Pac-12: Sonny Dykes
Foles, Arizona want to take the next step
September, 15, 2010
9/15/10
10:17
AM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
It's easy to imagine a Hollywood version of Arizona's Nick Foles coming off the bench against Iowa last year. Mike Stoops, played by Russell Crowe, would toss his headset to the ground in frustration over the Wildcats' offensive ineptitude. And as he picked it up, amid the din of Kinnick Stadium, he'd catch sight of Foles, played by Kip Pardue, looking chill but also engaged.
"Foles!" Stoops/Crowe would bellow. "Son, the Wildcat nation is depending on you!"
Cue inspirational music.
And, of course, Foles would lead the Wildcats to a comeback win, all the while looking chill but also engaged.
Not what happened. The unsentimental reality: A coach -- Foles doesn't remember who -- told him to warm up after Iowa took a 20-10 lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
"And as I was warming up, they said, 'you're going in'," Foles recalled.
He led the Wildcats to a first down. And then they punted. After an 8 1/2-minute touchdown drive from Iowa made it 27-10, Foles led the Wildcats 62 yards for a TD that made the score more respectable. That was it.
Foles would arrive at the football offices early the next day, a Sunday. He watched film. After that, he went out to throw into a net on the practice field. Then he was summoned by then-offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes, who told him he would make his first start at Oregon State. Against the Beavers, Foles completed 25 of 34 passes for 254 yards with three TDs and no interceptions in a 37-32 victory.
And away he went. Nothing Hollywood about it, really. But by remaining chill and engaged and not letting the frustration of initially losing out a close quarterback competition to Matt Scott drive him to distraction, Foles set himself up to be ready when called.
"I was just continuing to work hard, preparing like I was a starter," Foles said. "I knew at any moment I could get an opportunity to play. My big thing was just staying focused, staying ready. I didn't get frustrated because I knew I might eventually get a chance."
Now Foles is something of an X factor in the rematch with Iowa on Saturday in Arizona Stadium. A lot of the same players will be on the field for both teams, but Foles went on to become one of the nation's best quarterbacks after the Iowa game.
Of course, the Iowa defense, which welcomes back eight starters, including all four members of what is probably the nation's best defensive line, is a year older and a year scarier.
"They are very disruptive," Stoops said. "They took away a lot of stuff we thought we would be able to do [last year]. We've got to come up with a better game plan. But they do that to a lot of people. They are so good inside and up front they limit what you can do."
Stoops even specified what Iowa does: While most defenses need seven (or eight) guys to stop the run, Iowa can do it with six, which is not unlike what Nebraska did in the Holiday Bowl -- sorry for bringing that up, Wildcats fans. More guys playing in space makes it harder to throw the ball.
"[Foles] is going to have to play much faster," Stoops said. "Things have to happen a lot faster this week. The windows are going to be a lot tighter to throw in. So we're going to need his accuracy and our players are going to have to make a lot of tough, competitive catches."
Accuracy? Foles is completing 83 percent of his passes.
But Foles is going to need plenty of help. He's going to need his receivers to be aggressive with the ball in the air, his line to stand up to the Hawkeyes' front and he needs running back Nic Grigsby to be a threat on the ground. Also, he needs his guys to remain chill but engaged, because Iowa is going to make big plays on defense. The unit, led by future NFL first-round draft pick Adrian Clayborn at end, is too talented not to.
Foles is the right guy to role model that state of mind.
"I just try to keep it level. I think that's the key to being successful," he said. "You are going to have highs and you are going to have lows but you've got to keep steady. I tell the guys all the time during a game you can have some bad plays and you have some great plays, but the key is to stay steady, to stay mentally focused. That's how I go about it every day. Just have fun. That's a key. Play the game. Just let it come to you."
Arizona defensive end Brooks Reed let the Iowa game come to him last year. It gave him a high ankle sprain early in the second half that pretty much ruined his season. Remember that long, back-breaking Iowa drive at the beginning of the fourth quarter that made it 27-10? Reed tried to come back and play during it. Bad idea.
"I think they noticed I was limping around, and they started running power to my side," Reed said. "Got a few yards, and I got taken out."
Reed and fellow end Ricky Elmore are the best DE-tandem in the Pac-10, and the Wildcats' secondary is good enough to mute Hawkeyes quarterback Ricky Stanzi and his solid crew of receivers. But the big question is how the two new tackles and three new linebackers will handle the power running game, which is Iowa's primary mode of travel.
"They like to run guys over -- that's their deal," Reed said. "This is our first real test as a defense. The first two games kind of got us warmed up."
Reed has seen encouraging signs in the first two games, in which Arizona gave up eight points (two came on a safety) and just 177 yards per game. It reminds him of his first year as a starter in 2008 when the Wildcats had to replace eight starters on defense and ended up ranked 24th in the nation in total defense.
But this is a major step up in competition. And opportunity. The Wildcats have become a top-25 program under Stoops. The next step means entering a rarefied atmosphere.
"That's a hard place to get, but we're fighting like mad to get there," Stoops said. "This is another opportunity. Hopefully, we take advantage of it."
[+] Enlarge
Rick Osentoski/US PresswireNick Foles' key to success: "I just try to keep it level."
Rick Osentoski/US PresswireNick Foles' key to success: "I just try to keep it level."Cue inspirational music.
And, of course, Foles would lead the Wildcats to a comeback win, all the while looking chill but also engaged.
Not what happened. The unsentimental reality: A coach -- Foles doesn't remember who -- told him to warm up after Iowa took a 20-10 lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
"And as I was warming up, they said, 'you're going in'," Foles recalled.
He led the Wildcats to a first down. And then they punted. After an 8 1/2-minute touchdown drive from Iowa made it 27-10, Foles led the Wildcats 62 yards for a TD that made the score more respectable. That was it.
Foles would arrive at the football offices early the next day, a Sunday. He watched film. After that, he went out to throw into a net on the practice field. Then he was summoned by then-offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes, who told him he would make his first start at Oregon State. Against the Beavers, Foles completed 25 of 34 passes for 254 yards with three TDs and no interceptions in a 37-32 victory.
And away he went. Nothing Hollywood about it, really. But by remaining chill and engaged and not letting the frustration of initially losing out a close quarterback competition to Matt Scott drive him to distraction, Foles set himself up to be ready when called.
"I was just continuing to work hard, preparing like I was a starter," Foles said. "I knew at any moment I could get an opportunity to play. My big thing was just staying focused, staying ready. I didn't get frustrated because I knew I might eventually get a chance."
Now Foles is something of an X factor in the rematch with Iowa on Saturday in Arizona Stadium. A lot of the same players will be on the field for both teams, but Foles went on to become one of the nation's best quarterbacks after the Iowa game.
Of course, the Iowa defense, which welcomes back eight starters, including all four members of what is probably the nation's best defensive line, is a year older and a year scarier.
"They are very disruptive," Stoops said. "They took away a lot of stuff we thought we would be able to do [last year]. We've got to come up with a better game plan. But they do that to a lot of people. They are so good inside and up front they limit what you can do."
Stoops even specified what Iowa does: While most defenses need seven (or eight) guys to stop the run, Iowa can do it with six, which is not unlike what Nebraska did in the Holiday Bowl -- sorry for bringing that up, Wildcats fans. More guys playing in space makes it harder to throw the ball.
"[Foles] is going to have to play much faster," Stoops said. "Things have to happen a lot faster this week. The windows are going to be a lot tighter to throw in. So we're going to need his accuracy and our players are going to have to make a lot of tough, competitive catches."
Accuracy? Foles is completing 83 percent of his passes.
But Foles is going to need plenty of help. He's going to need his receivers to be aggressive with the ball in the air, his line to stand up to the Hawkeyes' front and he needs running back Nic Grigsby to be a threat on the ground. Also, he needs his guys to remain chill but engaged, because Iowa is going to make big plays on defense. The unit, led by future NFL first-round draft pick Adrian Clayborn at end, is too talented not to.
Foles is the right guy to role model that state of mind.
"I just try to keep it level. I think that's the key to being successful," he said. "You are going to have highs and you are going to have lows but you've got to keep steady. I tell the guys all the time during a game you can have some bad plays and you have some great plays, but the key is to stay steady, to stay mentally focused. That's how I go about it every day. Just have fun. That's a key. Play the game. Just let it come to you."
Arizona defensive end Brooks Reed let the Iowa game come to him last year. It gave him a high ankle sprain early in the second half that pretty much ruined his season. Remember that long, back-breaking Iowa drive at the beginning of the fourth quarter that made it 27-10? Reed tried to come back and play during it. Bad idea.
"I think they noticed I was limping around, and they started running power to my side," Reed said. "Got a few yards, and I got taken out."
Reed and fellow end Ricky Elmore are the best DE-tandem in the Pac-10, and the Wildcats' secondary is good enough to mute Hawkeyes quarterback Ricky Stanzi and his solid crew of receivers. But the big question is how the two new tackles and three new linebackers will handle the power running game, which is Iowa's primary mode of travel.
"They like to run guys over -- that's their deal," Reed said. "This is our first real test as a defense. The first two games kind of got us warmed up."
Reed has seen encouraging signs in the first two games, in which Arizona gave up eight points (two came on a safety) and just 177 yards per game. It reminds him of his first year as a starter in 2008 when the Wildcats had to replace eight starters on defense and ended up ranked 24th in the nation in total defense.
But this is a major step up in competition. And opportunity. The Wildcats have become a top-25 program under Stoops. The next step means entering a rarefied atmosphere.
"That's a hard place to get, but we're fighting like mad to get there," Stoops said. "This is another opportunity. Hopefully, we take advantage of it."
Mailbag: Doubting Luck and coverage of USC
August, 13, 2010
8/13/10
6:19
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
Happy Friday (just a few more before we say, "Happy Football Saturday!")
Feel free to follow me on Twitter. But only if you're cool enough.
To the notes.
Henry from Berkeley writes: I don't see why you like Andrew Luck so much. The only reason he was able to preform is because of the backfield. When a team loads the box on every play because they need that and more to stop Toby Gerhart, even Joe Ayoob could be a potential first round draft pick. The only stanfurd game I saw was in the big game, where when he had to preform late in the game, he threw an interception. The next week against notre dame, harbaugh didn't make the same mistake of putting the ball in the hands of the inexperienced quarterback. Same goes for stanfurd as a team, without gerhart, they are nothing.
Ted Miller: Er, first of all, who played tailback for California in 2005 and 2006 with Joe Ayoob? Couple of stooges named Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett. Those guys were lousy! Ayoob was completely on his own. What was that receiver's name anyway? DeSean Jackson or something.
Why do I like Luck so much? Same reasons NFL scouts and Jim Harbaugh like him: He's really, really talented.
Luck is: 1. Big (6-foot-4, 235 pounds); 2. Fast (he rushed for 400 yards last year); 3. Smart (a high school valedictorian who got into Stanford! Oh, sorry, know you Cal folks don't like that); 4. He doesn't make mistakes (just four interceptions); 5. He was the Pac-10's top-rated quarterback as a redshirt freshman (he's only getting started).
And then there's that whole NFL first-round draft pick as a redshirt sophomore thing.
Of course, you do have a point: Life without Gerhart will be more challenging because the offense will now belong to Luck entirely. Consider this quote
from Arizona cornerback Trevin Wade: "The toughest thing about Luck was Toby Gerhart because he could fake the handoff and all your help was gone. But he's such a good decision-maker. Playing in the Pac-10, I've seen him and [Washington's Jake] Locker -- Locker may have the arm strength, but you don't see Luck make bad throws very often."
Just FYI: Luck completed 21 of 35 passes for 423 yards with three touchdowns versus Wade and Arizona. I saw that game. I also witnessed Luck's uncanny downfield accuracy when he passed for 251 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Oregon. And I witnessed his near-flawless performance vs. USC (another two touchdown passes).
In fact, Luck's only bad game in 2009 was the Big Game. So maybe that explains your feelings.
"Nothing" without Gerhart? Oh, Henry, Henry. You might anger the football gods with that one.
Ida from Nashville writes: Yes, I am an SEC fan. No, I do not take any pleasure in NCAA sanctions against USC because it means that 30 kids won't get an NCAA scholarship. How can ANYONE be happy about that? But as for your statement condemning Reggie Bush, it is hollow, disingenuous and hypocritical. Look, you guys know that Bush is very vain and wants to protect his image and reputation. Had you guys in the media - who have long known that the charges against Bush were true - done your jobs and talked about what a liar and thief Bush was, it might have forced Bush to act. Instead, you guys didn't even produce a single blog talking about what an outrage Bush's false extortion charges that he filed with the FBI against Lake and Michaels were! Bush never came clean? Well you guys in the media never did either. Why? Because you guys knew that if Bush came clean, USC would get punished as a result, and you didn't want USC to get punished. That's why you and your buddies wrote far more columns demanding that the NCAA admit that they had no case and drop the investigation than you did acknowledging Bush's lack of character and demanding that he tell the truth. Bottom line: it isn't all Bush's fault. You guys in the media played a role in this too by acting to protect Bush's precious reputation.
Ted Miller: I found this note interesting because Ida clearly has strong feelings about this, but I have no idea how those feelings developed.
Ida writes: "Bush never came clean? Well you guys in the media never did either. Why? Because you guys knew that if Bush came clean, USC would get punished as a result, and you didn't want USC to get punished. That's why you and your buddies wrote far more columns demanding that the NCAA admit that they had no case and drop the investigation than you did acknowledging Bush's lack of character and demanding that he tell the truth."
I can't recall ever reading a single column or story "demanding that the NCAA admit that they had no case and drop the investigation." Period. I know that thought never crossed my mind. I also can't remember any writers who spent any time trying to "protect Bush's precious reputation."
Ida, from the moment Yahoo! broke the story in 2006, Bush was nailed. From the first, it was clear that Bush -- and his family -- had been receiving extra benefits. There wasn't any media constituency on his side.
The questions have always been: How much did USC officials know? And what is the program's culpability if it didn't know but should have? That was the issue with the NCAA.
You may want to start get your information from other sources because whatever steered you toward this take didn't reflect reality.
Cody from Pasco, Wash., writes: Pardon me for asking this, but i know you're pushing parity as part of the agenda for the pac-10 - that it's a quality league and fields a lot of depth - but it certainly seems like "parity" and "Pac-1 and 9 dwarfs" treads a very fine line. particularly with the media, who, from what i've read, hasn't a clue what the conference exactly is (you'll guess parity, so I'll bet the house there'll be a dominant team (cough, cough, like Oregon winning the league by 2 games)). isn't this the ultimate form of ambivalence regarding how the media can cover west coast football?
Ted Miller: Oregon would have been widely viewed as a dominant team and a national title contender with Jeremiah Masoli. My guess is the Ducks would have been ranked in the top-five (I'd have ranked them fourth behind Ohio State, Texas and Alabama).
But Masoli, as some of you might have heard, is gone.
What has been left behind is nine teams (Washington State at this point is a clear No. 10) with obvious strengths and obvious questions. There might end up being a dominant team -- who can't know in the preseason how everyone will gel or avoid injuries -- but there isn't a team that seems like a sure-thing. Or a sure-failure, for that matter. Naturally, there's a consensus pecking order: Just about everyone has Oregon, Oregon State and USC in their top-three and UCLA and Arizona State at eighth and ninth.
What's parity? It's the fact that I wouldn't be shocked if the Bruins or Sun Devils beat any of the top three teams in 2010.
What's not parity? Take 2008. The only loss among the top-four teams -- USC, Oregon, Oregon State and California -- to a bottom-half team was Oregon State's loss at Stanford in the season-opener, and it would have been shocking if any of the bottom three teams (UCLA, Washington State and Washington) beat any of the top teams.
If Oregon, my new No. 1 team, lost to Arizona State this year, it wouldn't shock me. In fact, I call it a good bet that my bottom three teams -- UCLA, Arizona State and Washington State -- are going to score at least one major upset.
When I look at the Pac-10, I see nine teams that could rank in the top-25 at some point this season. But I don't see a team that will push into the upper-reaches of the top-10. At least not yet.
"Inert1" from Bothell, Wash., writes: I'm curious about Arizona this year. I was really impressed with Foles running their offense last year. But, it seemed as though the playcalling was critical to the offense's success. While Foles throws a nice short ball, they seemed to make sure that he got rid of the ball quickly, and he looked pretty immobile. How do you think the change in coordinators will affect the Wildcats?
Ted Miller: As much as folks have wondered about Arizona's co-coordinators approach on both sides of the ball, perhaps the most helpful thing for Foles is that he has his own coach who isn't a coordinator: Frank Scelfo. Last year, coordinator Sonny Dykes was Foles' position coach, but he obviously had to focus on the big picture instead of refining Foles mechanics. Word out of Tucson is Scelfo has made Foles far more sound fundamentally.
Foles did check down a lot -- much of the Wildcats offense was dink-and-dunk, in large part because Foles was a sophomore, first-year starter learning as he went along. With a year of experience, a good stable of receivers and good offensive line, it seems likely that Foles will throw downfield much more this year.
Further, Foles isn't immobile. He's no Jake Locker, but he's a capable athlete who can move in the pocket.
Carl from Britt, Iowa writes: Please explain your #12 ranking of BSU. Are you a voting proxy of Craig James? Logic and reason would dictate nothing less than a top 6 ranking. That is, unless you're considering superficial criteria. We're waiting with baited breath.
Ted Miller: I used our preseason Power Rankings not as a pure "this is how good I think every team is" but as my prediction of how things will end up. I think Boise State will slip to 12th because I think it's going to lose to Virginia Tech. If I'm wrong, then Boise will get a bounce into the top-five.
Derrick from Portland writes: How come you have Oregon ranked No. 1 in your Pac-10 power rankings but USC is ranked ninth and Oregon 11th in your national rankings?
Ted Miller: The decision to elevate Oregon was a recent development. Like five minutes before I typed "No. 1", I said... I'm switching to Oregon.
My vote for the national poll was sent in to the Mothership in Bristol, Conn., weeks ago.
Ken from Toyko writes: GOSH, TED MILLER!You CONVENIENTLY left Bryan Anger off of the Ray Guy Awards list. Yes, I'm putting this all on you. It's YOUR fault that Anger was not put on the watch list for the Ray Guy Award Trophy. You, as ESPN's designated Pac-10 blogger, should have made sure he made it on this watch list. We ALL know that ESPN's designed Pac-10 blogger has top say when it comes to selecting punters for the Ray Guy Award. Therefore, this is all YOUR FAULT!!I mean, seriously?!? Please, next time, how about you put Bryan Anger for the Ray Guy Award list, assuming Anger doesn't leave to be a top 5 pick in next year's NFL draft.- Angry Japanese punter/Bear fan.
Ted Miller: I love Cal fans.
Feel free to follow me on Twitter. But only if you're cool enough.
To the notes.
Henry from Berkeley writes: I don't see why you like Andrew Luck so much. The only reason he was able to preform is because of the backfield. When a team loads the box on every play because they need that and more to stop Toby Gerhart, even Joe Ayoob could be a potential first round draft pick. The only stanfurd game I saw was in the big game, where when he had to preform late in the game, he threw an interception. The next week against notre dame, harbaugh didn't make the same mistake of putting the ball in the hands of the inexperienced quarterback. Same goes for stanfurd as a team, without gerhart, they are nothing.
Ted Miller: Er, first of all, who played tailback for California in 2005 and 2006 with Joe Ayoob? Couple of stooges named Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett. Those guys were lousy! Ayoob was completely on his own. What was that receiver's name anyway? DeSean Jackson or something.
Why do I like Luck so much? Same reasons NFL scouts and Jim Harbaugh like him: He's really, really talented.
Luck is: 1. Big (6-foot-4, 235 pounds); 2. Fast (he rushed for 400 yards last year); 3. Smart (a high school valedictorian who got into Stanford! Oh, sorry, know you Cal folks don't like that); 4. He doesn't make mistakes (just four interceptions); 5. He was the Pac-10's top-rated quarterback as a redshirt freshman (he's only getting started).
And then there's that whole NFL first-round draft pick as a redshirt sophomore thing.
Of course, you do have a point: Life without Gerhart will be more challenging because the offense will now belong to Luck entirely. Consider this quote
from Arizona cornerback Trevin Wade: "The toughest thing about Luck was Toby Gerhart because he could fake the handoff and all your help was gone. But he's such a good decision-maker. Playing in the Pac-10, I've seen him and [Washington's Jake] Locker -- Locker may have the arm strength, but you don't see Luck make bad throws very often."
Just FYI: Luck completed 21 of 35 passes for 423 yards with three touchdowns versus Wade and Arizona. I saw that game. I also witnessed Luck's uncanny downfield accuracy when he passed for 251 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Oregon. And I witnessed his near-flawless performance vs. USC (another two touchdown passes).
In fact, Luck's only bad game in 2009 was the Big Game. So maybe that explains your feelings.
"Nothing" without Gerhart? Oh, Henry, Henry. You might anger the football gods with that one.
Ida from Nashville writes: Yes, I am an SEC fan. No, I do not take any pleasure in NCAA sanctions against USC because it means that 30 kids won't get an NCAA scholarship. How can ANYONE be happy about that? But as for your statement condemning Reggie Bush, it is hollow, disingenuous and hypocritical. Look, you guys know that Bush is very vain and wants to protect his image and reputation. Had you guys in the media - who have long known that the charges against Bush were true - done your jobs and talked about what a liar and thief Bush was, it might have forced Bush to act. Instead, you guys didn't even produce a single blog talking about what an outrage Bush's false extortion charges that he filed with the FBI against Lake and Michaels were! Bush never came clean? Well you guys in the media never did either. Why? Because you guys knew that if Bush came clean, USC would get punished as a result, and you didn't want USC to get punished. That's why you and your buddies wrote far more columns demanding that the NCAA admit that they had no case and drop the investigation than you did acknowledging Bush's lack of character and demanding that he tell the truth. Bottom line: it isn't all Bush's fault. You guys in the media played a role in this too by acting to protect Bush's precious reputation.
Ted Miller: I found this note interesting because Ida clearly has strong feelings about this, but I have no idea how those feelings developed.
Ida writes: "Bush never came clean? Well you guys in the media never did either. Why? Because you guys knew that if Bush came clean, USC would get punished as a result, and you didn't want USC to get punished. That's why you and your buddies wrote far more columns demanding that the NCAA admit that they had no case and drop the investigation than you did acknowledging Bush's lack of character and demanding that he tell the truth."
I can't recall ever reading a single column or story "demanding that the NCAA admit that they had no case and drop the investigation." Period. I know that thought never crossed my mind. I also can't remember any writers who spent any time trying to "protect Bush's precious reputation."
Ida, from the moment Yahoo! broke the story in 2006, Bush was nailed. From the first, it was clear that Bush -- and his family -- had been receiving extra benefits. There wasn't any media constituency on his side.
The questions have always been: How much did USC officials know? And what is the program's culpability if it didn't know but should have? That was the issue with the NCAA.
You may want to start get your information from other sources because whatever steered you toward this take didn't reflect reality.
Cody from Pasco, Wash., writes: Pardon me for asking this, but i know you're pushing parity as part of the agenda for the pac-10 - that it's a quality league and fields a lot of depth - but it certainly seems like "parity" and "Pac-1 and 9 dwarfs" treads a very fine line. particularly with the media, who, from what i've read, hasn't a clue what the conference exactly is (you'll guess parity, so I'll bet the house there'll be a dominant team (cough, cough, like Oregon winning the league by 2 games)). isn't this the ultimate form of ambivalence regarding how the media can cover west coast football?
Ted Miller: Oregon would have been widely viewed as a dominant team and a national title contender with Jeremiah Masoli. My guess is the Ducks would have been ranked in the top-five (I'd have ranked them fourth behind Ohio State, Texas and Alabama).
But Masoli, as some of you might have heard, is gone.
What has been left behind is nine teams (Washington State at this point is a clear No. 10) with obvious strengths and obvious questions. There might end up being a dominant team -- who can't know in the preseason how everyone will gel or avoid injuries -- but there isn't a team that seems like a sure-thing. Or a sure-failure, for that matter. Naturally, there's a consensus pecking order: Just about everyone has Oregon, Oregon State and USC in their top-three and UCLA and Arizona State at eighth and ninth.
What's parity? It's the fact that I wouldn't be shocked if the Bruins or Sun Devils beat any of the top three teams in 2010.
What's not parity? Take 2008. The only loss among the top-four teams -- USC, Oregon, Oregon State and California -- to a bottom-half team was Oregon State's loss at Stanford in the season-opener, and it would have been shocking if any of the bottom three teams (UCLA, Washington State and Washington) beat any of the top teams.
If Oregon, my new No. 1 team, lost to Arizona State this year, it wouldn't shock me. In fact, I call it a good bet that my bottom three teams -- UCLA, Arizona State and Washington State -- are going to score at least one major upset.
When I look at the Pac-10, I see nine teams that could rank in the top-25 at some point this season. But I don't see a team that will push into the upper-reaches of the top-10. At least not yet.
"Inert1" from Bothell, Wash., writes: I'm curious about Arizona this year. I was really impressed with Foles running their offense last year. But, it seemed as though the playcalling was critical to the offense's success. While Foles throws a nice short ball, they seemed to make sure that he got rid of the ball quickly, and he looked pretty immobile. How do you think the change in coordinators will affect the Wildcats?
Ted Miller: As much as folks have wondered about Arizona's co-coordinators approach on both sides of the ball, perhaps the most helpful thing for Foles is that he has his own coach who isn't a coordinator: Frank Scelfo. Last year, coordinator Sonny Dykes was Foles' position coach, but he obviously had to focus on the big picture instead of refining Foles mechanics. Word out of Tucson is Scelfo has made Foles far more sound fundamentally.
Foles did check down a lot -- much of the Wildcats offense was dink-and-dunk, in large part because Foles was a sophomore, first-year starter learning as he went along. With a year of experience, a good stable of receivers and good offensive line, it seems likely that Foles will throw downfield much more this year.
Further, Foles isn't immobile. He's no Jake Locker, but he's a capable athlete who can move in the pocket.
Carl from Britt, Iowa writes: Please explain your #12 ranking of BSU. Are you a voting proxy of Craig James? Logic and reason would dictate nothing less than a top 6 ranking. That is, unless you're considering superficial criteria. We're waiting with baited breath.
Ted Miller: I used our preseason Power Rankings not as a pure "this is how good I think every team is" but as my prediction of how things will end up. I think Boise State will slip to 12th because I think it's going to lose to Virginia Tech. If I'm wrong, then Boise will get a bounce into the top-five.
Derrick from Portland writes: How come you have Oregon ranked No. 1 in your Pac-10 power rankings but USC is ranked ninth and Oregon 11th in your national rankings?
Ted Miller: The decision to elevate Oregon was a recent development. Like five minutes before I typed "No. 1", I said... I'm switching to Oregon.
My vote for the national poll was sent in to the Mothership in Bristol, Conn., weeks ago.
Ken from Toyko writes: GOSH, TED MILLER!You CONVENIENTLY left Bryan Anger off of the Ray Guy Awards list. Yes, I'm putting this all on you. It's YOUR fault that Anger was not put on the watch list for the Ray Guy Award Trophy. You, as ESPN's designated Pac-10 blogger, should have made sure he made it on this watch list. We ALL know that ESPN's designed Pac-10 blogger has top say when it comes to selecting punters for the Ray Guy Award. Therefore, this is all YOUR FAULT!!I mean, seriously?!? Please, next time, how about you put Bryan Anger for the Ray Guy Award list, assuming Anger doesn't leave to be a top 5 pick in next year's NFL draft.- Angry Japanese punter/Bear fan.
Ted Miller: I love Cal fans.
Arizona opens preseason camp today. Here's a quick look.
Who's back: Eight starters on offense, four on defense and both specialists.
Big names: QB Nick Foles, WR Juron Criner, C Colin Baxter, CB Trevin Wade, DE Ricky Elmore, DE Brooks Reed
What's new: The Wildcats lost both coordinators during the offseason. Offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes is now the head coach of Louisiana Tech. Defensive coordinator Mark Stoops is the coordinator at Florida State. They were both replaced by co-coordinators: Bill Bedenbaugh (offensive line) and Seth Littrell (running backs and tight ends) on offense and Tim Kish (linebackers) and Greg Brown (secondary) on defense. Littrell will call the offensive plays. Brown is the only one of the four who is new to the staff -- he was at Colorado in 2009. Also, Frank Scelfo is the new QBs coach. Beyond the football staff, Arizona has a new athletic director: Greg Byrne, who was hired away from Mississippi State.
Key competition: There isn't too much intrigue heading into fall camp, though the pecking order at defensive tackle is worth watching. As for the official depth chart, Vaughn Dotsy and Jovon Hayes are competing at right guard as are Phillip Garcia and Jack Julsing at right tackle. Is Nic Grigsby going to stay healthy and remain No. 1 ahead of Keola Antolin at tailback? The weakside LB spot is unsettled between Paul Vassallo and R.J. Young.
Breaking out: The 6-foot-4 Criner has a chance to be an All-Conference performer. 258-pound H-back Taimi Tutogi had a good spring and figures to help the offense in myriad ways as a runner, blocker and receiver. Who will get more sacks: Elmore or Reed? The over-under for the pair is 18.
Quote: Coach Mike Stoops on exceeding preseason expectations but then flopping in the Holiday Bowl against Nebraska: "Last year that was a little bit of a question mark for this team and a lot of people questioned our ability in picking us preseason eighth, but we finished tied for second and went to the Holiday Bowl. This is a team that I thought really achieved some good things last season and I think the loss in the Holiday Bowl really humbled us and fueled us in the offseason. We realized how quickly things can disintegrate if we don’t do things right. I think we are eager to get back out on the field and correct some of those things."
Notes: Arizona will hold most of its training camp practices at the Rincon Vista Complex, located near the school's soccer and track facilities on 15th Street and Plumer Ave. The newly renovated Jimenez Practice facility on campus will host its first practice later this month. The Wildcats will be at Ft. Huachuca from Aug. 11-15... Cornerback Shaquille Richardson, one of the three UCLA signees who was kicked off the team last month after being arrested for stealing a purse, is now with the Wildcats... Receiver Delashaun Dean, who had caught 132 passes over the past three seasons, was given the boot after being arrested on a gun charge. He has transferred to Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Who's back: Eight starters on offense, four on defense and both specialists.
Big names: QB Nick Foles, WR Juron Criner, C Colin Baxter, CB Trevin Wade, DE Ricky Elmore, DE Brooks Reed
What's new: The Wildcats lost both coordinators during the offseason. Offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes is now the head coach of Louisiana Tech. Defensive coordinator Mark Stoops is the coordinator at Florida State. They were both replaced by co-coordinators: Bill Bedenbaugh (offensive line) and Seth Littrell (running backs and tight ends) on offense and Tim Kish (linebackers) and Greg Brown (secondary) on defense. Littrell will call the offensive plays. Brown is the only one of the four who is new to the staff -- he was at Colorado in 2009. Also, Frank Scelfo is the new QBs coach. Beyond the football staff, Arizona has a new athletic director: Greg Byrne, who was hired away from Mississippi State.
Key competition: There isn't too much intrigue heading into fall camp, though the pecking order at defensive tackle is worth watching. As for the official depth chart, Vaughn Dotsy and Jovon Hayes are competing at right guard as are Phillip Garcia and Jack Julsing at right tackle. Is Nic Grigsby going to stay healthy and remain No. 1 ahead of Keola Antolin at tailback? The weakside LB spot is unsettled between Paul Vassallo and R.J. Young.
Breaking out: The 6-foot-4 Criner has a chance to be an All-Conference performer. 258-pound H-back Taimi Tutogi had a good spring and figures to help the offense in myriad ways as a runner, blocker and receiver. Who will get more sacks: Elmore or Reed? The over-under for the pair is 18.
Quote: Coach Mike Stoops on exceeding preseason expectations but then flopping in the Holiday Bowl against Nebraska: "Last year that was a little bit of a question mark for this team and a lot of people questioned our ability in picking us preseason eighth, but we finished tied for second and went to the Holiday Bowl. This is a team that I thought really achieved some good things last season and I think the loss in the Holiday Bowl really humbled us and fueled us in the offseason. We realized how quickly things can disintegrate if we don’t do things right. I think we are eager to get back out on the field and correct some of those things."
Notes: Arizona will hold most of its training camp practices at the Rincon Vista Complex, located near the school's soccer and track facilities on 15th Street and Plumer Ave. The newly renovated Jimenez Practice facility on campus will host its first practice later this month. The Wildcats will be at Ft. Huachuca from Aug. 11-15... Cornerback Shaquille Richardson, one of the three UCLA signees who was kicked off the team last month after being arrested for stealing a purse, is now with the Wildcats... Receiver Delashaun Dean, who had caught 132 passes over the past three seasons, was given the boot after being arrested on a gun charge. He has transferred to Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Seventh in a series of Pac-10 thoughts that might come from unusual angles (You can see Oregon State's 2009 prediction here).
Don't be surprised if ... Beavers offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf becomes a hot head-coaching candidate when new starting quarterback Ryan Katz posts surprisingly strong numbers this fall.
If the above line is giving you a sense of deja vu, it should. We wrote the same thing about Sonny Dykes last year, and Arizona's offensive coordinator was hired this past offseason as Louisiana Tech's head coach.
Langsdorf, who doubles as the Beavers' quarterbacks coach, will be a head coach within the next two years -- at least he should be -- and if Katz puts up impressive numbers as a first-year starter, a sharp AD somewhere will snatch him away from what many feel is the Pac-10's best collection of assistant coaches before the 2011 season.
Why? In his six seasons as offensive coordinator, the Beavers have posted five of their top-nine all-time seasons of total offense.
Remember the early careers of quarterbacks Matt Moore, Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao? One word: Yucky. Remember their late careers? Two words: Dramatic transformation. Canfield earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2009 and joined Moore in the NFL.
The fly sweep with James Rodgers and the "Wild Beaver" formation with Jacquizz Rodgers lining up at quarterback? Those innovations were executed by Langsdorf, who took over play-calling duties from head coach Mike Riley midway through the 2008 season.
Langsdorf is young enough -- 38 -- to be young and old enough to be experienced (14 years coaching, with three years in the NFL and CFL). Character? In 2007, he donated a kidney to Laurie Cavanaugh, the wife of Beavers offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh.
And, really, isn't it time that Riley developed a coaching tree? Is there any college coach who is a better role model for the best way to be?
Langsdorf learned to evaluate talent from Riley, who's built a top-25 program and NFL pipeline without ever ranking in the top 25 in recruiting. He's learned how to gather and cultivate a loyal, accomplished staff from Riley. He's learned how to win under less-than-ideal circumstances from Riley. He's learned how to conduct himself with class from Riley.
He also probably learned a bit from his father, Ed Langsdorf, who coached at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., Danny Langsdorf's alma mater, for 20 years before becoming a scout for the San Diego Chargers.
No assistant coach is a sure thing when he makes the leap to head coach. But Langsdorf feels pretty close to it, particularly in the right circumstances.
If Oregon State surges this year on offense, and Katz stands out as another Langsdorf pupil, it's hard to imagine Langsdorf won't raise more than a few eyebrows among ADs looking for a go-getter to jump-start their program.
Don't be surprised if ... Beavers offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf becomes a hot head-coaching candidate when new starting quarterback Ryan Katz posts surprisingly strong numbers this fall.
If the above line is giving you a sense of deja vu, it should. We wrote the same thing about Sonny Dykes last year, and Arizona's offensive coordinator was hired this past offseason as Louisiana Tech's head coach.
Langsdorf, who doubles as the Beavers' quarterbacks coach, will be a head coach within the next two years -- at least he should be -- and if Katz puts up impressive numbers as a first-year starter, a sharp AD somewhere will snatch him away from what many feel is the Pac-10's best collection of assistant coaches before the 2011 season.
Why? In his six seasons as offensive coordinator, the Beavers have posted five of their top-nine all-time seasons of total offense.
Remember the early careers of quarterbacks Matt Moore, Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao? One word: Yucky. Remember their late careers? Two words: Dramatic transformation. Canfield earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2009 and joined Moore in the NFL.
The fly sweep with James Rodgers and the "Wild Beaver" formation with Jacquizz Rodgers lining up at quarterback? Those innovations were executed by Langsdorf, who took over play-calling duties from head coach Mike Riley midway through the 2008 season.
Langsdorf is young enough -- 38 -- to be young and old enough to be experienced (14 years coaching, with three years in the NFL and CFL). Character? In 2007, he donated a kidney to Laurie Cavanaugh, the wife of Beavers offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh.
And, really, isn't it time that Riley developed a coaching tree? Is there any college coach who is a better role model for the best way to be?
Langsdorf learned to evaluate talent from Riley, who's built a top-25 program and NFL pipeline without ever ranking in the top 25 in recruiting. He's learned how to gather and cultivate a loyal, accomplished staff from Riley. He's learned how to win under less-than-ideal circumstances from Riley. He's learned how to conduct himself with class from Riley.
He also probably learned a bit from his father, Ed Langsdorf, who coached at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., Danny Langsdorf's alma mater, for 20 years before becoming a scout for the San Diego Chargers.
No assistant coach is a sure thing when he makes the leap to head coach. But Langsdorf feels pretty close to it, particularly in the right circumstances.
If Oregon State surges this year on offense, and Katz stands out as another Langsdorf pupil, it's hard to imagine Langsdorf won't raise more than a few eyebrows among ADs looking for a go-getter to jump-start their program.
Is Jeremiah Masoli possibly headed to Louisiana Tech? That's what one TV station in Monroe, La., is reporting.
The Bulldogs' new coach, Sonny Dykes, would be plenty familiar with Masoli. Dykes was Arizona's offensive coordinator last year when Masoli led the Ducks to a 44-41 double-overtime win in Tucson. In that game, Masoli accounted for six scores -- three running, three passing.
Masoli was kicked off the Ducks on June 9 after he was cited by police on charges of possessing less than one ounce of marijuana, driving with a suspended license and failure to stop at a driveway or a sidewalk while he was already serving a season-long suspension for his involvement in a fraternity house burglary in January.
Note: The report only said Masoli visited the Ruston, La., campus. And it also said Masoli is looking at Mississippi State.
Masoli could redshirt in 2010 and be able to play one season in 2011.
The Bulldogs' new coach, Sonny Dykes, would be plenty familiar with Masoli. Dykes was Arizona's offensive coordinator last year when Masoli led the Ducks to a 44-41 double-overtime win in Tucson. In that game, Masoli accounted for six scores -- three running, three passing.
Masoli was kicked off the Ducks on June 9 after he was cited by police on charges of possessing less than one ounce of marijuana, driving with a suspended license and failure to stop at a driveway or a sidewalk while he was already serving a season-long suspension for his involvement in a fraternity house burglary in January.
Note: The report only said Masoli visited the Ruston, La., campus. And it also said Masoli is looking at Mississippi State.
Masoli could redshirt in 2010 and be able to play one season in 2011.
Opening the mailbag: How does the Pac-10 survive (thrive)?
April, 23, 2010
4/23/10
7:08
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
To the notes.
Robert from Seattle writes: Who does the Pac-10 ultimately answer to? The fans or to the presidents? A follow-up not-so-quick question. If the Pac-10 wants to survive as a conference, what do they do?
Ted Miller: Who does the Pac-10 answer to? Easy: $.
Commissioner Larry Scott's charge going forward is to maximize sports revenue, which means football and men's basketball (but mostly football). Of course, he doesn't want to completely compromise the culture and values of the conference -- academic or otherwise -- but my guess is his first interest is revenue.
He has two basic issues ahead of him that he'd like to have a handle on before he goes off to negotiate new media/TV deals after the first of the year (the Pac-10's contracts with Fox and ESPN-ABC expire after the 2011-2012 academic year).
The first is expansion: Would adding teams increase revenue per team? The 10 existing members want their pie slices to grow, not get smaller, with expansion. So he's looking for teams that: 1. are interested in joining the Pac-10; 2. would increase revenue. Much of that, of course, is tied to the idea of creating more value -- real and perceived -- when negotiating new TV contracts.
The second issue -- if he cannot bring the presidents an expansion plan that works -- is defending the Pac-10's interest if expansion becomes the rage back east.
If, suddenly, a 16-team Big Ten and 16-team SEC are nose-to-nose for domination, Scott has to figure out what that means for the Pac-10. At the BCS meetings, Scott said he doesn't necessarily believe that would force the Pac-10 to follow the leaders. Maybe. But maybe not.
It's possible that the new, powerful super-conferences would make demands, such as second automatic berth in BCS bowl games (and perhaps an option for a third) as well as other special accommodations. That could create a significant revenue imbalance.
Moreover, Scott has to be aware of what might happen if there is a long-term and significant revenue imbalance between the Pac-10 and the super conferences.
For example, what happens if the SEC-16 starts to pay assistant coaches an average salary of $750,000, while Pac-10 assistants average just $250,000? Or think about this: What if Florida offered Mike Stoops $2.5 million to leave Arizona to become the Gators defensive coordinator? Or what if the existing imbalances in facilities become so pronounced that a significant percentage of recruits from southern California start heading east?
The Pac-10 could suddenly learn what it feels like to be a non-AQ conference. Heck, it could become a non-AQ conference.
Still, as I wrote on Thursday, we are wallowing in speculation and hypotheticals.
Ultimately, Scott's job is simple: He's going to try to improve the Pac-10's position in the marketplace, but, failing that, he needs to at least maintain it.
Matt from Athens, Ga., writes: When is the last time a USC player was not drafted in the 1st round? Does that point to any talent drop-off at USC or is it more particular players not fitting teams' needs in a given year?
Ted Miller: Last time? All the way back to ... 2007.
This is a good note from the Orange County Register though: "In the 75-year history of the National Football League draft, USC (63), Miami (56) and Ohio State (53) have produced the most first-round selections. On Thursday night in the 2010 first round, they combined for zero."
As for USC's talent, I don't think this is a moment to say the sky is falling. USC figures to have perhaps six players go in the next two rounds: Everson Griffen, Taylor Mays, Charles Brown, Damian Williams, Joe McKnight and Anthony McCoy. That ain't too shabby.
Michael from Tucson, Ariz., writes: Your Pac-10 predictions discount an Arizona team the returns almost the entire talent-ridden offense that, despite new coordinators, will run the same offense. As for the defense, it's still a Stoops team that always ranks high defensively, star talent or not. What's keeping the Cat's out of Pac-10 favorites?
Ted Miller: First, those aren't "predictions" -- they are "power rankings." They are based at the present moment. Things can change (and probably will).
A few points.
First, Arizona not only lost two coordinators, it lost two very good coordinators in new Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Dykes and new Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops. That can't be written off. The new foursome of co-coordinators are all smart, respected coaches, but it's prudent to take a wait-and-see attitude to how this unusual arrangement will work out going forward.
Second, Mike Stoops knows defense, without a doubt. But just like everyone else he needs players. As for "always" ranking highly: The 2007 unit ranked seventh in the Pac-10 in scoring defense and fifth in total defense.
Third, the 2010 defense must replace seven starters, including both defensive tackles, all three linebackers and half its secondary. That seven includes three second-team All-Pac-10 players from each level (tackle Earl Mitchell, linebacker Xavier Kelly and free safety Cam Nelson). Moreover, they are counting on a pair of JC transfers to start at linebacker. I'm skeptical of JC transfers until proven otherwise.
Now, despite all this, the Wildcats still look like a bowl team -- in large part because, as you note, the offense should be able to score on anybody. Therefore, they are a member of what I see as the Pac-10's extremely competitive and deep middle. I rank USC, Oregon and Oregon State as a clear top three. But from Nos. 4 to No. 8, you could arrange and re-arrange teams and not get much of an argument from me.
Luke from Philadelphia writes: I am a fan/follower of PSU and the Big Ten. But I am really excited about what looks like a lot of changes out there in Pac-10 country. Naturally I hate USC, so seeing them humbled last year was awesome. It's great to see the rest of your conference rise up and bring more drama to the season and the Rose Bowl. What's the feeling out there in the west? Did Pac-10 fans traditionally feel proud of USC for being the football flagship and thus feel sad about their becoming mortal in 2009? Or are they as happy as I am to see some drama in the conference, even if it means the Pac-10 could actually lose a Rose Bowl or two?
Ted Miller: Not getting a sense of any sadness from the other nine teams of USC slipping back -- potentially slipping back, I should type -- particularly when I was in Westwood last week.
A wide-open Pac-10 is more fun. For a while there, it felt like everyone was playing for second place behind the Trojans, though it's important to note that three times during the Pete Carroll Era, USC only shared the title with another conference team (2002, 2006, 2007).
As for pride in USC, it was more a case of a desire for more sympathy and less "Pac-1" ridiculousness. The Trojans would have dominated any other conference just as they did the Pac-10 from 2002-2008.
Would they have won seven consecutive SEC titles? Probably not. But I also think that if USC had played in the SEC, it would have won more national titles during that span.
Gerald from Norcross, Ga., writes: How's the Eric Berry versus Taylor Mays comparison looking?
Ted Miller: Fair to say that Berry is the decisive winner after going No. 5 overall. Heck, Pete Carroll even rated Mays below Texas' Earl Thomas by taking Thomas over Mays with the No. 14 pick.
And how about this: Who would have thought that Mays wouldn't even be the first Pac-10 safety selected (Cleveland just picked Oregon's T.J. Ward with the sixth pick of the second round)?
Tough day for Mays no doubt. But he'll eventually get drafted and have plenty of opportunities to prove his doubters wrong.
Craig from Corvallis, Ore., writes: Do you think that a super conference for the Pac-10 would be considered if it partially revived the old Southwest Conference? The conference could have two divisions, the pacific and southwest. The Pacific would be composed of the original Pac-8 members. The Southwest would include the Arizona schools and six Texas schools. Unfortunately, some of the old Southwest members would have to be left out (I know Arkansas would not mind, they are probably very happy in the SEC). I think the best fit would include: Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, SMU, TCU and Texas Tech (or Rice). It would be a bold move by Larry Scott but very interesting for the world of college football. I think it would be interesting to see SMU brought back to the forefront of college football after their long dark-age.
Ted Miller: The Country-Western Conference!
It would be even better if you dropped Baylor and added Oklahoma, though that breaks from your old Southwest Conference theme.
This is an interesting idea, and not a bad one. I think the chances of something like this happen are decidedly remote, but I've read ideas that were far worse.
Robert from Seattle writes: Who does the Pac-10 ultimately answer to? The fans or to the presidents? A follow-up not-so-quick question. If the Pac-10 wants to survive as a conference, what do they do?
Ted Miller: Who does the Pac-10 answer to? Easy: $.
Commissioner Larry Scott's charge going forward is to maximize sports revenue, which means football and men's basketball (but mostly football). Of course, he doesn't want to completely compromise the culture and values of the conference -- academic or otherwise -- but my guess is his first interest is revenue.
He has two basic issues ahead of him that he'd like to have a handle on before he goes off to negotiate new media/TV deals after the first of the year (the Pac-10's contracts with Fox and ESPN-ABC expire after the 2011-2012 academic year).
The first is expansion: Would adding teams increase revenue per team? The 10 existing members want their pie slices to grow, not get smaller, with expansion. So he's looking for teams that: 1. are interested in joining the Pac-10; 2. would increase revenue. Much of that, of course, is tied to the idea of creating more value -- real and perceived -- when negotiating new TV contracts.
The second issue -- if he cannot bring the presidents an expansion plan that works -- is defending the Pac-10's interest if expansion becomes the rage back east.
If, suddenly, a 16-team Big Ten and 16-team SEC are nose-to-nose for domination, Scott has to figure out what that means for the Pac-10. At the BCS meetings, Scott said he doesn't necessarily believe that would force the Pac-10 to follow the leaders. Maybe. But maybe not.
It's possible that the new, powerful super-conferences would make demands, such as second automatic berth in BCS bowl games (and perhaps an option for a third) as well as other special accommodations. That could create a significant revenue imbalance.
Moreover, Scott has to be aware of what might happen if there is a long-term and significant revenue imbalance between the Pac-10 and the super conferences.
For example, what happens if the SEC-16 starts to pay assistant coaches an average salary of $750,000, while Pac-10 assistants average just $250,000? Or think about this: What if Florida offered Mike Stoops $2.5 million to leave Arizona to become the Gators defensive coordinator? Or what if the existing imbalances in facilities become so pronounced that a significant percentage of recruits from southern California start heading east?
The Pac-10 could suddenly learn what it feels like to be a non-AQ conference. Heck, it could become a non-AQ conference.
Still, as I wrote on Thursday, we are wallowing in speculation and hypotheticals.
Ultimately, Scott's job is simple: He's going to try to improve the Pac-10's position in the marketplace, but, failing that, he needs to at least maintain it.
Matt from Athens, Ga., writes: When is the last time a USC player was not drafted in the 1st round? Does that point to any talent drop-off at USC or is it more particular players not fitting teams' needs in a given year?
Ted Miller: Last time? All the way back to ... 2007.
This is a good note from the Orange County Register though: "In the 75-year history of the National Football League draft, USC (63), Miami (56) and Ohio State (53) have produced the most first-round selections. On Thursday night in the 2010 first round, they combined for zero."
As for USC's talent, I don't think this is a moment to say the sky is falling. USC figures to have perhaps six players go in the next two rounds: Everson Griffen, Taylor Mays, Charles Brown, Damian Williams, Joe McKnight and Anthony McCoy. That ain't too shabby.
Michael from Tucson, Ariz., writes: Your Pac-10 predictions discount an Arizona team the returns almost the entire talent-ridden offense that, despite new coordinators, will run the same offense. As for the defense, it's still a Stoops team that always ranks high defensively, star talent or not. What's keeping the Cat's out of Pac-10 favorites?
Ted Miller: First, those aren't "predictions" -- they are "power rankings." They are based at the present moment. Things can change (and probably will).
A few points.
First, Arizona not only lost two coordinators, it lost two very good coordinators in new Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Dykes and new Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops. That can't be written off. The new foursome of co-coordinators are all smart, respected coaches, but it's prudent to take a wait-and-see attitude to how this unusual arrangement will work out going forward.
Second, Mike Stoops knows defense, without a doubt. But just like everyone else he needs players. As for "always" ranking highly: The 2007 unit ranked seventh in the Pac-10 in scoring defense and fifth in total defense.
Third, the 2010 defense must replace seven starters, including both defensive tackles, all three linebackers and half its secondary. That seven includes three second-team All-Pac-10 players from each level (tackle Earl Mitchell, linebacker Xavier Kelly and free safety Cam Nelson). Moreover, they are counting on a pair of JC transfers to start at linebacker. I'm skeptical of JC transfers until proven otherwise.
Now, despite all this, the Wildcats still look like a bowl team -- in large part because, as you note, the offense should be able to score on anybody. Therefore, they are a member of what I see as the Pac-10's extremely competitive and deep middle. I rank USC, Oregon and Oregon State as a clear top three. But from Nos. 4 to No. 8, you could arrange and re-arrange teams and not get much of an argument from me.
Luke from Philadelphia writes: I am a fan/follower of PSU and the Big Ten. But I am really excited about what looks like a lot of changes out there in Pac-10 country. Naturally I hate USC, so seeing them humbled last year was awesome. It's great to see the rest of your conference rise up and bring more drama to the season and the Rose Bowl. What's the feeling out there in the west? Did Pac-10 fans traditionally feel proud of USC for being the football flagship and thus feel sad about their becoming mortal in 2009? Or are they as happy as I am to see some drama in the conference, even if it means the Pac-10 could actually lose a Rose Bowl or two?
Ted Miller: Not getting a sense of any sadness from the other nine teams of USC slipping back -- potentially slipping back, I should type -- particularly when I was in Westwood last week.
A wide-open Pac-10 is more fun. For a while there, it felt like everyone was playing for second place behind the Trojans, though it's important to note that three times during the Pete Carroll Era, USC only shared the title with another conference team (2002, 2006, 2007).
As for pride in USC, it was more a case of a desire for more sympathy and less "Pac-1" ridiculousness. The Trojans would have dominated any other conference just as they did the Pac-10 from 2002-2008.
Would they have won seven consecutive SEC titles? Probably not. But I also think that if USC had played in the SEC, it would have won more national titles during that span.
Gerald from Norcross, Ga., writes: How's the Eric Berry versus Taylor Mays comparison looking?
Ted Miller: Fair to say that Berry is the decisive winner after going No. 5 overall. Heck, Pete Carroll even rated Mays below Texas' Earl Thomas by taking Thomas over Mays with the No. 14 pick.
And how about this: Who would have thought that Mays wouldn't even be the first Pac-10 safety selected (Cleveland just picked Oregon's T.J. Ward with the sixth pick of the second round)?
Tough day for Mays no doubt. But he'll eventually get drafted and have plenty of opportunities to prove his doubters wrong.
Craig from Corvallis, Ore., writes: Do you think that a super conference for the Pac-10 would be considered if it partially revived the old Southwest Conference? The conference could have two divisions, the pacific and southwest. The Pacific would be composed of the original Pac-8 members. The Southwest would include the Arizona schools and six Texas schools. Unfortunately, some of the old Southwest members would have to be left out (I know Arkansas would not mind, they are probably very happy in the SEC). I think the best fit would include: Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, SMU, TCU and Texas Tech (or Rice). It would be a bold move by Larry Scott but very interesting for the world of college football. I think it would be interesting to see SMU brought back to the forefront of college football after their long dark-age.
Ted Miller: The Country-Western Conference!
It would be even better if you dropped Baylor and added Oklahoma, though that breaks from your old Southwest Conference theme.
This is an interesting idea, and not a bad one. I think the chances of something like this happen are decidedly remote, but I've read ideas that were far worse.
It appears Mike Stoops has named a play-caller for his offense: Seth Littrell, who also oversees running backs and tight ends.
Littrell, 31, a Mike Leach disciple, joined the Wildcats staff in 2009 and played on Oklahoma's 2000 national championship team when Stoops was the Sooners defensive coordinator.
Littrell was named co-offensive coordinator with line coach Bill Bedenbaugh when Sonny Dykes was hired as Louisiana Tech's head coach. New quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo also was a candidate to call plays.,
But Littrell, who will spend game days in the press box, will make the final call, the Tucson Citizen reported.
“He and Bill set up the daily game plan, and then Seth calls it,” Stoops told the Web site. “Still, I’m not really worried about scoring points, really. I think we should be able to do that pretty consistently. I think we’re much better offensively than a year ago.”
That final point seems to be a theme of the Wildcats this spring: The offense in year two under quarterback Nick Foles has the potential to score a lot of points. Foles will have four or five legitimate threats at receiver and a reliable backfield, led by Nic Grigsby. The line also figures to be first-rate, led by veteran center Colin Baxter.
Moreover, unlike a number of Pac-10 teams, the Wildcats have solid depth and experience at quarterback.
The question is defense, where two JC transfers are being counting on to fill two of the three voids at linebacker.
Littrell, 31, a Mike Leach disciple, joined the Wildcats staff in 2009 and played on Oklahoma's 2000 national championship team when Stoops was the Sooners defensive coordinator.
Littrell was named co-offensive coordinator with line coach Bill Bedenbaugh when Sonny Dykes was hired as Louisiana Tech's head coach. New quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo also was a candidate to call plays.,
But Littrell, who will spend game days in the press box, will make the final call, the Tucson Citizen reported.
“He and Bill set up the daily game plan, and then Seth calls it,” Stoops told the Web site. “Still, I’m not really worried about scoring points, really. I think we should be able to do that pretty consistently. I think we’re much better offensively than a year ago.”
That final point seems to be a theme of the Wildcats this spring: The offense in year two under quarterback Nick Foles has the potential to score a lot of points. Foles will have four or five legitimate threats at receiver and a reliable backfield, led by Nic Grigsby. The line also figures to be first-rate, led by veteran center Colin Baxter.
Moreover, unlike a number of Pac-10 teams, the Wildcats have solid depth and experience at quarterback.
The question is defense, where two JC transfers are being counting on to fill two of the three voids at linebacker.
Arizona begins four-coordinator experience
March, 8, 2010
3/08/10
2:08
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Tim Kish, one of Arizona's quartet of coordinators, brandished a football helmet during a news conference Friday.
"I haven't seen any of these fly across the meeting room yet. Does that answer your question?" he said, drawing laughs.
Kish was specifically addressing how coaching life might be different with the Wildcats now that the notoriously hot-headed Stoops brothers -- head coach Mike and former defensive coordinator Mark -- won't be fussing at each other this season, but the gesture also seemed meaningful for coming to terms with Mike Stoops' admittedly "unorthodox" decision to enter spring practice with four coordinators and no designated playcallers.
There will be many voices of authority telling Arizona's players what to do in 2010.
"I wouldn't have done it if I didn't think it could work," Mike Stoops said.
Stoops lost his brother, now at Florida State, on defense and Sonny Dykes on offense. Dykes became Louisiana Tech's head coach.
The vacancies were filled by two men on both sides of the ball: line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and running backs/tight ends coach Seth Littrell on offense and linebackers coach Kish and secondary coach Greg Brown on defense. Bedenbaugh, Littrell and Kish were promoted from within. Brown was hired away from Colorado.
Moreover, Kish noted that Mike Stoops will always play a major role with the defense, while new quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo also is a possible playcaller.
Stoops said that deciding who ultimately has the final word on play calls will be "a process that will be on-going as we go through spring."
"It's probably a little bit unorthodox, but I think our players are as confident as they have ever been in our staff," he said. "I think they have a great feeling of continuity. That's the biggest thing. There's not a lack of trust there."
While there may be skepticism about how well the arrangement will work outside the program, all coaching parties were preaching a party line of jovial collaboration heading into spring practices.
"There's no egos between Greg and I," Kish said.
Said Bedenbaugh: "Everything up to this point has been great and it's going to continue to be great. ... We've been in this offense. We know what we want to do. We think alike. We want to run the same things."
Wildcats players also were -- not unexpectedly -- positive about the coaching situation. An obvious benefit for them is familiarity and continuity. There's no plan for wholesale scheme changes on either side of the ball. On offense, in particular, with 10 starters back, the transition should be fairly smooth.
But quarterback Nick Foles at least admitted that he's really not sure how everything will go down in practices and games.
"I am curious because it's something different. When there's something different that you're not used to, you're going to be curious," he said. "I know I'm going to hear a lot of voices, but these guys have a lot of great knowledge so I'm looking forward to them critiquing all of us and getting us better."
The initial task is fairly simple: coaches will coach their positions.
Foles' early focus with Scelfo is improving his footwork. Kish has to find three new starting linebackers. Brown has two holes in his secondary. Bedenbaugh's line has a chance to be one of the best in the Pac-10. Littrell has experience all over the field at the skill positions.
But at some point somebody has to be first-among-equals on both sides of the ball, other than Stoops. The collaboration will face a stress test as a pecking order is established this spring.
"That's what we'll do during scrimmages," Bedenbaugh said.
While there's consensus now, it remains to be seen among the coordinator quartet whether any helmets will be hurled to punctuate an opinion during future staff meetings.
"I haven't seen any of these fly across the meeting room yet. Does that answer your question?" he said, drawing laughs.
Kish was specifically addressing how coaching life might be different with the Wildcats now that the notoriously hot-headed Stoops brothers -- head coach Mike and former defensive coordinator Mark -- won't be fussing at each other this season, but the gesture also seemed meaningful for coming to terms with Mike Stoops' admittedly "unorthodox" decision to enter spring practice with four coordinators and no designated playcallers.
[+] Enlarge
Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US PresswireQuarterback Nick Foles has admitted he's curious to see how the two-coordinator system works out on offense.
Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US PresswireQuarterback Nick Foles has admitted he's curious to see how the two-coordinator system works out on offense."I wouldn't have done it if I didn't think it could work," Mike Stoops said.
Stoops lost his brother, now at Florida State, on defense and Sonny Dykes on offense. Dykes became Louisiana Tech's head coach.
The vacancies were filled by two men on both sides of the ball: line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and running backs/tight ends coach Seth Littrell on offense and linebackers coach Kish and secondary coach Greg Brown on defense. Bedenbaugh, Littrell and Kish were promoted from within. Brown was hired away from Colorado.
Moreover, Kish noted that Mike Stoops will always play a major role with the defense, while new quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo also is a possible playcaller.
Stoops said that deciding who ultimately has the final word on play calls will be "a process that will be on-going as we go through spring."
"It's probably a little bit unorthodox, but I think our players are as confident as they have ever been in our staff," he said. "I think they have a great feeling of continuity. That's the biggest thing. There's not a lack of trust there."
While there may be skepticism about how well the arrangement will work outside the program, all coaching parties were preaching a party line of jovial collaboration heading into spring practices.
"There's no egos between Greg and I," Kish said.
Said Bedenbaugh: "Everything up to this point has been great and it's going to continue to be great. ... We've been in this offense. We know what we want to do. We think alike. We want to run the same things."
Wildcats players also were -- not unexpectedly -- positive about the coaching situation. An obvious benefit for them is familiarity and continuity. There's no plan for wholesale scheme changes on either side of the ball. On offense, in particular, with 10 starters back, the transition should be fairly smooth.
But quarterback Nick Foles at least admitted that he's really not sure how everything will go down in practices and games.
"I am curious because it's something different. When there's something different that you're not used to, you're going to be curious," he said. "I know I'm going to hear a lot of voices, but these guys have a lot of great knowledge so I'm looking forward to them critiquing all of us and getting us better."
The initial task is fairly simple: coaches will coach their positions.
Foles' early focus with Scelfo is improving his footwork. Kish has to find three new starting linebackers. Brown has two holes in his secondary. Bedenbaugh's line has a chance to be one of the best in the Pac-10. Littrell has experience all over the field at the skill positions.
But at some point somebody has to be first-among-equals on both sides of the ball, other than Stoops. The collaboration will face a stress test as a pecking order is established this spring.
"That's what we'll do during scrimmages," Bedenbaugh said.
While there's consensus now, it remains to be seen among the coordinator quartet whether any helmets will be hurled to punctuate an opinion during future staff meetings.
Holiday Bowl debacle still haunts Arizona
March, 8, 2010
3/08/10
12:18
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona finished tied for second in the Pac-10 last year. It beat Oregon State, Stanford, USC and arch-rival Arizona State. After a mostly miserable decade without a bowl berth, the Wildcats have earned two consecutive postseason invitations.
Slowly but surely, Mike Stoops has built a contender.
Holiday Bowl.
That is a conversation-stopper in Tucson. Bring up the Wildcats 33-0 Holiday Bowl drubbing at the hands of Nebraska, and everyone around the program just shakes their heads.
"It was kind of a meltdown of major proportions," Stoops said.
Yep.
The Wildcats, who started spring practices on Friday, are a combined 16-10 over the past two seasons. Nine of those defeats came by 10 or fewer points and four by three points or fewer. Suffice it to say, Stoops has built a competitive team that is much different than the crew he inherited.
Oh, but that Holiday Bowl. It was so ugly -- Arizona was outgained 396 yards to 109 -- that it seemingly doused much of the momentum for a program on the rise.
"We lost a lot of respect in that game and that's just how it happens -- it can happen pretty quickly," Stoops said. "I think our players are excited to regain their stature."
That's the rub. The embarrassment of the Bawliday Bowl represents a challenge: Move forward and up or sink back down into Pac-10 and national irrelevancy.
There are plenty of challenges ahead that have nothing to do with the bowl game dismantling. Both coordinators -- Mark Stoops on defense and Sonny Dykes on offense -- are gone. The younger Stoops is now running Florida State's defense and Dykes is Louisiana Tech's head coach.
Mike Stoops opted to fill those vacancies with co-coordinators: line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and running backs/tight ends coach Seth Littrell on offense and linebackers coach Tim Kish and secondary coach Greg Brown on defense. Bedenbaugh, Littrell and Kish were promoted from within. Brown was hired away from Colorado.
Toss in Stoops' interest in defense and new quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo on offense -- he might end up calling the plays; Stoops has yet to assign the duties -- and that's a lot of chefs in the kitchen.
On the players' side of things, there's plenty of continuity on offense with 10 guys with significant starting experience back. The defense is another story, with seven starters gone, including all three linebackers and both defensive tackles.
Still, to avoid taking a step back as a program, the first step forward might be coming to terms with the, well, you know.
What the heck happened?
"We made some tactical mistakes," Stoops said.
Stoops wasn't happy with some of the bowl preparation and his team's frame of mind on game day. And Nebraska surprised the Wildcats with their schemes on both sides of the ball. On offense, the Wildcats "just couldn't get open," Stoops said.
Cornerback Trevin Wade offers his own theory.
"People wanted to go home for Christmas and see their families," he said. "I know it's all business and everything, but we're still college kids and people wanted to go home. Had they given us a couple days, people would have come back happy and ready to go."
Hmm. Asked about that, quarterback Nick Foles said, "He might have something there but I don't know. I really have no comment on that."
Foles' ultimate diagnosis seems the most popular: "It was one of those games when it seemed like nothing could go right. I really can't explain it."
Foles was 6-for-20 for 28 yards with an interception, and that performance is perhaps the main reason he still has to look over his shoulder at backup Matt Scott this spring. Scott started the first three games last year before Foles took over.
Foles said the game should operate as a "chip on our shoulders" during spring practices.
"It makes your stomach hurt watching that film. It really humbles you," he said. "But I don't think you burn the tape. You want to. But to become a great player, you've got to experience things like that and learn from it."
Stoops accepts the ultimate responsibility for the Holiday Bowl, but it's also clear that he's just a bit irked at how it has obscured what his team accomplished in 2009 and how the team has gained steam the past two seasons.
And he knows that the meltdown will fuel skeptics who believe the Wildcats will fall back into the pack in 2010.
"A lot of people don't think we're going to be this or that. They didn't think that last year. That's fine with us. The proof will be in the scoreboard and in the wins and losses," he said. "We had a lot of good wins. Everyone forgets about Stanford. Everyone forgets about Oregon State. Everybody forgets about USC. You don't beat those teams without having a good program. You just can't do it."
Doing it again will be the best way to make everyone forget about the, er, thing that happened in San Diego.
[+] Enlarge
Chris Morrison/US PresswireMike Stoops feels the disappointing Holiday Bowl performance overshadows the progress Arizona has made the past two seasons.
Chris Morrison/US PresswireMike Stoops feels the disappointing Holiday Bowl performance overshadows the progress Arizona has made the past two seasons.Holiday Bowl.
That is a conversation-stopper in Tucson. Bring up the Wildcats 33-0 Holiday Bowl drubbing at the hands of Nebraska, and everyone around the program just shakes their heads.
"It was kind of a meltdown of major proportions," Stoops said.
Yep.
The Wildcats, who started spring practices on Friday, are a combined 16-10 over the past two seasons. Nine of those defeats came by 10 or fewer points and four by three points or fewer. Suffice it to say, Stoops has built a competitive team that is much different than the crew he inherited.
Oh, but that Holiday Bowl. It was so ugly -- Arizona was outgained 396 yards to 109 -- that it seemingly doused much of the momentum for a program on the rise.
"We lost a lot of respect in that game and that's just how it happens -- it can happen pretty quickly," Stoops said. "I think our players are excited to regain their stature."
That's the rub. The embarrassment of the Bawliday Bowl represents a challenge: Move forward and up or sink back down into Pac-10 and national irrelevancy.
There are plenty of challenges ahead that have nothing to do with the bowl game dismantling. Both coordinators -- Mark Stoops on defense and Sonny Dykes on offense -- are gone. The younger Stoops is now running Florida State's defense and Dykes is Louisiana Tech's head coach.
Mike Stoops opted to fill those vacancies with co-coordinators: line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and running backs/tight ends coach Seth Littrell on offense and linebackers coach Tim Kish and secondary coach Greg Brown on defense. Bedenbaugh, Littrell and Kish were promoted from within. Brown was hired away from Colorado.
Toss in Stoops' interest in defense and new quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo on offense -- he might end up calling the plays; Stoops has yet to assign the duties -- and that's a lot of chefs in the kitchen.
On the players' side of things, there's plenty of continuity on offense with 10 guys with significant starting experience back. The defense is another story, with seven starters gone, including all three linebackers and both defensive tackles.
Still, to avoid taking a step back as a program, the first step forward might be coming to terms with the, well, you know.
What the heck happened?
"We made some tactical mistakes," Stoops said.
Stoops wasn't happy with some of the bowl preparation and his team's frame of mind on game day. And Nebraska surprised the Wildcats with their schemes on both sides of the ball. On offense, the Wildcats "just couldn't get open," Stoops said.
Cornerback Trevin Wade offers his own theory.
"People wanted to go home for Christmas and see their families," he said. "I know it's all business and everything, but we're still college kids and people wanted to go home. Had they given us a couple days, people would have come back happy and ready to go."
Hmm. Asked about that, quarterback Nick Foles said, "He might have something there but I don't know. I really have no comment on that."
Foles' ultimate diagnosis seems the most popular: "It was one of those games when it seemed like nothing could go right. I really can't explain it."
Foles was 6-for-20 for 28 yards with an interception, and that performance is perhaps the main reason he still has to look over his shoulder at backup Matt Scott this spring. Scott started the first three games last year before Foles took over.
Foles said the game should operate as a "chip on our shoulders" during spring practices.
"It makes your stomach hurt watching that film. It really humbles you," he said. "But I don't think you burn the tape. You want to. But to become a great player, you've got to experience things like that and learn from it."
Stoops accepts the ultimate responsibility for the Holiday Bowl, but it's also clear that he's just a bit irked at how it has obscured what his team accomplished in 2009 and how the team has gained steam the past two seasons.
And he knows that the meltdown will fuel skeptics who believe the Wildcats will fall back into the pack in 2010.
"A lot of people don't think we're going to be this or that. They didn't think that last year. That's fine with us. The proof will be in the scoreboard and in the wins and losses," he said. "We had a lot of good wins. Everyone forgets about Stanford. Everyone forgets about Oregon State. Everybody forgets about USC. You don't beat those teams without having a good program. You just can't do it."
Doing it again will be the best way to make everyone forget about the, er, thing that happened in San Diego.
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Will have a lot more from Arizona spring practices, but here are some notes and depth chart updates after a round of interviews.
- Coach Mike Stoops said he still hasn't decided who will call plays on offense and defense. He said that he'll make that decision after evaluating his options during spring practices. Stoops lost both coordinators this offseason -- Sonny Dykes on offense and Mark Stoops on defense -- and replaced them with co-coordinators, Bill Bedenbaugh and Seth Littrell on offense and Greg Brown and Tim Kish on defense. Only Brown, who came from Colorado, wasn't already on staff.
- Three key players will sit out this spring. Starting guard Vaughn Dotsy had back surgery on Wednesday. Running back Greg Nwoko is still recovering from a shoulder injury. Projected starting defensive tackle Dominique Austin is out with a toe injury.
- While Nick Foles is the No. 1 quarterback, coaches are emphasizing that backup Matt Scott will play a role this year. And if he outplays Foles this spring, the QB competition will be on again in the preseason.
- The Wildcats are replacing all three starting linebackers from 2009. Junior college transfers Paul Vassallo and Derek Earls are listed as the first-team "Will" and "Mike" linebackers, respectively. Jake Fischer is No. 1 at "Sam."
- Joe Perkins steps in for Cam Nelson at free safety, while Marcus Benjamin replaces Devin Ross at cornerback opposite Trevin Wade.
- With Austin out, JC transfer Jonathan Hollins steps in at defensive tackle besides nose tackle Lolomana Mikaele.
- Richard Morrison has moved from quarterback to receiver.
- With offensive lineman Adam Grant getting a sixth year of eligibility, he slides in at left tackle with Phillip Garcia opposite him on the right side. Colin Baxter is the center and Conan Amituanai is the left guard. With Dotsy out, Jovon Hayes, Chris Putton and Trace Biskin will get looks.
What to watch in the Pac-10 this spring
February, 19, 2010
2/19/10
11:38
AM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
Taking a look at what to watch for as teams head into spring practices, officially ringing the bell on preparations for the 2010 season.
Arizona
Spring practice starts: March 5
Spring game: April 10
What to watch:
The new coordinators: The Wildcats lost two outstanding coordinators -- Sonny Dykes on offense and Mark Stoops on defense -- and decided to replace them with four guys. Tim Kish, promoted from linebackers coach, and Greg Brown, hired away from Colorado, will run the defense, while Bill Bedenbaugh and Seth Littrell, both promoted from within, will run the offense, with an assist from new quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo. These guys will need to develop a coaching rhythm this spring that will ensure things go smoothly in the fall.
The JC linebackers: The Wildcats must replace three starting linebackers, and JC transfers Derek Earls and Paul Vassallo weren't brought in to watch. If they step into starting spots, then guys like sophomore Jake Fischer, redshirt freshman Trevor Erno and redshirt freshman Cordarius Golston can fight over the third spot and add depth.
Foles 2.0: Quarterback Nick Foles was dynamic when he was on last year, but the shutout loss in the Holiday Bowl served as a reminder that he's not there yet. He's going to be surrounded by a lot of weapons at the skill positions, so he should be able to take another step forward this spring, even with the loss of Dykes.
Arizona State
Spring practice starts: March 30
Spring game: April 24
What to watch:
The QB battle: It's a wide-open battle between Michigan transfer Steven Threet and Brock Osweiler, though the new guy -- Threet -- is perhaps the most intriguing. Samson Szakacsy was supposed to join the battle, but his elbow problem is acting up again, coach Dennis Erickson said Thursday. The competition will be overseen by new offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, who's been handed an offense that has sputtered the past two seasons.
O-line issues (take 3): The Sun Devils' offensive line has struggled three years running, and it won't matter who starts at QB if the unit continues to get pushed around. First off is health. Will Matt Hustad, Zach Schlink, Garth Gerhart, Mike Marcisz and Adam Tello be ready to battle the entire spring? If so, there should be good competition here, particularly with a couple of JC transfers looking to break through.
The secondary: The Sun Devils were very good against the pass last year, but three starters in the secondary need to be replaced. Both starting corners are gone -- though if Omar Bolden successfully returns from a knee injury he should step in on one side -- as well as strong safety Ryan McFoy. The good news is a number of guys saw action here last fall, so the rebuilt unit won't be completely green.
California
Spring practice starts: March 6
Spring game: N/A
What to watch:
Embattled Riley: When things go well, the quarterback often gets too much credit. When things go badly... well, you know. Senior Kevin Riley has started 22 games and has played well at times. But there's a reason he's in a quarterback competition for a third consecutive season. Will he be able to hold off a rising Beau Sweeney this spring?
Rebuilding the D: The Bears had questions on defense even before coordinator Bob Gregory unexpectedly bolted for Boise State. Five starters need to be replaced, including mainstays like end Tyson Alualu and cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson, both first-team All-Pac-10 performers. And with Gregory gone, a new, likely more aggressive scheme now must be incorporated.
RB depth: Shane Vereen is the obvious starter after the departure of Jahvid Best, but Cal has, during the Tedford years, always used two backs. So who's the No. 2? Sophomore Covaughn DeBoskie was third on the team with 211 yards rushing last year, while promising freshman Dasarte Yarnway redshirted. One or the other will look to create separation.
Oregon
Spring practice starts: March 30
Spring game: May 1
What to watch:
The D-line: The Ducks lost perennially underrated end Will Tukuafu, tackle Blake Ferras and backup Simi Toeaina up front. Considering the plan is to run an eight-deep rotation, there will be plenty of opportunities for players like ends Terrell Turner and Taylor Hart and tackles Anthony Anderson, Zac Clark, Wade Keliikipi as well as 6-foot-7 JC transfer Isaac Remington to work their way into the rotation.
The passing game: The Ducks' passing game was inconsistent last year, though by season's end receiver Jeff Maehl was playing at a high level. Refining that part of the offense with quarterback Jeremiah Masoli would make the spread-option even more dangerous. The receiving corps is looking for playmakers, which means youngsters, such as redshirt freshman Diante Jackson, might break through.
Who steps in for Ed Dickson? Oregon only loses one starter on offense, but tight end Ed Dickson is a big one. David Paulson was a capable backup last year, and mercurial Malachi Lewis may be ready to step up. Expect JC transfer Brandon Williams to work his way into the mix.
Oregon State
Spring practice starts: March 29
Spring game: May 1
What to watch:
Katz steps in: Sean Canfield is off to the NFL, so the Beavers' biggest question this spring is crowning a new starting quarterback. Most observers feel the job is Ryan Katz's to lose, and the sophomore looks good throwing the rock around. Still, being a quarterback is about more than a good arm. If he falters, Virginia transfer Peter Lalich might offer an alternative.
Better defensive pressure: The Beavers run a high-pressure defensive scheme, so when the stat sheet says they only recorded 17 sacks in 2009, which ranked ninth in the conference and was 22 fewer than in 2008, you know something is wrong. The entire defensive line is back, so the hope is a year of seasoning, particularly for ends Gabe Miller, Matt LaGrone and Kevin Frahm will mean better production this fall.
The O-line grows up: The Beavers' offensive line returns four starters from a unit that got better as the year went on. Still, it yielded 29 sacks and the run game struggled at times -- Jacquizz Rodgers often had to make yards on his own. Talented left tackle Michael Philipp, who did a solid job as a true freshman starter, should be much improved. A second year playing together with underrated senior center Alex Linnenkohl also should help.
Stanford
Spring practice starts: March 1
Spring game: April 17
What to watch:
Replacing Toby: How do you replace Toby Gerhart and his 1,871 yards and 28 touchdowns? You do not. But the hope is sophomores Tyler Gaffney and Stepfan Taylor and senior Jeremy Stewart will provide a solid answer that keeps the Cardinal's power-running game churning. It helps to have four starters back from a good offensive line.
Rebuilding the D: If you toss in linebacker Clinton Snyder and end Erik Lorig, Stanford must replace six defensive starters from a unit that ranked near the bottom of the conference in 2009. The secondary is a particular concern after giving up 23 touchdown passes and a 63 percent completion rate. The hope is good recruiting from coach Jim Harbaugh will provide better athleticism in the back-half. Another issue: There was huge coaching turnover, particularly on defense during the offseason, so new coordinator Vic Fangio & Co. will be implementing new schemes and learning about what sort of talent they have to work with.
Luck steps up: This was Gerhart's team in 2009. Now it's Luck's. He might be the most talented QB in the conference. Heck, he might become a Heisman Trophy candidate before he's done. But life won't be as easy without defenses crowding the line of scrimmage because they are fretting about Gerhart. Luck will need to step up his game -- and leadership -- to meet the challenge.
UCLA
Spring practice starts: April 1
Spring game: April 24
What to watch:
Prince becomes king? The fact that offensive coordinator Norm Chow has been such an advocate for sophomore quarterback Kevin Prince should tell you something: He's got the ability. Prince flashed some skills during an injury-plagued 2009 season, and it's important to remember he was a redshirt freshman playing with a questionable supporting cast, particularly the O-line. Prince needs to improve his decision-making, and the passing game needs to develop a big-play capability that stretches defenses.
Front seven rebuilding: UCLA not only must replace six starters on defense, it must replace six guys everyone in the Pac-10 has heard of. And five of the lost starters come from the front seven, and the guys who were listed as backups on the 2009 depth chart won't necessarily inspire confidence. In other words, the Bruins will try to take a step forward in the conference with what figures to be an extremely green defense, particularly up front.
The running game? Know what would help Prince and a young defense? A better running game. The Bruins were significantly better in 2009 than in 2008, but that merely means one of the worst rushing attacks in the nation moved up to ninth in the conference. There's a logjam of options at running back -- with a couple of dynamic runners in the incoming recruiting class -- and the offensive line welcomes back a wealth of experience. It would mean a lot if the Bruins could boost their rushing total to around 150 yards per game (from 114.6 in 2009).
USC
Spring practice starts: TBA
Spring game: TBA
What to watch:
Welcome, Lane Kiffin: The Pete Carroll era is over. Enter Lane Kiffin & Co. In terms of scheme, things will be fairly consistent, seeing that Kiffin was formerly Carroll's offensive coordinator and Monte Kiffin was Carroll's defensive mentor. But there will be a period of adjustment. The guess is the hyper-intense Ed Orgeron might provide a bit of a shock to the D-linemen.
Matt Barkley Year 2: Barkley won't have the president of his fan club -- Carroll -- around anymore. He's a true talent. Everyone knows that, even without Carroll's daily sonnets about his ability. But the numbers show he threw 14 interceptions in 12 games vs. 15 TD passes last year, so he's obviously not arrived. Kiffin runs the offense, so you can expect these two to work closely together. Barkley will have plenty of help on offense, but the talent won't be as good as it was in 2009, with six starters needing to be replaced, including his top two targets (receiver Damian Williams and tight end Anthony McCoy).
Secondary questions: All four starters from the defensive backfield are gone, including center fielder Taylor Mays. It helps that cornerback Shareece Wright, an academic casualty in 2009, will be back. He was a projected starter last fall. There's plenty of talent on hand, but last year's team proved that the Trojans don't always just plug-and-play.
Washington
Spring practice starts: March 30
Spring game: April 30
What to watch:
Unleashing Locker: The return of quarterback Jake Locker was the best news any Pac-10 team received this offseason. Locker's passing improved dramatically in just one year under coach Steve Sarkisian, so it's not unreasonable to expect him to be even better in 2010, particularly with nine starters back on offense and just about every skill player on the depth chart.
Replacing Te'o-Nesheim: Daniel Te'o-Nesheim was a four-year starter who blossomed into an All-Pac-10 performer despite almost no supporting cast. He led the Huskies with 11 sacks in 2009, which was 8.5 more than any other player. Also, opposite end Darrion Jones is gone, and the cast at the position is extremely young. Who's the next pass-rushing threat?
The Butler did it: Linebacker Donald Butler blossomed last year, earning second-team All-Pac-10 honors and leading the Huskies in tackles and tackles for loss (15.5). Toss in E.J. Savannah's failure to earn a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA, and the Huskies have some questions at linebacker. Mason Foster is a sure thing at one outside position, and Cort Dennison likely will fill a second gap, but there's an opportunity for a young player to fill void No. 3.
Washington State
Spring practice starts: March 25
Spring game: April 24
What to watch:
Tuel time: Coach Paul Wulff decided that freshman Jeff Tuel was the Cougars' quarterback of the future last year, so he opted to start him instead of going with a redshirt season. Tuel showed promise in six games, completing 59 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and five picks. Most of his supporting cast is back on offense, so the expectation is the Cougars' offense could take a significant step forward this fall.
O-line intrigue: Some of the Cougars starting on the offensive line last fall didn't look like Pac-10 players. Injuries and youth made the line a glaring area of weakness, even with veteran Kenny Alfred at center. Alfred is gone, but the expectations are that last year's youth will be saltier after taking their knocks. Plus, a couple of juco additions should be in the mix for starting jobs.
Growing up: There is hope in that 19 starters are back from a team that played a lot of underclassmen in 2009. That youth should mature in 2010. And solid recruiting classes the past two seasons should offer an infusion of young promise.
Arizona
Spring practice starts: March 5
Spring game: April 10
What to watch:
The new coordinators: The Wildcats lost two outstanding coordinators -- Sonny Dykes on offense and Mark Stoops on defense -- and decided to replace them with four guys. Tim Kish, promoted from linebackers coach, and Greg Brown, hired away from Colorado, will run the defense, while Bill Bedenbaugh and Seth Littrell, both promoted from within, will run the offense, with an assist from new quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo. These guys will need to develop a coaching rhythm this spring that will ensure things go smoothly in the fall.
The JC linebackers: The Wildcats must replace three starting linebackers, and JC transfers Derek Earls and Paul Vassallo weren't brought in to watch. If they step into starting spots, then guys like sophomore Jake Fischer, redshirt freshman Trevor Erno and redshirt freshman Cordarius Golston can fight over the third spot and add depth.
Foles 2.0: Quarterback Nick Foles was dynamic when he was on last year, but the shutout loss in the Holiday Bowl served as a reminder that he's not there yet. He's going to be surrounded by a lot of weapons at the skill positions, so he should be able to take another step forward this spring, even with the loss of Dykes.
Arizona State
Spring practice starts: March 30
Spring game: April 24
What to watch:
The QB battle: It's a wide-open battle between Michigan transfer Steven Threet and Brock Osweiler, though the new guy -- Threet -- is perhaps the most intriguing. Samson Szakacsy was supposed to join the battle, but his elbow problem is acting up again, coach Dennis Erickson said Thursday. The competition will be overseen by new offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, who's been handed an offense that has sputtered the past two seasons.
O-line issues (take 3): The Sun Devils' offensive line has struggled three years running, and it won't matter who starts at QB if the unit continues to get pushed around. First off is health. Will Matt Hustad, Zach Schlink, Garth Gerhart, Mike Marcisz and Adam Tello be ready to battle the entire spring? If so, there should be good competition here, particularly with a couple of JC transfers looking to break through.
The secondary: The Sun Devils were very good against the pass last year, but three starters in the secondary need to be replaced. Both starting corners are gone -- though if Omar Bolden successfully returns from a knee injury he should step in on one side -- as well as strong safety Ryan McFoy. The good news is a number of guys saw action here last fall, so the rebuilt unit won't be completely green.
California
Spring practice starts: March 6
Spring game: N/A
What to watch:
Embattled Riley: When things go well, the quarterback often gets too much credit. When things go badly... well, you know. Senior Kevin Riley has started 22 games and has played well at times. But there's a reason he's in a quarterback competition for a third consecutive season. Will he be able to hold off a rising Beau Sweeney this spring?
Rebuilding the D: The Bears had questions on defense even before coordinator Bob Gregory unexpectedly bolted for Boise State. Five starters need to be replaced, including mainstays like end Tyson Alualu and cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson, both first-team All-Pac-10 performers. And with Gregory gone, a new, likely more aggressive scheme now must be incorporated.
RB depth: Shane Vereen is the obvious starter after the departure of Jahvid Best, but Cal has, during the Tedford years, always used two backs. So who's the No. 2? Sophomore Covaughn DeBoskie was third on the team with 211 yards rushing last year, while promising freshman Dasarte Yarnway redshirted. One or the other will look to create separation.
Oregon
Spring practice starts: March 30
Spring game: May 1
What to watch:
The D-line: The Ducks lost perennially underrated end Will Tukuafu, tackle Blake Ferras and backup Simi Toeaina up front. Considering the plan is to run an eight-deep rotation, there will be plenty of opportunities for players like ends Terrell Turner and Taylor Hart and tackles Anthony Anderson, Zac Clark, Wade Keliikipi as well as 6-foot-7 JC transfer Isaac Remington to work their way into the rotation.
The passing game: The Ducks' passing game was inconsistent last year, though by season's end receiver Jeff Maehl was playing at a high level. Refining that part of the offense with quarterback Jeremiah Masoli would make the spread-option even more dangerous. The receiving corps is looking for playmakers, which means youngsters, such as redshirt freshman Diante Jackson, might break through.
Who steps in for Ed Dickson? Oregon only loses one starter on offense, but tight end Ed Dickson is a big one. David Paulson was a capable backup last year, and mercurial Malachi Lewis may be ready to step up. Expect JC transfer Brandon Williams to work his way into the mix.
Oregon State
Spring practice starts: March 29
Spring game: May 1
What to watch:
Katz steps in: Sean Canfield is off to the NFL, so the Beavers' biggest question this spring is crowning a new starting quarterback. Most observers feel the job is Ryan Katz's to lose, and the sophomore looks good throwing the rock around. Still, being a quarterback is about more than a good arm. If he falters, Virginia transfer Peter Lalich might offer an alternative.
Better defensive pressure: The Beavers run a high-pressure defensive scheme, so when the stat sheet says they only recorded 17 sacks in 2009, which ranked ninth in the conference and was 22 fewer than in 2008, you know something is wrong. The entire defensive line is back, so the hope is a year of seasoning, particularly for ends Gabe Miller, Matt LaGrone and Kevin Frahm will mean better production this fall.
The O-line grows up: The Beavers' offensive line returns four starters from a unit that got better as the year went on. Still, it yielded 29 sacks and the run game struggled at times -- Jacquizz Rodgers often had to make yards on his own. Talented left tackle Michael Philipp, who did a solid job as a true freshman starter, should be much improved. A second year playing together with underrated senior center Alex Linnenkohl also should help.
Stanford
Spring practice starts: March 1
Spring game: April 17
What to watch:
Replacing Toby: How do you replace Toby Gerhart and his 1,871 yards and 28 touchdowns? You do not. But the hope is sophomores Tyler Gaffney and Stepfan Taylor and senior Jeremy Stewart will provide a solid answer that keeps the Cardinal's power-running game churning. It helps to have four starters back from a good offensive line.
Rebuilding the D: If you toss in linebacker Clinton Snyder and end Erik Lorig, Stanford must replace six defensive starters from a unit that ranked near the bottom of the conference in 2009. The secondary is a particular concern after giving up 23 touchdown passes and a 63 percent completion rate. The hope is good recruiting from coach Jim Harbaugh will provide better athleticism in the back-half. Another issue: There was huge coaching turnover, particularly on defense during the offseason, so new coordinator Vic Fangio & Co. will be implementing new schemes and learning about what sort of talent they have to work with.
Luck steps up: This was Gerhart's team in 2009. Now it's Luck's. He might be the most talented QB in the conference. Heck, he might become a Heisman Trophy candidate before he's done. But life won't be as easy without defenses crowding the line of scrimmage because they are fretting about Gerhart. Luck will need to step up his game -- and leadership -- to meet the challenge.
UCLA
Spring practice starts: April 1
Spring game: April 24
What to watch:
Prince becomes king? The fact that offensive coordinator Norm Chow has been such an advocate for sophomore quarterback Kevin Prince should tell you something: He's got the ability. Prince flashed some skills during an injury-plagued 2009 season, and it's important to remember he was a redshirt freshman playing with a questionable supporting cast, particularly the O-line. Prince needs to improve his decision-making, and the passing game needs to develop a big-play capability that stretches defenses.
Front seven rebuilding: UCLA not only must replace six starters on defense, it must replace six guys everyone in the Pac-10 has heard of. And five of the lost starters come from the front seven, and the guys who were listed as backups on the 2009 depth chart won't necessarily inspire confidence. In other words, the Bruins will try to take a step forward in the conference with what figures to be an extremely green defense, particularly up front.
The running game? Know what would help Prince and a young defense? A better running game. The Bruins were significantly better in 2009 than in 2008, but that merely means one of the worst rushing attacks in the nation moved up to ninth in the conference. There's a logjam of options at running back -- with a couple of dynamic runners in the incoming recruiting class -- and the offensive line welcomes back a wealth of experience. It would mean a lot if the Bruins could boost their rushing total to around 150 yards per game (from 114.6 in 2009).
USC
Spring practice starts: TBA
Spring game: TBA
What to watch:
Welcome, Lane Kiffin: The Pete Carroll era is over. Enter Lane Kiffin & Co. In terms of scheme, things will be fairly consistent, seeing that Kiffin was formerly Carroll's offensive coordinator and Monte Kiffin was Carroll's defensive mentor. But there will be a period of adjustment. The guess is the hyper-intense Ed Orgeron might provide a bit of a shock to the D-linemen.
Matt Barkley Year 2: Barkley won't have the president of his fan club -- Carroll -- around anymore. He's a true talent. Everyone knows that, even without Carroll's daily sonnets about his ability. But the numbers show he threw 14 interceptions in 12 games vs. 15 TD passes last year, so he's obviously not arrived. Kiffin runs the offense, so you can expect these two to work closely together. Barkley will have plenty of help on offense, but the talent won't be as good as it was in 2009, with six starters needing to be replaced, including his top two targets (receiver Damian Williams and tight end Anthony McCoy).
Secondary questions: All four starters from the defensive backfield are gone, including center fielder Taylor Mays. It helps that cornerback Shareece Wright, an academic casualty in 2009, will be back. He was a projected starter last fall. There's plenty of talent on hand, but last year's team proved that the Trojans don't always just plug-and-play.
Washington
Spring practice starts: March 30
Spring game: April 30
What to watch:
Unleashing Locker: The return of quarterback Jake Locker was the best news any Pac-10 team received this offseason. Locker's passing improved dramatically in just one year under coach Steve Sarkisian, so it's not unreasonable to expect him to be even better in 2010, particularly with nine starters back on offense and just about every skill player on the depth chart.
Replacing Te'o-Nesheim: Daniel Te'o-Nesheim was a four-year starter who blossomed into an All-Pac-10 performer despite almost no supporting cast. He led the Huskies with 11 sacks in 2009, which was 8.5 more than any other player. Also, opposite end Darrion Jones is gone, and the cast at the position is extremely young. Who's the next pass-rushing threat?
The Butler did it: Linebacker Donald Butler blossomed last year, earning second-team All-Pac-10 honors and leading the Huskies in tackles and tackles for loss (15.5). Toss in E.J. Savannah's failure to earn a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA, and the Huskies have some questions at linebacker. Mason Foster is a sure thing at one outside position, and Cort Dennison likely will fill a second gap, but there's an opportunity for a young player to fill void No. 3.
Washington State
Spring practice starts: March 25
Spring game: April 24
What to watch:
Tuel time: Coach Paul Wulff decided that freshman Jeff Tuel was the Cougars' quarterback of the future last year, so he opted to start him instead of going with a redshirt season. Tuel showed promise in six games, completing 59 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and five picks. Most of his supporting cast is back on offense, so the expectation is the Cougars' offense could take a significant step forward this fall.
O-line intrigue: Some of the Cougars starting on the offensive line last fall didn't look like Pac-10 players. Injuries and youth made the line a glaring area of weakness, even with veteran Kenny Alfred at center. Alfred is gone, but the expectations are that last year's youth will be saltier after taking their knocks. Plus, a couple of juco additions should be in the mix for starting jobs.
Growing up: There is hope in that 19 starters are back from a team that played a lot of underclassmen in 2009. That youth should mature in 2010. And solid recruiting classes the past two seasons should offer an infusion of young promise.
When coaches bolt a program for a better, higher paying job, the media rants -- fairly or unfairly -- about mercenary, duplicitous men showing no loyalty to their players.
During their signing day news conferences, Arizona coach Mike Stoops and Washington State coach Paul Wulff pointed out that sometimes players are just as Machiavellian.
Both saw their recruiting classes suffer because of late decommitments.
"I just think it's getting out of control. If we would do things players did -- there's such a double standard involved," Stoops said. "If we started pulling scholarships -- that to me is wrong. Some teams just sign the best guys them cut them at the end -- or grayshirt them. That to me is not right. It's not how we do things."
Stoops main frustration was losing quarterback Matt Brown to TCU late in recruiting after Wildcats offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes left to become head coach at Louisiana Tech, but it was obvious he was unhappy with a number of behind-the-scenes issues.
"Recruiting has gotten to be pretty cut-throat here," he said. "That's just kind of the business it is. You don't have a whole lot of friends in recruiting. You find that out as you go."
Meanwhile, Washington State lost two players, tight end Asante Cleveland (Miami) and offensive lineman Maxx Forde (Idaho), and Wulff seemed particularly bothered by the loss of Forde, whose father is an former standout linebacker for the Cougars.
"I go back on the parents and educating the kids, keeping them true to their word," Wulff said. "A lot of people say, 'That's how recruiting is.' I don't believe in it, and I never will."
Forde's father fired back to the Seattle Times.
"You can't fault an 18-year-old kid if he has a change of heart on something," Brian Forde told the newspaper. "He didn't break any laws. Last time I checked, you're allowed to change your mind. When your son tells you, 'I prayed on it, and I really feel Idaho is the best place for me,' what do you say at that point?
"If Washington State feels they got done wrong, maybe they got out-recruited."
Obviously, the word "commitment" is nearly always said with a wink in college football.
But as a guy who believes coaches should always do what's best for themselves and their families because they work in a ruthless business, my feeling with players "decommitting" is mostly that it's part of the game.
Players should be 100-percent self-interested during recruiting. It will be the only time in their careers they have such control.
For example, say your son is a high school senior living in the Bay Area and he's a solid but unspectacular talent. In November, he gets one scholarship offer: San Jose State. He commits.
Then he records 17 sacks and posts a spectacular season. He gets an offer from Stanford.
Gosh, what should he do?
Yes, recruiting is an ugly game. But, really, what business isn't, other than missionary work?
Stoops did point out something that could help: An early signing period.
"I'm all in favor of early signing periods," he said. "If coaches leave, then obviously scholarships are null and void."
There are complications with an early signing period, but it would simplify recruiting because players who wanted to opt-out of the mind games could use their signature to do so.
Coaches would know that a "committed" player who isn't willing to sign early isn't really "committed." And players could lock in a scholarship to their dream school early and eliminate the possibility of a coach shuffling in later with talk of a "grayshirt."
Would it be perfect? No. But what in college football is?
During their signing day news conferences, Arizona coach Mike Stoops and Washington State coach Paul Wulff pointed out that sometimes players are just as Machiavellian.
Both saw their recruiting classes suffer because of late decommitments.
"I just think it's getting out of control. If we would do things players did -- there's such a double standard involved," Stoops said. "If we started pulling scholarships -- that to me is wrong. Some teams just sign the best guys them cut them at the end -- or grayshirt them. That to me is not right. It's not how we do things."
Stoops main frustration was losing quarterback Matt Brown to TCU late in recruiting after Wildcats offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes left to become head coach at Louisiana Tech, but it was obvious he was unhappy with a number of behind-the-scenes issues.
"Recruiting has gotten to be pretty cut-throat here," he said. "That's just kind of the business it is. You don't have a whole lot of friends in recruiting. You find that out as you go."
Meanwhile, Washington State lost two players, tight end Asante Cleveland (Miami) and offensive lineman Maxx Forde (Idaho), and Wulff seemed particularly bothered by the loss of Forde, whose father is an former standout linebacker for the Cougars.
"I go back on the parents and educating the kids, keeping them true to their word," Wulff said. "A lot of people say, 'That's how recruiting is.' I don't believe in it, and I never will."
Forde's father fired back to the Seattle Times.
"You can't fault an 18-year-old kid if he has a change of heart on something," Brian Forde told the newspaper. "He didn't break any laws. Last time I checked, you're allowed to change your mind. When your son tells you, 'I prayed on it, and I really feel Idaho is the best place for me,' what do you say at that point?
"If Washington State feels they got done wrong, maybe they got out-recruited."
Obviously, the word "commitment" is nearly always said with a wink in college football.
But as a guy who believes coaches should always do what's best for themselves and their families because they work in a ruthless business, my feeling with players "decommitting" is mostly that it's part of the game.
Players should be 100-percent self-interested during recruiting. It will be the only time in their careers they have such control.
For example, say your son is a high school senior living in the Bay Area and he's a solid but unspectacular talent. In November, he gets one scholarship offer: San Jose State. He commits.
Then he records 17 sacks and posts a spectacular season. He gets an offer from Stanford.
Gosh, what should he do?
Yes, recruiting is an ugly game. But, really, what business isn't, other than missionary work?
Stoops did point out something that could help: An early signing period.
"I'm all in favor of early signing periods," he said. "If coaches leave, then obviously scholarships are null and void."
There are complications with an early signing period, but it would simplify recruiting because players who wanted to opt-out of the mind games could use their signature to do so.
Coaches would know that a "committed" player who isn't willing to sign early isn't really "committed." And players could lock in a scholarship to their dream school early and eliminate the possibility of a coach shuffling in later with talk of a "grayshirt."
Would it be perfect? No. But what in college football is?
Arizona promotes from within to fill coordinator voids
February, 5, 2010
2/05/10
9:52
AM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
Mike Stoops now has four coordinators at Arizona, but only one wasn't on staff in 2009.
Stoops promoted offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and tight ends/running backs coach Seth Littrell to fill the void left when offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes took over at Louisiana Tech, the Arizona Daily Star reported.
Stoops did hire a quarterbacks coach from outside the program: former Louisiana Tech offensive coordinator Frank Scelfo. Dykes coached quarterbacks last year.
Stoops told the Star he hasn't decided who will call plays.
Stoops previously hired Greg Brown away from Colorado and paired him with linebackers coach Tim Kish as co-coordinators on defense.
Stoops promoted offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and tight ends/running backs coach Seth Littrell to fill the void left when offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes took over at Louisiana Tech, the Arizona Daily Star reported.
Stoops did hire a quarterbacks coach from outside the program: former Louisiana Tech offensive coordinator Frank Scelfo. Dykes coached quarterbacks last year.
Stoops told the Star he hasn't decided who will call plays.
Stoops previously hired Greg Brown away from Colorado and paired him with linebackers coach Tim Kish as co-coordinators on defense.
Arizona needed help on defense, and Mike Stoops thinks his class of 23 addressed that need, with 12 signees listed as playing on that side of the ball.
Top prospects: Defensive tackle Kirifi Taula and safety Marquis Flowers are freshmen who could immediately play their way into the rotation. Junior college transfers Paul Vassallo, Willie Mobley and Derek Earls could play their way into starting jobs.
Under the radar: Stoops said he believes receiver Garic Wharton is the fastest incoming freshman in the nation. Cornerback Jonathan McKnight is USC running back Joe McKnight's little brother.
Issues? For those who care about recruiting rankings, this is not a highly rated class, though it's notable that two teams that finished tied for second in the Pac-10 -- the Wildcats and Oregon State -- finished toward the bottom of the rankings. While Stoops aggressively advocated for quarterback Cameron Allerheiligen, the late decommitment of Matt Brown, who signed with TCU when Arizona offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes left for Louisiana Tech, hurt the class.
Notes: The class includes players from nine different states ... Stoops said height was a new emphasis -- he wants a taller, longer team ... The class includes five linemen on both sides of the ball ... Stoops said when he was recruiting McKnight, he tried to call his older brother, Joe. But he had the wrong number -- he was calling Jonathan ... Receiver Dan Buckner, a transfer from Texas, must sit out in 2010.
Top prospects: Defensive tackle Kirifi Taula and safety Marquis Flowers are freshmen who could immediately play their way into the rotation. Junior college transfers Paul Vassallo, Willie Mobley and Derek Earls could play their way into starting jobs.
Under the radar: Stoops said he believes receiver Garic Wharton is the fastest incoming freshman in the nation. Cornerback Jonathan McKnight is USC running back Joe McKnight's little brother.
Issues? For those who care about recruiting rankings, this is not a highly rated class, though it's notable that two teams that finished tied for second in the Pac-10 -- the Wildcats and Oregon State -- finished toward the bottom of the rankings. While Stoops aggressively advocated for quarterback Cameron Allerheiligen, the late decommitment of Matt Brown, who signed with TCU when Arizona offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes left for Louisiana Tech, hurt the class.
Notes: The class includes players from nine different states ... Stoops said height was a new emphasis -- he wants a taller, longer team ... The class includes five linemen on both sides of the ball ... Stoops said when he was recruiting McKnight, he tried to call his older brother, Joe. But he had the wrong number -- he was calling Jonathan ... Receiver Dan Buckner, a transfer from Texas, must sit out in 2010.
Arizona coach Mike Stoops said he's interviewed three candidates to replace Sonny Dykes at offensive coordinator and may make a decision as early as Friday.
Stoops is expected to name co-coordinators, giving offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh a promotion, but he wouldn't confirm that Wednesday.
The Wildcats lost both coordinators: Dykes was hired as Louisiana Tech's head coach, while Mark Stoops became Florida State's defensive coordinator.
Greg Brown and Tim Kish have been named co-defensive coordinators. Kish was promoted from linebackers coach and Brown was hired away from Colorado.
Stoops signed a class of 20 on Wednesday and also announced some other team news.
Stoops is expected to name co-coordinators, giving offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh a promotion, but he wouldn't confirm that Wednesday.
The Wildcats lost both coordinators: Dykes was hired as Louisiana Tech's head coach, while Mark Stoops became Florida State's defensive coordinator.
Greg Brown and Tim Kish have been named co-defensive coordinators. Kish was promoted from linebackers coach and Brown was hired away from Colorado.
Stoops signed a class of 20 on Wednesday and also announced some other team news.
- Redshirt freshman receiver DeWayne Peace will move to cornerback.
- Redshirt freshman quarterback Richard Morrison will move to wide receiver.
- David Emerick was named assistant director of operations/recruiting coordinator. He held previously held a similar post at Texas Tech.
- The season-opener at Toledo has been moved to Sept. 3 and will be broadcast on ESPN.
- The Wildcats will have new uniforms in 2010.
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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