For Colorado, they will find that they are switching from one conference that they do not fit in with very well to another, but there are not a lot of choices in the mountains. But Utah will find a big difference between the two. For example, Utah will not get to follow up a TCU loss by beating up on Wyoming. In the PAC-12, they will have to be ready every week...except that Washington State is between UCLA and Colorado. But games 2 through 8 will be tough.
Power Rankings.
1. Oregon Ducks. Win or lose against Auburn next week, the Ducks will return most of their offense from last season and seven starters from defense. The number 1 scoring offense from 2010 will likely continue to pour on the points and LaMichael James will be the Heisman favorite for 2011. Biggest potential obstacle for 2011: Remaining healthy.
Update: Oregon's weaknesses on offense were exposed by the Auburn defense in the National Championship game. However, there probably is not anyone in the PAC-12 that has the personnel to take advantage. It will be interesting to see if anyone tries to copy the schemes that Auburn used.
2. Stanford Cardinal. Stanford, as of today, only returns five starters on offense next season. If Jim Harbaugh leaves Palo Alto for the NFL, expect Andrew Luck to follow. The Cardinal have one of the best defenses in the country in 2010 and with eight returning starters, 2011 will be better. Biggest potential obstacle for 2011: Possible replacement of Harbaugh and Luck to go with so many losses on offense.
Update: Luck is staying but Harbaugh moves on to the 49ers. The key to the 2011 season is how well the team responds to their new coach.
3. Arizona State Sun Devils. Dennis Erickson returns starters in 21 of 22 positions for 2011. Usually returning that kind of experience will equal success, but the Devils had a few disappointments in 2010, where they were 1-4 in games decided by one score. They may have learned their lesson as special teams play costs them a chance to win at Wisconsin and USC, but made the difference against Arizona at the end of the season. Turnovers were the big culprit in their other losses. Biggest potential obstacle for 2011: Avoiding give-a-ways.
4. Utah Utes. The offense loses all of their key players except for quarterback Jordan Wynn who will be a junior in 2011. But the offense played very poorly toward the end of 2011 and had to take advantage of late-game turnovers to get wins against BYU and San Diego State. That kind of success is the hallmark of a Kyle Whittingham team. Building from scratch on offense may not be such a bad thing. The defense, on the other hand, has played well with seven returning starters. The schedule, while not exactly brutal, is no cake-walk but softens late in the season. The Utes should make an impression in their first PAC-12 season, but don't expect the championship game to come to Salt Lake City in 2012, although I won't be surprised if the Utes end up playing there. For some reason, the Utes avoided getting Oregon or Stanford on the schedule. 9-3 or better is a realistic possibility. Biggest potential obstacle for 2011: Finding offensive punch.
5. USC Trojans. Matt Barkley brings his 141 QB rating back for 2011 and should be very effective if he can remain healthy, in spite of losses in other key positions. The defense returns eight starters. USC was three plays from being 11-2 and one should not expect them to be 2-3 in close shaves next year and they should be improved on defense where they gave up 30+ points in six games. USC will once again be ineligible for the post season and that will have a negative impact on recruiting and replacements for player losses in key positions. It does not seem to have an effect on the star power at USC, but it will have an effect on their depth. Biggest potential obstacle for 2011: Replacement of players in key offensive positions.
6. Oregon State Beavers. It is hard to believe that a team with Jacquizz Rodgers was one of the worst rushing teams in the US in 2010. Underachievement marked the 2010 season, especially late in the year where the Beavers lost 4 of their last 5. They will have to find a way to turn that around with Wisconsin and BYU in non-conference play because the conference schedule is brutal down the stretch and they could lose all of the last five in 2011. Biggest potential obstacle for 2011: Rushing game.
7. Arizona Wildcats. Arizona has a relatively soft non-conference schedule in 2011, but their second game of the season is at Oklahoma State followed by games against Stanford, Oregon, USC and Oregon State. It is not inconceivable that Arizona starts the season 1-5 and does not recover. If they do not, they could end up as the beast of the south. Playing in Tuscon will always be tough. Biggest potential obstacle for 2011: Brutal beginning to 2011 schedule.
8. Washington Huskies. The Huskies were impressive against Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. Now out goes Jake Locker and in come Keith Price. If the Huskies play defense all season like they did in the Holiday Bowl, 2011 looks bright. Trouble is, they didn't play like that in 2010 where they gave up 40+ points four times. On offense, the Huskies should do well, as most of the core built around Locker will be back for Price with more experience. Biggest potential obstacle for 2011: Defense
9. California Golden Bears. With their stadium being rebuilt, AT&T park in San Francisco will serve as the home field. This is the reason two non-conference games have yet to be announced. 2010 was not a memorable year for the Bears as Kevin Riley was injured for the last four games of the season and Brock Mansion was ineffective as a replacement. I have a feeling that Mansion will not the the starter in 2011. Biggest potential obstacle for 2011: Finding a starting quarterback.
10. UCLA Bruins. Another team with problems at quarterback and a lot of other positions is the UCLA Bruins. One bright spot was running back Johnathan Franklin who rushed for over 1,100 yards and will be back in 2011. But the Bruins need to find consistency at quarterback, something that they have not had since Kade McNown back in the 1990s. Perhaps incoming freshman Brett Hundley will be the next guy that Norm Chow tutors to greatness. Biggest potential obstacle for 2011: Finding a starting quarterback.
11. Colorado Buffaloes. Out of the frying pan and into another. The Buffs take their 5-7 record from the Big 12 north to the PAC-12 south. Things were not all bad for Colorado in 2010 as three of their five wins were against teams that eventually played in bowl games. It was likely inconsistency on defense that doomed Colorado in 2010. They gave up 52 points to Kansas who was nearly the worst offense in the nation in 2010. While they held Hawaii, one of the best offenses in the nation to 13 points. Any more than 3 wins in 2011 will be a pleasant surprise.
Biggest potential obstacle for 2011: Consistency.
12. Washington State Cougars. The Palouse Cougars did not look all that improved in 2010 from 2009, but they did get to spoil the season for Oregon State. (You could say that WSU saved Oregon State's fans from enduring another Las Vegas Bowl.) Jeff Tuel boasted a 133 qb rating, but it could have been higher as he tossed 12 interceptions. How close are the Cougars to improving? Not that close, there were only two of their 11 losses were within 1 score. But the 2011 schedule has a soft beginning and Cougars could begin 2011 at 3-2 or even 4-1. That would help.
Biggest potential obstacle for 2011: You name it.
By Division:
North:
Oregon
Stanford
Oregon State
Washington
California
Washington State
South:
Arizona State
Utah
USC
Arizona
UCLA
Colorado
No comments:
Post a Comment