Pac-12 Football: Power Ranking the Depth of Every Team
With the Pac-12 loaded with teams that are capable of competing with everyone else in the nation, depth becomes integral to every team's success.
Last season, the Oregon Ducks rode their plethora of depth all the way to the BCS title game.
This season, though, with two new teams added to the conference, things could be shaking up. With players coming and going, depth could be the telling tale of who comes out on top in the competitive conference.
Of course, there are people like me who try to figure these things out for you.
So let's get started, shall we?
Click away.
12. Washington State
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The Washington State Cougars finished as the worst—or, um, 10th best—team in the then-Pac-10 conference last season.
The Cougars don't have much going for them next season, though—the team lost eight games last season. They lack the depth and are suffering in every way possible, namely at running back where, behind their two front-runners, not much is worth looking at twice.
The offensive line was not bolstered in anyway either, which is daunting considering it allowed more than 50 sacks last season.
11. UCLA
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The UCLA Bruins—who I will begin to root for voraciously!—are in a rut.
UCLA had a dismal season in 2010, where they only scrounged up seven wins. And now things are worse, considering the depth available will be lacking far more at the receiver position as well as the offensive line.
Defensively, the Bruins secondary and defensive line are a huge concern, depth-wise, considering they've yet to establish starters.
Overall, things aren't looking up for UCLA.
10. USC
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The USC Trojans are lacking at depth in various positions.
Namely, though, the depth of the wide-outs is a huge concern.
During spring practice, Keary Colbert, a receiver who completed his eligibility five years ago, practiced to cover for the lack of receivers available; a daunting reality in Trojan-land.
Additionally, injuries have continued to plague USC—especially in the secondary, where depth is thin.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
9. California
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It might be a stretch putting them down here but, let's be honest, they finished with just three in-conference wins (and only five overall).
They have a lot of questions at nearly every skill position, namely quarterback and running back, with both spots wide open, according to recent tentative depth charts.
Their secondary is also thin, despite their defensive line being just fine.
Overall, the Golden Bears need some work on depth.
8. Utah
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The Utah Utes are dry at two of the most important positions on offense—quarterback and running back.
Jordan Wynn was injured often last season, and no one knows how sharp he might be next season.
At running back, the Utes lost three running backs. Behind them is a bunch of unproven talent; a daunting fact for a 10-win Utah team playing against the toughest competition they've ever seen.
7. Oregon State
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The depth for the Oregon State Beavers isn't promising.
The Beavers have more going on, depth wise, on the defensive side of the ball, but that's merely a consolation prize. The Beavers lack size at the defensive line as well as the linebacker positions, and can't dig too deep into their bench for any one who can produce amazingly.
Offensively, the Beavers lack running backs; another position scarce up north.
There are a ton of questions facing Oregon State's lack of experience too, and that could spell trouble.
6. Colorado
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The Colorado Buffaloes are heading into the Pac-12 with nine returning starters on offense.
Normally, that would spell a higher ranking on the "depth scale." But, when you're entering one of the toughest conferences in college football, things are different.
The Buffaloes didn't do too well last season, finishing with just five wins. And what's worse is that the Colorado defense is taking a hit—two men in the secondary are now gone, while their linebacking corps is scarce.
And now they're going into the Pac-12. Great.
5. Arizona State
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The Arizona State Sun Devils are in the middle of the pack, marking significantly better depth from here on out.
And the Sun Devils have decent depth too, being fairly stacked at the running back position and having a good number of returning starters from last year's almost .500 football club.
Cohesion is important when mixed with experience, and the Sun Devils have both.
4. Washington
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The Washington Huskies are going to be pretty dry at a slew of positions this season.
Jake Locker and linebacker Mason Foster have jetted to the NFL, and there aren't a ton of NFL-worthy Huskies remaining, if any at all.
Wide-out may be a strength but, with just one key wide receiver on the roster (Jermaine Kearse), it's not like there's a silver-lining.
Of course, the Huskies do have a solid amount of tailbacks and their quarterback position won't be damning. Defensively, they still have a good amount of pieces left over from their five-win campaign.
Overall, they're not in a horrible position, but it's yet to be seen whether or not they're in a good one.
3. Arizona Wildcats
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It's the consensus that the Arizona Wildcats are on the verge of a breakout year in the Pac-12. They finished above .500 overall (under .500 in conference), and they still retained a good amount of their key pieces from last season.
The Wildcats could break out in the Pac-12, depending on if these players continue to get better with experience. They're stacked, for sure, at nearly every position.
2. Oregon
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The Oregon Ducks may have lost some pieces after last season, but they were also the deepest team in the nation, riding their depth all the way to the BCS title game.
There's no doubt that this team is still stacked, and they're the favorite to come out of the Pac-12 conference.
1. Stanford
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The Stanford Cardinals lost some pieces after last season, but they managed to keep the one who mattered most.
That, dear reader, is Andrew Luck.
Outside of that, they're horribly deep at the wide-out position, stacked with a ton of talent. Even further, the offensive line is still intact and should be promising.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
