Friday, July 28, 2006

Sacramento Bee: USC big mystery in Pac-10

The Trojans' new look is the conference's top story line.
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES -- The coaches took turns taking the microphone Thursday, talking shop.
And it was pretty much the same drivel as every other football media day session across the country -- heavy on the politically correct, light on any biting comments and plenty of bagels and coffee and "gee, coach, you guys are great this year" to go around. The consensus in the media poll -- not at all contested by the coaches -- is that USC is again the favorite to take top honors in the Pacific-10 Conference, followed by Cal, Oregon and Arizona State. But the vulnerable Trojans won't have a cakewalk to another Pac-10 title, not to mention a fourth consecutive national-title game appearance. With that, a closer look at 10 story lines in the Pac-10 for 2006.

1. How does USC replace Heisman Trophy winners Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart? -- For starters, they recruit better than anyone and hope the unproven talent proves something in a hurry. Still, the Pac-10 no longer seems awed by Troy, with Washington quarterback Isaiah Stanback saying, "There's no one team that will win every game." And Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter: "I don't think many teams in history lost two Heisman winners and (did not) take a step back."

2. Is Cal's Marshawn Lynch the best tailback in the conference? -- Uh, good luck finding a better one. The Bears tailback is a multi-tasking headache for every defensive coordinator on Cal's schedule: fast, brutish, good hands and a good blocker. He's also being hyped as a Heisman hopeful. "We have a responsibility to make sure that's known (Lynch's talent)," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. "He does understand the responsibility that comes with it. But by no means does he put himself on a pedestal."

3. Has Karl Dorrell finally found some measure of peace as the "other team in L.A.?" -- Well, yes. For the first time in his three seasons as UCLA's coach, Dorrell isn't fielding questions about playing in USC's considerable shadow, even though a 10-2 season in 2005 was bloodied a bit when the Trojans dropped a 66-19 shelling on the Bruins. "We've grown, we've matured," said Dorrell, still craving his first win against USC. "I've grown, I've matured."

4. Will Oregon coach Mike Bellotti learn to appreciate the new BCS format? -- Despite great seasons in the past, the Oregon coach has been burned a time or two by a lack of BCS love. He was asked if he found it "interesting" that there will be more BCS bowl teams this year. 'Interesting' is a nice way to put it," the former UC Davis player and coach said. "It's very difficult to be 10-1 (before their bowl loss) and be overlooked by the BCS."

5. Can Arizona State contend with an unsettled passing attack? -- The Sun Devils are blessed to have two proven quarterbacks in Sam Keller and Rudy Carpenter. Keller threw for 2,165 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2005, missing the final five games with a thumb injury. Redshirt freshman Carpenter took over and passed for 2,273 yards, 17 scores -- leading the nation in passing efficiency -- and had a 4-1 record. "It's very delicate," Koetter said of dealing with the dead-heat push in camp. "I care a lot about those two guys. We're going to make one guy very happy and one very sad. Worst thing you can do is beat around the bush and not tell them the truth."

6. Can Stanford's new stadium create a home-field advantage? -- Coach Walt Harris is counting on it. The second-year Cardinal coach went 1-5 at beaten-down old Stanford Stadium last season, including a stunning 20-17 loss to UC Davis. The new 50,000-seat stadium will be ready for the home-opener against Navy on Sept. 16, with some nice perks, including keeping a lot of the old stadium charm with the trees. "I've been to the upper deck, left corner, and there's not a bad seat in the house," Harris said. "And we have a lot of bathrooms and concessions."

7. Is everyone going spread happy or what? -- Last season, Oregon installed a spread offense that helped the Ducks go 10-2. Now Cal is ready to go "spread" on the conference -- as if the Bears haven't been prolific enough. So why do it, Cal? "We don't see it that much in our league," Arizona coach Mike Stoops said. "(Tedford) knows what he's doing. Who's to question? He's got a great offensive mind."

8. Can Washington State return to some sense of glory? -- Yes and maybe. WSU, loaded at 10-2 as recently as 2003, started fast in 2005 with a 3-0 start. Then the seven-game tailspin: heartbreakers to Oregon State (44-33), Stanford (24-21), UCLA (44-41), Cal (42-38), USC (55-13), Arizona State (27-24) and Oregon (34-31). "Not finishing games was as much a mental problem as physical," WSU coach Bill Doba said. "That's something we have to overcome."

9. Will Arizona return to a bowl game? -- Yes, but don't bet your mortgage on it. Two of the first four games are whoppers -- against LSU and USC -- but the defense returns nine starters and Stoops is sinking his bark into the program. Then again, Arizona can't go 3-8 for the third successive year, either. The Wildcats last went bowling in 1998, capping a 12-1 season.

10. OK, just how is USC going to replace Bush and Leinart again? -- By showing the newbies where the ball is. Four heralded freshman tailbacks are eager to handle the load, while veteran Chauncey Washington doesn't want to bow down to youth. At quarterback, John David Booty and Mark Sanchez are vying for Leinart's old job. "It's like it was before," said USC center Ryan Kalil. "We lost (Heisman winner Carson) Palmer, then this lanky kid from Orange County named Leinart came in. I know we have great

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