Pac-12: Ed Orgeron
Happy Friday.
This is where you follow me on Twitter.
To the notes.
Dave from Birmingham writes: Not sure I get you. Why would you not want the four best teams to play in a playoff? That's what a playoff is about. I know there's a subjective part to this but that's inevitable. Is everyone that afraid of a consensus favoring the SEC because the SEC is the best conference?
Ted Miller: In a word, yes. And no matter how you frame it, that so-called consensus remains subjective. And I know this from experience.
In 1996, I worked at the Mobile Register and I was arguing with Mike Griffith, who then covered Alabama for the Register and voted in the AP poll. Now, everybody argues with Mike, but I thought he was being particularly obtuse this particular afternoon because he was touting Arizona State. I was blathering that Arizona State would have four losses if it played in the SEC.
Yes, I once was one of them. Why? Because that was the way I was raised. Football in the south, as writer Rick Bragg once ostentatiously pandered, is like a "knife fight in a ditch"! That's a bunch of silliness, but such sentiments nonetheless are inculcated into fans and they seep into the media coverage -- in the Southeast as well as other parts of the country where fetishizing the peculiarity of the South is embraced. So I understand the roots of the "just because" reaction of so many SEC fans. And I experienced its power as a sportswriter.
When I moved out to Seattle to cover Washington, I still had a "just because" feeling about West Coast vs. Southeast football. When Miami came to Husky Stadium in 2000, I thought the Hurricanes would blast the Huskies. Ergo, my initial transformative moment was watching Washington physically manhandle the Hurricanes. Don't be fooled by the final score: The Huskies owned Miami that day.
My point: Regional biases are strong and they cloud thinking, even when they feel rational. That's why there needs to be a safeguard in our new four-team playoff system for some degree of objectivity, which prioritizing conference champions provides.
I know any questions about SEC super-awesomeness make SEC folks angry. I know: Six crystal footballs. No one is doubting the SEC's ability to dominate the BCS system. And I have no doubt that dominance of a subjective system -- a beauty contest, really -- has helped push the SEC closer to something that can be judged as a more objective superiority (read: self-fulfilling prophecy).
But if we're going to have a national college football playoff, we need to create a selection process that doesn't leave open the possibility of a tag always going to a runner from a certain conference, just because.
Edward from Atlanta writes: Do you think USC coach Lane Kiffin and his staff are better at recruiting than Pete Carroll and his staff? I look at the fact that Lane Kiffin is only working with 15 scholarships and he is still bringing in top recruits after everything that has taking placed. Just imagine if he did had all his scholarships he would probably have a top 3 or top 5 recruiting class every year.
Ted Miller: No.
Kiffin and his staff are recruiting very well, but they can't do much better than Pete Carroll and his staff did from 2002-2009. You say top-three to -five each year? Carroll landed the No. 1 class multiple times. Any rare rating outside the top five was deemed an off-year. Carroll's recruiting run rates among the best run a program has produced -- think Bobby Bowden in the glory years at Florida State.
It's also worth noting that Carroll and Kiffin share two ace recruiters: Kiffin and Ed Orgeron.
Jeff from Tempe, Ariz., writes: Who do you think is going to be the starting quarterback for ASU to begin the season?
Ted Miller: That's a tough one. When I watched practice, I thought Mike Bercovici was so much better as a passer that he should be the guy. But then you have to realize that new coach Todd Graham wants to run some spread option, and that requires the quarterback to be a running threat. Bercovici is no running threat, while 6-foot-5, 242-pound Michael Eubank is. And Eubank has potential as a passer, though at present he's raw.
The easy answer is start Bercovici but use some packages with Eubank. But that's sort of a fan answer. Most coaches don't like playing two quarterbacks. They'll tell you if you play two, it means you don't have any. And QBs are not big fans of sharing the job.
I used to be a Bercovici lean, but now I'm leaning toward Eubank. Here's why: This team is much better at running back than at receiver. Even with Bercovici's live arm, this probably is going to be a run-first offense, and it makes things much more difficult for a defense if it must account for the QB as a runner. Eubank can become at least an adequate passer. Bercovici is unlikely to do the same as a runner.
Mark from Garden Grove, Calif., writes: If you could play matchmaker, which Big Ten/Pac-12 schools would you pair for the 2017 season -- and why?
Ted Miller: OK, I'll bite, basing things on where the college football world is today.
Rapsai from Eugene, Ore., writes: Ted, with Oregon's lack of depth at RB, do you see Josh Huff maybe sliding into the backfield to play some RB for the Ducks next season?
Ted Miller: A perfectly reasonable solution if there are injury issues in the backfield.
Does it make me a bad person that I don't think the Ducks are going to hurting at running back? I just think with Chip Kelly's emphasis on speed in recruiting that the Ducks will pretty much have an answer at RB, no matter how many guys get hurt. Recall that Kenjon Barner started out as a defensive back.
John from Los Angeles writes: I guess this falls into my "you know your old when you have a story for everything" file. In reading the post about Jonathan Ogden going into the HOF, I noticed your comment on his massive size. My buddies and I take a football road trip every year. We used to include the Baltimore Ravens in the trip because Will Demps (former Ravens safety) played at the high school where my buddy is the AD and he would get us tickets. Anyway, after a game against the Bengals at Cincinnati we are standing next to the Ravens team bus talking to Demps, Ogden and his people come up next to us - and he literally blocks out the sun!! You truly cannot appreciate how BIG the guy is until you stand right next to him. My buddy is wearing his USC cap (he is a big fan), so to amuse myself I keep whispering "Jack, show Ogden your hat." My friend kept his back to Ogden the entire time.
Ted Miller: I remember covering the 1996 Citrus Bowl between Ohio State and Tennessee -- which was cool because both were ranked No. 4 entering the game -- and walking up to the Ohio State bus. I saw No. 75 horsing around around this itty-bitty guy with a bald head who was No. 27.
The itty bitty guy was 6-foot-3, 240-pound, Heisman Trophy-winning running back Eddie George, and No. 75 was 6-foot-7, 325-pound Orlando Pace, who at that moment was the biggest dude I'd ever seen.
And Ogden -- at 6-foot-9, 345 -- darn near dwarfs Pace.
Only guy who ever impressed me as more spectacularly large was Shaquille O'Neal.
This is where you follow me on Twitter.
To the notes.
Dave from Birmingham writes: Not sure I get you. Why would you not want the four best teams to play in a playoff? That's what a playoff is about. I know there's a subjective part to this but that's inevitable. Is everyone that afraid of a consensus favoring the SEC because the SEC is the best conference?
Ted Miller: In a word, yes. And no matter how you frame it, that so-called consensus remains subjective. And I know this from experience.
In 1996, I worked at the Mobile Register and I was arguing with Mike Griffith, who then covered Alabama for the Register and voted in the AP poll. Now, everybody argues with Mike, but I thought he was being particularly obtuse this particular afternoon because he was touting Arizona State. I was blathering that Arizona State would have four losses if it played in the SEC.
Yes, I once was one of them. Why? Because that was the way I was raised. Football in the south, as writer Rick Bragg once ostentatiously pandered, is like a "knife fight in a ditch"! That's a bunch of silliness, but such sentiments nonetheless are inculcated into fans and they seep into the media coverage -- in the Southeast as well as other parts of the country where fetishizing the peculiarity of the South is embraced. So I understand the roots of the "just because" reaction of so many SEC fans. And I experienced its power as a sportswriter.
When I moved out to Seattle to cover Washington, I still had a "just because" feeling about West Coast vs. Southeast football. When Miami came to Husky Stadium in 2000, I thought the Hurricanes would blast the Huskies. Ergo, my initial transformative moment was watching Washington physically manhandle the Hurricanes. Don't be fooled by the final score: The Huskies owned Miami that day.
My point: Regional biases are strong and they cloud thinking, even when they feel rational. That's why there needs to be a safeguard in our new four-team playoff system for some degree of objectivity, which prioritizing conference champions provides.
I know any questions about SEC super-awesomeness make SEC folks angry. I know: Six crystal footballs. No one is doubting the SEC's ability to dominate the BCS system. And I have no doubt that dominance of a subjective system -- a beauty contest, really -- has helped push the SEC closer to something that can be judged as a more objective superiority (read: self-fulfilling prophecy).
But if we're going to have a national college football playoff, we need to create a selection process that doesn't leave open the possibility of a tag always going to a runner from a certain conference, just because.
Edward from Atlanta writes: Do you think USC coach Lane Kiffin and his staff are better at recruiting than Pete Carroll and his staff? I look at the fact that Lane Kiffin is only working with 15 scholarships and he is still bringing in top recruits after everything that has taking placed. Just imagine if he did had all his scholarships he would probably have a top 3 or top 5 recruiting class every year.
Ted Miller: No.
Kiffin and his staff are recruiting very well, but they can't do much better than Pete Carroll and his staff did from 2002-2009. You say top-three to -five each year? Carroll landed the No. 1 class multiple times. Any rare rating outside the top five was deemed an off-year. Carroll's recruiting run rates among the best run a program has produced -- think Bobby Bowden in the glory years at Florida State.
It's also worth noting that Carroll and Kiffin share two ace recruiters: Kiffin and Ed Orgeron.
Jeff from Tempe, Ariz., writes: Who do you think is going to be the starting quarterback for ASU to begin the season?
Ted Miller: That's a tough one. When I watched practice, I thought Mike Bercovici was so much better as a passer that he should be the guy. But then you have to realize that new coach Todd Graham wants to run some spread option, and that requires the quarterback to be a running threat. Bercovici is no running threat, while 6-foot-5, 242-pound Michael Eubank is. And Eubank has potential as a passer, though at present he's raw.
The easy answer is start Bercovici but use some packages with Eubank. But that's sort of a fan answer. Most coaches don't like playing two quarterbacks. They'll tell you if you play two, it means you don't have any. And QBs are not big fans of sharing the job.
I used to be a Bercovici lean, but now I'm leaning toward Eubank. Here's why: This team is much better at running back than at receiver. Even with Bercovici's live arm, this probably is going to be a run-first offense, and it makes things much more difficult for a defense if it must account for the QB as a runner. Eubank can become at least an adequate passer. Bercovici is unlikely to do the same as a runner.
Mark from Garden Grove, Calif., writes: If you could play matchmaker, which Big Ten/Pac-12 schools would you pair for the 2017 season -- and why?
Ted Miller: OK, I'll bite, basing things on where the college football world is today.
- Oregon-Ohio State: Urban Meyer vs. Chip Kelly. 'Nuff said.
- Arizona-Michigan: The Rich Rodriguez Bowl.
- Stanford-Wisconsin: Two really good schools that play smashmouth football.
- Oregon State-Michigan State: All that green would have the Beavers feeling like they're play Oregon.
- USC-Penn State: Two old-school powers whose uniforms are among the most recognizable.
- Nebraska-Arizona State: Any Sun Devils recall 1996?
- Northwestern-California: Two elite academic universities.
- Washington-Iowa: A rematch of the 1982, 1991 Rose Bowls, both won by the Huskies.
- Colorado-Purdue: Two great mascots. (Colorado would have been a good one for Nebraska, too.)
- Utah-Illinois: Utes vs. Fighting Illini.
- Washington State-Minnesota: The Cold Bowl.
- UCLA-Indiana: Two old-school basketball powers playing football.
Rapsai from Eugene, Ore., writes: Ted, with Oregon's lack of depth at RB, do you see Josh Huff maybe sliding into the backfield to play some RB for the Ducks next season?
Ted Miller: A perfectly reasonable solution if there are injury issues in the backfield.
Does it make me a bad person that I don't think the Ducks are going to hurting at running back? I just think with Chip Kelly's emphasis on speed in recruiting that the Ducks will pretty much have an answer at RB, no matter how many guys get hurt. Recall that Kenjon Barner started out as a defensive back.
John from Los Angeles writes: I guess this falls into my "you know your old when you have a story for everything" file. In reading the post about Jonathan Ogden going into the HOF, I noticed your comment on his massive size. My buddies and I take a football road trip every year. We used to include the Baltimore Ravens in the trip because Will Demps (former Ravens safety) played at the high school where my buddy is the AD and he would get us tickets. Anyway, after a game against the Bengals at Cincinnati we are standing next to the Ravens team bus talking to Demps, Ogden and his people come up next to us - and he literally blocks out the sun!! You truly cannot appreciate how BIG the guy is until you stand right next to him. My buddy is wearing his USC cap (he is a big fan), so to amuse myself I keep whispering "Jack, show Ogden your hat." My friend kept his back to Ogden the entire time.
Ted Miller: I remember covering the 1996 Citrus Bowl between Ohio State and Tennessee -- which was cool because both were ranked No. 4 entering the game -- and walking up to the Ohio State bus. I saw No. 75 horsing around around this itty-bitty guy with a bald head who was No. 27.
The itty bitty guy was 6-foot-3, 240-pound, Heisman Trophy-winning running back Eddie George, and No. 75 was 6-foot-7, 325-pound Orlando Pace, who at that moment was the biggest dude I'd ever seen.
And Ogden -- at 6-foot-9, 345 -- darn near dwarfs Pace.
Only guy who ever impressed me as more spectacularly large was Shaquille O'Neal.
Erik McKinney writes 
: Elkton, Md., teammates Kenny Bigelow and David Sills attended Saturday's spring game and were able to get a glimpse at their futures with USC.
Garry Paskwietz writes: Spring football is over at USC. Here are a few lessons learned from the Trojans.
Paskwietz writes: USC is being very selective in its WR offers, as multiple in-state wideouts in the ESPN 150 haven't been offered yet.
Paskwietz writes: USC defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron is eager to reload the Trojans defensive line in the 2013 recruiting class.
Paskwietz writes: With running back numbers down, USC is looking everywhere it can for tailbacks.
: Elkton, Md., teammates Kenny Bigelow and David Sills attended Saturday's spring game and were able to get a glimpse at their futures with USC.
Garry Paskwietz writes: Spring football is over at USC. Here are a few lessons learned from the Trojans.
Paskwietz writes
: USC is being very selective in its WR offers, as multiple in-state wideouts in the ESPN 150 haven't been offered yet.
Paskwietz writes
: USC defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron is eager to reload the Trojans defensive line in the 2013 recruiting class.
Paskwietz writes
: With running back numbers down, USC is looking everywhere it can for tailbacks.
Interesting story here from Mitch Sherman about coaches hiring assistants known as much for their recruiting as their coaching acumen -- and the tension that sometimes creates.
And, obviously, this includes analysis of the California-Washington-Tosh Lupoi situation:
So was Lupoi the top recruiter in the Pac-12 this year? Well, he was one of them. But the prize for Pac-12 recruiter of the year went to Stanford's Mike Bloomgren.
Conference coaches getting honorable mention include: Adrian Klemm, UCLA; Tosh Lopoi, Washington; Demetrice Martin, UCLA; Ed Orgeron, USC.
And, obviously, this includes analysis of the California-Washington-Tosh Lupoi situation:
The changes paid off for the Huskies, who signed the No. 23 class nationally, headlined by safety Shaq Thompson of Sacramento, Calif., a former Cal commit ranked 16th in the ESPNU 150. Washington also got a late pledge from cornerback Brandon Beaver of Compton, Calif., considered a Cal lean before Lupoi's departure.
[Washington coach Steve] Sarkisian said Wednesday at his press conference to unveil the signees that he prioritized the hiring of excellent recruiters.
"We want to pound our chest on how much football we know," Sarkisian said, "but if the players can't execute it, then that part is a bit irrelevant. You have to have the players in place to do it. So we went out and tried to identify some guys that, I think, were not just good football coaches, but were good recruiters. I think in the end, it did have a direct impact on what we were doing."
So was Lupoi the top recruiter in the Pac-12 this year? Well, he was one of them. But the prize for Pac-12 recruiter of the year went to Stanford's Mike Bloomgren.
It's a tough call in the Pac-12 because there are so many deserving coaches, but Bloomgren and Stanford closed big. Literally. Stanford landed ESPNU 150 offensive tackles Kyle Murphy (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) and Andrus Peat (Scottsdale, Ariz./Corona Del Sol) on signing day to give the Cardinal the nation's top O-line class. A nod also goes to former Stanford coach Brian Polian (now with Texas A&M), who started the recruiting, but it was Bloomgren who closed the deal. He fought off USC and Nebraska for Peat, and the Trojans again for Murphy.
Conference coaches getting honorable mention include: Adrian Klemm, UCLA; Tosh Lopoi, Washington; Demetrice Martin, UCLA; Ed Orgeron, USC.
So you lost your job? I've lost twenty of them since graduation. Plus a wife and kid. And, in a new development this morning, a handful of hair in the shower drain.
- Arizona is thinking big with a stadium improvement. Really big. Previewing the Wildcats' defensive line.
- Is Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict ready to take his game to a different level?
- California's opener with Fresno State will kickoff at 4 p.m. PDT.
- Pac-12? Colorado is hitting Texas hard in recruiting, and is seeing results. More on a new commitment.
- Mike Bellotti talks about Oregon, Chip Kelly and the Willie Lyles imbroglio, which he thinks will lead to some sort of sanctions. Tickets are available, but not many.
- Kirkpatrick and Buker continue to malinger on the Oregon State beat -- heard Buker was summering at his home in St. Barts.
- Some thoughts on Andrew Luck and the Heisman Trophy. Some Cardinal players to watch.
- Previewing UCLA opponents: Texas. Who is the Bruin known as "Jet Ski"?
- One of the nation's top recruiters, Ed Orgeron's job is to sell USC. Trojans opponent preview: Syracuse.
- To stay out of the Pac-12 basement, Washington State will need to win on the road.
- Ranking the Pac-12 coaches from a Utah perspective.
Ted Miller talks with USC defensive line coach Ed Orgeron.
ESPN Recruiting has compiled a list of this year's top-25 recruiters, and four Pac-12 assistants make the cut.
Here's what Corey Long and Jamie Newberg had to say.
Tosh Lupoi, California: "Lupoi has been arguably the top recruiter out west for a few seasons now. He's a young coach who relates very well to today's college football prospect. Lupoi gets on these recruits early and earns their trust. He had another big year, landing nine prospects for the Bears. What's amazing is that he landed recruits all through California as well as Oregon, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Georgia."
Derek Mason, Stanford: "Vaughters was one of the top 10 prospects in Georgia, and Harris is another strong prospect from the Peach State. Mason also assisted on the recruitment of Wayne Lyons (Oakland Park, Fla./Dillard) and has helped Stanford establish itself in the Southeast."
Ed Orgeron, USC:" If a Hall of Fame for recruiters ever exists, there's little doubt that Orgeron would be in it. He secured virtually every big name in USC's class, despite being hampered with a pedestrian season and looming NCAA sanctions. Orgeron just keeps bringing in the elite talent."
Don Pellum, Oregon: "Pellum is one sharp, experienced coach who pulled one of the signing day shockers when Oregon landed Thomas, a former USC commitment. Pellum recruits Los Angeles and Long Beach and is very well connected. The recruits love him, as he makes them feel at ease, as though they have known him forever. Oregon has been second to Southern Cal many times when it comes to recruiting Los Angeles kids, but not this year thanks to Thomas."
Here's what Corey Long and Jamie Newberg had to say.
Tosh Lupoi, California: "Lupoi has been arguably the top recruiter out west for a few seasons now. He's a young coach who relates very well to today's college football prospect. Lupoi gets on these recruits early and earns their trust. He had another big year, landing nine prospects for the Bears. What's amazing is that he landed recruits all through California as well as Oregon, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Georgia."
Derek Mason, Stanford: "Vaughters was one of the top 10 prospects in Georgia, and Harris is another strong prospect from the Peach State. Mason also assisted on the recruitment of Wayne Lyons (Oakland Park, Fla./Dillard) and has helped Stanford establish itself in the Southeast."
Ed Orgeron, USC:" If a Hall of Fame for recruiters ever exists, there's little doubt that Orgeron would be in it. He secured virtually every big name in USC's class, despite being hampered with a pedestrian season and looming NCAA sanctions. Orgeron just keeps bringing in the elite talent."
Don Pellum, Oregon: "Pellum is one sharp, experienced coach who pulled one of the signing day shockers when Oregon landed Thomas, a former USC commitment. Pellum recruits Los Angeles and Long Beach and is very well connected. The recruits love him, as he makes them feel at ease, as though they have known him forever. Oregon has been second to Southern Cal many times when it comes to recruiting Los Angeles kids, but not this year thanks to Thomas."
Ranking the top recruiting coordinators
January, 20, 2011
1/20/11
4:42
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
ESPN.com's Ryan McGee ranked the nation's top five recruiting coordinators, and two from the Pac-10 made the cut, including a surprise No. 1.
McGee ranks USC's Ed Orgeron No. 5, but he doesn't only praise the recruiting legend. Writes McGee:
I'd say the reason Orgeron is a great recruiter is players love him and he is relentless. Those two facts often create the above impression, which is supplied by grumpy rivals who typically just saw their guy commit to Orgeron's team.
Ah, but McGee has high praise for his No. 1 guy: Oregon's Don Pellum. Writes McGee:
When I arrived in the Northwest in 1999, Oregon most recruited regionally and in Southern California -- just like very other Pac-10 team. To me, the transformation of the Ducks from just a "good" program to an "elite" program has coincided with their new aggressiveness recruiting nationally.
Ten years ago, going "east" for a recruit meant the Ducks hit Colorado. Just one player on the roster in 2000 -- a team that finished ranked seventh in the country -- was from the East Coast (who wasn't a JC punter): hard-hitting linebacker Wes Mallard, who hailed from Columbus, Ga., and was initially a walk-on.
And, of course, a guy named "Mallard," well, where else could he possibly play football?
This year's roster featured players from 17 states and Canada. And Oregon is extremely active in Texas now, see running back LaMichael James, quarterback Darron Thomas, receiver Josh Huff, running back Lache Seastrunk and running back Dontae Williams, to name a few.
Of course, recruiting nationally has its downside. It can lead to coming in second in a lot of recruiting battles, which is often worse than not making the effort. Wasting time and resources in recruiting can be a killer come signing day. A lot of young men from other regions also enjoy taking trips to "exotic" places but have no intention of playing far from home. More than a few East Coast prospects use USC and UCLA to get their first taste of LA, then sign with SEC schools.
Still, if you want to run with the big dogs, you've got to, er, run with the big dogs.
McGee ranks USC's Ed Orgeron No. 5, but he doesn't only praise the recruiting legend. Writes McGee:
There was a time -- a very long time -- when Orgeron would have been the undisputed number one on this list.
But a trail of issues has followed him from one school to another. Some say that's simply the result of his aggressive personality (example: his current selling point to recruits is that USC will beat their current NCAA bowl ban and scholarship restrictions when they win their pending appeal). Others say he lives life with a "ready, shoot, aim" mentality that is a blatant disrespect of authority.
I'd say the reason Orgeron is a great recruiter is players love him and he is relentless. Those two facts often create the above impression, which is supplied by grumpy rivals who typically just saw their guy commit to Orgeron's team.
Ah, but McGee has high praise for his No. 1 guy: Oregon's Don Pellum. Writes McGee:
The first four coordinators on our list all have one very important advantage in common: they live and work right smack in the middle of football talent pipelines. Not Pellum. An Oregon grad and a former recruiting coordinator for the California Golden Bears, he long ago established footholds up and down the West Coast, helping to build up the Ducks from a longtime also-ran into a national power. Now he routinely stakes claims in far-flung locales to the east. Of the Ducks' 20 early commits, there are two apiece from Florida and Texas and three of those four are listed among the ESPN 150. "It's a long way from Florida to Eugene," says former Ducks coach Mike Bellotti, "But if anyone can sell that move it is Don Pellum. Of course, winning doesn't hurt either."
When I arrived in the Northwest in 1999, Oregon most recruited regionally and in Southern California -- just like very other Pac-10 team. To me, the transformation of the Ducks from just a "good" program to an "elite" program has coincided with their new aggressiveness recruiting nationally.
Ten years ago, going "east" for a recruit meant the Ducks hit Colorado. Just one player on the roster in 2000 -- a team that finished ranked seventh in the country -- was from the East Coast (who wasn't a JC punter): hard-hitting linebacker Wes Mallard, who hailed from Columbus, Ga., and was initially a walk-on.
And, of course, a guy named "Mallard," well, where else could he possibly play football?
This year's roster featured players from 17 states and Canada. And Oregon is extremely active in Texas now, see running back LaMichael James, quarterback Darron Thomas, receiver Josh Huff, running back Lache Seastrunk and running back Dontae Williams, to name a few.
Of course, recruiting nationally has its downside. It can lead to coming in second in a lot of recruiting battles, which is often worse than not making the effort. Wasting time and resources in recruiting can be a killer come signing day. A lot of young men from other regions also enjoy taking trips to "exotic" places but have no intention of playing far from home. More than a few East Coast prospects use USC and UCLA to get their first taste of LA, then sign with SEC schools.
Still, if you want to run with the big dogs, you've got to, er, run with the big dogs.
USA Today compiles an annual list of head and assistant coach salaries in college football, and your first reaction to the money paid to assistant coaches is likely this: Washington defensive coordinator Nick Holt and UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow didn't provide much return on their high compensation this fall.
While the Huskies' defense and the Bruins' offense ranked among the worst units in the conference and the nation, Holt ranked No. 7 ($650,000) and Chow No. 8 ($640,000) among the highest-paid assistant coaches.
But the second glance is more meaningful.
Try to find the Pac-10's third highest-paid assistant coach. I'm going to make some more coffee while you do that.
I'm back, and as best I can tell it's Oregon State defensive coordinator Mark Banker -- easy there, Beavers fans -- who makes $350,004 annually. (Hey, what's that $4 for?). That ranks him 41st among assistant coaches.
(Note: Pay for USC's coaches is not included because USC is a private school and keeps things super-secret. But Trojans defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has been reported as making about $1 million a year, while defensive line coach Ed Orgeron also would rank among the highest paid assistant coaches. Suffice it to say, USC's staff is among the highest paid in the nation.)
When you wonder why a big TV contract matters, remember this: Pac-12 schools NEED that money. And a critical area of need is paying assistant coaches more money.
While Pac-10 head-coaching salaries also lag behind the SEC, Big Ten and Big 12, assistant coach pay may be a bigger issue. The trend among elite programs is more money and more years on assistant coach contracts. A great head coach will not be a great head coach without at least good crew of assistants. And a mediocre head coach can look great with a great staff.
Say you're a fan of Pac-12 school X. You are not happy with your offense/defense. Go and find the pay of your coordinator and his position coaches on that pay list.
Maybe that's why. You get what you pay for.
The conference will need to pay its assistant coaches more and offer multiyear contracts going forward to remain competitive with the top BCS conferences (read: SEC, Big Ten).
While the Huskies' defense and the Bruins' offense ranked among the worst units in the conference and the nation, Holt ranked No. 7 ($650,000) and Chow No. 8 ($640,000) among the highest-paid assistant coaches.
But the second glance is more meaningful.
Try to find the Pac-10's third highest-paid assistant coach. I'm going to make some more coffee while you do that.
I'm back, and as best I can tell it's Oregon State defensive coordinator Mark Banker -- easy there, Beavers fans -- who makes $350,004 annually. (Hey, what's that $4 for?). That ranks him 41st among assistant coaches.
(Note: Pay for USC's coaches is not included because USC is a private school and keeps things super-secret. But Trojans defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has been reported as making about $1 million a year, while defensive line coach Ed Orgeron also would rank among the highest paid assistant coaches. Suffice it to say, USC's staff is among the highest paid in the nation.)
When you wonder why a big TV contract matters, remember this: Pac-12 schools NEED that money. And a critical area of need is paying assistant coaches more money.
While Pac-10 head-coaching salaries also lag behind the SEC, Big Ten and Big 12, assistant coach pay may be a bigger issue. The trend among elite programs is more money and more years on assistant coach contracts. A great head coach will not be a great head coach without at least good crew of assistants. And a mediocre head coach can look great with a great staff.
Say you're a fan of Pac-12 school X. You are not happy with your offense/defense. Go and find the pay of your coordinator and his position coaches on that pay list.
Maybe that's why. You get what you pay for.
The conference will need to pay its assistant coaches more and offer multiyear contracts going forward to remain competitive with the top BCS conferences (read: SEC, Big Ten).
Does USC have a secret scheme for Ducks?
October, 27, 2010
10/27/10
11:00
AM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
From 2002 through 2008, USC's defense ranked among the nation's elite every season (other than 2005). Even last year, when the Trojans suffered humbling defeats to Oregon and Stanford, the defense ranked among the nation's top 25, surrendering a respectable 19.85 points per game.
When Lane Kiffin was hired as the Trojans’ new coach and brought along his dad, the highly respected Monte Kiffin, and fiery defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, the general feeling was that a young but talented defense would regain its spark. In fact, Lane Kiffin repeatedly praised his defense during spring practices.
Oh, but things have not gone smoothly. Not by any measure. The defense has been a porous, poor-tackling, undisciplined bunch. It ranks 87th in the nation in total defense (402.6 yards per game) and 60th in scoring defense (24.3 ppg). The young secondary has been particularly clueless, ranking 89th in the nation in pass-efficiency defense.
The Trojans (5-2, 2-2 Pac-10) like to note that they are just three points and a few seconds from being unbeaten and ranked in the top 10. But the dirty secret of that fair assertion is that's indeed the case because the defense yielded drives for game-winning field goals in the waning moments against Washington and Stanford without much resistance.
Monte Kiffin ticks off plenty of reasonable explanations for the shortcomings: new system, new coaches, youth, injuries, etc. But he concludes with the bottom line: "We didn't play well."
"We didn't put it together and we let a couple of games get away from us that we really should've won," he said.
Ah, but there is some good news for the Trojans' defense as it gets ready for a visit from No. 2 Oregon and its ludicrous speed offense.
First, the Trojans' defense is coming off its best performance: A dominant effort in a 48-14 win over California on Oct. 16. The Bears, who trailed 42-0 at the half, finished with 245 yards and 10 first downs.
Second, they've had an extra week to prepare for the Ducks' spread-option offense, which is good because Monte Kiffin is a long-time NFL coordinator without much experience game-planning vs. that type of scheme.
And, third, they will be as healthy as they have been all year on defense. End Wes Horton will return from a back injury that knocked him out of the past three games. End Nick Perry has had extra time to rest a nagging ankle injury. And tackle-end Armond Armstead got time to rest various tweaks. Linebacker Malcolm Smith is still nursing a knee injury but he is expected to play.
But rest wasn't what the Trojans focused on during the bye week. In fact, there was extra running, live tackling -- something Kiffin has avoided due to injury worries for a team that lacks depth -- and fast-paced practices that attempted to match the pace with which Oregon plays.
"We worked harder during the bye week," cornerback Shareece Wright said. "We actually didn't take a break."
The fundamental issue is fairly simple: What the heck are the Trojans going to do against the nation's best offense? Apparently something different. Monte Kiffin has been widely hailed as one of the originators of the Tampa-2 defensive scheme, which it appears the Trojans are finally getting the hang of. But that's not the right defense to defend a spread-option, Lane Kiffin said.
"That defense really does not fit playing against Oregon at all," he said. "That defense is more about stopping the pass."
The Ducks pass pretty well, but they do rank third in the nation in rushing with 322 yards per game.
Of course, it's possible there's a bit of gamesmanship going on here, with Kiffin intimating an entirely new defensive scheme for Chip Kelly's Ducks to try to figure out. Kelly didn't seem too concerned, however, noting that it's typical for the Ducks to see new schemes.
"Usually, what we see on Saturday isn't what we saw on film, because we play a different offense than most everybody else in our league," he said. "We have to make adjustments within the game."
And the Ducks seem to do that well, see 54.3 points and 569 yards per game, with both totals ranking No. 1 in the nation.
The Trojans also have one of the nation's best offenses -- see 37 points and 494 yards per game. At home, you'd figure they'll be able to get some points.
But can they slow Oregon? The younger Kiffin, once known for bluster, was almost reverent describing the Ducks' offense.
"They are so explosive," Kiffin said. "The style they play is like something we haven't seen. Or probably anybody's ever seen."
When Lane Kiffin was hired as the Trojans’ new coach and brought along his dad, the highly respected Monte Kiffin, and fiery defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, the general feeling was that a young but talented defense would regain its spark. In fact, Lane Kiffin repeatedly praised his defense during spring practices.
Oh, but things have not gone smoothly. Not by any measure. The defense has been a porous, poor-tackling, undisciplined bunch. It ranks 87th in the nation in total defense (402.6 yards per game) and 60th in scoring defense (24.3 ppg). The young secondary has been particularly clueless, ranking 89th in the nation in pass-efficiency defense.
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Chris Williams/Icon SMIMonte Kiffin's USC defense ranks 87th in the nation, allowing 402.6 yards per game.
Chris Williams/Icon SMIMonte Kiffin's USC defense ranks 87th in the nation, allowing 402.6 yards per game.Monte Kiffin ticks off plenty of reasonable explanations for the shortcomings: new system, new coaches, youth, injuries, etc. But he concludes with the bottom line: "We didn't play well."
"We didn't put it together and we let a couple of games get away from us that we really should've won," he said.
Ah, but there is some good news for the Trojans' defense as it gets ready for a visit from No. 2 Oregon and its ludicrous speed offense.
First, the Trojans' defense is coming off its best performance: A dominant effort in a 48-14 win over California on Oct. 16. The Bears, who trailed 42-0 at the half, finished with 245 yards and 10 first downs.
Second, they've had an extra week to prepare for the Ducks' spread-option offense, which is good because Monte Kiffin is a long-time NFL coordinator without much experience game-planning vs. that type of scheme.
And, third, they will be as healthy as they have been all year on defense. End Wes Horton will return from a back injury that knocked him out of the past three games. End Nick Perry has had extra time to rest a nagging ankle injury. And tackle-end Armond Armstead got time to rest various tweaks. Linebacker Malcolm Smith is still nursing a knee injury but he is expected to play.
But rest wasn't what the Trojans focused on during the bye week. In fact, there was extra running, live tackling -- something Kiffin has avoided due to injury worries for a team that lacks depth -- and fast-paced practices that attempted to match the pace with which Oregon plays.
"We worked harder during the bye week," cornerback Shareece Wright said. "We actually didn't take a break."
The fundamental issue is fairly simple: What the heck are the Trojans going to do against the nation's best offense? Apparently something different. Monte Kiffin has been widely hailed as one of the originators of the Tampa-2 defensive scheme, which it appears the Trojans are finally getting the hang of. But that's not the right defense to defend a spread-option, Lane Kiffin said.
"That defense really does not fit playing against Oregon at all," he said. "That defense is more about stopping the pass."
The Ducks pass pretty well, but they do rank third in the nation in rushing with 322 yards per game.
Of course, it's possible there's a bit of gamesmanship going on here, with Kiffin intimating an entirely new defensive scheme for Chip Kelly's Ducks to try to figure out. Kelly didn't seem too concerned, however, noting that it's typical for the Ducks to see new schemes.
"Usually, what we see on Saturday isn't what we saw on film, because we play a different offense than most everybody else in our league," he said. "We have to make adjustments within the game."
And the Ducks seem to do that well, see 54.3 points and 569 yards per game, with both totals ranking No. 1 in the nation.
The Trojans also have one of the nation's best offenses -- see 37 points and 494 yards per game. At home, you'd figure they'll be able to get some points.
But can they slow Oregon? The younger Kiffin, once known for bluster, was almost reverent describing the Ducks' offense.
"They are so explosive," Kiffin said. "The style they play is like something we haven't seen. Or probably anybody's ever seen."
During his first run at USC, Ed Orgeron built his reputation as a great defensive line coach and a recruiting force.
He also was the coaching staff's designated fiery guy. Fair to say he was a master at whipping a locker room into a frenzy.
Now he's back, working under Lane Kiffin instead of Pete Carroll, and he's trying to rebuild the Trojans into the force they were from 2002-2008, not the indifferent team from last fall.
And, of course, he and Kiffin are trying to do that while yoked with severe NCAA sanctions.
The Trojans are 3-0, but most of the country is unimpressed. AP voters seem to be applying a special standard to USC, punishing the Trojans in the polls despite their playing three FBS teams -- two from AQ conferences -- as well as two road games.
Orgeron and USC are headed to Washington State on Saturday, where they likely will win but still drop a couple of spots in the polls. We caught up with him before he bolted for Pullman.
How long did it take for you to feel like you were back home at USC?
Ed Orgeron: (Laughs) Not long at all. This is a place I always wanted to come back to. And I was fortunate enough to come back here and fit right in and just start working again. So it didn't take long at all.
Before we get into football, what happened to your foot? How did you get hurt?
EO: I was at practice two Thursdays ago, setting up a drill, and I heard a crack. I got an x-ray on it and it was something that probably happened while I was jogging this summer, a little fracture. Just got a little worse.
I ask because I was wondering if you've mellowed. Or are you still as fiery as ever?
EO: (Laughs) I'm not mellow. In fact, there may be a little bit more fire that has come out.
Tell me about the defense: What's your overall feeling after three games?
EO: We started off really shaky. Hawaii was on fire. We made a lot of mistakes and didn't tackle well and got tired in the first game. We made some improvement playing against Virginia. We still have a ways to go. I'm really proud of the way we tackled and fit the run against Minnesota, which was averaging 252 yards per game. We still haven't played up to our potential yet. We're still getting better. We still have some deficits that we will have to get better, recruit better, coach better. But I think the tackling has improved, the conditioning is getting better and they're playing harder.
Who is playing well?
EO: We came in and we were really concerned with our linebackers. But I think they've been very solid. The whole crew: Michael Morgan, Devon Kennard, Malcolm Smith and Chris Galippo -- those guys a group of done a good job. DT Jurrell Casey is playing like an All-American. He's one of the better players I've had since I've been at USC. He's been really consistent.
What isn't going well?
EO: Everything starts up front. You got to have a consistent pass rush. We haven't had a ferocious pass rush since we've been back here. Not tackling, giving up the big plays. We've had busted assignments, letting guys get over the top. Guys have been in position to make plays and haven't. Everything that hasn't gone well has been correctable, though.
When you were at USC before, Washington State was pretty good. Are you a little surprised by their struggles?
EO: You just never can tell in college football. With recruiting, everything. Everything has equaled out. Look at Boise State. A team can lose a couple of good players and fall off, but they can regain their strength with a couple good players in recruiting. They have been off for a while, but I think those guys will fight back eventually.
What do you see from the Cougars offense on tape that you guys need to worry about?
EO: They are explosive. They aren't scoring a lot of points, but they've reeled off some big plays, some big runs. They've had more explosive plays that you'd expect from a team not having much success. We need to go up there and be ready to play. You know they're always going to play the Trojans well.
How far are you guys away from getting back to old USC defense?
EO: Oh, we're a ways away. That's going to be a process. It took us a couple years with coach Carroll to start playing USC defense, a couple of great recruits coming in. We're a ways away. Whether we can attain it this season remains to be seen.
You're known as one of the nation's top recruiters. What do you say about NCAA sanctions when you are out recruiting?
EO: It's galvanized our football team. We had choice to complain about it, give excuses, but we didn't. We're recruiting harder than ever. We're coaching harder than ever. There's a chance for these guys to come in and play. It really affected this year's class the most with two bowls. Next year's class is only one bowl. I really feel with 15 recruits we can play with anybody in the nation. USC is going to get the top players. I don't think it's going to be that detrimental to USC. We're not going to let that happen.
Knowing your numbers are going to be down over the next few years, how have you guys changed strategies to account for that?
EO: Lineman. Linemen. You have to get lineman. You have to have backups on the line to be able to practice the way we want to practice, physically, with physical practices. We have to make sure that the lines are really, really great.
He also was the coaching staff's designated fiery guy. Fair to say he was a master at whipping a locker room into a frenzy.
Now he's back, working under Lane Kiffin instead of Pete Carroll, and he's trying to rebuild the Trojans into the force they were from 2002-2008, not the indifferent team from last fall.
And, of course, he and Kiffin are trying to do that while yoked with severe NCAA sanctions.
The Trojans are 3-0, but most of the country is unimpressed. AP voters seem to be applying a special standard to USC, punishing the Trojans in the polls despite their playing three FBS teams -- two from AQ conferences -- as well as two road games.
Orgeron and USC are headed to Washington State on Saturday, where they likely will win but still drop a couple of spots in the polls. We caught up with him before he bolted for Pullman.
How long did it take for you to feel like you were back home at USC?
Ed Orgeron: (Laughs) Not long at all. This is a place I always wanted to come back to. And I was fortunate enough to come back here and fit right in and just start working again. So it didn't take long at all.
Before we get into football, what happened to your foot? How did you get hurt?
EO: I was at practice two Thursdays ago, setting up a drill, and I heard a crack. I got an x-ray on it and it was something that probably happened while I was jogging this summer, a little fracture. Just got a little worse.
I ask because I was wondering if you've mellowed. Or are you still as fiery as ever?
EO: (Laughs) I'm not mellow. In fact, there may be a little bit more fire that has come out.
Tell me about the defense: What's your overall feeling after three games?
EO: We started off really shaky. Hawaii was on fire. We made a lot of mistakes and didn't tackle well and got tired in the first game. We made some improvement playing against Virginia. We still have a ways to go. I'm really proud of the way we tackled and fit the run against Minnesota, which was averaging 252 yards per game. We still haven't played up to our potential yet. We're still getting better. We still have some deficits that we will have to get better, recruit better, coach better. But I think the tackling has improved, the conditioning is getting better and they're playing harder.
Who is playing well?
EO: We came in and we were really concerned with our linebackers. But I think they've been very solid. The whole crew: Michael Morgan, Devon Kennard, Malcolm Smith and Chris Galippo -- those guys a group of done a good job. DT Jurrell Casey is playing like an All-American. He's one of the better players I've had since I've been at USC. He's been really consistent.
What isn't going well?
EO: Everything starts up front. You got to have a consistent pass rush. We haven't had a ferocious pass rush since we've been back here. Not tackling, giving up the big plays. We've had busted assignments, letting guys get over the top. Guys have been in position to make plays and haven't. Everything that hasn't gone well has been correctable, though.
When you were at USC before, Washington State was pretty good. Are you a little surprised by their struggles?
EO: You just never can tell in college football. With recruiting, everything. Everything has equaled out. Look at Boise State. A team can lose a couple of good players and fall off, but they can regain their strength with a couple good players in recruiting. They have been off for a while, but I think those guys will fight back eventually.
What do you see from the Cougars offense on tape that you guys need to worry about?
EO: They are explosive. They aren't scoring a lot of points, but they've reeled off some big plays, some big runs. They've had more explosive plays that you'd expect from a team not having much success. We need to go up there and be ready to play. You know they're always going to play the Trojans well.
How far are you guys away from getting back to old USC defense?
EO: Oh, we're a ways away. That's going to be a process. It took us a couple years with coach Carroll to start playing USC defense, a couple of great recruits coming in. We're a ways away. Whether we can attain it this season remains to be seen.
You're known as one of the nation's top recruiters. What do you say about NCAA sanctions when you are out recruiting?
EO: It's galvanized our football team. We had choice to complain about it, give excuses, but we didn't. We're recruiting harder than ever. We're coaching harder than ever. There's a chance for these guys to come in and play. It really affected this year's class the most with two bowls. Next year's class is only one bowl. I really feel with 15 recruits we can play with anybody in the nation. USC is going to get the top players. I don't think it's going to be that detrimental to USC. We're not going to let that happen.
Knowing your numbers are going to be down over the next few years, how have you guys changed strategies to account for that?
EO: Lineman. Linemen. You have to get lineman. You have to have backups on the line to be able to practice the way we want to practice, physically, with physical practices. We have to make sure that the lines are really, really great.
Ten issues to consider heading into the second week of games.
1. UCLA's run defense needs to bounce back: UCLA surrendered 313 yards rushing at Kansas State, including 234 yards on 28 carries to Daniel Thomas. Thomas is a quality back, but that's pretty freaking porous. While Stanford visits the Rose Bowl on Saturday without Toby Gerhart, the Cardinal offensive line is more talented than the Kansas State crew. If the Bruins front seven doesn't buck up, Stanford will use a its new backfield-by-committee to run over them. While Andrew Luck is the star, Jim Harbaugh would be perfectly content to run it 40 times. And, of course, if the Bruins can't stop the run, their obsession with it will provide plenty of big downfield opportunities for Luck.
2. Jake Locker and the Washington offense need to play better at home: Washington scored just 17 points and got shut out in the second half at BYU. Twice in the second half, drives deep in Cougars territory ended after failed fourth-down conversion attempts. Locker's numbers weren't bad, but no player shoulders more responsibility for his team's success as he does. The fifth-year senior who spent much of the summer being touted as a Heisman Trophy candidate when pundits weren't talking about his NFL prospects. Syracuse won't be a push-over on defense -- 10 starters are back from 2009. But Washington plays better in Husky Stadium, and the guess here is Locker and his supporting cast on offense will be far sharper.
3. Does Oregon QB Darron Thomas start fast or get rattled? Thomas' first career road start will be in Tennessee's Neyland Stadium, which means there will be 105,000 or so orange-clad fans riding his case. There's no way to know how a young man will react to that. He might come out smooth and poised and lead a dominant offensive effort by distributing the ball to all of his weapons. Or he might make an early mistake or two and get rattled and down on himself. Just as Autzen Stadium gives the Ducks a big advantage, so does Neyland do the same for the Volunteers.
4. Did USC's defense just have a bad day at Hawaii? It's possible that USC just had a bad night at Hawaii, that the poor tackling and flat effort weren't indicative of the capabilities of a seemingly talented crew. It's possible that Monte Kiffin and Ed Orgeron will correct mental and physical mistakes, make a few personnel decisions, and USC will show Virginia that it's back to its stingy ways. But there's also enough available evidence now -- see terrible performances vs. Oregon and Stanford in 2009 -- to support the notion that the Trojans' defense has lost its swagger and isn't actually as talented as its recruiting rankings suggest. Virginia shouldn't be able to keep up with USC on Saturday. But if the same defense from Hawaii shows up, the Cavaliers will do just that.
5. Cal's Kevin Riley completes 60 percent of his passes: Riley owns a career 54 percent completion rate. Accuracy has long been his bugaboo. Of course, he also hasn't benefited from great receivers during his tenure. Last weekend, he completed 70 percent -- 14 of 20 -- of his throws, though it's worth noting that UC Davis is an FCS team. What was most notable, however, were the impressive performances by his receivers, particularly true freshman Keenan Allen. There was a reasonable theory in the preseason that Riley would breakthrough as a senior, because that's when the light goes on for many QBs. It will be a lot easier with a dangerous group of playmakers at receiver, guys who can go and get the ball -- even when it's not perfectly thrown -- and boost a completion percentage. Colorado is strong at cornerback, so it will offer a good test as to whether Riley and his receivers are truly in sync and ready for Pac-10 play.
6. Washington State buries Montana State from the get-go: It's fairly simple. Washington State needs to go out and whip Montana State. It needs to start quickly, establish dominance and allow its fans to feel good about the program. The Bobcats are a quality FCS team, but the Cougars should have restocked their talent enough in year three with coach Paul Wulff to take them to the woodshed. Jumping to a big lead will boost the confidence in the locker room. Struggling and playing a tight game into the fourth quarter won't. Losing? Let's not even go there.
7. Arizona's rebuilt defense posts another dominant performance: The Wildcats defense was surprisingly stout at Toledo, a team that piled up big numbers on offense in 2009. Things should be even easier on Saturday against The Citadel in front of the home crowd. Still, another game of experience is another game of experience, no matter the quality of the opponent, and smoothing out any wrinkles will be valuable leading into the Sept. 18 visit from Iowa. Arizona needs to jump on The Citadel hard and then get its starters to the bench early in the third quarter.
8. Arizona State QB Steven Threet is cool, efficient vs. Northern Arizona: Threet played well in the opener vs. Portland State, and the Sun Devils offense as a whole looks substantially more skilled than the anemic unit from 2009. Threet and his mates need to duplicate that performance in another "preseason" game vs. an FCS program. The idea is to be as confident as possible before heading to Wisconsin on Sept. 18. It also would be nice to get all the starters on the bench as soon as possible so they will be rested and healthy.
9. Andrew Luck vs. Rahim Moore: If UCLA's run defense proves stout, that means Stanford will have to throw. And that means a showdown between these two All-American talents. Luck has uncanny downfield accuracy. That's one of the big reasons NFL scouts love him. Moore led the nation with 10 interceptions a year ago, so his ball skills qualify as uncanny, too. Will Luck be able to beat Moore and the Bruins over the top? Or will Moore bait Luck into an ill-advised throw that could be a game-changer?
10. Will Tennessee be able to run against Oregon? If the Vols can't run vs. Oregon, the Ducks are going to deliver a butt-kicking. No way Matt Sims, a junior JC transfer, will be able to pass them to victory. But Tennessee rolled up 332 yards rushing in its opener -- albeit vs. Tennessee-Martin -- and its got a strong stable of running backs, topped by Tauren Poole, and a big, talented, if inexperienced, offensive line. The Ducks defense is as fast as they come, but it also is undersized. If the Vols power-running game is consistently effective, then Oregon will be in for a highly competitive test.
1. UCLA's run defense needs to bounce back: UCLA surrendered 313 yards rushing at Kansas State, including 234 yards on 28 carries to Daniel Thomas. Thomas is a quality back, but that's pretty freaking porous. While Stanford visits the Rose Bowl on Saturday without Toby Gerhart, the Cardinal offensive line is more talented than the Kansas State crew. If the Bruins front seven doesn't buck up, Stanford will use a its new backfield-by-committee to run over them. While Andrew Luck is the star, Jim Harbaugh would be perfectly content to run it 40 times. And, of course, if the Bruins can't stop the run, their obsession with it will provide plenty of big downfield opportunities for Luck.
2. Jake Locker and the Washington offense need to play better at home: Washington scored just 17 points and got shut out in the second half at BYU. Twice in the second half, drives deep in Cougars territory ended after failed fourth-down conversion attempts. Locker's numbers weren't bad, but no player shoulders more responsibility for his team's success as he does. The fifth-year senior who spent much of the summer being touted as a Heisman Trophy candidate when pundits weren't talking about his NFL prospects. Syracuse won't be a push-over on defense -- 10 starters are back from 2009. But Washington plays better in Husky Stadium, and the guess here is Locker and his supporting cast on offense will be far sharper.
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AP Photo/George FreyExpect Jake Locker and the Washington offense to be more sharp against Syracuse than it was against BYU.
AP Photo/George FreyExpect Jake Locker and the Washington offense to be more sharp against Syracuse than it was against BYU.4. Did USC's defense just have a bad day at Hawaii? It's possible that USC just had a bad night at Hawaii, that the poor tackling and flat effort weren't indicative of the capabilities of a seemingly talented crew. It's possible that Monte Kiffin and Ed Orgeron will correct mental and physical mistakes, make a few personnel decisions, and USC will show Virginia that it's back to its stingy ways. But there's also enough available evidence now -- see terrible performances vs. Oregon and Stanford in 2009 -- to support the notion that the Trojans' defense has lost its swagger and isn't actually as talented as its recruiting rankings suggest. Virginia shouldn't be able to keep up with USC on Saturday. But if the same defense from Hawaii shows up, the Cavaliers will do just that.
5. Cal's Kevin Riley completes 60 percent of his passes: Riley owns a career 54 percent completion rate. Accuracy has long been his bugaboo. Of course, he also hasn't benefited from great receivers during his tenure. Last weekend, he completed 70 percent -- 14 of 20 -- of his throws, though it's worth noting that UC Davis is an FCS team. What was most notable, however, were the impressive performances by his receivers, particularly true freshman Keenan Allen. There was a reasonable theory in the preseason that Riley would breakthrough as a senior, because that's when the light goes on for many QBs. It will be a lot easier with a dangerous group of playmakers at receiver, guys who can go and get the ball -- even when it's not perfectly thrown -- and boost a completion percentage. Colorado is strong at cornerback, so it will offer a good test as to whether Riley and his receivers are truly in sync and ready for Pac-10 play.
6. Washington State buries Montana State from the get-go: It's fairly simple. Washington State needs to go out and whip Montana State. It needs to start quickly, establish dominance and allow its fans to feel good about the program. The Bobcats are a quality FCS team, but the Cougars should have restocked their talent enough in year three with coach Paul Wulff to take them to the woodshed. Jumping to a big lead will boost the confidence in the locker room. Struggling and playing a tight game into the fourth quarter won't. Losing? Let's not even go there.
7. Arizona's rebuilt defense posts another dominant performance: The Wildcats defense was surprisingly stout at Toledo, a team that piled up big numbers on offense in 2009. Things should be even easier on Saturday against The Citadel in front of the home crowd. Still, another game of experience is another game of experience, no matter the quality of the opponent, and smoothing out any wrinkles will be valuable leading into the Sept. 18 visit from Iowa. Arizona needs to jump on The Citadel hard and then get its starters to the bench early in the third quarter.
8. Arizona State QB Steven Threet is cool, efficient vs. Northern Arizona: Threet played well in the opener vs. Portland State, and the Sun Devils offense as a whole looks substantially more skilled than the anemic unit from 2009. Threet and his mates need to duplicate that performance in another "preseason" game vs. an FCS program. The idea is to be as confident as possible before heading to Wisconsin on Sept. 18. It also would be nice to get all the starters on the bench as soon as possible so they will be rested and healthy.
9. Andrew Luck vs. Rahim Moore: If UCLA's run defense proves stout, that means Stanford will have to throw. And that means a showdown between these two All-American talents. Luck has uncanny downfield accuracy. That's one of the big reasons NFL scouts love him. Moore led the nation with 10 interceptions a year ago, so his ball skills qualify as uncanny, too. Will Luck be able to beat Moore and the Bruins over the top? Or will Moore bait Luck into an ill-advised throw that could be a game-changer?
10. Will Tennessee be able to run against Oregon? If the Vols can't run vs. Oregon, the Ducks are going to deliver a butt-kicking. No way Matt Sims, a junior JC transfer, will be able to pass them to victory. But Tennessee rolled up 332 yards rushing in its opener -- albeit vs. Tennessee-Martin -- and its got a strong stable of running backs, topped by Tauren Poole, and a big, talented, if inexperienced, offensive line. The Ducks defense is as fast as they come, but it also is undersized. If the Vols power-running game is consistently effective, then Oregon will be in for a highly competitive test.
Opening the mailbag: Is USC headed for a plunge?
September, 3, 2010
9/03/10
6:03
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
It's possible the mailbag might move to Thursday afternoon during the season. Plan accordingly.
Follow me on Twitter. Last week, the USC offense did. The Trojans defense did not. And we all saw what happened there.
To the notes.
Mitch from Salem, Ore., writes: After seeing USC and their "green" secondary, and overall poor defense against Hawaii, do you still see them as a PAC-10 contender? Their offense was good, but I attribute that to a poor Hawaii defense.
Ted Miller: That's a fair point, but I can't think much about it because I'm still stuck on how terrible Oregon looked at Boise State last year. Or how the Ducks nearly lost at home to Purdue the following week. That team has no hope and Chip Kelly is clearly above his head as a head coach.
Oregon won the Pac-10 and Kelly won conference Coach of the Year in 2009? Oh.
Here's an oldie but a goodie: Florida State lost its 1988 opener 31-0 to Miami.
And then went 11-1.
My point: Openers are strange things. They sometimes reveal weaknesses that will be season-long issues. And they sometimes provide powerful teachable moments for teams trying to find themselves. And they sometimes don't mean jack, one way or the other.
And let's keep in mind the Trojans won by 13 points.
Was the Trojans defense shockingly bad? Without a doubt. But we may need to get a few games into the season before we start throwing dirt on the Trojans season.
But, yeah, USC won't be No. 2 in my power rankings next week. That tackling made me want to scratch my eyes out. I was worried that Ed Orgeron's head was going burst like a watermelon tossed from a 10-story tower.
Tim from Decatur, Ga., writes: Sometime next week can you post a link to your previously posted recommendations for where us duck fans need to visit while we're in Knoxville next weekend! obviously calhouns is a must, but since everyone will be heading there, we may need some alternatives beat the crowd.
Ted Miller: Here's what I wrote last time I fielded this question:
You also could throw a comment up on the SEC blog. Guarantee you'll get some good suggestions.
Tony from Queen Creek, Ariz., writes: What do you think of the Sun Devils playing a lot of 3-4 defense this year? They will run a base 4-3 but with the recent lack of depth at DT isn't it a blessing in disguise that they are very good a linebacker...especially up the middle with Burfict and Munns. With Guy and Brooks as the ends and an aggressive blitzing strategy with the linebackers I can really see the Devils causing a ton of turnovers this year.
Ted Miller: I think it makes sense: When you are strong at linebacker and lack depth at DT, then using some 3-4 looks makes sense, even if your base is a 4-3 (and the Sun Devils hope to get healthy at tackle, where they are pretty salty when all are accounted for). And getting Munns and Burfict both on the field means one of the unit's best defenders isn't sitting on the bench.
I think the best coaches adapt to their personnel and don't get too caught up in trying to force their players into systems. Craig Bray does a great job in Tempe; he's this close to building a program that immediately pops into mind when folks think about good defenses nationally (which means some of those touted West Coast prep DTs and DEs that only looked at USC in the past might give the Sun Devils a shot).
Tony, your friends over at Arizona are doing the same thing by using more nickel and dime packages due to better depth and talent in the secondary than at LB.
Evan from Fresno, Calif., writes: Are you on USC's payroll? Are you a Trojans? Your bias on them is ridiculous. You defend a dirty program. You defend a dirty hit against Hawaii. Where's you're shame.
Ted Miller: Happy Friday to you Evan!
I don't believe I have a bias towards any team. I was born in Atlanta. I went to the University of Richmond. I own no school-specific gear -- T-shirts, hats, boxers, etc. I covered Auburn for a while (not because I chose Auburn but because that was the job I was offered). I then covered Washington for a while (not because I chose Washington but because that was the job I was offered). I am now ESPN.com's Pac-10 blogger (not because I chose the Pac-10 but because that was the job I was offered).
If I woke up tomorrow in Opposite World, and Adam Rittenberg was the Pac-10 blogger and I was the Big Ten blogger, I would cover the Big Ten with the same wide-eyed, slightly deranged zeal that I have for my coverage of the Pac-10. I would not favor Indiana over Michigan, though it would be inevitable that someone at some point would believe so.
It seems to me the starting point of folks who accuse me of having a bias toward Team A is their overwhelming hatred of Team A. Fairness to Team A -- or any positive stories about Team A -- then become "bias." Often the claim of bias is shortly followed about complaints about things I've written, the problem often being with these claims is I haven't actually written what the critic claims I have.
Many have a problem with my position that the NCAA's sanctions against USC were too severe (though that's a widely held position among national college football writers). I've written that because I believe it and the evidence supports that position. While the football program is far from blameless, it didn't deserve the worst penalties in decades. What I chiefly discovered from fans who have taken issue with my coverage of USC and the NCAA is two things: 1. Said fan hates USC; 2. Said fan doesn't know the issues, rules, what the actual record is or the content of the ultimate NCAA ruling.
As for last night's USC-Hawaii game, I made sure the record was clear with Michael Morgan's hit on QB Bryant Moniz because it was not a dirty play, didn't deserve a penalty and it's not right for there to be any momentum behind the assertion Morgan took a head-hunting cheap shot. There seemed to be some confusion on that. Here's a great picture of the hit in question. I watched the play in slow motion about 10 times before reaching my conclusion: 1. There was no helmet-to-helmet contact; 2. There appeared to be no intention to deliver a head shot; 3. Morgan hit Monis with his chest; 4. There was no forearm-to-head contact, which would have broken Morgan's arm before causing a concussion.
Now, if anyone can produce, in context, excerpts from my stories that reveal a bias, I'd be glad to see them. Actually, I'd be chagrined, but you're never too old to learn, even if the lessons are hard.
And, see, I didn't even mention it should have been "your" shame.
Follow me on Twitter. Last week, the USC offense did. The Trojans defense did not. And we all saw what happened there.
To the notes.
Mitch from Salem, Ore., writes: After seeing USC and their "green" secondary, and overall poor defense against Hawaii, do you still see them as a PAC-10 contender? Their offense was good, but I attribute that to a poor Hawaii defense.
Ted Miller: That's a fair point, but I can't think much about it because I'm still stuck on how terrible Oregon looked at Boise State last year. Or how the Ducks nearly lost at home to Purdue the following week. That team has no hope and Chip Kelly is clearly above his head as a head coach.
Oregon won the Pac-10 and Kelly won conference Coach of the Year in 2009? Oh.
Here's an oldie but a goodie: Florida State lost its 1988 opener 31-0 to Miami.
And then went 11-1.
My point: Openers are strange things. They sometimes reveal weaknesses that will be season-long issues. And they sometimes provide powerful teachable moments for teams trying to find themselves. And they sometimes don't mean jack, one way or the other.
And let's keep in mind the Trojans won by 13 points.
Was the Trojans defense shockingly bad? Without a doubt. But we may need to get a few games into the season before we start throwing dirt on the Trojans season.
But, yeah, USC won't be No. 2 in my power rankings next week. That tackling made me want to scratch my eyes out. I was worried that Ed Orgeron's head was going burst like a watermelon tossed from a 10-story tower.
Tim from Decatur, Ga., writes: Sometime next week can you post a link to your previously posted recommendations for where us duck fans need to visit while we're in Knoxville next weekend! obviously calhouns is a must, but since everyone will be heading there, we may need some alternatives beat the crowd.
Ted Miller: Here's what I wrote last time I fielded this question:
The place I always recommend is Ye Ole Steak House. It's an institution.
I fired an email to SEC blogger Chris Low, who lives in Knoxville. He added Calhoun's on the River and the Butcher Shop. Sure you can get some good bar recommendations at any of those places (I haven't been there in more than a decade).
Just make sure you get there soon enough to enjoy the tailgate. It's one of the best places in the country to see a game.
You also could throw a comment up on the SEC blog. Guarantee you'll get some good suggestions.
Tony from Queen Creek, Ariz., writes: What do you think of the Sun Devils playing a lot of 3-4 defense this year? They will run a base 4-3 but with the recent lack of depth at DT isn't it a blessing in disguise that they are very good a linebacker...especially up the middle with Burfict and Munns. With Guy and Brooks as the ends and an aggressive blitzing strategy with the linebackers I can really see the Devils causing a ton of turnovers this year.
Ted Miller: I think it makes sense: When you are strong at linebacker and lack depth at DT, then using some 3-4 looks makes sense, even if your base is a 4-3 (and the Sun Devils hope to get healthy at tackle, where they are pretty salty when all are accounted for). And getting Munns and Burfict both on the field means one of the unit's best defenders isn't sitting on the bench.
I think the best coaches adapt to their personnel and don't get too caught up in trying to force their players into systems. Craig Bray does a great job in Tempe; he's this close to building a program that immediately pops into mind when folks think about good defenses nationally (which means some of those touted West Coast prep DTs and DEs that only looked at USC in the past might give the Sun Devils a shot).
Tony, your friends over at Arizona are doing the same thing by using more nickel and dime packages due to better depth and talent in the secondary than at LB.
Evan from Fresno, Calif., writes: Are you on USC's payroll? Are you a Trojans? Your bias on them is ridiculous. You defend a dirty program. You defend a dirty hit against Hawaii. Where's you're shame.
Ted Miller: Happy Friday to you Evan!
I don't believe I have a bias towards any team. I was born in Atlanta. I went to the University of Richmond. I own no school-specific gear -- T-shirts, hats, boxers, etc. I covered Auburn for a while (not because I chose Auburn but because that was the job I was offered). I then covered Washington for a while (not because I chose Washington but because that was the job I was offered). I am now ESPN.com's Pac-10 blogger (not because I chose the Pac-10 but because that was the job I was offered).
If I woke up tomorrow in Opposite World, and Adam Rittenberg was the Pac-10 blogger and I was the Big Ten blogger, I would cover the Big Ten with the same wide-eyed, slightly deranged zeal that I have for my coverage of the Pac-10. I would not favor Indiana over Michigan, though it would be inevitable that someone at some point would believe so.
It seems to me the starting point of folks who accuse me of having a bias toward Team A is their overwhelming hatred of Team A. Fairness to Team A -- or any positive stories about Team A -- then become "bias." Often the claim of bias is shortly followed about complaints about things I've written, the problem often being with these claims is I haven't actually written what the critic claims I have.
Many have a problem with my position that the NCAA's sanctions against USC were too severe (though that's a widely held position among national college football writers). I've written that because I believe it and the evidence supports that position. While the football program is far from blameless, it didn't deserve the worst penalties in decades. What I chiefly discovered from fans who have taken issue with my coverage of USC and the NCAA is two things: 1. Said fan hates USC; 2. Said fan doesn't know the issues, rules, what the actual record is or the content of the ultimate NCAA ruling.
As for last night's USC-Hawaii game, I made sure the record was clear with Michael Morgan's hit on QB Bryant Moniz because it was not a dirty play, didn't deserve a penalty and it's not right for there to be any momentum behind the assertion Morgan took a head-hunting cheap shot. There seemed to be some confusion on that. Here's a great picture of the hit in question. I watched the play in slow motion about 10 times before reaching my conclusion: 1. There was no helmet-to-helmet contact; 2. There appeared to be no intention to deliver a head shot; 3. Morgan hit Monis with his chest; 4. There was no forearm-to-head contact, which would have broken Morgan's arm before causing a concussion.
Now, if anyone can produce, in context, excerpts from my stories that reveal a bias, I'd be glad to see them. Actually, I'd be chagrined, but you're never too old to learn, even if the lessons are hard.
And, see, I didn't even mention it should have been "your" shame.
USC's 49-36 win at Hawaii probably wasn't terribly comforting for USC fans. The offense looked great. The defense? Spineless.
Lane Kiffin and his offense get an "A." Monte Kiffin and Ed Orgeron and their defense get an "F."
How the game was won: The Warriors couldn't stop the Trojans offense.
Turning point: It never really seemed like USC was in real danger, but the Trojans' effortless four-play, 79-yard drive to go up 42-23 late in the third quarter made it clear that no matter how many points the Warriors scored, the Trojans would end up with more.
Turning point II: When Hawaii QB Bryant Moniz was knocked out of the game near the USC goal line in the third quarter, the Warriors' chances seemed as if they were severely damaged. But the Warriors kept rolling up yards and points even with their backups.
Second-guessing: Let's make something clear: USC linebacker Michael Morgan's hit that knocked out Moniz in the third was clean. It wasn't a head shot, and that was clear from replays. It shouldn't have been a penalty. Morgan delivered a blow with his chest and INSIDE of his arms. Just want to make sure everyone understands what happened.
Stat of the game: The Warriors outgained USC 588 to 525.
In case that wasn't clear: 588!
Notable number: USC made a bunch of stupid penalties, mostly on defense. The final tally -- 11 for 100 -- included three offsides penalties, as well as a fourth that was declined, in large part because the Warriors converted on a third-and-26 from their 7-yard line.
Player of the game: Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley was brilliant. He threw five touchdown passes, completing 18 of 23 throws for 257 yards.
Player of the game II: USC receiver Ronald Johnson caught three of Barkley's TD passes. He also returned a punt 89 yards for a touchdown.
Player who deserves note: Moniz is a heck of a player. Sort of reminded me of a guy we used to see in the Pac-10 last year who's moved to Mississippi. He had the Trojans D completely out of sync, both running and throwing.
What it means: Some -- who, me? -- thought USC would come out and stomp the Warriors. You know: Send a message. The foundation of that predicted stomping -- and it feels absurd now -- was expected to be the Trojans defense, particularly the defensive line. But the defensive line was terrible. They, however, looked good compared to the secondary, which couldn't cover or tackle worth a lick. There are some positives to take away for USC, but they are entirely on offense. Other Pac-10 offensive coordinators who stayed up late to watch this one -- it ended around 3 a.m. EST -- are probably grinning.
Lane Kiffin and his offense get an "A." Monte Kiffin and Ed Orgeron and their defense get an "F."
How the game was won: The Warriors couldn't stop the Trojans offense.
Turning point: It never really seemed like USC was in real danger, but the Trojans' effortless four-play, 79-yard drive to go up 42-23 late in the third quarter made it clear that no matter how many points the Warriors scored, the Trojans would end up with more.
Turning point II: When Hawaii QB Bryant Moniz was knocked out of the game near the USC goal line in the third quarter, the Warriors' chances seemed as if they were severely damaged. But the Warriors kept rolling up yards and points even with their backups.
Second-guessing: Let's make something clear: USC linebacker Michael Morgan's hit that knocked out Moniz in the third was clean. It wasn't a head shot, and that was clear from replays. It shouldn't have been a penalty. Morgan delivered a blow with his chest and INSIDE of his arms. Just want to make sure everyone understands what happened.
Stat of the game: The Warriors outgained USC 588 to 525.
In case that wasn't clear: 588!
Notable number: USC made a bunch of stupid penalties, mostly on defense. The final tally -- 11 for 100 -- included three offsides penalties, as well as a fourth that was declined, in large part because the Warriors converted on a third-and-26 from their 7-yard line.
Player of the game: Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley was brilliant. He threw five touchdown passes, completing 18 of 23 throws for 257 yards.
Player of the game II: USC receiver Ronald Johnson caught three of Barkley's TD passes. He also returned a punt 89 yards for a touchdown.
Player who deserves note: Moniz is a heck of a player. Sort of reminded me of a guy we used to see in the Pac-10 last year who's moved to Mississippi. He had the Trojans D completely out of sync, both running and throwing.
What it means: Some -- who, me? -- thought USC would come out and stomp the Warriors. You know: Send a message. The foundation of that predicted stomping -- and it feels absurd now -- was expected to be the Trojans defense, particularly the defensive line. But the defensive line was terrible. They, however, looked good compared to the secondary, which couldn't cover or tackle worth a lick. There are some positives to take away for USC, but they are entirely on offense. Other Pac-10 offensive coordinators who stayed up late to watch this one -- it ended around 3 a.m. EST -- are probably grinning.
I was freaking brilliant last year. And that's just me being modest.
I went 60-21 (74 percent) picking games last season. The Pac-10 went 2-5 in the bowl season. I went 5-2 (though that Arizona over Nebraska pick didn't exactly go my way -- any Nebraska fans want to chime in because I'm sure I haven't heard from ALL of you?).
I know what you are thinking, though: Well, let's pin a rose on your nose and stop living in the past.
So here we are. New season. Everyone has a 0-0 record. And my little episode of braggadocio here is likely to ruin my prognostication karma.
Where's my voodoo gear?
Thursday
USC 40, Hawaii 9: You know what I think? I think assistant Ed Orgeron is going to whip these guys into a pre-game froth, and I think the Trojans are going to open up a can of whup-butt on the Warriors. And Matt Barkley is going to play well enough that some commentators will start throwing around the "H" word.
Friday
Arizona 42, Toledo 28: First of all, let's just celebrate me getting the day of this game right for the first time! I suspect you'll see some defensive growing pains vs. a solid Rockets offense. But I don't think the Rockets will be able to stop Nick Foles and company.
Saturday
Oregon 50, New Mexico 10: Quarterback controversy? What about a running back controversy when Kenjon Barner goes all ludicrous speed on the Lobos with LaMichael James serving a one-game suspension?
UCLA 27, Kansas State 24: Almost flagged an upset special here: The Bruins are beaten up on the offensive line and QB Kevin Prince has seen very little action during the preseason due to a nagging back injury. But UCLA has enough playmakers on both sides of the ball to, you know, make enough plays to win.
California 55, UC Davis 11: I love picking scores. Double-nickels and legs-11! An FCS school doesn't move the needle much on the interest meter.
Stanford 44, Sacramento State 11: See how I did that? I've given Stanford fans something to grouse about. It's for their own good. Now that your team is competitive again, Cardinal adherents, you need to adopt the irrational paranoia that infects all great fan bases. As in: "I can't believe Miller picked us to only score 44 on Sacramento State while he picked Oski-U to score 55 on UC Davis. He's clearly biased towards Cal!"
Washington 33, BYU 28: This is a tough road test for the Huskies. And it should be revealing. After an offseason of hype about QB Jake Locker and the program's resurgence under Steve Sarkisian, it's time to walk the walk.
Oklahoma State 31, Washington State 24: At some point in the first quarter, the Cowboys are going to look at each other in the huddle and go, "I thought these guys were supposed to be terrible." This might fit a pattern all season for the Cougs: Competitive close calls.
Arizona State 38, Portland State 10: This one should operate as a preseason game and confidence-builder for the Sun Devils new spread offense and QB Steven Threet. It will be interesting to see how much -- and how well -- backup Brock Osweiler plays when he gets the call.
Oregon State 27, TCU 24: Cool-as-a-cucumber Ryan Katz caps a late fourth-quarter drive with a 32-yard strike to James Rodgers for the winning score. Of course, Oregon State fans, my record picking your games through the years isn't great...
I went 60-21 (74 percent) picking games last season. The Pac-10 went 2-5 in the bowl season. I went 5-2 (though that Arizona over Nebraska pick didn't exactly go my way -- any Nebraska fans want to chime in because I'm sure I haven't heard from ALL of you?).
I know what you are thinking, though: Well, let's pin a rose on your nose and stop living in the past.
So here we are. New season. Everyone has a 0-0 record. And my little episode of braggadocio here is likely to ruin my prognostication karma.
Where's my voodoo gear?
Thursday
USC 40, Hawaii 9: You know what I think? I think assistant Ed Orgeron is going to whip these guys into a pre-game froth, and I think the Trojans are going to open up a can of whup-butt on the Warriors. And Matt Barkley is going to play well enough that some commentators will start throwing around the "H" word.
Friday
Arizona 42, Toledo 28: First of all, let's just celebrate me getting the day of this game right for the first time! I suspect you'll see some defensive growing pains vs. a solid Rockets offense. But I don't think the Rockets will be able to stop Nick Foles and company.
Saturday
Oregon 50, New Mexico 10: Quarterback controversy? What about a running back controversy when Kenjon Barner goes all ludicrous speed on the Lobos with LaMichael James serving a one-game suspension?
UCLA 27, Kansas State 24: Almost flagged an upset special here: The Bruins are beaten up on the offensive line and QB Kevin Prince has seen very little action during the preseason due to a nagging back injury. But UCLA has enough playmakers on both sides of the ball to, you know, make enough plays to win.
California 55, UC Davis 11: I love picking scores. Double-nickels and legs-11! An FCS school doesn't move the needle much on the interest meter.
Stanford 44, Sacramento State 11: See how I did that? I've given Stanford fans something to grouse about. It's for their own good. Now that your team is competitive again, Cardinal adherents, you need to adopt the irrational paranoia that infects all great fan bases. As in: "I can't believe Miller picked us to only score 44 on Sacramento State while he picked Oski-U to score 55 on UC Davis. He's clearly biased towards Cal!"
Washington 33, BYU 28: This is a tough road test for the Huskies. And it should be revealing. After an offseason of hype about QB Jake Locker and the program's resurgence under Steve Sarkisian, it's time to walk the walk.
Oklahoma State 31, Washington State 24: At some point in the first quarter, the Cowboys are going to look at each other in the huddle and go, "I thought these guys were supposed to be terrible." This might fit a pattern all season for the Cougs: Competitive close calls.
Arizona State 38, Portland State 10: This one should operate as a preseason game and confidence-builder for the Sun Devils new spread offense and QB Steven Threet. It will be interesting to see how much -- and how well -- backup Brock Osweiler plays when he gets the call.
Oregon State 27, TCU 24: Cool-as-a-cucumber Ryan Katz caps a late fourth-quarter drive with a 32-yard strike to James Rodgers for the winning score. Of course, Oregon State fans, my record picking your games through the years isn't great...
Coach Lane Kiffin repeatedly praised USC's defensive line this spring, but it got thinner on Wednesday with the announcement that senior starting nose tackle Christian Tupou will miss the 2010 season with knee injury.
Tupou, who started 21 games over the past two seasons, tore a ligament in his left knee during the spring game on Saturday.
"It's unfortunate that it happened, but I'm okay," Tupou said in a statement. "I'll deal with it. It's part of the game. I'm down, but I'm not out because I can come back in 2011. Through training and rehab, I see a brighter light at the end of the road."
Tupou has yet to use his redshirt season, so if he could return in 2011 as a redshirt senior.
He had 25 tackles and four tackles for a loss in 2009 and earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors. A political science major, he will graduate next week and will begin graduate study in the fall.
With Tupou out, DaJohn Harris and Hebron Fangupo will compete for the starting job, defensive line coach Ed Orgeron said in a text message to ESPN.com's Bruce Feldman. Derek Simmons was listed behind Tupou on the post-spring depth chart.
Tupou, who started 21 games over the past two seasons, tore a ligament in his left knee during the spring game on Saturday.
"It's unfortunate that it happened, but I'm okay," Tupou said in a statement. "I'll deal with it. It's part of the game. I'm down, but I'm not out because I can come back in 2011. Through training and rehab, I see a brighter light at the end of the road."
Tupou has yet to use his redshirt season, so if he could return in 2011 as a redshirt senior.
He had 25 tackles and four tackles for a loss in 2009 and earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors. A political science major, he will graduate next week and will begin graduate study in the fall.
With Tupou out, DaJohn Harris and Hebron Fangupo will compete for the starting job, defensive line coach Ed Orgeron said in a text message to ESPN.com's Bruce Feldman. Derek Simmons was listed behind Tupou on the post-spring depth chart.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Ted Miller
Miller has been covering college football since 1997, starting with Auburn and then heading West to Washington and the Pac-12. His columns for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer won first place in the 2007 APSE Best Writing contest. The Atlanta native and University of Richmond graduate presently lives with his wife in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Kevin Gemmell
Gemmell covered San Diego State and the Mountain West Conference for three years before joining ESPN.com. As a Santa Clara graduate, his hope is that the Broncos will one day re-institute football. Until then, he lives vicariously through his readers. Gemmell lives in California with his wife and son.
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