To think, just a few weeks ago UW football was down and out. But, with another big win, Washington launched itself two spots to No.15 in the nation. Ahead of them, Oregon sits a No.13, eyeing a chance to claim the Pac-12. Did UW football prove enough with their win against USC?
Washington’s Defense Can Shut Down the Air Raid Offense
Against Utah, USC’s Michael Pittman Jr. caught 10 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown. That aided the Trojans to an upset win. But, against Washington, all he could accumulate was 4 receptions for 64 yards and 1 touchdown.
More importantly, UW’s defense only allowed 163 passing yards from Matt Fink. They also picked him off three times in their win. If they want to compete against Oregon, Washington needs to slow down Justin Herbert’s offense. Against USC, they at least showed that’s possible.
No, they don’t always make it pretty. But, Washington is getting the W’s. that’s the first, key take-away. Yes, they allowed 212 yards rushing to the Trojans, but they only gave up 14 points. They actually had less offensive yards than the Trojans. However, the UW football team capitalized on turnovers.
With short fields, they put up points. Jacob Eason still shows a split-personality of elite-mediocre, but he didn’t throw any interceptions. He leaned on his playmakers and allowed Salvon Ahmed, Richard Newton, Aaron Fuller, Hunter Bryant and Andre Baccellia to take the load.
Though five games, Peyton Henry is 9-of-9 in field goals and 22-of-22 in extra points. The sophomore kicker is having a stellar season. Additionally, Joel Whitford is launching and placing his punts well.
With close games in their future, they’ll need Henry and Whitford to stay clutch and cold.
It’s Down to Oregon and Washington in the Pac-12 North
After Chase Garbers went down, Cal lost their hope of a 2019 playoff run. This further solidified Washington and Oregon’s race for first in the Pac-12 North. With their dominant win against USC, UW football is back in the top-15 in the nation. But, Oregon is performing equally as well on offense, with a stout defense.
In their next week, Oregon faces a free-falling Cal and Washington faces an equally undermined Stanford. Each should win handily next week. The real test is on October 19th when they face each other. Expect to see the Pac-12 North champion emerge.
Another great NFL week is over. Week 4 is in the books and there are plenty of excellent Pac-12 NFL performances. Here are the best, broken down by college.
Strong sequence of events there for #Titans defense, which forces a TO on downs:
Jayon Brown with a big tipped pass. Kenny Vaccaro, Reggie Gilbert good pursuit on an end-around to Julio Jones. Cam Wake with a PBU after good pressure. Then great penetration by Vaccaro on fourth.
Against Atlanta, Gilbert was an impactful force on defense. His ability to make open field tackles and pressure the quarterback was needed. Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons couldn’t get much going against the Titans.
Arizona State
Terrell Suggs – Arizona Cardinals
Timeless.
That is career sack #135.5 for Terrell Suggs; most among active players & just 11 in NFL history have more pic.twitter.com/twbLPCvP8B
At 36 (soon to be 37), he’s still making big moves. Against the Seahawks, Suggs displayed power and presence. Yet again, he was able to make big plays. His best play of the night was his strip-sack of Russell Wilson.
On the day, Suggs totaled 8 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 quarterback hit and 1 forced fumble. Brushing off his advancing age, Suggs put in another quality performance. Games like this remind us that he will always be one of the best Pac-12 NFL players to ever play.
For the first time this season, Aaron Rodgers surpassed 300 yards. In fact, he passed for 422 yards and 2 touchdowns. Rodgers also added 46 rushing yards, showing he’s still got athleticism.
But, more important, Rodgers came through in the clutch. Down 27 to 34, he led his team to the opposing three-yard line. With just 28 seconds left. It was another classic Rodgers performance.
First interception of the season for Aaron Rodgers and that’s ballgame.
However, Rodgers threw his first interception of the season. It was a heartbreaking throw, reminiscent to Russell Wilson’s interception in Super Bowl XLIX. Nonetheless, Rodgers showed us that he still should be regarded as one of the better Pac-12 NFL players.
Colorado
Chidobe Awuzie – Dallas Cowboys
In a tight game against the Saints, Chidobe Awuzie played well. In addition to 6 tackles and defending a pass, Awuzie got his first interception of the season. And it was a beaut!
More than just the plays, Awuzie has an incredible attitude.
On how he expects Cowboys to respond to first loss: “There’s only one way. That’s the name of the game right there. Adversity, we’ve all been through it in this league and in our lives. I think we know what type of men we are in this room.”
Marcus Mariota is one of the more controversial picks on this Pac-12 NFL players list. Particularly because he’s been up and down this season.
Though Mariota has been inconsistent this season, he played quite well against the Atlanta Falcons. Many criticize Mariota for having a game-manger, safe-quarterback attitude. But, he showed Sunday that he can still make plays and carry a team.
#Titans rookie AJ Brown with a 55-yard TD from Marcus Mariota.
On the season, Mariota has 933 passing yards, 7 passing touchdowns, 7 passing touchdowns and 112 yards. If he is able to maintain this pace, he will end the season with
28 touchdowns
3,712 passing yards
Zero interceptions
448 rushing yards
Here’s to hoping he can finish similar to this stat-line.
Oregon State
Jordan Poyer – Buffalo Bills
Keep Jordan Poyer on the best Pac-12 NFL players list! He continues to play well for the Buffalo Bills. Most recently, against the formidable New England Patriots, Poyer and the Bills made it a game. Poyer swung in for some key tackles, big hits and even forced a fumble.
Honestly, it’s impossible for football fans to not like Christian McCaffrey. He continues to be the best dual-threat running back in the NFL. It’s also in his range of outcomes to reach 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards. He would join Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk in glory.
Bottom line, tune in to watch Christian McCaffrey every game.
UCLA
Eric Kendricks – Minnesota Vikings
Vikings Player Eric Kendricks and The Sheridan Story are once again inviting fans to help keep kids in Minnesota fed and healthy by making a pledge for every sack recorded throughout the month of October. Learn more: https://t.co/SUMA8bCF35
In their loss to the Chicago Bears, Eric Kendricks was all over the field for the Minnesota Vikings. He led the team with 12 combined tackles. For the few Vikings fans that are still watching, Kendricks is a bright spot in a dark chasm. He is a Pro-Bowl-caliber linebacker and needs to be recognized.
USC
Everson Griffen – Minnesota Vikings
No, this isn’t a Minnesota Vikings fan page. But, Unafraidshow still has to give props when they are due for our favorite Pac-12 NFL players. Everson Griffen is a baller. In each game this season, he’s hit the opposing quarterback at least once. Among NFL players, he’s one of 11 players with at least 8 quarterback hits.
Everson Griffen forces a fumble at the 16 yard line; hits Trey Burton and the ball pops out. Harrison Smith tries to track it down but Chicago recovers. Bears are challenging the completion.
Against Mitchell Trubisky, he managed to pressure him consistently and hit him twice. No, they didn’t get the win. But, Griffen still managed to put in a solid outing for Week 4.
Utah
Marcus Williams – New Orleans Saints
For Utah, Marcus Williams is playing at a near-elite level. Per Pro-Football-Focus, Williams has an overall grade of 89.3. 2019 is his season. He’s yet another defensive Pac-12 NFL player on our list.
Not only did Williams seal the victory for the New Orlean Saints, but he played every defensive snap for the Saints. He was incredible against the Cowboys.
Lattimore may be disappointing Saints fans this year, but Marcus Williams shouldn’t.
Washington
Kevin King – Green Bay Packers
Should Kevin King have been on Unafraidshow’s Week 3 best Pac-12 NFL Players list? Certainly not. The Denver Broncos picked on his inconsistency.
But, even though Kevin King has been inconsistent for the Green Bay Packers this season, he shut Alshon Jeffrey down in Week 4. King was the Packers highest-graded PFF defender.
Unfortunately for the Packers, King went down with a groin injury. Along with Davante Adams’ injury, the Packers lost key contributors in their loss to the Eagles. However, if he can come back quickly, King can add to an impressive secondary.
Can we, in our Pac-12 loving hearts, ever take Gardner Minshew off this list? Jock-Strap King (per Leonard Fournette), is playing out of his mind right now.
In four games (just three starts), Minshew has 905 yards, 7 touchdowns, and just 1 interception. Additionally, his pocket-movement is beautiful. How can anyone go against the mustache at this point?
Missed the Best Pac-12 NFL Players List from Week 3?
If you somehow missed last week’s edition of this, check it out here:
Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 6. It was separation Saturday in the Pac-12 Conference. The list of contenders and pretenders for a Pac-12 Conference Championship is pretty clear at this point. Some teams had their hopes fade away with an injured quarterback. Others, just realized they aren’t as good as they thought they were. All teams are mathematically alive to win their division. Oregon, Washington, ASU, and Utah appear to have the inside track. And only Oregon and Washington have an outside shot at landing a berth in the College Football Playoff Top 4 if things shake out in their favor.
Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. Only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games. The Pac-12 Power Rankings will available on Unafraid Show every Monday morning. Make sure you send your comments and grievances to immad@unafraidshow.com.
12. Oregon State Beavers (1-3)
Last Week: 28-31 (L) vs Stanford
The Beavers let an opportunity to get a Pac-12 win slip through their fingertips. Last year they lost to Stanford by 31. This year it was a winnable game. The positive is Oregon State is clearly improving as a team. The bad news is that they have no clue how to win yet. OSU’s defense is no longer seller dwellers in total defense. Even though they are last in rushing defense, the overall play has improved. The Beavers are still terrible, but MUCH improved.
11. Stanford Cardinal (2-3)
Last Week: 31-28 (W) at Oregon State
A win usually moves you up the Pac-12 Power Rankings. But Stanford’s effort against Oregon State, particularly in the 4th quarter was less than impressive. The Cardinal are still without starting QB KJ Costello, but Davis Mills filled in admirably. “Stanford football” has been nowhere to be found for the last two seasons. They are 11th in the Pac-12 in rushing (112 ypg), and last in scoring offense (20 ppg). Things are clearly broken. Can David Shaw fix them?
10. Washington State Cougars (3-2)
Last Week: 13-38 (L) @ Utah
When UCLA beats you twice (the game and in focus for Utah) and your coach calls the team out, things are spiraling downhill. Mike Leach called his team “fat, dumb, happy, and entitled” in his monotone meltdown postgame press conference. (We talk about this in detail on the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast below). They need to take this entire week off to regroup before they head down to Arizona State.
So much for the Cougars’ “most efficient offense in the country” talk WSU fans had been on my timeline yelling at me about.
Chip Kelly clearly has his team headed in the right direction even though their record says 1-4. The Pac-12’s worst scoring defense and total defense only gave up 20 points to a team averaging over 30 ppg. The Bruins are the worst tackling football team in the Pac-12, and it’s not close. The good news is that Dorian Thompson-Robinson looks like he has turned a corner into a competent quarterback. If the O-line can keep him upright, the Bruins still have a shot at shocking the Pac-12 south.
8. Arizona Wildcats (3-1)
Last Week: 20-17 (W) vs UCLA
Is the Khalil Tate era over in Tucson? We kicked the tires on the question of Khalil Tate redshirting to transfer and Arizona going forward with the future of the program on the podcast. Grant Gunnell threw the ball more times in the first half against UCLA than Khalil Tate has in any full game this season. The seat is probably getting a little warmer under Kevin Sumlin, so switching QBs might just be the shot of life the program needs.
Their next stretch of games against Colorado, Washington, USC, Stanford.
7. Cal Golden Bears (4-1)
Last Week: 17-24 (L) vs Arizona State
I’m basing this ranking on where Cal is without Chase Garbers. He had finally turned a corner in his maturation as a passer. After he got hurt, the passing offense was a disaster with Devon Modster at QB. Stats and the film show Cal’s defense is stout, but have been hurt by a lot of big passing plays on QB scrambles. Can they get Modster to play turnover-free football? If they can, Cal can still rally to win 7 games. If not, they may be staring 5-7 in the face.
6. USC Trojans (3-2)
Last Week: 14-28 (L) vs Washington
The score in the game against Washington was a lot closer than the game was. Many people expected the Trojans defense to struggle against the pass with their two top DBs out. However, USC was able to hold Jacob Eason to a very pedestrian 180 yards passing with no touchdowns. The problem was the offense. Matt Fink looked like a 3rd string QB. They were consistently unable to move the ball and flip field position. So Washington played with short fields the majority of the day.
If healthy, it’s time to go back to Kedon Slovis at quarterback.
5. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-1)
Last Week: 24-17 (W) vs CAL
I got a lot of “I told you so” from ASU fans about my Cal prediction. The Sun Devils deserve credit for winning the game. Herm Edwards’ team is as resilient as they come. Their wins haven’t been pretty, but they are sitting at 4-1 with a legit shot at the Pac-12 South crown. They will need to fix their offensive line issues. Eno Benjamin had 29 carries against Cal and was probably hit by a defender in the backfield on 22 of those carries.
I must give some props to QB Jayden Daniels. His stat lines are not impressive. But, if you watch the game, he is playing hard and making plays when the team needs it most. ASU has a potential star on their hands.
4. Colorado Buffaloes (3-1)
Last Week: IDLE
Mel Tucker’s squad had a week off and moved up the Pac-12 Power Rankings. It’s weird to see them at #4, but they won’t be here long unless they get their 11th ranked scoring defense fixed (30.8 ppg).
3. Utah Utes (4-1)
Last Week: 38-13 (W) vs Washington State
When I was watching the game it felt like Tyler Huntley was giving me a giant F-U. All the things I have said he and this offense couldn’t do after the USC game, they went out and did. Huntley finished with over 334 yards passing with a pair of TD through the air and ground. If he had Heisman buzz around his name, the national media would be singing his praises.
Now the Utes have a week off to get healthy and regroup for the stretch run in the Pac-12 south.
2. Washington Huskies (4-1)
Last Week: 28-14 (W) vs USC
The Huskies defense looked amazing against the extremely talented USC receiving corps. I knew Ahmed was bound to have some big rushing days this season. He is always a broken tackle away from hitting his head on the goalpost. Washington will need much better play out of Jacob Eason if they hope to beat Oregon, win the Apple Cup, and get to the Rose Bowl or CFB Playoff.
Right now, the Dawgs are positioned right where they want to be. They control their own destiny. Cal will probably lose to Oregon. So, beat the Ducks and Cougars and they are home free right?
1. Oregon Ducks (3-1)
Last Week: 21-6 (W) Stanford
Hopefully, the theme of the week off was “stop the conservative play offensively”. It seems that Oregon’s lack of aggression and killer instinct offensively against solid competition is the only thing that can derail their this season. The Ducks also have to get their running game together if they have visions of the CFB Playoff. They have not had many explosive running plays (20 yards+) through their first four games.
Putting up big points against a good Cal defense will be a good time to make a statement to the nation.
Check back every Monday for the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 6.
George and Ralph preview all the Pac-12 conference college football games week 5. The visiting teams have a legit opportunity to win every game this weekend. They disagree heavily on the outcome of the Cal at Arizona State game. Check out the week 5 Pac-12 Power Rankings.
Houston quarterback D’Eriq King is redshirting the rest of the season and transferring to another school to play. The Apostles discuss whether this is good for college football and would we support his decision if it happened to our favorite team.
They also discuss top CA high school quarterback Bryce Young’s decommitment from USC to commit to Alabama.
The Pac-12 Apostles is a podcast for fans who love the Pac-12 conference. George Wrighster and Ralph Amsden are committed to the honest and fair conversation about the Pac-12 conference. They talk about the good, bad, and the ugly about the Pac-12. Join them in becoming a Pac-12 Apostle by subscribing and sharing the podcast. Send your thoughts, comments, and :30 ranks to immad@unafraidshow.com. The best comments and rants will be included in the show.
Another great NFL week is over. Week 3 is in the books and there are plenty of excellent Pac-12 NFL performances. Here are the best, broken down by college.
Arizona
Reggie Gilbert – Tennessee Titans
Finally! We can take Will Parks off this list. Granted, it’s still a stretch to name Reggie Gilbert a top performer. He only got eight defensive snaps in Week 3. But, the Arizona list of Pac-12 NFL players is quite small.
#Titans OLB Reggie Gilbert is active for the first time. Here’s a look at him working on pass rush off the edge. pic.twitter.com/u2ufgBSXLu
It’s important to put his eight snaps in context. This was Gilbert’s first active game for the Titans. Also, in just 8 snaps, Gilbert managed to make two solo tackles. Not a bad debut.
Everyone saw it coming, but the New England Patriots still put in a solid performance against the New York Jets. Part of that win was Lawrence Guy. Guy continued to block the gaps, make tackles and take on double teams. He made Le’Veon Bell bounce the ball outside and didn’t let the offensive line get any push.
Cal
Keenan Allen – Los Angeles Chargers
Against the Houston Texans, Keenan Allen had himself a game!
17 Targets
13 Receptions
183 Receiving Yards
2 Touchdowns
Allen did everything possible to secure a win for his team. And even though the LA Chargers los the game, Allen had the best performance of his career. 183 yards was also a career best. The Cal product shed his injury-tag last season and continue to be one of the best Pac-12 NFL players.
Colorado
Ahkello Witherspoon – San Francisco 49ers
Yet again, Ahkello Witherspoon kept doing his thing. He made it quite difficult for Mason Crosby.
49ers CB Ahkello Witherspoon is expected to miss at least a month. He was playing at an extremely high level, and will be impossible to replace. We take a look at some of the options the Niners have. https://t.co/Q0bXHoy039
Unfortunately for fans of the 49ers or defense, Ahkello Witherspoon is likely to miss a month. That’s a massive hit for the 49ers. Through three games, Witherspoon only allowed 13 targets, 5 receptions and 57 yards. His Passer Rating Allowed is only 32.9 (No. 5). Most of all, his plus-114.2 Coverage Rating is the league-best.
Witherspoon is the most important piece of the 49ers defense (or team) right now. Missing him is a big deal.
While his teammate and fellow Oregon-alum Arik Armstead was a top Pac-12 NFL player last week, DeForest Buckner got the glory in Week 4. He made defensive play after defensive play in a tight win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Buckner led his team with 8 tackles and also added a quarterback hit, a forced fumble and a clutch fumble recovery.
As good as Steven Nelson played in Week 3, Jordan Poyer gets to sit above him on the best Pac-12 NFL players list once more. He’s just too dominant to leave out.
Against the Cincinnati Bengals, he racked up 11 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. It was an unbelievable game for him. Poyer is a big reason why the Bills continue to win.
Stanford fans! Look away from the college games and pay attention to Christian McCaffrey instead. His elite, NFL career continues to shine a bright spotlight on the Stanford name. Ignore the Stanford program freefall and watch the rise of Christian McCaffrey. He’s one of the greatest Pac-12 NFL players to step onto the field.
UCLA
Kenny Clark – Green Bay Packers
Kenny Clark was ROCKING this center off the ball all game… Lots of knockbacks!
Sometimes the hurries and pressures are just as impactful!! Teams don’t have time for all this long developing backfield action against an aggressive/attacking front like the Packers DL pic.twitter.com/147s8Qnwfl
Let’s keep Kenny Clark on the list. He’s one of the better Pac-12 NFL players and the best nose-tackle to come out of the Pac-12 in years. Against NFL centers, he continues to be a mismatch.
Clark is too strong and continues to overpower offensive linemen. Interior pressure is a huge advantage in NFL games. Clark brings that.
USC
Tyron Smith – Dallas Cowboys
Tyron Smith just went from 10/10 to 11/10 wearing the Pink Floyd T-shirt. (La'el Collins is next to him on the right) 👍🏿#DallasCowboyspic.twitter.com/dckhZQIJbC
This will be obvious. But, the Dallas Cowboys obliterated the Miami Dolphins. The tanking Dolphins were no match for the Cowboys. Nonetheless, Tyron Smith showed well and displayed why he’s an NFL great.
Against Miami, the Cowboys racked up 235 rushing yards on 34 carries. It was a piece of cake for the stellar offensive line. Leading the way, as usual, was Tyron Smith. It’s been another good year for him. On 206 snaps this season, he’s allowed zero sacks and only has one penalty.
Utah
Marcus Williams – New Orleans Saints
Time for the defense.
Marcus Williams is back as your top graded defender of Week 3!
Williams earned an 82.2 grade, playing all 83 snaps in the process.
Not only is Marcus Williams getting his second spot on Unafraidshow’s Best Pac-12 NFL Players list, but he was the Saints best defender in Week 3. On 83 defensive snaps. Wow. Marcus Williams glued himself to the field and helped the New Orleans Saints beat the Seattle Seahawks. Even though they had Teddy Bridgewater as their quarterback, the Saints made too many plays.
In the secondary, Williams continues to cover well and make tackles. It’s turning out to be a career year for Williams and he’s making a name for himself.
Washington
Vita Vea – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Vita Vea and Ndamukong Suh absolutely mauled Barkley in the backfield – dropping him for another loss of one on first down.
Although the Giants ultimately won the game, due to Daniel Jones’ heroics, Vita Vea played well. On just 65% of defensive snaps, he consistently gave the Giants offensive line trouble. In addition to accidentally stepping on Daniel Jones’ helmet, he totaled two quarterback hits.
After getting hit twice from the 350-pound Vea, Jones must be feeling it.
If you haven’t already fallen in love with Gardner Minshew, better start now. Minshew must be in all Pac-12 hearts.
Against Tennessee in Week 3, Minshew put in a stellar game for his first NFL win. Buy in now to the Minshew hype because he’s going to be one of the great Pac-12 NFL players from WSU.
Missed the Best Pac-12 NFL Players List from Week 1?
If you somehow missed last week’s edition of this, check it out here:
Just two weeks ago, after a heartbreaking loss to Cal, everyone, Unafraidshow included, thought that UW football was out. In that loss, Washington was reluctant to score touchdowns and ultimately failed offensively. In a tight race for College Football Playoffs, in-conference losses like that make or break a season.
However, somehow, UW football is still in the mix. They are the No. 17 team in the nation, third to California (No. 15) and Oregon (No. 13). Even with the loss to Cal, Washington is showing signs that they can fight for the Pac-12 North.
In a dominant win, Jacob Eason dismantled through the air. He was precise, making tight-window after tight-window throw. In the first half, Eason had a streak of 13-consecutive completions. Additionally, Eason displayed a big arm and a knack for making big plays out of nothing.
Efficiently, Eason finished 24 of 28 with 290 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. He continues to impress scouts, fans and the Pac-12 alike.
The Rest of the UW Football Offense
Aside from the Huskies loss to Cal, Eason and the UW offense looks incredible. The two-headed rush attack of Sean McGrew and Richard Newton is consistent and powerful. But, the receivers are making the big difference. Aaron Fuller is making big plays, both in the receiving game and on special teams.
88-YARD HOUSECALL 💨📞@UW_Football's Aaron Fuller was gone on this punt return.
Adding to Fuller’s playmaking are seniors Andre Baccellia and Hunter Bryant. While Baccellia is certainly having a solid start of the season, Hunter Bryant continues to be the most difficult man to cover. Bryant is too big, too strong for a defensive back. But, he’s also too fast and shifty for a linebacker to try and cover him. He’s looking more and more like a first or second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
If the offense continues to make big plays, UW football will be the one to beat.
Strength of Schedule
In the Pac-12 North, UW football is competing with Oregon and Cal for the top spot. After reviewing their rest of season schedules, there are some intriguing findings.
AP Ranked Opponents:
Cal: 3 (Oregon, USC, Utah)
Oregon: 3 (Cal, USC, Washington)
UW: 3 (Oregon, USC, Utah)
Shared Opponents:
Cal & Oregon Share 4 Opponents
Oregon & UW Share 5 Opponents
Cal & UW Share 6 opponents
Rest of Season Competitors Record
Cal: 18-13
Oregon: 22-8
UW: 19-11
First, it should be noted that anything can happen in the Pac-12. If this season has proven anything, it’s that the Pac-12 is full of cannibals. No team is safe in-conference.
Second, it’s important to note that UW football and Cal have much easier schedules than Oregon. But, the overall record (4-0) and strength of schedule still side with Cal.
UW Football and Cal have the edge over Oregon
Last, Oregon has to play both Washington and Cal. In order to get a top spot, Oregon has to make it past both of them. That’s going to be quite difficult based off of recent play. The overall edge still goes to Cal in their schedule. But, UW football fans can take solace in the similarities between Cal and UW’s rest of season. If Cal slips, UW can leap them.
Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 5. Between the amazing UCLA comeback against Washington State and referees in the Ole Miss game, the Pac-12 was the buzz of the nation after week 4. It is clear that the Pac-12 is getting respect nationally because there are five teams ranked between 11-21. Oregon, Washington, Cal, and USC all have a shot at winning the Pac-12 and landing a berth in the College Football Playoff Top 4 if things shake out in their favor.
Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. Only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games. The Pac-12 Power Rankings will available on Unafraid Show every Monday morning. Make sure you send your comments and grievances to immad@unafraidshow.com.
12. Oregon State Beavers (1-2)
Last Week: IDLE
The Beavers got to enjoy
their win for another week and put in new wrinkles for Stanford. At this point,
that looks like a very winnable game for OSU. It is at home against a wounded
Stanford. They just have to figure out a way to stop the run. Right now, OSU is
dead last in the Pac-12 against the run giving up 207 ypg.
11. Stanford Cardinal (1-2)
Last Week: 21-6 (L) at Oregon
This team is headed in the wrong direction fast. We have seen cracks in the David Shaw system for the last couple of years, but the dam finally broke. He is part of the Jim Harbaugh coaching tree and they both are suffering the same fate. Neither can produce any kind of effective or explosive offense for the last two seasons. Other teams have adjusted to Stanford’s running attack and David Shaw has been unwilling to change his offense. If they lose to Oregon State, the Pac-12 world will be in shock.
Arizona should feel good about themselves on the heels of their Texas Tech victory and week off. Khalil Tate is now their leading passer and rusher again. Over the last two games, Arizona has looked more like the 2017 team that saw Khalil Tate be dynamic with his legs. Their biggest issue is on defense. The Wildcats are giving up 33 ppg and 484 ypg, both of which are 2nd to last in the Pac-12. Big game vs UCLA this week.
9. UCLA Bruins (1-3)
Last Week: 67-63 (W) Washington State
Epic comeback for the ages by UCLA. By now, you would have to be living under a rock to have missed highlights of their 32-point comeback in a quarter and a half against Washington State. I am left with more questions about this team than answers. Did the “light” come on for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson? Did Chip Kelly find his offensive groove again? Was the second half of the Wazzu game the real UCLA, or are they the team that couldn’t score more than 14 points their first three games? If they can put together a string of victories they will find themselves flying up the Pac-12 Power Rankings.
8. Arizona State Sun Devils (3-1)
Last Week: 31-34 (L) vs Colorado
Herm Edwards summed up the difference between college and pro teams perfectly. He said pro teams are consistent and you know what you will get on a week in and week out basis. College teams are inconsistent from week to week. His Sun Devils were the epitome of that in week 4. Their offense had struggled against Sacramento State and Michigan State while their defense was stout. Against Colorado, their offense was explosive and their defense was porous.
7. Washington State Cougars (3-1)
Last Week: 63-67-28 (L) vs UCLA
Coug’d it. College football fans got to see a ridiculously improbable comeback. But, there is another side to the story. Washington State has to pick up the pieces after a historic collapse. Will they regroup and play well against Utah on the road this week, or will they let UCLA beat them twice?
The Cougars only improved their amazing offensive numbers against UCLA. Anthony Gordon is leading the nation in passing yards and touchdown passes.
6. Colorado Buffaloes (3-1)
Last Week: 34-31 (W) vs Arizona State
Mel Tucker’s team can’t play defense yet, but they can score points and they are battle-tested. The good news is that they finally started fast. They fell behind early in their last two games but came out strong versus ASU. The Buffaloes get a week off in week 5. Their fans have to be happy about this 3-1 start but know that they will have to finish strong to make a bowl game.
5. Utah Utes (3-1)
Last Week: 23-30 (L) vs USC
This had to be a deflating loss for Utah. They were preseason Pac-12 favorites, ranked #10 in the country and had rolled through non-conference play. However, I have been saying it since the season started, their offense will be their demise. We all know their defense is usually spectacular, but to win championships, your offense will need to save the day sometimes. Utah’s offense and QB Tyler Huntley aren’t built to score a lot of points or have amazing passing days. This is still a really good team that can win the Pac-12 South but will need to regroup.
4. USC Trojans (3-1)
Last Week: 30-23 (W) vs Utah
New QB, no problem. USC has started three different quarterbacks this season and has won three games. That is a huge testament to Graham Harrell and Clay Helton for having the young guys ready. It is also, really easy to be a 300-yard passer when you have the best receiving core in the nation to throw to. Many people expected Clay Helton to be 1-3 and on the way out the door at this point in the season. He’s proving he won’t be fired without a fight.
USC fans are so conflicted, they are happy to be winning, but frustrated that Clay Helton is the one leading them.
3. Washington Huskies (3-1)
Last Week: 45-19 (W) vs BYU
Since their loss to Cal, Washington has put down two impressive performances. They dismantled Hawaii and BYU. It seems like Jacob Eason and this offense are in a real groove. Can they continue to put up these types of offense performances against the top defenses in the conference, Oregon, and Utah?
The Huskies were in this position last year and still managed to win the Pac-12 and get a Rose Bowl berth.
2. Cal Golden Bears (4-0)
Last Week: 28-20 (W) at Ole Miss
What in the hell got into Chase Garbers against Ole Miss? He passed for 357 yards and 4 touchdowns. Do you realize that is about 15% of his career total passing yards? If he can continue this high level of play, Cal can go undefeated and win the Pac-12. their defense is suffocating and unrelenting. Imagine what happens when Justin Wilcox gets a team full of 4-5*athletes.
1. Oregon Ducks (3-1)
Last Week: 21-6 (W) Stanford
The Ducks are putting the conference and nation on notice they are back. Justin Herbert has put up excellent passing numbers despite missing the best parts of their receiving corps for all of this season. Oregon’s defense is #13 in the nation for total defense and hasn’t allowed a touchdown in three straight games. The only thing that can slow the Ducks down is their inability to generate explosive running plays this season. If they get the running game on track this team has enough momentum to propel them to the College Football Playoff.
Check back every Monday for the Pac-12 Power Rankings.
Week 3 was great, but Week 4 of Pac-12 football was unbelievable. There were a plethora of upsets, heartbreaks and big-time players. Which offensive players made the biggest differences this week?
Somehow, even though Gordon threw nine, yes nine, touch down passes, Washington State lost. It’s incredible how good Anthony Gordon continues to be, but he’s anchored by WSU’s dreadful defense.
Yes, Washington State blew a 49-17 lead. But, was that Gordon’s fault? Here are the results of each Washington State drive in the second half:
Anthony Gordon touchdown pass
Anthony Gordon touchdown pass
Anthony Gordon completes pass to Rodrick Fisher, then Fisher loses fumble
Punt
Anthony Gordon completes pass to Dezmon Patmon, then Patmon loses fumble
Anthony Gordon touchdown pass
Punt
Anthony Gordon touchdown pass
Anthony Gordon completes pass to Eason Winston Jr., then Winston Jr. loses fumble
Anthony Gordon sacked and loses fumble
Honestly, Gordon’s second half was still ridiculous. He still threw four touchdowns, but he was hampered by three of his players. Fisher, Patmon and Winston Jr. lost the ball and stopped the drives. Looking back at this game, people will inevitably remember Gordon as a loser. But, Anthony Gordon just gave Pac-12 football a performance of a lifetime.
Best Running Back Performance
Max Borghi – Washington State
Electric. Mex Borghi continues to impress with his versatility. As a runner, he’s capable of breaking 50-plus runs at any time. But, Borghi also adds a large threat as a receiver, evidenced by his 65-yard touchdown against UCLA.
This season, Borghi has 325 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns, 13 receptions, 169 receiving yards and 2 receiving touchdowns. He’s the type of pass-catching running back the NFL craves.
Best Wide Receiver Performance
Tony Brown – Colorado
In Colorado’s victory (yet another Pac-12 football upset), Tony Brown accounted for three of their four touchdowns. He caught touchdown passes of 29-yards, 31-yards and 20-yards. His touchdowns were each unique and displayed a well-rounded skill-set:
Scramble-Drill and YAC
Diving Catch in End Zone
Contested Catch in End Zone
https://youtu.be/t5SD4SNATeY
Best of all, this game was out of nowhere for Tony Brown. Currently, his career high in receiving yards is 333 yards in one season. Against Arizona State, he had 150 yards. Prior to this game, he totaled three receiving touchdowns. In his career! During this game, he had three. It was unbelievable. Laviska Shenault Jr. was out and Tony Brown had the best game of his career. What a story for Pac-12 football fans!
Best Tight End Performance
Jake Tonges – Cal
As easy as it would be to give this award to Jacob Breeland again, it goes to Jake Tonges. Yes, Breeland is certainly deserving with his two-touchdown performance. But, it was against freefalling Stanford. Tonges, on the other hand, made the difference against Ole Miss. With this performance, he helped Pac-12 football earn more respect.
Against Ole Miss, Tonges made all his money in the second half. His receptions were more than just the box-score shows. Here are the results of his three receptions:
On 3rd & 14, Tongues makes a 15-yard catch for a first downTwo plays later, Cal scores a touchdown
Tongues catches a 60-yard touchdown pass
Tongues catches a 13 yard pass, resulting in a first down
Who are the Best Pac-12 football players?
If you disagree with this list, send in your own recommendations. Each week, Unafraidshow will rank the best quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end performances from Pac-12 football. Be sure to comment or tweet at unafraidshow with your favorite moments of each Pac-12 football week.
Sitting at No.10 overall, Utah eyes its first college football playoff birth. It’s a great time to be a Utah fan. Their upcoming matchup is the Pac-12 South game of the year. Utah vs USC. No. 10 Utes vs the now-competitive Trojans. If Utah continues to win, they’ll surely rise up the ranks. But, Pac-12 scheduling set this game for Friday night. Will this night game hurt their national exposure? In a line of poor ideas and bad commissioning from Larry Scott, Utah’s late matchup harms both Utah and the Pac-12. The conference outsources it’s scheduling to a company in Colorado. Then the Pac-12 brass, school presidents, and athletic directors approve it.
The Problem with Night Games
Keep in mind, night games are not inherently a problem. Especially for east coast teams and viewers. But, on a Friday night, Pac-12 games can be extremely bothersome. For example, the Utah vs USC game starts at 6:00pm on the west coast. That’s not too bad. For those who get off work at 5:00, they can make it home by the first whistle.
However, that same time is 9:00pm for east coast viewers. It’s not rocket science to figure out why that is a bad idea. Because college football games last an average of 3 1/2 hours, they have to stay up past midnight to see how it ends. 12:30am, at the end of a workweek, to watch a Pac-12 rivalry game. Honestly, how many non-conference fans would commit to that for Pac-12 games? It undermines national exposure for the Pac-12 conference.
Even Chris Peterson agrees with this sentiment.
“It hurts us tremendously in terms of national exposure. No one wants to watch our game on the East Coast that late, and we all know it,”
Late games just get less eyes. From fans, from scouts and from the press. For a contending team like Utah, they need all the eyes they can get. But, because of Larry Scott and his ideas, he’s holding back the Pac-12. Again.
We Discuss the Friday Night games more on Pac-12 Apostles Podcast
“The reason we play almost a third of our games at night is that was a way to unlock significant value from television in our last negations,” Scott said. “ESPN and Fox placed a high value on us giving them a little more flexibility and being willing to play more night games.”
“We essentially extend their day,” Scott said. “We give them a whole other window of high-quality, highly rated games. … Playing more night games than we did in the past unlocked the kind of value our schools were looking for.”
To Larry Scott, the exclusivity of the late-night games are worth the pain. With more flexibility to play later, he claims to obtain “high value”. However, perhaps it is just a complete lack of leverage. Recall that Larry Scott deliberately put a wedge between major networks and the Pac-12. Betting on the Pac-12 Network to hit it big didn’t happen. Because every other power five conference has contracts with these networks, it leaves the Pac-12 to pick up the scraps. So, instead of putting the lower-ranked teams in the Friday night lights, Larry Scott and the Pac-12 schedulers put Utah.
For goodness sake, the Utah vs USC game deserves to get national exposure. The Utes deserve that. Does anyone think Roll Tide fans would stand for this? Of course not. If Larry Scott wants a Pac-12 program to make it to the college playoffs, he has to put steps in place for them to get there. Playing on Saturday, during the day, when everyone can view them, is best practice. But, then again, it’s unclear if Larry Scott actually knows what’s best for the Pac-12.
There were some incredible performances from the NFL in Week 2. While some colleges like Cal had a multitude of options for this Best Pac-12 NFL Players list, others like Arizona barely had one. Which alumni from your college had the best Week 2? Check out the list below!
Arizona
Will Parks – Denver Broncos
While Will Parks isn’t great, he’s not bad either. Parks was on the field for 82-percent of defensive snaps for the Broncos. No, he didn’t record any counting stats. But, as a strong safety, he doesn’t have to record stats to have a positive impact. Denver held Chicago to just 16 points. More importantly, they held Mitchell Trubisky to 120 yards. It was a good game for the Denver defense. So, it also was a good day for Parks.
All in all, Will Parks is a good NFL player and gets consistent snaps for the Broncos. That’s more than the rest of the Arizona alumni can say. Yes, he was on this list last week. But until someone else from Arizona can step up, Parks will remain on the Best Pac-12 NFL Players list.
Arizona State
Vontaze Burfict – Oakland Raiders
Even though the Oakland Raiders lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 28-10, the defense actually played well. They held Mahomes and company scoreless three out of four quarters. Against KC, Vontaze Burfict played 97-percent of defensive snaps. Win, lose or tie, he was out there for the Raiders. Burfict is a consistent, albeit dirty, NFL player. The linebacker racked up 4 tackles and a pass defense, in addition to being sent after Mahomes. No, they didn’t win and no he didn’t get any sacks or turnovers. But, it was still a good game for Burfict in his new home and why Burfict is one of the best Pac-12 NFL players this year.
We gotta give @TooLoose26 major props for protecting his QB from big scary meanie Vontaze Burfict on this play. Grown man move. pic.twitter.com/S1CoHhbTM3
Against the formidable Los Angeles Rams, Cameron Jordan returned a fumble 80 yards for a touchdown. Then, the refs blew it. Saints fans died a little more this week. Not only did they see their third straight game with officiating blunders. This time also came amidst a Drew Brees injury. It’s a bad time to be a Saints fan.
Nonetheless, Cameron Jordan is still a force to be reckoned with. His career makes a case for him to not only be one of the best Pac-12 NFL players this week, but all time. Even without the touchdown, Jordan accounted for:
5 Tackles
1 Tackle for a Loss
2 QB Hits
1 Sack
1 Fumble Recovery
This was also his second game straight with at least 5 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 QB hits and 1 sack. He is unstoppable right now. Well, unless the refs get in his way.
Colorado
Ahkello Witherspoon – San Francisco 49ers
Yet again, Witherspoon highlights Colorado with exceptional defense. However, it wasn’t all pretty.
Ahkello Witherspoon drops a pick-six, kicks the ball and it drills a security guy in the head. He gets called for delay of game.
While he didn’t get the pick-6 in this game, he still made up for it with impressive play. Witherspoon totaled 5 tackles and 2 passes defended. But, his overall quarterback rating when targeted speaks volumes on his play. Ahkello was one of the best Pac-12 NFL players of any school in Weeks 1 and 2 of the NFL season.
With play like this, Witherspoon is making a case to earn a big paycheck. The 49ers desperately needed playmakers on defense the past few seasons and it seems Ahkello Witherspoon is stepping up weekly.
In another dominant, defensive win, Arik Armstead helped the 49ers cruise past the Cincinnati Bengals. In their win, Armstead played 43 defensive snaps. During that time, he was able to make 3 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1 QB hit and 1 sack. He constantly frustrated the Bengals. The 49ers have a plethora of defensive linemen to create pressure (a lot of them that could become some of the best Pac-12 NFL players). And it looks like Arik Armstead is taking advantage of his situation.
In Week 2, the Buffalo Bills comfortably beat the New York Giants 28-14. They held Eli Manning to 250 yards on 45 attempts. He tried his best to beat them through the air, but threw more interceptions than touchdowns. One of which went to Jordan Poyer.
In their win, Jordan Poyer had 2 tackles, 1 interception and defended 1 pass. He’s had an excellent season so far. In 2019, Poyer is credited for 8 solo tackles, 1 interception, 1 sack and has only been targeted once. On top of that, the target didn’t succeed. So, he hasn’t even allowed a reception. It makes sense why his current PFF grade is 84.4. Jordan Poyer is the best Pac-12 NFL player on the Bills.
Harrison Phillips was an excellent interior defender against the New York Giants. He made plays on both Eli Manning and Saquon Barkely. Against Manning, Phillips finally got his first sack. Well, half sack. But still, that’s a big thing for an interior defender who’s job is to make defensive stops.
Against Barkely and the Giants run game, Phillips did what he does best: didn’t allow push and made defensive stops. But, as said above, Phillips also recorded 1 QB hit, 0.5 sacks and 2 passes defended It was quite the game for the big guy up front.
UCLA
Kenny Clark – Green Bay Packers
There was not a bigger mismatch on the field on Sunday than Kenny Clark vs. Garrett Bradbury. pic.twitter.com/8GOkBnRqQp
Man. Kenny Clark had a game. He looked like an All-Pro against the Vikings. Clark consistently created havoc and pressured Kirk Cousins.
If you can get your nose tackle to get pressure like this in the red zone on a 3man rush and hurry a QB’s throw… It can give your defense tremendous flexibility
Keep in mind that Kenny Clark is a nose tackle. A nose tackle that pressured, frustrated and sacked the opposing quarterback. In their win, Clark hit Cousins twice, sacked him once and forced a fumble. He was a large part of their divisional win.
USC
Nelson Agholor – Philadelphia Eagles
On Sunday night, the Philadelphia Eagles lost DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffrey and Dallas Goedert to injuries. Other players had to step up and fill the offensive void. That player was Nelson Agholor. Granted, it wasn’t a perfect night for Agholor.
But, other than the drops, Agholor played well. On 11 targets, he had 8 receptions for 107 yards and 1 touchdown. Of note are his two biggest plays. The first, and his only touchdown of the game, came on fourth and goal. His hands worked there.
When the Eagles needed playmakers, Agholor made himself available.
Utah
Eric Weddle – Los Angeles Rams
This just in. Eric Weddle can still lay a hit. He layed the hit on Jared Cook in their Week 2 matchup, causing Cook to lose the ball and the Rams to intercept it. Keep in mind that this is just one week after Weddle took a knee from Christian McCaffrey and bled all over.
He’s an experienced veteran and is still willing to lay his body on the line. Against the Saints, he played well and helped stifle the non-Brees offense. This season, he has a 79.3 PFF grade, 12 tackles and a pass defended in 2019. If he manages to stay healthy with the hits he’s taking/giving, the Rams have a menace in the secondary.
Washington
Will Dissly – Seattle Seahawks
Will Dissly had himself a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 5 Targets
Against Pittsburgh, Russell Wilson trusted Dissly to make big plays. It was Dissly’s best game in his short NFL career. Aside from his first two weeks in 2018, Will Dissly has either gone unnoticed or was injured. Perhaps this is his year to connect with Wilson in a sans-Baldwin offense.
Washington State
Joe Dahl – Detroit Lions
For a Detroit Lions team that is constantly rotating their offensive lineman, Joe Dahl is playing well. On 117 snaps at guard, he hasn’t allowed a sack and holds a 71.6 PFF grade. He isn’t dominant yet, but he’s made a significant jump in performance from 2018 to 2019. The Lions need to keep him in more regularly and commit to offensive line continuity.
The Lions second best player yesterday per PFF? Graham Glasgow. The fourth? Joe Dahl. The 15th (!!)? Kenny Wiggins.
Why on earth are we rotating Wiggins in with Glasgow and Dahl again?
The Lions sure seem to be setting themselves up to lose Glasgow next year. I don't get it.
