SB Nation - Terrell Turner

Getting to know the Arizona Wildcats: Q&A with Arizona Desert Swarm

jtlight — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:15:16 -0000

More photos » by Greg Wahl-Stephens - AP

Jeremiah Masoli broke out against Arizona last year. Do the Wildcats stand a chance at slowing him down this year?

Another week, another huge game with the Pac-10 championship on the line. We caught up with Joe from Arizona Desert Swarm to see how Wildcat fans are feeling about the upcoming game. Our questions to their answers can be found here.

1. Oregon offense has been rolling in Pac-10 play, averaging just under 500 yards per game, and over 40 points. How will Arizona attempt to slow down the Ducks, and do they have a realistic shot at keeping the Ducks under 40?

Arizona's defense has been hit or miss all season. Our secondary is legit and our defensive ends are monsters. In order for the Cats to put together an entire game, the interior linemen and linebackers have to step up to the plate. The key to Arizona's gameplan is a solid pass rush from the outside and limiting passes to the middle of the field. Our corners rarely get beat and our safeties do a great job of defending the long ball down the middle. Our weakness all season has been the passing game over the middle and strong counter/iso plays on our linebackers. Depending on the flow of the game, I would expect Arizona to sit back in a zone and try to make Masoli beat them through the air if the game is tight. If it's getting out of hand (one way or another), we may try to bring some pressure.

2. Nick Foles has been a great surprise in the Pac-10. What is his skill set, and what makes him so efficient in the Arizona offense?

Foles possesses a HUGE arm and just enough mobility to buy that extra two seconds when he needs it. He is tall enough to sit in the pocket and makes good pre snap reads. His weakness comes in the long ball and the rushing ability. When he does scramble, he usually throws it even if he does have some real estate in front of him. Our receivers this year are incredible and Sonny Dykes knows how to run routes, creating an offense that allows Foles to key his reads on only a few pre snap looks.

3. The Oregon defense has been stellar all year, outside of the visit to Stanford. Do they Wildcats have the players to take advantage of Oregon's lack of size in the middle? Did the UA coaching staff take anything important from that film?

Arizona's offensive line is incredible but struggle at times with technique on run blocking but have consistently given Foles enough time to make his passes. Nic Grigsby will be another game time decision as he has been since late September. If we can put together ANY type of running game, it should open up Foles to start picking apart Oregon's defense. If no running game, Oregon should make Arizona one dimensional, kind of like Cal. We won't watch the Stanford film if you don't watch the Cal film?

4. Arizona's receiving corp seems to function a lot like Oregon's, with many different receivers sharing the load. Who should Oregon be most concerned with?

Juron Criner, Deleshaun Dean, and Terrell Turner are the burners. David Roberts and David Douglas are our possession guys. Good luck.

5. What is the confidence level of the team and fans after losing to Cal?

I actually think that after the Cal game the team didn't lose much confidence at all. Up until the batted pass/re-pass by Foles, everyone on that sideline, every Cal fan, and every U of A fan thought Arizona was going to win. Then it happened. Oh well. Stoops knows how to keep them in line and playing Oregon at home trying to make it 12 in a row in Tucson is enough for them to be very confident, even after losing to Cal.

6. Mike Stoops has been a butt of many jokes around the interwebs, but his teams have been steadily improving every year. What's been the key to this success over the past couple years.

Recruiting. Recruiting, and Sonny Dykes. Stoops is dialed into the Texas high schools from his days at OU and has cherry picked those looked over and looking to get out of the state. He knows how to run a program and has decided to embrace the Dykes style of offense while still looking for that defensive style that is his mark. Iowa (bad QB), Washington and Cal losses in the last minute of the game have Stoops only a couple wins away from 10 on the season. Ahhh. What ifs.

Arizona vs. UCLA: The Week Ahead

joenewby4040 — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:08:56 -0000

More photos » by Reed Saxon - AP

I have a feeling there is going to be a lot of this on Saturday

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Surprise, Surprise. My Comcast doesn't work and I can't see the game, again. I'm going to have to get a better option next year. Anyway, by this point we all realize how the Cats did (43-38) and Nick Foles was again incredible (40-51, 415 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT). Grigsby had a nice return grabbing 89 yards on 7 carries (12.7 yard average) while Nwoko contributed 45 yards on 3 carries. Juron Criner had a breakout game with 152 yards receiving on 12 catches. David Douglas (Foles' new favorite target) also chipped in 92 yards on 7 catches and had 2 TD's. Terrell Turner had 102 yards receiving on 9 catches.

The defense was again porous, allowing Andrew Luck 423 yards through the air and 150 yards rushing by the Cardinal on 40 carries. Gerhart did have 123 yards on the ground but had to grind it out on 28 carries. Let's hope our D shows up better against UCLA.

Speaking of UCLA, they come into this weekend winning their first three games and dropping their last three games. Check out www.bruinsnation.com (The Bruins SB Nation site) for all of your catching up on the weekend game from the enemies' perspective. They are 3-3 overall and 0-3 in the Pac-10. Last week, they fell to California 45-26; however, they got their QB Kevin Prince back after missing two games with a broken jaw. UCLA has given up over 300 yards in the last three games against Stanford, Oregon, and Cal. Their offense just can't seem to keep up with the amount of point their defense gives up. Problem: UCLA.

(Kevin Prince broke his jaw and has returned, already. Scary)

We'll dive into the pre-game later this week. For now, the Cats need to figure out how to play defense and how to throw against UCLA. I think the former is going to be harder than the latter.

Spaulding Roundup: UCLA Needs To Open Up & Execute On Offense Early On Against Arizona

Nestor — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:57:53 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Neibergall - AP

Mike Stoops' Arizona Wildcats are flying high with an explosive offense (ranked number 1 in Pac-10) this season

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Let's try our best to take our mind off this past weekend's game and look ahead to Saturday's match up against Arizona. Arizona is coming into this game on the opposite end of the emotional spectrum after stunning Stanford in an offensive shoot out last weekend in Tuscon. They are flying high and at least on offense clicking on all cylinders with brand new quarterback in sophomore Nick Foles. jthirtyfour already broke down the Arizona offense to get us started for this game week.

Right now UCLA is probably somewhere around a 9 to 9 1/2 point underdog against the Wildcats. Given what we have seen from the teams in recent weeks (note I am not a betting person) seems like smart money would be on the Wildcats to blow the Bruins out of the desert. I just don't think we have a defensive scheme that is dynamic enough or a personnel that is coached up to be disciplined enough to shut down Arizona. If we are going to even have a chance to win this game on Saturday, I think Neuheisel and Chow will have to trust their offense and open it up early instead of waiting to fall behind again due to usual defensive ineptness in the first few series. They will need to break away from the mindset of "managing" their way to a victory and instead think about being aggressive and attack early and often on offense.

Let's start with quick recap of the series history between these two teams:

SERIES WITH ARIZONA -- UCLA owns a 19-12-2 advatage in the series with Arizona, which dates back to 1927. The Wildcats own a 9-8 record in games played in Arizona and have won the last two played in Tucson. Arizona has also captured the last two meetings in the series, winning 31-10 last season in the Rose Bowl and 34-27 in the 2007 campaign. UCLA's last win in the series came in the 2006 season by a 27-7 score. The Bruins' last win at Arizona came in 2003, a 24-21 verdict. Coach Neuheisel is 4-1 overall, 0-1 while head coach at UCLA, versus the Wildcats.

A year ago, the Bruins played the Wildcats in their Pac-10 opener (game 3 - Sept. 20, 2008) in the Rose Bowl. Arizona jumped out to a 17-7 lead before a Kai Forbath field goal sent the teams to the dressing rooms with UA up 17-10. After a scoreless third quarter, the visitors tacked on 14 more points on a scoring pass and a touchdown run to come away with a 31-10 win. UCLA managed 196 yards of total offense in the contest. Arizona passed for 222 yards and ran for 111 more.

The second half collapse against Arizona at the Rose Bowl last year kind of reminds me of the collapses we have had in last two games during when we played opponents tough most of the game only to completly implode within small stretches when the team fell apart on all facets of the game.

Let me see if I can find any signs of hope going through the Arizona team stats for 2009 season. Not surprisingly the Wildcats have the number 1 passing offense and the 1 overall offense (560.33 yards per game) in the conference. The only vulnerability I see (on surface at least) is their scoring defense is ranked 8th (giving up 26 pts per game) in the Pac-10. They have gotten lit up in their last three games giving up 32 pts to Oregon State, 36 points (in a heartbreaking loss in Seattle) to Washington, and then giving up 38 points to Stanford this past weekend.

I am really not sure whether our defense has the ability to stop Arizona (more on our D after the fold). The question I have is whether our offense can set the tone early on against Wildcats making it a game. Yes, all this season we have talked about our defense setting the tone early. Well I think it's clear that they are probably not capable of it (I really hope I am wrong). The way the Chuck Bullough defense seems to be set up, it seems incapable of coming out and shutting down its opponent early on giving our team any sense of momentum (the only exception seems to be Oregon, even then you can't count too much into that performance given all the injuries Ducks were nursing in that game). More after the jump.

Going back to our defense ATV has more reflections on what has gone wrong this year:

"The past couple of weeks there has been a recurring theme -- we are just not playing sound, fundamental football," Verner said. "I mean tackling and playing within the structure of the defense."

Verner admitted his own culpability. He was beaten deep on a 43-yard touchdown pass by Cal. "I was expecting something different and took myself out of the play," he said.

Verner added, "A lot of our scheme is making sure everyone does what they are supposed to do, because if even one piece is off then the whole play explodes." That, Verner said, comes down to practice.

"It's a cliche, but practice makes perfect," he said. "Some guys in practice are like, 'Oh man, I just want to get this done.' No. You use practice as a learning tool and get ready for the game. There are no excuses."

Verner said the seniors on the defense would deliver that message before today's practice, with linebacker Reggie Carter taking the lead.

"Reggie keeps telling us, 'You never know when you won't be able to play this game anymore, so don't go through the motions,' " Verner said. "We have to drill that into their heads and drill that into their hearts."

That's nice and all but remember the team apparently called a "player only" meeting after the Oregon game too. So I don't care much about rhetoric like this in the paper. I think the main problem with this team defense is not necessarily bad tackling (although no doubt it needs to get better and crisper) or needing to show more aggression (I think we have seen plenty of it). I think the main problem with this defense is a lack of discipline and staying with its assignments.

Time and time again we are seeing in tapes our front 7 finding overshooting their targets and finding themselves helplessly out of the position. It has been happening with regularity since the Tennessee game. I believe that is on the coaches. That is not only on Chuck Bullough and the defensive coaches, I sure hope CRN also takes responsibility for it, if this situation doesn't improve in the next 6 games. To his credit it looks like CRN has identified the key defensive issues himself:

On what ails the defense:
"It's not one thing. It's a combination of a lot of things. The big play was the haunting thing in this game. One of the big plays came when we missed an assignment and we didn't follow our guy in motion so we were a man short. One of them we kind of guessed on a route rather than played a route. One of them was a bad angle and a guy out of control in a run scheme where Best goes 93 yards. Those are the little things I'm talking about. Practice will be a giant array of those little things."

On what's gone wrong the past three games defensively:
"We talked about the Stanford game having more missed assignments than in any of the previous three games. We work hard to shore that up and I thought we played pretty darn good defense against Oregon. The Oregon was a four minute spell with a kick return and an interception return that gave them 14 points."

Again taking bad angles and missing assignments shouldn't be happening 6 games into the season. I am not sure if the problem at this point is so systematic that it can be fixed before next Saturday. At the very least, I hope to see some modicum of changes of improvement against Arizona in Tucson. As for the Zona offense, here are some of the tactics the Wildcats have been successfully using on offense this season:

1. Running the no-huddle offense. Arizona switched to a hurry-up attack on the final drive of the first half, and responded by going 89 yards in 2 minutes 39 seconds. Wildcats' players called the drive, which was capped by Foles' 11-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Turner, the turning point in the game. The score cut Stanford's halftime lead to 28-20, with Arizona due to receive the second-half kickoff.

Arizona ran the no-huddle attack the rest of the way with great success. The Wildcats' game-deciding drive covered 92 yards in 2:30.

"I love playing up-tempo," Foles said. "I love it, the guys love it. " [...]

2. Resting their tailbacks. Injuries to Nicolas Grigsby and Keola Antolin threatened to derail the Wildcats' season.

Foles' ability to make plays has allowed the UA to be productive on offense without overtaxing its banged-up backs.

Arizona ran the ball just 14 times against Stanford, but still managed to get long touchdown runs from both
Grigsby and Greg Nwoko. The Wildcats are still using their running backs, but they're using them smarter.

3. Spreading the ball. Coaches trust Foles to change plays at the line of scrimmage and go through his progressions once the ball is snapped. The results: A spread-the-wealth attitude on offense that the Wildcats never really enjoyed with Willie Tuitama under center. Foles has had a new favorite target in each of his three starts: Nwoko (Oregon State), David Roberts (Washington) and Juron Criner (Stanford).

"He throws a good deep ball," Dykes said. "He gives those guys chances to make plays."

At this point, I don't expect our defense to shut down or dominate the Arizona defense. Not sure we have a dynamic scheme or a personnel disciplined enough to keep them bottled up for 60 mintues. However, it would be considered an accomplishment if they can keep those guys under 30 points in the desert.

As for UCLA on the offense, there is no secret at this points. We have to take advantage of opportunities in the red zone and get it done. That means catch the balls drilled between numbers, not missing open receivers and running with some passion to pick up the tough yardage. From the OC Register:

The previous week against Oregon, UCLA found itself inside the red zone twice. Quarterback Kevin Prince was stopped at the 1 on fourth down in the first quarter, and backup quarterback Richard Brehaut threw an incompletion on fourth down from the Oregon 10 in the fourth quarter.

"It just hasn't clicked yet," Prince said of the Bruins' red-zone inefficiency. "Those things will come. We're just going to keep on working, and those plays will come in the red zone."

The Bruins spend enough time working on their red-zone offense at practice but haven't figured out a way to produce the same success in the games.

"We're just going to do our normal deal and we're just going to have to execute better, especially in the red zone," Prince said. "There is always talk about doing things and once you get in the game, some things work and some things don't."

I think it will have to come down to our offense and I really hope going into this game Rick Neuheisel and Norm Chow contemplate opening things up early. Perhaps I am wrong but I don't think this is going to be one of those games in which we are going to be able to "manage" our way into a victory. In other words FGs for TDs are not going to get it done. It's pretty clear at this point that we don't have a defense that will win ball games for us (unless they are taking on another QB like Crompton, which is not going to happen rest of this season).

So, it will be up to our offense - Prince and co - to build on the improvements from last weekend and open it up early. More on our offense's inability to close the deal from the Daily News:

Perhaps there is nobody to blame, because every group has played a part in the inefficiency. The offensive line has failed to get enough push at times and made costly penalties at others. The running back corps has not made that extra burst into the end zone. The wide receivers have dropped passes in the end zone. The quarterbacks have overthrown open wide receivers.

"You do two things: No. 1 you look and see what you're capable of doing," UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel said at Monday's weekly news conference. "But you have to see it demonstrated. We have memories of great red-zone offenses. But then you have to ask your individuals who play those positions, can they execute them?"

Hopefully the answer is more positive next weekend. It will certainly enable to feel lot more positive about the program after three brutal Saturdays.

GO BRUINS.

Arizona @ Iowa Preview

Smooty — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:41:39 -0000

More photos » by John Miller - AP

3 months ago: Arizona's head football coach Mike Stoops watches the game from the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Northern Arizona at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday, Sept. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/John Miller)

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Saturday is the first big road-test of the season for Arizona. The Cats travel to Iowa City to take on the Hawkeyes at famed Kinnick Stadium. There are plenty of story-lines surrounding this game: Mike and Mark Stoops return to their alma mater (where they played and coached); Matt Scott's first road game; Super-Tight-End Rob Gronkowski is out; both teams first game against a quality opponent; and Pac-10 vs. Big Ten bragging rights.

Matt Scott and the Wildcats should expect a loud, rowdy house Saturday afternoon. Kinnick holds over 70,000 people, and will be filled to the gills. The crowd may be a factor for Scott, who has not started a road game before.

How they got here:

Arizona is 2-0 (0-0), with victories over Central MIchigan (19-6) and Northern Arizona (34-17). The victory opening night over CMU has proven to be bigger than previously thought. The Chippewas went on the road last weekend and upset Michigan State.

Iowa is 2-0 (0-0), with victories over Northern Iowa (17-16) and Iowa State (35-3). The Hawkeyes escaped with the victory week one over UNI by blocking field goals on two consecutive plays! If you are an Iowa fan, I am sure you look at that as clear evidence of superior skill. If you are everyone else, you probably see it as a lucky win. Then, the Hawkeyes went to Iowa State and mopped the floor with the Cyclones. Okay.

When Arizona has the ball:

Iowa's defense has given up 137 rushing yards per game this season, including 56 yards last week to Iowa State's quarterback Austen Aurnad. There is a reason you have not heard of Aurnad. That 137 yards per game is not lost in a flurry of carries either. The Hawkeyes defense gives up a hefty 4.2 yards per carry. Arizona's offense is averaging 305 yards per game on 6.6 yards per carry. Nic Grigsby and the offensive line will be a huge factor in Saturday's game. Grigsby has rushed for 329 yards and three TDs this season. Matt Scott has chipped in 137 yards, and Keola Antolin has added 98 yards and one score.

Cornerback Tyler Sash leads the Hawkeyes in both tackles (20) and interceptions (3). Brett Greenwood, also a cornerback, is second on the team in tackles with 18, and two interceptions. Iowa is not effectively pressuring the quarterback. The Hawkeyes have only registered two sacks on the season. Granted, the pass defense picked off Iowa State five times last week. Iowa's defense gives up only 191 passing yards per game.

Matt Scott and Nick Foles will lead the Wildcats passing offense this week without tight end Rob Gronkowski and a banged up Delashaun Dean. Dean has had hamstring problems, and a concussion this season. He came back to practice this week and should contribute this Saturday. The Cats are only averaging 198 yards per game through the air, but up to this point have maintained a pretty vanilla offensive scheme. Look for Arizona to open up the playbook Saturday. Terrell Turner leads the team in receptions with 11, for only 101 yards. Next is David Douglas with seven catches for 65 yards. Where is Bug? The super-soph has only two catches this season to-date.

Arizona has dominated time of possession thus far. The Cats have held the ball 60% of the time. The Hawkeyes have had a slight time of possession advantage, averaging 30:45 a game.

When Iowa has the ball:

Iowa is the very definition of balanced attack. The Hawkeyes have run the ball 66 times this season, versus 71 passing attempts. This is not the old three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust Big Ten offense, but it is not exactly Run-n-Shoot either.

Arizona has given up a paltry 70.5 yards per game on the ground. Wildcat opponents average 3.6 yards per carry and have found the endzone on the ground only once so far this season. Middle linebacker Vuna Tuihalamaka leads the Cats with 12 total tackles, and also has added an interception. Cornerback Devin Ross is second on the team in tackles (11), and will look to shut down Hawkeye reciever Trey Stross. Iowa averages 139 yards per game rushing, with a respectable 4.2 yards per carry. The Hawkeye's leading rusher is Adam Robinson, who has 132 yards on 27 carries and one touchdown. Iowa is without injured starting running back Jewel Hampton.

Arizona's pass defense has held opponents to 133.5 yards per game. Impressive when you consider that includes holding star quarterback Dan LeFevour under 200 yards. Trevin Wade has picked up where he left off last year. Wade has picked off two passes this season. The Arizona pass defense has only sacked the quarterback three times this season. Iowa's quarterback Ricki Stanzi is averaging 219.5 yards per game passing, and has five touchdowns versus only two interceptions. The Hawkeyes passing attack has spread the ball around the field. 12 different players have caught a pass this season. That number is misleading however, as only three players have caught more than five balls, and tight end Tony Moeaki has caught 11 passes for 26% of all passes completed. Clearly Moeaki is Stanzi's favorite target and will need to be shadowed down the field.

Special Teams

Arizona's kicker Alex Zendejas has made 4-6 field goals this season. Zendejas' long is 37 yards. Punter Keenyn Crier has three punts that average 41 yards, and a long of 55 yards. On kickoffs, Zendejas has already recorded three touchbacks on the season.

Iowa kicker Daniel Murray is 1-2 this year on field goal attempts. His lone field goal was a 39 yarder. Punter Ryan Donahue has punted nine times, for a 41.1 average, and long punt of 57 yards.

Arizona has a decisive advantage in kick returns. As a team, the Wildcats average 29.6 yards per return. The Hawkeyes average a mere 18.2. Iowa's kick coverage has been excellent thus far, however, limiting opponents to 17.5 yards per return. Something has to give here.

Overall

The numbers indicate that neither team has excelled so far this season passing the ball, and Iowa has not exactly been a prolific rushing attack either. Neither team has faced an opponent this season that matches each others caliber. This game should be a turning point for both programs. Can Arizona stop a balanced attack? Can Iowa keep a legitimate rushing attack in check? The peripheral numbers seem to edge towards Arizona, but Iowa has one huge advantage. Kinnick. If Matt Scott, or Nick Foles, turn the ball over, Kinnick will be in a frenzy. Arizona's best (and only) shot at winning this game will be to control the clock, keep the crowd out of the game, and keep turnovers to a minimum. The first quarter will probably be an emotional, fast-paced 15 minutes. After that, the Cats should look to settle down, and keep that crowd off its feet.

Grading the Cats: Central Michigan University

joenewby4040 — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:00:52 -0000

More photos » by Wily Low - AP

3 months ago: Central Michigan's starting quarterback Dan LeFevour (13) is sacked by Arizona's Ricky Elmore (44) in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009. Arizona won, 19 - 6. (AP Photo/Wily Low)

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Arizona put the hurt on Central Michigan this past weekend, winning 19-6 and ran out the clock at CMU's 1 yard line as time expired. (Thanks a lot for this Dykes. I had -13.5). The Cats have plenty to work on and hopefully can fine tune their needs this week against NAU. Let's dive into some grades for the Cats. I have ordered the All Access pass from Comcast to watch all of the Arizona games this year from my home in Austin, Texas and guess what? They're having difficulties with the Arizona game. Surprise, surprise. Hopefully, next week will be a better week in terms of me getting to have more in depth analysis.

Quarterback: Matt Scott. 19 of 32 for 202 yards and 84 yards rushing. He did throw an interception, but as I said earlier, it was a great play by the DB and not really too bad of a pass by Scott. I thought Scott did an excellent job of not forcing too many balls. His change in velocity on outside throws versus his touch passes to Simmons was incredible. It shows that he really does have a feel for his receivers and how they catch the ball. Scott's explosiveness is incredible and will be a nightmare for any defensive coordinators this year. GRADE: B+

Running Backs: What can you say about Grigsby? He rushed for 118 yards on 23 carries and was a workhorse all day long. He had 1 TD on the night. Grigsby rushed for over 100 yards for the 9th time in 21 career starts. Keola Antolin had 37 yards on 10 carries (not too shabby 3.7 ypc) and was just what the Cats needed at times to give Grigsby a breather and add a quicker back to the set. I was disappointed that we didn't get to see Greg Nwoko on the goal line. Although Grigsby plowed it home, it's always nice having a guy who can get it done every time and is almost a specialty at short yardage. See Texas: Cody Johnson. GRADE: B+

Offensive LIne: The offensive line looked tremendous on Saturday. Adam Grant absolutely pummeled whoever lined up against him and kept pesky rushers at bay all night. He also puked three times on the field. Almost as cool as Riley Dodge in the Texas State High School Championship game:

The line created huge holes for Grigsby, Antolin, and plenty of time for Scott to drop back and look down-field without the impending footsteps of defensive linemen. 246 rushing yards on 46 attempts gives you a nice juicy average of 5.1 ypc. I'll take that any day. Keep up the good work OL and stay healthy against NAU. GRADE: A-

Receivers: I want to give a special shout out to A.J. Simmons for the Cats. He doesn't get much love with so many Rob Gronkowski lovers out there, but he sure did look awesome on Saturday. He caught 2 passes for 28 yards and blocked like a champ. Terrell Turner led the Cats with 55 yards on 6 catches. Juron Criner had 54 yards on 4 catches. What's missing from these great offensive stats? You know it. No big plays. The longest reception of the game for the Cats was 25 yards to Criner. Let's hope Mike Thomas' replacement steps up next game and gives a big one. GRADE: B

Defensive Line: The Defensive was able to get pressure on Lefevour and create confusion for him all game. Ricky Elmore came away with his first sack of the year, had a tackle for loss, and had 5 total tackles for the game. Donald Horton had 2 tackles and a sack as well. Overall the D-Line was able to rotate in guys and keep fresh throughout the game. NAU should be another great game for this unit. GRADE: B+

Linebackers: Wow. What a game for Vuna Tuihalamake. He had 10 tackles and his first career interception on Saturday. The guy was absolutely flying to the ball. Xavier Kelly had 4 tackles on the night and looked fast tracking down CMU players. I was most impressed with the linebackers dropping in coverage and squeezing down Lefevour's passing lanes. That comes from a unit that is playing together at all times and was impressive to see. Freshman Jake Fischer saw the field and was able to rack up 2 tackles on the night as well. GRADE: B

Secondary: Best crew of the night. Any time you play a guy like Lefevour, defensive coaches expect yards to be piled up on them. The key word becomes contain, not stop. Well, not on Saturday night. The Cats limited Lefevour to 108 yards on 10-18 passing and sacked him twice. I'm not really sure what our secondary was doing all night to confuse him but it sure worked. Devin Ross had 5 tackles on the night and one pass break-up. Cam Nelson contributed with 4 tackles as well. NAU will be another warm-up for this crew on Saturday. Let's hope they stay healthy. GRADE: A-

Special Teams: Great night for Arizona's special teams. The kickoff and punt coverages looked great while our returns were limited to 2 on kickoffs only. Their punt coverage was great, not allowing Bug to go even make an attempt at returning one. Keoli had 2 returns on kickoffs for 64 yards on the night. Alex Zendejas' troubles from August must be long behind him because he sure did come out playing hard on Saturday night. He connected on 4-5 field goals hitting from 36, 37, 37, 35 and missing from 43. Zendejas became the 5th Wildcat in history to connnect on 4 field goals in a game and it's great to know that we have a guy who can knock them down time after time. GRADE: B+

NAU previews coming soon.

Quick Hits August 26, 2009

Smooty — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:26:39 -0000

Ten days Wildcat fans. Look for The Official Arizona Desert Swarm Season Preview soon.

Hey, some basketball news! Sean Miller and staff are using the limited time allowed by the NCAA during the fall to get to know the players and implement Miller's system. Also, a couple of former Cats and Devils have organized an Alumni Classic game. Nothing to do this Sunday? Go check it out and tell us how it went.

No starting quarterback? No problem, apparently. The Cats have shored up potential weak spots at three key positions. Robert Golden has emerged as the starting strong safety, after a position change this off-season. Mike Diaz has switched from guard to left tackle seamlessly, and freshman Jake Fischer and junior C.J. Parish played well enough in training camp to provide quality depth at linebacker this fall. My favorite of the bunch: Golden. I cannot wait to see this kid lineup at safety. And, remember, he's only a sophomore.

Ted Miller of ESPN.com ranked the Pac-10 quarterbacks. Clearly, Arizona is not going to be near the top of this list with such uncertainty surrounding the position. One gripe: lower than ASU? I'll take Foles or Scott over anyone the scummies are trotting out this year.

USA Today looks at the "golden years" of all the BCS schools. Arizona "traditionally mediocre?" Ouch. Who reads USA Today anyway?

One Arizona blog makes its pitch for Matt Scott. Two weeks ago, I was totally on that bandwagon. Now, not so much. Between Terrell Turner's comments about Scott yelling at his receivers, and Foles outplaying him as of late, I'm pulling a Stoops. I like Scott's running ability, but he has done nothing to pull himself away from Foles. And it seems we moved the ball pretty well with a strictly pocket quarterback last year. I do not envy the decision Stoops and Dykes have to make.

Quick Hits August 24, 2009

Smooty — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:44:50 -0000

Mike Diaz and Brooks Reed have battled each other throughout training camp. Both credit the other for improved play, and high intensity practices. This practice field match up is exactly what Diaz needed. Diaz switched to left tackle this year, from guard. His job is to protect the Arizona quarterback's blind-side. Who better to practice against, and develop big-time left tackle skills than Brooks Reed?

No quarterback decision has been made. Nick Foles seriously outplayed Matt Scott Saturday night in a scrimmage at Arizona Stadium. Scott, unfortunately, was the recipient of multiple dropped passes. But, besides the disparity in stats of the two players (Foles: 11/16 104 yards, TD; Scott: 9/19 85 yards), one quote by wide receiver Terrell Turner bothered me the most: ""(Scott's) still got to work on his composure as a quarterback," Turner said. "If he's out there yelling and screaming at those guys, that's going to do nothing. You just have to pull that aside … tap them on the butt and say, 'Let's go. We need you the next play.' " Maybe Matt Scott should worry less about yelling at his receivers for dropped balls, and more about leading this team.

More quick hits after the jump!

Trevin Wade is ready to step this season as a full-time starter, opposite Devin Ross at cornerback. Wade's play will go a long way in determining how strong the Cats defense will be this year. Teams around the Pac-10 will respect Devin Ross' skill and experience. Wade is going to see the ball thrown his direction early and often. If Wade can hold his own, and prevent offenses from slicing our secondary open, Arizona's team defense has the opportunity to be very strong.

Oregon Roundtable

TwistNHook — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:00:10 -0000

via www.uoregon.edu

TwistNHook: Every game the last few years in Autzen has been tight.

2007-Last second miracle touchback
2005-Last second missed regulation field goal leads to terrible OT
2003-Blackout gives Oregon momentum in 4th quarter

Cal is 1-2 in those games and could just as easily be 0-3 or 3-0. Odd things always seem to happen up there. Given that USC will be the next weekend at home, some Cal players might be peeking ahead. Who knows?

Avinash: How do people think Chip Kelly will fare as the new leading man at Oregon? He seemed rather quippy during Media Day.

There's no doubt he is an offensive master of the spread offense, especially the spread run, and you'd figure that their excellence will continue into this season. But as we've seen before, being both head coach and offensive coordinator can easily bog you down once you hit a rut (Tedford 2007 anyone?). Will he be able to handle both duties at once?

Do you feel that Oregon will be a better team?

TwistNHook: If I were an Oregon fan, my biggest concern would be about the O-Line. Don't they have large amounts of inexperience there?

Avinash: Maybe, although that inexperience might be deceptive.

via cdn.bleacherreport.com

"Oregon's no huddle-spread offense forces their offensive linemen to run much more than traditional units. Oregon not only relies on an exceptional conditioning program, but also uses frequent substitutions to keep their linemen fresh.

Last year the Ducks rotated nine players in and out of the lineup. While the one constant on the field, Max Unger, is now playing up I-5 for the Seahawks, the Ducks do return four players with significant game experience"

HydroTech: Doesn't sound like their OL will be as green as we thought. I'm concerned about LeGarette Blount, their runningback. This guy is apparently a first round draft pick in the waiting. He's 240 pounds! Almost as big as former Wisconsin runningback and Heisman winner Ron Dayne (250 pounds). I'm hoping Blount's career is the opposite of Dayne's - sucky in college and good in the NFL. This guy, along with Oregon's athletic offensive line, will definitely give Cal's defense a HUGE test. Frankly, just thinking about playing in Autzen and having to deal with Blount makes me feel like we're going to lose and I haven't even mentioned Masoli. So about Jeremiah Masoli. That guy can run and is another threat for the defense. His passing could use some work. He puts up some pretty inconsistent games. Last year he had a game where he threw only 33.3% completions, and another game where he threw 80.8% completions. Overall, he's about 57% passer which leaves a lot to desire stastically.

So, just thinking about Blount, Masoli, their OL, and their home field advantage makes me think this is going to be the second toughest team Cal will face in 2009. I would put this game at perhaps a coin-flip for who wins or perhaps a 60/40 in favor of Oregon.

Ragnarok: In spite of that fearsome rushing attack, I would argue that the key to the Ducks' fortunes vs. Cal lies with Masoli's arm. Let's run some numbers:

Last year, Cal's defense gave up more than 125 yards total rushing five times. They lost four of those games (accounting for all four of their losses), but only gave up more than 200 yards on the ground once, yielding 206 yards on the ground to Oregon in a 26-16 victory. Deplorable field conditions and inopportune turnovers aside, I believe that the Ducks' biggest weakness was their inability to pass the ball when they needed to.

Oregon's option offense hummed along just nicely on the ground, chewing up big chunks of yardage on first and second downs, but when the Ducks *had* to pass, especially on third down, they were abysmal. Discounting Oregon's final, desperate drive (under 2 minutes left, down 2 scores), the Ducks faced 14 3rd downs that day. How'd they do? When they dropped back to pass, they were 0/6, getting sacked once for -3 yards and throwing one interception. That...is pathetic. (They weren't much better rushing. Yes, they converted 3 of 7 times, but only once longer than 3 yards, and they gained a total of 16 yards on 3rd down. Total.)

That final drive? Masoli didn't even play. Although I don't *know* why he was benched, I feel confident in guessing that Justin Roper (who has since transferred) came in because Oregon *had* to pass, and Masoli just didn't provide enough of a downfield threat. If Masoli learns to throw, then I'll be really worried, but as it is, I don't see the Ducks getting through their schedule with fewer than three losses.

TwistNHook: Well, I agree that Masoli being able to throw is key. But I guess I'm higher on him that you are. Did you see him in the Civil War? He was killing it out there. I even said right before that game that Masoli would be key. And when he was killing it out there, the double pronged attack was murderous.

In many ways, this Oregon offense is similar to ours. Great rushing attack with a suspect passing attack. And if the passing attack CAN step it up and become consistent and productive, then they could have something special. That said, I like our talent almost across the board. This is not to denigrate the Oregon talent, including Blount Force Trauma (even though he had something like 5 rushes for 7 yards against us last year). But instead just to look positively upon our talent.

Avinash: I'm not sure even how to count last year's game. They were playing in the mud. Neither Longshore nor Masoli could do much damage when they couldn't see two feet in front of them.

Also, even though the Bears have won four of the last five from Oregon, three of those wins have been incredibly fluky. Two involved the Ducks committing a hundred turnovers in the red zone, the other involved that receiver catching a ball near the end zone that would've set up a game winning field goal, and then casually letting it drop to the ground. Rose Bowl 2004 hopes would've ended that day.

We talk about the Bears failing to execute offensively, but do you guys feel the Ducks have a similar execution problem when they're expected to succeed with their offense?

Avinash: *bold that last question, Twist.

TwistNHook: DON'T TELL WHAT I SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT BOLD!

Why you always bolding so much stuff? Regular font not good enough for you? Why you gotta hat?

Is Jairus Byrd still around? That guy has been around forever. It's like every year they have tons of hype around the secondary and we still pass well against them. If CBKWit wasn't enjoying his relaxing tour of downtown Pyongyang of indeterminate length (somebody call Big Daddy Clinton!), I'm sure he'd agree with my assessment. Those Oregon DBs always seemed to be overhyped.

Ragnarok: I'm not sure what game you were watching, Avi, but there was no mud (Memorial Stadium has turf), and visibility was fine (it was just a little wet, that's all - it's still good, it's still good!).

TwistNHook: Also, I thought Longshore passed the ball decently well, given all the conditions.

Avinash: It was hyperbole! Hyperbole, damnit!

Ragnarok: I guess you just weren't ridiculous enough. Perhaps you could take hyperbole lessons from rollonubears?

TwistNHook: Here is the box score from last year's game.

Longshore went 13 for 27 for 136 yards with an average of 5 yards per reception. In a vacuum, those are not great numbers. When you look at the other side (where the Oregon QBs were averaging 2.1 and 3.6 yards per reception) and given the weather, I thought that that was not halfway bad. Riley actually played better, but was knocked out fairly early in the game.

I am concerned about the fact that Oregon had murderized our QB the last 2 years. If that happens again this year and Sweeney is starting against USC, it could be a LONG game slash season slash off-season slash rest of our lives.

Avinash: Here is Addicted to Quack's perspective.

I do agree that if there is any Pac-10 defense that will slow down, even stifle Best this season, it will be Oregon. Their back seven is one of the fastest in the country, and they can definitely make sure Best doesn't find the holes.

TwistNHook: This story angers me greatly:

EUGENE — Receiver Diante Jackson was one happy camper Friday as the Oregon football team kicked off practices.

Jackson was cleared for academic entry into Oregon, after taking a sociology class and finishing a history class this summer. The NCAA Clearinghouse, which rules on eligibility for players, approved him Thursday.

Damn you, Diante! Why must you succeed and be happy for the other people???????

via blog.oregonlive.com

Of course, the biggest question is new coach Chip Kelly. And everybody is focusing on the offense. But what of the D? How is it going to look?

Oregonlive has this to say:

"[Last year] Oregon finished seventh in scoring defense (28 points), eighth in total defense (390 yards) and last in pass defense (270 yards). The loss of defensive end Nick Reed and rover Patrick Chung, both consummate leaders, made this season's rebuilding job that much tougher.

So the Ducks tweaked their philosophy. Like many teams, they sought to add a little speed to the edges, and the results this spring were encouraging.

Kelly's first move was to bring in feisty defensive line coach Jerry Azzinaro, who inherits a line of senior Will Tukuafu and question marks at the three other spots. Brandon Bair, 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, figures to start at one tackle along with either Blake Ferras or Simi Toeaina. Pass rusher Kenny Rowe or stockier Terrell Turner will start at the other end.

The Ducks haven't ruled out the athletic Josh Kaddu at end as they try to add speed wherever possible and stand up one or two defensive ends to help cover the field. That leaves the middle more open, putting pressure on the steadily improving Casey Matthews at middle linebacker. At his side will be the undersized but fast Eddie Pleasant and Spencer Paysinger, who was second on the team with 95 tackles last season.

Newcomer Bryson Littlejohn was perhaps the biggest eye-opener on defense this spring, showing an eagerness to hit.

Behind them, the secondary is again a strength -- although Oregon ranked last in the league in pass defense in 2008. Hard-hitting T.J. Ward is back at safety, along with Thurmond, who was the team's best player in the spring.

Willie Glasper and Kenjon Barner will battle for the other corner, and Chung's replacement at rover will be either the athletic Talmadge Jackson or the physical Marvin Johnson -- improving juniors with complementary skills."

To me, that bodes fairly well. There is a lot of turn over. On a D that wasn't very good. A lot of camp battles for spots. Maybe some of these guys will take that next step and I'll be eating crow. But reading that leaves me feeling fairly confident (even though I think there's a good chance we lose this game).

Avinash: The last five years we've played them, I have never uttered the phrase, "Oh shit, we have to face the Oregon defense".

Football is obviously a 50-50 games; stop the offense, go at the defense. But generally Cal's offense has held their own with Oregon's defense, sometimes even blowing it open with them. Maybe it's because Tedford has coordinated alongside Allotti for three years and knows many of his tendencies (Although to be fair, Allotti probably does likewise). I'd still say Tedford is the more capable of the two in winning the strategic battles between the two, especially with Ludwig in tow (who also coordinated alongside Allotti at Oregon).

My attention will be focused on the defensive side of the ball with Cal, and how they battle the spread option. Do you guys feel that it'll be more important to beat Oregon's defense, or stop Oregon's offense?

HydroTech: I think the key is to slow down and stop Oregon's offense. Oregon's offense is so high octane and fast, that it can quickly build up a multiple touchdown lead forcing the opposing team to play "catch-up." In other words, the Oregon offense will put their team ahead enough to the point where the opponent has to start playing risky and getting aggressive to reduce that score differential before there is too little time left in the game. I think Oregon's offenses have been really carrying the team and it's the offense, not the defense, that the Cal Football team needs to really stop.

via www.marshawnlynch.info

TwistNHook: How do you guys see this one ending up? I really don't know. I feel like Cal has more talent on paper, but Oregon has such a strong home field advantage. It will be close, no matter how you cut it. I think Cal wins 4-2.

Avinash: I think Oski could put the Duck in a headlock and suplex him.

Yellow Fever: 5-4. I feel a last-second safety deciding this one.

TwistNHook: I see Cal fumbling right at Oregon's 1 yard line down 4-3. Then, Oregon takes over and we get the safety FOR THE WIN!

HydroTech: I'm really hesitant to do too much predicting of how our team will perform when we have such huge questions about our passing game. If our passing game sucks, we could lose big time. If our passing game is decent, we can win a close one. If our passing game is great, then we can crush the life out of them. I could see this being a 20 point loss, I could see a 3 point win, and I could also see a 21 point win. To me, it just all depends on how well our passing game is, and that's something we won't know until the season starts.

Poll

How will Cal do against Oregon?

Big win

37 votes

Close win

170 votes

Close loss

190 votes

Big loss

93 votes

490 votes | Poll has closed

The incomparable 2009 SBN Pac-10 Football Preview

Nuss — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:00:12 -0000

More photos » by Jae C. Hong - AP

USC has more question marks this year than at any time in their reign of dominance over the Pac-10, starting with who will play quarterback. Will freshman Matt Barkley be the guy? (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Browse more photos »

We SB Nation bloggers are quite proud of our independence. Yet, from time to time, an event so compelling comes along so as to draw us out from our communities and collaborate on a project of such import, the very future of SBN depends on it.

The beginning of football season is just such an event.

For seven years now, every Pac-10 football season has approached with the same question in mind: Is this the year that Oregon/Cal/Oregon State/ANYBODY supplants USC as the champion of the West Coast's premier conference? Not since 2002, when Washington State advanced to the Rose Bowl by virtue of its head-to-head victory over the Trojans, has someone other than USC represented the Pac-10 as the league's champion.

Could this finally be the year it happens? Can Jeremiah Masoli lead Oregon to the heights that Dennis Dixon's knee could not? Can Jahvid Best carry Cal there? Will Oregon State take that next step to elite status by competing for the conference title year in and year out?

In a lot of ways, this sure feels like the year. The Trojans will be breaking in another new quarterback, and while that hasn't exactly stopped them before -- a couple of guys named John David Booty and Mark Sanchez did OK -- you have to wonder if their luck doesn't run out at some point. Defensively, they'll have to replace three linebackers selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft, and eight starters overall. Again, they've done this before ... but still.

Nationally, the take is that this string of dominance by USC says more about the rest of the conference than it does the Trojans. True or not, that's the perception. If this conference ever wants to get the respect it thinks it deserves, it's going to have to start consistently challenging the Trojans for that title, and occasionally taking one.

This just might be the year.

Predicted Order of Finish

As voted on by the Pac-10 SBN bloggers ...

Top Five Pac-10 Heisman Trophy Candidates

1. Jahvid Best

#4 / Running Back / California Golden Bears

Height: 5-10

Weight: 195

Year: junior

Best is absolutely electric; he's been described as 'silly-fast'. He's a human highlight reel who's a threat to take the ball to the house every time. He's the leading returning rusher in college football, averaging over 8 yards every time he touches the ball. If Cal wins 10+ games, he's the prototypical candidate, right?

- California Golden Blogs

2. Jacquizz Rodgers

#1 / Running Back / Oregon St. Beavers

Height: 5-7

Weight: 191

Year: sophomore

Rodgers burst onto the scene last year with a sensational campaign as a true freshman, rushing or 1,253 yards in 2008. His small size and shifty moves make him a fun player to watch -- and a tough target for opponents to bring down.

- Building the Dam

3. Jeremiah Masoli

#8 / Quarterback / Oregon Ducks

Height: 5-11

Weight: 214

Year: junior

Jeremiah Masoli is not your typical QB. He’s short, and a bit squatty, but does he ever produce. He can throw the ball, he can run the ball, and he doesn’t make mistakes. In his second year with Chip Kelly, look for him to become the most productive player in the Pac-10, and maybe run over a few safeties in the process.

- Addicted to Quack

4. Taylor Mays

#2 / Safety / USC Trojans

Height: 6-3

Weight: 235

Year: senior

Normally, defensive players don't stand a chance in the Heisman race. But Mays never has really fit the mold. A freak of an athlete -- he hits like a linebacker but runs like a wide receiver -- Mays has two things going for him that every Heisman candidate needs: 1) A well-hyped reputation that proceeds him, and 2) He plays for one of the best programs in the country. A big game against Ohio State would set his candidacy into motion.

- Conquest Chronicles

5. Jake Locker

#10 / Quarterback / Washington Huskies

Height: 6-3

Weight: 222

Year: junior

The Huskies likely won't be very good this year, but Locker is an undeniable talent and a dark-horse Heisman candidate. He's a run/pass threat who has been more run than pass so far. If new coach Steve Sarkisian can get his completion percentage up, and the Huskies can win a few more games than people think, Locker has the opportunity to put up some eye-popping numbers.

- CougCenter.com

Team Capsules (in predicted order of finish)

1. USC Trojans

By Conquest Chronicles

Overview: USC has faced using a new starting QB in the past and they have responded. The Trojans have all of their starters back on offense (except Patrick Turner) and although they are replacing most of the defense, the defense will be better in 2009 than a lot of people think. I do think the rest of the Pac-10 is catching up to USC, but until someone actually knocks USC out of the top spot ...

Key to Success: The QB position is the key to USC's success in 2009. With Aaron Corp out for a short time with an injury, don't go to sleep on true freshman Matt Barkley, who has really stunned many with quick grasp of the offense and his maturity at handling the pressure. Barkley has a ways to go, but he is a lot closer than others in his position in the past.

Potential Achilles Heel: See above ...

Best Case Scenario: USC Wins the Pac-10 but will probably have 1-2 losses.

Worst Case Scenario: USC loses the pac-10 because of some bone head lead loss in conference.

Likely Scenario: USC will have a tough time with their road schedule and their winning the Pac-10 will probably come down to the last week of the season.

2. Cal Golden Bears

By California Golden Blogs

Overview: The Nate Longshore era is over. For better or for worse, the Bears will be entering a new age of Tedford football at Strawberry Canyon, where faces have changed but the strategy remains the same: Run the ball, terrorize on defense. Those were the characteristics of the 2004 team that should've been Rose Bowl-bound, and while Tedford searches for the next great Cal QB to follow in Aaron Rodgers' footsteps, there is hope the 2009 team can finally put it all together. With eight returning starters on defense, eight on offense, plus one of the most spectacular players in the country, what's not to like?

Key to Success: The Bears' hopes to make it to the Rose Bowl remain firmly perched on the spectacular Jahvid Best. Best was the main reason for five or six of Cal's wins last season; with a battered offensive line and only sporadic quarterback play, everyone looked to Best to provide the offense with some spark. Get him the ball in space, and he's a threat to take it to the house every time, leaving defensive backs grasping at air. Cal's defense is good enough to keep the Bears in every game, but it will be up to Jahvid (and those who block for him) to put up enough points to win them.

Potential Achilles Heel: Kevin Riley still won't inspire many Cal fans until he can show he can complete a short route downfield consistently. He struggled with his command and mechanics all last season, and he and a green receiving corp never got on the same page. With another offensive coordinator coming in, it'll be most important to monitor his development as the leader of our offense. Anything the passing game can do to ease the pressure on Best will pay big dividends in the Pac-10 title chase. Runner-up: Our placekickers can't be trusted with a kick from over 30-35 yards, and kickoffs were a dicey proposition all last year.

Best Case Scenario: Pasadena. The default answer of a Cal fan. This year, though, there are two choices. We'll be happy with either one.

Worst Case Scenario: Beating USC, somehow nursing a one game lead in the Pac-10, everything going smoothly into the Big Game ... and blowing our Rose Bowl chances on the field of the Furdies. Yeah, brace yourself Cal fans. Less heartbreaking would be a repeat of the sort of meltdown that imploded the Bears' 2007 season. Even in the worst case, however, I can't see this team limping to the finish line with less than a 7-5 record.

Likely Scenario: If Riley is good and everything else holds to form, we're finally BCS-bound. If Riley struggles, we get our pick of the ESPN bowl bonanza. The Trojans will never be more vulnerable than they are this fall. The Bears will never be stronger. I would put better than even odds on the Bears winning at least 10 games this season. Our chances rest with our quarterback. Haven't we been here before?

3. Oregon Ducks

By Addicted to Quack

Overview: Oregon is beginning a new era this season, but it really doesn’t seem like much has changed. New coach Chip Kelly will continue his offensive explosion that has averaged 475 ypg and 40ppg over the past 2 years. Duck fans expect great things, as Oregon is loaded with talent at the skill positions, and the inexperienced offensive line will be coached by the top offensive line coach in the country, Steve Greatwood.

On the other side of the ball, the Ducks will rely on speed. Oregon has an experienced and talented group of linebackers, and the team is led in the secondary by All Pac-10 CB Walter Thurmond and hard hitting safety TJ Ward (Google "TJ Ward hits Zac Robinson;" you’ll be glad you did). Though Oregon’s defense has been a weak line in the past, it has the talent to improve from last season, when the Ducks’ D spent more time on the field than any team in the nation.

Key to Success: The passing defense. Oregon fans are always up in arms about the secondary, which they constantly feel is underachieving. Last year, the unit was supposed to be the best in the nation, but then gave up a combined 829 yards to BSU and USC.

This year, the unit must improve, which will be a very difficult task as Oregon lost two starters in the first two rounds of the NFL draft. The secondary is talented with a finally fully healthy Thurmond, who should be one of the top cornerbacks in the nation. But Oregon will need young players to step up at the opposite corner position, as well as at rover.

Potential Achilles Heel: Any follower of the Pac-10 knows that injuries have spelled disaster for the Ducks time and again in recent years, most notably when Dennis Dixon’s knee gave out on a terrible night in Tucson. This season is no exception, with only one experienced QB on the roster. QB Jeremiah Masoli is backed up by Nate Costa and Darron Thomas but Costa has injured his ACL three times and Thomas is an inconsistent true sophomore.

Health will also be vital at receiver and on the offensive line. The WR position has seen multiple injuries through the first week of fall camp, and the offensive line is still healing from spring ball. As the offensive line returns only 20 total starts, health will be vital in ensuring this unit can come together and help Oregon compete with the upper echelon of the Pac-10.

Best Case Scenario: Go undefeated and win the bowl game against anyone not named Florida. All the games on Oregon’s schedule are definitely winnable. Oregon has the talent to realistically stick with almost any team in the country, and has a very favorable schedule.

Worst Case Scenario: Oregon’s offensive line never comes together and neither does their defensive line or secondary. This means that Oregon can’t beat either USC or Cal at home, and drops a few games to teams like Arizona, UCLA, and Stanford. Oregon goes 6-7 after losing in Chip Kelly’s bowl debut.

Likely Scenario: Oregon goes 9-3, losing to USC, splitting Cal and BSU, and dropping another along the way. Oregon has a lot of talent, yet a lot of inexperience in a few key positions, which could mean inconsistency. But Oregon wins its bowl game, setting the stage for a big 2010.

4. Oregon State Beavers

By Building The Dam

Overview: For the second straight year, Oregon State will be looking to reload on defense. All four members of the secondary are gone from a year ago, as well as three from the defensive line. The linebackers, led by Keaton Kristick, will be the strength of the defense and should help stop this year's talented crop of Pac-10 running backs. Any pressure the defensive line (watch out for DT Steven Paea) can put on the quarterback will help the young secondary. On offense, the healthy quarterback is Sean Canfield, with Lyle Moevao taking a backseat -- for now. Jacquizz Rodgers returns at RB, but there is little proven depth behind him -- and the receivers are young.

Key to Success: Two things quickly come to mind. The first is the offensive line. LT Andy Levitre and LG Adam Speer are off to the NFL, leaving behind a young, inexperienced group-- especially on the left side. Highly touted recruit Michael Philipp has come into camp to compete for the LT spot, and has been turning some heads. According to HC Mike Riley, Philipp will either "start or redshirt", but at 6-3, 320, the Beavers need him to learn the system and start this year. The other key is Jacquizz Rodgers. He needs to stay healthy all year, or this could turn into a train wreck on offense with the inexperience at receiver, especially with Darrell Catchings going down with a wrist injury early in fall camp.

Potential Achilles Heel: The secondary, which isn’t young -- just inexperienced -- could be the achilles heel this year. It shouldn’t be quite like 2005, when the Beavers baptized freshmen Brandon Hughes and Keenan Lewis by fire at cornerback, but all four to-be starters don’t have much starting experience. It will be up to Tim Clark to hold down the group -- he has the most experience and should turn into the leader of the defensive backfield.

Best Case Scenario: The best case scenario this year is that the Beavers win all their home games (it’s doable), and then go out and win most of their tough games on the road. With road trips to Cal, Arizona State, USC, and Oregon, it’s not going to be easy, but the Beavers know they have the talent and the wherewithal to do it.

Worst Case Scenario: The worst-case scenario would be that the Beavers can’t win the games they need to win at home, and they struggle against the Pac-10’s best on the road -- which could mean that Jacquizz Rodgers goes down with an injury.

Likely Scenario: Most likely, the Beavers will win seven or eight games. It's very possible that this squad could win more-- and it probably wouldn't surprise many, based on what Riley has been able to do in the past. Look for the Beavers to get off to a better start in years past with the more favorable pre-season schedule, have a solid season, and win their sixth straight bowl game.

5. Arizona State Sun Devils

By House of Sparky

Overview: 2008 is known as the year of disappointment in Tempe. After an extremely promising 2007 campaign where they finished 10-3 and won a share of the Pac-10 with USC, the Sun Devils found themselves overconfident and overmatched, going 5-7 and missing the postseason for the first time in years. 2009 brings a new quarterback in senior Danny Sullivan, and a highly touted recruiting class that could pay instant dividends on the playing field.

The Sun Devils are headed to Athens, Georgia to play the Bulldogs in a highly anticipated rematch of the drubbing of 2008. Going into a vaunted SEC stadium and pulling off the victory would give the Sun Devils a huge vote of confidence. In all likelihood, however, this team is a year away from legitimacy, after the recruiting class gets some experience in 2009

Key to Success: If the defense can live up to its massive potential, ASU will be a sleeper pick to finish in the top 3 of the Pac-10. If true freshman LB Vontaze Burfict is eligible for the 2009 season, he and fellow true freshman DT Corey Adams will join an experienced, tenacious D led by LBs Gerald Munns and Mike Nixon. Given the uncertainty on offense, a reliable defense would give ASU a fighting chance against any competitor. Stop the run in the Pac-10, and you can put up wins. There isn't a single QB in the Pac-10 that can break down a great defense on his own.

Potential Achilles Heel: In a fairly obvious move, House of Sparky picks the quarterback position. Danny Sullivan is currently the guy, but Samson Szakacsy and Brock Osweiler are both breathing down his neck on the depth chart. In terms of talent, Osweiler is king. But as a true freshman, it's a spotty idea to even consider him for the role. As for savvy, it might just be Szakacsy. He's a laid back dude who enjoys surfing while at home in California, but he has the resolve to lead this team in the desert. As for experience, Danny is the only one who has ever played college football. Hopefully, Sullivan assumes the role nicely and takes us to a nice 8-win season. But with this lack of control over the circumstances, the QB position will be worth watching for the Devils in 2009.

Best Case Scenario: Sullivan catches onto the starting role, and the defense destroys the pretenders in the Pac-10. ASU goes into Georgia and gives them a heck of a fight, earning the respect of SEC fans everywhere. ASU wins 9 games, culminating in a victory over Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl. Thomas Weber wins his second Lou Groza Award.

Worst Case Scenario: Sullivan breaks down against Georgia, and we're embarrassed once again by the Bulldogs. Pac-10 competition brings about the emergence of Szakascsy, but he cannot fulfill the fans' expectations. Vontaze Burfict is deemed ineligible for competition, and has to sit out 2009. ASU wins 4 games, and Dennis Erickson is fired

Likely Scenario: Sullivan is an average Pac-10 QB, and we win 6 games, making it into the postseason, but lose to BYU in the Las Vegas bowl. Osweiler gets some reps, and is named starter going into the 2010 season. The defense scores 10 defensive touchdowns, the main bright spot on the team.

6. Stanford Cardinal

By CougCenter.com

Overview: Jim Harbaugh's program is one on the come. The Cardinal were living in the bottom of the Pac-10 in the wake of Tyrone Willingham's departure and the disaster that was Walt Harris, but after steady gains the past two seasons and one of the nation's top recruiting classes, Stanford has its eyes set on the top half of the conference. Harbaugh's got people believing down on The Farm.

Key to Success: Quarterback Andrew Luck. The highly regarded reshirt freshman has supplanted senior Tavita Pritchard, and by all accounts has the ability to be a star. If he can live up to the hype and provide a legitimate compliment to the already potent running attack led by Toby Gerhart, the Cardinal offense could take a quantum leap this year. And if it does, there's no telling what kind of noise Stanford can make.

Potential Achilles Heel: The offense ought to be good, but there are some nagging questions. The aforementioned quarterback battle could spell trouble if Luck doesn't pan out -- Pritchard has had plenty of issues over the years. And while Gerhart is a freight train, the offensive line has some new faces. The defense should be solid again, but if the offense can't come up to speed, the Cardinal might lose some games they might otherwise win.

Best Case Scenario: The Cardinal make the most of their relatively soft landing to begin the year, winning their first five against WSU, Wake Forest, San Jose State, Washington and UCLA. Emboldened by their fantastic start, Stanford goes 4-3 the rest of the way, winning a game or two against the conference's heavyweights to finish the year 9-3 and in the Sun Bowl.

Worst Case Scenario: That soft landing? Yeah, not so soft. WSU upsets Stanford after Luck throws a trio of interceptions, and it's a portent of things to come, as the Cardinal head to Wake and lose there, too. The bad start throws a wrench in the Cardinal improvement plan, and they take a step back to 4-8.

Likely Scenario: Stanford wins four of its first five, and goes 3-4 over the final seven to get to 7-5 and Las Vegas.

7. Arizona Wildcats

By AZ Desert Swarm

Overview: The 2009 season will be all about momentum. Nic Foles and Matt Scott battle out the quarterback position while the receivers, running backs, and offensive line return tons of experience. Our defense should be solid as well with a D-line that will be strong, aggressive backers, and anchors on the defensive backfield in Cam Nelson and Devin Ross. Arizona's recruiting class is the strongest since Stoops has been in Tucson. Three guys could make immediate impacts as true freshman (C.J. Parish, Trevor Erno, and Adam Hall). The Cats brought in Jonathan Hollins as a Junior transfer as well as Jack Julsing and Shane Zink for immediate experience and upper classmen strength.

Key to Success: The key to our success will definitely be the offensive line play, giving our young quarterbacks the time to throw the ball. I think that Matt Scott will be the starter at the beginning of the year. Scott will have the mobility factor that Foles isn't able to bring to the team. Nic Grigsby and Keolin will be dominant out of the backfield and shouldn't miss a beat on the offensive end. Wide receivers are deep (minus Mike Thomas) and will be open, they just need a QB to get them the ball. Defensive line is really deep with the return of Elmore, Mitchell, Horton, Reed, and the addition of Hollins. Linebackers is the weak point, with our DB's returning two guys who have lots of experience.

Potential Achilles Heel: Arizona's achilles heel is the lack of cohesiveness with the offense. We will have a new QB in Scott, or Foles. Our offensive line lost three guys, and will be making patchwork of returning backups from last year and juco transfers in Zink and Jusling. The receivers will need to find a man to step up and take Thomas' spot, most likely Delashaun Dean or Terrell Turner. Arizona's offense faces plenty of tough teams in the Pac-10 this year, will have to play a scary Central Michigan team, and travel to Iowa to play a Big-10 team on their third week of the year.

Best Case Scenario: Take care of business in the non-conference schedule by taking out Central Michigan, Northern Arizona, and Iowa without missing a beat. The next three games are Oregon State, Washington and Stanford. The Cats will probably win 2 out of 3 of these. I think our best case scenario for the Cats is to start out the season 5-1 heading back to Tucson to play UCLA. A win at home against UCLA is definitely winnable. Taking out UCLA, then lowly Washington State could lead the Cats to 7-1. I think that's where the honeymoon stops and the Cats struggle the rest of the way out. At California, home against Oregon, at Arizona State, then to USC will be a brutal way to end the year.

Worst Case Scenario: Lose at home to Central Michigan (scary team) to start the season, and then at Iowa two weeks later. I think a slide in the beginning of the year could snowball the Cats downward and cause problems for them at Oregon State and Washington. I think a 1-4 start would be the worst case scenario for Arizona. After Oregon State, UCLA and Washington could prove formidable foes. I already talked about our year end schedule, which could easily be 4 losses for the Cats this year.

Likely Scenario: A middle ground of the above scenarios. The Cats will take out Central Michigan and Northern Arizona no problem. Travel to Iowa will be a challenge. Oregon State in Corvallis will be a huge win, but unlikely. The Cats will finish 8-4 this year, but will need to find a way to put up point like they did last year. Sonny Dykes has done a great job installing the spread offense in Tucson and Matt Scott could be an unbelievable fit in the system.

8. UCLA Bruins

By Bruins Nation

Overview: To say Rick Neuheisel was handed a program that had to be built from the ground up is a massive understatement and last season couldn't even be called building a foundation. Last season, Neuheisel just cleared the scraps off the lot. This season, he will begin to build his foundation. With the infusion of talent thanks to great recruiting, some fantastic offseason work and a year of development, this program will take a major step forward this year. They won't compete for a Pac-10 title, but they'll be competitive in every game and that's progress.

Key to Success: The Bruins' key to success will be the man under center, Kevin Prince. While the offensive line is the unit that needs to take the biggest step forward, the quarterback position is still the most important on the football field and UCLA will send a redshirt freshman who hasn't played in two years (season-ending injury in the first game of his senior year of high school) into the fire. He does have a good arm though and has drawn rave reviews for his football smarts and leadership qualities. His ability to keep the turnovers at a minimum and handle the pressure sure to come from dropping back behind a green offensive line will tell the tale of the offense.

Potential Achilles Heel: The Bruins' potential achilles heel is the same as last season. While the team had issues last year, no unit caused UCLA more problems than the offensive line. The running backs never had holes to run through and last year's quarterback, Kevin Craft, showed as much toughness as anyone in the country just to make it through each game with the beating he was taking. The offensive line's first job this year will be to open some holes to get a running game going. If the Bruins have a respectable running game, then UCLA will have a chance to take advantage of the talent at the skill positions.

Best Case Scenario: The UCLA offensive line, which is amazingly inexperienced, but has some talent, could come together and provides decent play. Kevin Prince could maximize his talent a little earlier than expected and mature quickly, while the defense remains as injury-free as possible to be led by Brian Price, Reggie Carter and Alterraun Verner to an eight-win season.

Worst Case Scenario: Kevin Prince and the offensive line's play leans more towards inexperience than talent, while the linebacking core, which is strong but thin, falls prey to injury. With the offensive line and QB unable to take advantage of the talent on the perimeter, the offense flounders and the lack of linebackers lets opposing teams control possession as UCLA fails to go bowling again.

Likely Scenario: The Bruins will be inconsistent as they mesh some extreme inexperience in with their handful of great players. The offense will be much improved and keep from turning the ball over too much, but is never explosive. The defense should be steady and help the offense out with field position and special teams is stout to win UCLA seven games.

9. Washington Huskies

By CougCenter

Overview: The 2009 Huskies are in rebuilding mode under new head coach Steve Sarkisian after going through total destruction mode under the Willingham and Gilbertson eras. There is hope on Montlake, as Sark has shown the ability to bring in big recruits. If he can get those recruits to execute his offensive plan the same way his USC superstuds did, then Husky fans may see the glory of the Don James days return. Of course, having Joe Montana roaming the sidelines watching his son, all the while bumping into a few recruits and boosters, probably won't hurt.

Key to Success: Jake Locker's arm. We all know Jake can run. Last year we saw what happens when Jake relies on his legs too much. The problem is Locker has only been effective when he has made plays with his legs. Unfortunately, he has not impressed when putting the ball in the air. His most famous throw is a behind the back toss that led to a 15 yard penalty against BYU last year. If Jake can improve his throwing accuracy, the Husky offense would become difficult to stop.

Potential Achilles Heel: There is a common thread that connects all historically bad football teams. Poor line play. The Husky offensive line was very ineffective in 2008 (2.9 YPC). It doesn't matter how talented Jake Locker or any other skill player on the UW offense is, if the line doesn't block, the offense won't move.

Best Case Scenario: Jake Locker stays in the pocket a little more, hits some open receivers, continues to make some plays with his legs, and keeps his leg out of a cast for all twelve games. The lines on both sides hold up just enough and the Huskies go 5-7.

Worst Case Scenario: Another 0-12 season is unlikely thanks to the scheduled W known as Idaho. Worst case, the Huskies go 1-11 with a historic third straight Apple Cup loss to the Washington State Cougars.

Likely Scenario: The Pac 10 is down this year, but UW was just flat out bad last year. It would be a lot to ask to challenge for a bowl game. The Huskies will most likely beat Idaho, Wazzu, and either Arizona or Oregon at home. On the road, they could get one from either Stanford or UCLA. UW ends the season at 4-8.

10. Washington State Cougars

By CougCenter

Overview: The Cougs are coming off of perhaps the worst season in the history of the program. A roster already low on Pac-10-caliber talent was made worse by a plethora of injuries, especially on offense: Five different quarterbacks saw action for the Cougs and seven different offensive line combinations started games. The result was ugly: The Cougs' eight Pac-10 losses were by a combined score of 440-61. Ouchy.

But there is hope that this year can be better. There is a lot of experience returning on offense, and a number of transfers join the defensive ranks. Additionally, the team dedicated itself to strength and conditioning in the offseason, making gains that have been noticeable to observers close to the program. It should add up to the team being more competitive in 2009.

Key to Success: The biggest problem for this team last year was that it was physically dominated at the point of attack on both sides of the ball. The defensive allowed a whopping 5.78 yards per attempt last year (dead last in FBS), most of which you can lay at the feet of the line. Add in the fact that they had just 15 sacks against FBS competition, and you can that the rest of the defense never really had a chance. The story was much the same on the offensive side: 2.75 yards per rushing attempt (No. 116), 42 sacks allowed (No. 117).

If the big fellas on the offensive and defensive lines can put those strength gains to good use -- holding their own in the trenches and avoiding injury -- this team stands a real chance of being a lot more competitive.

Potential Achilles Heel: Injuries, plain and simple. This team still is paper thin at just about every position not named running back -- the Cougs are loaded there, led by explosive Cal transfer James Montgomery -- and if any unit suffers a sudden spate of injuries, it could undermine the effort of the entire team. The positive news is that it's so far, so good in camp, as no key players have suffered notable injuries; at this time last year, the training table was already overflowing. The Cougs will need that to continue in order to make the strides they want to make this year. Otherwise, it could be a replay of 2008 until more reinforcements come next fall.

Best Case Scenario: With last year's experience fresh in their minds, the Cougs play inspired football. The strength and conditioning gains made in the offseason are real, and the team is able to withstand the physical punishment of Pac-10 play. They also get a little lucky in avoiding major injuries. The offense is able to move the ball well on the ground and adequately through the air, and the defense employs a bend-but-don't-break philosophy that allows them to give the offense a chance. It all adds up to the Cougs shocking some people en route to a 5-7 season.

Worst Case Scenario: Injuries pile up again, and so do the losses. Another string of embarrassing defeats has fans questioning Paul Wulff's ability to turn the program around, and worse than that, the players' commitment, which looked so strong in the offseason, begins to waver. WSU finishes the year without a win, and Wulff never gets to see the rebuilding job come to fruition.

Likely Scenario: The team is better. Not great, but better. They're not winning a whole lot more games, but they're in a lot more games than they were a year ago. There still are some lopsided scores, but clearly, progress has been made and things are heading in the right direction. The Cougs get a couple of non-conference wins against SMU and Hawaii, jump up to bite either Arizona State or UCLA, and finish up the year with yet another win over Washington. Four wins? We'll take it.

Quick Hits August 7, 2009

Smooty — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:57:46 -0000

29 days until Arizona kicks off the season against Central Michigan. While you wait, check out our quick links of Wildcat news.

Day one of training camp, and Bug Wright took the opportunity to cement himself as one of 2009's fan favorites, catching a pass up the seam after losing one of his shoes earlier in the play. One day in the books and the quarterback controversy continues. Foles and Scott split snaps in team drills.

More quick hits after the jump!

Mike Stoops declared Thursday's practice "a great first day." Terrell Turner got one hour of sleep prior to Thursday's practice. Why? He was playing video games and hanging out with teammates. Turner is clearly excited for the season. Here's hoping he starts resting a little more before 6 am practices. Mike Stoops is concerned with creating depth at linebacker this season. Trevor Erno may earn immediate playing time.

Team morale is high as fall camp opens. Greg Hansen likens this year's team to the dominating Wildcat teams of '93 and '98. In '93 the Cats were 10-2. In '98 the Cats finished 12-1 after stomping Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. Double-digit wins sounds awfully nice in the first week of August. There's nothing like dreaming big four weeks before games start.

Former Wildcat, Brandon Nash, has a post on Wildcat Sports Report that gives an inside perspective on training camp.