1.
USC
Predicted record: 12-0
Conf. record: 9-0
Best
Offensive Player: OT Sam
Baker, Sr. Best
Defensive Player: DT Sedrick
Ellis, Sr.
Offense:
Does anyone in the country reload faster than the Trojans? While
there’ll be new faces on the line, at wide receiver, and at offensive
coordinator, the high-powered results that have become commonplace in
the Pete Carroll era aren’t about to change. Of course, it helps to
have at the controls strong-armed senior John David Booty, one of the
early favorites to add a fourth Heisman Trophy to Heritage Hall in the
last six years. He’ll be surrounded by an absolutely decadent amount of
skill position talent, but most of the receivers lack experience at this
level. In this case, talent will overcome inexperience in a rout. At
6-5 and 220 pounds, junior receiver Patrick Turner has the imposing size
and sticky fingers to conjure up images of Mike Williams and Dwayne
Jarrett, and have a breakout year. Although the line is going to miss
the presence of center Ryan Kalil, returning two-time All-American Sam
Baker to protect Booty’s blindside will help cushion the blow. Defense: The Trojan offense is good. The Trojan defense is scary
good. Backed by a Who’s Who of future first-day NFL Draft choices, USC
is ready to unleash the nastiest and stingiest unit of the Pete Carroll
era. Led by Sedrick Ellis at the nose, Keith Rivers at middle
linebacker, and Terrell Thomas at cornerback, the Trojans boast seven
players capable of making a run at All-America honors in 2007. Yeah, a
few more sacks and takeaways would be nice, but this is as close to a
flawless unit that there is in the country. From front to back, they’re
aggressive, experienced and fast enough to create a swarming effect on
the ball carrier. Although the Trojans will give up yards to teams
playing from behind, scoring meaningful points on them in the first
three quarters is going to be a year-long nightmare. 2.
UCLA
Predicted record: 10-2
Conf. record: 7-2
Best
Offensive Player: G Shannon
Tevaga, Sr. Best
Defensive Player: DE Bruce
Davis, Sr.
Offense:
Tired of his feeble offense and conservative play calling, Karl Dorrell
is turning the unit over to Jay Norvell, a Nebraska import who’ll be
calling plays for the first time in his career. With him comes an up
tempo version of the West Coast offense that’ll be rooted in high
percentage passes and the occasional use of the shotgun. Norvell’s
triggerman will be lefty Ben Olson, who’s held off the challenge of
Patrick Cowan, and is still waiting for a breakthrough season five years
after being a ballyhooed BYU recruit. Although 12 players with
extensive starting experience return, only guard Shannon Tevaga and
running back Chris Markey can be considered bona fide threats for
all-league honors. To help get Olson where he needs to be, a playmaker
or two needs to emerge among a pedestrian receiving corps. Defense: Kudos to defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker, who did
the improbable in 2006 by whipping a sorry Bruin defense into shape.
Ten starters are back from that unit, which finished No. 2 in the Pac-10
in total defense and tops against the run. One All-American rush end,
Justin Hickman, has departed, but one, Bruce Davis, returns to wreak
havoc on league quarterbacks. Although the linebackers look nothing
like the ones across town at USC, they’re fast, instinctive and a nice
fit for Walker’s defense. Middle linebacker Christian Taylor is the
definition of a hard-working college athlete that makes a ton of plays,
but likely won’t be wearing pads beyond 2007. The secondary is an
enigma that’s loaded with returning talent, yet still vulnerable through
the air. Strong safety Chris Horton laid the groundwork last year for
what should be a terrific final season at UCLA. 3.
California
Predicted record: 9-3
Conf. record: 6-3
Best
Offensive Player: WR DeSean
Jackson, Jr. Best
Defensive Player: LB Zack
Follett, Jr.
Offense:
With Jeff Tedford at the controls, this is basically a pro-style offense
that mixes the run and the pass evenly, and puts up points as quickly as
any program in the country. The head coach will be calling plays again
after a one-year hiatus, meaning trick plays will be more frequent than
a year ago. The job of distributing the ball to an array of speedy
skill position players belongs to quarterback Nate Longshore, a
strong-armed junior that threw 24 touchdown passes in 2006 and a few too
many picks. Although he has plenty of receivers to choose from, none is
more lethal than DeSean Jackson, a field-stretcher and legit Heisman
candidate. Super sub Justin Forsett takes over for Marshawn Lynch at
running back, where he’ll be running behind an outstanding veteran
line. Center Alex Mack is on the All-American doorstep after earning
first team All-Pac-10 honors as a sophomore. Defense: There’s plenty of work to be done for a Cal defense that
begins a new era without its signature all-conference player at each of
the three defensive units. Outstanding recruiting by Jeff Tedford and
his staff in recent years ensures that the cupboard is far from empty,
but there’ll be a learning curve early on in 2007. Of greatest concern
is a pass defense that gets modest support up front and will be relying
on a slew of green cornerbacks. Sophomore Syd’Quan Thompson and
redshirt freshman Darian Hagan look the part, but need to deliver once
Pac-10 plays begins. Junior Zack Follett is the budding star of a
linebacker unit that has the potential to be the next best thing to USC
in the conference. 4.
Oregon
Predicted record:
7-5
Conf. record: 5-4
Best
Offensive Player: RB
Jonathan Stewart, Jr. Best
Defensive Player: S Patrick
Chung, Jr.
Offense:
As usual, Oregon gobbled up a ton of yards in 2006, but lacked
efficiency most of the year and imploded under the weight of its
turnovers in the second half of the season. So when offensive
coordinator Gary Crowton left for LSU, Mike Bellotti turned to New
Hampshire’s Chip Kelly to get the offense back on course. A spread
offense guru, Kelly will have a few new bells and whistles in his
toolbox, including greater use of the no-huddle and increased reliance
on superstar back Jonathan Stewart. The key for the offense, and
probably the entire team, will be the development of senior quarterback
Dennis Dixon, who became the poster boy for the Ducks’ collapse late
last year. He’ll get adequate protection from Max Unger and the boys up
front, but needs more consistency from a receiving corps that misplayed
too many balls in 2006. Defense: Defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti isn’t shy about
bringing pressure with his wave of good athletes, and now has a couple
of quality corners to marginalize the risk of selling out. Jairus Byrd
and Walter Thurmond, Freshman All-Americans in 2006, join standout rover
Patrick Chung to give the Ducks their feistiest secondary in years. The
front seven, however, is far less stable. After finishing ninth in the
Pac-10 in run defense, Oregon needs to shore up the middle of its
defense and develop an end or two that can consistently create
pressure. Redshirt freshman Brandon Bair is one possibility that has
the staff cautiously excited about the defensive end spot. In a league
filled with strong-armed hurlers, that promising secondary will pay the
price if opposing passers are given too much time to throw.
T5.
Arizona State
Predicted record:
7-5
Conf. record: 4-5
Best
Offensive Player: RB Ryan
Torian, Sr. Best
Defensive Player: FS Josh
Barrett, Sr.
Offense:
Arizona State really wasn’t Arizona State in 2006, but with ten starters
returning, there’s reason to believe that the Sun Devils will score in
bunches this year. Dennis Erickson brings a balanced and unpredictable
system that’ll use multiple formations and plenty of shotgun, yet still
lean heavily on the running game. The success of the unit hinges on the
play of quarterback Rudy Carpenter, who looked destined for stardom as a
freshman before suffering through a humbling sophomore season marked by
turnovers and lapses in confidence. His supporting cast is headed by
Ryan Torain, one of the nation’s best backs that no one outside the
Pac-10 has seen. With six seasoned linemen back, he’s destined to
become the first Sun Devil in over 30 years to go for more than 1,000
yards in back-to-back seasons. Although Carpenter’s receivers did
nothing to help him out of his slump in 2006, they’re now awash with the
kind of speed and playmaking potential that’s customary in Tempe.
Defense: Six starters return to a defense that improved in 2006,
yet still allowed more than 40 points in four of the final ten games.
The Sun Devils will continue to run out of a 4-3 base while asking their
linebackers and safeties to freelance and make plays all over the
field. There are building blocks—and question marks—at each unit
heading into 2007. Tackle Michael Marquardt and Dexter Davis have
all-league potential, but both are going to need support from a couple
of new starters. Although the linebackers have considerable upside, the
man in the middle, Morris Wooten, is a first-year player. And while
safety Josh Barrett and corner Justin Tryon will play on Sundays, the
pass defense is in deep trouble if the other cornerback gets routinely
exposed. The net result? A nice collection of talent that’ll still
allow plenty of yards to the Pac-10’s finer-tuned offenses. T5.
Oregon State
Predicted record:
7-5
Conf. record: 4-5
Best
Offensive Player: RB Yvenson
Bernard, Sr. Best
Defensive Player: LB Derrick
Doggett, Sr.
Offense:
While the Beavers regularly skip using a fullback in favor of a third
receiver, they’re a balanced offense that’ll run it as much as they
throw. When you’ve got a back as talented as senior Yvenson Bernard,
that’s called using your resources wisely. Bernard has run for more
than 1,300 yards in each of the last two seasons behind a nasty,
no-nonsense line that welcomes back all but one starter. Senior split
end Sammie Stroughter is an open field dynamo coming off a monster
season in 2006. What he can do for an encore depends in large part on
how well one of two sophomore quarterbacks adapts to a full-time gig.
Hard-throwing lefty Sean Canfield is the acknowledged favorite to
supplant Matt Moore, but Lyle Moevao sent a message this spring that he
won’t go away quietly. Defense: Much of the unit that led the Pac-10 in takeaways and
sacks is back in Corvallis for 2007. The front seven, in particular, is
rock solid and made up entirely of seniors. The best of the bunch is
outside linebacker Derrick Doggett, who has the range and long stride to
literally make plays anywhere on the field. After bagging a team-high
nine sacks as a reserve in 2006, end Dorian Smith is a sleeper with a
chance to shed his anonymity this fall. Whether the Beaver D can get
from really good to impervious in 2007 depends on the development of a
suspect secondary that allowed 223 yards a game a year ago. Junior
corners Keenan Lewis and Brandon Hughes are moving in the right
direction, but you don’t get better by losing long-time patrolman Sabby
Piscitelli. T5.
Washington
Predicted record: 5-8
Conf. record: 4-5
Best
Offensive Player: RB Louis
Rankin, Sr. Best
Defensive Player: DE Greyson
Gunheim, Sr.
Offense:
All eyes in Seattle will be fixed on the debut of hot-shot rookie
quarterback Jake Locker, but if there’s one priority for Tyrone
Willingham in 2007, it’s to get more consistent on the ground.
Conservative by Pac-10 doctrine, the third-year coach wants to pound it
between the tackles to set up the pass. Top back Louis Rankin is more
of an outside runner, putting the onus on 210-pound sophomore J.R. Hasty
to start realizing his vast potential. While Locker has all the tools
for stardom, he’ll spend most of the upcoming season adapting to his new
role as the face of the program. His big-play target will be senior
Marcel Reece, a Mike Walker clone poised to make a salary run.
Defense: Even with a slight improvement in 2006, the Husky pass
defense ranked among the nation’s worst for the second straight year.
With no stars and two new starters, expect more of the same in 2007.
The problems in the secondary will again overshadow a sneaky good front
seven that features four returning starters on the defensive line and a
group of young, dynamic linebackers, including sophomores E.J. Savannah
and Donald Butler that could evolve into playmakers. Defensive ends
Greyson Gunheim and Daniel Te’o Nesheim are a couple of warriors that
combined for two dozen tackles for loss last fall. At 6-5 and 265
pounds, Gunheim runs like a gazelle, making him a magnet for NFL scouts
visiting the Northwest. T5.
Washington State
Predicted record: 6-6
Conf. record: 4-5
Best
Offensive Player: QB Alex
Brink, Sr. Best
Defensive Player: DT Ropati
Pitoitua, Sr.
Offense:
Washington State won’t abandon the run by any means, but this is an
offense that’s traditionally wide-open and run out of three-wide sets.
The engineer of the attack will be fourth-year starting quarterback Alex
Brink, who enters his senior season with a real nice complement of
receivers, led by all-Pac-10 candidates Brandon Gibson and Michael
Bumpus. Although the offensive line welcomes back four players that
started games a year ago, both tackles will be new, a big concern
heading into the season. If they’re overmatched, the ripple effect will
reverberate throughout the entire offense.
Defense: Expect some subtle changes as head coach Bill
Doba steps in to coordinate the defense in 2007. He’d like to utilize
more man coverages and blitz packages, both of which could be suicide
for a secondary that’s been gutted by graduations and is in dire need of
a couple of reliable cornerbacks. The Cougars are going to give up
plenty of yards and points, but if they can create turnovers and sack
the quarterback, like last year, there’s hope that the breakdowns can be
managed. The defense is loaded with big, agile bodies up front, but
there’s a catch—serious injuries are mounting and could bleed into the
start of the season. While there’s no quick fix for the pass defense,
junior college transfer Terry Mixon has the potential to be a star from
the moment he steps foot in Pullman. 9.
Arizona
Predicted record: 5-7
Conf. record: 2-7
Best
Offensive Player: WR Mike Thomas, Jr.
Best
Defensive Player: CB Antoine
Cason, Sr.
Offense:
After averaging a 100th place finish in total offense over
the last three years, Mike Stoops has handed the unit off to former
Texas Tech coordinator Sonny Dykes. Dykes has learned from the likes of
Mike Leach and Hal Mumme over the last decade, so expect to see a
rejuvenated Willie Tuitama in the shotgun, putting the ball up a ton
more than last season. The Wildcats’ quest to stretch defenses
vertically and horizontally in the spread offense will hinge on their
ability to develop dependable receivers other than junior Mike Thomas.
The beleaguered offensive line is a year older, intact and poised to
benefit from a system that forces the quarterback to make quick passes
and even quicker decisions. Sophomore Eben Britton is on the brink of
becoming a prodigy at right tackle. Defense: With the return of ten starters and an all-star caliber
player at each unit, Arizona should be even stingier than 2006, when it
led the Pac-10 in turnover margin and allowed fewer than 20 points a
game. The headliner once again will be senior Antoine Cason, one of the
smoothest corners in America and a leading candidate for the Thorpe
Award. Led by underrated senior Spencer Larsen, the linebackers are a
no-name crew that just goes out and makes a bunch of tackles every
Saturday. The onus for jump starting the pass rush falls squarely on
the shoulders of senior Louis Holmes, a massive talent that
underachieved in his first season out of junior college. 10.
Stanford
Predicted record: 1-11
Conf. record: 0-9
Best
Offensive Player: WR Mark
Bradford, Sr. Best
Defensive Player: LB Clinton
Snyder, Soph.
Offense:
Jim Harbaugh wants to attack defenses with an up tempo offense that’ll
feature lots of pre-snap motion and a ball control element that harkens
back to the Bill Walsh days of the West Coast offense. It worked
swimmingly at the University of San Diego for the past couple of years,
but this is Stanford where ten points and less than 250 yards a game was
the norm last year. The Cardinal is experienced everywhere and pretty
deep at the skill positions, but none of that will matter unless the
offensive line does a complete 180 off last year’s atrocious
performance. Defense: New defensive coordinator Scott Shafer is scrapping the
3-4 this year in favor of an attacking 4-3 that is designed to create
more turnovers and more plays for negative yards. The Cardinal is open
to suggestions after finishing last in the Pac-10 in just about every
defensive category in 2006. There are holes, to be sure, but Shafer
will also inherit some exciting young talent at each unit, such as
sophomore tackle Ekom Udofia, sophomore linebacker Clinton Snyder and
junior cornerback Wopamo Osaisai. Above all else, the defense has to
find some answers against the run after being humiliated for more than
2,500 yards and nearly five yards a carry a year ago.
