BringTheBlitz.com | 2007 Pac-10 Preview

2007 Pac-10 Preview

By Eric Hyde
BringTheBlitz.com
08/29/07 at 12:46PM

The Pac-10 appears to have a great season in store. Cal, UCLA, Oregon State, and others are trying to move ahead on the conference pecking order, but will any team pose a threat to the mighty Trojans of Southern Cal? Let’s examine this in the 2007 Pac-10 preview.

5 Burning Pac-10 Questions:

1. Will anyone challenge USC for the conference throne?

The Answer: No.

Analysis: Cal has defensive issues, UCLA has offensive issues, and Oregon, Oregon State (this time), Arizona State, Arizona, and Washington State just aren’t good enough football teams to knock off the Trojans.

2. Is Willie Tuitama going to say healthy this year?

The Answer: Hopefully.

Analysis: You can never predict injuries, but if Tuitama can stay healthy, the Wildcats appear to be primed for a big run. If you haven’t heard by now, Sonny Dykes will be the offensive coordinator controlling an offense which was very anemic last season. They lose some offensive talent like Chris Henry and Syndric Steptoe, but the system just works. The Texas Tech system is productive and will be productive if there is just an ounce of offensive talent. While the Wildcat offense won’t be out-of-this-world, they should be respectable and the defense will do its part. Like I said though, if Tuitama isn’t healthy, Arizona will struggle to be bowling.

3. Of the Northwest teams, which should have the best season?

The Answer: One of the Oregon teams.

Analysis: The Beavers are neck-and-neck with the Ducks in this discussion. The Beavers’ running game will be one of the best in the Pac-10 with Yvenson Bernard. The QB battle hasn’t been decided though and that’s where Oregon gets the edge. Oregon State’s defense will be solid, but losing Sabby Piscatelli hurts. Oregon must improve their 89^th ranked scoring defense. Washington’s schedule is too damning for them to have a bowl season and Washington State lost too much talent to field a great team this year even though they can compete for a bowl slot.

4. How will Dennis Erickson do in his first season at Arizona State?

Answer: Not that well.

Analysis: Say what you want about Erickson’s tactics to leave Idaho, but the guy can coach. He’s been dealt a good hand at Arizona State, but the team has been losing a handful of games each season that they shouldn’t. They have a major hole at CB, Rudy Carpenter played out of his element last year, the defensive line provides a big question mark, add this onto a new coaching staff and there’s a possibility they’ll be on the bowl record-fringe.

5. Is the Pac-10 the best conference in the nation?

Answer: Very, very, very close to it.

Analysis: While, personally, I give the SEC the edge, the Pac-10 is going to be out-of-this-world good. I’m talking about the good level that conferences that aren’t the SEC experience once every 6 or 7 seasons. Just look at it: USC is great and the obvious frontrunner for the national championship, UCLA is loaded on defense, Cal is loaded on offense, Oregon is going to be rock-solid this year, Oregon State won 10 games and they’ll be pretty good as well, Arizona State should be decent, Arizona is a major sleeper, Washington State has some talent waiting in the wings and they should be good enough to get bowling, Washington will look bad on paper because of the OOC schedule when they’re average, and Stanford should be more competitive this year. If this doesn’t compare to the SEC, nothing does.

BTB All-Pac-10 Team:

QB: Nate Longshore (Cal)

RB: Jonathan Stewart (Oregon)

RB: Yvenson Bernard (Oregon State)

WR: DeSean Jackson (Cal)

WR: Sammie Stroughter (Oregon State [if he plays])

TE: Craig Stevens (Cal)

OT: Sam Baker (USC)

OG: Shannon Tevaga (UCLA)

C: Alex Mack (Cal)

OG: Jeremy Perry (Oregon State)

OT: Max Unger (Oregon)

DE: Bruce Davis (UCLA)

DT: Sedrick Ellis (USC)

DT: Michael Marquardt (Arizona State)

DE: Lawrence Jackson (USC)

LB: Rey Maualuga (USC)

LB: Keith Rivers (USC)

LB: Spencer Larsen (Arizona)

CB: Antoine Cason (Arizona)

S: Patrick Chung (Oregon)

S: Taylor Mays (USC)

CB: Trey Brown (UCLA)

K: Alexis Serna (Oregon State)

P: Andrew Larson (Cal)

5 Potential Statement Games (in no particular order):

1. Sept. 8, Oregon @ Michigan

This is a huge game for the Ducks. After they beat Oklahoma on what many thought was a fluky call, what better way to redeem themselves than going in the Big House to take on the vaunted Wolverines of Michigan? They have a great chance to upset Big Blue here because of Dennis Dixon. Scrambling QBs who can hurt you with their arm have always presented issues for Michigan’s defense, so it’ll be interesting to see if Dixon can be contained. The Oregon defense better be ready for a battle and their battle-hardened secondary should be pretty good considering they have Chung roaming around and two experienced sophomore CBs in Jarius Byrd and Walter Thurmond.

2. Dec. 1, Washington @ Hawaii

The Huskies will be desperately searching for about a third win to their ridiculously tough schedule. This might be it. Washington will take advantage of playing on the national stage against a Hawaii team that could be BCS-bound. If they are undefeated, Hawaii will be respected somewhat and they’ll be in the national scope. If the Huskies can shock Hawaii in this game, they can be the spoilers. This would provide some momentum coming into 2008.

3. Sept. 1, Tennessee @ Cal

After Cal got whooped by Tennessee in Knoxville, they will surely be seeking some revenge. California gets the Vols to come to Strawberry Canyon in Berkeley, so it’ll at least be much more interesting than last year’s game. Cal needs to win this one because the national perception, after the Arizona/LSU and Cal/Tennessee drubbings, is that the Pac-10 is a vastly inferior conference. Look for that school of thought to diminish somewhat should Cal win this game.

4. Sept. 1, Arizona @ Brigham Young

Not trying to knock the Mountain West, but many people wouldn’t think of this as a statement game considering the team being talked about is from the Pac-10. It turns out though, since BYU finished the year with two losses, that the Cougars are favored in this game. And BYU is no slouch, there’s a reason why a great deal of people are picking the Cougars. It’ll be a statement not only if they win (because they “should”) but it’ll be an interesting coming out party for the new-look offense. If they can get rolling, expect big things. If they sputter mightily, Arizona might be looking for an Armed Forces Bowl bid.

5. Sept. 1, Washington State @ Wisconsin

Before you write off the Cougars in this one, keep one guy in mind: Alex Brink. Sure, there are a number of people who disapprove with his play, considering he hasn’t really defeated a great deal of teams that are worth something. But that aside, Brink has been quietly putting up some great numbers over the course of his career. He’ll try his stuff against a tough Badger defense but the game will come down to how Washington State can defend P.J. Hill considering the losses up front for Wazzu. Either way, if the Cougs can score some points, they have the potential to make things interesting.

Take These to the Bank (at your own risk!):

1. Arizona is a gigantic sleeper.

The Wildcats have all of the pieces in place; a good QB, solid weapons around him, an offensive system that can fly, and a great defense. Now, they’ll need to go through some uncharted water to get where they want to go, but they’re capable of doing that. Louis Holmes at DE, Spencer Larson at LB, and Antoine Cason at CB should help contribute to the league’s third best defense (not too far behind UCLA’s). But, Tuitama needs to keep healthy or Arizona won’t reach their potential.

2. UCLA will be the popular pick to win the Pac-10 before Arizona derails their season.

Arizona and UCLA are almost mirror images of each other, but Arizona is getting UCLA in the desert. The Bruins will drop their first Pac-10 game in Tucson before disposing Arizona State. They might be looking ahead to the USC game which would decide their BCS hopes before Oregon catches them sleepwalking. USC comes in and beats UCLA rather easily as the Bruins finish 8-4.

3. Washington State will pull off one surprising upset to get to that magical 6-6 mark.

Most people (besides CFN it seems) think Washington State will tank this year and Bill Doba will lose his job. On paper, they don’t look to be that special with 12 returning starters, but they have some talent in the wings and the offense is very talented even with the loss of Jason Hill. Michael Bumpus is a great WR and the aforementioned Alex Brink has the ability to put up some big numbers. The defense will get beat up, but the offense will come up with their fair share of Ws.

4. California will get more respect as the season goes on.

The Golden Bears will be capable of fielding a great team this year but it all hinges on the defense. The Cal D will need to step up in games against UCLA, Oregon, and Arizona State which come on the road. They get 5 guys back, but there’s still a good enough amount of talent where they can be decent, but if they want to get into the BCS, but they must improve off of their 91^st ranked total defense. The offense will be able to score on anybody with Nathan Longshore, Justin Forsett, and DeSean Jackson. There will be a big uproar when Cal, who loses twice in conference play, gets a spot in the BCS whereas Texas, who loses once in conference play, loses the conference title game, and loses to TCU, gets left out.

5. Nobody will touch USC.

Nobody. Nuh-uh, not gonna happen. There’s too much talent across the board but there is one weakness, and that’s John David Booty. Leaders make those last drives against UCLA and Oregon State, Booty didn’t. I don’t think he’s a true leader like Matt Leinart was when he donned the Cardinal and Gold. Even with this said, JD Booty has too much talent around him to fail. The thing is, USC’s defense will carry them into the national title game, not the offense. The offense will do its job, but it won’t be asked to do too much all year long.