Final Thoughts on the PAC-10

Final Thoughts on the PAC-10

NCAA analyst Brock Murphy gives some final thoughts on the stories around the PAC-10 following spring practice. Read on to find out which teams in the conference have the most questions that will need to be answered come August.

ARIZONA: Former fullback Earl Mitchell was placed on the defensive line as an undersized tackle (6-2, 265) but he is extremely aggressive, has great quickness and often blew-up the offense this spring. Redshirt freshman Brooks Reed is a little undersized on the edge but he had a good spring and could make things tough on opposing quarterbacks next year.

The biggest defensive question facing the Wildcats this offseason is who will replace all-american cornerback Antoine Cason and his partner Wilrey Fontenot. Both were taken in this year's NFL draft with Cason taken as the 27th-pick, overall.  Devin Ross is a likely starter at one cornerback spot. Marquis Hundley and Mike Turner will battle for the other spot this offseason and may find a challenge from true freshman Robert Golden once fall camp starts up. 

Willie Tuitama looks to start at quarterback for the third consecutive season.  In year two of former-Texas Tech offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes' offense, Tuitama should continue to mature (he threw for 3,683 yards and 28 scores last season). After throwing for 236 yards in the spring game, Tuitama discussed his excitement at an expected addition of more vertical routes into the passing attack this offseason.

The cost of a wide-open passing attack (which, by the way, produced 308.5 yards per game in its inaugural presentation - good for 10th in the nation last year), is often an anemic passing attack. That was certainly the case in Tuscon last year as only five teams ran for fewer yards per game than the 77 the Wildcats managed to produce each outing.

Last year, as a freshman, Nicolas Grigsby used his small (5-10, 178) but speedy frame to lead the 'Cats in rushing.  Despite missing two games and getting nine or fewer carries three other times, he still posted 704 yards. But he often bounced carries outside and appeared hesitant to bang for tough real estate between the tackles. Consequently, he turned only two of his 161 carries into touchdowns. Given his size, there is only so much power that he can generate.  Still, the staff has pounded into Grigsby's head that there are opportunities to be had inside (and, likely, how avoiding the inside game makes he and the team predictable).

Only three starters return defensively for Arizona - both safeties and linebacker Ronnie Palmer (6-3, 239). Clearly, the defense was, and remains, a work-in-progress at this point but Palmer, who is already 22, has clearly embraced his role as a unit-leader. It is likely that he will be bracketed by junior newcomers Vuna Tuihalamaka (6-2, 240) at the strongside position and Xavier Kelley (5-11, 215) on the weakside. However, senior Adrian McCoy is fighting to start in place of Tuihalamaka while Sterling Lewis will battle with Kelley into the fall.

Not a single start from last year's defensive line returns.

OREGON:  Last year's "Thunder and Lightning" attack consisted of the powerful Jonathan Stewart and the speedy Jeremiah Johnson.  Stewart, however, is gone (Hello, Carolina Panthers!). In his place, the Ducks recruited JUCO sensation LaGarrette Blount (who originally signed with Auburn before becoming an academic casualty and whose affinity for the Ducks' outlandish uniforms was part of the reason he headed west to land in Eugene) and Blount has certainly not disappointed the Duck faithful this spring. 

Few practices passed without Blount (6-2, 229; Jr.) producing a mind-boggling run. The staff professed they were not so surprised at his power game but did not expect his ability to move and shake in tight quarters. Blount hammered out 68 yards on only five carries in the spring game, including two impressive jaunts for 34 and 22 yards, respectively, in the first half.

Blount's development means that a "thunder and lightning" change up can be thrown at opposing defenses again in 2008 since Jeremiah Johnson, whose 2007 season ended in October with an ACL injury, should be healthy and ready to go again this fall. If he is able to heal to even an approximation of his pre-injury condition, Johnson's speed will be a great asset and his presence will provide comfortable depth.

So, Jonathan Stewart's vacancy may be no cause for panic. Unfortunately, though, little was shown this spring to lead the Oregon faithful to conclude that the mammoth crater left by quarterback Dennis Dixon's graduation (the Steelers picked up Dixon in the 7th-round in April - "Slash #2" in the making?) can be substantially filled in 2008.

Fortunately, for the Ducks, their offensive coordinator is their biggest asset as they adjust to life without Dixon. Chip Kelly took an offensive system that he used to produce obscene passing numbers in New Hampshire and adeptly molded it to maximize the ground skills of both Stewart and Dixon last season. Kelly preaches for his signal callers and skill guys to identify what the defense is giving them with their formation and personnel and, at a minimum, get the offense into the right form of attack (i.e., run or pass). 

The quarterback candidates, Cody Kempt and Justin Roper, will not be mistaken for the second-coming of Dixon. However, they have showed very competent flashes.  Roper, a six-foot-six inch tall redshirt freshman, started 2007 on the scout team and was, effectively, fifth on the depth chart late in the season. However, injuries to Dixon, Brady Leaf, Nick Costa and, finally, Kempt (who was injured in the regular season finale against Oregon State) left Roper holding the bag for the Ducks' Sun Bowl match-up with South Florida. All Roper did was ride Stewart's 256-rushing yards to a comfort zone through which Roper finished 17 of 30 for 180 and an amazing FOUR touchdown tosses. Oregon cruised to a 56-21 romp and Roper never threw a pick.

An 11th-hour wild card was added to the mix at the beginning of May when JUCO-transfer Jeremiah Masoli (6-0, 205; 4.6-40) committed to the Ducks for the upcoming season. Masoli threw for over 3000 yards and 26 scores last season for the City College of San Francisco while adding 368 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.

Easing the burden of whoever takes over at quarterback is the fact that the teams' top two receivers from last year - big bodied wideout Jaison Williams (6-5, 243; Sr.) and tight end Ed Dickson (6-5, 230; So.) - are back. They combined for 98 catches, 11 touchdowns and 1,297 receiving yards in 2007 and both looked solid throughout the spring.

OREGON STATE:  College football fans tend to forget that there is a living, breathing human beneath the plastic suit of armor and beloved school colors worn by their team's football players. However, the human factor was apparent at OSU last year, as the Beaver fans and players absorbed the emotional trauma felt by one of their most talented players last year.

As a junior in 2006, receiver Sammy Stroughter (6-0, 190) collected 74 catches, five touchdowns and 1,293 yards for the Beavers. Much was expected of Stroughter as he entered his senior campaign last year. However, in quick succession, Stroughter had to deal with skyrocketing success followed by the loss of two uncles who, effectively combined to serve as his father growing up, and the passing of the coach who recruited him to Beaverton (Jim Gilstrap). The once upbeat team-leader slid so far into a depressive funk that he was barely conversant and he missed much of the preseason camp. Ultimately, Stroughter played in only two games (Idaho State and Arizona State) before suffering a season-ending kidney laceration in week four which, looking back, he refered to as "destiny" because it opened the door to a rare sixth season (the NCAA has granted him a medical redshirt). 

Stroughter's final numbers for 2007?  Fifteen catches for 262 yards and two scores. He did however manage 100-yard efforts in the two games in which he played (9-160, 2 TD's vs. Idaho St.; 6-102, 0 TD's vs. Arizona State). 

This time last year, two players (Lyle Moevao [5-11, 226] and Sean Canfield [6-4, 218]) battled for quarterback duties. They both return this season but a shoulder injury to Canfield increased Moevao's snaps this spring. Moevao is a clear team leader but many wonder whether Canfield's superior arm will assure him of plenty of snaps next season. Justin Engstrom (6-5, 204; RFr) went 10 for 15 for 108 yards in the spring game and could be a wild card option as 2008 progresses.

One of the Beavers' superior players last season was kicker, Alexis Serna. But, he graduated and an honest question was whether the team could recover from his loss. Walk-on kicker Justin Kahut may fill more of the hole than most folks expected. He nailed a 55-yard field goal in the spring game.

Defensive end Victor Butler posted 10.5 sacks last season and had a fantastic spring game. The staff is confident that they may have six or more players in the line's rotation this year, which could anchor another solid defensive performance in 2008. "Another," you ask? Yes. Few outside Corvallis are aware the Beavers led the nation last year in rush defense, allowing a scant 70 yards per game on the ground.

UCLA:  Former Bruin quarterback Rick Neuheisel has the reigns to his alma mater but, as was the case with UCLA's signal-callers last year, injuries have frustrated offensive plans this summer. Ben Olson and Patrick Cowan have competed not only to see who can lead the offense but also who can record the worse injury. Both entered spring healthy and both had to be carted off the field due to injury on April 25th. Cowan injured his left knee while Olson broke a bone in his right foot.  With all the uncertainty at quarterback, the potential bomb of former-USC offensive coordinator, Norm Chow, returning to Los Angeles to lead the offense of the rival-Bruins, may just fizzle.

Senior Kahlil Bell was the leading rusher last year but a torn ACL in his right knee spoiled his season and robbed him of the benefit of spring snaps. 

Worse news for UCLA fans is that the offensive line is far behind its defensive counterpart in both talent and depth. The entire interior will be staffed with newcomers either to the first team or to their position. Turnover at the line coaching position has not helped things - some linemen have literally had four different coaches at this point in their UCLA career. It is relevant to point out that, shortly before his injury this spring, the line allowed so much pressure on Cowan that he managed to go only three of eight in a late-spring scrimmage.

Granted, some of Cowan's nightmare was due to what should be an outstanding defensive line next year. Depth galore exists at the tackle positions (starters Brigham Harwell and Brian Price had very good springs as did Jerzy Siewierski) but there is also deep talent on the edges. The Bruins should control the line of scrimmage more often than not next season, which helps win ball games. 

Reggie Carter is undersized for a middle linebacker (6-1, 218) but has good range and saw plenty of action on the outside in the past. The deep and talented line should keep him free to collect a slew of tackles in 2008.

The primary defensive concern is a lack of depth in the backfield. Alterraun Verner had a great spring at corner but there were only two other healthy cornerbacks on the roster. Freshman talent arrives in the fall but a freshman is a freshman and Pac-10 offenses will surely have their share of lessons to teach any such youngster who sees the field next year.

WASHINGTON: True Freshman Chris Polk (5-11, 190; Rivals.com's #4 All-purpose back) graduated early from high school to join his new Huskie teammates this spring and the early snaps could pay dividends to UW this fall. Polk's versatility means he could take snaps in 2008 as either a running back or a slot receiver. His presence in a huddle, may then, confound defensive coordinators' personnel calls just like Percy Harvin has been doing in Florida and like Reggie Bush did a couple of years ago at Southern Cal.

Few fans outside of the Pac-10 realize that the Huskies quarterback last year was a gritty dual-threat freshman. A helmet-to-helmet hit against Oregon State left him with a stinger that caused him to miss the better part of two games. Yet, even with those missed games, Locker finished 2007 with over 2,000 passing yards  (2,062; 14 TD's) and only a hair under 1,000 rushing yards (986; 13 TD's).

Before spring ball, Locker worked hard to improve his passing fundamentals (throwing routes as often as four times a week), including his touch on short tosses. He declared feeling very comfortable entering his second season as UW's starter and was 13 of 17 (at least two incompletions were dropped balls) in the spring game for 159 yards and one touchdown. He also proved that his legs remain a threat as he picked up a few first downs on crafty scrambles.

Given Locker's proven versatility and Polk's potentially versatile threat, defenses could be very much on their heels in 2008. The material is there to make the offensive punch on any given play truly unpredictable. 

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