2009 Pac 10 Early Lookaheads
Arizona
| Arizona St
| California
| Oregon
| Oregon St
Stanford
|
UCLA
| USC |
Washington
| Washington St
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2008 CFN All-Pac 10 Team |
2008 CFN Preseason All-Pac
10 Team
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2007 Pac 10 Lookback/Recaps |
2008 Pac 10 Lookaheads
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2008 Pac 10 Lookbacks and Recaps
Arizona
CFN Preseason Prediction: 7-5
Final Record: 8-5
Why to get excited:
Eight starters are back from a defense
that exceeded expectations last year.
Other than needing to develop a couple
of linebackers, the Wildcats will begin
the season without any glaring
weaknesses. On the defensive line,
Brooks Reed and Earl Mitchell earned
All-Pac-10 honorable mention honors in
their debuts as starters. In the
secondary, CB Devin Ross and S Cam
Nelson will anchor a pass defense that
gave up just a dozen touchdown passes in
13 games.
Why to be grouchy: Three of last
season’s most important offensive
players are gone. Four-year starting QB
Willie Tuitama has finally run out of
eligibility. WR Mike Thomas leaves
Tucson with a satchel of school records
as a receiver and punt returner. Eben
Britton has declared for the NFL Draft,
leaving a 6-6, 310-pound opening at left
tackle. The program gushes about QB Matt
Scott’s potential, but he’s a true
freshman with zero experience at this
level.
The number one thing to work on is:
Getting to the quarterback. As good as
the Arizona defense was in 2008, it did
a poor job of making plays behind the
line of scrimmage. Reed was the lone
exception, but he can’t blow up opposing
gameplans on his own. He needs more help
from Ricky Elmore, D’Aundre Reed, and
the rest of the ends.
Biggest offensive loss: QB
Willie Tuitama
Biggest defensive loss: LB Ronnie
Palmer
Best returning offensive player:
TE Rob Gronkowski, Jr.
Best returning defensive player:
CB Devin Ross, Sr.
Arizona State
CFN Preseason Prediction: 7-5 Final
Record: 5-7
Why to get excited:
This could be the program’s best defense
in years. Seven starters return with
equal representation at each level. The
defensive line has star power on the
outside and inside with Dexter Davis and
Lawrence Guy, respectively. While not
the flashiest group around, the
linebackers welcome back three seniors
with extensive starting experience.
Despite struggling in 2008, CB Omar
Bolden still has lockdown qualities and
all-league potential.
Why to be grouchy: It’s going to
be a while before the offense snaps out
of its funk. There isn’t a lot to get
pumped about after the Sun Devils
averaged just 22 points a game and were
100th nationally in total
offense. A new quarterback will take
over for four-year starter Rudy
Carpenter, the running game needs an
overhaul, and the offensive line is, at
best, average.
The number one thing to work on is:
The offensive line. Not a lot was
expected from this group in 2008, and it
certainly delivered on those
expectations. The makeshift group was
109th in the country in sacks
allowed, while sharing the
responsibility for the 113th-ranked
running game. If the immobile Danny
Sullivan supplants Carpenter at
quarterback, he’ll spend the year
running for cover.
Biggest offensive loss: QB Rudy
Carpenter
Biggest defensive loss: S Troy
Nolan
Best returning offensive player:
WR Chris McGaha, Sr.
Best returning defensive player:
DE Dexter Davis, Sr.
California
CFN Preseason Prediction: 7-5 Final
Record: 9-4
Why to get excited:
RB Jahvid Best is back. In Best, the
Bears have a genuine Heisman contender
and one of the most electrifying players
in the country. In the final three games
alone of his sophomore year, he ripped
off 698 yards and eight touchdowns on
just 58 carries. Provided he can stay
healthy throughout the year, Best is the
type of gamebreaker who’ll make everyone
around him better, while bringing
uncommon national attention to the Cal
program.
Why to be grouchy: The rest of
the offense has question marks. Kevin
Riley needs to prove he’s the
quarterback of the future, especially
now that Nate Longshore is gone. The
young receivers adapted slowly to their
expanded roles in 2008. And Alex Mack
will be impossible to replace at the
pivot. Although Best and Shane Vereen
give Cal one of the best backfield duos
in the country, even they’ll need more
support from the rest of the offense.
The number one thing to work on is:
Restocking the shelves at linebacker.
The 3-4 was so successful last fall
because all four linebackers earned
All-Pac-10 recognition. However, three
of those run stoppers, Zack Follett,
Worrell Williams, and Anthony Felder,
have played their final game in
Berkeley. Mike Mohamed becomes the new
leading man of the group, and he’ll be
looking for help from some of the kids,
like D.J. Holt and Mychal Kendricks.
Biggest offensive loss: C
Alex Mack
Biggest defensive loss: LB Zack
Follett
Best returning offensive player:
RB Jahvid Best, Jr.
Best returning defensive player:
CB Syd’Quan Thompson, Sr.
Oregon
CFN Preseason Prediction: 9-3
Final Record: 10-3
Why to get excited:
The quarterback situation will be light
years better than it was this time last
year. The Ducks have regrouped nicely
from the graduation of Dennis Dixon, and
could begin the 2009 season with three
viable options under center if Nate
Costa and Justin Roper can ever stay
healthy. The centerpiece of the
competition will be Jeremiah Masoli, who
emerged as an improbable rock star last
fall, finishing the year as hot as any
quarterback this side of Norman, Okla.
Why to be grouchy: Both lines
have endured significant hits from
graduation. The offensive line, which
was so instrumental in Oregon’s ground
success, must replace four starters,
including perennial all-star Max Unger.
On defense, three-fourths of the
interior is gone, headed by Pac-10 sack
leader Nick Reed. If the Ducks are going
to duplicate last week’s 10-win season,
they’ll have to get both lines in order
during the offseason.
The number one thing to work on is:
Tightening up the pass defense.
Considering all of the next level talent
that was roaming around that Duck
secondary, it’s a little hard to fathom
why it yielded so many big plays. Oregon
was last in the Pac-10 in yards and
touchdown passes allowed. Jairus Byrd,
Walter Thurmond, and T.J. Ward are all
back, leaving no excuses for a repeat
performance.
Biggest offensive loss: C
Max Unger
Biggest defensive loss: DE Nick
Reed
Best returning offensive player:
RB LeGarrette Blount, Sr.
Best returning defensive player:
CB Jairus Byrd, Sr.
Oregon
State
CFN Preseason Prediction: 6-6 Final
Record: 9-4
Why to get excited:
The long offseason will provide more
than enough time for the Rodgers
brothers to get healthy. The Sun Bowl
shined a bright light on just how
valuable James and Jacquizz are to the
Oregon State offense. With both on the
shelf with injuries, the Beavers managed
only a field goal versus Pittsburgh,
their lowest output in over a year. Time
away from the game will allow James to
heal his broken collarbone and Quizz to
get his shoulder right, giving OSU the
most feared offensive tandem in the
Pac-10.
Why to be grouchy: There’s a mass
exodus taking place in the Beaver
secondary. Brandon Hughes, Greg Laybourn,
Al Afalava, and Keenan Lewis all earned
spots on the All-Pac-10 squad. Now
they’re all trying to continue their
playing careers in the NFL. Throw in the
loss of the team’s top two pass-rushers,
Victor Butler and Slade Norris, and
Oregon State will have a heap of trouble
stopping quality quarterbacks in 2009.
The number one thing to work on is:
The kicking game. For a program that
plays in a slew of tight games each
year, Oregon State needs maximum
consistency from its punter and kicker.
Rookie Johnny Hekker averaged less than
40 yards a punt for a unit that ranked
95th nationally in net
punting. PK Justin Kahut missed 8-of-24
field goal attempts, and was less than
50% beyond 40 yards.
Biggest offensive loss: WR
Sammie Stroughter
Biggest defensive loss: DE Victor
Butler
Best returning offensive player:
RB Jacquizz Rodgers, Soph.
Best returning defensive player:
LB Keaton Kristick, Sr.
Stanford
CFN Preseason Prediction: 3-9 Final
Record: 5-7
Why to get excited:
Head coach Jim Harbaugh is still on The
Farm. After fielding all kinds of
interest from NFL franchises, he
recently voiced his commitment to
Stanford, backing it up with an
extension of his current contract. It’s
no coincidence that the Cardinal has
been more competitive since Walt Harris
was replaced on the sidelines by
Harbaugh. To keep moving in a northerly
direction, however, the program needs to
keep its fiery leader from going
elsewhere.
Why to be grouchy: The offense is
still seeking a first-rate quarterback.
In two years, Harbaugh has made little
progress with a Cardinal passing game
that resides at the bottom of the
Pac-10. Yeah, Tavita Pritchard had that
one memorable moment against USC in
2007, but he’s lacked consistency and
thrown seven more picks than touchdowns.
There’s hope that uber-recruit Andrew
Luck can break through after redshirting
last fall.
The number one thing to work on is:
Defense. It’s not that Stanford is
without quality players, such as LB
Clinton Snyder and S Bo McNally, but
better opponents tend to have their way
with it. Equally soft against the run as
the pass, the Cardinal allowed at least
35 points in each of the final three
games with bowl eligibility hinging on
the outcomes.
Biggest offensive loss: T
Ben Muth
Biggest defensive loss: LB Pat
Maynor
Best returning offensive player:
RB Toby Gerhart, Sr.
Best returning defensive player:
LB Clinton Snyder, Sr.
UCLA
CFN Preseason Prediction: 6-6
Final Record: 4-8
Why to get excited:
Hope for a turnaround can be found on
defense. The UCLA communications
department will be hyping an All-America
at each level next summer. Up front, the
sky is the limit for DT Brian Price, who
earned a spot on the All-Pac-10 first
team as a sophomore. Second team LB
Reggie Carter put off the NFL to return
to Westwood for one final season. Ditto
Alterraun Verner, an all-league corner
with good ball skills. Rick Neuheisel is
amassing a lot of talent on this side of
the ball for whoever he anoints as the
next defensive coordinator.
Why to be grouchy: The offense is
still light years from even being
competitive. The need for a playmaking
quarterback may be the most obvious
concern, but the Bruins are also lacking
in skill position players and quality
offensive linemen. After finishing 111th
in total offense and 109th in
scoring, it’s hard to imagine how UCLA
gets dramatically better in 2009.
The number one thing to work on is:
Improving the play of the O-line. Last
year’s unit was the root of so many
offensive problems, like averaging 2.6
yards per carry and allowing a million
sacks. After relying on a bunch of young
kids, like Jeff Baca and Mike Harris,
the Bruins need everyone to grow up fast
if the rest of the offense has any
chance to make plays.
Biggest offensive loss: RB
Kahlil Bell
Biggest defensive loss: DT
Brigham Harwell
Best returning offensive player:
TE Logan Paulsen, Sr.
Best returning defensive player:
DT Brian Price, Jr.
USC
CFN Preseason Prediction: 10-2 Final
Record: 12-1
Why to get excited:
Recruiting. Every year, pundits wring
their hands over the number of stars USC
loses to the NFL, and every year, it
wins the Pac-10. Hey, it’s never fun
losing a Rey Maualuga or Fili Moala, but
waiting in the wings is another wave of
blue-chip talent itching for its chance
to play. Recent history shows that those
young players will deliver when their
time arrives. Now that G Jeff Byers has
been granted a sixth year of
eligibility, the Trojans will be
bringing back all 18 offensive linemen
from the 2008 roster.
Why to be grouchy: The Trojans
will be breaking in a new starting
quarterback for the second straight
year. It’s not that they don’t have
options, but losing Mark Sanchez early
to the NFL Draft robs USC of one of the
nation’s premier passers and opens the
door for a seven-month quarterback
controversy. Mitch Mustain or Aaron
Corp? It’s a question Pete Carroll hoped
he wouldn’t have to answer until 2010.
The number one thing to work on is:
Offensive execution. While the aggregate
numbers tell a different story, the
Trojans did have occasional lapses on
offense in 2008. Getting shutout in the
first half at Oregon State, for
instance, probably cost them a shot at a
national championship. Whoever gets the
ball from Carroll needs to do a better
job of producing points on a week-in,
week-out basis.
Biggest offensive loss: QB
Mark Sanchez
Biggest defensive loss: LB Rey
Maualuga
Best returning offensive player:
C Kristofer O’Dowd, Jr.
Best returning defensive player:
S Taylor Mays, Sr.
Washington
CFN Preseason Prediction: 5-7
Final Record: 0-12
Why to get excited:
Just about everyone returns. Yeah, yeah,
that’s not always a good thing, but the
Huskies went with a bunch of youngsters
in last year’s winless campaign, who
figure to be better from that
experience. Rookies, like RB Chris Polk,
DE Everette Thompson, and WR Jermaine
Kearse, give new head coach Steve
Sarkisian plenty to get excited about.
Plus, two of last season’s best players,
QB Jake Locker and LB E.J. Savannah, are
expected back from injury and academic
suspension, respectively.
Why to be grouchy: Before handing
the keys back to the administration,
former coach Tyrone Willingham drove the
program into a ditch. From 0-12 to being
competitive again is going to be a long
climb for the new staff. Of the 119 FBS
schools, Washington ranked No. 100 or
lower in just about every statistical
category. In other words, the Huskies
didn’t do any one thing well in 2008.
The number one thing to work on is:
Run defense. The secondary actually got
better as the season wound down, but the
run D was consistently bad throughout
the year. The Huskies gave up 240 yards
a game on the ground and a ridiculous
5.7 yards a carry, capped by a 311-yard
outburst from Cal’s Jahvid Best.
Biggest offensive loss: C
Juan Garcia
Biggest defensive loss: CB
Mesphin Forrester
Best returning offensive player:
QB Jake Locker, Jr.
Best returning defensive player:
DE Daniel Te’o-Nesheim
Washington
State
CFN Preseason Prediction: 5-7
Final Record: 2-11
Why to get excited:
In theory, Wazzu hit rock bottom in
2008. And once rock bottom is reached,
the only direction is up. Now that the
storm has passed in Pullman, the Cougars
can start the long road back under
second-year head coach Paul Wulff. Hey,
there’s also a hint of momentum to take
into 2009, courtesy of a double-overtime
win over Washington in the Apple Cup.
Why to be grouchy: No one in the
Pac-10 has less talent than Washington
State. Even winless Washington has a
nice collection of young players capable
of blossoming into all-stars. Wazzu? Not
so much. Now that WR Brandon Gibson has
graduated, there isn’t a single player
on the roster that immediately jumps out
as a pro prospect. Purely in terms of
players with potential, Wulff has a long
way to go before closing the gap on the
rest of the league.
The number one thing to work on is:
The defense. You can go just about
anywhere with this question, but it’s
the defense that especially hideous in
2008. The Cougars were last in the
country in run defense and next to last
in points allowed. In a wicked six-game
stretch in the middle of the year,
Washington State gave up at least 58
points five times. There’s a glimmer of
hope on offense, but it won’t mean a
thing if the defense can’t make a stop
once in a while.
Biggest offensive loss: WR
Brandon Gibson
Biggest defensive loss: LB Greg
Trent
Best returning offensive player:
C Kenny Alfred, Sr.
Best returning defensive player:
DE Andy Mattingly, Jr.