Review of Pre-Season Pac-10

Spring Preview 2005 ... Pac 10

The Pac 10's top storylines

 

1. The rebounding Pac 10

2004 wasn't exactly the Pac 10's banner season even with USC winning the national title. Arizona State had a fantastic year that largely went unnoticed, while Cal was everyone's darling before getting pantsed by Texas Tech. The Trojans, Sun Devils and Bears were the shining teams in a lousy year. From Oregon State's loss at Boise State, to the stunning collapse of a proud Washington program to Oregon's turnover fest against Indiana to UCLA's Las Vegas Bowl gaffe to Wyoming to Washington State missing out on a bowl to Stanford and Arizona's struggles, things weren't pretty. But this should be a tremendous bounce back season for the conference with everyone outside of Cal returning most of their starters. It doesn't hurt that the league will also be the subject of weekly scrutiny with the nation's number one team facing several tough games.

 

 

2. USC's run at immortality

With offensive coordinator Norm Chow gone along with several other assistant coaches, USC will have to make its run at a third straight national title (or second straight championship for some) while breaking in some important new faces. On talent, no one in America can touch USC led by Mr. First-pick-in-the-draft-can-wait at quarterback along with the nation's best backfield. The offensive line and receiving corps will also make runs at best in the country honors. However, sure-thing dynasties usually have a way of falling short (don't forget that best-of-all-time tag attached to the 2002 Miami Hurricanes) and USC has some mega-landmines to deal with going on the road to face Oregon, Arizona State, Notre Dame and Cal. Even so, the only team that can beat USC is USC (all apologies for the tired cliché) so if this is a relaxed spring, it might open the door for future problems.

 

3. Can Arizona State handle the pressure?

Arizona State was everyone's hot sleeper of preseason 2003 with a good young quarterback in Andrew Walter and enough talent on both sides of the ball to make a serious run at the Pac 10 title. One early three game losing streak later with losses to Iowa, Oregon State and USC by a combined score of 103-36 and ASU was on its way to a 5-7 season. The 2005 Sun Devils have the potential to be one of the best teams in school history coming off a fantastic 9-3 year with an exciting group of veterans coming back. If ASU can beat LSU at LSU on September 10th, the Gameday crew can make their October 1st plans for Tempe when USC comes to town. However, the team will have to deal with the preseason hype and QB Sam Keller has to show this spring that the end of last year wasn't a fluke.

 

4. Trying to reload in Berkeley

Cal star quarterback Aaron Rodgers might have left, but Cal was able to keep head coach Jeff Tedford from entertaining any thoughts of leaving for one of this year's big openings. His presence, and a squishy soft opening schedule, should be enough to overcome some massive personnel losses on both sides of the ball. Last season didn't exactly end on a high note as the Cal crash many had been waiting for came against Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl. Now the Bears have to replace the defensive front seven, RB J.J. Arrington, the top receivers, and Rodgers. This spring might be too early to figure out who gets the keys to operate the high octane offense, but it'll still be worth watching to see if the team can reload right away. Later this off-season, top JUCO QB recruit Joseph Ayoob will be good enough to make a run for the starting job while receiver recruits DeSean Jackson and Lavelle Hawkins will be names to remember.  Marshawn Lynch will be the Pac 10's best home run hitting running back this side of Reggie Bush. It all should add up to a good season, but this spring will be important to develop starters as well as depth.

 

 

5. The tight ends

This won't be a fun year to try to give out All-Pac 10 honors at tight end. Actually, the league could sweep all the All-America tight end spots and be an in-league battle for the Mackey Award. USC's Dominique Byrd returned after missing the first four games of last year with a broken kneecap to become a top target for Matt Leinart. His diving touchdown catch was one of the highlights of the Orange Bowl. UCLA got a big dose of good news when Marcedes Lewis decided to return for his senior league after catching 32 passes for 402 yards and seven touchdowns. Oregon State's Joe Newton and Oregon's Tim Day should each hover around the double-digit touchdown mark. Even with all the great talent throughout the league, the star of the show should be Arizona State's Todd Heap-clone Zach Miller who finished with 56 catches for 552 yards and six touchdowns as a true freshman.

 

6. Meet the new boss

Ty Willingham and Walt Harris are big name, big time coaches looking to turnaround their careers and the fortunes of two Pac 10 teams that have seen better days. Washington was one of college football's premier programs and wasn't that far removed from the Rose Bowl winning days before everything went south last season. Willingham has a tough task ahead and won't be able to turn things around right away, but Washington is a sleeping giant with the resources and expectations to be a power. Harris has a tougher job at Stanford looking to succeed at the league's most limited program thanks to academic restrictions. If nothing else, these two newcomers will bring even more attention to the Pac 10.

 

7. Desert Swarm II

The Pac 10 fired out a collective "aw crap" when Mike Stoops was hired at Arizona two years ago as it meant a new age of swarming defense down in Tucson. Stoops and his staff have been top notch recruiters from the word go and even better at working with the talent they already have. While the Wildcats are still at least a year away from becoming a major Pac 10 player, the defense has the makings of something special led by a bright secondary. Antoine Cason was one of the league's best all-around corners as a true freshman while safeties Darrell Brooks and Lamon Means were solid hitters combining with Cason to make 206 tackles with 20 broken up passes. Brooks led the team in tackles, Cason was second and Means third. The Stoops defense was way too young last year, but several players got enough playing time to expect a big 2005.