2009 Record: 8-5 (6-3 in Pac-10)
2009 Bowl: Holiday Bowl (lost to Nebraska 33-0)
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Mike Stoops (33-39 at Arizona, 23-29 in Pac-10)
Non-Conference Schedule: at Toledo (9/3), Citadel (9/11), Iowa (9/18)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 27.4 points per game (5th in Pac-10)
Rushing Yards/Game: 159 (5th in Pac-10)
Passing Yards/Game: 225 (3rd in Pac-10)
Total Yards/Game: 384 (6th in Pac-10)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 23.9 points per game (5th in Pac-10)
Rushing Yards/Game: 120 (4th in Pac-10)
Passing Yards/Game: 201 (3rd in Pac-10)
Total Yards/Game: 322 (2nd in Pac-10)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: -0.08 per game (8th in Pac-10)
Penalties: 43 yards per game (1st in Pac-10, 16th in Nation)
Returning Starters
Offense: 8
Defense: 4
Kicker/Punter: 2
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Nick Foles, Jr (257 of 400 for 2465 yds, 19 TD, 9 INT, 205 ypg)
Rushing: RB Keola Antolin, Jr (114 carries for 638 yds, 4 TD, 5.6 ypc, 49 ypg)
Rushing: RB Nic Grigsby, Sr (79 carries for 567 yds, 5 TD, 7.1 ypc, 56 ypg
Receiving: WR Juron Criner, Jr (45 rec, 581 yds, 9 TD, 3.5 rec/game)
Receiving: WR David Roberts, Jr (43 rec, 410 yds, 1 TD, 3.3 rec/game)
Receiving: WR Delashaun Dean, Sr (42 rec, 396 yds, 2 TD, 3.2 rec/game)
Tackles: CB Trevin Wade, Jr (71)
Sacks: DE Ricky Elmore, Sr (10.5)
Interceptions: CB Trevin Wade, Jr (5)
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #38
Phil Steele #25
Pre-Snap Read: #46
Sporting News: #35
2010 Pre-Season Pac-10 Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #5
Phil Steele: #3 (tie with California)
Bowl Predictions:
Athlon Sports: Sun Bowl (vs. North Carolina)
Phil Steele: Holiday Bowl (vs. Texas Tech)
Arizona quietly finished in a tie for second in the Pac-10 last year. Their biggest loss in conference was an 8 point loss to California and they posted good wins against Oregon State, Stanford and USC. Unfortunately, Arizona finished the season by getting blown out by Nebraska 33-0. Maybe after that long break thinking about that game they will come back with a vengeance in the wide open Pac-10. We talked to Gary Randazzo of the Wildcat Sports Report to find out what he thought about Arizona's chances in 2010.
What are the biggest strengths and biggest weaknesses of the Wildcats?
Strengths: Pick an offensive unit and a case can be made for its strength. Arizona’s quarterback situation is the best it’s been since Keith Smith and Ortege Jenkins used a two-quarterback system to help Arizona (11-1) finish No. 5 in the final AP Poll in 1998. It’s taken co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh nearly four years to develop depth among his big uglies, but the hard work and patience has paid off in back-to-back bowl seasons. The OL is poised to really shine in 2010, especially with 6’6, 325-pound Adam Grant earning a sixth year of eligibility and returning 1st Team Pac-10 center Colin Baxter leading the way. The Arizona running backs are incredibly experienced and feature versatility with speed backs Nic Grigsby and Keola Antolin opposite two bruising tailbacks in Greg Nwoko (6’2 228 lbs.) and Taimi Tutogi (6’1 258 lbs.). The wide receiver unit is also strong despite the loss of senior receiver Delashaun Dean for the season (violation of team rule). Juron Criner has the skills to be among the top Pac-10 wide outs, and he’ll be surrounded by other talented pass catchers in William “Bug” Wright, David Roberts, Travis Cobb and transfer Gino Crump. The offensive talent doesn’t stop there, though. Last season, Wright led the Pac-10 with a 17.5 average on punt returns while Cobb finished second in the conference to Stanford’s Chris Owusu (31.5) in kickoff returns with an average of 25.4 per return. Add in Alex Zendejas’ 17-of-22 on field goals with a long of 47, plus a game-winner against rival Arizona State and the special teams unit should also be strong.
Weaknesses: It’s easy to point to the linebacker unit as a weakness, but JUCO transfers Derek Earls and Paul Vassallo each had very strong spring camps, which diminished some of the worry the Arizona coaching staff had in losing all three starters from last year’s squad. The real mystery lies within the Arizona secondary. Longtime Arizona starters Devin Ross, Cam Nelson and nickel back Corey Hall are gone to graduation. Despite returning a host of athletes with playing experience, the combination of a pass-happy Pac-10 with quality quarterbacks, Arizona’s new secondary coach Greg Brown, and overall youth will pose a challenge for the Arizona secondary. If the unit, led by the talented Trevin Wade, holds up, then the sky could be the limit for the Wildcats in 2010-11. However, if Arizona can’t get off the field on third-and-long (something they struggled with in 2009-10), then Arizona could be looking at a lot of 35-31 losses.
Arizona has a date against Big Ten contender Iowa in the third game of the year. Iowa is a Top 15 team in most preseason polls. What do you hope to learn about Arizona in this game and what do you view as a successful outing?
A successful outing would be an Arizona victory. The Wildcats are 14-5 at home the last three seasons, and four of those losses came to Top 25 teams. That being said, a victory over Iowa won’t come easy. The Hawkeyes physically dominated Arizona in Iowa City last year at the beginning of the year. Arizona was again physically dominated by Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl to conclude its season. Arizona will need to match Iowa’s intensity along the line of scrimmage and win the battle of the trenches. If they get pushed around again, it won’t bode well for the Wildcats in later games against physical teams like Oregon State, Stanford, USC and Oregon. However, if they match or best Iowa’s toughness and pull out a win it could be the jumping-off point for a magical season.
What team on the schedule do you want to beat the most?
The easy answer is every game is as important as the last. However, Mike Stoops came to Arizona with one thing in mind; beat USC. Stoops modeled many of Arizona’s philosophies around those adopted by the Trojans. After losing 49-9 against USC in Stoops’ first season as head coach (2004), the Wildcats slowly but surely began to narrow the losing margin to the Men of Troy (21, 17, 7 and 7) before finally knocking off the Trojans 21-17 in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum last year. This season’s November 13 home date against USC is a huge game for Arizona, but admittedly will lose some of its shine if the Wildcats struggle through September and October games. USC aside, the biggest game on the calendar every year for Arizona is against its arch-rival, ASU. The Territorial Cup is the oldest traveling trophy, but more importantly, the rivalry is often recognized as the most hated in the country. The love-loss between these schools is literally non-existent and falling to the Sun Devils to conclude its regular season on December 2 would be absolutely devastating to all things Arizona.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
Defensive tackle Sione Tuihalamaka (6’2, 280 lbs. redshirt freshman) and free safety Adam Hall (6’4, 210 lbs. sophomore). Tuihalamaka is incredibly skilled as a down lineman and will have the opportunity to serve as an anchor along the line of scrimmage alongside Lolamana Mikaele (projected starter at nose tackle). The Wildcats have extremely talented defensive ends in Ricky Elmore, Brooks Reed, and DE back-ups Apaiata Tuihalamake and De’Aundre Reed. It will be a priority for opposing offenses to contain Arizona’s ends, which could free up Tuihalamaka to go one-on-one in the middle. If he plays well, fans will know his name in due time. Another promising player is Hall. Hall has the makings of a great defensive back. He’s big, explosive, and can run with the wind. The Wildcats have had some big hitters from the safety positions throughout their history and Hall has the potential to become the next great safety in Arizona lore. What’s significant of Hall is he’s a local Tucson product that fans are pining to see in down and distance situations.
Who is the best player on the team?
Cornerback Trevin Wade is a pure talent and will undoubtedly follow 2007-08 Thorpe Award winner Antoine Cason into the NFL. Receiver Juron Criner is another future NFL product that has all the tools, especially size and a knack for making the “big” play. However, the best player on the team is center Colin Baxter who is a stabilizing force in the middle of Arizona’s offensive line.
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach its full capability?
Arizona’s down linemen will be asked to clog the middle for Arizona’s defensive line, allowing their talented ends to operate one-on-one on the edges and make plays in the backfield. Offensively, quarterback Nick Foles needs to have a big season for Arizona to reach its full potential. After exploding onto the scene in starts against Oregon State, Washington and Stanford, Foles’ incredibly hot start tapered off. Foles is a “gamer” and with 10 starts under his belt, a true QB coach in Frank Scelfo now working with him, and a full offseason of repetitions, Foles has the potential to take things to the next level this season.
Who is the top newcomer that can make an impact this year?
It’s a four horse race between Derek Earls, Paul Vassallo, Willie Mobley and true freshman defensive back Marquis Flowers. All should make an impact on some level, but since the first two names mentioned are projected starters the onus is on them to make a serious impact in the middle of Arizona’s defense.
Who is your pick to take the Pac-10 this year and are there any teams flying under the radar that might be able to make a run at the Pac-10 championship?
The Pac-10 is wide open, but Oregon appears to be the team to beat despite losing its quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. The Ducks return 16 starters (8 offense/8 defense) and feature one element across its entire roster that wins football games in the Pac-10; speed, speed, speed. The one thing that could derail the Ducks though is a five-game conference road schedule and NOT having Masoli. Masoli made some incredibly clutch plays for the Ducks en route to last year’s Rose Bowl and it’ll be up to their new quarterback to find ways to make plays when they matter most.
In regards to an “under the radar” team to win the conference championship, Arizona can get it done. Honestly, I wouldn’t consider Arizona an under the radar team, but ever since the Wildcats were picked to finish 5th by the Pac-10 media, they suddenly qualify. Arizona’s offense will put up points, and it’s difficult to ever underestimate a Mike Stoops-coached defense. Co-defensive coordinator Tim Kish is an excellent strategist and new defensive backs coach and fellow defensive coordinate Greg Brown plans to introduce some new, more aggressive schemes to Arizona’s traditional Cover 2 defense. If the stars align, defensively, Arizona is potent enough in other areas (offense and special teams) to make a serious run. Also, consider that Arizona only has four conference road games and one of those is against Washington State and this year could become the year of the Wildcat.
Gut feeling on the team’s final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
Truth be told, Arizona always seems to find a way to muck up a good situation. By way of example, a critical missed field goal and Oregon’s ability to convert in third-and-fourth-and long situations against Arizona in Tucson last season ultimately cost the Wildcats the Rose Bowl. The same could easily happen again this season, especially if Arizona’s back seven struggles against Pac-10 QBs not named Jake Locker, Andrew Luck and Matt Barkley. 9-3 seems to be a fair final record, but things can go south quick with a bad loss to Iowa. However, a win over Iowa would likely give Arizona its first perfect non-conference record under Stoops (assuming victories over Toledo and The Citadel) and could set the tone for a very strong campaign that exceeds expectations.
For all things Arizona Wildcats, please visit www.WildcatSportsReport.com for 24/7 team coverage and recruiting news.
Previous Pac-10 Previews:
Arizona State Sun Devils
California Golden Bears
Oregon Ducks
Oregon State Beavers
Stanford Cardinal
UCLA Bruins
USC Trojans
Washington Huskies
Washington State Cougars
Next Up: North Carolina State Wolfpack
Previous Pre-Season Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Big 12- Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Syracuse Orange, UConn Huskies, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Purdue Boilermakers
C-USA- Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
Independent- Army Black Knights, Navy Midshipmen, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- BYU Cougars, Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, LSU Tigers, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- FIU Golden Panthers, North Texas Mean Green, Troy Trojans
WAC- Boise State Broncos, Fresno State Bulldogs, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, New Mexico State Aggies
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Pre-Season Preview: UCLA Bruins
2009 Record: 7-6 (3-6 in Pac-10)
2009 Bowl: EagleBank Bowl (beat to Temple 30-21)
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Mike Riley (11-14 at UCLA, 77-44 All-Time)
Non-Conference Schedule: at Kansas State (9/4), Houston (9/18), at Texas (9/25)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 22.0 points per game (9th in Pac-10)
Rushing Yards/Game: 114 (9th in Pac-10)
Passing Yards/Game: 222 (4th in Pac-10)
Total Yards/Game: 337 (8th in Pac-10)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 21.2 points per game (3rd in Pac-10)
Rushing Yards/Game: 142 (8th in Pac-10)
Passing Yards/Game: 191 (2nd in Pac-10)
Total Yards/Game: 334 (3rd in Pac-10)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.46 per game (1st in Pac-10)
Penalties: 54 yards per game (4th in Pac-10)
Returning Starters
Offense: 7
Defense: 5
Kicker/Punter: 2
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Kevin Prince, Soph (173 of 308 for 2050 yds, 8 TD, 8 INT, 186 ypg)
Rushing: RB Johnathan Franklin, Soph (126 carries for 566 yds, 5 TD, 4.4 ypc, 43 ypg)
Receiving: WR Nathan Rosario, Jr (42 rec, 723 yds, 2 TD, 3.5 rec/game, 17.2 ypc)
Receiving: WR Taylor Embree, Jr (45 rec, 608 yds, 2 TD, 2.5 rec/game, 13.5 ypc)
Tackles: LB Akeem Ayers, Jr (73); SS Tony Dye, Jr (73)
Sacks: LB Akeem Ayers, Jr (5)
Interceptions: FS Rahim Moore, Jr (10
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #56
Pre-Snap Read: #40
Sporting News: #46
2010 Pre-Season Pac-10 Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #8
Phil Steele: #8
Last year was a year of streaks for UCLA. They started off with three straight out of conference wins against San Diego State, Tennessee, and Kansas State. After that they promptly dropped their first 5 conference games and then won 3 before falling to USC in their Pac-10 finale. This year, UCLA's offense should be ready to break-out but they also face a tough out of conference schedule as they go to Kansas State and Texas and play Houston at home. We reached out to the pro-UCLA and anti-USC blog The Trojan-Haters Club to find out their thoughts on the 2010 UCLA Bruins.
What are the biggest strengths and biggest weaknesses of the Bruins this year?
Let’s start with the most obvious weakness – the Offensive Line. As it has been for a few years now, the depth, and level of experience, of the OL is still weak, even by Pac-10 standards. Due to a Mormon Mission, a career-ending injury, and an academic casualty, the Bruins are already down to what basically should have been their Second String Line. Partially to compensate for this glaring weakness, the Bruins are changing to a different style Offense, called the “Revolver,” which adds more misdirection and QB Keepers, to keep the Defense from being able to so easily exploit their control of the trenches.
This brings us to the Bruins’ STRENGTH – Unparalleled Offensive Coordinator Norm Chow. Despite two years of horrendous results (due to lack of talent), Chow is still nationally respected. He now has more athleticism at the skill positions, so the Bruins will score more than in the recent past, despite a particularly tough schedule this season. The treacherous schedule could actually be considered another “weakness.”
Having the Country’s Best Offensive Coordinator – who hasn’t gotten it done for the last two years – may not seem like much of a strength, but the next choice was going to be “Best Home Uniforms.” Actually, the other undeniable strength this year is the Kicking Game. Reigning Lou Groza winner Kai Forbath returns, and will re-write the Record Book at UCLA, and maybe at the NCAA as well. He led the Nation in Field Goals last year, and has made 37 straight inside 50 yards. Punter Jeff Locke, a Ray Guy nominee, and All-American Long Snapper Christian Yount round out the #1 Kicking Game in the Country.
Of course, if Chow’s Offense improves as expected, a lot of the Punts and Field Goals will be replaced by Touchdowns.
UCLA has an early game against Texas. What do you hope to learn about UCLA in this game and what do you view as a successful outing?
Hopefully, the Longhorns will have long forgotten the 66-3 thrashing from several years ago, and NOT return the favor. The Bruins will be playing in only their second road game, and fourth game of the season, with a new Offense. Hopefully, the Bruins will be able to overcome the superior physicality, and shorten the game with unpredictably innovative play-calling. If they are still in the game in the 4th quarter, they will be able to come home without hanging their heads. HOWEVER, a “successful outing” means a VICTORY. There is no such thing as a “successful loss” in a non-exhibition game.
What we will learn about UCLA is how they handle noise, pressure, and adversity. If the Bruins fall behind early, will they be able to switch away from a Rushing Offense, to air it out, in an attempt to come back? Or will the Coaching Staff stay conservative, and continue to shorten the game, just to avoid a 66-3-type game? And will the players run out of gas physically, in the Texas heat? And what about emotionally? Will they pack it in if they go down by three TD’s on the Road?
Besides playing Texas out of conference, UCLA also has games with Kansas State and Houston. How do you feel the Bruins match up with these teams?
Kansas State is the first game with the new Offense, and it’s on the Road. There are going to be bugs to work out of the system, and it might look ugly for a while. Houston is the third game of the year, and it’s at the Rose Bowl, where the Bruins perennially perform markedly better. The Revolver should be functional by then, and it will have to be, to keep up with Houston’s high-powered offense. UCLA is considered to be in the same ballpark as KSU and Houston in terms of overall talent, so it will come down to Execution, Motivation, and Home Field Advantage.
What team on the schedule do you want to beat the most?
Is this a trick question? Here at BeatSC.com, and in a vast majority of the Bruin World, BEATING U$C is ALL that matters. The trOJans are so arrogant, even in the face of their recently-received NCAA sanctions, that it is imperative for UCLA to win the annual battle of the crosstown rivals. The Bruins have only ONE archrival, and it is usc.
And now that the sleazy Lane Kiffin is the Head Coach, a lot of people around the Country – especially in Tennessee – will be rooting for the Bruins too.
By the way: At last check, usc still honors double-murderer O.J. Simpson with a giant jersey, in the Coliseum, and as far as the sanctions, they still insist that they did nothing wrong. Such low class and denial needs to be dealt with, on the field.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
Defensive End Datone Jones, who, this Season, should triple his last year Sack total of 4. Also, honorable mentions to D-Back Tony Dye, who has been solid but not spectacular; and Sean Westgate, who has made some huge heads-up plays, but will now be asked to fill a much bigger role.
Who is the best player on the team?
Does Kai Forbath count? In terms of being the Best at what he does, Forbath can’t be topped. But for those of you who don’t think Kickers are really Players, Akeem Ayers might be the Man. Ayers had 6 Sacks and made 75 tackles last season as a Sophomore, and became much talked-about, after making two super-athletic, leaping Interceptions.
The other choice would be Junior Safety Rahim Moore, who led the NCAA last Season with 10 Interceptions. That total was the highest in the Country IN SIX YEARS. Opposing Quarterbacks will be throwing AWAY from Moore all year. Hopefully, that won’t lead to a decline in his production, as it did for usc’s Taylor Mays.
I am not picking anyone from the Offense, as no one has truly PROVEN their greatness on the field, yet.
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
The entire Offensive Line. The Bruins can’t score, hold onto the ball, or shorten games against superior opposition, if they can’t BLOCK. The Revolver is designed to maximize production based on not dominating the front line, but if the undermanned and outsized Bruin OL doesn’t know their assignments thoroughly, the Offense will not be able to sustain a drive.
If the OL steps up, then it will be up to Quarterback Kevin Prince. He will have to show unfailing leadership, as well as a mastery of the Revolver. He has some raw talent and is tough as nails, but it is his toughness that may be his curse. The Revolver is likely to see Prince running the ball a lot, and if he doesn’t learn how to AVOID a straight-on, bone-bruising hit, he won’t last the Season.
Who are the top newcomers that can make an impact this year?
The Bruins have several heralded Freshmen who are expected to contribute immediately, including three who probably envision themselves as the team’s leading rusher this year – Jordon James, Malcolm Jones, and Anthony Barr. But better bets to have immediate impact are two TRANSFERS – Wide Receiver Josh Smith from Colorado, and Tight End Joseph Fauria from Notre Dame. Smith, assuming his knee is healthy in the Fall, could be a game-breaker, as his Buffalo numbers suggest. In his seasons at CU, he had 52 Receptions, and big Return stats as well. Fauria is an imposing specimen, and an intelligent player, who has a history with Kevin Prince, and could turn out to be Prince’s favorite target this year.
Who is your pick to take the Pac-10 this year (you can't pick UCLA) and are there any teams flying under the radar that might be able to make a run at the Pac-10 championship?
One thing’s for sure – usc will not be representing the Conference in the Postseason this year. Even with all the defections, Lane Kiffin — a mediocre Head Coach at best — still has more talent on his roster than anyone else. But usc’s ban leaves Oregon in the driver’s seat to play in the Rose Bowl Game, even without dynamic stoner QB Jeremiah Masoli. The Ducks seemed like the Class of the Pac-10 last season.
If Oregon falters, or if much more of their roster gets arrested or suspended, that would leave the door open for Jim Harbaugh’s Stanford Cardinal, as well as for Washington and Oregon State.
Who is the one player on an opposing team that strikes the most fear in your heart?
The Huskies’ QB Jake Locker is a Cade McNown-type, who has a will to win, and can lift his team to victories against superior opponents. Stanford’s Quarterback Andrew Luck is also a difference-maker. Finally, the Rodgers Brothers are a one-two punch that will give the Beavers a damn good shot at the Pac-10 Title.
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
Given the slightly tougher-than-usual schedule and the troubling personnel issues, a WINNING RECORD and a Bowl Victory is what I expect. It would constitute a decent Season, AS LONG AS ONE OF THE “W’s” IS AGAINST U$C. There is no such thing as a “successful” season, if it includes a loss to the hated rival. In 2005, the Bruins won 10 games but lost to sc, badly. That year is NOT a fond memory, overall. However, in ’06, the Bruins had a lackluster record, but BEAT $C 13-9, knocking them out of the BCS Title Game. Now THAT is a good year.
Previous Pac-10 Previews:
Arizona State Sun Devils
California Golden Bears
Oregon Ducks
Oregon State Beavers
Stanford Cardinal
USC Trojans
Washington Huskies
Washington State Cougars
Next Up: Arizona Wildcats
Previous Pre-Season Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Big 12- Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Syracuse Orange, UConn Huskies, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Purdue Boilermakers
C-USA- Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
Independent- Army Black Knights, Navy Midshipmen, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- BYU Cougars, Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, LSU Tigers, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- FIU Golden Panthers, North Texas Mean Green, Troy Trojans
WAC- Boise State Broncos, Fresno State Bulldogs, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, New Mexico State Aggies
2009 Bowl: EagleBank Bowl (beat to Temple 30-21)
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Mike Riley (11-14 at UCLA, 77-44 All-Time)
Non-Conference Schedule: at Kansas State (9/4), Houston (9/18), at Texas (9/25)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 22.0 points per game (9th in Pac-10)
Rushing Yards/Game: 114 (9th in Pac-10)
Passing Yards/Game: 222 (4th in Pac-10)
Total Yards/Game: 337 (8th in Pac-10)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 21.2 points per game (3rd in Pac-10)
Rushing Yards/Game: 142 (8th in Pac-10)
Passing Yards/Game: 191 (2nd in Pac-10)
Total Yards/Game: 334 (3rd in Pac-10)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.46 per game (1st in Pac-10)
Penalties: 54 yards per game (4th in Pac-10)
Returning Starters
Offense: 7
Defense: 5
Kicker/Punter: 2
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Kevin Prince, Soph (173 of 308 for 2050 yds, 8 TD, 8 INT, 186 ypg)
Rushing: RB Johnathan Franklin, Soph (126 carries for 566 yds, 5 TD, 4.4 ypc, 43 ypg)
Receiving: WR Nathan Rosario, Jr (42 rec, 723 yds, 2 TD, 3.5 rec/game, 17.2 ypc)
Receiving: WR Taylor Embree, Jr (45 rec, 608 yds, 2 TD, 2.5 rec/game, 13.5 ypc)
Tackles: LB Akeem Ayers, Jr (73); SS Tony Dye, Jr (73)
Sacks: LB Akeem Ayers, Jr (5)
Interceptions: FS Rahim Moore, Jr (10
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #56
Pre-Snap Read: #40
Sporting News: #46
2010 Pre-Season Pac-10 Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #8
Phil Steele: #8
Last year was a year of streaks for UCLA. They started off with three straight out of conference wins against San Diego State, Tennessee, and Kansas State. After that they promptly dropped their first 5 conference games and then won 3 before falling to USC in their Pac-10 finale. This year, UCLA's offense should be ready to break-out but they also face a tough out of conference schedule as they go to Kansas State and Texas and play Houston at home. We reached out to the pro-UCLA and anti-USC blog The Trojan-Haters Club to find out their thoughts on the 2010 UCLA Bruins.
What are the biggest strengths and biggest weaknesses of the Bruins this year?
Let’s start with the most obvious weakness – the Offensive Line. As it has been for a few years now, the depth, and level of experience, of the OL is still weak, even by Pac-10 standards. Due to a Mormon Mission, a career-ending injury, and an academic casualty, the Bruins are already down to what basically should have been their Second String Line. Partially to compensate for this glaring weakness, the Bruins are changing to a different style Offense, called the “Revolver,” which adds more misdirection and QB Keepers, to keep the Defense from being able to so easily exploit their control of the trenches.
This brings us to the Bruins’ STRENGTH – Unparalleled Offensive Coordinator Norm Chow. Despite two years of horrendous results (due to lack of talent), Chow is still nationally respected. He now has more athleticism at the skill positions, so the Bruins will score more than in the recent past, despite a particularly tough schedule this season. The treacherous schedule could actually be considered another “weakness.”
Having the Country’s Best Offensive Coordinator – who hasn’t gotten it done for the last two years – may not seem like much of a strength, but the next choice was going to be “Best Home Uniforms.” Actually, the other undeniable strength this year is the Kicking Game. Reigning Lou Groza winner Kai Forbath returns, and will re-write the Record Book at UCLA, and maybe at the NCAA as well. He led the Nation in Field Goals last year, and has made 37 straight inside 50 yards. Punter Jeff Locke, a Ray Guy nominee, and All-American Long Snapper Christian Yount round out the #1 Kicking Game in the Country.
Of course, if Chow’s Offense improves as expected, a lot of the Punts and Field Goals will be replaced by Touchdowns.
UCLA has an early game against Texas. What do you hope to learn about UCLA in this game and what do you view as a successful outing?
Hopefully, the Longhorns will have long forgotten the 66-3 thrashing from several years ago, and NOT return the favor. The Bruins will be playing in only their second road game, and fourth game of the season, with a new Offense. Hopefully, the Bruins will be able to overcome the superior physicality, and shorten the game with unpredictably innovative play-calling. If they are still in the game in the 4th quarter, they will be able to come home without hanging their heads. HOWEVER, a “successful outing” means a VICTORY. There is no such thing as a “successful loss” in a non-exhibition game.
What we will learn about UCLA is how they handle noise, pressure, and adversity. If the Bruins fall behind early, will they be able to switch away from a Rushing Offense, to air it out, in an attempt to come back? Or will the Coaching Staff stay conservative, and continue to shorten the game, just to avoid a 66-3-type game? And will the players run out of gas physically, in the Texas heat? And what about emotionally? Will they pack it in if they go down by three TD’s on the Road?
Besides playing Texas out of conference, UCLA also has games with Kansas State and Houston. How do you feel the Bruins match up with these teams?
Kansas State is the first game with the new Offense, and it’s on the Road. There are going to be bugs to work out of the system, and it might look ugly for a while. Houston is the third game of the year, and it’s at the Rose Bowl, where the Bruins perennially perform markedly better. The Revolver should be functional by then, and it will have to be, to keep up with Houston’s high-powered offense. UCLA is considered to be in the same ballpark as KSU and Houston in terms of overall talent, so it will come down to Execution, Motivation, and Home Field Advantage.
What team on the schedule do you want to beat the most?
Is this a trick question? Here at BeatSC.com, and in a vast majority of the Bruin World, BEATING U$C is ALL that matters. The trOJans are so arrogant, even in the face of their recently-received NCAA sanctions, that it is imperative for UCLA to win the annual battle of the crosstown rivals. The Bruins have only ONE archrival, and it is usc.
And now that the sleazy Lane Kiffin is the Head Coach, a lot of people around the Country – especially in Tennessee – will be rooting for the Bruins too.
By the way: At last check, usc still honors double-murderer O.J. Simpson with a giant jersey, in the Coliseum, and as far as the sanctions, they still insist that they did nothing wrong. Such low class and denial needs to be dealt with, on the field.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
Defensive End Datone Jones, who, this Season, should triple his last year Sack total of 4. Also, honorable mentions to D-Back Tony Dye, who has been solid but not spectacular; and Sean Westgate, who has made some huge heads-up plays, but will now be asked to fill a much bigger role.
Who is the best player on the team?
Does Kai Forbath count? In terms of being the Best at what he does, Forbath can’t be topped. But for those of you who don’t think Kickers are really Players, Akeem Ayers might be the Man. Ayers had 6 Sacks and made 75 tackles last season as a Sophomore, and became much talked-about, after making two super-athletic, leaping Interceptions.
The other choice would be Junior Safety Rahim Moore, who led the NCAA last Season with 10 Interceptions. That total was the highest in the Country IN SIX YEARS. Opposing Quarterbacks will be throwing AWAY from Moore all year. Hopefully, that won’t lead to a decline in his production, as it did for usc’s Taylor Mays.
I am not picking anyone from the Offense, as no one has truly PROVEN their greatness on the field, yet.
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
The entire Offensive Line. The Bruins can’t score, hold onto the ball, or shorten games against superior opposition, if they can’t BLOCK. The Revolver is designed to maximize production based on not dominating the front line, but if the undermanned and outsized Bruin OL doesn’t know their assignments thoroughly, the Offense will not be able to sustain a drive.
If the OL steps up, then it will be up to Quarterback Kevin Prince. He will have to show unfailing leadership, as well as a mastery of the Revolver. He has some raw talent and is tough as nails, but it is his toughness that may be his curse. The Revolver is likely to see Prince running the ball a lot, and if he doesn’t learn how to AVOID a straight-on, bone-bruising hit, he won’t last the Season.
Who are the top newcomers that can make an impact this year?
The Bruins have several heralded Freshmen who are expected to contribute immediately, including three who probably envision themselves as the team’s leading rusher this year – Jordon James, Malcolm Jones, and Anthony Barr. But better bets to have immediate impact are two TRANSFERS – Wide Receiver Josh Smith from Colorado, and Tight End Joseph Fauria from Notre Dame. Smith, assuming his knee is healthy in the Fall, could be a game-breaker, as his Buffalo numbers suggest. In his seasons at CU, he had 52 Receptions, and big Return stats as well. Fauria is an imposing specimen, and an intelligent player, who has a history with Kevin Prince, and could turn out to be Prince’s favorite target this year.
Who is your pick to take the Pac-10 this year (you can't pick UCLA) and are there any teams flying under the radar that might be able to make a run at the Pac-10 championship?
One thing’s for sure – usc will not be representing the Conference in the Postseason this year. Even with all the defections, Lane Kiffin — a mediocre Head Coach at best — still has more talent on his roster than anyone else. But usc’s ban leaves Oregon in the driver’s seat to play in the Rose Bowl Game, even without dynamic stoner QB Jeremiah Masoli. The Ducks seemed like the Class of the Pac-10 last season.
If Oregon falters, or if much more of their roster gets arrested or suspended, that would leave the door open for Jim Harbaugh’s Stanford Cardinal, as well as for Washington and Oregon State.
Who is the one player on an opposing team that strikes the most fear in your heart?
The Huskies’ QB Jake Locker is a Cade McNown-type, who has a will to win, and can lift his team to victories against superior opponents. Stanford’s Quarterback Andrew Luck is also a difference-maker. Finally, the Rodgers Brothers are a one-two punch that will give the Beavers a damn good shot at the Pac-10 Title.
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
Given the slightly tougher-than-usual schedule and the troubling personnel issues, a WINNING RECORD and a Bowl Victory is what I expect. It would constitute a decent Season, AS LONG AS ONE OF THE “W’s” IS AGAINST U$C. There is no such thing as a “successful” season, if it includes a loss to the hated rival. In 2005, the Bruins won 10 games but lost to sc, badly. That year is NOT a fond memory, overall. However, in ’06, the Bruins had a lackluster record, but BEAT $C 13-9, knocking them out of the BCS Title Game. Now THAT is a good year.
Previous Pac-10 Previews:
Arizona State Sun Devils
California Golden Bears
Oregon Ducks
Oregon State Beavers
Stanford Cardinal
USC Trojans
Washington Huskies
Washington State Cougars
Next Up: Arizona Wildcats
Previous Pre-Season Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Big 12- Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Syracuse Orange, UConn Huskies, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Purdue Boilermakers
C-USA- Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
Independent- Army Black Knights, Navy Midshipmen, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- BYU Cougars, Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, LSU Tigers, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- FIU Golden Panthers, North Texas Mean Green, Troy Trojans
WAC- Boise State Broncos, Fresno State Bulldogs, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, New Mexico State Aggies
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Pre-Season Preview: Oregon State Beavers
2009 Record: 8-5 (6-3 in Pac-10)
2009 Bowl: Las Vegas Bowl (lost to BYU 44-20)
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Mike Riley (64-47, 37-23 in Pac-10)
Non-Conference Schedule: TCU (9/4), Louisville (9/18), at Boise State (9/25)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 31.5 points per game (3rd in Pac-10)
Rushing Yards/Game: 139 (6th in Pac-10)
Passing Yards/Game: 270 (1st in Pac-10)
Total Yards/Game: 410 (3rd in Pac-10)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 25.0 points per game (6th in Pac-10)
Rushing Yards/Game: 114 (3rd in Pac-10)
Passing Yards/Game: 235 (6th in Pac-10)
Total Yards/Game: 349 (6th in Pac-10)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.38 per game (2nd in Pac-10)
Penalties: 59 yards per game (7th in Pac-10)
Returning Starters
Offense: 8
Defense: 7
Kicker/Punter: 2
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Ryan Katz, Sr (14 of 27 for 232 yds, 1 TD)
Rushing: RB Jacquizz Rodgers, Jr (273 carries for 1440 yds, 21 TD, 5.2 ypc, 110 ypg)
Receiving: WR James Rodgers, Sr (91 rec, 1034 yds, 9 TD, 7.0 rec/game, 79 ypg)
Tackles: FS Lance Mitchell, Jr (72); SS Cameron Collins, Jr (67)
Sacks: DE Gabe Miller, Sr (3); DL Stephen Paea, Sr (3)
Interceptions: FS Lance Mitchell, Jr (3)
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #27
Mark Schlabach: #22
Phil Steele: #38
Rivals: #20
Sporting News: #15
Sports Illustrated: #17
2010 Pre-Season Pac-10 Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #3
Phil Steele: #5 (tie with Stanford and Washington)
Bowl Predictions:
Athlon Sports: Holiday Bowl (vs. Texas Tech)
Phil Steele: Las Vegas Bowl (vs. Utah)
Over the last 4 years Oregon State and coach Mike Riley have amassed a 35-17 record and have gone 25-11 in the Pac-10 with their lowest finish being 3rd in the conference. This year Oregon State has a really tough out-of-conference schedule (they also played a really tough schedule two years ago falling to Penn State and Utah out of conference and had a bit of an easier road in 2009 but did schedule and fall to Cincinnati) facing TCU in week one and playing at Boise State in week three (as well as a game against Louisville under new coach Charlie Strong). Oregon State is capable of winning the Pac-10 this year (as are many teams in the Pac-10). We spoke with Jim Phillips of Scout.com's BeaverFootball.com to find out more about the 2010 Oregon State Beavers.
What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of the Beavers?
Oregon State fields a Heisman Trophy candidate in running back Jacquizz Rodgers, who has carried the mail to the tune 2,693 rushing yards in his first two seasons. They also have a dominant defensive lineman and All-America candidate in DT Stephen Paea. Although they were stout defensively in most areas, the defense had a paltry 17 sacks last season, by far the fewest by OSU in the decade. They’ll need to improve that stat significantly if they are to once again contend for the Pac-10 title.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test?
OSU has arguably the toughest non-conference slate in the nation this year. They play on the road in Texas to open the season against TCU – who is ranked a consensus No. 5 by most preseason pollsters.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
What’s most concerning is a combination of teams, really. The Beavs open with TCU, Louisville and Boise State. TCU and Boise State both figure not just to be ranked but to show up in the nation's Top 5 and both games are on the road – that makes for a flat out brutal non-conference schedule. The other non-con opponent sandwiched in between, Louisville, is no slouch. In fact, each one of the Beavers' three non-conference games will be against a team that's been in one of the BCS bowl games during the past four years. Add in that OSU has started slow the last few years in a row and it gets even tougher.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
That’s a tough one, there are a lot of unsung players worthy of mention. We’ll go with one who we think is ready to take another big step forward – TE Joe Halahuni. A small-school product from Orting, Wash., Halahuni as a burst onto the scene midseason last year, finishing with 35 receptions for 486 yards and three touchdowns. In the last seven games, he snagged 27 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns. His nine catch performance at USC and his two 100 yard plus receiving games are school records for a tight end. And he's only going to be a junior this season.
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
It’s hard not to look at Quizz – he needs only 1,169 rushing yards to move into second place all-time at Oregon State and he too is only going to be a junior this season. But we would be remiss if we didn’t also mention his brother, James Rodgers. The senior wide receiver is on the verge of setting a number of all-time program marks but what’s most impressive is how he’s gone about it. He transformed the OSU offense his freshman year with his running the fly-sweep. Then, he went out and became one of the nation's top-flight pass catcher the past two years.
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
By the time the season ends, Stephen Paea may well be considered the best defensive tackle in all of college football. His strength is ridiculous – he’s already a virtual shoo-in to set the all-time NFL combine mark in the bench press next spring. He can beat double teams, chase down quarterbacks and often tosses aside solid o-lineman like they were chew toys. What OSU needs is for someone to also command respect next to him, and midway through the ’09 season they found it in Brennan Olander. If Olander plays the way we think he will in ‘10, the combination of Paea and Olander on the interior of the d-line could be a sight to see.
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
You could choose multiple players here but two who will be key are wide receivers Markus Wheaton and Jordan Bishop. Both are young and have a world of potential but it’s also time to turn that potential into production – doing so will not allow opponents to overplay star James Rodgers.
Who is the top offensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
Oregon State took a small signing class and the bulk of players were for defense. The ones who are on the offensive side of the ball are likely to redshirt with upperclassmen ahead of them.
Who is the top defensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
Dominic Glover will be counted upon to shore up the defensive ends, Scott Crichton has potential star power out on the edge as well. Watch for Ryan Murphy – safeties usually take a few years to develop but he might make an early impact on special teams.
Who is your pick for the Pac-10 this year? Is there anybody flying under the radar that you think will surprise people this year in the Pac-10?
It’s shaping up to where a repeat of last year might be in the cards – Oregon State and Oregon slugging it out in the Civil War for the Pac-10 title. Stanford might not be quite as good as most seem to think they will be – Toby Gerhart was such a big part of their success in ’09 – but they should still have a decent year. With everything hanging over their heads, USC might be in for, by their recent standards, an off year.
Thoughts on Colorado and Utah joining the Pac-10?
A good deal on all fronts. Now let’s get the Pac-10 TV network up and running.
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
Despite having a new QB and a brutal schedule, we'll go bold and say the Beavs will finish 9-3 or better. A bowl game makes the season a success. Competing for the Pac-10 title would make it that much sweeter.
Previous Pac-10 Previews:
Arizona State Sun Devils
California Golden Bears
Oregon Ducks
Stanford Cardinal
USC Trojans
Washington Huskies
Washington State Cougars
Next Up: UCLA Bruins
Previous Pre-Season Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Big 12- Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Syracuse Orange, UConn Huskies, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Purdue Boilermakers
C-USA- Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
Independent- Army Black Knights, Navy Midshipmen, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- BYU Cougars, Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, LSU Tigers, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- FIU Golden Panthers, North Texas Mean Green, Troy Trojans
WAC- Boise State Broncos, Fresno State Bulldogs, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, New Mexico State Aggies
2009 Bowl: Las Vegas Bowl (lost to BYU 44-20)
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Mike Riley (64-47, 37-23 in Pac-10)
Non-Conference Schedule: TCU (9/4), Louisville (9/18), at Boise State (9/25)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 31.5 points per game (3rd in Pac-10)
Rushing Yards/Game: 139 (6th in Pac-10)
Passing Yards/Game: 270 (1st in Pac-10)
Total Yards/Game: 410 (3rd in Pac-10)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 25.0 points per game (6th in Pac-10)
Rushing Yards/Game: 114 (3rd in Pac-10)
Passing Yards/Game: 235 (6th in Pac-10)
Total Yards/Game: 349 (6th in Pac-10)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.38 per game (2nd in Pac-10)
Penalties: 59 yards per game (7th in Pac-10)
Returning Starters
Offense: 8
Defense: 7
Kicker/Punter: 2
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Ryan Katz, Sr (14 of 27 for 232 yds, 1 TD)
Rushing: RB Jacquizz Rodgers, Jr (273 carries for 1440 yds, 21 TD, 5.2 ypc, 110 ypg)
Receiving: WR James Rodgers, Sr (91 rec, 1034 yds, 9 TD, 7.0 rec/game, 79 ypg)
Tackles: FS Lance Mitchell, Jr (72); SS Cameron Collins, Jr (67)
Sacks: DE Gabe Miller, Sr (3); DL Stephen Paea, Sr (3)
Interceptions: FS Lance Mitchell, Jr (3)
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #27
Mark Schlabach: #22
Phil Steele: #38
Rivals: #20
Sporting News: #15
Sports Illustrated: #17
2010 Pre-Season Pac-10 Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #3
Phil Steele: #5 (tie with Stanford and Washington)
Bowl Predictions:
Athlon Sports: Holiday Bowl (vs. Texas Tech)
Phil Steele: Las Vegas Bowl (vs. Utah)
Over the last 4 years Oregon State and coach Mike Riley have amassed a 35-17 record and have gone 25-11 in the Pac-10 with their lowest finish being 3rd in the conference. This year Oregon State has a really tough out-of-conference schedule (they also played a really tough schedule two years ago falling to Penn State and Utah out of conference and had a bit of an easier road in 2009 but did schedule and fall to Cincinnati) facing TCU in week one and playing at Boise State in week three (as well as a game against Louisville under new coach Charlie Strong). Oregon State is capable of winning the Pac-10 this year (as are many teams in the Pac-10). We spoke with Jim Phillips of Scout.com's BeaverFootball.com to find out more about the 2010 Oregon State Beavers.
What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of the Beavers?
Oregon State fields a Heisman Trophy candidate in running back Jacquizz Rodgers, who has carried the mail to the tune 2,693 rushing yards in his first two seasons. They also have a dominant defensive lineman and All-America candidate in DT Stephen Paea. Although they were stout defensively in most areas, the defense had a paltry 17 sacks last season, by far the fewest by OSU in the decade. They’ll need to improve that stat significantly if they are to once again contend for the Pac-10 title.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test?
OSU has arguably the toughest non-conference slate in the nation this year. They play on the road in Texas to open the season against TCU – who is ranked a consensus No. 5 by most preseason pollsters.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
What’s most concerning is a combination of teams, really. The Beavs open with TCU, Louisville and Boise State. TCU and Boise State both figure not just to be ranked but to show up in the nation's Top 5 and both games are on the road – that makes for a flat out brutal non-conference schedule. The other non-con opponent sandwiched in between, Louisville, is no slouch. In fact, each one of the Beavers' three non-conference games will be against a team that's been in one of the BCS bowl games during the past four years. Add in that OSU has started slow the last few years in a row and it gets even tougher.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
That’s a tough one, there are a lot of unsung players worthy of mention. We’ll go with one who we think is ready to take another big step forward – TE Joe Halahuni. A small-school product from Orting, Wash., Halahuni as a burst onto the scene midseason last year, finishing with 35 receptions for 486 yards and three touchdowns. In the last seven games, he snagged 27 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns. His nine catch performance at USC and his two 100 yard plus receiving games are school records for a tight end. And he's only going to be a junior this season.
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
It’s hard not to look at Quizz – he needs only 1,169 rushing yards to move into second place all-time at Oregon State and he too is only going to be a junior this season. But we would be remiss if we didn’t also mention his brother, James Rodgers. The senior wide receiver is on the verge of setting a number of all-time program marks but what’s most impressive is how he’s gone about it. He transformed the OSU offense his freshman year with his running the fly-sweep. Then, he went out and became one of the nation's top-flight pass catcher the past two years.
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
By the time the season ends, Stephen Paea may well be considered the best defensive tackle in all of college football. His strength is ridiculous – he’s already a virtual shoo-in to set the all-time NFL combine mark in the bench press next spring. He can beat double teams, chase down quarterbacks and often tosses aside solid o-lineman like they were chew toys. What OSU needs is for someone to also command respect next to him, and midway through the ’09 season they found it in Brennan Olander. If Olander plays the way we think he will in ‘10, the combination of Paea and Olander on the interior of the d-line could be a sight to see.
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
You could choose multiple players here but two who will be key are wide receivers Markus Wheaton and Jordan Bishop. Both are young and have a world of potential but it’s also time to turn that potential into production – doing so will not allow opponents to overplay star James Rodgers.
Who is the top offensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
Oregon State took a small signing class and the bulk of players were for defense. The ones who are on the offensive side of the ball are likely to redshirt with upperclassmen ahead of them.
Who is the top defensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
Dominic Glover will be counted upon to shore up the defensive ends, Scott Crichton has potential star power out on the edge as well. Watch for Ryan Murphy – safeties usually take a few years to develop but he might make an early impact on special teams.
Who is your pick for the Pac-10 this year? Is there anybody flying under the radar that you think will surprise people this year in the Pac-10?
It’s shaping up to where a repeat of last year might be in the cards – Oregon State and Oregon slugging it out in the Civil War for the Pac-10 title. Stanford might not be quite as good as most seem to think they will be – Toby Gerhart was such a big part of their success in ’09 – but they should still have a decent year. With everything hanging over their heads, USC might be in for, by their recent standards, an off year.
Thoughts on Colorado and Utah joining the Pac-10?
A good deal on all fronts. Now let’s get the Pac-10 TV network up and running.
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
Despite having a new QB and a brutal schedule, we'll go bold and say the Beavs will finish 9-3 or better. A bowl game makes the season a success. Competing for the Pac-10 title would make it that much sweeter.
Previous Pac-10 Previews:
Arizona State Sun Devils
California Golden Bears
Oregon Ducks
Stanford Cardinal
USC Trojans
Washington Huskies
Washington State Cougars
Next Up: UCLA Bruins
Previous Pre-Season Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Big 12- Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Syracuse Orange, UConn Huskies, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Purdue Boilermakers
C-USA- Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
Independent- Army Black Knights, Navy Midshipmen, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- BYU Cougars, Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, LSU Tigers, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- FIU Golden Panthers, North Texas Mean Green, Troy Trojans
WAC- Boise State Broncos, Fresno State Bulldogs, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, New Mexico State Aggies
Monday, August 2, 2010
Georgia Bulldog Notes
Georgia ranked #1 on the Princeton Review's list of party schools. What else would you expect from a team that competes in the "World's Largest Outdoor Coctail Party"? It's been a long hard journey but we are finally #1!
Georgia was the first SEC team to start up practice as they had their first today. The media was allowed in the practice for quite a while before Mark Richt finally told them to hit the road. AJC writer Mark Bradley has a good short blog up about it here. Love this quote "I’d seen what I’d come to see, which was Aaron Murray throwing the football without his famous glove — threw it pretty well, Murray did — and Todd Grantham’s 3-4 aligning itself. Nobody would dare suggest the first day of any team’s practice is a real measure, but I have to say to the Bulldogs looked pretty sharp."
AJC UGA blogger Tim Tucker was busy today posting 3 blogs about Georgia. He gives us an update on Logan Gray progress as a WR and also talks about Trinton Sturdivant's comeback (they are taking it slow with him) and Akeem Dent (projected starting ILB who is out for 4 to 6 weeks but could be ready to go by opening week).
Mark Weiszer listed 3 guys flying "under the radar to watch" as WR Rantavious Wooten, DT Kwame Geathers and QB Hutson Mason. I agree on Woot and Geathers but hopefully Hutson won't be seeing much playing time. I will add in another WR, Kris Durham, who was hurt last year but has the ability to be a very solid possession receiver and a great target for Murray.
Brandon Boykin was one of the 35 players named to the Thorpe watch list. I think he's poised for a break-out season on defense this year (he already broke out on special teams last year with 3 kickoff returns for TD).
Burning Questions- So what are the burning questions for Georgia as they open practice?
- Defense, defense, defense. Who will emerge on the defensive line? There is a lot of buzz around DeAngleo Tyson and Kwame Geathers. Will they emerge as guys who can fit the mold in Grantham's 3-4 at the nose? Will Justin Anderson (converted OL) fit in on the DL. Will freshman Garrison Smith break into the rotation? Justin Houston, Darryl Gamble and Cornelius Washington all seem like great fits at OLB to me and I am really looking forwards to them reeking havoc on opposing quarterbacks. The big question for me at ILB is who will step up. Will it be Marcus Dowtin or Christian Robinson? Will Akeem Dent be back for the opener? How will the incoming freshmen fit in with the LBs? What about Richard Samuel (last years starting RB). The hottest battle this summer should be Vance Cuff/Branden Smith. Todd Grantham has said they will both see extensive playing time but I'm really interested in seeing how the secondary plays this year. Will Jakar Hamilton live up to his nickname of the "Hitman". How much will Alec Ogletree play this season? Who is going to be returning punts for us (AJ? Branden Smith? Wooten? Samuel? Rambo?)? I think my head my explode before the season starts.
I leave you with this quote from Todd Grantham:
“We want to be aggressive. We want to attack. We want to be relentless in our pursuit to the ball.”
Georgia was the first SEC team to start up practice as they had their first today. The media was allowed in the practice for quite a while before Mark Richt finally told them to hit the road. AJC writer Mark Bradley has a good short blog up about it here. Love this quote "I’d seen what I’d come to see, which was Aaron Murray throwing the football without his famous glove — threw it pretty well, Murray did — and Todd Grantham’s 3-4 aligning itself. Nobody would dare suggest the first day of any team’s practice is a real measure, but I have to say to the Bulldogs looked pretty sharp."
AJC UGA blogger Tim Tucker was busy today posting 3 blogs about Georgia. He gives us an update on Logan Gray progress as a WR and also talks about Trinton Sturdivant's comeback (they are taking it slow with him) and Akeem Dent (projected starting ILB who is out for 4 to 6 weeks but could be ready to go by opening week).
Mark Weiszer listed 3 guys flying "under the radar to watch" as WR Rantavious Wooten, DT Kwame Geathers and QB Hutson Mason. I agree on Woot and Geathers but hopefully Hutson won't be seeing much playing time. I will add in another WR, Kris Durham, who was hurt last year but has the ability to be a very solid possession receiver and a great target for Murray.
Brandon Boykin was one of the 35 players named to the Thorpe watch list. I think he's poised for a break-out season on defense this year (he already broke out on special teams last year with 3 kickoff returns for TD).
Burning Questions- So what are the burning questions for Georgia as they open practice?
- Defense, defense, defense. Who will emerge on the defensive line? There is a lot of buzz around DeAngleo Tyson and Kwame Geathers. Will they emerge as guys who can fit the mold in Grantham's 3-4 at the nose? Will Justin Anderson (converted OL) fit in on the DL. Will freshman Garrison Smith break into the rotation? Justin Houston, Darryl Gamble and Cornelius Washington all seem like great fits at OLB to me and I am really looking forwards to them reeking havoc on opposing quarterbacks. The big question for me at ILB is who will step up. Will it be Marcus Dowtin or Christian Robinson? Will Akeem Dent be back for the opener? How will the incoming freshmen fit in with the LBs? What about Richard Samuel (last years starting RB). The hottest battle this summer should be Vance Cuff/Branden Smith. Todd Grantham has said they will both see extensive playing time but I'm really interested in seeing how the secondary plays this year. Will Jakar Hamilton live up to his nickname of the "Hitman". How much will Alec Ogletree play this season? Who is going to be returning punts for us (AJ? Branden Smith? Wooten? Samuel? Rambo?)? I think my head my explode before the season starts.
I leave you with this quote from Todd Grantham:
“We want to be aggressive. We want to attack. We want to be relentless in our pursuit to the ball.”
Pre-Season Preview: California Golden Bears
2009 Record: 8-5 (5-4 in Pac-10)
2009 Bowl: Poinsettia Bowl (lost to Utah 37-27)
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Jeff Tedford (67-35 at Cal, 41-27 in Pac-10)
Non-Conference Schedule: UC Davis (9/4), Colorado (9/11), at Nevada (9/17)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 29.1 points per game (4th in Pac-10)
Rushing Yards/Game: 169 (3rd in Pac-10)
Passing Yards/Game: 222 (5th in Pac-10)
Total Yards/Game: 392 (4th in Pac-10)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 25.5 points per game (7th in Pac-10)
Rushing Yards/Game: 111 (2nd in Pac-10)
Passing Yards/Game: 266 (9th in Pac-10, 111th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 377 (7th in Pac-10)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.31 per game (4th in Pac-10)
Penalties: 49 yards per game (2nd in Pac-10)
Returning Starters
Offense: 8
Defense: 6
Kicker/Punter: 2
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Kevin Riley, Sr (209 of 382 for 2850 yds, 18 TD, 8 INT, 219 ypg)
Rushing: RB Shane Vereen, Jr (183 carries for 952 yds, 12 TD, 5.2 ypc, 73 ypg)
Receiving: WR Marvin Jones, Jr (43 rec, 651 yds, 6 TD, 3.3 rec/game, 15.1 ypc, 50 ypg)
Tackles: LB Mike Mohamed, Sr (111)
Sacks: DE Cameron Jordan, Sr (8)
Interceptions: LB Mike Mohamed, Sr (3)
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #41
Phil Steele: #42
Pre-Snap Read: #35
Sporting News: #62
Sports Illustrated: #20
2010 Pre-Season Pac-10 Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #7
Phil Steele: #3 (tie with Arizona)
Bowl Predictions:
Athlon Sports: Kraft Foods (vs. Fresno State)
Phil Steele: Sun Bowl (vs. FSU)
Cal started out 2009 with 3 straight wins but then got blown out in 2 straight against Oregon and USC. Cal then won 5 of 6 Pac-10 games, including back-to-back wins over ranked teams, before dropping their final two. The Golden Bears have some good talent coming back this year and could make some noise in the Pac-10. We reached out to Scout.com's California website CalSportsDigest.com to find out about the 2010 Golden Bears and Mario Gomez provided us with some answers.
What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of the Golden Bears?
The offensive line is both the strength and weakness. The Bears return four starters that comprise a very good veteran offensive line, but depth is a concern. RT Mitchell Schwartz is one of the best in the Pac-10. Along with RG Justin Cheadle and C Chris Guarnero, the trio started all 13 games in 2009. However, they lose LT Mike Tepper and didn’t sign a capable replacement in February. Talented sophomore LG Matt Summers-Gavin will move to left tackle, but his health is important. He missed five games last season because of injury and the Cal OL suffered without his presence at LG. With Summers-Gavin at LT, inexperienced sophomore Brian Schwenke takes over at LG.
If Summers-Gavin is lost at any point to injury, Schwartz could move to LT and backup Donavon Edwards could play RT, where he started six games in 2008. After Edwards, the experience level drops significantly. Backup junior OT Sam DeMartinis hasn’t played the last two seasons. Sophomore OT Tyler Rigsbee didn’t play last season, and freshman Charles Siddoway is coming off a redshirt year. Bears also lost promising LT prospect Charles Ragland, who plans to transfer to a junior college this season.
With that said, if the unit can stay healthy, specifically Summers-Gavin, it will be a foundation for an improved offense.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test and why?
Colorado is the second game of the season after a “tune-up” against UC Davis. The Buffaloes return 17 starters, and they will be motivated to make a statement in the first quasi Pac-10 game since joining the conference in June.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
Nevada is a scary road game. Cal has played three non-BCS, non-FCS opponents the last five seasons – New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech, and Colorado State. The Bears won all three by an average score of 42-10. However, only New Mexico State was on the road, and none of the three was as talented at the Wolf Pack will be.
Cal may stumble in conference play, but the Pac-10 has established itself as a conference of parity. Outside of losing to Washington State, a loss in conference won’t turn heads. However, a loss Nevada won’t sit well most in Berkeley, considering Cal didn’t have to schedule that game in Reno.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
Hard to say no one talks about Shane Vereen, but few talk about him being one of the top running backs in the nation. Vereen doesn’t have Jahvid Best speed, but he is fast in his own right. The Cal offense seemed to move more fluently with Vereen as the primary back last season. He can pound it between the tackles, line up at the slot, and like Best, he is threat to take it the house on any carry.
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
Vereen could be 1,500-2,000 yard back this season with the ability to carry the rock 30-35 times a game if needed. If the offensive line stays healthy, and Vereen stays healthy, Cal should have a successful season.
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
Cameron Jordan is one of best defensive ends in the Pac-10. But his off-and-on play can wear on a fan. One moment he shows talent of an All-American defensive end, the next he looks like a third-team walk-on. Regardless, he is the most talented defensive linemen on the team. With the loss of NFL first round draft pick Tyson Alualu, the load falls on Jordan’s shoulders this season to be a terror off the edge.
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
Kevin Riley’s performance will be the difference between a five-win season and a nine-win season. The surrounding talent can get to .500 without good quarterback play. While the secondary does need key players to step up, no one is as important to the Bears success as Riley.
Looking at his 2009 stat line doesn’t tell the story. He threw for 2,850 yards and 18 touchdowns against just eight interceptions. He completed just 54.7% of his passes. However, in the Bears’ eight wins, he completed 61.7% passes with a 15-4 touchdown to interception ration. In the five losses, he was a paltry 46% and threw only three touchdowns to four interceptions.
He must be consistent and improve his accuracy and decision-making.
Who is the top newcomer that can make an impact this year?
Keenan Allen was the nation’s top safety prospect in the 2010 class. His presence is needed in the secondary, where the Bears had their worst pass defense performance in the Jeff Tedford era last season. But Allen will likely get his first crack on offense. Cal needs at least three of its incoming receivers to play a role in the offense in 2010, including Allen, the Bears have five new wideouts.
Who is your pick for the Pac-10 this year? Is there anybody flying under the radar that you think will surprise people this year in the Pac-10?
With USC on probation and Oregon needing to replace QB Jeremiah Masoli, the Pac-10 looks as open as ever. Nate Costa will get first crack at the Ducks’ open QB job, but I believe Darron Thomas will ultimately win the job. He has the ability to lead the UO to a second straight Pac-10 title. One team to watch is Arizona. If the Wildcats can replace the eight starters lost on defense, the November 26 Oregon-Arizona matchup could be for the Pac-10 title.
Thoughts on Colorado and Utah joining the Pac-10?
While it’s not the same magnitude of adding Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech, it’s still a good move for the conference. With 12 teams, the transition to two separate six-team divisions and a conference championship game are in place. Now, the conference must find a scheduling solution to satisfy all 12 members, especially those in the Northwest that face the possibility of not playing in L.A. every season.
Gut feeling on the team’s final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
As much as I hate to say it, it looks like another eight-win season. To some that may seem successful. Others will see it as a continuation of the mediocrity this team has endured since sharing the Pac-10 title in 2006.
The season will be a success if Cal wins its three non-conference game handily and sweeps the home Pac-10 slate. A road win at Arizona, Oregon State, or USC will be icing on the cake and could put the Bears in contention for the Pac-10 title.
Make sure to check out CalSportsDigest.com and GoldenStatePreps.com for all your California Golden Bears football and recruiting needs. And make sure to browse their message boards.
Previous Pac-10 Previews:
Arizona State Sun Devils
Oregon Ducks
Stanford Cardinal
USC Trojans
Washington Huskies
Washington State Cougars
Next Up: Oregon State Beavers
Previous Pre-Season Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Big 12- Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Syracuse Orange, UConn Huskies, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Purdue Boilermakers
C-USA- Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
Independent- Army Black Knights, Navy Midshipmen, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- BYU Cougars, Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, LSU Tigers, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- FIU Golden Panthers, North Texas Mean Green, Troy Trojans
WAC- Boise State Broncos, Fresno State Bulldogs, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, New Mexico State Aggies
2009 Bowl: Poinsettia Bowl (lost to Utah 37-27)
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Jeff Tedford (67-35 at Cal, 41-27 in Pac-10)
Non-Conference Schedule: UC Davis (9/4), Colorado (9/11), at Nevada (9/17)
2009 Offensive Statistics
Scoring: 29.1 points per game (4th in Pac-10)
Rushing Yards/Game: 169 (3rd in Pac-10)
Passing Yards/Game: 222 (5th in Pac-10)
Total Yards/Game: 392 (4th in Pac-10)
2009 Defensive Statistics
Scoring: 25.5 points per game (7th in Pac-10)
Rushing Yards/Game: 111 (2nd in Pac-10)
Passing Yards/Game: 266 (9th in Pac-10, 111th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 377 (7th in Pac-10)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: +0.31 per game (4th in Pac-10)
Penalties: 49 yards per game (2nd in Pac-10)
Returning Starters
Offense: 8
Defense: 6
Kicker/Punter: 2
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Kevin Riley, Sr (209 of 382 for 2850 yds, 18 TD, 8 INT, 219 ypg)
Rushing: RB Shane Vereen, Jr (183 carries for 952 yds, 12 TD, 5.2 ypc, 73 ypg)
Receiving: WR Marvin Jones, Jr (43 rec, 651 yds, 6 TD, 3.3 rec/game, 15.1 ypc, 50 ypg)
Tackles: LB Mike Mohamed, Sr (111)
Sacks: DE Cameron Jordan, Sr (8)
Interceptions: LB Mike Mohamed, Sr (3)
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #41
Phil Steele: #42
Pre-Snap Read: #35
Sporting News: #62
Sports Illustrated: #20
2010 Pre-Season Pac-10 Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #7
Phil Steele: #3 (tie with Arizona)
Bowl Predictions:
Athlon Sports: Kraft Foods (vs. Fresno State)
Phil Steele: Sun Bowl (vs. FSU)
Cal started out 2009 with 3 straight wins but then got blown out in 2 straight against Oregon and USC. Cal then won 5 of 6 Pac-10 games, including back-to-back wins over ranked teams, before dropping their final two. The Golden Bears have some good talent coming back this year and could make some noise in the Pac-10. We reached out to Scout.com's California website CalSportsDigest.com to find out about the 2010 Golden Bears and Mario Gomez provided us with some answers.
What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of the Golden Bears?
The offensive line is both the strength and weakness. The Bears return four starters that comprise a very good veteran offensive line, but depth is a concern. RT Mitchell Schwartz is one of the best in the Pac-10. Along with RG Justin Cheadle and C Chris Guarnero, the trio started all 13 games in 2009. However, they lose LT Mike Tepper and didn’t sign a capable replacement in February. Talented sophomore LG Matt Summers-Gavin will move to left tackle, but his health is important. He missed five games last season because of injury and the Cal OL suffered without his presence at LG. With Summers-Gavin at LT, inexperienced sophomore Brian Schwenke takes over at LG.
If Summers-Gavin is lost at any point to injury, Schwartz could move to LT and backup Donavon Edwards could play RT, where he started six games in 2008. After Edwards, the experience level drops significantly. Backup junior OT Sam DeMartinis hasn’t played the last two seasons. Sophomore OT Tyler Rigsbee didn’t play last season, and freshman Charles Siddoway is coming off a redshirt year. Bears also lost promising LT prospect Charles Ragland, who plans to transfer to a junior college this season.
With that said, if the unit can stay healthy, specifically Summers-Gavin, it will be a foundation for an improved offense.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test and why?
Colorado is the second game of the season after a “tune-up” against UC Davis. The Buffaloes return 17 starters, and they will be motivated to make a statement in the first quasi Pac-10 game since joining the conference in June.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
Nevada is a scary road game. Cal has played three non-BCS, non-FCS opponents the last five seasons – New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech, and Colorado State. The Bears won all three by an average score of 42-10. However, only New Mexico State was on the road, and none of the three was as talented at the Wolf Pack will be.
Cal may stumble in conference play, but the Pac-10 has established itself as a conference of parity. Outside of losing to Washington State, a loss in conference won’t turn heads. However, a loss Nevada won’t sit well most in Berkeley, considering Cal didn’t have to schedule that game in Reno.
Who is the best player on your team that nobody talks about?
Hard to say no one talks about Shane Vereen, but few talk about him being one of the top running backs in the nation. Vereen doesn’t have Jahvid Best speed, but he is fast in his own right. The Cal offense seemed to move more fluently with Vereen as the primary back last season. He can pound it between the tackles, line up at the slot, and like Best, he is threat to take it the house on any carry.
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
Vereen could be 1,500-2,000 yard back this season with the ability to carry the rock 30-35 times a game if needed. If the offensive line stays healthy, and Vereen stays healthy, Cal should have a successful season.
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
Cameron Jordan is one of best defensive ends in the Pac-10. But his off-and-on play can wear on a fan. One moment he shows talent of an All-American defensive end, the next he looks like a third-team walk-on. Regardless, he is the most talented defensive linemen on the team. With the loss of NFL first round draft pick Tyson Alualu, the load falls on Jordan’s shoulders this season to be a terror off the edge.
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
Kevin Riley’s performance will be the difference between a five-win season and a nine-win season. The surrounding talent can get to .500 without good quarterback play. While the secondary does need key players to step up, no one is as important to the Bears success as Riley.
Looking at his 2009 stat line doesn’t tell the story. He threw for 2,850 yards and 18 touchdowns against just eight interceptions. He completed just 54.7% of his passes. However, in the Bears’ eight wins, he completed 61.7% passes with a 15-4 touchdown to interception ration. In the five losses, he was a paltry 46% and threw only three touchdowns to four interceptions.
He must be consistent and improve his accuracy and decision-making.
Who is the top newcomer that can make an impact this year?
Keenan Allen was the nation’s top safety prospect in the 2010 class. His presence is needed in the secondary, where the Bears had their worst pass defense performance in the Jeff Tedford era last season. But Allen will likely get his first crack on offense. Cal needs at least three of its incoming receivers to play a role in the offense in 2010, including Allen, the Bears have five new wideouts.
Who is your pick for the Pac-10 this year? Is there anybody flying under the radar that you think will surprise people this year in the Pac-10?
With USC on probation and Oregon needing to replace QB Jeremiah Masoli, the Pac-10 looks as open as ever. Nate Costa will get first crack at the Ducks’ open QB job, but I believe Darron Thomas will ultimately win the job. He has the ability to lead the UO to a second straight Pac-10 title. One team to watch is Arizona. If the Wildcats can replace the eight starters lost on defense, the November 26 Oregon-Arizona matchup could be for the Pac-10 title.
Thoughts on Colorado and Utah joining the Pac-10?
While it’s not the same magnitude of adding Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech, it’s still a good move for the conference. With 12 teams, the transition to two separate six-team divisions and a conference championship game are in place. Now, the conference must find a scheduling solution to satisfy all 12 members, especially those in the Northwest that face the possibility of not playing in L.A. every season.
Gut feeling on the team’s final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
As much as I hate to say it, it looks like another eight-win season. To some that may seem successful. Others will see it as a continuation of the mediocrity this team has endured since sharing the Pac-10 title in 2006.
The season will be a success if Cal wins its three non-conference game handily and sweeps the home Pac-10 slate. A road win at Arizona, Oregon State, or USC will be icing on the cake and could put the Bears in contention for the Pac-10 title.
Make sure to check out CalSportsDigest.com and GoldenStatePreps.com for all your California Golden Bears football and recruiting needs. And make sure to browse their message boards.
Previous Pac-10 Previews:
Arizona State Sun Devils
Oregon Ducks
Stanford Cardinal
USC Trojans
Washington Huskies
Washington State Cougars
Next Up: Oregon State Beavers
Previous Pre-Season Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Big 12- Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Syracuse Orange, UConn Huskies, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Purdue Boilermakers
C-USA- Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
Independent- Army Black Knights, Navy Midshipmen, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- BYU Cougars, Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, LSU Tigers, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- FIU Golden Panthers, North Texas Mean Green, Troy Trojans
WAC- Boise State Broncos, Fresno State Bulldogs, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, New Mexico State Aggies
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Pre-Season Preview: Washington State Cougars
2009 Record: 1-11 (0-9 in Pac-10)
2009 Bowl: None
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Paul Wulff (3-22 at Washington State, 1-17 in Pac-10, 56-60 All-Time)
Non-Conference Schedule: at Oklahoma State (9/4), Montana State (9/11), at SMU (9/18)
2009 Offensive Statistics (avoid looking directly at these stats if you are a Cougars fan!)
Scoring: 12.0 points per game (last in Pac-10, 119th in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 70 (last in Pac-10, 118th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game: 176 (last in Pac-10, 100th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 246 (last in Pac-10, 119th in Nation)
2009 Defensive Statistics (avoid looking directly at these stats if you are a Cougars fan!)
Scoring: 38.5 points per game (last in Pac-10, 118th in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 236 (last in Pac-10, 117th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game: 275 (last in Pac-10, 115th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 512 (last in Pac-10, last in Nation)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: -0.58 per game (last in Pac-10, 102nd in Nation)
Penalties: 56 yards per game (5th in Pac-10)
Returning Starters
Offense: 8
Defense: 7
Kicker/Punter: 2
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Jeff Tuel, Soph (71 of 121 for 789 yds, 6 TD, 5 INT, 131 ypg)
Passing: QB Marshall Lobbestael, Jr (67 of 144 for 655, 3 TD, 8 INT, 72 ypg)
Rushing: RB James Montgomery, Sr (37 carries for 167 yds, 1 TD, 4.5 ypc, 33 ypg)
Receiving: WR Jared Karstetter, Jr (38 rec, 520 yds, 6 TD, 3.2 rec/game, 43 ypg)
Tackles: LB Alex Hoffman-Ellis, Jr (84)
Sacks: 4 tied with 2
Interceptions: LB Myron Beck, Jr (2)
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #96
Pre-Snap Read: #110
2010 Pre-Season Pac-10 Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #10
Phil Steele: #10
There is no way to sugar coat it, Washington State was terrible last year. In fact, they were dead last in the Pac-10 in every offensive and defensive team statistic that we look at in our previews. Washington State is among the leaders in the Pac-10 in returning starters, is this a good thing or a bad thing? The Cougars last went to a bowl game in 2003, will this be the year that they start to build toward their next appearance? We turned to the SB Nation Washington State centric blog Coug Center and got the inside scoop from Craig Powers on the 2010 version of the Cougars.
What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of the Cougars?
"Strength" is a word we throw around very loosely for this team. In reality, the Cougs have been bad on defense, awful on offense, and very iffy on special teams (with the exception being our awesome punter and Heisman Candidate Reid Forrest, who gets more than enough chances to display his talents).
Lamenting aside, the strongest group are the linebackers. Guys like Alex Hoffman-Ellis and Louis Bland have above average speed and are able to make big plays. I'm sure if they get a little bit of help from the guys in front of them, we could see a few of the linebackers have real impressive seasons.
The biggest weaknesses lie in the trenches. The offense line cannot keep our quarterbacks upright and rarely open up holes in the running game. In the last two seasons, we've seen our top three quarterbacks be out due to injury at the same time. There has been more than one occasion where the backup punter has finished the game.
On the other side of the ball, the defensive line has been decimated by injuries, and it wasn't that much of a strength to begin with. We were hoping to have a little bit of depth there heading into this season, after signing several JUCO's and returning almost everyone, but that is already looking like wishful thinking. One guy has been declared academically ineligible, another is struggling to qualify, and a third failed a drug test that will keep him off the field until Game 10.
Coug fans are hoping for great improvement from the big boys, but there really is only one way to go from where the level of play was last year.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test?
With the exception of Montana State (we hope), every team is a major test for these guys. The first of those is the opening game in Stillwater, OK. WSU will face a good Oklahoma State squad who is more talented in almost every position on the field. Our hope is that our reputation will precede us, and the Cowboys will come out flat. Two seasons ago, the Cougs hung pretty close (meaning within two touchdowns) for most of the game until some special teams blunders and Dez Bryant put the game away.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
Honestly? Montana State. Why? Because that is the only game on the schedule we are supposed to win and I'm terrified we won't.
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
This depends, but if he is able to come back from injury at full strength, it is running back James Montgomery. He impressed last year with his ability to get yards when there was little space (a MUST with that offensive line) and to make a few plays in the passing game. He is a little bit power, and a little bit elusiveness. Sadly, he suffered a horrific injury last year called Acute Compartment Syndrome after taking a seemingly harmless shot to the leg against SMU. In short, it causes a blood clot in his leg that threatened his life and if surgery had been delayed, he would have assuredly lost his leg. Some muscle had to be removed and that is why we are unsure of how much he will be able to contribute this year.
If Montgomery is out, the best offensive player is probably wideout Jared Karstetter. He is a big body and has enough quickness to create space and make plays, especially in the red zone. He has played a huge hand in WSU's last two wins, catching the game tying touchdown against SMU last year and breaking free for a huge gain against UW two years ago to set up the game-tying field goal (Obviously that sealed his fate as a fan favorite).
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
Chima Nwachukwu is a four-year starter in the defensive backfield. He began as a corner, but has been moved back to safety. The last two years he has been one of the few on the defensive side of the field for the Cougs that could be described as "Pac-10 caliber."
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
The lines. There is some talent in the backfield on both sides of the ball, but that talent isn't worth anything if the guys up front can't hold their own.
Who is the top offensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
Ricky Galvin. A running back in the mold of Jacquizz Rogers at Oregon State. He probably won't see a lot of time from scrimmage his freshman year, but he should be an upgrade in the return game. He is speedy and could break off big runs if given a gap on kickoffs. With WSU's defensive capabilities, Galvin should get many kick return opportunities.
Who is the top defensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
Brandon Rankin. A JUCO defensive lineman. He is probably best fit at the rush end position, but he is going to have to play inside because of the Cougs' lack of size and depth on the line. He is very talented and actually received a late recruiting pitch from Alabama. We are desperately hoping he provides a consistent, effective presence.
Paul Wulff has been on the job for 2 years. He inherited a 5-7 team and has gone 2-11 and 1-11 and is 1-17 in conference play. Is this team close to coming out of the other side of these past two seasons?
It's true, Wulff did inherit a team that had went 5-7 the season before, but it was not the same team. He lost a four-year starter at quarterback and there was a mass exodus of players who didn't like Wulff's style (meaning they didn't like to do "conditioning") or guys that Wulff saw as bad influences on the team. Wulff also was left with the task of putting together a recruiting class that had ZERO commitments when he took the job.
These last two seasons have seen a very young team that was largely decimated by injuries. Wulff really did not have much to work with.
As far as if the team is "close to coming out of the other side," I would say yes. The current coaching staff has done a remarkable job on the recruiting trail and are only now starting to get their players in place. Even following those two awful seasons, Wulff and company already have 11 verbal commitments for the 2011 class. What's left to be seen is how well he implements his system with those guys in place.
What does Wulff need to do better to get this team headed in the right direction?
One thing Coug fans have not seen with Wulff in charge is a game where WSU comes out with a perfect game plan and executes it against a team with superior talent. If the Cougs are going to win games this year, that absolutely has to happen.
What is the general feeling of the fanbase towards Wulff? Do they feel he is the right guy and if he has another 0 or 1 win Pac-10 year is he likely to be on his way out?
It really depends which message board you read and who you ask. Most sensible fans realize that Wulff arrived to a bare cupboard and has been doing all he can to inject some talent into this team. Most think that Wulff probably needs at least another year after this one before we can really judge him. However, if the Cougs finish 1-11 again, there is a strong possibility that he is let go. What really matters is how competitive the team is. These guys have been losing by 5-8 TOUCHDOWNS a game for the last two years. It will take a lot of improvement to get those games close, and that is what we are hoping to see this year.
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
My gut says this team beats Montana State and pulls one more win out of the hat. This season is a success for me if the Cougs do rise up and challenge most teams they face. The last two years, the games have been over by halftime and Coug fans are getting pretty tired of it. If this team shows me they can compete, I will feel good about the future. To be honest, that's pretty sad considering this program was kicking around Texas in the Holiday Bowl as recently as 2003.
Make sure to visit Coug Center this year to follow the progression of Washington State. You can also follow them on twitter @CougCenter. They even have a podcast you can listen to!
Previous Pac-10 Previews:
Arizona State Sun Devils
Oregon Ducks
Stanford Cardinal
USC Trojans
Washington Huskies
Next Up: California Golden Bears
Previous Pre-Season Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Big 12- Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Syracuse Orange, UConn Huskies, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Purdue Boilermakers
C-USA- Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
Independent- Army Black Knights, Navy Midshipmen, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- BYU Cougars, Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, LSU Tigers, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- FIU Golden Panthers, North Texas Mean Green, Troy Trojans
WAC- Boise State Broncos, Fresno State Bulldogs, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, New Mexico State Aggies
2009 Bowl: None
Final 2009 AP Ranking: Not Ranked
Head Coach: Paul Wulff (3-22 at Washington State, 1-17 in Pac-10, 56-60 All-Time)
Non-Conference Schedule: at Oklahoma State (9/4), Montana State (9/11), at SMU (9/18)
2009 Offensive Statistics (avoid looking directly at these stats if you are a Cougars fan!)
Scoring: 12.0 points per game (last in Pac-10, 119th in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 70 (last in Pac-10, 118th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game: 176 (last in Pac-10, 100th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 246 (last in Pac-10, 119th in Nation)
2009 Defensive Statistics (avoid looking directly at these stats if you are a Cougars fan!)
Scoring: 38.5 points per game (last in Pac-10, 118th in Nation)
Rushing Yards/Game: 236 (last in Pac-10, 117th in Nation)
Passing Yards/Game: 275 (last in Pac-10, 115th in Nation)
Total Yards/Game: 512 (last in Pac-10, last in Nation)
2009 Misc Stats
Turnover Margin: -0.58 per game (last in Pac-10, 102nd in Nation)
Penalties: 56 yards per game (5th in Pac-10)
Returning Starters
Offense: 8
Defense: 7
Kicker/Punter: 2
Top Returning Statistical Leaders
Passing: QB Jeff Tuel, Soph (71 of 121 for 789 yds, 6 TD, 5 INT, 131 ypg)
Passing: QB Marshall Lobbestael, Jr (67 of 144 for 655, 3 TD, 8 INT, 72 ypg)
Rushing: RB James Montgomery, Sr (37 carries for 167 yds, 1 TD, 4.5 ypc, 33 ypg)
Receiving: WR Jared Karstetter, Jr (38 rec, 520 yds, 6 TD, 3.2 rec/game, 43 ypg)
Tackles: LB Alex Hoffman-Ellis, Jr (84)
Sacks: 4 tied with 2
Interceptions: LB Myron Beck, Jr (2)
2010 Pre-Season Rankings
Athlon Sports: #96
Pre-Snap Read: #110
2010 Pre-Season Pac-10 Prediction:
Athlon Sports: #10
Phil Steele: #10
There is no way to sugar coat it, Washington State was terrible last year. In fact, they were dead last in the Pac-10 in every offensive and defensive team statistic that we look at in our previews. Washington State is among the leaders in the Pac-10 in returning starters, is this a good thing or a bad thing? The Cougars last went to a bowl game in 2003, will this be the year that they start to build toward their next appearance? We turned to the SB Nation Washington State centric blog Coug Center and got the inside scoop from Craig Powers on the 2010 version of the Cougars.
What are the major strengths and biggest weaknesses of the Cougars?
"Strength" is a word we throw around very loosely for this team. In reality, the Cougs have been bad on defense, awful on offense, and very iffy on special teams (with the exception being our awesome punter and Heisman Candidate Reid Forrest, who gets more than enough chances to display his talents).
Lamenting aside, the strongest group are the linebackers. Guys like Alex Hoffman-Ellis and Louis Bland have above average speed and are able to make big plays. I'm sure if they get a little bit of help from the guys in front of them, we could see a few of the linebackers have real impressive seasons.
The biggest weaknesses lie in the trenches. The offense line cannot keep our quarterbacks upright and rarely open up holes in the running game. In the last two seasons, we've seen our top three quarterbacks be out due to injury at the same time. There has been more than one occasion where the backup punter has finished the game.
On the other side of the ball, the defensive line has been decimated by injuries, and it wasn't that much of a strength to begin with. We were hoping to have a little bit of depth there heading into this season, after signing several JUCO's and returning almost everyone, but that is already looking like wishful thinking. One guy has been declared academically ineligible, another is struggling to qualify, and a third failed a drug test that will keep him off the field until Game 10.
Coug fans are hoping for great improvement from the big boys, but there really is only one way to go from where the level of play was last year.
Looking at the schedule who will be the first major test?
With the exception of Montana State (we hope), every team is a major test for these guys. The first of those is the opening game in Stillwater, OK. WSU will face a good Oklahoma State squad who is more talented in almost every position on the field. Our hope is that our reputation will precede us, and the Cowboys will come out flat. Two seasons ago, the Cougs hung pretty close (meaning within two touchdowns) for most of the game until some special teams blunders and Dez Bryant put the game away.
What team on the schedule do you fear the most?
Honestly? Montana State. Why? Because that is the only game on the schedule we are supposed to win and I'm terrified we won't.
Who is the best offensive player on the team?
This depends, but if he is able to come back from injury at full strength, it is running back James Montgomery. He impressed last year with his ability to get yards when there was little space (a MUST with that offensive line) and to make a few plays in the passing game. He is a little bit power, and a little bit elusiveness. Sadly, he suffered a horrific injury last year called Acute Compartment Syndrome after taking a seemingly harmless shot to the leg against SMU. In short, it causes a blood clot in his leg that threatened his life and if surgery had been delayed, he would have assuredly lost his leg. Some muscle had to be removed and that is why we are unsure of how much he will be able to contribute this year.
If Montgomery is out, the best offensive player is probably wideout Jared Karstetter. He is a big body and has enough quickness to create space and make plays, especially in the red zone. He has played a huge hand in WSU's last two wins, catching the game tying touchdown against SMU last year and breaking free for a huge gain against UW two years ago to set up the game-tying field goal (Obviously that sealed his fate as a fan favorite).
Who is the most impactful defensive player on the team?
Chima Nwachukwu is a four-year starter in the defensive backfield. He began as a corner, but has been moved back to safety. The last two years he has been one of the few on the defensive side of the field for the Cougs that could be described as "Pac-10 caliber."
What player(s) needs to step up this year in order for the team to reach it's full capability?
The lines. There is some talent in the backfield on both sides of the ball, but that talent isn't worth anything if the guys up front can't hold their own.
Who is the top offensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
Ricky Galvin. A running back in the mold of Jacquizz Rogers at Oregon State. He probably won't see a lot of time from scrimmage his freshman year, but he should be an upgrade in the return game. He is speedy and could break off big runs if given a gap on kickoffs. With WSU's defensive capabilities, Galvin should get many kick return opportunities.
Who is the top defensive newcomer that can make an impact this year?
Brandon Rankin. A JUCO defensive lineman. He is probably best fit at the rush end position, but he is going to have to play inside because of the Cougs' lack of size and depth on the line. He is very talented and actually received a late recruiting pitch from Alabama. We are desperately hoping he provides a consistent, effective presence.
Paul Wulff has been on the job for 2 years. He inherited a 5-7 team and has gone 2-11 and 1-11 and is 1-17 in conference play. Is this team close to coming out of the other side of these past two seasons?
It's true, Wulff did inherit a team that had went 5-7 the season before, but it was not the same team. He lost a four-year starter at quarterback and there was a mass exodus of players who didn't like Wulff's style (meaning they didn't like to do "conditioning") or guys that Wulff saw as bad influences on the team. Wulff also was left with the task of putting together a recruiting class that had ZERO commitments when he took the job.
These last two seasons have seen a very young team that was largely decimated by injuries. Wulff really did not have much to work with.
As far as if the team is "close to coming out of the other side," I would say yes. The current coaching staff has done a remarkable job on the recruiting trail and are only now starting to get their players in place. Even following those two awful seasons, Wulff and company already have 11 verbal commitments for the 2011 class. What's left to be seen is how well he implements his system with those guys in place.
What does Wulff need to do better to get this team headed in the right direction?
One thing Coug fans have not seen with Wulff in charge is a game where WSU comes out with a perfect game plan and executes it against a team with superior talent. If the Cougs are going to win games this year, that absolutely has to happen.
What is the general feeling of the fanbase towards Wulff? Do they feel he is the right guy and if he has another 0 or 1 win Pac-10 year is he likely to be on his way out?
It really depends which message board you read and who you ask. Most sensible fans realize that Wulff arrived to a bare cupboard and has been doing all he can to inject some talent into this team. Most think that Wulff probably needs at least another year after this one before we can really judge him. However, if the Cougs finish 1-11 again, there is a strong possibility that he is let go. What really matters is how competitive the team is. These guys have been losing by 5-8 TOUCHDOWNS a game for the last two years. It will take a lot of improvement to get those games close, and that is what we are hoping to see this year.
Gut feeling on the teams final record at the end of the regular season and what makes this a successful season in your eyes?
My gut says this team beats Montana State and pulls one more win out of the hat. This season is a success for me if the Cougs do rise up and challenge most teams they face. The last two years, the games have been over by halftime and Coug fans are getting pretty tired of it. If this team shows me they can compete, I will feel good about the future. To be honest, that's pretty sad considering this program was kicking around Texas in the Holiday Bowl as recently as 2003.
Make sure to visit Coug Center this year to follow the progression of Washington State. You can also follow them on twitter @CougCenter. They even have a podcast you can listen to!
Previous Pac-10 Previews:
Arizona State Sun Devils
Oregon Ducks
Stanford Cardinal
USC Trojans
Washington Huskies
Next Up: California Golden Bears
Previous Pre-Season Previews
ACC- Boston College Eagles, Duke Blue Devils, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Maryland Terrapins, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Big 12- Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Longhorns, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East- Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Syracuse Orange, UConn Huskies, USF Bulls, West Virginia Mountaineers
Big Ten- Illinois Fighting Illini, Michigan Wolverines, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Purdue Boilermakers
C-USA- Houston Cougars, SMU Mustangs, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, Tulane Green Wave, UTEP Miners
Independent- Army Black Knights, Navy Midshipmen, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
MAC- Ball State Cardinals, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Temple Owls, Toledo Rockets
MWC- BYU Cougars, Colorado State Rams, UNLV Rebels, Utah Utes
SEC- Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, LSU Tigers, Mississippi Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, Vanderbilt Commodores
Sun Belt- FIU Golden Panthers, North Texas Mean Green, Troy Trojans
WAC- Boise State Broncos, Fresno State Bulldogs, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, New Mexico State Aggies
South Carolina Pre-camp Notes
South Carolina's preseason can be defined by one word. LATTIMORE. Marcus Lattimore's commitment to USC gives fans what we have been missing for a long time, a substantial running game. While QB Stephen Garcia has shown steady improvement while at South Carolina, having the 91st ranked rushing attack in the NCAA put extra pressure on Garcia to carry the offense. USC FB Patrick DiMarco praised Lattimore's work ethic in coming out and doing everything coaches have asked for. As a fan, I think the addition of Lattimore to a young but experienced team may give us enough to break the glass ceiling of the SEC East. The feeling is that there is a two year window the Gamecocks have to do the unthinkable and make the SEC Championship game. In Spurrier's tenure at Carolina he has brought Carolina to a level of play where USC has a chance to win every game on the schedule. Spurrier is known as a genius in the passing game however his most successful year have come when he had a great running game at his disposal. At this point in time Lattimore is not expected to be the starter, but a lot could change during camp.
With great additions such as Lattimore some fat must be trimmed from the team. Reserve offensive lineman and one of the top recruits of the 2009 class returned home to Asheville, NC choosing his girlfriend over football. Backup QB Zac Brindise joins the list of Quarterbacks fleeing USC. Reid McCollum, and Aramis Hillary both have transfered this offseason. Brindise is expected to transfer to Western Carolina. According to The State newspaper Defensive Lines coach Brad Lawing states that Defensive Tackle Ronald Byrd may be out the door as well. Lawing's quote "He's not doing everything he is supposed to do. We're not going to mess around with that." The future does not look good for the redshirt freshman from LaGrange, GA.
The first three game times have been set. First game is against Southern Miss at home on ESPN Thursday night September 2nd at 7:30. Game two against those nasty Georgia Bulldogs is a noon kick on either ESPN or the Duce. The third game is a home game against the Paladins of Furman University. A 7pm kick and our one PPV game of the year. Going into the Auburn game 3-0 would be a great start however Southern Miss and Georgia are two teams not to be overlooked.
With great additions such as Lattimore some fat must be trimmed from the team. Reserve offensive lineman and one of the top recruits of the 2009 class returned home to Asheville, NC choosing his girlfriend over football. Backup QB Zac Brindise joins the list of Quarterbacks fleeing USC. Reid McCollum, and Aramis Hillary both have transfered this offseason. Brindise is expected to transfer to Western Carolina. According to The State newspaper Defensive Lines coach Brad Lawing states that Defensive Tackle Ronald Byrd may be out the door as well. Lawing's quote "He's not doing everything he is supposed to do. We're not going to mess around with that." The future does not look good for the redshirt freshman from LaGrange, GA.
The first three game times have been set. First game is against Southern Miss at home on ESPN Thursday night September 2nd at 7:30. Game two against those nasty Georgia Bulldogs is a noon kick on either ESPN or the Duce. The third game is a home game against the Paladins of Furman University. A 7pm kick and our one PPV game of the year. Going into the Auburn game 3-0 would be a great start however Southern Miss and Georgia are two teams not to be overlooked.
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