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| USC's Sam Darnold is part of an impressive Pac-12 quarterback crop (draftbreakdown.com) |
Every conference has its own hallmark -- the SEC is blessed with athletes galore, the Big Ten has physical play, and so on.
In the Pac-12, this year is all about the embarrassment of riches at the quarterback position. No fewer than four quarterbacks have a chance to truly shine -- and go on to eventually be high NFL Draft choices -- and take their teams to a league title.
Not since, oh, say, 1972, when guys such as Fouts, Bartkowski, Ferragamo and Haden were slicing up opponents, has the Pac had such a deep and talented roster of signal-callers.
Over here you have USC's Sam Darnold, the Rose Bowl hero. Over there is UCLA's Josh Rosen. Don't forget about Washington's Jake Browning. Oh, and did I mention Washington State's Luke Falk? Any one of the quartet could be the first-team all-league quarterback and it wouldn't be the wrong choice.
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| Sam Darnold (sltrib.com) |
USC (10-3, 7-2) got hot once Darnold took over for Max Browne as the Trojans' starter, and he has the look of a future star. A prototype USC gunslinger, the 6-4, 225-pound Darnold (3,086 yards, 31 TD, 9 INT) is cool under pressure, can make all of the throws and is the unquestioned leader of the offense. He has weapons aplenty, notably running back Ronald Jones (1,082 yards, 12 TD) and wideout Deontay Burnett (56 catches, 622 yards, 7 TD). The defense, second in league play in points allowed (20 ppg), welcomes back seven starters, including standout linebacker Cameron Smith and hybrid rusher Porter Gustin. The Trojans face Texas at home in an early season showdown, and get Stanford and UCLA at home. A legit contender for a College Football Playoff berth.
"When we started after that Rose Bowl game and making some great memories, we went to both the staff and our players and said: Guys, wasn't that awesome?" Trojans coach Clay Helton said. "Made some unbelievable memories. And every kid and every coach said: Yeah, unbelievable, Coach. To make history was something truly special. But then I asked the next question: Are you satisfied? And to a man, not one hand rose. Because we understand what USC is about. It's about winning Pac-12 titles, and it's about winning national championships."
Mike MacIntyre went from being on the warmest of seats at Colorado to winning national coach of the year honors, guiding the Buffs to 10-4 mark, 8-1 in league play. It was done with a swarming defense, which allowed just 18.4 ppg in league play and was top four in every appreciable category. Coordinator Jim Leavitt left for Oregon, so there could be a bit of regression for the stop troops. But they still have safety Isaiah Oliver (34 stops, 7 PBU), and he will need to be a presence for a unit that has just three returning starters. Philip Lindsay (1,252 yards, 16 TD) returns at running back, and he's thrilled to have four starting offensive linemen back from a year ago. Shay Fields (15.8 ypc, 9 TD) is a big play receiver for the Buffs.
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| Josh Rosen (campuspressbox.com) |
Rosen was playing well before a shoulder injury in the fourth game sidelined him for the rest of the season. The Bruins (4-8, 2-7) struggled offensively, ranking 10th or lower in six categories last season. If the Bruins anemic ground game (84.3 ypg) doesn't get going, it won't matter how healthy Rosen is. Breaking in new receivers is also a concern, though Darren Andrews did grab 55 passes a year ago. Look for Rosen to be asked to make quick decisions by new OC Jedd Fisch, and if his teammates help him out then Rosen could have a big junior year. The defense loses a lot, but gets five-star freshman end Jaelan Phillips right out of the box. Fellow freshman Darnay Holmes at corner will give the secondary a boost. UCLA must go to Stanford, Washington and USC, so getting back to its winning ways won't be easy.
Kyle Whittingham continues to fly under the radar -- maybe because he's at Utah -- but he's consistently been one of the best coaches in the land. The Utes have trended upward, going from five wins in 2013 to nine, 10 and nine last year. Look for the Utes (9-4, 5-4) to go away from their usual physical style and throw the ball a bit more this year with quarterback Troy Williams. A lanky sort who started his career at Washington, Williams is a solid runner and doesn't make many mistakes with the football, but must improve his accuracy (53.1) if Utah is to become a legitimate offensive threat. The Utes will gain the services of former Oregon wideout Darren Carrington (graduate transfer), assuming the necessary conference waivers and paperwork are in order. The defense is a nightmare for foes, led by DT Lowell Lotulelei (5 TFL, 3.5 sacks) and end Kylie Fitts, who redshirted last season but had eight TFL in 2015. A tricky week two road tilt against hated rival BYU should show whether the Utes can keep the winning ways going.
Arizona State looked ready to upset the balance of power in the Pac last year, then the bottom dropped out and it lost the last six contests -- allowing 280 points, including 49 or more three times. That did little for the job security of sixth-year coach Todd Graham, who has watched his team falter after consecutive 10-win campaigns in 2013-14. Fixing that defense will be paramount, and ASU returns four of its top five tacklers, including hybrid rusher Koron Crump (37 tackles, 9 sacks). The Sun Devils want to play fast on offense, but need to find a quarterback. It's either holdover Manny Wilkins (2,329 yards) or Alabama transfer Blake Barnett, a sturdy pocket passer who would seem to be a good fit for the spread offense. Kalen Ballage ran for 14 touchdowns a year ago and should get the lion's share of the carries. If ASU doesn't put together a strong finish in 2017, Graham might be finished in Tempe.
Rich Rodriguez is, like his neighbor to the north, also feeling some pressure after seeing his Wildcats fall to just three victories after four straight winning seasons. The defense wilted into one of the most forgiving groups in the conference, allowing 35 points or more in eight contests. The talent coming in may not be as good as what left, which means it could be tough to escape the divisional cellar. The secondary has experience, but the front seven must find a better pass rush (22 sacks) and force more turnovers (14). Quarterback is still unsettled, though junior Brandon Dawkins has the most experience. Freshman running back Nathan Tilford could be a ball-control running back for the Wildcats, which would help the defense immensely.
In the North, Stanford (10-3, 6-3) has a team coach David Shaw loves -- experienced, with a maturing quarterback and a talented, disciplined defense that allowed just 20.4 points per contest in 2016. The Cardinal will need to find a replacement for edge rusher Solomon Thomas, an early NFL Draft pick, but has a secondary few teams can match. Led by corners Quenton Meeks and Alijah Holder, and safety Justin Reid (7 PBU), the Cardinal will be very difficult to throw against. Losing running back Christian McCaffrey to the draft was a big blow, but Bryce Love ran for 119 yards and a touchdown in the Sun Bowl, and is the likely replacement. If Keller Chryst is healthy for the opener then Stanford's quarterback situation is all good. Tight end Dalton Schultz caught just 23 passes a year ago but should have a breakout campaign as Shaw has said he wants to use him in space and down the seam, as well as in the red zone.
"Oh, it's insanity. It's crazy. But it's great," Shaw said, when asked about the strength of the conference. "You know there are no bye weeks, there are no off weeks. You're going to have a tough game in the entire conference."
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| Jake Browning (seattletimes.com) |
Washington (12-2, 8-1) surprised many, and though it loses some potent offense, there's enough experience back to make U-Dub a major player once again. Jake Browning made everything go at quarterback, threw 45 touchdowns to just four picks, and ran for four scores. He lost burner John Ross to the draft, but returns reliable Dante Pettis (822 yards, 15 TD). He will also have Myles Gaskin (1,373 yards, 10 TD) and Lavon Coleman (852-7) in the backfield. Defensively, the linebacking corps will be the backbone, led by Azeem Victor (67 tackles), who missed the final four contests with an injury. Greg Gaines and Vita Vea are a load up front, combining for 8.5 sacks. Washington faces Stanford in Palo Alto late in the season, the North Division crown likely on the line.
Crazy genius Mike Leach has taken a Washington State (8-5, 7-2) program largely bereft of talent and turned it into a defensive coordinator's nightmare. Back-to-back bowl trips have been appreciated by the fans in Pullman, and a third could be in store. Falk has size that is atypical for Leach's Air Raid offense (6-4, 225), and has excellent command and decision-making abilities. Falk put up video game numbers (4,468 yards, 38 TD) last year, and with six returning starters on offense could be even better. He has great protection, led by All-America guard candidate Cody O'Connell, but will have to replace his weapons outside. Don't be shocked if freshman Jamire Calvin plays early. Wazzu was third in the Pac-12 vs the run, and has end Hercules Mata'afa (47 stops, 8.5 TFL) back for another season. WSU isn't quite ready to breathe the same air as Stanford and Washington, but the talent is getting better.
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| Luke Falk (sltrib.com) |
Oregon (4-8, 2-7) decided that blowing it up and starting over was better than holding on by a fingertip, so it brought in Willie Taggart as head coach, off a successful run at South Florida (19 wins the last two seasons). He poached Leavitt from Colorado to run the defense, which returns nine starters and will switch to a 3-4 to make better use of the Ducks speed. Linebacker Troy Dye (91 tackles, 6.5 TFL) is a force, and has experience around him. The offense will be a lot of Royce Freeman left, Royce Freeman right, and Royce Freeman up the middle, and with good reason. He tallied 945 yards despite missing two games, and should put up All-America numbers. Sophomore Justin Herbert has the quarterback spot and wasn't bad last year, throwing for nearly 2,000 yards with 19 TD and just four picks. The dismissal of Carrington after a DUI earlier in July means the Ducks should largely be a ground-based attack. Early games with Nebraska and Wyoming could be tricky, but Taggart has brought enthusiasm back to a program that had dipped precipitously the last two seasons.
It shows how far Oregon State has come in the third year under coach Gary Anderson -- a four-win season was rewarded with a one-year contract extension. The Beavers (4-8, 3-6) appear to be trending up under Anderson, who has recruited better talent to Corvallis -- which isn't easy. Four-star receiver Isaiah Hodgins is a big target who should produce right away, while running back Ryan Nall scored 13 touchdowns a year ago and could eclipse the 1,000-yard mark this year. The defense, which allowed 31 ppg, must improve, and returns eight starters, including corner Xavier Crawford (70 tackles, 10 PBU). Anderson went the JUCO route, which means he could can an instant infusion of talent on both sides of the ball.
California was one of the higher-scoring teams in the nation (37.1), but that didn't matter because the defense was so poor (42.6 ppg, allowed 30 or more in 10 games). So the hiring of defensive-minded Justin Wilcox was understandable. The former Wisconsin defensive coordinator will bring much-needed attitude to that side of the ball, but it will take awhile as the talent is lacking. Linebacker Devante Downs (84 tackles) is solid, but needs some help. The running game should be featured a bit more under new OC Beau Baldwin, and senior Tre Watson (709 yards) will get first crack at the job. The receiving corps is solid, led by Demetris Robertson (50 catches, 7 TD), but quarterback is a big question mark.
PAC-12 PREDICTIONS
NORTH
1. Stanford
2. Washington
3. Washington State
4. Oregon
5. Oregon State
6. California
SOUTH
1. USC
2. Colorado
3. UCLA
4. Utah
5. Arizona State
6. Arizona
ALL-PAC 12
OFFFENSE
QB Sam Darnold/USC
RB Myles Gaskin/Washington
RB Royce Freeman/Oregon
WR Dante Pettis/Washington
WR Shay Fields/Colorado
WR Deontay Burnett/USC
TE Dalton Schultz/Stanford
OT Trey Adams/Washington
OT Cole Madison/Washington State
OG Jeromy Irwin/Colorado
OG Cody O'Connell/Washington State
C Scott Quessenberry/UCLA
DEFENSE
DE Kylie Fitts/Utah
DE Hercules Mata'afa/Washington State
DT Rasheem Green/USC
DT Vita Vea/Washington
LB Porter Gustin/USC
LB Azeem Victor/Washington
LB Troy Dye/Oregon
CB Quenton Meeks/Stanford
CB Iman Marshall/USC
S Justin Reid/Stanford
S Chase Hansen/Utah
SPECIALISTS
K Matt Anderson/California
P Mitch Wishnowsky/Utah
KR Kalen Ballage/Arizona State
PR Dante Pettis/Washington
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME -- USC over Stanford
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Sam Darnold
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Azeem Victor
COACH OF THE YEAR -- Willie Taggart, Oregon
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR -- DE Jaelen Phillips/UCLA
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