Pac 10: Three Questions
A list of the three biggest questions facing each Pac 10 team heading into the season
Arizona Wildcats
1. Who’s the quarterback?
Matt Scott or Nick Foles? Whoever it is one will need to establish itself within the first two games before heading to Iowa. UA had success with a two QB system before (Keith Smith and Ortege Jenkins went 12-1 in 1998) but traditionally schools struggle without a definitive starter. It could be the difference between 4 wins and 10 wins. Whoever it is just needs to find Rob Gronkowski.
2. Can this team build on an 8 win season?
This team has talent and depth and the pressure seems to finally be off Mike Stoops. The bowl curse is over. These are now all Stoops’ recruits and the system has been in place. However, this team has lost to New Mexico and Stanford two straight years so while steps have been taken the Cats have still floundered against lesser teams. If the team shows any complacency or satisfaction the grumblings could start again.
3. How will this team finish games?
Last year the five losses Arizona suffered were by a combined 28 points. All five were one possession games in the final two minutes. Defensive breakdowns cost UA against Oregon State and Stanford and turnovers against New Mexico. UA must learn to finish games to crack the top third of the conference.
Arizona State Sun Devils
1. Is the offensive line fixed?
Rudy Carpenter took a beating the last two years and whether it’s Danny Sullivan or someone else, the line has to protect the quarterback better. Coach Erickson’s spread offense is designed for much shorter passes and quicker reads. We’ll see what happens. That trip to Athens is the tester. If Georgia’s defense racks up 5 or 6 sacks, it could set the tone for another long season for the Sun Devil signal caller.
2. The defense will be good, but can it maintain all game?
Dennis Erickson has always had smothering defenses. Dexter Davis and Lawrence Guy could prove to be a force on the d-line and if freshman Vontaze Burfict (assuming he’s cleared) is as good as advertised, could become a major run stuffer. Last year’s inept offense led to a lot of poor field position and wearing down in the second half.
3. Could momentum in the desert be shifting?
Arizona State could hold their rivals to the east in check with one phrase: 10 years. Now it’s ASU who went bowless due to a loss to UA, while the Wildcats went on to win the Vegas Bowl. If ASU struggles and UA does a repeat performance or improves, that 10 win season in 07 will be a distant memory. The Tempe faithful will be on edge if the streaks are at two both ways.
California Golden Bears
1. Will Jahvid Best win the Heisman?
Doubtful. Considering the three Heisman finalists from last year all returned it could be tough for the Cal RB to make it to New York. You’d have to figure Tim Tebow will be there and the QB from the winner from the Texas-Oklahoma game is a lock as well. For Best to make it to NY, I think he needs as list 1700 yards and 20 TDs and Cal will have to have at least 10 wins. The one thing that will play into Best’s favor is that he’ll get the majority of west coast Heisman focus with no USC player at the forefront.
2. Is Kevin Riley ready to solve the QB problems?
Since Aaron Rodgers left the Tedford quarterback phrase doesn’t have the same merit it once did. Now that (as Bears fans will say) Nate Longshore has expired his 8 years of eligibility it’s Riley’s job to lose. If he can avoid injury and establish consistency at the position, the Bears can flourish. If musical quarterbacks continues the Bears will continue to hover around that 6-8 win plateau.
3. Can Cal dethrone USC?
The Bears get them at home. USC will be breaking in a new quarterback. Cal will have the best offensive player on the field and USC is replacing 8 starters on defense. This is the year for the Bears to do it. They could be favored in the game. In order to dethrone USC, Cal will have to avoid the upset bug. Beat the Trojans and the schedule is perfectly aligned for Cal to run the table and get to its first Rose Bowl in 50 years.
Oregon Ducks
1. How will the Chip Kelly era begin?
Mike Belloti build up Nike U into the program it is now. Chip Kelly takes over and has already tapped the recruiting efforts to SEC territory. Oregon replaces a lot of starters on both sides of the ball but the one constant is Jeremiah Masoli which will make the transition easier. Oregon will be fine this season. What we’ve seen with coaching changes at West Virginia and Wisconsin, first year success with an established quarterback is normal. What happens after that is where it’ll begin.
2. Can Oregon stop the pass?
The Ducks were dreadful last year against the pass ranking 111th in the nation. In the Ducks three losses they surrendered almost 400 yards a game in the air. Walter Thurmond III is a solid cover corner and playmaker and safety T.J. Ward is a big hitter. The questions loom. Boise St. threw for over 400 yards last year in Eugene. We should know in week one.
3. Will Oregon lead the country in rushing?
Last year the Ducks finished second to Navy in the country on the ground at over 280 yards a game. Coach Kelly’s spread offense will be ideal for LeGarrette Blount and Jeremiah Masoli to eclipse over 1,000 yards each. Jeremiah Johnson graduated but he will be replaced by the fast and big LaMichael James. The Ducks lost their two starting WR’s and if Masoli does not improve his passing ability you could a lot more ground attack. Either way, 300 yards a game is realistic.
Oregon State Beavers
1. Can the Beavers avoid a bad start?
For some reason, OSU thinks 2-3 is the way to start. However, there are no road games at Utah or Penn St. on the docket. OSU should roll through its non-conference schedule with Portland St., at UNLV, and Cincinnati. Pac 10 play starts with Arizona, at Arizona State, and vs. Stanford. The Beavers could be 6-0 heading to the Coliseum. If the Beavers start 3-3 a bowl may not be in the works this season.
2. Is there a QB controversy?
Two seniors, one position. Lyle Moevao was the starter last year and led the Beavers to a 7-3 record and a Rose Bowl opportunity before injuring his shoulder against Arizona State on November 1st. Fellow senior Sean Canfield kept the Rose Bowl dreams alive with a last second win at Arizona. But Moevao was off the following week in a blowout loss to Oregon to kill the Rose Bowl dreams. Since then the shoulder has lingered all spring and Canfield won the job. There will be a short leash but Mike Riley has managed these quarterbacks well over the last two seasons.
3. How will the defense be?
The Beavers lost 8 starters from a defense that ranked 23rd nationally, 2nd in the Pac 10, including their entire secondary. Senior LB Keaton Kristick was a 2nd team all-conference selection and he possesses the playmaking ability as a run stuffer and pass rusher. He should eclipse 100 tackles and 5 sacks. The lack of experience in the secondary could be the backbone of the defense. Senior CB Tim Clark has most experience having appeared in 26 games, including 6 starts.
Stanford Cardinal
1. Can Stanford finally get to a bowl game?
Six wins is very achievable this season. The way the schedule sets up though, the Cardinal needs to get off to a good start. The Cardinal’s season could swing on back-to-back home games against Washington and UCLA. If the Cardinal sweep they could be 4-1 or 5-0 by the time the killer part of the schedule hits. In all likelihood Stanford will be an underdog in six of its last seven games.
2. How much of difference will Andrew Luck make to the QB position?
Stanford ranked 103rd in the nation in passing efficiency last season. Luck was a highly touted recruit and the coaching staff did not burn his redshirt last year despite the temptation. At 6-4 225 he possesses the strong arm and size for a future NFL quarterback. This is clearly his team. If he struggles, there is still senior Tavita Pritchard waiting in the wings. However, expect the coaching staff to let Luck continue to blossom and play through the bumps and bruises.
3. Will the secondary be fixed?
Stanford’s front seven accumulated 33 sacks last season, but that didn’t matter. The secondary only racked up seven interceptions and was burned for numerous big plays. The coaching staff has switched WR Richard Sherman to CB in hopes of adding some playmakers on that side of the ball. Each spot is an open competition.
UCLA Bruins
1. Will the offense improve?
It can’t get any worse. Kevin Craft was awful. As bad as the quarterback play was, the running game was putrid ranking 116th in the nation. Kahlil Bell is gone and Aundre Dean transferred to TCU as well as Raymond Carter to Colorado State. Norm Chow has the resume as an offensive coordinator but he’ll be starting from scratch. UCLA stayed the course and kept the redshirt on Kevin Prince. He won the QB competition early and will get to ride it out. As for the RB landscape redshirt junior Christian Ramirez will get first crack but this will be by committee all year.
2. Will Chuck Bullough replacing Dewayne Walker make any difference?
Walker was a mainstay as UCLA’s defensive coordinator. Though statistically it might not say so, Walker’s defense kept the Bruins in a lot of games before wearing down with no offensive support. Bullough may have the best core of LB’s led by all-conference selection Reggie Carter. Alterraun Verner, CB, and Brian Price, DL, are both steady forces and all conference performers. Expect the transition to be a smooth one and for the defense to shoulder the load again this season.
3. Any signs of the monopoly ending?
UCLA has been picked as high as 3rd and as low as 8th by experts. UCLA is not ready to compete with USC. However, Coach Rick Neuheisel has matched the recruiting efforts establishing a top 20 class and taking some of the players from across the city. For the optimist, if UCLA can reach at least six wins and remain competitive in each game, the Bruins maybe ready to jump into the top tier of the Pac 10 and challenge their rivals in 2010. If UCLA remains at the bottom of conference this season, continuing to struggle on offense, it could very well be a full five-year rebuilding process in Westwood.
USC Trojans
1. Is starting Matt Barkley the right move?
I’m not one to question Pete Carroll. He has had the best program in college football since taking over in LA. The only thing that surprises me with going with Barkley is he’s going all in. When you start a true freshmen, there is no going back. He has told Aaron Corp and Mitch Mustain this is our quarterback for the next three years. I thought he would certainly want to redshirt Barkley and let the talent sit and save a year, similar to Mark Sanchez. When you look at the pedigree of USC quarterbacks, if this kid is good enough to start as a true freshmen, he’s the real deal and should be worth the hype.
2. Can USC win the National Championship if they lose in Columbus?
No. It has nothing to do with not going undefeated. Even if USC runs the table the rest of the way and finishes 11-1, cracking into the top 2 will be a challenge. In all likelihood Ohio State will not lose two Big 10 games. If both teams finish with identical records, don’t expect a Texas-Oklahoma situation. Speaking of those teams, as has been shown in the polls and computers, the SEC and Big 12 get the benefit of the doubt. The Trojans only hope would be a rematch with an undefeated Ohio State and the likes of an SEC or Big 12 team looking very unimpressive in their conference title games or two losses.
3. Will USC survive the road tests?
According to preseason rankings, the Trojans face four Top 25 teams on the road. I wouldn’t be too concerned about Notre Dame. They have to prove they’re a real program and can match USC’s speed before that’s a marquee game. However, the other three games the Trojans could be underdogs. They lost the last time at Autzen, in fact they haven’t worn in the state of Oregon since 2005, and Cal looks like the team that will challenge USC for the Pac 10 crown. But come on, there’s no way USC is losing four games, can they?
Washington Huskies
1. When will the losing streak end?
The Huskies finally scheduled one cupcake non-conference. They will beat Idaho in Week 2. If they somehow lose that game, oh boy, another 0-12 season is very possible. UW still has non-conference tilts with LSU and Notre Dame. UW will be an underdog is every game until the Apple Cup.
2. Is Jake Locker ready for a pro-style offense?
Locker is a terrific athlete. He’s the best athlete at quarterback in the conference (sorry Oregon fan). However, he’s not a good passer. It’ll be interesting to see if he’s forced to sit in the pocket and become more of a west coast feed. USC has traditionally possessed pocket passers but Aaron Corp is a dual threat that may have started if he was healthy. Locker’s game should not change drastically.
3. Any hope for the defense?
I guess when you’re 0-12 things can only get better right? The Huskies ranked 110th in total defense, 115th in passing, 116th in scoring, and 119th in turnovers gained. Yuck. A reason for optimism is the return of LB E.J. Savannah from suspension and all four starters back on the defensive line. So yes, this team could become a top 100 defense.
Washington State Cougars
1. Could this year’s team be worse?
For the loyal fans in the Pullman, this is going to be another long and trying season. Point blank: this team sucks! The only thing that saved the Cougars from being the worst team in Pac 10 history was beating Washington. I wouldn’t expect to see the margins of defeat to be as big as last year. However, the record could be worse. Hawaii and SMU are trap games. Hawaii beat WSU last year and who knows how much improvement June Jones will provide in his second year. Realistically, 2-10 is a best case scenario and 0-12 is a possibility.
2. Are there any Cougars worth keeping an eye on?
There’s nothing in Alex Rodriguez’s bio on this, so you’re guess is as good as mine.
3. Why the hell should I watch this team?
I’ll give you three reasons: 1) You’re a loyal fan of your team and will enjoy these 3.5 hours of your life, 2) It beats getting kicked in the balls by a mule, 3) It’s kind of like watching college football.