2011 Pac-12 Spring Preview
North Spring Attitudes
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California
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Washington State
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Arizona State |
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UCLA
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2011 Pac-12 Spring Preview
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2011
Pac-12 North Spring Buzz
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2011
Pac-12 South Spring Buzz
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2011
Pac-12 North Spring Attitudes
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2011
Pac-12 South Spring Attitudes
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2011
Pac-12 North Spring Key Positions
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2011
Pac-12 South Spring Key Positions
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Pac-12 North Spring Questions
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Pac-12 South Spring Questions
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Pac-12 Spring Rankings
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California
All of a sudden, those boring eight-win seasons don’t look so bad in Berkeley. After struggling to get over the hump under Jeff Tedford, Cal would be happy to get back on the radar following last season’s 5-7 slump. It’s a crossroads type season for the coach and his program, which have never been able to get in the same company as USC or Oregon. Considering the uncertainty in the backfield, the Bears might be content just to narrow the growing divide with rival Stanford these days.
Oregon
Keep rolling. Oregon is at the apex of its existence, and the returns of James and QB Darron Thomas are going to help keep it there. After nearly winning the BCS Championship a year ago, the Ducks will once again be hunting for more than just a third straight Pac-12 crown. The offense will be fine, even with some openings on the line, but Nick Aliotti’s D will be a work-in-progress. The front seven, in particular, will require attention between now and the opener with LSU.
Oregon State
It’s been a few years since the outlook for Mike Riley’s team was this pessimistic in an offseason. The Beavers are coming off their worst record since 1997, and face serious questions on both sides of the ball. There isn’t a returning player who earned higher than All-Pac-10 honorable mention in 2010, underscoring an overall lack of talent compared to the league’s elite programs. Mike Riley has had a knack for coaching up kids during his tenure. He’ll need to do just that in order to turn Oregon State around this season.
Stanford
David Shaw will have an interesting dual-objective this offseason; he wants to put his own stamp on the Cardinal program while still feeding off some of the momentum created by Harbaugh. As long as Luck, an early Heisman favorite, is in the huddle, Stanford has a shot to once again contend for a league title and a January bowl game. However, the shake-up in the staff and the graduations of linemen on both sides of the ball will test the program’s ability to be as dominant as it was last fall.
Washington
Washington is a little confused these days. On the one hand, the Huskies are still riding high after finally returning to the postseason and stunning Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. On the other, life after
Jake Locker brings trepidation. The quarterback situation needs to get worked out, but the program has to like where it’s currently headed under
Steve Sarkisian and his staff. The objective will be to keep the momentum going and make sure December’s bowl game doesn’t wind up looking like a fluke.
Washington State
There’s a sense of desperation around Pullman. Again. Everyone from the players and coaches to the fans and boosters can sense it. While the program was clearly improved last season, moral victories won’t be enough in 2011. Washington State must start making tangible strides if
Paul Wulff and his staff are going to survive. After using so many underclassmen the last two seasons, it could pay dividends if the line play improves and the D can finally begin pulling weight and making more stops.
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Click for each team's spring preview
North
California
|
Oregon
|
Oregon St
|
Stanford |
Washington
|
Washington State
South Arizona
|
Arizona State |
Colorado |
UCLA
|
USC |
Utah
2011 Pac-12 Spring Preview
-
2011
Pac-12 North Spring Buzz
-
2011
Pac-12 South Spring Buzz
-
2011
Pac-12 North Spring Attitudes
-
2011
Pac-12 South Spring Attitudes
-
2011
Pac-12 North Spring Key Positions
-
2011
Pac-12 South Spring Key Positions
- 2011
Pac-12 North Spring Questions
- 2011
Pac-12 South Spring Questions
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Pac-12 Spring Rankings