Pac-10: A worthless Season?
| 9
|
by Deuelio
Originally appeared at www.returntoblazermania.blogspot.com.
Everyone says USC is the hands down favorite. Every year, a buddy and I pick the Pac-10 runner-up because we figure USC has got the title in the bag every year. The Pac-10 coaches are not stupid (Mike Stoops is but the rest aren't) and they unanimously voted USC to win the Pac-10 True, there are a few games that could be difficult (possibly at Oregon if they can find a quarterback) and definitely at California on November 10.
The Pac-10 can be broken into four distinct tiers.
A Tier
USC – simply loaded all over the field, particularly on defense where they return 10 starters including all star performers FS Taylor Mays, NT Sedrick Ellis, LB’s Rey Maualuga and Keith Rivers to name a few. John David Booty is back and will probably amass big numbers after a year of experience. Any number of the 10 scholarship running backs could be a breakout performer. To put it simply, the Trojans are obviously loaded and are making a mockery out of the Pac-10 and leaving the rest to play for second and the prestigious Holiday Bowl.
B Tier
Cal – Jeff Tedford has turned Cal into a western powerhouse, one step below USC but a step above everyone else on the west coast. They only return seven starters on offense but they are some big names. Junior Nate Longshore returns after a quietly stellar sophomore season where he passed for over 3,000 yards and 24 TD’s. He’s got great weapons out wide in DeSean Jackson (who is easily one of the most exciting players in the nation), Robert Jordan, LaVelle Hawkins and Sam DeSa. Plus TB Justin Forsett returns for what seems like his 8th season at Berkley. They are a step above everyone else and a step below USC.
C Tier - this is the biggest tier of them all. I figure teams 3-7 are in here.
OSU - despite the fact that their quarterback situation is still unsettled I like OSU at the top of the C Tier. They return 15 starters on offense including stud running back Yvenson Bernard and 2006 breakout performer Sammie Stroughter. Their offensive line is loaded in the middle led by guards Jeremy Perry, Kyle DeVan and Roy Schuening. They should open big holes for Bernard to once again run through. Whoever the quarterback is, Canfield or Moevao, there are plenty of weapons to find and both have been in the system for three years. Mike Riley appears to have things on the rise in Corvallis.
UCLA - UCLA returns 20 starters on offense and defense from a team that went 7-6 last year and lost to Florida State in the Emerald Bowl. Karl Dorrell always appears to be on the hot seat. Dorrell has always been on the hot seat as UCLA’s teams have been erratic. Quarterback Ben Olsen returns as does backup Ryan Cowan, both of whom played last year. TB Chris Markey is one of only three running backs returning with over 1,000 yards rushing and should be a force this season. The defense is the strength but depth is an issue. 10 starters return on “D” but an injury or two could be devastating for UCLA.
Arizona - As a “journalist” I try to be objective but I really can’t stand Mike Stoops. I think he’s arrogant and a blowhard and not that great of a coach. He gets his players so riled up that they make stupid plays and they hurt themselves when they shouldn’t. He can recruit though. Defensively, Arizona has always been good. Antoine Cason is a hard-hitting DB and anchors a fast and tough “D”. It’s the offense that has been brutal for the Wildcats but the addition of Sonny Dykes as his offensive coordinator from Texas Tech should fix that. He’ll inject some life into the offense and possibly help all-everything quarterback Willie Tuitama reach his potential. Of course Dykes works for a Stoops who left Tuitama in a game in which he received a serious concussion. Idiot.
Oregon - I’m a Duck fan so I’ll try to be objective. They’re really good or really bad. I just don’t know. Much of the talk has been on Dennis Dixon and his struggles last year and his decision to go play baseball rather than stick around and do passing drills. I think it was just meant to be a mental escape for Dixon to get away from Eugene so he can get a fresh start this year. All it did was increase the scrutiny and pressure on him as each miscue will be met with a “what if?” shrug from the fans. The focus on Dixon has overshadowed several things in Eugene, namely leadership (is there any?) Chip Kelly (how will his new offense play in the Pac-10?) and Jonathan Stewart (will he get the ball?). There’s talent in Eugene but can they put it all together?
ASU - Did you know Dennis Erickson is coaching ASU? Of course you did, everyone knows that. The coaches gave ASU a ton of love, ranking them fourth in the preseason poll. I don’t see that happening but it won’t take Erickson long to reacquaint himself with the top of the conference. He’s upgraded his talent from what he had at Idaho but they’re still suspect on “D”. They do get most of their tough games at home including Cal, USC and OSU but travel to Oregon and UCLA. They return Rudy Carpenter who is somewhere between what he was as a freshman and what he was last year. He rebounded to have a decent year, tossing 23 TD’s and has nine other offensive starters returning including TB Ryan Torain who rushed for 1,229 yards last year. The defense was soft last year, getting torched by Cal and Oregon but they did a good job later in the season.
D Tier - Washington, Washington State and Stanford. These teams are rebuilding and will probably play the role of spoiler. Washington State is particularly dangerous because I think games in Pullman in late October/early November are difficult games to win. Jim Harbaugh is the new coach at Stanford and is using his mouth to get some attention for the Cardinal. The fact is, they’re terrible and his verbal swipes at big time programs like USC and Michigan isn’t going to endear him to many AD’s and Presidents. Washington has Ty Willingham whom I really like and think is a great man. I don’t know how great of a coach he is but I think he’ll return Washington to respectability if they give him more than three years. It’ll take a bit more time for him to turn that around after Kevin Gilbride flew that thing into the mountain.
