The running backs all have experience. Senior Anthony Kimble returns after a injury-plagued 2007, and Toby Gerhart could actually steal the starting spot away from Kimble. This unit has a lot of potential, especially due to the deep O-line returning.
The O-line is the strength of the team, with only center Tim Mattran and LG Mikal Brewer as the most notable losses. They have four linemen with nine or more starts returning, and they get a huge boost with Oklahoma State transfer Chase Beeler filling in as RG.
Defense.
Nine players return with starting experience. The question is, can they handle the high-octane offensive juggernauts in the Pac-10? Probably not. Remember, this is the team that beat USC, but lost to Notre Dame.
The D-line has some experience with DE Pannel Egboh (six sacks, 13.5 tackles for a loss) and NT Ekom Udofia returning from an injury-riddled season last year, but lose Chris Horn, a DT with eleven starts and 24 tackles. If they can limit the injuries, this could be another positive for the Cardinal.
The Cardinal return their top two linebackers, but when you consider Clint Snyder was their #2 tackler and Pat Maynor was their #3 tackler, all that means is that the opposing teams have a tendency to break though the O-line a lot. Still, the top tacklers return, so this is a confidence-booster.
The secondary is a concern, although FS Bo McNally was second in the Pac-10 with tackles (114). Still, when your FS is a leading tackler, there are issues. Huge issues. Their SS has not played on any defensive unit since middle school, and is a converted WR. The Cardinal secondary was ranked #74 last year, so there's definite room for improvement. The loss of CB Nick Sanchez could be a big concern, but how much worse can it get?
Outlook.
The Cardinal have seven road games, and that will probably be too much for them to handle. Their conference road games are at Arizona State, Washington, UCLA, Oregon and Cal. Not very encouraging for a team in transition. Throw in a road game at Notre Dame and TCU, and you have a team that will be lucky to equal last year's 4-8 season.
The Cardinal's last three games are the key to another losing season: at Oregon, USC, at Cal. That's about as brutal as it gets when you consider both Cal and USC were upset by the Cardinal. Can you say P-A-Y-B-A-C-K?
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