CFN 2006
All-Pac 10 Team and Top 30 Players Coach of the
Year
–
Karl Dorrell,
UCLA
The beleaguered coach of a year ago was the toast of the town
after beating USC 13-9. Despite losing rookie NFL star RB
Maurice Jones-Drew, QB Drew Olson, and starting QB Ben Olson,
the Bruins got better over the course of the year thanks to a
tremendous defense that should be ready to roar next year.
Dorrell deserves the credit for keeping the ship afloat, even if
the record was worse than 2005's. The schedule was much harder.
Worst Coaching Job of the Year – Dirk Koetter, Arizona
State
It started with the bungling of the quarterback situation losing
Sam Keller to Nebraska setting a weird tone for the season. The
offense was never consistent and the defense was average, but
problems on the offensive line, and with QB Rudy Carpenter game
in and game out, killed Pac 10 chances early. Now it's up to
Dennis Erickson to try to clean things up and make ASU more than
a just Hawaii Bowl power.
Best Performance of the Season -
In a losing cause against Oregon
State, USC WR Steve
Smith caught 11 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns.
Top Freshman – UCLA CB Alterraun Verner
Starting out in nickel and dime packages, Verner proved to be
too tough a playmaker to keep off the field. He turned into a
good tackler and a finishing fifth on the team in stops despite
coming off the bench.
Most Disappointing Player –
Arizona State QB Rudy Carpenter
Considering he led the nation in passing efficiency as a
freshman, this season wasn't exactly what the team was hoping
for. He turned it on at the end of the year with three touchdown
passes against both Washington State and Arizona, but he also
had major valleys with an 11-of-30, 149-yard game in the loss to
UCLA and a nine-of-24, 124-yard, two interception day against
Oregon State.
Biggest
Surprise – UCLA
The team was supposed to be about a year away. Despite losing QB
Ben Olson midway through the year, the defense made a
night-and-day improvement from 2005 leading the league against
the run and was third in the nation in tackles for loss. Oh
yeah, and there was the little win over USC to close the regular
season out to ruin the Trojan national title dreams.
Biggest Disappointment – Stanford
Arizona State is close, but Stanford had the schedule to at
least come up with more than one win. Offensive injuries left
the team dead in the Pac 10 water finishing second-to-last in
the nation offense averaging 232 yards per game. The defense
wasn't much better. Now head coach Walt Harris is gone meaning
the program is starting from scratch.
Best Game of
the Pac 10 Season
Oregon State 33 ... USC 31
Jeff Van Orsow knocked down USC's conversion attempt to
prevent overtime and pull off the upset. The Beavers got up 33-10
late in the third quarter thanks to four Alexis Serna field goals, a
Matt Moore one-yard scoring run, a nine-yard touchdown pass to Joe
Newton and a Sammie Stroughter 70-yard punt return for a touchdown,
but USC came roaring back on three John David Booty touchdown
passes. Steve Smith, who had a career night with 11 catches for 258
yards, made two fourth quarter touchdown grabs including a two-yard
catch with seven seconds to play to pull within two. USC outgained
OSU 492 yards to 351, but turned it over four times.
Second Best Game –
California
31 ... Washington 24 OT, Oct. 21 Third Best Game –
USC 26 ... Washington 20,
Oct. 7
Worst Game of
the Pac 10 Season
USC 42 ... Stanford 0
John David Booty threw three touchdown passes in the second
quarter and Chauncey Washington ran for a 15-yard score in an easy
rout. Stanford's best chance to score can on a third quarter field
goal attempt, but USC's Sedrick Ellis blocked it and Terrell Thomas
scooped it up for a 71-yard touchdown. Backup Trojan QB Mark Sanchez
finished things off with a four-yard touchdown run. The Cardinal
only gained 208 yards of total offense.
Team MVPs
Arizona
– RB Chris Henry, LB Spencer Larsen CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 5-7, final regular
season record:
6-6
Arizona State
– RB Ryan Torain, S Josh Barrett CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 8-4, final regular
season record: 7-5
California
– RB Marshawn Lynch, CB Daymeion Hughes CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 10-2, final regular
season record: 9-3
Oregon
– WR Jaison Williams, FS J.D. Nelson CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 7-5, final regular
season record: 7-5
Oregon State
- RB Yvenson Bernard,
S Sabby Piscitelli CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 7-6, final regular
season record: 9-4
Stanford
– QB T.C. Ostrander, LB Michael Okwo CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 5-7, final regular
season record: 1-11
UCLA
– RB Chris Markey, DE Bruce Davis CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 5-7, final regular
season record: 7-5
USC – QB John David Booty, DT Sedrick
Ellis CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 11-1, final regular
season record: 10-2
Washington
– QB Isaiah Stanback, S C.J. Wallace CFN Preview 2006 predicted record: 4-8, final regular
season record: 5-7
