Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 3: Upsets and Surprises

Pac-12 QB Rankings, June 15, Dress Rehearsal, Important Season for Pac-12 Coaches

Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 3. There are major shifts in the conference power rankings after a couple of conference games in week 2. Cal shocked the world (except me) and beat Washington for the second year in a row. Washington State fans want respect after blowing out two doormat teams. There is a fight for the worst team in the conference by Oregon State and UCLA. The conference has a chance to quiet all the outside noise about money and tv deals, and the Pac-12 network by winning the rest of their non-conference games. Oregon, Utah, and USC seem to be the only teams with a real shot at the playoff left.

  • Hawaii has defeated two Pac-12 teams. If they beat Washington this week I will include them in the Pac-12 rankings for the remainder of the season.

For Reference Check out the Pac-12 Power Rankings from Week 2

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 3:

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 (0-2)

Last Week: 28-31 (L) Hawaii

This loss to Hawaii was awful. The Rainbow Warriors already knocked off Arizona so OSU should have been ready. They were able to run the football all day but kept trying to pass the football. Jermar Jefferson ran for 183 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries. I am looking for wins on the Beavers schedule. The only one I can find is next week against Cal Poly.

11. UCLA Bruins (0-2)

Last Week: 14-23 (L) San Diego State

UCLA is fighting extremely hard to displace Oregon State as the worst team in the conference. It is inexplicable why the Bruins are so bad. Dorian Thompson-Robinson was statistically better and only had one turnover vs SDSU. But he was still not good enough for his team to stay in the game. I am not sure why Chip Kelly does not speed up the offense like he did at Oregon with Darren Thomas to keep defenses off balance. I am scared of what the score will be this week against Oklahoma.

10. Arizona Wildcats (1-1)

Last Week: 65-41 Northern Arizona

Wildcats’ fans will tell you that the second string gave up all these points to Northern Arizona. However, the second string is still part of the team. These teams are playing football so players will inevitably get hurt and those second-team players will have to play meaningful snaps. Ralph Amsden is still an Arizona and Khalil Tate truther. He believes they will somehow become a competitive team in the Pac-12, but we all know they won’t.

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9. Arizona State Sun Devils (2-0)

Last Week: 19-7 (W) vs Sacramento State

No team scared me more in a win than ASU. If Sacramento State had an accurate quarterback they may have given Sun Devils fans a heart attack. Their offensive line had a tough time protecting Jaylen Daniels and creating running lanes for Eno Benjamin. The good news is that Herm Edwards has his team 2-0. They will be bound for a bowl game if by some miracle they can slip by Michigan State.

8. Washington State Cougars (2-0)

Last Week: 59-17 (W) vs Northern Colorado

I know Wazzu fans are frustrated with these rankings. Fans in my mentions on Twitter and emails keep saying it’s ridiculous they aren’t higher because WSU has the “most efficient offense in the nation”. They also have one of the worst schedules in the nation. They have played one of the worst FBS teams and an FCS team. Wazzu has a QB that nobody has seen play real competition. So, they may skyrocket up once they play someone. Remember how everyone thought Jacob Eason was Payton Manning until they played Cal?

7. Stanford Cardinal (1-1)

Last Week: 20-45 (L) at USC

I held out hope that quarterbacked KJ Costello would be able to play against USC (I like to see good football games). He missed the game and it was clear that the Cardinal missed him. They came out and looked good initially but were ultimately overwhelmed by USC’s receiving core. Next week against UCF will give us a lot of insight on how good this team is.

6. Colorado Buffaloes (2-0)

Last Week: 34-31 (W) vs Nebraska

The Buffaloes sleepwalked through the first 2.5 quarters. It took a ridiculous 24 point fourth quarter to come back and send the game to overtime. The thing we do know about Colorado is they are more mentally tough than last season. Wins over Colorado State and Nebraska are a solid start to the season. Their dominance has not been there but quality wins get high marks.

5. Washington Huskies (1-1)

Last Week: 19-20 (L) vs CAL.

On the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast, I was asked if I thought the 2-hour lightning delay that forced a lot of Huskies fans to their cars and ultimately home had an effect of the outcome. My answer was that Huskies fans are fantastic and loud, but I don’t believe it impacted the game. Cal’s defense is just suffocating. Jacob Eason appears to be better than Jake Browning but not has great as advertised. UW should have a great season, and don’t be surprised if their running back Ahmed has a couple 200+ yard games.

And then there is this twitter interaction with Cal’s defensive back coach Gerald Alexander and former Huskies WR Dante Pettis.

4. USC Trojans (2-0)

Last Week: 45-20 (W) vs Stanford

You never want to see a player injured but USC has the right man at QB now. Kedon Slovis isn’t the typical 4-5* kid that we normally see at USC. He was an under the radar recruit who most thought would just fill the roster out in case of an emergency. Slovis clearly has other plans. Slovis finished 28/33 for 377 yards and three touchdowns.

USC looked absolutely dominant against Stanford after the first quarter. Can they keep up that high level of play through the rest of the season?

3. Utah Utes (2-0)

Last Week: 35-17 (W) vs Northern Illinois

Utah is just solid. They are a good team who is well-coached with NFL talent on defense and at RB. The Northern Illinois game did expose another possible weakness of the 2019 Utes. There were multiple times where the speed of NIU gave Utah trouble. That means playing USC and a potential matchup with Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship game could be problematic.

If I have said it once, I’ve said it 1,000 times, Tyler Huntley will need to be GREAT 2-3 times this year if the Utes are to win the conference and make a Rose Bowl of CFB Playoff appearance.

2. Cal Golden Bears (2-0)

Last Week: 20-19 (W) at Washington

When I watch Cal play the only thing I think is “what if”. What if the Golden Bears had a really good QB? If they did they would be a top 5 team. This team is so well-coached and tough. They are fun to watch. The problem is that if they need more than 20 points against a top opponent they can’t get there without scoring on defense.

Cal scored major points in the rankings this week for beating a team most thought had a shot at going undefeated.

1. Oregon Ducks (1-1)

Last Week: 77-6 (W) Nevada

The Ducks made a statement against Nevada who beat Purdue in week one. Their offense still needs to prove it in conference play. And they need to play well on the road because Oregon has struggled away from home the last couple of seasons. After two games, it looks as if the Ducks have their most stout defense of the last 15 years. As of now, the boys from Eugene look to be the favorites to win the Pac-12. They deserve to be #1 on the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 3.

Check back every Monday for the Pac-12 Power Rankings.

Pac-12 vs Mountain West Conference Football: The Failures of Larry Scott

USC v Fresno State football

Struggling to Beat a Non-Power 5 Conference

Remember, the Pac-12 is a Power 5 conference. Teams in a Power 5 conference should be able to routinely handle non-Power 5 conferences. However, time and time again, in Pac-12 vs Mountain West Conference football games, the Pac-12 is struggling. MWC teams routinely give Pac-12 programs significant trouble. How can that be the case?

Recent History of The Pac-12 vs Mountain West Conference

No, this isn’t just a recent problem because of Arizona and Hawaii. It goes beyond that. Since 2010 Pac-12 teams only have a 71.1% win-percentage against Mountain West Conference programs. Of the 64 wins and 26 losses against the Mountain West, the Pac-12 has won 11 bowl games. How many have they lost? 12. A sub-.500 record in bowl games against the MWC is inexcusable.

Against other Power 5 programs, the Mountain West has records of:

  • 5-7 against ACC 
  • 2-34 against Big-10 
  • 2-14 against Big-12 
  • 3-14 against SEC 

Overall, the ACC is the only conference with a worse record win percentage against Mountain West Conference teams. However, that is only out of 12 games. That sample size is much smaller and includes one bowl. Against all the other Power 5 conferences, the Mountain West is a small problem. So why does the Pac-12 struggle?

Money Matters

Should Larry Scott be blamed for Pac-12 vs Mountain West Conference struggles? Yes. When Larry Scott took over as the Pac-12’s commissioner, he made a very bold decision: to remove Pac-12 partnerships with major networks. Taking a bet on the Pac-12’s future success, it retained 100-percent ownership of media rights. But, much different than Larry Scott predicted, this didn’t cause the success promised.

Though the Pac-12 did grow its revenue from $100 million to $500 million since 2009, conference revenue lags behind other Power 5 conferences. In per-school revenue, the conference is $20 million behind other power leagues. Turning away from cable and other media networks is a big issue. Pac-12 games aren’t readily available around the country. Other Power 5 games are. While other conferences are reaping the rewards of growing revenue, Larry Scott’s Pac-12 is hitting a wall. 

Money isn’t everything, but it sure helps. Revenue is used for hiring coaches and staff, building and maintaining facilities, and most importantly: recruiting talent. Because of the lack of financial support, the Pac-12 has performed dreadfully in football. And not just in Pac-12 vs Mountain West Conference football games. The conference was only 3.53 points better than the average FBS team in 2018-2019, which was the lowest for any Power 5 conference in six years. Additionally, the Pac-12 holds three of the worst seven seasons in points better than the average FBS team. Moreover, only 2 of the 20 College Football Playoff teams came from the Pac-12. Also, the Pac-12 hasn’t had a national champion since the incredible 2003 and 2004 USC programs. 

It’s no wonder the biggest taunt against the Pac-12 is “The Pac-12 sucks.”

The Mountain West Conference is Rising

In recent years, Mountain West Conference football is on the rise. Even though the conference lost some of their better programs like TCU, BYU and Utah, they’ve regained prominence. With their upsurge in production, 2017 and 2018 were the MWC’s two best years in S&P+ ratings. 

Also, it is important to note the hot start the Mountain West Conference got off to in 2019. UNR beat Purdue, Boise State beat Florida State, Hawaii beat Arizona and Wyoming beat Missouri. Four upsets. Brilliant. Because of their growing success in football, the Mountain West Conference is capitalizing with new network deals. More money will likely make them more competitive.

No, the Mountain West Conference Isn’t Better than the Pac-12

While it is important to understand the growing success of the Mountain West Conference and the plateau the Pac-12 reached, the Pac-12 is still better than the Mountain West Conference. Most are not calling for the Pac-12 and Mountain West Conferences to switch places. Remember that even with their struggles, the Pac-12 still wins most of the time. In Pac-12 vs Mountain West Conference games, the Pac-12 programs wins 71.1-percent of games. 

Instead, many argue that the Mountain West Conference should become part of a Power 6. If the Mountain West Conference continues to stay competitive against Power 5 teams, this should be considered. However, Larry Scott continues to hold the Pac-12 back from financial success, the Pac-12 will slip. It is completely possible for the Mountain West Conference football becoming an equal to the Pac-12 in 10 years. 

Bottom line, we need Larry Scott and the Pac-12 to change things.

The Best Pac-12 NFL Players: The Preseason Edition

The Best Pac-12 NFL Players by Team

Pac-12 Conference states

We know the ten Pac-12 players that could be first-round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. But, who are the best Pac-12 NFL players already in the league? Our list below compiled the best talent, on offense or defense, from each Pac-12 school.

Arizona

Nick Foles

Although he’s a few years removed from his Cinderella story Super Bowl run, Nick Foles is still a good quarterback. Though his play oscillates dramatically at times, he still has a ceiling fit for a championship ring. At the top of his game, he is up there with the elite quarterbacks.

With a solid defense around him in Jacksonville, Foles doesn’t have to revert back to his old Rams days. Instead, he can manage the game and come up with big plays when it’s clutch time. Foles has played well in playoffs in recent years. The Jaguars haven’t. That’s why they need Foles and its why he made our best Pac-12 NFL players list.

Arizona State

Lawrence Guy

Obviously a Super Bowl Ring helps illuminate players like Lawrence Guy. Nonetheless, his 2018 play is deserves a highlight. Guy made 30 defensive stops against the run last season. His run-stopping ability helped hold the Los Angeles Rams to just 62 yards rushing. 

But, he’s more than just a run-stopping big man. Guy was one of 11 interior defenders with 30-plus run stops and 20-plus pressures. In fact, he racked up four quarterback hurries in the Super Bowl, disrupting Jared Goff again and again. When an Arizona State player comes up big in the Super Bowl, he lands himself square on the best Pac-12 NFL players list.
No, Guy isn’t going to flash and dazzle like Aaron Donald, Von Miller or Fletcher Cox. But, as an interior defender, he’s brilliant and sound. It’s no wonder he posted an elite PFF grade of 91.1.

Cal

Cameron Jordan

Shocking as it may be, Cameron Jordan takes this spot from Aaron Rodgers. While many can argue against this, Jordan is currently performing better. Honestly, Cameron Jordan could be one of the best Pac-12 NFL players of all time when he’s done. First off, Jordan is extremely consistent. In his nine seasons in the NFL, he’s played every game. Get that. 128 straight games. He’s a machine.

Moreover, in those seasons he’s been a steady source of disruption. He’s totaled 409 tackles (98 for a loss), 143 quarterback hits, 71.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and 9 fumble recoveries. In his last three seasons, he’s earned a PFF grade of 90.0-plus. For that reason, PFF ranked him 16th on their 2018 Top 101 and 16th in for their 2019 rankings. Additionally, Cameron Jordan is a top-5 edge in run-defense and pass-rushing ability. His 66 pressures in 2018 show that he continues to be a nightmare for quarterbacks. He’s reliable, well-rounded and elite. Offenses beware.

Colorado

David Bakhtiari

Other than Aaron Rodgers, the next best player on the Green Bay Packers in David Bakhtiari. Bakhtiari is a staple of consistent, elite, pass protection. And in Green Bay, pass protection is gold.

In three straight seasons, Bakhtiari leads all offensive tackles in PFF’s pass-blocking grade. He’s earned pass-blocking grades of 93.0-plus in 2016, 2017 and 2018. He’s not only one of the best Pac-12 NFL players, he’s one of the best in the whole league. Per PFF, he is their highest-ranked offensive lineman for the 2019 PFF50. In 691 pass-blocking snaps in 2018, Bakhtiari only allowed 25 pressures. Of those, 18 were hurries, 3 were hits and only 4 were sacks. He protects his quarterback. 

Oregon

DeForest Buckner

At 6-foot-7, 291lbs with 84th-percentile arm length, DeForest Buckner is a large man. Combing that with a 112.4 (84th-percentile) Burst Score and an 11.98 (77th-percentile) Agility Score, Buckner is a difficult defended to stop. The defensive lineman performed quite well in back to back seasons. In 2018, Buckner totaled was tied for 14th in sacks and 10th in tackles for a loss. Also, Buckner added 53 pressures, 37 defensive stops and even 3 passes defended. Most of all, Buckner did all of this on a 4-12 San Francisco 49ers team. In 2019, he’ll hopefully have more opportunities to win.  

2019 should be a big year for Buckner and he can set himself apart from even the best Pac-12 NFL players. While not elite just yet, he’s entering his fourth season and has steadily risen. With Nick Bosa joining the pressure, Buckner has the chance to face easier blocking and schemes for his production. With more favorable opportunities, Buckner should wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks this season.

Oregon State

Brandin Cooks

Each of the last four seasons, on three separate teams, Brandin Cooks topped 1,000 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. He’s a remarkable talent, gifted with raw athleticism. Athletically, Cooks is known best for his blazing 4.33 (99th-percentile) 40-Yard Dash speed and equally impressive 10.57 (99th-percentile) Agility Score. His raw speed and agility made him one of the best Pac-12 NFL players in the 2014 NFL draft. But more than that, Cooks has ball skills. Even in the deep quadrants of the football field, he posted a 87-percent (No. 25) True Catch Rate. Imagine what his catch rate would be closer to the line of scrimmage. 

But putting him closer isn’t optimal. Because no matter the opponent, Cooks is a threat to take the top of the defense. Because of this, he’s well-respected by opposing defenses. This allows his teammates to operate with greater success. Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp and Jared Goff owe a lot to Cooks and his powerful skill-set. 

Stanford

Christian McCaffrey

With the NFL evolving into a league that places more and more importance into pass-catching running backs, Christian McCaffrey emerged in 2018. He caught an otherwordly 107 passes for 867 yards, leading all backs in both categories. Additionally, he rushed for 1098 yards and tallied 13 total touchdowns. McCaffrey was electric in 2018.

Beyond the typical counting stats, McCaffrey had 57 Evaded Tackles, an 86.3-percent Catch Rate (No. 2), and only dropped 3 passes. His 2.4-percent Drop Rate was second-best for running backs in 2018. Also, per PFF, his receiving grade of 89.3 ranked first in the NFL of running backs with at least 60 targets. He makes his case to be on the best Pac-12 NFL players of all times list if he keeps this production. All in all, Christian McCaffrey is the most elite pass-catching back in the league and is primed to do so for years to come.

UCLA

Kenny Clark

In year three, Kenny Clark broke out in a big way. He’s currently one of the best defensive interiors in the NFL. Clark earned the No. 43 spot on PFF’s 2018 Top 101 and spot 37 on the 2019 PFF50. As a sophomore and a junior in the NFL, Clark was an excellent rush defender. Clark’s 9.9 run-stop percentage ranked 16th-best in run-stop percentage at the position. 

But, Clark’s pass-rushing growth is what made the biggest difference. Clark went from earning pass-rushing grades below 70 in his first two seasons to an amazing 88.8 in 2018. Clark ranked 11th in pass-rush win percentage and ninth in total pressure percentage. His year three proved he can win in all facets of the game and put himself square on our best Pac-12 NFL players list.

USC

JuJu Smith-Schuster

https://youtu.be/btw7zlzkZUs

At just 22 years of age, JuJu Smith-Schuster battled (and arguably won) Antonio Brown for the top spot in the Pittsburg Steelers offense. His 22-year-old season included:

  • 111 Receptions (5th for wide receivers)
  • 1426 Receiving Yards (5th for wide receivers)
  • 587 Yards After the Catch (1st for wide receivers)
  • 7 Touchdowns (13th for wide receivers)
  • 839 Air Yards (10th for wide receivers)
  • 16 Redzone Receptions (2nd for wide receivers)

He’s so young. And abundantly talented. He’s already climbed above even the best Pac-12 NFL players. Smith-Schuster, now operating in an offense sans-Antonio Brown, now has his chance to truly shine as the number one. His elite career is just beginning.

Utah

Eric Weddle

Eric Weddle is entering his 13th year in the league. This veteran safety has been one of the best Pac-12 NFL players for a while. He’s 34-years-old, but that didn’t stop the Los Angeles Rams from signing him to a two-year, $10.5 million contract. Despite his age, Weddle continues to play at a high level. 

Joining John Johnson, the Rams duo make for an elite safety tandem. The Rams secondary just got stingier. Though Weddle turned down larger offers from other teams, his eyes are set on the Super Bowl. Signing with the Rams is his best shot at that. Weddle is still a strong contributor and will add value to the Rams. Joining John Johnson, the Rams duo make for an elite safety tandem. The Rams secondary just got stingier. 

Washington

Desmond Trufant

Though Desmond Trufant is no Jaylen Ramsey, he’s certainly a good cornerback. Washington Huskies fans certainly remember why he’s one of the best Pac-12 NFL players around. Even with the Atlanta Falcons defense struggling last season, Trufant remained solid. He led his team with 12 passes defended and made a plethora of veteran plays. Moreover, Trufant was exceptional in deep coverage. Among 59 qualifying cornerbacks by PFF, Trufant ranked 9th in deep target coverage. On 12 targets 20-plus yards down the field, he allowed just 2 receptions. Of those 12 targets, he forced an incompletion on 25-percent of them. He made it difficult to go deep against him.

Overall, Trufant remains an above-average cornerback. He is one of three cornerbacks that have “allowed less than a yard per coverage snap for four consecutive seasons.” In his six seasons, he’s had a PFF grade above 70. No, he’s not elite. But he certainly is great.

Washington State

Joe Dahl

For the Detroit Lions, Joe Dahl gets his shots with versatility and availability. A converted left-tackle, Dahl played both guard spots, center and even fullback for the Lions. An injury here or there, and Dahl would slide into the five-man O-line.  Yes, it’s surprising for a spot-starting lineman to make it on the best Pac-12 NFL players list. But, he’s played well in his starts and has a promising future.

While Dahl hasn’t impressed enough to be a consistent starter yet, this year is his shot. 

“I think he’s really transformed his body over the last year,” Lions head coach Matt Patricia said on Thursday. “He just looks bigger and stronger. He moves better.”

Matt Patricia

Dahl is vying for the starting left guard position for the Lions. With Matt Patricia’s (projected) run-heavy scheme in 2019, Dahl’s guard position is incredibly important. The WSU product needs to build chemistry with the other offensive lineman and cement his place in the starting five.

Pac-12 College Football Playoff Chances Entering Week 2

2019 UW Football Washington Huskies

College football week one was a mixed-bag of results for the Pac-12 Conference. Not counting Arizona’s tough humiliating loss to Hawaii, the Pac-12 went 8-3 in week one. Not bad. The conference did, however, see the Oregon Ducks fall to Auburn, potentially hurting the chances of having a Pac-12 College Football Playoff representative.

Fortunately there’s a lot of football to be played. Oregon is by no means eliminated from the playoff, and most of the other conference contenders took care of business appropriately.

Pac-12 teams enter week two with no big headline non-conference matchups outside of Nebraska vs. Colorado. There are, however, huge games in California vs. Washington and Stanford vs. USC. Both of these will have conference and College Football Playoff ramifications.

That said, here are the teams will the best chances of being a Pac-12 College Football Playoff representative entering week 2.

1. Utah Utes

Utah’s defense looked scary good against BYU. Limiting the Cougars to 300 yards total (208 yards passing, 92 yards on the ground), the Utes were stifling, exciting and showed why they’ll be what carries Utah through the season.

A defensive battle for much of the game, Utah scored twice off interceptions returned for touchdowns. The first came with 10:17 left in the first half, and the other with 12:25 left in the fourth. While both were crucial, the second came moments after the Utes executed a 3-play, 22 yard touchdown drive after recovering a fumble. The back-to-back scored put Utah up 30-6 and the game away for good.

If Utah’s defense is as tenacious as they looked against BYU, their lofty expectations to win the Pac-12 may be justified. And if Zack Moss can carry the offensive load, they may very well be the conference’s best shot at a Pac-12 College Football Playoff team.

2. Washington Huskies

Give credit where credit is due. There were plenty of questions surrounding Washington quarterback Jacob Eason heading into week one. A Georgia transfer who beat out Jake Haener, some questioned Chris Petersen’s decision to roll with Eason at QB. He has the arm talent, but are the other skills there? A 349 yard, four touchdown performance was his answer.

Now, this was against Eastern Washington. They’re a decent program but shouldn’t compete with the best of the Pac-12. Still, Eason’s outstanding debut can’ be ignored. The quarterback was impressive.

More impressive, however, was Washington’s defense. They held the Eagles to just 63 yards on the ground and despite no turnovers they commanded much of the game. The Huskies and Eason now face the tough task of navigating California’s not-so-secret secondary in week two. If they’re able to take care of the Golden Bears, the confidence surrounding this team will improve.

3. Oregon Ducks

Oregon should have won their game against Auburn. For much of the contest they were the better team. Unfortunately for the Ducks and the rest of the Pac-12, almost doesn’t cut it and the Tigers emerged victorious. Despite the loss, however, Oregon showed the nation it can compete with the big boys once again. Their defense was impressive, offensive line powerful, and with a little less conservative play calls the Ducks could have run away with the game.

Yet Oregon will now need nearly flawless performances the rest of the year. Unless Auburn finds itself in the SEC Championship Game, Oregon’s shot at being a Pac-12 College Football Playoff representative rests in their ability to run the table.

After how they played against the Tigers, that’s not impossible. The talent is there and what mistakes were made were more mental than physical.

4. Stanford Cardinal

If Stanford is going to represent the Pac-12 in the College Football Playoff, they’re going to need a big win over USC on Saturday night. Dispatching the Northwestern Wildcats in a classic Stanford way, the Cardinal looked impressive on defense but shaky on offense. Quarterback K.J. Costello was precise but unremarkable, and running back Cameron Scarlett was simply serviceable.

Fortunately Stanford flashed an impressive defense, forcing three fumbles (recovering two) and coming away with two INTs. With Costello still questionable for their game against USC, it’s clear Stanford’s defense must lead the way. For the Cardinal to have any shot at the College Football Playoff they’ll need to grind it out and hope a star emerges on offense.

5. Washington State Cougars

The Pac-12 North may eat itself alive this year, and not because there is a lack of talented teams. The problem in the North may be that there are too many quality teams for any to emerge with a record impressive enough to qualify a Pac-12 College Football Playoff team.

That’s exactly what could happen to the Washington State Cougars, who once again showed why Mike Leach’s offense is a godsend for quarterbacks looking to pad their stats. Quarterback Anthony Gordon completed 29-of-35 passes for 420 yards and five touchdowns. While this came against New Mexico State, those are still numbers you can’t ignore.

More impressively, Washington State’s defense forced three turnovers and held the Aggies to just seven points. Regardless of opponent that’s an impressive effort. The Cougars now face another low-level opponent before an interesting matchup against Houston that should be a great barometer for just how good Washington State could be. They’re still in consideration for being a Pac-12 College Football Playoff team, but they need to show a little more first.

6. USC Trojans

Most Pac-12 insiders understood the dangers of Fresno State vs. USC. The Bulldogs were a good team in 2018, Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford knows the Pac-12 and there were still plenty of uncertainties surrounding USC. Would they finally be able to live up to the talent on their roster?

For some that begins with a resounding yes. Running back Vavae Malepeai burst onto the scene with a 23 carry, 134 yard performance and was complimented by an explosive effort from Stephen Carr (6 carries for 56 yards, 6 receptions for 43 yards). Wide receiver Tyler Vaughns also impressed, catching 11 balls for 150 yards.

But the bad news for USC is that they lost starting quarterback J.T. Daniels for the season, paving way for true freshman Kedon Slovis to command the offense. A three-star prospect, Slovis will be immediately tested against Stanford’s defense. If USC is to make a College Football Playoff statement early on, this Stanford game is it.

Pac-12 Football Seasons: 2019 Oregon Ducks Week 2

Oregon Ducks Week 2 Pac-12 football

Revenge had and reputation improved. Those are the headlines that should have come Sunday morning for both the Oregon Ducks Week 2 and Pac-12. There should have been articles written about a relentless first half by the Oregon offense and a tenacious defense throughout, and coverage surrounding the Pac-12’s ability to play with the big bad SEC. Others might have said the conference wasn’t so soft. But Oregon’s 27-21 loss to Auburn in the 2019 Advocare Classic did not do that, at least not entirely.

Oregon should have won that game. They should have converted multiple scoring opportunities and surged to a confident lead. Mario Cristobal should have managed his timeouts better, perhaps giving the Ducks more of a chance at the end. Oregon offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo should have made use of his thin yet impressive wide receiver group. 

Football, however, is not a game of should-haves. It’s a game of results. And while fans will speculate as to what could have been made better to change the outcome, what the Oregon football program needs to do is focus on the future. There is still a lot of football to play starting with week 2.

That said, there’s no doubt that this one hurts. Time to explain why.

Setting the Table for Oregon Ducks Week 2

There was a lot put on Oregon’s plate as they headed to face the Auburn Tigers in Arlington, Texas. Not only would they represent their program, university and its fan base, but they would also represent the Pac-12 Conference in the nation’s biggest week one game. 

For years the Pac-12 Conference has been seen as soft, especially in the eyes of the SEC. No respect has been given to the west, and it was expected of the Ducks to flip the script. This was meant to be the game where Oregon would come away with a key victory for themselves and the conference. No pressure, right? 

On an individual level expectations for the Oregon football program were just as high. This was meant to be a justification of the lofty preseason expectations for a team some have just on the peripheral of the College Football Playoff. Led by Oregon senior quarterback Justin Herbert and the nation’s top offensive line, many expected the Ducks’ offense to explode, impress and overwhelm. The defense, meanwhile, was expected to improve and hold their ground, especially against Auburn’s true freshman quarterback Bo Nix.

And after a few unexpected down years, fans of the Ducks were ready for the program to get back on track. What began as the Decade of the Duck could still finish in spectacular fashion. A win over Auburn in the opener would be proof that Oregon football was headed towards that.

An Ominous Start and Other Negatives for the Ducks

If there was anything that would be indicative of the end result of Oregon’s game against Auburn, it was their first play. Or rather, lack thereof. 

Electing to receive the kickoff, the Ducks took the field on offense first. Out came Herbert, his vaulted offensive line, an up-and-coming running back in sophomore CJ Verdell and a wide receiver corps that was injury-ridden yet talented. But before they would take the first snap the Ducks found themselves caught in the headlights. Confused about what play to run and what personnel to line up where Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal was forced to call a timeout. 

A less than ideal start to the 2019 season but appropriate for how the Ducks would play much of the game.

While Oregon dominated much of the game, they constantly found themselves fumbling — both literally and figuratively — in key moments. The Ducks missed a chip-shot field goal, dropped a touchdown pass that would have extended their lead, fumbled the ball in the red zone, mismanaged timeouts on a crucial fourth-and-one and allowed Auburn to hold on to just enough hope that they were still in the game. The Oregon football program many expected, while vastly improved, had not yet completely arrived. Too many missed opportunities.

Oregon offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo, meanwhile, took much of the blame. Impressing fans with a diverse selection of play calls early on that had Auburn second-guessing, Arroyo was unable to adapt to the Tigers’ defensive adjustments, choosing conservative plays rather than those that could quickly extend Oregon’s lead. He played right into Auburn’s arms to the dismay of Duck fans nationwide. This isn’t the first time Arroyo has been criticized in such fashion, and how he manages the coming games may determine his future career. 

Positives from the Auburn Loss

It’s hard to see positives in any loss. But for the Oregon football team, there was plenty to take away from their game against Auburn.

First, the 2019 Oregon defense looks like the real deal. Under new defensive coordinator Andy Avalos the Ducks were fierce upfront and impressive in the secondary. They played intuitively — for the most part — and showed an ability to match up with some of the best talent in the nation. While they did react too quick in a few crucial moments, what mental mistakes they made can be cleaned up with improved focus and coaching. Those adjustments are easier to make than those based on a lack of talent or personnel. 

Second, Oregon’s depleted wide receivers no longer look so depleted. Johnny Johnson III emerged as a breakout candidate. Jaylon Redd found a nice presence in the slot. Redshirt freshman Spencer Webb made the nation know his name with a statement touchdown early in the game. What these receivers did is prove themselves physical and talented enough to hold down the position group until the addition of the highly-anticipated senior transfer Juwan Johnson and true freshman Mycah Pittman. Once they are added, Oregon’s wide receivers could be one of the best units in the Pac-12.

Next, Oregon’s tough loss to Auburn wasn’t conference crippling for the Pac-12. In fact, it was just the opposite. It may seem hard to argue the strength of the conference in a losing effort. What the Ducks showed was the gap may not be as big as some think. Oregon’s defensive front seven managed penetration. Their offensive line held steady against the best defensive front seven in the nation and their personnel constantly looked more talented. It’s the execution that suffered. Don’t be surprised if Oregon’s performance against Auburn provides a confidence boost for other Pac-12 teams in non-conference games.

Moving Forward with the Oregon Ducks Week 2

The beauty of college football — and sports in general — is that you must move on fast. Learn from mistakes and use them to improve the future. And with 11 games left on the schedule, there is still a big opportunity for the Oregon football program to make 2019 a special season. Next up? The Nevada Wolfpack, a team that brings with it a potent offense and the momentum of a last-second win over the Big Ten’s Purdue Boilermakers. 

Unlike the Auburn game, the Ducks are not only favored to win, but they’re also expected to. Nevada is a Mountain West Conference opponent, and while threatening in their conference, they should not present Oregon a problem. That in itself can be a problem, however. Overlooking opponents, especially one as talented as Nevada, often spells doom.

Don’t think the Ducks will overlook the Wolf Pack, however. They’ve been spoiled by the Mountain West Conference in the recent past (Boise State). A loss in the home opener would derail the rest of the season. A win, meanwhile, would be the first step towards a still promising year. Some of Oregon’s best years have come after a week one loss. 

They’ll be hoping 2019 follows suit. It starts with the Oregon Ducks Week 2.

Bay Area Football California Golden Bears Victorious in Week 1

California Golden Bears win debut against UC Davis

On a beautiful warm sunny day in Berkeley, the California Golden Bears won their 2019 debut against the UC Davis Aggies. With the win today the Bears have now won their sixth consecutive season opener.

Sophomore running back Chris Brown Jr and Junior transfer student KeKoa Crawford were difference makers. Brown, a 6’1″ 230 pound sophomore, carried 26 times for 197 yards, both career highs. He is also the nation’s third leading rusher. Crawford, the 6’1″ 190 pound transfer student from Glendale Community College, had three big catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns.

While the result was in Cal’s favor, it wasn’t the easy win most hoped for. The ballgame had quite the auspicious start as the Aggies won the toss, choosing to differ. They proceeded to strip Cal’s kickoff return man Ashtyn Davis on the 21 yard line and recovered the fumbe to take possession. Not ideal.

Then, after the turnover the Aggies went 21 yards in four plays, scoring on a 2 yard plunge by Ulonzo Gilliam.

The Aggies didn’t letup either, stifling Cal’s passing game throughout the first quarter. The Bears came out flat and the majority of the offense came from the legs of running back Chris Brown Jr.

Chase Garbers completed just two passes. Meanwhile the Aggies forced two turnovers in the first quarter, with a third coming mere seconds into the second quarter.

A win not without mistakes

Offensive mistakes came early and often including a couple Garbers throws. In back to back plays he rolled out to his right, nearly threw one interception and had the second picked.

But it wasn’t all Garbers’ fault. In the second quarter Cal receiver Jordan Duncan caught a pass, broke a tackle but fumbled the ball. The results? Another turnover.

Garbers weighed-in on what he thought attributed to the slow start.

“I think also offensively we came out too loose. I think we were lackadaisacal to start in a way, I think just getting that first game out of us and we regrouped and we came back in the second quarter and the second half and did what we do.”

Once Cal found their rhythm, however, they didn’t look back. Fortunately this took place in the second quarter.

Cranking up the pressure and going uptempo the Bears started taking it to the Aggies. Garbers started things off with a 13 yard run, followed with a three yard run by Brown Jr. After an incompletion came the chunk plays. First was a 30 yard pass to Nikko Remigio. Next was a four yard run by Brown Jr. and finally capped off by a beautiful 37 yard catch and run by Kekoa Crawford with the exclamation point dive into the end zone.

Calming the nerves

When asked about how he settled his young quarterback down, coach Justin Wilcox had this to say.

“It was calming down and trusting his preparation. We expect him t make plays. He kept his composure and didn’t panic by any means. Overall, I liked that he battled back from a slow start. It was good to see.”

Next drive Garbers completes a 30 yarder to tight end Jake Tonges on the seam route. Garbers goes three completions in a row throwing for 98 yards and appeared to find his rhythm. The Bears scored three times in the second quarter, on a touchdown and two field goals, finishing the quarter winning not only the possession battle 08:20 to 06:40 as well as amassing 177 yards to the Aggies 57.

Aggies take a knee in the end zone on the kickoff and proceed to take the ball 60 yards on 10 plays and kick a game-tying 32 yard field goal from Max O’Rourke.

On Cal’s first possession of the second half they mixed up their play calls beautifully and kept the Aggies off balance. Garbers scrambling and running with the football mystified the Aggies, and they had no answer for it. After a scramble that would have come up short the defense hit him late and the free 15 yards put Cal in position to score. Brown ran the ball in from five yards out off of a nice cutback on an outside zone run giving the Bears a 20-13 lead.

Later in the third Garbers rolled out to his right and threw a pass to Crawford in the end zone, but the pass was tipped by the Aggies Jaylin White. Crawford, made sure to get both feet down in bounds while tracking the ball on the tip drill and caught it for a 26 yard score. The last score would put the Bears up 27-13 and would be the final nail in the coffin.

Next up: Washington Huskies

Cal would finish the day with 471 yards total offense, Garbers was 16-28 for 238 yards 2 TDS and 1INT. The Bears rushed as a whole 51 times for 263 yards 1TD and an average of 4.6 yards per carry. Kicker Greg Thomas was 2/3 on field goals with makes of (44,47) missing on the last 44 yarder. Sophomore linebacker Kony Deng led the Bears in tackles with 12 total, 2 pass break ups, and 2 quarterback hits.

Next up for the Bears is a trip to Washington to take on the Pac-12 champions the University of Washington Huskies.

Pac-12 Apostles Podcast: Reaction/Grades Week 1, Power Rankings Week 2, Injuries and Updates

Pac-12 Apostles Podcast: Reaction/Grades Week 1, Power Rankings Week 2, Injuries and Updates

Pac-12 Conference College Football Podcast

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. This week? Pac-12 Football week 1!

On this episode of the Pac-12 Apostles, George Wrighster and Ralph Amsden dissect and grade the Pac-12 Football Week 1 performances of each team in the Pac-12 conference. Through the first week of college football, the Pac-12 finished with a respectable 8-4 non-conference record. Oregon did lose the most important game to the conference to Auburn but gained a lot of respect in the process. The conference is not out of the College Football Playoff conversation. But will likely need to be undefeated the rest of the way.

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There were a few key injuries in week 1 the Apostles discuss. USC lost starting quarterbacks JT Daniels with a torn ACL/MCL. Washington Huskies center Nick Harris left the game early on but does not appear to seriously injured.

George and Ralph also reveal their Pac-12 Power Rankings for Week 2.

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 2: Solid Start for the Conference

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 2

Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 2. The conference had a strong week one at 8-4. A team from the Pac-12 has a real chance to make the College Football Playoffs in 2019. However, those chances took a real blow with Oregon’s loss to Auburn. There is a lot of football left to be played and it’s not over yet. The conference has a chance to quiet all the outside noise about money and tv deals, and the Pac-12 network by winning the rest of their non-conference games.

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 2:

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 (0-1)

Last Week: 36-52 (L) OSU

The Oregon State offense put up nearly 450 yards of offense against Oklahoma State. A productive offense was a welcome sight for their fans However, Oregon State gave up nearly 600 including 352 on the ground. It is going to be a long season for the defense if they cannot stop the run. Pac-12 running backs will be looking to pad their stats on Beavers week.

11. Arizona Wildcats (0-1)

Last Week: OPEN

Arizona mercifully had an open ween last week. They needed time to mentally recover from losing to Hawaii. They get a chance to redeem themselves in an expected blowout win against Northern Arizona… I really hope I didn’t just jinx them.

10. UCLA Bruins (0-1)

Last Week: 14-24 (L) Cincinnatti

After week 1 I could not have lost any more hope in my darkhorse Pac-12 South pick. Chip Kelly’s offense is totally unrecognizable from his Oregon days. UCLA wasn’t fast, efficient, or explosive. Dorian Thompson-Robinson appeared to have a regression from his freshman year in week 1. If he is not better against San Diego State this week we may see a change at QB. Coaches say teams make the biggest improvements from week 1, so there’s hope.

9. Colorado Buffaloes (1-0)

Last Week: 52-31 (W) vs Colorado State

A win is a win for Colorado. They snapped their 7-game losing streak dating back to last season. Mel Tucker has his team on the right track. The best part of the win was that they did it without a big game from their best player Laviska Shenault. He only finished with a combined 6 touches for 83 yards and 1 touchdown. The bad news is that they gave up 505 yards of total offense including 374 passing yards to an inferior CSU team. Next week will be a real test as Nebraska rolls into town.

Subscribe to the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast

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8. Cal Golden Bears (1-0)

Last Week: 27-13 (W) vs UC Davis

Cal was expected to blow the doors off of UC Davis, but they got a scare through the first three quarters. The defense was stout as usual but the quarterback play by Chase Garbers left a lot to be desired in the first half. He did rally to end up with a respectable 238 yard, 2 touchdowns, 1 int day. Justin Wilcox has to be hoping that his young QB just had first-game jitters and will be better going forward. The bright spot was Christopher Brown Jr. who rushed for 197 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries. We will see what this team is made of next week at Washington.

7. Arizona State Sun Devils (1-0)

Last Week: 30-7 (W) vs Kent State

This was totally a good news, bad news game for ASU. The good news is that they won. Freshman Qb Jayden Daniels played well. Eno Benjamin picked up from where he left off last season. The bad news is that the Sun Devils only scored 30 points against Kent State. The offensive line allowed too much pressure on Daniels. Next week should be another cakewalk for ASU against Sacramento State. I don’t even understand why power 5 schools are even allowed to schedule FCS teams.

6. Washington State Cougars (1-0)

Last Week: 58-7 (W) vs New Mexico State

I am completely unimpressed by a 50 point win over one of the worst FBS teams in college football. Anthony Gordon got the start at quarterback and lit it up to the tune of 420 yards and 5 touchdowns. Max Borghi also added 128 yards and a touchdown on the ground. We will have no clue what this team is made out of until they get to Pac-12 conference play. Northern Colorado and Houston should be wins the next two weeks for the Cougs.

5. USC Trojans

Last Week: 31-23 (W) vs Fresno State

Before the game, I said USC would win but do little to quiet the uncertainty about Clay Helton’s job security. That is exactly what happened. The team had opportunities to put Fresno State away but just couldn’t get it done. To make matters worse, starting quarterback JT Daniels was lost for the season with a torn ACL and MCL. Now Helton must either turn to either freshman Kedon Slovis or a player who just entered the transfer portal (Sears). USC is still talented enough to finish the season atop the Pac-12 Power Rankings, but it’s unlikely.

4. Utah Utes (1-0)

Last Week: 30-12 (W) vs BYU

Impressive win by Utah in the ‘Holy War’ against BYU. Their defense absolutely locked everything down in the second half. Zack Moss returned from injury with a vengeance. He finished with 29 carries for 187 yards and 1 touchdown. Tyler Huntley only threw for 106 yards and was not impressive, but he didn’ need to be. After one week, Utah is the class of the Pac-12 south.

3. Washington Huskies (1-0)

Last Week: 47-14 (W) vs Eastern Washington

Much like Washington State and Arizona State, it is hard to move up the Pac-12 Power Rankings playing FCS or Mid-American Conference teams. The Huskies did completely dominate, as expected, so they earned high marks for dominance but no marks for quality wins or schedule played. Chris Petersen showed that no matter how many players he loses to the NFL, Washington won’t be rebuilding, only reloading. Jacob Eason looked as good as advertised. If he can put up a top tier game against Cal’s nasty pass defense I will be a believer.

2. Oregon Ducks (0-1)

Last Week: 27-21 (L) vs Auburn (in Dallas)

Why on earth do I have an 0-1 team #2 in the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 2? The Ducks played the toughest game in the nation in Week 1 against Auburn. They performed well and the game looked like a win that got away. The offense was much too conservative in the second half and let Auburn steal the game. The Ducks defense looks fast, physical, and well-coached. Oregon’s offensive line held their own against the best defensive line in the nation. The Pac-12 could be theirs to claim if they keep the pedal to the metal all game.

1. Stanford Cardinal (1-0)

Last Week: 17-7 (W) vs Northwestern

Stanford had the second toughest opponent of week 1 with Northwestern. Their defense was extremely impressive. They held Northwestern to 210 total yards. Right when the Cardinal started rolling offensively in the first half their quarterback KJ Costello was knocked out with a concussion on an uncalled targeting call. In the second half, Stanford more or less just took the air out of the football and held on for deal life for a 17-7 win.

Stanford’s win was not pretty, but it was a win against a quality opponent nonetheless. The Cardinal deserves to be on top of the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 2.

Check back every Monday for the Pac-12 Power Rankings.

Pac-12 Players Needing Big Years for the NFL Draft

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 4

College football is finally here. The Power Rankings are in and the season has started. But the Pac-12 season is more than just teams and team-wins. There is an individual end game… The NFL Draft.

Each year, a maximum of 256 college athletes can be drafted each year by the NFL. Only 256. Out of every college and thousands upon thousands of draft prospects. Most players make their way onto scouts’ lists early in their collegiate careers. But, for this set of senior, offensive Pac-12 players, they desperately need to make the most of their final season.

The Five Offensive Pac-12 Players Needing it Most

Aaron Fuller – UW – Senior – Wide Receiver

With 58 receptions and 874 yards, Aaron Fuller finally had his breakout season in 2018. He led the Huskies in 2018 and looks to do the same this season. Even though UW lost the Rose Bowl, Fuller stood out with 7 receptions. Furthermore, he’s cemented himself on the Biletnikoff Award watch list.

Nonetheless, Fuller has a lot to prove this season. As many already know, the most talented wide receivers in college leave early for the draft. Of note though, the 2019 NFL draft was different. Deebo Samuel, JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Parris Campbell and Andy Isabella were drafted in the second round. All of them were seniors. So, there is definitely hope for Fuller. And with 874 yards, he certainly has a good base to build off of.

But, he still needs to step up. Fuller has to display explosiveness. At 5-foot-11, 188lbs, he’s not going to turn heads like DK Metcalf. However, he’s the type of receiver the NFL is evolving to enjoy. As a senior, Fuller has to get the counting stats, display good route running and hands for the scouts, ball-out at the Senior Bowl. If he’s having his best year, hopefully he’ll get a chance to push his name into the draft with an NFL Combine invite as well. All in all, Fuller needs to be Washington’s steady and reliable playmaker this year. 

Anthony Gordon – WSU – Redshirt Senior – Quarterback

2 games. 5 attempts. 3 completions. 17 yards. 1 interception.

That is all that Anthony Gordon, redshirt senior, has to show for his WSU career. Yet, somehow he earned the nod from Mike Leach. After losing Gardner Minshew, the Pac-12’s leader in pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns, Mike Leach turned to the older, yet unknown, Gordon. 

As a true underdog, Gordon first played in Junior College for the City College of San Francisco. But, he led the CCCAA Conference in passing yards (3,864) and touchdowns (37) as a true freshman. In addition, Gordon led his team to a CCCAA Championship and earned the CCCAA Championship Game MVP. So, he’s at least got that going for him.

Now, after redshirting and sitting on the bench for three seasons at WSU, it’s Gordon’s time to shine. Fortunately for him, he plays for Washington State University. He’s got a team around him and the perfect head coach for quarterbacks. In Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense, quarterbacks are given friendly schemes and can compile big numbers. As a redshirt senior with no NCAA experience, Gordon needs everything he can get. Off all of the offensive Pac-12 players on this list, he’s the biggest underdog right now. In order to make it to the NFL, he needs to brand his name on the NFL scout list with big-time throws and massive numbers.

Noah Togiai – OSU – Redshirt Senior – Tight End

Snakebitten by injuries, Noah Togiai has to prove that he can stay healthy. After breaking out in 2017 with 34 receptions, 461 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, Togiai caught just 10 passes in 2018. His production took a major dip and injuries were a large part of that.

“He’s done a lot of good things,” Beavers offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren told NBCSNW. “I think last year he was probably like 80 percent… I don’t think we really saw what he’s capable of doing in the pass game.”

After tearing his ACL in the Beavers’ second game of 2016. Additionally, he missed the first three games of the 2018 season. Thankfully, Togiai was granted an extra season of eligibility in 2017 because of his ACL tear. He’s lucky. Because of this medical hardship season, Togiai didn’t have to finish his collegiate career on a 10 reception, 77 yard season. However, he needs to prove he is able to withstand the brutality of an NFL-level game. Can he do that? It’s unclear, especially considering he’s battling an ankle injury he sustained in spring camp. But, if he can stay healthy, Togiai could become Oregon State’s third receiver and one of the best offensive Pac-12 players at the tight end position.

Juwan Johnson – Oregon – Redshirt Senior – Wide Receiver

Unfortunately for Oregon, their wide receiving corps hit the injury bug. Brenden Schooler, Mycah Pittman and Juwan Johnson are each dealing with their own. While Schooler and Pittman are likely out for the first few weeks, there is hope that Johnson can suit up for Auburn.

https://twitter.com/Rotoworld_Draft/status/1165296220924829697

If Johnson is able to suit up, he could quickly become a favorite target for Justin Herbert. Because if the Penn State transfer is one thing, he is a large target. At 6-foot-4, 230lbs, Johnson certainly garners attention. He’s big, powerful and has a frame unlike the other receivers on the team. Johnson also brings experience to the Ducks squad. He played the most games of any Ducks receiver. As a veteran, he is going to be both a role-model for younger receivers and a reliable option for Herbert.

“I’m here to be a leader,” he said. “That’s my job here, come in and bring a leader and bring that energy to the team. I want to bring the guys up so we can win a Pac-12 championship, national championship and those sort of things.”

If he can regain his health, Juwan Johnson can step into the void and separate himself from the rest of Oregon’s playmakers. The path for him to breakout in the list of top, offensive Pac-12 players is there. He’s on a great offense, on a top team, with needs at the position. Get healthy and get out there Johnson.

Cameron Scarlett – Stanford Redshirt Senior – Running Back

No Bryce Love. Washington drafted him in the fourth-round of the 2019 draft. No JJ Arcega-Whiteside. The Philadelphia Eagles picked him up in the second round. No Trenton Irwin. The Miami Dolphins scooped him up as an undrafted free-agent. So, Stanford lost their feature back and two top receivers. Someone needs to step up.

Out of the shadows steps Cameron Scarlett. The fifth-year back has yet to break out. Which makes complete sense. He’s played behind not only Bryce Love, but Christian McCaffrey as well. It’s not easy to usurp Heisman hopeful running backs. But this year, he doesn’t have to. The backfield is his for the taking.

Fortunately for Scarlett, he’s not completely green. In both 2017 and 2018, he displayed versatility in rushing and receiving. Scarlett’s 719 rushing yards and 283 receiving yards in 2017 and 2018 display this. He also notched 8 rushing touchdowns in each, along with 1 receiving touchdown in 2018. Finding the paydirt is obviously a good thing. Moreover, Scarlett displayed exceptional special-teams play. In 2017, his 1,008 kick return yards ranked second nationally and first in the Pac-12.  

His feature-back size (6-foot-1, 216lbs), combined with his dual-threat ability and versatility in the return-game, should provide ample opportunity for him in 2019. But, he’s a redshirt-senior without a feature-back year on his resume. Scarlett has to make that happen. In 2019, he needs to capitalize on volume and display his ability to be a bell-cow back.

Why the Pac-12 Moving Away from 9am Games is Only Step One

Pac-12 9am games Larry Scott Commissioner

Those on the west coast may enjoy their coffee but 9am Pac-12 games were a ridiculous thought. And fortunately, for at least one year, Larry Scott decided it is the Pac-12’s best interest to avoid 9am kickoffs.

The idea gained some traction earlier in the offseason, as it would allow games to be featured at 12 pm on the east coast, putting them in a more favorable TV time slot. This was much to the chagrin of west coast fans, who would lose their precious tailgating time and would have to get up at the crack of dawn. It would also take them away from watching some great Big Ten and early east coast games.

The decision to squash 9am Pac-12 games was a good one, but it was only step one in what should eventually be an overhaul of the conference’s priorities. Gone should be the days of focusing on TV deals and bowing down to the desires of the big TV stations – who are always going to prioritize the SEC and ACC anyway.

Instead, the Pac-12 must re-align themselves with their fan bases, making games a much more enjoyable experience. Fans should be encouraged to enjoy the stadium, not have to worry about where they will watch their favorite teams.

Time for the Pac-12 to be Forward Thinking with Distribution

Sure, TV is still a lucrative business for college football – but with less and less younger people subscribing to cable, and with ESPN and other big-name sports broadcasters losing business left and right, it makes sense for the Pac-12 to stay progressive and ahead of the curve.

Perhaps they could look into making their games more accessible on social media? Or on subscription services like Hulu, Netflix, or Amazon Prime, the latter of which is in the University of Washington’s backyard? These things may become tricky if the NCAA steps in, but it is worth looking into for a conference that should not be afraid to stir things up instead of catering to the TV powers that be.

Engage with fans, in-person, and not during 9am Pac-12 kickoffs

There are, of course, multiple ways to cater to fans that don’t also disrupt the enjoyment of the game on TV, including lowering concession prices, selling alcohol in the stadiums (five stadiums don’t allow alcohol, and many others only allow it in small areas) and upping fan interaction with players and coaches. Teams could offer more on-field activities, autograph sessions, tailgating with players, etc.

Overall, the Pac-12 is running into serious financial issues thanks to a myriad of concerns at the upper level of the conference. Bowing down to an outdated industry like TV is only going to make things worse. To think 9am Pac-12 kickoffs would bring additional revenue completely ignores what should drive conference decisions: coaches, players and fan experience. What good is it to broadcast a 9am game to the nation when half the seats in the stadium are empty? Is this the impression the Pac-12 wants to make to national audiences?

The west coast is progressive and so is the Pac-12. 9am kickoffs, however imaginative and new to those in the west, are not. Instead the conference needs to be innovative the ways it engages fans at stadiums, taking some of the responsibility from individual programs and helping change the image of the Pac-12 for the better.