SB Nation - Dennis Dixon

Remembering the Seniors

jtlight — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:00:45 -0000

When we look back on the seniors of 2009, I don't think they will be remembered in the same vein as some of the other Oregon greats. We'll remember 2001 for Joey Harrington. We'll remember 2007 for Dennis Dixon. We'll remember 2008 for the stellar offensive line and Jeremiah Johnson.

But 2009 is different. The face of the offense, LeGarrette Blount, was suspended for most of the season. The face of the defense, Walter Thurmond III, missed most of the season with a knee injury. And this year may end up being known as a year of transition, as successful as this team may end up being.

But this class is something special. They lived through 2006, when the team imploded down the stretch, and carried those lessons forward, helping to bridge the gap between 2007 and 2009, and providing leadership on a very young team.

Without the leadership and production of Walter Thurmond, Ed Dickson, Will Tukuafu, and T.J. Ward this team would not be where it is. On top of this, many other seniors who didn't see the field as much are just as important to the program. Morgan Flint, Andre Crenshaw, Rory Cavaille, Willie Glasper, Blake Ferras, Simi Toeaina, Titus Jackson are vital and productive members of the team, and worked their butts off day in a day out. Their hard work helped pushed other players to that next level. Lastly, we can't forget the contributions of three walk-ons, who all earned scholarships by their seniors years. Riley Showalter, Mike DiVincenzo, and Pono Kam earned their scholarships, and their play on special teams helped give Oregon one of the top special teams units in the conference.

Thanks for the memories guys. You will all be greatly missed. Enjoy your final game at Autzen.

After the jump, we have some videos, to remember the contributions of another special Oregon class.

Ed Dickson

In a long line of great Oregon tight ends, Dickson goes down as the most productive, with big plays over and over again during his career. His catch against Arizona was simply spectacular. Here are some of my favorite Ed Dickson moments:

T.J. Ward

He will be remembered as the enforcer of the Oregon defense, laying hits over and over again, and likely go down as the most YouTube'd Duck of all time (for exploits DURING the football game).

Walter Thurmond III

He had a knack for the big play. I feel cheated that we missed out on most of his senior year.

LeGarrette Blount

We'll ultimately remember Blount for his essentially lost senior year, which is too bad. He was utterly dominant as a change of pace his junior year. So let's remember him for that, and by one of my favorite runs of all time.

I'm sure I missed some big moments, so leave your favorite memories of our seniors in the comments. GO DUCKS!

Quack Fix: Wrapping up a great win in Tucson

jtlight — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:13:49 -0000

What a weekend. The Ducks made it out of Tucson alive, though barely. It's always tough to go on the road, and this Oregon team has struggled to find consistency away from Autzen. However, the Ducks were able to pull it out, basically willing themselves to victory despite a number of mistakes and setbacks.

First of all, Jeremiah Masoli. It's not always pretty, but he gets the job done. His improvement from his early season problems has been the main reason for the Ducks offensive success, and he's earing lots of national recognition. He's being called a winner and unflappable by Ivan Maisel. George Schroeder has a column on him as well. Masoli, more than anything else, has learned to just allow the game to happen, and take what is there. He rarely makes bad decisions, and when he does, he doesn't let that affect his future play (like Dennis Dixon did in the early days). In a tough road environment where things hadn't been going well, Masoli and the offense came through when they needed to.
We're not the only people praising Nate Costa. Sporting News named his hold the play of the day. For a play as routine as an extra point, Costa and Flint handled the poor snap like pros, and allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief after a half second of sheer terror.
Both Masoli and LaMichael James set record this weekend. Masoli set the record for the highest scoring QB in Oregon history (passing Joey Harrington), while LMJ set the Pac-10 freshman rushing record, surpassing Jacquizz Rodgers' record from last season.
Jeff Maehl is also earning some well-deserved praise. He's received a lot of unwarranted criticism this year, but his rapport with Masoli was huge in moving the chains during the final Oregon drive, and the throw and catch for the first OT touchdown was a thing of beauty.
Ken Woody's blog on the game is an excellent read, as always. He's not as positive as many of us are, but that just means that there are some good things to work on in the week and a half ahead.
Arizona President Robert Shelton apologized to UO for the behavior of the Arizona fans. Hopefully this will be a lesson to Arizona and all other Pac-10 schools, and some of these issues can get cleaned up.

After the jump, a couple of videos on the game, including player reaction. As always, leave any other links in the comments. GO DUCKS!

Masoli, James, and Maehl react after the win

Inside the Pac recaps the weekend and looks forward to the Civil War

Props To The Cats, But UA Fans Aren't Ready For Prime Time.

JConant — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:38:02 -0000

More photos » by Wily Low - AP

Arizona's David Douglas wasn't the only Wildcat to the drop the ball Saturday. Some UA fans put on a fine display of stupidity, poor taste and violence that began with the Oregon QB injury checklist sign at ESPN's Game Day set and ended with an Oregon cheerleader going to the hospital. (AP Photo/Wily Low)

Browse more photos »

It was an amazing game. At times played brilliantly. At other times a bona fide three-ring circus by both teams. This morning, I have a real appreciation for the fight in the Wildcats, their offensive game plan, Nick Foles' abilities and the speed of their defense. Their fans, however, clearly are not ready for the big stage.

Let's start with a sign that we saw at ESPN's Game Day set on the UA campus. A Duck QB injury checklist? Seriously? It read something like, "Kellen Clemens - check, Dennis Dixon - check, Jeremiah Masoli - you're next." What an amazing display of stupidity. To the douchebag who made and displayed that sign, I hope you're enjoying your karma breakfast this morning. That taste in your mouth is Masoli's...well, you know.

Should we be surprised about someone from UA celebrating opposing players suffering severe, career-impacting injuries? No. As Joe Giansante reminded me during the CSN rebroadcast late last night, it was UA students who taunted a visibly-crushed Dennis Dixon after a blown knee ended his Oregon career, his national title hopes and his shot at the Heisman Trophy.

'Nough said about that. Let's move on to the Arizona students pouring onto the field with more than six minutes to play. Oregon had two time outs and the Wildcats were going into a shell. It was obvious Oregon was going to get the ball back and an educated fan would understand the Ducks don't need much time to score. Nice job by the UA student section. You just looked like idiots during the national game of the week. Even worse, you collectively chose to watch the best finish in college this season from a terrible vantage point. What is it that Guinness guy says? Brilliant!

My last complaint is the worst of the bunch.

We learned this morning that Oregon senior cheerleader Katelynn Johnson was carted off the field and taken to the hospital after being hit in the head by a full bottled water. According to the Associated Press, Johnson was pelted just off the side of the field while celebrating the Ducks' dramatic win with other Oregon cheerleaders and personnel. Mike Bellotti said, "There were many things -- water and other things -- being thrown down there." Jeremiah Masoli added, "That's just unacceptable behavior from fans, whether it was an Arizona fan or any fan across the nation."

Arizona folks, Bellotti is coming after you. And you may not like Mike when he's mad. Bellotti evidently has had enough of this bullshit on Arizona's field, and vows to "address" the issue with UA administrators. For what it's worth, Bellotti and Giansante did their TV broadcast at field level due to lack of space in UA's press box area. So it's a sure bet Bellotti got a good look at UA's lack of security.

So that's my rant.

In all fairness, we all know Oregon fans have been voted the rudest in the Pac-10. I have seen a full water bottle thrown in Autzen - at a foolish Husky fan who decided to stand, with a purple cape on, in the middle of the UO student section with arms raised at halftime of a game the Huskies were trailing by two touchdowns. The thrower missed his target. Earlier this season I watched about two dozen idiot Duck fans gather in front a collection of Utah fans to chant "o-ver-rated" a good 15 minutes after the game was over.

Congratulations to Arizona fans, a handful of jerks - and hundreds of presumptuous students - have given you a nice juicy black eye. After all that transpired, off the field, it makes what happened on the field all that much sweeter. Like I said, UA fans - at least some of them - clearly aren't ready for the big stage. Enjoy your trip back to the Las Vegas Bowl after USC feeds you the rest of your bad-karma buffet.

Morning Quack Fix: Graziani's advice to Costa, the latest injury news, and going on the road

jtlight — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:23:35 -0000

We have a big game tomorrow down in LA, and here's the quack to get you through the next day:

John Canazano's at it again! Oh wait, I guess not. His latest piece is actually pretty good, comparing Nate Costa to Tony Granziani, whose first career start also came in LA, also due to the starter being injured. Coincidence? Here's to hoping the game, and the season, end in similar ways.
Here's your recent injury news. Gildon will start, T.J Ward is practicing again, but there no rush to get him back to the field. Overall, next's week BYE couldn't come at a much better time. Well, unless it was this week.
Rob Moseley has an interesting question for Duck fans. What do the Ducks do if Costa goes down? I hope the coaching staff has already decided, because pulling a BSU and only putting in Darron Thomas when it's too late would be very frustrating.
Ken Woody has a great blog post on "the Autzen mystique." This is usually a topic discussed in the off-season, when there isn't much to talk about, but it's good to hear Woody's perspective on just how noise affects players and games, both mentally and physically. He also talks about what the Ducks must overcome as it heads on the road this week.
Adam Jude from the RG has a piece on LaMichael James, and how he has flourished and grown as the starting back. He's gained nothing but priase from his coaches and teamates, and is working hard to be able to handle the responsibilities of starting for a whole season. An important note from the article, if Blount is able to become reinstated, James will still be the number one option, and he has earned that.
Here are a few more comments from new UO commit, Nick Rowland. Turns out it was actually some advice from Husky Head Coach Steve Sarkesian that helped him know where he should commit. This article also has a note that Oregon is out of the running for Trovon Reed, though to my knowledge, he's still visiting during the USC game.
In QB recruiting news, the underrated 2010 commit Bryan Bennett (the only QB Oregon will take in the 2010 class) had his official visit and it was great. Meanwhile a top 2011 recruit, DaMarcus Smith out of Kentucky, has Oregon as his top school early, after falling in love with Oregon during Dennis Dixon's senior season. Word is he will be visiting during the USC game, which is shaping up to be a huge recruiting weekend.

As always, leave your comments, as well as your answers to Moseley's question, below. GO DUCKS!

Media Wednesday - Respecting the Power of the Juju

Addicted to Quack — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:17:48 -0000

Its Bear week, and Media Wednesday doesn't need to be reminded that we've lost three in a row and four of five against these guys. We can tell ourselves that this streak will be broken on Saturday but, lets be honest, we have no control over that. No, we must acknowledge the Juju and his power to control the fate of the football universe. Keth Allen's drop? FLUKE. Cameron Colvin's fumble? FLUKE. These excuses are no more. What the Juju wants is our attention and our respect. We respect you, Juju, and stand in awe of the power that you can unleash. In deference to your power, we relive the moments of mayhem that you have caused the last five years, acknowledge your power and implore you to make the Bears respect you the way we humbly do.

2004, the darkest days in decades for our Ducks. However, at the time, we're 5-3, and driving for the game winning field goal against a top ten team when the Juju, clearly visible in this video, turns Keith Allen's hands to butter:

In 2006, we start off 4-0, and head into Berkeley coming off a total blowout of Arizona State. We're ranked #11, and our offense is rolling. Pissed off at Brady Leaf for defying the Juju in OT the year before, the Juju really lets us have it with a primetime national TV meltdown. DeSean Jackson just toyed with us:

Not even Dennis Dixon could overcome the power of the Juju. In what was one of the biggest games in Oregon history. the Ducks all but have the game tying score, when the Juju makes a lifelong goat of poor Cameron Colvin just as he's crossing the goal line:

And, perhaps mercifully, there doesn't seem to be any video of the pain that the Juju caused us last year. Needing only a field goal to tie it in the fourth quarter, the Juju made Jairus Byrd forget to catch the punt, and gave Cal another TD to put the game away.

UPDATE: reader Oskigodummy has added this video for us. I'm not sure if we should thank him or pummel him:

We acknowledge this pain and the power of the Juju to inflict it. You may go elsewhere now Juju, your work will be remembered in Eugene for a long, long time.

Morning Quack Fix: Competition day recap, Nick Reed continues to impress, assessing the Duck defense

jtlight — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:00:15 -0000

It's the home stretch everyone. 10 days til kickoff, and we must only endure one more weekend without college football. On to the quack! We have a lot of stories this morning so make sure to check out the ones after the jump.

The defense won the last competition day of fall camp, by a final margin of 66-63. It was a very competitive practice, with each side matching the play of the other throughout the day. One of the bright spots was the receiver play, and all of the receivers (minus Rory Cavaille) were practicing, which is very encouraging. And in injury news in general, Bo Thran seems to be the only main player whose status for the opener is in doubt.
One of the biggest stories of the fall camp is the play of the receivers. After having a good majority of the expected receiving corp unavailable during spring ball, D.J. Davis, Lavasier Tuinei, Diante Jackson, and Tyrece Gaines have been very impressive. After all the drop problems all receivers had last year, it's good to hear that this is a strength of this receiving corp, as well as blocking. I am really excited to see what this talented and deep group can do.
In more competition day roundup, check out this recap by 'FishDuck' from DSA. For those of you that couldn't make it to the competition, this is a lengthy piece that has a ton of info. Some highlights: The receivers (especially Diante Jackson) were very impressive, Jackson Rice is going to be a stud, and if LaMichael James can learn how to handle punts, he will be amazing.

On the schedule this week for the Duck football team, normal practice on Monday, scrimmage Tuesday, conditioning Wednesday, and the start of game prep on Friday. And with the end of camp, comes the secrecy, and not everyone agrees with the scrimmage on Tuesday being closed.
In alumni news, Nick Reed has continued to dominate. In Seattle's preseason game, he had 1.5 sacks, deflected a punt, and forced a fumble. While a roster spot is not yet certain, this showing seems to make it very likely. Meanwhile, Dennis Dixon showed flashes of his upside on consercutive plays, with a 17 yard pass followed by a 17 yard run on a broken pass play.
The buzz around the internet lately has been the state of the Oregon defense. Last week, John Canzano wrote a column that claimed that the fate of the defense rested in the Nick Aliotti and defense's hands, and Ken Goe responded with a defense of Aliotti and the Oregon defense. Then, AJ Jacobson of DSA wrote that the no-huddle offense has unfairly portrayed the Oregon defense. My take: The 2008 Oregon defense is incredibly hard to judge. They ended up with good yards per play averages, had poor poor 3rd down and red zone numbers (though oddly enough, good passing down numbers), and were a top 35 defense according to Close situation S&P+ (which is a widely used metric). Blaming TOP or ignoring it entirely won't accurately assess the defense, but I believe the truth, as usual, lies somewhere in the middle.
However, as much as some will want to rag on Aliotti, what is really important is where the defense will fare this year, and both the Register Guard and the Oregonian had weekend article on the speed of the defense. The speed and versatility at all positions will allow the Ducks to do a lot, and a lot of emphasis will be placed on pressuring the QB, especially from the linebacker positions. This will be a very fun defense to watch, with players like Kenny Rowe, Eddie Pleasant, and TJ Ward, that have the ability to play all over the field and in a large number of circumstances. I expect to see a versatile defense that is flying all over the place.

Got an opinion on the defense? Leave it, as well as any other Duck links, in the comments!

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.

Previewing 2009 Utah Opponents: Oregon Ducks

Jeremy Mauss — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:00:11 -0000

This off season brought in some changes for Oregon with Chip Kelly being promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach, and former head coach Mike Bellotti is now the athletic director. Oregon is the last team not named USC to win an outright conference which happened to be in 2001.

The Pac-10 typically plays a pretty strong out of conference schedule and Oregon may have one of the toughest with a road game at Boise State, home for both Utah, and Purdue. Purdue could be consider an easy win but not when you consider that many, many schools schedule directional tech for a gimme win.

Their preseason ranking varies from a near consensus in the mid teens, or Phil Steele who has Oregon ranked 40. Part of the reason for Steele's ranking is his importance in the line play. Oregon has only twenty career starts on the offensive line --that comes from one player-- which puts them 118th out of 120th in all of college football.

via vmedia.rivals.com

The line will consist of Junior Bo Thran who received multiple offers from other Pac-10 schools, Sophomore Mark Asper who just returned from a two year LDS mission, Junior Jordan Holmes who's only offer came from Oregon, Freshman Carson York who is a four star recruit, and the only returning starter is Junior CE Kaiser.

The recent success of the Ducks is their running the spread option and with the right players have been deadly. The last time the offense was great was when Dennis Dixon ran the show two years ago, but ever since his injury in that Arizona game Oregon has yet to find the 'next' quarterback to run the offense.

The offense is still very productive by ranking in the top 10 in scoring offense in 2008. The 2009 version should still be one that scores a bunch of points, even with the loss of quarterback Justin Roper who transferred to Montana. The quarterback position is their deepest position and starts with Jeremiah Mosali who after struggling to pass the ball last year, actually picked it up in the last three games.

Passing

Rushing

Completion	Attempt	Yards	Interception	Touchdown	Attempts	Yards	Yards Per Carry	Long	Touchdown
21	26	298	0	2	10	89	8.9	66	3
11	17	274	0	3	12	53	4.4	20	1
18	32	258	1	1	16	106	6.6	41	3

Others at quarterback are Nate Costa who started last year before suffering a knee injury then there is sophomore Darron Thomas who played in the Boise game after the first and second quarterbacks went down, and he did well by throwing for 210 yards and three scores. So, the Ducks are taken care if one does happen to go down with an injury.

With the spread option the Ducks have another chance to have two 1,000 yards rushers starting with returning back LaGarrette Johnson who had 1,201 yards, and then the potential other thousand yard back is redshirt freshman --and former four star recruit-- LaMichael Johnson.

The receiving crew has a potential star in the making with Jamere Holland, because of his great spring oh and he is really, really fast. The Ducks lost two of their top three receivers, but that returning wide out is Ed Dickson who was a deep threat with 14.5 yards per catch. In this offense with the way the ball is spread around any receiver with any talent can become a star in this offense.

The defense only returns five starters, but there is some pretty good talent filling in those other six spots. The defensive line was a strength last year, but with the loss of three of four lineman, and two to the NFL draft make the line a potential short coming this season.

The returing starter is Will Tukuafu who had 7.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss, however being the only starter back on the line means there will be more double teams. Those potential double teams could lead to less production by Tukuafu but open up opportunities for others.

The biggest impact newcomer is junior college transfer Bryon Littlejohn who was an All-American linebacker. Even with that talent Littlejohn may not even start because the linebacker position is the deepest on the team, but it will be hard for Littlejohn to not see some action on the field.

The Ducks have a legit shot of taking down USC for their first Pac-10 title since 2001 because USC is starting a new quarterback, and has to replace eight starters on defense. Even if they do not over take USC a 10 win season is a realistic goal for this year.

A Championship List

Year2 — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:30:09 -0000

This is meant to be more of a conversation starter than a normal post. It goes like this: if you had to pick a list of ten schools that at least half of the next ten national champions will come from, who would you put on it? Here's my list in no particular order:

SEC

Florida - because of a high probability of a 2009 national title and because Meyer ain't leaving.

Georgia - because Mark Richt always has his team up there, all it'll take is the right special player or two to put him over the top.

Alabama - because Nick Saban recruits like a madman and is an exceptional coach.

LSU - because the reawakening of the program this decade looks like it's taken root.

Pac-10

USC - because I'd be a fool not to include the flagship program of one of the three best recruiting states, to say nothing of the job Pete Carroll has done.

Oregon - because I love Chip Kelly's offense and Oregon was a healthy Dennis Dixon knee away from winning it all in 2007, showing the program is capable of being up there.

Big Ten

Ohio State - because Jim Tressel will have his team near or at the top of his automatic qualifying conference every year, and that's all you need.

Michigan - because Rich Rodriguez nearly won one at West Virginia, and he'll get better players at Michigan.

Big 12

Oklahoma - because this program is rich in resources and right next to Texas, and because the program will eventually win one as long as it keeps getting to the big game.

Texas - because I'd be a fool not to include the flagship program of one of the three best recruiting states, and because Will Muschamp won't let things fall off if/when Mack Brown steps down before the next ten years finish.

Honorable Mentions

Arkansas - because I believe in Bobby Petrino the coach, but it's going to be tougher to get to a BCS game in the SEC West than it was at Louisville.

Miami - because Butch Davis showed that putting a great coach in this program will make it really good really quickly, and Randy Shannon is stocking the cupboards quite nicely for whoever will replace him.

Virginia Tech - because Frank Beamer has built a consistent winner, and perhaps Bud Foster will put it over the top whenever he retires.

Your Turn

What's your list of ten teams? And here's a couple more questions for you:

-If I gave you the entire Big East together as one team, would you take it?

-If I gave you the entire ACC together as one team, would you take it?

-If I gave you all of the current non-Big Six schools (as of today) together as one team, would you take it?

Media Wednesday on Thursday - The Pick #2

dvieira — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:00:14 -0000

I'm a day late with Media Wednesday this week and I apologize. The week ran away from me clocking a 4.2, 40. For this week, I'm going back to a game in 2007 that provided one of the best moments in Duck Football history. At the time, this play was being called "The Pick #2" and helped seal a victory against Mark Sanchez and the USC Trojans. We might have been one Dennis Dixon ACL away from talking about this play as the greatest play in Oregon Duck Football history.