STANFORD, Calif. -- An improving Cardinal defense stole the spring game spotlight, posting a 23-7 victory that should earn the unit some extra luxuries during offseason conditioning. Here are some observations from a sunny Bay Area Saturday afternoon:

1. The defense enjoyed a productive spring: The state of Stanford's defense worried many at the onset of spring practice. For the second straight offseason, coordinator Lance Anderson has been tasked with rebuilding a big chunk of the unit, and his job is more daunting this time around because fresh faces populate the entire defensive line.

Kevin Hogan was able to form a connection with tight end Austin Hooper, but Stanford's defense dominated the spring game for the most part. Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports

Stanford's defense, though not airtight, was fluid and powerful during its victory in the spring game. That marked a significant departure from the shakiness that plagued it about six weeks ago, when a paper-thin defensive line labored through practices.

The ingredients for an unstable situation were still present Saturday -- injuries to Ronnie Harris and Kevin Anderson meant that only one 2014 starter, Blake Martinez, participated -- but that didn't seem to matter. Solomon Thomas and Harrison Phillips both continued to muscle up along the front. Martinez cleaned up with 11 tackles. Outside linebacker Joey Alfieri, finally feeling 100 percent healthy after fracturing his fibula in high school, emerged as a hard hitter. Young cornerback Alijah Holder made a name for himself with consistent play in the secondary alongside veteran safeties Kodi Whitfield and Dallas Lloyd, the owner of Stanford's one interception off a Martinez tip.

So, after a relatively brief hiatus, the Cardinal's once-elite defense looks like it's back on the path to effectiveness. When Anderson, Harris, and presumably even Zach Hoffpauir (an MLB draft candidate) return to action, this unit should be even stronger. It certainly looks like Lance Anderson is in the middle of yet another impressive rebuilding effort.

2. The kicking and punting games remain question marks: Following the game, David Shaw was quick to point out that Stanford's offense should have scored more than seven points, but three missed Conrad Ukropina field goals prevented them from doing that (the defense, which earned points for stops, scored instead). Punter Alex Robinson also struggled, and special teams remain a definite point of worry following the departures of Jordan Williamson and Ben Rhyne.

Touted punter/kicker Jake Bailey is part of the incoming freshman class that'll be arriving on campus this summer, and Shaw confirmed that he'll compete to start at both kicker and punter. The Cardinal likely don't want to wear out Bailey's leg by forcing him to kick and punt come this fall, so Ukropina and Robinson will be counted on to improve their spring game performances. Shaw did note that the kicking game had been solid up until Saturday, when Stanford practiced inside the stadium for the first time.

3. The rapid improvement of Phillips and Thomas is real: Both young defensive linemen weigh over 270 now -- Thomas told me that he's packed on about 31 pounds of functional weight since he arrived on campus as a freshman -- and both threw around their newfound strength effectively on Saturday. The duo combined for 10 tackles, a pair of sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a host of other disruptions. When it comes to the improvement of these two players, sports performance director Shannon Turley and line coach Randy Hart are really standing out: Stanford is seeing the successors to Henry Anderson and David Parry develop right in front of their eyes.

4. Hogan to Hooper brings a sense of déjà vu: Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan enjoyed an efficient spring thanks in large part to the re-emergence of the Cardinal's tight end position. The focus of Hogan's passes didn't change during Saturday's finale: He finished 13-for-19 for 187 yards, and 103 of those yards went to tight end Austin Hooper. The fact that receivers Devon Cajuste and Francis Owusu didn't participate obviously showered Hooper with additional opportunities, but the sophomore's rapport with Hogan is undeniable. He consistently found openings in the seams, and his quarterback delivered pretty throws there. The duo's success brings back memories of Stanford's glory days at tight end a few seasons ago. Hooper is no Coby Fleener or Zach Ertz just yet, but his importance to the Cardinal offense is undeniable at this point.

5. Fall promises a different look: With Cajuste (strained hamstring) out, this spring game featured even more inactive players than originally expected. Stanford expects most of them to be back and healthy in time for the regular season, and that means the spring game wasn't the most accurate preview of what's coming this fall. Aziz Shittu, Nate Lohn, and transfer Brennan Scarlett are all on their way to fortify the defensive line. The coaching staff expects Anderson to deliver a big senior season at outside linebacker. Harris and (potentially) Hoffpauir should be leaders in the secondary. Owusu is expected to fill out the receiving corps, and several more currently injured offensive linemen are expected to alter the nature of competition up front come training camp.

This spring game was a nice early look at some individual progress, but it was nowhere close to being an overall indicator of the team that Stanford will trot out at Northwestern on Sept. 5.