It is time to take a look at the Pac 10. After a disappointing season last year, can the Pac 10 return to prominence this year? Let's see what they have to offer:
Arizona: DOWN. This may come as a bit of a suprise for some, because the 'Cats return 7 starters on offense, but they lose TE Gronkowski, and 2 starting linemen, plus depth on the o-line. The defense is a major concern, only returning 4 starters. The LB position is completely up in the air, and the secondary also has issues. A home game against Iowa looms large, as do away games at Stanford and Oregon. This team that depends on their defense will have problems this season.
Arizona State: Down. This team gets racked by graduation, losing 7 starters on both sides of the ball. The offense loses many skilled players, including QB Sullivan, but does return 3 starters on the o-line. The defense takes a huge hit at LB and in the secondary, not good news for a pass happy conference. After last year's disappointment, HC Erickson faces a big rebuilding job this season.
California: Even. By far and away, the most inconsistant team in the Pac 10 returns 8 starters on offense, including inconsistant QB Riley. RB Vereen will fill in nicely for RB Best. The o-line has experience, but the WR corps is thin. The defense returns 6 starters, and should be strong along the line, but the LB position is iffy after Mohamed, and the secondary is a mess. Who knows about this team? Inconsistancy is their trademark.
Oregon: Even: Obviously this would have been an up except for the loss of QB Masoli and other off field issues that have plauged this team during the off season. The o-line returns intact. The RB's will be in goood shape if they can stay out of trouble. The defense loses talent along the line, and in the secondary. The LB's are solid. This team's on and off field problems overshadow their talent. The schedule is not favorable either. Let's see if HC Kelly can control this team.
Oregon State: Up. The offense returns 8 starters, but must replace both QB's. This is critical because a good QB is very important for the Rodgers brothers. The line should be solid. The defense returns 7 starters, but is very thin overall. Depth may be an issue with this team. Still, the Beavers will be a very formidable opponent. They play both TCU and Boise State on the road.
Stanford: Up. Sure they lose RB Gerhart, but QB Luck is going to be a good one, and 6 others return on offense. The o-line will need some rebuilding. The defense gets hit hard up front, losing 2 starters and 3 reserves on the line, and 2 starters at LB. The secondary should be in good shape. Back to Back away games at Notre Dame and at Oregon, followed by a home game against USC should tell the tale about this team in 2010.
UCLA: Up. But only if they can remain healthy. The offense returns 8 starters, but loses depth at the WR position and at the TE position. The o-line should be improved. QB Price has to play an entire season. The defense takes a major hit on the line, losing 3 starters and some depth. The secondary loses CB Verner, but should be rather solid, as will the LB Corps. The schedule is tough, with trips to K-State and Texas, and a home game against Houston, plus trips to Oregon, Cal, and Washington. It will be interesting.
USC: Even. Another very difficult team to figure. QB Barkley leads 5 "starters" back, but USC has so many RB's that the number could be 6. The WR position looks solid. The o-line will need some rebuilding. The defense, which was a major disappointment last season, returns 6 starters, but has good depth except in the secondary, where the Safety position will have to be rebuilt. With 13 games (7 away) and an new coaching staff, USC will be interesting to watch this season.
Washington: Up. The return of QB Locker and 9 other starters on offense makes the Huskies automatic contenders in the Pac 10. The defense returns 7 starters, but has plenty of depth. The schedule features a visit by Nebraska, and trips to BYU, USC, Oregon and Cal will tell us more about this team. The Huskies will be as good as their returning talent is. The Coaching Staff is very good.
Washington State: Up. But only because they simply can not go further down. The offense needs a new QB, but returns 8 starters. 8 starters also return on a pourous defense, that will have to show improvment. The non-con schedule takes them to Okie State and SMU. Still, with any improvment at all, the Paloose does have an outside chance to equal their total number of victories in the past two years, which is only 3.
Overall, expect another wild Pac 10 season. A lot of talent returns to a lot of teams, and only the Arizona schools look to be a bit down. This conference can dominate, or they can beat each other up and take another dump on the bowl season. It is very hard to say at this point in time, but the Pac 10 looks to be on recovery mode after a disappointing 2009.
Arizona: DOWN. This may come as a bit of a suprise for some, because the 'Cats return 7 starters on offense, but they lose TE Gronkowski, and 2 starting linemen, plus depth on the o-line. The defense is a major concern, only returning 4 starters. The LB position is completely up in the air, and the secondary also has issues. A home game against Iowa looms large, as do away games at Stanford and Oregon. This team that depends on their defense will have problems this season.
Arizona State: Down. This team gets racked by graduation, losing 7 starters on both sides of the ball. The offense loses many skilled players, including QB Sullivan, but does return 3 starters on the o-line. The defense takes a huge hit at LB and in the secondary, not good news for a pass happy conference. After last year's disappointment, HC Erickson faces a big rebuilding job this season.
California: Even. By far and away, the most inconsistant team in the Pac 10 returns 8 starters on offense, including inconsistant QB Riley. RB Vereen will fill in nicely for RB Best. The o-line has experience, but the WR corps is thin. The defense returns 6 starters, and should be strong along the line, but the LB position is iffy after Mohamed, and the secondary is a mess. Who knows about this team? Inconsistancy is their trademark.
Oregon: Even: Obviously this would have been an up except for the loss of QB Masoli and other off field issues that have plauged this team during the off season. The o-line returns intact. The RB's will be in goood shape if they can stay out of trouble. The defense loses talent along the line, and in the secondary. The LB's are solid. This team's on and off field problems overshadow their talent. The schedule is not favorable either. Let's see if HC Kelly can control this team.
Oregon State: Up. The offense returns 8 starters, but must replace both QB's. This is critical because a good QB is very important for the Rodgers brothers. The line should be solid. The defense returns 7 starters, but is very thin overall. Depth may be an issue with this team. Still, the Beavers will be a very formidable opponent. They play both TCU and Boise State on the road.
Stanford: Up. Sure they lose RB Gerhart, but QB Luck is going to be a good one, and 6 others return on offense. The o-line will need some rebuilding. The defense gets hit hard up front, losing 2 starters and 3 reserves on the line, and 2 starters at LB. The secondary should be in good shape. Back to Back away games at Notre Dame and at Oregon, followed by a home game against USC should tell the tale about this team in 2010.
UCLA: Up. But only if they can remain healthy. The offense returns 8 starters, but loses depth at the WR position and at the TE position. The o-line should be improved. QB Price has to play an entire season. The defense takes a major hit on the line, losing 3 starters and some depth. The secondary loses CB Verner, but should be rather solid, as will the LB Corps. The schedule is tough, with trips to K-State and Texas, and a home game against Houston, plus trips to Oregon, Cal, and Washington. It will be interesting.
USC: Even. Another very difficult team to figure. QB Barkley leads 5 "starters" back, but USC has so many RB's that the number could be 6. The WR position looks solid. The o-line will need some rebuilding. The defense, which was a major disappointment last season, returns 6 starters, but has good depth except in the secondary, where the Safety position will have to be rebuilt. With 13 games (7 away) and an new coaching staff, USC will be interesting to watch this season.
Washington: Up. The return of QB Locker and 9 other starters on offense makes the Huskies automatic contenders in the Pac 10. The defense returns 7 starters, but has plenty of depth. The schedule features a visit by Nebraska, and trips to BYU, USC, Oregon and Cal will tell us more about this team. The Huskies will be as good as their returning talent is. The Coaching Staff is very good.
Washington State: Up. But only because they simply can not go further down. The offense needs a new QB, but returns 8 starters. 8 starters also return on a pourous defense, that will have to show improvment. The non-con schedule takes them to Okie State and SMU. Still, with any improvment at all, the Paloose does have an outside chance to equal their total number of victories in the past two years, which is only 3.
Overall, expect another wild Pac 10 season. A lot of talent returns to a lot of teams, and only the Arizona schools look to be a bit down. This conference can dominate, or they can beat each other up and take another dump on the bowl season. It is very hard to say at this point in time, but the Pac 10 looks to be on recovery mode after a disappointing 2009.
. Are you going to be posting your week 1 plays as the season gets closer?
