Eason may put Washington in Playoff hunt
It’s springtime in the Pac-12. One question stands above the rest: Can this league put a team into the College Football Playoff semifinals, or will it again be left out of the conversation before even the debut rankings? The Huskies are the offseason favorite, with several others in tow as the Pac-12 heads into the second week in April.
Arizona: Building around a healthy Tate
An early-season ankle injury played a role in senior Khalil Tate’s rushing yardage dropping from 1,411 yards in 2017 to 224 a year ago. (The gap in those totals, 1,187 yards, would’ve ranked 25th nationally among rushers in 2018.) But so was an offense that dictated that Tate focus more on traditional, drop-back passing than using his athletic gifts. Here’s an idea: If he’s healthy, it might make sense for Arizona to tailor its scheme to fit Tate’s skill set.
Arizona State: QB competition undecided
The earliest spring drills in program history — the Sun Devils had their final scrimmage a month ago — ended with some movement in a four-man quarterback competition. It’s safe to say the battle has been cut in half, with last year’s backup, junior Dillon SterlingCole, and freshman Jayden Daniels at the forefront entering the summer. Daniels has impressed even an ASU staff that had high expectations for the newcomer when he enrolled in January.
California: Defense could be very good
Last year’s Golden Bears led the Pac-12 in yards allowed per play (4.59) and ranked among the nation’s best at defending the pass. This has become the program’s calling card under Justin Wilcox. Once again, the 2019 unit has the potential to pace the conference. The secondary brings back experience and production even as the defensive front shifts to a handful of new pieces. Cal needs to identify a workable rotation before the end of fall camp.
Colorado: The new offense
New coach Mel Tucker brings a solid defensive reputation to his new job, making that side of the ball the primary topic of offseason conversation. Yet it’s the offense that’s intriguing, especially given the question of how well senior quarterback Steven Montez fits into a scheme that seemingly asks its starter to threaten defenses with his legs.
Oregon: Expectations from recruiting class
The Ducks’ 2019 signing class under Mario Cristobal was the best in program history, headlined by the nation’s top recruit in defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux. That hasn’t helped temper the expectations surrounding a team that, among other things, returns senior quarterback Justin Hebert. Whether Oregon meets the hype might hinge on how well the staff addresses two concerns, beginning this spring: the development of a go-to receiver and a slightly reworked front seven.
Oregon State: Baby steps on defense
Last year’s group ranked last in the Pac-12 in yards allowed per play by nearly a yard and a half — that adds up over the course of 70-plus plays per game. There’s understandable focus this spring on a muddled quarterback room, but the Beavers’ only hope of being reasonably competitive in league play is to trim the gap separating this defense from the rest of the Pac-12, if not the majority of the Bowl Subdivision.
Southern California: Will offense improve?
Kliff Kingsbury’s brief stint as the Trojans’ offensive coordinator will be felt in his replacement, Graham Harrell, who is a branch on the same coaching tree. Like Kingsbury, Harrell believes in an Air Raid scheme that places enormous responsibility on his quarterback — in this case, sophomore JT Daniels.
Stanford: Losing two key skill players
In a way, the Bryce Love of 2018 might not be impossible to replace; while he battled injuries, Stanford’s running game game slumped to just 11th in the Pac-12 at 107.9 yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry. It might even be more daunting to replace wide receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside, last year’s leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. The Cardinal return a very promising tight end in Colby Parkinson but need to identify another handful of dependable options to team with quarterback K.J. Costello.
UCLA: Excited to retake the field
There are reasons for optimism even after last year’s 3-9 finish, believe it or not. One is Chip Kelly, who needs no introduction. Another is the way UCLA played from October through the end of the regular season, a stretch that saw the Bruins show signs of life in Kelly’s debut. It was particularly the case in their last three games, which included a narrow loss at Arizona State, a huge win against the rival Trojans and a highscoring, one-possession loss to Stanford. Despite its 2018 record, UCLA is a team to watch this spring.
Utah: New specialists needed
The Utes are in the enviable situation of having great offensive continuity outside of needing to replace a starter at offensive tackle. It’s also a good situation on defense, if slightly worrisome given the loss of two underrated linebackers. The big holes are in the kicking game, where the Utes need to replace two national-award winners in kicker Matt Gay and punter Mitch Wishnowsky.
Washington: Eason takes over
Georgia transfer Jacob Eason is set to take over for Jake Browning as the Huskies’ starter, potentially ushering in a different era for this offense in one respect — an improved ability to push the ball downfield and stretch defenses. While he has to show improved accuracy, Eason has the gifts to be the Pac-12’s best quarterback and develop into a top NFL prospect.
Washington State: The intriguing QB transfer
While their rivals to the west added the five-star quarterback transfer, the Cougars and Mike Leach bring in a less traditional one: Gage Gubrud, a starter at Eastern Washington who threw for nearly 10,000 yards. Gubrud’s background in the Air Raid offense gives him a big advantage in the race to replace Gardner Minshew even as he’ll be sidelined this spring with a lower-body injury.