Ranking the Pac-10, or any conference, by position in the preseason is one of those less than meaningful pursuits that most of the media goes through as we approach the college football season.
The teams with the most returning talent get ranked higher than the teams with the less experienced talent. Not a lot of brain surgery salad going on here.
The joy of college sports is change, and change happens every season. USC always gets rewarded because it is a given that they are refilling spots with High School All-Americans.
A team like Washington gets penalized even though they are currently replacing lesser talent with greater, but less experienced talent in the skill positions. To get the respect of the media, you need to win some games.
The kids with no experience are always discounted, and rightly so, but they can be the difference makers that turn losers into winners. It really doesn't matter in the preseason because it all shakes out as the season goes on.
Overall Offensive Team Ratings
The team with the best defense will win the conference title in 2008, but having the fourth-best offense could hurt the Trojans in 2008. I put Washington in the middle this year with Jake Locker at the helm surrounded by an unknown cast of talented newcomers.
The Ducks may have a new QB, but they have the best offensive line, and debatably the best stable of running backs in the Pac-10.
I think everyone is overrating California by prior reputation. The Bears are very similar to UW, and behind at QB. Nate Longshore really has to rebound in 2008 for the Bears to excel.
- Oregon...The Ducks have all the tools if Costa clicks at QB.
- Arizona...Tuitama has a decent offensive line, great receivers, and an All-American tight end.
- Arizona State...Erickson is an offensive genius, and he has the best QB in the Pac-10. The offensive line is the Achilles' heel of this outfit.
- USC...The Trojans have been declining in offense, and a suspect offensive line could stifle the running game. Despite that, they have exceptional skill guys and depth at QB.
- Washington...You have Jake Locker, a very good offensive line, and talent at the skill positions that needs to mature.
- Washington State...The Cougs are loaded at receiver and on the OL, but they are breaking in a new QB.
- California...Longshore is in a slump, and the Bears are rebuilding.
- Oregon State...Problems at QB will knock the Beavers out of a bowl this year.
- UCLA...The Bruins have questions at QB, and a potentially poor offensive line.
- Stanford...The Cardinal needs to put up some points this year to climb out of the basement.
Quarterback
The Pac-10 QB class is average this year, with ASU senior Rudy Carpenter leading the bunch. UW sophomore Jake Locker has the most potential and could have a breakout season that could lead to a Heisman campaign in 2009.
- Arizona State...Rudy Carpenter is probably the best returnee coming in to start the year. With Erickson as a tutor, he will only get better this season. I really like his makeup.
- Washington...I don't think it is going out on a limb to pick Jake Locker at No. 2, since he has more talent than any other QB in the league. His increased accuracy is going to pay off in 2008.
- Arizona...Willie Tuitama has the potential to put up some big numbers in 2008. He has a great stable of receivers.
- USC...The combo of Sanchez and Mustain have some things to prove. USC's offensive numbers have been going down, and neither of these guys is better than Booty. I am not bullish on the USC offense.
- California...Nate Longshore had a poor year in 2007, but most expect him to rebound under Tedford in 2008. I am not so sure. I think Cal is rebuilding and on an even par with UW this year.
- Oregon...I think Nate Costa is going to surprise some people in 2008. If he can stay healthy he may be one of the better QBs by midseason. Oregon has a machine that tends to reload, and the RBs are going to take pressure off the new QB.
- UCLA...Ben Olson has experience, but if Cowan were healthy, he would be No. 2 at UCLA. I don't expect Ben to last the season. Expect him to be knocked out early. I expect when UW plays UCLA, they are down to a walk-on at QB.
- Oregon State...Moevao and Canfield are simply mediocre.
- WSU...Not much known about Rogers until he gets a game or two under his belt. Gary could surprise because he has a lot of skill players around him.
- Stanford...Pritchard beat USC, but he will have to fight to keep his job. The QB situation won't sort itself out until the opener.
Today's Must Reads
Running Backs
As usual, the Pac-10 has some real studs who will be lining up in 2008. USC and Oregon are loaded on paper.
I actually favor the Ducks, since I know what Crenshaw and Johnson can do, but the addition of the powerful J.C. Blount puts them over the top. Joe McKnight at USC could be primed for a big year, but SC hasn't been rushing well lately, and a rebuilding OL could hurt them.
I rank Cal and UW somewhere in the middle. The young kids they have are talented, but they need experience.
- Oregon...Jeremiah Johnson, LaGarette Blount, and Andre Crenshaw add up to one of the best backfields in the nation. They may be as good as the Trojans on paper.
- USC...There is a possibility that every RB on the USC roster could start at any Pac-10 school not named Oregon. The Trojans are loaded and will headline Stafon Johnson and Joe McKnight in 2008.
- ASU...Keegan Herring and Dimitri Nance are very solid, and they put up great numbers in 2007 running behind a less than stellar offensive line. That line returns, but Erickson is a miracle worker.
- UCLA...Kahlil Bell and Raymond Carter will carry most of the load for a Bruin offense that will be challenged in 2008. Bell pounded UW last year in the fourth quarter.
- WSU...Dwight Tardy can be a money back for the Cougs, and they are going to need that with a new QB coming in. The key for WSU is keeping him healthy.
- California...I like Jahvid Best, and if he can stay healthy, he may go over 1,000 yards in 2008. The Bears have plenty of talent waiting to prove itself.
- UW...I think Brandon Johnson will do very well between the tackles running behind a veteran offensive line. Add the speed of Chris Polk and you have a changeup that may surprise teams. Paul Homer is the best FB in the league. UW also has some decent unproven depth that will come to light this season.
- Oregon State...Ryan McCants is a bruiser, and don't forget slotback James Rogers, who can break some big ones. The questions are, can the QB create enough of a diversion, and can the OL open some holes?
- Arizona....Nic Grisby doesn't really impress me that much, but he gained 700 yards last season. Arizona will live on the arm of Tuitama.
- Stanford...Anthony Kimble was very average in 2007, and I expect him to post similar numbers in 2008.
Wide Receiver
There is always plenty of receiving talent in the Pac Ten every year, but the team with the best bunch of receivers may struggle at QB. The best QB may end up with the best bunch of receivers by the end of the year.
- Oregon State...Darrell Catchings, James Rodgers, and Sammy Stroughter are proven commodities. The only problem will be a QB good enough to get them the ball. The quarterbacking at OSU is very suspect.
- Arizona State...Jones and McGaha return with plenty of depth behind them. Erickson always has kids who can catch the ball, and with the conference's best QB they will put up some numbers.
- Arizona...Mike Thomas leads an experienced crew catching passes from one the better QBs in the West. With Tuitama at the helm, UA can do some damage.
- USC...The Trojans are deep, young, and populated by High School All-Americans who need to show us they can compete. Chances are they will. Keep an eye on Hazleton and Turner.
- Oregon...Jeff Maehl and USC transfer Jamere Holland look good on paper, but the Ducks have some rebuilding to do. Jaison Williams needs to stay healthy in 2008, and if he does, he will be special.
- Washington State...Gibson and Willis looked good this spring, but they need more depth to develop behind them. Gibson may be the best in the Pac-10. We all discount the Cougs with a new coach, but Wulff will get some production with a veteran OL.
- UCLA...Offense is going to be a problem for these guys, and they are going to need to develop some talent behind Everette. Neuheisel and Chow will get it done eventually, but the problems at QB and OL are going to hurt this season.
- Washington....D'Andre Goodwin was the only sure thing to come out of Spring. He will be the go-to man for Locker. Don't discount the addition of Chris Polk and the other young guys. UW has as much talent as anyone—they just need experience.
- California...The Bears are very much like Washington. They are rebuilding the entire unit, but they have the young talent to make considerable progress in 2008.
- Stanford...Richard Sherman is a stud, but the other young guys are going to have to come on in 2008 for Stanford to be respectable.
Tight End
You have the big three of Gronkowski, Dickson, and Paulsen, followed by a complete crapshoot after that.
- Arizona...Rob Gronkowski is probably the best TE in America going into the 2008 season. He is another big reason why the Arizona offense is going to win enough games in 2008 for Mike Stoops to get an extension.
- Oregon...Ed Dickson is right up there with Gronkowski, and with a new QB who will rely on him in 2008, he is a very good bet to put up some big numbers.
- UCLA...Logan Paulsen will put up big numbers if he can shed the injury bug. His injury last season really hurt the Bruins.
- Oregon State...Howard Croom is a kid that I liked in 2007. He is a dependable receiver who blocks well.
- USC...The Trojans are starting over, but whatever they have on their bench is usually better than most of the starters in league. Keep an eye on Blake Ayles.
- UW...Washington has been in a serious decline at TE. Senior Mike Gottleib, who is simply average, is the only serious returnee. Freshmen Kavario Middleton and Mike Izbicki are going to emerge onto the scene and change all that. The TE position is back at UW if the new kids can block.
- WSU...The Cougs have serious blue-collar depth in addition to senior Devin Frischknecht.
- California...Cameron Morrah should have a good year bailing out Longshore.
- Stanford...Ben Ladner looks like he could make some noise as the Cardinal garbage man.
- Arizona State...The Sun Devils are starting over at this position in 2008. Look for them to go with the kid who can block the best to offset their OL problems.
Offensive Line
You can't win without the big uglies, and Oregon has done a great job developing the kids they recruit. If you ever watch them up close, check out the lower bodies on those guys—it is just scary.
Mike Denbrock has done a great job rebuilding the offensive line at Washington, and the Huskies have plenty of depth and experience.
- Oregon...The Ducks have one of the better offensive lines in the country. Unger and Tupou are the anchors of a strong and agile offensive line. Are they as good as Oklahoma? The Huskies will find out early.
- Washington...If Garcia recovers early, this line could be pretty damn good. Even if he doesn't, the Huskies have the depth to make up for it. UW has lots of experience and depth in 2008. Remember, these guys protected Locker well in 2007, and they opened up enough holes to produce a RB who ran for over 1,300 yards.
- California...Alex Mack is one of the best centers in the nation, but the Bears need to replace a tackle and a guard.
- Arizona...The Wildcats bring back four starters from an offensive line that made modest strides, particularly in pass protection. The big void is at left tackle, where all-star Peter Graniello was a four-year starter.
- WSU...The one position of strength for the Cougars will be their offensive line, where they return four starters. Leading the way up front are the junior Kenny Alfred, a member of the Remington Trophy watch list, and the senior Vaughn Lesuma, a junior college transfer a year ago who is just tapping into his potential as an offensive tackle.
- USC...Jeff Byers is the only returnee in 2008, but the Trojans have the usual High School All-Americans to plug in. USC's offense has been declining in production since the Leinart days, and rebuilding the offensive line is priority one at USC.
- Oregon State...The Beavers need to replace a center and a tackle, but they have been one of the better coached units on the coast under Riley.
- Stanford...It takes four to five years to develop an offensive line. Harbaugh is starting on year two but is making progress. Keep an eye on Alex Fletcher, who is a rising star.
- Arizona State...This unit allowed four sacks per game last season. The Devils will be relying on JC's and position changes to fill the gap.
- UCLA...Micah Reed started eight games at guard last season and will shift to center. Tackles Alexis Landis, who was bothered by knee problems, and Micah Kia, who had troubles with consistency, are the only other linemen returning who started a game last season. Ouch!
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about 1 month ago
JOhn,
I agree with you on a few things. UCLA does have QB and OL problems big time, but they also have Norm Chow, who will get the most out of his QB, probably Olson and if he fails then Craft. They also have one of the best DCs in the country, DeWayne Walker. So, just on the strength of their coaching staff, I'd move them up a notch or two. Definitely ahead of OSU and probably just as good as Cal.
Washington: I was never really impressed with Jake Locker. Locker and the entire offense ran up most of their stats against Syracuse. After that, they ranged from mediocre to not so good. I would drop them down a notch or two.
Oregon: Wow! That is a big, big IF, John. I would say it's an even bigger IF than USC's Mark Sanchez. If Sanchez doesn't come through, the Trojans have terrific backups. If Coasta doesn't come through, the Ducks are quacked. Their best chance to dethrone USC was 2007. And they also have a big ??? at RB. Holland was a USC transfer who couldn't break through the tough competition.
USC: Everyone knows where they will wind up this year. First of all, they have two returning starters on offense. Kris O'Dowd won the starting center job as a freshman but was injured and missed most of the season. He joins Byers. Also, most of this year's returning OL saw action last year and have experience. Still, the H.S. All-Americans like Khaled Holmes and Matt Kalil will give them some tough competition. Finally, they have the best OL coach in the nation, pro or college - Pat Ruel. If anyone can get it together, he's the man.
You're right about Blake Ayles. He's the one to watch at TE. But at WR, the ones to watch are Damian Williams, David Ausberry and Ronald Johnson. Hazelton and Turner are listed as the #1 WRs on the depth chart, but I think things will change come Fall camp. And also add Travon Patterson to the mix. You ranked them #4. I'd be surprised if they're an outright #1 or at least dead even with OSU and ASU. OSU's QB situation is not as sound as USC's. And last year USC didn't have a potent long ball passer. This year they do along with Williams and Ausberry, two deep threats and RB Joe McKnight, another deep threat.
The #1 team RB spot overall has to go to USC. Too much of a good thing. The OL will come up big with Pat Ruel riding their butts. And these RBs are quick and can cut back on a dime. They only need a sliver not a chasm.
ASU: They have the best shot at dethorning USC. But they don't have Pat Ruel putting together their OL and believe me, they will need an OL big time when they go up against USC's defense.
from about 1 month ago
Check that Oregon RB note. It should be a big ??? at WR not RB. Their RBs are pretty solid. They should be 1-2 with USC.
from about 1 month ago
Paul,
Also, an indicator of whether ASU can dethrone USC will be the Georgia game. While that game will have Pac-10/SEC implications (whatever that phrase has come to mean in this day and age), I will watch that game to see if ASU's O-line can muster some kind of protection for Carpenter. If Georgia wrecks havoc through the O-line and harrases Carpenter all day like they did to Brennan in the Sugar Bowl, what chance are they gonna have when they go up against USC? USC's d-line will be replacing a couple of players, but Moore is the senior veteran and most people are anticipating Griffen having a huge year after watching what he did his freshman year.
Should ASU handle Georgia's defense, then I would give the Sun Devils a fighting chance against USC. The answer to whether ASU will challenge USC may very well come along long before the game is even played.
rodwood
from about 1 month ago
Paul where have you been? "The Ducks have a big ??? at running back" What're you smoking cuz it must be good stuff....... Did you watch Jeremiah Johnson run all over the field last year against proven defenses like Cal and SC? He's a powerpack who had a better yard per carry average than NFL 1st round pick Jonathan Stewart. Not too shabby huh? Plus LaGarrete Blount was the #1 rated Juco running back in the entrie country, and he nearly beheaded several teammates in spring ball Not to mention Andre Crenshaw can run the rock as well. And neither of these guys are going to have to carry the load. That more than answers the big "???" at RB for the Ducks.
about 1 month ago
Your constant comparisons of UW to Cal are amusing. Yes, Cal's offense may be re-building but it will be stronger than Washington's.
Cal will finish in the top 4 in the conference overall. The WRs are the biggest question mark. But, Tedford-Cignetti will get them ready. The offense will finish in the Top 3 in the conference.
Remember the name: Nyan Boateng. He will step up.
USC's offense has depth at QB? Yes, if you were playing in HS. They have little prime-time experience. Mustain played in a very different system in Arkansas. The Trojans will likely have to rebound from a loss against the Buckeyes and had a very average offensive year last year.
Overall finishes:
1/2: ASU/USC
3. Cal
4. Oregon
The rest is really not that interesting.
from about 1 month ago
Vib,
I don't quite see how USC's QB situation is lacking in prime-time experience. The starter, Mark Sanchez, started three games last year so he is not actually walking in untested as if he had never played a snap before as some QB's do when the get tabbed to replace the last guy who left. Nor is his experience limited to mop-up duty from the last few years. Sanchez started three games in place of injured John David Booty and two of those were on the road, at Notre Dame and at Oregon. I'd say he's got some experience under the big time lights and in front of a hostile crowd.
As for the backup, Mitch Mustain, he was a true freshman starter two years ago for Arkansas. Record as a starter? 8-0. Different system, yes, but he did come through when guiding the Razorbacks to an SEC West title and a berth in their conference championship game. I'd say Mustain is prepared for the limelight, should he get the call.
I'm curious as to why USC will likely have to rebound from a loss against the Buckeyes. They've shown that they have been able to handle their previous early season games against tough non-conference foes the last five, six years and most of those games have been on the road. While the Buckeyes will certainly be a tough team, I give USC the edge because they get to host the team in LA. In years past, they traveled to Auburn, to Nebraska and Virginia Tech in DC and USC came away with a win each time. I wouldn't call the Buckeye game a gimme for OSU.
rodwood
about 1 month ago
Before completely writing off Washington's offense I'd point out that towards the end of last season it was getting really really good, but was overshadowed by a just completely inept defense. Sure they racked up points against Syracuse, scoring 42, but they also scored 34 against Oregon, 41 against Arizona, 37 against Cal, and 35 against WSU. The Huskies had their chances but that just pooped out in every single game.
That being said, losing all 5 of the starting receivers and the starting running back does not bode well for the Huskies. There is talent, and hopefully they will be ready, I'm just crossing my fingers at this point. Starting at Oregon just is making me sick at this point, hahaha
about 1 month ago
I like this article a lot, but I think you are underestimating the QBs in Corvallis. Moevao won three or four in a row to close the season, and he should only be better with another year under his belt. I think their biggest issue is who will line up with him in the backfield, Yvenson Bernard was one of the most underappreciated Pac-10 running backs in recent memory.
about 1 month ago
Paul, A few problems with your assessment of oregon. jameer holland was actually injured his freshman year, which played a big role in him not "breaking through". Also, in terms of QB's for oregon, few people seem to remember that costa was actually pushing dixon during fall camp. Word was that costa and dixon were very much on par. Unlike last year were the top 3 QB's went down with injuries in the span of two weeks, this year there is very good depth for oregon at QB. 1.Costa 2. Roper (4td,0int, sun bowl blasting) 3. Masoli (top rated JC QB this year) and a couple of 4* dual threat freahmen with potential. Far from quacked. Last year was a very unqual situtation where the 4th and 5th stringers had to finish the season, leadin to the belief that the ducks had no other options at QB beyond dixon.
do some hw Paul...
about 1 month ago
Do you guys do any homework at all?. Your comments on UCLA alone show that you apparently don´t
QB:
Ignorant comment #1 - If Cowan were healthy, he would be the #1 qb, as he was in Spring. As it is, he probably doesn´t have any eligibilty left.
Ignorant comment #2- UCLA doesn´t have any walk-on qb´s on it´s depth chart.
TE:
Ignorant comment #3 -Logan Paulsen wasn´t injured last year, back-up TE playmaker Ryan Moya was injured, but is back this year.
OL:
Ignorant comment #4 - OT Lanis took a medical retirement and is no longer on the team.
Rgds
Soz
about 1 month ago
Obviously written by a Husky fan, you are giving WAY TOO MUCH benefit of the doubt to UW.
about 1 month ago
As a Cal fan who follows the team somewhat closely, I believe that Nate Longshore will not be Cal's QB for long if he doesn't come out of the gates very quickly and establish his first-half-of-2007 form. Also, the WR's will probably surprise people, and will probably not be anywhere near the bottom of the Pac-10, although they're losing DeSean and Hawkins. Best might not be 100%, but he never got a chance to be a feature back, and could have a monster season. Overall, I I think Cal will be in the top 3 offensively, if only because of the system that they run. The defense, which was bad last year, will probably be the limiting factor in Cal's success.
Just my $.02, good article overall.
about 1 month ago
As a Cal fan who follows the team somewhat closely, I believe that Nate Longshore will not be Cal's QB for long if he doesn't come out of the gates very quickly and establish his first-half-of-2007 form. Also, the WR's will probably surprise people, and will probably not be anywhere near the bottom of the Pac-10, although they're losing DeSean and Hawkins. Best might not be 100%, but he never got a chance to be a feature back, and could have a monster season. Overall, I I think Cal will be in the top 3 offensively, if only because of the system that they run. The defense, which was bad last year, will probably be the limiting factor in Cal's success.
Just my $.02, good article overall.
from about 1 month ago
Sorry about the double post
about 1 month ago
I'm going to enjoy re-reading this at the end of the season after USC has whipped the Pac-10 and shown their offensive dominance. Of particular delight will be your raking of their running backs at #2...
about 1 month ago
If this was written by a UW fan, he would not have given that much credit to the Ducks.
about 1 month ago
Ewe Dud will go 2-10 bank it!
about 1 month ago
only a usc fan would rank their rb's ahead of oregon, any one who pays any attention knows oregon running is going to be insane this year.....
about 1 month ago
Here's one for ya Corey....and for all the rest of ya as well....How many wins has supposed dominant program, the University of Oregon averaged over the last 6 years? The correct answer is 7.5. PLEASE LOOK IT UP(and their 9 wins last year was really over-acheiving) A team that averages below 8 wins a year over a SIX YEAR PERIOD! Can we all please stop drinking the U of Zero KoolAid!!! This is not an "elite" program like i keep hearing it referred to. It's a weak program that produces weak NFL talent and will return to its 80's roots in the very near future. Obviously, my school has struggled over the last few years, but my school is a FOOTBALL PROGRAM with National Championships in the past and National Championships in the future. That is all.
The article was actually pretty cool....I certainly disagree w/Oregon assesment. I also think OSU is headed for major trouble this year. I think the top will be USC, ASU, Cal, UW and Arizona. Oregon, UCLA, Stanford, WSU and OSU round it out. A note on Jake Locker...if you're not impressed with him...you have no clue. This is a heisman candidate who has more talent than any QB i've ever seen...and don't try to put Dennis Dixon(or poor-man's Isaiah Stanback as i like to call him) up there.
See you in Eugene next month...
Husky Fan
from about 1 month ago
10th
9th
10th
and Dennis Dixon finished fifth in the Heisman voting even after playing only 9 games. By calling Autzen a s#!thole, it only proves that you have never been there. Fusky stadium and the terrible sightlines? Yep, S#!thole.
from about 1 month ago
I also think OSU is headed for major trouble this year ??? It will still be good enough to beat the Husky team with a coach who will be fired at year end.
Jake is going to get hit hard again in the OS game.
Please give us reasons why OSU is headed for major trouble....
from about 1 month ago
yep, and the Huskies have sure been great in those six years as well. when was the last time you beat oregon? better yet, when was the last time you made it to a bowl game without thugs on your team? when was the last time you made it to a bowl WITH thugs on your team?
gotta love delusional husky fans... top half of the conference after losing your best defensive players and best running back since corey dillon??? you are just too funny...
about 1 month ago
HAHA!!! only from a husky. Can't wait to hear you saying "where are the rose bowls" after we beat yall by 30 on august 30th! you are insane if you think you even have a shot!
about 1 month ago
Locker is great! Their is no question about that but does the Huskies even have another player on that team? Locker shown that one man can't do it all and if the Oregon D is half as good as advertised then Locker will need help, and it will come from where? Yah, I'll see you in Eugene on the 30th and don't be to upset when you drive back up to that Paradise you call Seattle with a 30+ point loss.
DUCK FAN
about 1 month ago
In 2006, the UO averaged 182 yards rushing per game to USC's 128 yards rushing per game.
In 2007, the UO averaged 252 yards rushing per game to USC's 197 yards rushing per game.
In the back of Phil Steele's mag he predicts 215 yards per game for the UO in 2008 and 195 per game for USC in 2008 (page 324).
Predicting the UO as potentially the top rushing team in the Pac-10 isn't exactly a stretch, especially considering it should have a very strong OL to go with the backs.
The UO returns J. Johnson who in 27 career games has a 6.3 ypc average, Blount who was one of the very top JC RBs last year (and very impressive in spring), and Crenshaw (who in 17 career games has a 4.9 career ypc average); and, also has Nathan Costa, who as a junior and senior in high school actually rushed for more yards than Jake Locker (2,371 yards to 2,325 yards in 5 fewer games - look it up - he also threw for 4,501 yards to Locker's 2,917 yards as a junior and senior but since this is rushing talk we won't bring up those numbers).
about 1 month ago
Why is OSU in trouble this year??
I happen to think that Lyle Moavoa(sorry sp) is not a pac-10 caliber qb. I sense that Canfield can't beat him out, so it looks like he's the guy. Of course he was 4-0 or whatever as a starter last year, but that TD/INT ratio is ridiculous....and more than that, just look at him play. He certainly has guts, but he's 5'10 and is fat. The loss of Bernard and so many other players makes this a very down season for the beavs. I've seen them ranked 4th thru 8th, and i would put them 9th or 10th with the Cougs. That's why i don't like their chances this year.
As for the Zeros on this site, nobody addressed the fact that they average 7.5 wins a year and that they probably are less of a football program than Oregon State. They've lost 2 straight civil wars, and they really continue to try to be something they are not. Please realize you are the U of Zero and you are mediocre. Always have been(look at your history)....always will be.
from about 1 month ago
What a shocker! A Beaver fan using a six-year window of comparison!
For the record, OS(U) is precisely one game better than Oregon over that time frame, and they played one extra game (Hawaii).
about 1 month ago
I'm sad to see that someone has actually compared HS stats to try and show that Nathan Costa is either just as good or possibly means better than Locker. Please I could pull up my HS stats and possibly impress you then. Nothing against Costa I saw him play and thought he did a very fine job, but you have to look at the talent of the player by abilities not stats when in comes from HS. Since I am a dawg I'm more than happy to spit this out as well.
1. USC (go figure)
2. ASU (a lot of good talent, and Erickson seems to have an ability to just win in the college ranks)
3. Oregon (Costa shown that he can win, he isn't even for sure #1 QB, NFL talent laden team)
4. Cal (I don't have a clue what is at WR, doesn't matter good D with strong O-line)
5. Arizona (Willie isn't great but if he stays healthy he is why the team is here)
6. UW (WR last year were not special, Locker struggled with accuracy, Rankin danced could of had +1500 yds, D-pressure awful, System of bend but don't break D didn't work, and all are better. Inexperience lands them here)
7. WSU (Best WR in league top to bottom, with new system it all rides with the D and QB)
8. UCLA (Rick no love for you, enough said of you. Your two QBs are hurt and not expected back)
9. OSU (You lost your amazing D front, Sammie is back but everything else on Offense isn't good)
10. Stan (Tavita I would love it if you could take league)
about 1 month ago
Mike - For the record I am a UW fan, but from top to bottom the Ducks really impress me, so when I wrote the article I tried to be as unbiased as possible and stick to the facts. I really think the Ducks have a very good chance at winning the conference in 2008 if Costa clicks. I also think beating UW in the opener is going to be critical for them. That game is going to be closer than people think.
Correy- UW has plenty of talent at the skill positions you have never heard about, and that my friend is the joy of college football, every year the new guys make an impact.
Kev- Try bringing something legit to the table.
Bear Fans - I really think Cal and UW are in a very similar position this year from a talent/experience perspective.. The second half collapse last season is cause for major concern.
Beaver Fans - I think your defense will survive the graduations of experienced players, but you have some holes to fill at LB. On offense I think your QB's are extremely challenged. you have an excellent coaching staff so maybe allt hat can be overcome.
ASU - The Sun Devils greatest strengths are Carpenter, the WR's, the RB's, and most importantly the coaching staff Dennis Erickson has put together. There probably isn't a staff that makes game day adjustments better on both sides of the ball.
about 1 month ago
I'm not sure it is sad. What exactly have we been predicting Jake Locker's potential upon last season and in the future? Very much upon his high school career and ranking. We have seen him show great flashes in his first year as a starter; but, a 47% completion ratio and a 105 QB rating after one full season is far from earth shattering.
What else? He also has great size and speed, which is really great ... if you are a RB, LB, or S, less a predictor for great success than at QB. It is nice to have physical tools; but, as long as you can make the throws, all other physical tool have been much less a predictor of great success as a D1 QB.
When it comes to Costa it is always, he has never played, he has never played. Well, not entirely his fault, especially since he redshirted last year with an injury. What do we have to go on for those who want to make lists and comparisons?
Word from the Duck coaches (which apparently has been that he was pushing Dixon in fall camp last year) and his high school career.
What do we find in his high school career? Well, against a similar level of competition (not the same but similar) we find Costa was as successful running the ball and much more successful passing. He also was a spread QB which should help his transition to starter at least some.
I would be willing to bet if Costa stays healthy in 2008, he doesn't spend the year with a 105 QB rating.
about 1 month ago
Oregon State:
Problems at quarterback will keep them out of a bowl? No QB controversy with Moevao as the deffinite starter lead them to a 9 win season and should have been a sun bowl victory if there wasnt a technicality for "being eligible for the same bowl Back to back years".
Can OL open holes? Two first day draft picks in Jeremy Perry at Tackle and Andy Levitre at guard.
*Sammie* Stroughter
Don't forget great athlete Gabe Miller at TE
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