should be formidable. With redshirt freshman Dalton Schultz joining Austin Hooper, Greg Taboada and Eric Cotton, the Cardinal probably have the nation’s premier stable of tight ends. Stanford fans - and the coaches too - can’t wait to see what he can do in the open field as a starter. While Wright has shown a nose for the goal line, another option on short yardage is 6-foot-2, 247-pound fullback Daniel Marx. The left side of the offensive line looks especially strong, with Kyle Murphy at tackle and Joshua Garnett at guard. Returning center Graham Shuler seems to have bested the competition at that spot, and guard Johnny Caspers and tackle Casey Tucker appear ready to start on the right side. The second-ranked defense in the country probably played well enough last year to win 10 games; three of the Cardinal’s eight losses were by a field goal. Linebacker Martinez, last year’s leading tackler, insists he hasn’t noticed any drop-off in the line’s play.