Go Mighty Card

Season Predictions: The Offense

The season will finally be here tomorrow, and all of these preseason prognostications will be moot, so I figured I should make a few predictions of my own before the deadline hits. (For some general predictions, check out this list -- featuring Willys from The Daily Axe, Scott and Red Oscar from Rule of Tree, and me -- over at Rule of Tree.) For now, though, here are a few things to look for over the next few months. I can't promise that I'll get to the defense, but here's what I think about the offense. Please let me know what you think. Am I dead on? (Probably.) Off base? (Doubtful.) Have some predictions of your own? Let me know...

Pac-12 Summer Preview: UCLA Bruins

Even though the season won't kick off until early September, I thought it would be fun to take a look around the conference for a quick preview of the other eleven teams -- in no particular order. We'll get more in depth during the week before the Cardinal plays each team, but for now we've got a quick overview of how the team looks at this point as seen through the eyes of a blogger who knows that team best. Enjoy.

UCLA Bruins (Pac-12 South)
Head Coach: Rick Neuheisel (15-22)
2010: (4-8, 2-7, 9th)
Lost to Stanford, 35-0

The first great Pac-10 quarterback that I really remember watching was Troy Aikman. I had a poster of Aikman on my dorm room wall, and when people asked why a Stanford student would hang the starting UCLA quarterback on his wall, my answer was simple. My favorite NFL team desperately needed a quarterback, and I was hoping they'd be bad enough to earn the top overall pick and draft Aikman. (That worked out pretty well for me, by the way.)

Aikman has cast a fairly large shadow over the signal callers who have followed in his footsteps at UCLA, but that's probably just because of his three Super Bowl rings. There have been more than a few good men to take up the position in his wake. Aikman left following the 1988 season, but it wasn't long before Tommy Maddox arrived and essentially duplicated Aikman's career statistics. Aikman had a higher completion percentage (he's the most accurate quarterback in UCLA history) and eight more touchdowns, but Maddox accounted for a few more yards passing.

Pac-12 Summer Preview: Arizona State Sun Devils

Even though the season won't kick off until early September, I thought it would be fun to take a look around the conference for a quick preview of the other eleven teams -- in no particular order. We'll get more in depth during the week before the Cardinal plays each team, but for now we've got a quick overview of how the team looks at this point as seen through the eyes of a blogger who knows that team best. Enjoy.

Arizona State Sun Devils (Pac-12 South)
Head Coach: Dennis Erickson (25-24)
2010: (6-6, 4-5, 6th)
Lost to Stanford, 17-13

When you think back to the 2010 season, it's easy to fool yourself into believing that the Cardinal only struggled for those disappointing thirty minutes in the second half in Eugene. They crushed everyone else on the schedule, didn't they?

Not exactly. There was the last second field goal to snatch victory away from USC, but that was kind of understandable. It came as no surprise that Stanford was involved in a high-scoring shootout that came down to the final possession.

What happened in Tempe in mid-November, though, was stunning. At 8-1, the Mighty Card was rolling, and fans were spending much more time thinking about which BCS bowl they'd be attending than worrying about the middle-of-the-pack Sun Devils. In the other twelve games the Cardinal played last season, they never scored fewer than 31 points. Against Arizona State they scored barely half that amount as they struggled for an ugly 17-13 win.

Pac-12 Summer Preview: USC Trojans

Even though the season won't kick off until early September, I thought it would be fun to take a look around the conference for a quick preview of the other eleven teams -- in no particular order. We'll get more in depth during the week before the Cardinal plays each team, but for now we've got a quick overview of how the team looks at this point as seen through the eyes of a blogger who knows that team best. Enjoy.

USC Trojans (Pac-12 South)
Head Coach: Lane Kiffin (40-45)
2010: (8-5, 4-5, T-3rd)
Lost to Stanford, 37-35

Allen Bradford rushed the ball into the end zone from three yards out, giving USC a 35-34 lead over Stanford with only a minute and eight seconds to play. It was only the second Saturday of October, and both teams were still looking to establish themselves, not only within the conference, but on the national scene as well. Both teams had entered the game with identical records, 1-1 in the Pac-10 and 4-1 overall. The winner would continue on towards its goals, while the loser would be forced to reevaluate things.

We know how the game ended. Andrew Luck and the Cardinal drove down the field for a game-winning field goal and didn't lose again.

USC, on the other hand, was mediocre the rest of the way, winning four of their final seven games en route an 8-5 record. Good enough for most teams, but not quite what Trojan fans have come to expect. NCAA sanctions kept them out of a bowl game for the first time in ten years.

Training Camp Previews: Running Backs and Offensive Line

With less than three weeks to go before the first game, training camp is in high gear. The Cardinal Channel (a Stanford University production) gives us a peek at what's going on. First up is a preview of the running backs, featuring interviews with Stepfan Taylor, Anthony Wilkerson, Tyler Gaffney, and running backs coach Mike Sanford, Jr. My favorite quote from the piece comes from Sanford as he explains the offense: "We are a run first team. We just happen to have one of the most talented quarterbacks in the history of the game playing here." Amen.

The running back position is certainly loaded, but there are lots of questions surrounding the offensive line. This update is from early in camp, so there are no decisions on the battles for the three open spots on the line, but you can still get a good sense of what's going on, as well as the personalities of Jonathan "Moose" Martin and David DeCastro. Definitely worth a watch.

 

Pac-12 Summer Preview: Arizona Wildcats

Even though the season won't kick off until early September, I thought it would be fun to take a look around the conference for a quick preview of the other eleven teams -- in no particular order. We'll get more in depth during the week before the Cardinal plays each team, but for now we've got a quick overview of how the team looks at this point as seen through the eyes of a blogger who knows that team best. Enjoy.

Arizona Wildcats (Pac-12 South)
Head Coach: Mike Stoops (40-45)
2010: (7-6, 4-5, T-5th)
Lost to Stanford, 42-17

The Arizona Wildcats opened the 2010 season looking like one of the top teams in the country and certainly a contender for that elusive Pac-10 championship. Having won seven of their first eight games, including a statement win at home over a highly-ranked Iowa team, Arizona headed to Palo Alto ranked #16 in the country and riding a tough defense that looked ready to challenge Andrew Luck and the Cardinal.

It looked to be a classical battle of strength against strength. Arizona's defense had notched 27 quarterback sacks, third in the nation, while the Cardinal offensive line had surrendered only three, second best in the NCAA. The Stanford offense had yet to be tested by a strong defense, so there were those who felt the road team might be able to sneak in come away with an upset. It didn't happen that way. Here's a bit of what I wrote following the game:

The Stanford offense has been a juggernaut all season long, but this was really the first time we've seen them firing on all cylinders.  The usual balance was there with 217 yards rushing and 293 yards passing, but against the best defense the conference has to offer, a team that had been yielding only sixteen points a game in league play, the Cardinal was explosive.  It was surprising when a possession ended without points, and each time they broke the huddle and jogged to the line of scrimmage they were a threat to score...

Stanford would come away with a convincing 42-17 victory, and the game would be a turning point for both schools' seasons. The Cardinal went on to play nearly flawless football for the rest of the year, winning their final four games as they wrapped up the best season in school history. 

The Wildcats, however, wouldn't win again. There was a narrow loss to USC, a blowout at the hands of #1 Oregon, a heartbreaker in their rivalry game versus Arizona State, and another blowout in the Alamo Bowl against Oklahoma State. In their defense, this was the teeth of their schedule as they faced the top teams in the conference, but good teams don't stumble to the tape that way.

Pac-12 Summer Preview: Colorado Buffaloes

Even though the season won't kick off until early September, I thought it would be fun to take a look around the conference for a quick preview of the other eleven teams -- in no particular order. We'll get more in depth during the week before the Cardinal plays each team, but for now we've got a quick overview of how the team looks at this point as seen through the eyes of a blogger who knows that team best. Enjoy.

Colorado Buffaloes (Pac-12 South)
Head Coach: Jon Embree (First Year)
2010: (5-7, 2-6, 5th in Big 12 North)
Did not play Stanford

In the eight seasons from 1989 to 1996 the Colorado Buffaloes compiled a cumulative record of 78-15, including five bowl victories, and a national championship in 1990. In the middle of that stretch they enjoyed the services of Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam and dynamic quarterback Kordell Stewart. Remember the Miracle at Michigan? Without question, Colorado was a national power.

Things have changed. Boy Wonder Rick Neuheisel and his successor, Gary Barnett, kept the program respectable over the next decade or so, but in 2006 the university looked north and plucked Dan Hawkins from Boise State. This decision would prove to be a mistake, as Hawkins never finished a season in Boulder over .500 and was dismissed after nine games in 2010 after going 19-39 as head coach.

This year the Buffaloes enter the Jon Embree era. Embree played tight end for Colorado in the mid 80s, and he's thrilled to be back home. "This is a dream come true. When I stepped on the field for my first spring practice here as a volunteer coach in 1991, I started to envision what it would be like to come back one day and be the head coach of this great university. It's truly a privilege when you have the opportunity to become head coach at your alma mater." It's as if he was reading from the same script Stanford coach David Shaw used at his introductory press conference.

Embree will rely on the senior leadership of quarterback Tyler Hansen and tailback Rodney Stewart, both of whom could finish their careers as the best to have played their positions in Colorado history. Will that be enough to compete in the Pac-12 South? I checked in with the folks at The Ralphie Report, and Jon Woods gave me the lowdown. Check it out...

Pac-12 Summer Preview: Utah Utes

Even though the season won't kick off until early September, I thought it would be fun to take a look around the conference for a quick preview of the other eleven teams -- in no particular order. We'll get more in depth during the week before the Cardinal plays each team, but for now we've got a quick overview of how the team looks at this point as seen through the eyes of a blogger who knows that team best. Enjoy.

Utah Utes (Pac-12 South)
Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham (58-20)
2010: (10-3, 7-1, 2nd in Mountain West)
Did not play Stanford

For most of us, it's been hard getting used to saying "Pac-12" instead of "Pac-10," but the new era has dawned, and it brings us the Utah Utes and the Colorado Buffaloes. Both teams had long been rumored as potential Pac-10 expansion candidates, so it's nice to finally have them aboard.

Utah isn't on Stanford's schedule this season, unless the two teams end up meeting in the conference championship game, but it's a good idea to get to know them a bit before the season starts. Here's what you already know. Over the past three years the Utes have compiled one of the best records in Division I football, going 33-6, but their success has always been questioned as it's come largely at the hands of undermanned teams from the Mountain West Conference. In 2008 they finished the regular season as the only undefeated team in nation at 12-0, but the BCS denied them a spot in the championship game. But instead of hanging their heads, the Utes simply showed up at the Sugar Bowl and crushed Alabama, 31-17. They had the best record in the land, a marquee victory over a highly-ranked traditional power, but they didn't have the national championship to go along with it.

In 2009 and 2010 the Utes were leapfrogged by TCU in the Mountain West, but they still enter the Pac-12 as a team to be reckoned with. Utah has the reputation of being a hard-nosed team that plays hard on every down, and their arrival in the Pac-12 will likely result in an uptick in recruiting. Oh, and here's the coolest thing -- the pre-camp depth chart distributed at Media Day lists something called a Stud Linebacker. Tough enough for you?

If you're looking to read up on Utah football, your first and last stop should be Block U. I reached out to them a little bit ago, writer Sean Reynolds fired back some answers to my questions. Take a look...

Pac-12 Summer Preview: Oregon Ducks

Even though the season won't kick off until early September, I thought it would be fun to take a look around the conference for a quick preview of the other eleven teams -- in no particular order. We'll get more in depth during the week before the Cardinal plays each team, but for now we've got a quick overview of how the team looks at this point as seen through the eyes of a blogger who knows that team best. Enjoy.

Oregon Ducks (Pac-12 North)
Head Coach: Chip Kelly (22-4)
2010: (12-1, 9-0, 1st)
Defeated Stanford, 52-31

There are a lot of off-field issues swirling around the Oregon program, and even though some of those distractions could impact on-field performance, it doesn't make sense to discuss any of that here. We'll focus on what should happen between the lines.

I have no hatred towards Oregon. In fact, if it weren't for my love of Stanford, I bet the Ducks would be my favorite Pac-12 team. There's the spread offense, the multiple uniforms, and even the wacky sideline signs for signaling in plays. What's not to love?

But you'll have to forgive Cardinal fans if mention of the Oregon Ducks brings on a little bitterness. If we look back at what happened on October 2nd at Autzen Stadium (here's what I wrote at the time), it all becomes clear. In a nutshell, Stanford took an early 21-3 lead and looked poised to take control of the conference. The Ducks tied it at 31 early in the third, then pulled away for a convincing victory, crushing Cardinal dreams along the way. Now that I think about it, perhaps I don't like the Ducks so much after all.

This year Oregon heads into the season with expectations at least as high as they were last year. Heisman finalist LaMichael James returns at running back, and quarterback Darron Thomas, an untested question mark at this point last year, has matured into a leader and will direct their terribly potent offense. Pre-season All-America cornerback Cliff Harris will anchor the defense. Their first game of the season will go a long way towards determining the national championship as they'll match up with highly ranked LSU in Dallas, Texas. GMC will be rooting hard for the Ducks.

Probably the best site out there to follow Oregon football is Addicted to Quack, and one of the ATQ writers, Matt Takimoto, was nice enough to stop by and answer my preview questions. It's a good read...

Pac-12 Summer Preview: California Golden Bears

Even though the season won't kick off until early September, I thought it would be fun to take a look around the conference for a quick preview of the other eleven teams -- in no particular order. We'll get more in depth during the week before the Cardinal plays each team, but for now we've got a quick overview of how the team looks at this point as seen through the eyes of a blogger who knows that team best. Enjoy.

California Golden Bears (Pac-12 North)
Head Coach: Jeff Tedford (72-42)
2010: (5-7, 3-6, 8th)
Lost to Stanford, 48-14

These are dark days on the other side of the Bay. Head coach Jeff Tedford has been at the helm for the Golden Bears since 2002, and his teams have almost always finished in the top half of the Pac-10 standings, except for a seventh-place finish in 2007, but things fell apart last season. The schizophrenic Bears looked great in home wins over Colorado, UCLA, and Arizona State (outscoring those teams 137-31) and representing themselves well in a 15-13 loss to Oregon, but they looked awful in road losses at Nevada and Oregon State.

They could've salvaged their season and clinched a bowl bid with a Big Game victory over Stanford, but the Cardinal crushed them. The bad news for these Bad News Bears is that there isn't a lot to be optimistic about for 2011. They'll be playing their home games in San Francisco while Memorial Stadium undergoes renovation, they'll be breaking in a new quarterback, and the best player from the 2010 team will be playing in the NFL.

But of course, maybe I'm biased. The gentlemen at California Golden Blogs were kind enough to answer a slate of questions for me, and they certainly know a lot more about their team than I do. Read on...