STANFORD, Calif. (AP) - Dry conditions, cool temperatures and the smell of clean-cut grass brought smiles to the face of Stanford coach David Shaw on the first day of spring practice.

After all, this February sure looks rosier on The Farm.

Under a colorful sky and a Silicon Valley sunset, the Cardinal began the first half of their split spring practice schedule Monday evening with something even more comforting than the weather: the starting quarterback. The defending Pac-12 Conference and Rose Bowl champions also return most of a stout defense, too.

Stanford still needs to sort out starters at running back, tight end, wide receiver, left tackle and center under new offensive coordinator Mike Bloomgren. Those competitions will likely last through the summer.