Monday, March 30, 2009

New Boss in Town

Oregon head coach Chip Kelly officially took the reigns today, as spring football began without Mike Bellotti at the helm for the first time since 1995. I want to talk a bit about the Kelly anointment in this piece, as well as what it means to the program. As many of you know Kelly came to Oregon from little known New Hampshire prior to the 2007 season. Kelly was actually recommended to Bellotti by previous offensive coordinator Gary Crowton (who later took the same position at LSU). Bellotti took a chance on the little known Kelly and brought the offensive guru west, to lead the Duck’s spread attack. Under Kelly Oregon’s offense has lead the conference in scoring (over 40 points per game), as well as rushing yards, in both 2007 and 2008.

College football fans throughout the country have had various takes on Kelly getting the head coaching job at Oregon. I believe the two reasons people have questioned this hire are….1) The current trend of the “coach in waiting” process at places like Texas, Florida State, and Purdue has rubbed many the wrong way. The reason these football programs have been favoring this anointment process is because it makes the transition easier when the Bobby Bowden’s, Mack Brown’s, Joe Tiller’s, and most recently Mike Bellotti’s step down at their respective schools. The knock on this reasoning is that the “coach in waiting” process essentially eliminates many minority coaching candidates, and therefore these coaches are not given the opportunity of their voices being heard. 2) I have heard this next argument from all types of college football fans…. “Oregon has the name, recent tradition, and resources that they could have gone after nearly any coach they wanted to”. While I certainly agree with this statement, I find it to be non applicable to the situation at hand. Without a doubt Oregon could have wowed big name head coaches with proven track records (I think names like Jeff Tedford, Chris Peterson, Mike Leach, and even Steve Spurrier are candidates that would have thrown their name in the hat).

The reason I believe this is the right hire is because of the confidence and vote of approval Mike Bellotti has given it. As is stated in a previous article a few weeks back, Bellotti was the one who built Oregon into what it is today. He isn’t going to hand the keys to the kingdom to an irresponsible individual. With Bellotti moving on to the AD position he obviously still has some vested interest in the athletic programs, and he must truly believe that Kelly is the person that can, and will lead Oregon to even brighter days ahead. I must admit, as a Duck fan my initial reaction to this hiring was pure shock. Never once did I question that Kelly couldn’t be a great head coach like many others what I did question initially was the dozen or so other big name candidates that would have been considered for the position. However after thinking it over a bit, I came to my senses and realized Kelly must be the ideal fit for the job…the person that knows the job better than anyone (Bellotti) felt so. Bellotti is much closer to the situation than any of us, and he must know this Kelly fellow is the real deal.

I can’t wait for this next chapter of Oregon football to unfold. I feel like the sky is truly the limit, and behind the relentless work ethic of Coach Kelly great things will undoubtedly happen. Mike Bellotti stated numerous times that his goal was to bring a National Championship to Oregon…his dream will still become a reality in the next few years, but he will be hoisting the Sears Trophy as the AD, and not before Kelly is done gazing at it. (Please let me know what you, Duck fan or not, think of this hire. Thanks!!)

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Last In, Last Standing


The Arizona Wildcat's are the last Pac 10 team standing in the NCAA tourney, and will take on the number one overall seed, the Louisville Cardinals this Friday. I'm giving Arizona a shot in this game. I feel that if Jordan Hill, Nic Wise, and Chase Budinger can get a little help from the the Wildcat's supporting cast then the Cardinal will be in for a much tougher match up than your typical #12 seed would present. Arizona has the starting 5 that can compete with anyone in the country...and they should match up nicely with the likes of Louisville's Clark, Williams, Sosa, and Samuels.
Regardless of the outcome of Friday's game, I expect this to be the end of Arizona's amazing run of 25 straight NCAA appearances. Because of the turmoil and uncertainty of the head coaching position over the last couple of years, Arizona has essentially lost out on its last two recruiting classes. If Budinger and Hill leave, as I expect, then the talent level in Tuscon will be as barren as the Southern Arizona landscape. Arizona will bring in a big name coach next year (potentially Rick Pitino).. but the next few years could be rough for Wildcat fans, so they should enjoy this 2009 NCAA tourney run to the fullest.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Ernie Kent: It is Kilkenny's Call

In the next couple of weeks Oregon AD Pat Kilkenny will be faced with a difficult decision; whether to retain or release Oregon Basketball Head Coach Ernie Kent. Kilkenny and crew are much closer to the situation than I am, so instead of me telling you what I think Oregon should do, I will instead present both sides of the argument and let you make the call.

Those who want Kent gone: It has long been said that Kent isn’t a top of the line in game coach, and that he doesn’t make the proper adjustments following halftime. I have seen the Ducks look confused, uninspired, and at times completely lost in second half’s, so maybe there is some merit to these remarks. Another common complaint used when describing Kent’s coaching, is that his players don’t develop over their four years on campus. I believe this argument has the most merit, looking at the careers of players like Malik Hariston, Bryce Taylor, Chris Christofferson, and many others. Not one of those players was significantly better on senior night than they where when they first arrived in Eugene. Due to the new arena, that is currently being built as we speak, the expectations will be raised for Oregon basketball, and losing seasons will not be acceptable. Along with these raised expectations, financial pressure could soon follow, because nobody in this economy is going to pay top dollar to see a .500 team. Many Duck fans feel Kent’s time is up, and he isn’t the man to lead them into Matthew Knight Arena. These fans have been longing for Mark Few to come home to rest in the Willamette Valley and lead the Ducks to the bigger and better things. Oregon fans feel like they could get something better (Few, Tubby Smith, etc.)...I just want to remind them to be careful what they wish for.

Those who want Kent around: Emotions certainly play a role for all of us when looking at the Ernie Kent situation. The 2008-2009 season is still fresh in our minds, and if it weren’t for the 2008 Beavers, Oregon’s season this year would be one of, if not the worst in Pac-10 history. So I ask you to step back from the fire, and look at Kent’s body of work. He has the most wins in Oregon history, and has lead his teams to the NCAA’s 5 times, two of them being Elite Eight trips. The only other school on the West Coast to do that this decade is UCLA, and sorry Duck fans Oregon isn’t exactly on UCLA’s level when it comes to basketball tradition. The reason so many Duck fans are on Kent’s ass is because of the expectations he has created. Ernie is the only coach I have known as a Duck fan, but I am very familiar with Oregon basketball history, and to be honest there is very little of it. Pick up a media guide and take a look at the top career stats for Oregon players. The record books are littered with players Kent recruited. Names like Ridnour, Jackson, Jones, Brooks,and Luenen will live on forever. Teams like the 2001-02, and the 2006-07 were legitimate national title contenders. This is Oregon basketball folks, and the only reason people around the country know anything about it is because of the players and teams Kent has assembled.

Conclusion: I understand that for every great season Oregon has had, there have been two disappo
inting ones to follow. That must change because Oregon can’t go into the new arena with a team that makes the tourney every two or three years. Let me know what you think about the Kent situation. I tried to be impartial and present both sides to the argument; I hope I was successful at doing so.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Cavaliers 97, Trail Blazers 92

I wish I could look at this game more rationally. I wish I could relish the fact that the Trail Blazers battled the Cavaliers, owners of the NBA's best record, into overtime on their home court. I wish I could put all of this in perspective, especially considering the Blazers were without two of their starters, including red-hot LaMarcus Aldridge. I can't. I don't like taking pride in moral victories. I have heard all of the doubts from around the NBA centered around the fact that Portland has struggled on the road against the upper echelon of the league and I badly wanted to place this one up on the mantle along with the wins in Orlando and New Orleans to show just how well this young franchise is developing. Sadly, the Blazers can only take a lesson or two from this victory, rather than taking a valuable win away from one of the toughest arenas in the league. But enough with the doom and gloom, the team has a lot to be proud of after tonight's game so let's take a look at some of the things that went right.

-The Blazers out-rebounded Cleveland by 10, even with one of their stronger rebounders on the bench with a concussion. Cleveland has the 4th best rebounding rate in the league this season, so beating them on the boards was quite a feat and helped them stay in the game from start to finish.

- Brandon Roy was excellent like always. He was being checked by Lebron often times, especially down the stretch, and he put up 24/7/7 while going 11-11 from the charity stripe. He didn't shoot particularly well (6-16), but he was aggressive in the face double teams and did all the little things to help the team compete without his #1 sidekick.

- The centers were solid tonight; they kept Lebron out of the highlight reels for the most part and generally controlled the paint well. Greg's attitude and energy were solid, although he rushed a few shots in the paint (as pointed out by Doug Collins roughly 67 times). Joel was a man as always, scoring 13 points to go along with his 11 rebounds in 35 tough minutes.

- Channing started and played 34 minutes with Aldridge out, and he chucked up shots early and often. He hit 7 of his 15 attempts, boosting us in key stretches in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. It's good to see him get a little bit of confidence. I wish he was a little tougher on D and on the boards but I guess Channing is what he is and he was certainly valuable to the team tonight.

- Travis was Travis, putting up plenty of the shots that make fans cringe but hitting enough of the big ones to warrant his 4th quarter go-to status. For all of the flack he catches from fans and media regarding his defense, I thought he did a respectable job on Lebron James, keeping him out of the paint for the most part until the overtime period when no one on the planet could have kept that freight train out of the lane.

- Was anyone else annoyed by Cleveland's act before the game? For those who didn't catch it, they had an entire choreographed routine centered around Lebron and company posing for imaginary photos. I like Lebron and Kobe Bryant generally gets on my nerves, but I couldn't help but think that even Kobe and the Lakers wouldn't act like that before a game at Staples, much less a professional team like San Antonio. Maybe its just sour grapes coming from a Blazer fan after a tough loss or maybe that's just what the Cavs have to do to get up for a game against a Western playoff contender on national TV. I was glad to see Joel, Brandon, and the rest of the crew focused and ready on the court waiting for the tip-off while this sideshow was going on.

All in all it was a disappointing loss but hopefully there is no hangover on Saturday as Portland tries to finish this 5-game trip with a winning record against Milwaukee. As always, thanks for reading and I look forward to reading your thoughts in the comments.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

NCAA Tourney: Possible First Round Upsets

It's that time of year again! Sports junkies and casual fans come together and go toe to toe to determine who is the king of the bracket. Many of you are probably like me, agonizing over your brackets, hashing and re-hashing all of the 5-12 match-ups along trying to decide who belongs in the final 4. I really shouldn't make some of these thoughts public record because I am sure my bracket will be an epic failure by noon on Friday, but it's all for fun and who knows, maybe I will get lucky this year and identify a few sleepers in this year's field. Please do not wager on these. I prepare for these picks by looking at stats, rankings, and by watching games, but nothing can replace those guy instincts so many of you feel around this time of year. Here are some of the possible first round upsets I think we could see this week.


#11 Temple over #6 Arizona State

I saw Arizona State and James Harden play several times this year while I have only seen Temple play one game, so this upset possibility is based more on statistics than on what I have gathered from the eyeball test. Temple has a better RPI, strength of schedule, and non-conference strength of schedule than Arizona State. Temple has won 10 of their last 12 games, while Arizona has won 8 of their last 12. Both teams are known for their zone defenses and they shoot almost identically from 3-point range, so that's a wash. Arizona St. does have a better scoring margin for the season, even when it is adjusted according to the competition. This makes me hesitate and I would advise you to with your gut on this pick, but remember that these teams are much more evenly matched than their seeds would indicate.

#11 Utah State over #6 Marquette

Utah State has been a solid team all year, albeit in a smaller conference. They take care of the ball extremely well, boasting one of the nation's stronger assist/turnover ratios. They beat Utah this year and lost a heart-breaker to BYU by five on a neutral floor. Marquette has struggled without Dominic James, losing 7 of their last 12 games down the stretch. Marquette is certainly battle-tested this year playing in the Big East, but they are undersized on the front line and Utah State has a 6'9'' forward named Gary Wilkinson who is averaging nearly 18 points per game. He could pose a problem for Marquette on the block.

#10 USC over #7 Boston College

USC was a fashionable pick to make a decent run in last years field until Kansas St. and Michael Beasley put to bed that nonsense in the first round. USC lost O.J. Mayo to the NBA but returns experienced players Taj Gibson, Daniel Hackett, and Dwight Lewis. Freshman DeMar DeRozan wasn't living up to the hype early in the season, but he looks to have turned a corner with his impressive play as of late. They weren't a tournament team however until they streaked to the Pac-10 tournament title last week. Boston College is a team that can beat anyone on any given day but struggles with consistency. They have wins over Duke, Florida St., and at North Carolina(!!!), but have lost to Miami twice, NC State, St. Louis, and Harvard (ouch). USC is ranked higher in almost every category including RPI, strength of schedule, adjusted scoring margin, and both non-conference RPI and SOS. Look for USC to ride their recent hot streak to a possible first round victory.

#12 Wisconsin over #5 Florida State

Wisconsin over Florida St. is more of an instinct pick compared to the others on this list. Florida St. has a much higher RPI than Wisconsin and has played better in their last 12 games, including a run to the ACC title game where they lost to Duke. If the game turns into a track meet look for Florida St. to roll, but Wisconsin could muddy up the waters and turn the game into a bruising, ugly slug-fest. The Seminoles rely heavily on their leading scorer, Toney Douglas, and if the Badgers can knock him off his game a bit, they should have a chance to keep the scoring low and possibility of an upset high.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

NFL Draft Prospects: Oregon State Beavers

Here is a rundown of Oregon State football players with a chance to hear their name called during the NFL Draft in New York on April 25th-26th. A few projections are provided along with some general thoughts on how these prospects will fit into the NFL's big picture.

Andy Levitre, OG

Levitre was considered a solid prospect throughout the 2008 season and is now considered anywhere from the 1st to 5th best guard prospect in this years draft. He started in 39 games throughout his career at right and left tackle, but his relatively short build has him projected as a guard at the next level. An All-American and All-Pac-10 first teamer in 2008, Levitre has also been labeled as a team leader and model student-athlete during his time on campus. Equipped with good strength and a knack for understanding blocking schemes, Levitre should be able to succeed inside at guard, covering up some of his weaknesses, namely his quickness and ability to play in space.

Projections: Both Scouts Inc. and NFLDraftCountdown grade him as a 2nd or 3rd round pick, and if he goes that high, the team who picks him is undoubtedly hoping he becomes a future starter.

Sammie Stroughter, WR

Stroughter has been a very productive receiver and return man for the Beavs during the past few seasons. He had a breakout year in 2006, amassing just under 1300 yards receiving. He was also a premier punt returned, scoring three touchdowns on punt returns, the most memorable being his 70-yard punt return for touchdown in upset win over USC. He earned third-team All America status that season as a punt returner. He missed most of 2007 due to personal issues and a lacerated kidney, but was granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA. Bouncing back in 2008, Stroughter once again had over 1,000 yards receiving, earning first-team All-Pac-10 honors as a wide receiver. Stroughter was a little underwhelming at the combine, running the 40-yard dash in the mid-4.5 range, which left some scouts questioning his ability to stretch the field with his vertical speed. Despite these questions, his quickness, versatility, and productivity could lead to his selection in April.

Projections: Scouts Inc. has him rated as a 5th round prospect, so hearing his name called on draft day is a possibility but not a certainty.

Keenan Lewis, CB

Lewis is a big corner with a ton of experience in the Pac-10, a league known for having teams with deadly passing attacks. He started 45 games in his career, and quieted some concerns about his high-end speed with a sub 4.50 40-yard dash time at Oregon State's pro-day. While this isn't an eye-popping number, it is solid with a corner of his size. He is a decent tackler and is adept at jamming receivers off the line. While some scouts tout his instincts and awareness, I have seen too many instances in which he loses the ball in the air and cannot react properly. He must work on this if he wants to become a long-term contributer in the NFL.

Projections: Most websites have him listed as the 10th-15th best CB in the draft and expect him to be picked in the 4th or 5th round.

Brandon Hughes, CB

Hughes is another experienced Beaver CB, starting 40 games after making the position switch from receiver early in his college career. He had a solid showing at the combine, putting up one of the top 40 times for a CB with a 4.50. Many still question his speed however and he doesn't have the size that projects to the NFL like his teammate Keenan Lewis, but many Beaver fans will tell you that they felt more comfortable when opponents threw to Hughes' side of the field than when they were airing it out in Lewis' area.

Projections: Projected at around #20 for CB, late round draft pick or undrafted free agent.

Other Prospects

Victor Butler, OLB, Slade Norris, DE, Al Afalava, S

These guys are rated as anything from a late round prospect to a possible undrafted free agent. Butler certainly possesses athleticism and pass-rush skills; he totaled 25.5 sacks during his career at OSU. The inevitable position change from DE to OLB will be tough, but he could get a chance to prove himself in some team's training camp workouts this summer. Norris had a good year opposite butler in 2008, but his workout numbers won't jump off the page, so expect him to go undrafted. Afalava is a safety who wasn't invited to the combine and while he was known for delivering the knockout hit on unsuspecting receivers throughout his career, he didn't show elite speed on the field. I am told that he impressed scouts with his speed at OSU's Pro Day, but I would look for him to go undrafted as well.

All in all this is a solid class of draft prospects for the Beavers coming off a 9-win season. Let's hope some of them can stick in the NFL and make a name for themselves playing on Sundays.


Monday, March 16, 2009

NBA's Best (top 7)

I have wanted to do a piece on what NBA star I would want on my franchise if I was starting a team. The constraint to this argument is that it’s just for one season, not who to build the franchise around for the long haul (clearly James would be the choice). Here are the players I would want on my team if I was making a championship run this season.

1. Kobe Bryant – Simply put, the best player in the game. Has everything in his arsenal; superior ball handling skills, ferocious defense, unlimited range, and the ability to get to the rim at will. I’m not putting Kobe on the same level as MJ quite yet, but he exhibits the same will to win that MJ had, and that is something you can’t teach.

2. LeBron James – James is certainly the future of this league (total dominance for the next decade), in the mean time being 1B to Bryant is nothing to complain about. James has the ability to make everyone on the court better (take a look at the roster). The NBA, or any pro sport for that matter has never seen and athlete with the speed, size, and power of a LeBron James.

3. Chris Paul – You could make the argument that Dwayne Wade should be #3, and I respect that. However Paul’s court vision is what sets him apart in this league. His supporting cast is nothing to get excited about, and any accolades they receive is due solely to Paul’s brilliance. On a side note, Paul doesn’t average 25 plus a night like the others listed, but lets be honest he could get 30 a night without breaking a sweat if he wanted to.

4. Dwayne Wade – What Wade is doing in Miami this season is nothing short of amazing. When your second best player is a broken down, washed up Jermaine O’Neal, and your team is in the playoff hunt, then you are doing something right. Wade has improved his overall game, and every night he is performing like he did in the 2006 NBA finals. If you don’t recall Wade single-handedly carried that team to the NBA championship over Dallas, while overcoming an 0-2 series deficit.

5. Dwight Howard – Howard is a bit of an enigma to me. One night the guy is getting 35 and 20, and the next 15 and 7. His level of consistency isn’t near the others on this list, however he is the most dominant big man in the league and gives the Magic the inside presence they so desperately need.

6. Deron Williams – An under rated player in my opinion, Williams has the overall game to possibly surpass Paul if this list were to come out two years from now. He is playing the John Stockton role in Utah to perfection, while having no Karl Malone sidekick anywhere in sight on that roster. When healthy, Williams is what makes the Jazz tick, and they could sneak up on the Lakers this year in the West playoffs.

7. Brandon Roy – “The Natural”, Roy’s game isn’t flashy, and it often looks like he is playing in slow motion. He has the blazers vying for home court advantage in the first round, and without him this team would be vying for the first pick in the NBA draft. This level headed star will be an All Star for the next decade, but unfortunately may never get the national attention he deserves because of his team first mentality.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

March Madness Begins

Many analysts across the country felt the Pac 10 was only a shell of the league it was last year. While the conference did lose first round talent such as OJ Mayo, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Jared Bayless, and the Lopez twins to the NBA, it was still able to get 6 teams into the NCAA tournament. USC got the conferences automatic bid after winning the Pacific Life Pac 10 tourney, something they had to do if they wanted to take part in March Madness. Washington, UCLA, ASU, California, and Arizona will also represent the conference in the NCAA tourney. Looking at the match-ups I feel the only them that will make it past the first weekend and into the Sweet Sixteen is Washington. The Huskies will be playing in Portland for the opening rounds, meaning the crowd will be extremely pro-Husky. What separates the league this year from last, is the inability of the other 5 teams (Washington aside) to make a deep tournament run. Stay tuned for more March Madness coverage.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Injury Woes in Blazerland

I sort of promised myself that I wasn't going to go here, but now I would like to touch on an issue surrounding our favorite NBA franchise. Along my stroll through the interwebs this week, I found Trail Blazer fans in a couple of places discussing the truth behind several players' injuries and the trust that the fans currently have in the organization regarding the reporting of injuries. Many are frustrated with the Greg Oden situation and now there are some whispers surrounding Rudy Fernandez and the injuries he suffered in the Laker game on Friday night. People wonder why these two aren't playing yet and it seems that some people feel like the organization is being dishonest and sugarcoating the details of these injuries. The team is in the thick of the playoff race right now, so I understand why fans are on edge and caught up on every detail surrounding their favorite team.

The questions surrounding the injury to Fernandez seem premature and a little paranoid to me. He took a pretty nasty fall following that dunk attempt last Friday. Thankfully the injuries were listed as relatively minor and the team announced that he would be evaluated on a day-to-day basis. It's only been a week and he has said he expects to play Sunday. If he does indeed play against Atlanta tomorrow, then the two games he missed would be in line with the signals that the organization was sending to the fan base. It seems unlikely that he will be on the shelf for much longer than that, so let's all give our rabbit's foot a little more attention tonight and thank our lucky stars that his injuries weren't more severe.

The Oden situation is a little more tricky than that. He banged knees with Corey Maggette on February 12, just before the All-Star break. The team talked Blazer fans down from the ledge by announcing that the chip in his knee cap was a minor injury and claimed he would be evaluated on a game by game basis upon the teams return from the break. The games came and went as fans grew more anxious awaiting Greg's return to the court. On March 2 the team announced that Oden had been evaluated and would be out for at least another 7-10 days. The media and fans began to take out some of their frustration on Greg himself, questioning the merit of his injury and also his desire to play and help the team win games. As it turns out, it was reported that the Blazers and their training staff knew at the time of Greg's injury that his symptoms could linger and keep him out for a month. This particular injury heals in different ways and there was always the possibility that Oden could miss significant time. As it turns out, this is exactly what happened.

It seems to be that the team would have been better served had they been more honest and forthright with the media and the fans from the start. If fans knew of the possibility that Greg's injury could take about a month to heal they would have been more discouraged initially, but the backlash felt by Oden could have been far less severe. Oden has proven he is a hard worker that will rehab relentlessly, doing whatever necessary to get back on the court and contribute.

Let's hope Greg is out there soon as Portland comes down the stretch and pushes toward that playoff berth that everyone in Portland so desperately wants.

Bellotti's Legacy Remembered

Let me start out by stating I am extremely bias towards Mike Bellotti, and consequently that affects how I will be recapping his career in this piece. Call it a blind trust if you will. I have never questioned his decisions on the gridiron, and have always stated that he leaves on his terms. To the shock of many, I have mentioned Bellotti in the same breath as Bowden and Paterno, college football legends. Bellotti built Oregon from the ground up, and made them a major player nearly every year on the job. Much like Bowden and Paterno, Bellotti’s image is larger than that of your typical head coach; he is the face of University of Oregon Athletics

I was not around during the Rich Brooks era, but every Saturday in the fall my eyes lay witness to the sign in Autzen that reads “Rich Brooks Field”. I have no quarrel with this symbol, however if Oregon named their field after Brooks, then the whole Oregon athletic department should be named in Bellotti’s honor this fall. Bellotti’s tenure at Oregon is the reason there are such high expectations throughout the whole athletic department. In his tenure, Bellotti regularly turned in top 25 finishes (5 of which were #12 or higher), entertained nationally ranked recruits, expanded Autzen, and built strong relationships with boosters and blue collar fans alike. In the beginning critics said, “Washington owns the Northwest; you can’t win at a place like Oregon”. Bellotti wanted no part of that nonsense, he quickly changed the culture of Oregon athletics and in the process stole everything the once proud Huskies had, and brought it down I-5 to Eugene.

The next phase of the “Bellotti Legacy” leads him to the Athletic Director position. He is the perfect hire for this position, leading by example and continuously raising the bar higher than it was the previous year. It will certainly be a different position for the coach, but without a doubt he will be able to adapt. Bellotti faced numerous challenges when he took the job at Oregon, but he faced all of them head on because failure was not an option in his book. I look for Bellotti to have that same mentality as the AD, Bellotti knows you can win at Oregon, he proved that season after season going 116-55 in his time roaming the sidelines. I expect all athletic programs at Oregon to accept this stance, because anything less will be unacceptable under his reign. Oregon football took a back to seat to no one under Bellotti, his teams were entertaining, his coaching style innovating, and his ability to motivate players was incredible. Coach, thank you for what you did, as well as what you are about to do.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Seahawks Mock Draft Rounds 1-3

The Seahawks are entering the 2009 draft from an unfamiliar position. The earliest pick they have owned entering the draft in the last five years is the 23rd selection. They fell from their perch atop the NFC West in 2008, finishing 4-12 and earning the 4th pick in this years draft. Using the picks they have to bolster the roster is imperative if they want to reclaim the division crown from the Arizona Cardinals.

Several team needs can be identified when analyzing the Hawk's current roster. Some younger, fresher legs at free safety would be nice to replace Brian Russell, who disappointed in 2008. A left tackle for the future would be great as well considering Walter Jones' age. Another cornerback or pass rusher would help slow down the passing attacks of division rivals like St. Louis and Arizona. Seattle helped fill some of these needs through free agency. They added WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (exciting), DT Colin Cole (exasperating), and re-signed OL Ray Willis (encouraging). This means they should be able to take the best player available rather than reaching for a player to fill a need. Let's go through the picks and look what I feel are some of the best case, worst case, and most likely scenarios to potentially unfold on draft day.


Pick #4

Best Case: I don't see a perfect fit for Seattle at the #4 pick this year, so trading down and adding another pick or two would be fantastic in my opinion. Unfortunately they will probably have trouble finding another team willing to trade up for the pick, as this year's draft appears to be a little thin on talent at the top. I think the pick is Eugene Monroe, the OT from The University of Virginia. He could become the perfect replacement for Big Walt when he decides to hang up his cleats and enter the Hall of Fame. Some might argue that Jason Smith from Baylor has the higher upside, but knowing GM Tim Ruskell's track record of drafting players with tons of experience from proven programs, I would bet on Monroe here. The reputation Virginia has developed as a school that produces good offensive tackles (D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Branden Albert) doesn't hurt either.

Worst Case: The Hawks pick up Chris Wells from Ohio State or some other such nonsense. I hate picking up RB this early and thankfully I think there is zero chance something like this happens.

Most Likely: Eugene Monroe. He is quite possibly the best fit and should be available.

Other Possibilities: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech or B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College


Pick #37

There are many more possibilities as we get to this point of the draft, so here is a list of guys I think could be good for Seattle here:

Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest
Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi
Max Unger, C/G, Oregon
Alex Mack, C, California
Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut
Patrick Chung, S, Oregon

A lot of these guys are projected first rounders but I think they would all be valuable to Seattle and I am betting that at least one if not several of these guys will be available at pick 37.

Best Case: Alex Mack. I realize Seattle just spent a first rounder on Chris Spencer a few years ago but he has been unimpressive thus far and Mack could be a starter for years at the center position.

Worst Case: Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech or Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma. Both of these guys have some red flags that would scare me and hopefully Ruskell as well.

Most likely: Max Unger, C/G, Oregon. Seattle gets another potential starter at C who might not be as good as Mack but could become a starter sooner rather than later.


Pick #68

This post is already really long so I will make this short and sweet. I really think there may be a few safety prospects available here that can step in and take the place of Brian Russell. Michael Hamlin from Clemson and Rashad Johnson from Alabama are possibilities but Hamlin feels like more of a Ruskell guy to me. He was a team leader in college, comes with loads of experience and has a high football IQ. Johnson might be rated a little higher by most teams but he has gotten into trouble off the field on a few occasions and Ruskell has shied away from guys like that in the past.

Other possibilities: Shonn Greene, RB, Iowa, Sen'Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn, Jairus Byrd, CB, Oregon.

Best Case and Most Likely: Michael Hamlin, S, Clemson

As always thanks for reading everyone and a special thanks to anyone who stuck with me and read this entire thing. Even if you enjoyed reading it I promise you I got more enjoyment out of writing it. Share your thoughts in the comments and be on the lookout for rounds 4-7 in the next couple of days.

Mike Bellotti Moves On

Rumor has it that Mike Bellotti has made the decision to step down after 14 seasons as the Oregon Ducks head football coach. While this cant be confirmed by the Athletic Department yet, stay tuned as I will certainly be paying Bellotti the respect he deserves once this becomes official. All Duck fan's should be excited about new head coach Chip Kelly, but Bellotti was an icon around these parts, and what he did for U of O athletics will be felt for years to come. Thank you Coach.

Oregon Pro Day Results

The Oregon Ducks held their pro day this week for NFL scouts, and here is a quick look at some of the results. Defensive End Nick Reed ran a stunning 4.71 in the 40, and benched 225 lbs. 24 times. Not bad numbers for a guy who wasn’t even invited to the NFL combine. Receiver Jaison Williams ran the fastest time of the day, a 4.47 forty, hopefully good enough to overcome his dismal week in Indianapolis last month. Other participants were Jeremiah Johnson (4.57), Jerome Boyd (4.53), and Terence Scott (4.56). Expect more to come about the Oregon prospects as the NFL Draft nears.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

ODEN vs DURANT

These two young players will forever be linked as the #1 and #2 picks of the 2007 NBA draft. While their young careers have certainly taken different paths up to this point, I was a proponent of the Blazers drafting Kevin Durant long before they selected Greg Oden #1 on that fateful June afternoon nearly two years ago. Of course you say, “Oh Tyler that is easy for you to say now after Oden has been hurt and Durant is averaging 25 plus”. However you would be wrong if you alleged that is how I came to this conclusion.

When the Blazers drafted Oden they saw a young big man with Patrick Ewing like shot blocking ability, and lift like a youthful Shaq. I too saw many of those things, but I also understood that drafting a big man on raw talent alone didn’t always pan out. I looked back at past draft selections like Michael Olowokandi, Kwame Brown, and Sam Bowie (sorry for bringing that up), and figured that the risk would not be worth the reward. You counter saying, Greg Oden lead his team to the Final Four, and lost to the mighty Gators, I say so what. Oden’s team had NBA players on it to, like Mike Conely Jr., and Daquan Cook. What Oden did in college was impressive, but by no means was he the lone piece that kept that ship afloat.

What Kevin Durant did in college was unbelievable. He wasn’t playing alongside future lottery picks, he single handedly lead that team to victory night after night without the supporting cast Oden had. Don’t get me wrong, Texas basketball has more talent than say a Washington State, but Durant was that team, and was the face of college basketball for the 2006-2007 season. It was evident to me that his game would translate nicely to the NBA. With a skill set similar to a 23 year old Tracy McGrady, his mark on the NBA would be felt within minutes of him taking the court. Maybe the Blazers expected Oden to turn into the next David Robinson, and I can’t completely fault them for that. All too often we pick the beautiful and crazy girl knowing that it will be fun for a few months, though truly understanding nothing will ever come of it. It should have been clear to many that Durant was going to be a perennial All Star, not on some “tickle me elmo” fad that lasts for a Christmas season. The Blazers however rolled the dice, and it bit them.

I understand Oden has been hurt, but honestly the Blazers have been a better team this season with Joel at the 5, and Oden playing his 20 foul prone minutes a game. I don’t believe the Blazers drafted Oden with the number one pick thinking “he is going to be a great hustle man in this league”. However if that was the case they should have committed their future to players like Udonis Haslem, Kenderick Perkins, Joe Smith, or Drew Gooden. All of whom have proven track records as “nose to the grind stone” type of players. While Durant is averaging 25 down in OKC, albeit on a bad team, Blazers fans have to honestly be asking themselves if their team made the right choice. Roy, Durant, LA and the crew sounds like a lineup that could win the west every year; while Roy, LA, and crew sounds like a franchise that is satisfied with hosting two playoff games every April or May.

Pop-Culture and Sports: Michael Jordan and The Godfather Trilogy

My mind works in very strange ways and I usually find myself daydreaming about sports or something else when I should be focusing on more important things. I also like to read stuff written by Bill Simmons, a popular writer for ESPN.com. He often takes different items from popular culture and relates them to sports in some way, and I find myself trying to come up with things like this. I guess part of me selfishly does it to try and get included in his mailbag someday, but another part of me just really likes being in that trance and blocking out whatever may be going wrong at the moment. So from now on when one of these pop-culture/sports comparison ideas hits me I think it might be decent or fun or entertaining or whatever, I will share it on the blog. Feel free to leave a comment telling me how interesting or awesome it is or how big of a tool I really am. Either way I would like to know what you guys think. So here is entry number one:

Michael Jordan and The Godfather Trilogy


Here are some of the reasons I feel these two can be compared:

- Michael Jordan is generally considered one of, it not the best basketball players to ever lace ‘em up. The Godfather Trilogy is generally considered one of the best cinematic accomplishments of all time. Parts I and II are ranked #2 and #3 on IMDB’s list of all-time highest rated movies. All of this is a simple comparison that probably needs no explanation for most people but I included it anyway.

- Michael Jordan’s first name is Michael. Michael Corleone, the lead character in the Godfather, is also named Michael. Simple. Let’s move on.

- This is where it gets fun. The Godfather Trilogy is made up of The Godfather Parts I, II, and III. Michael Jordan’s NBA career can also be split up into three distinct parts. Part one ran from 1984 to 1993. He then retired from the NBA for the first time. Part two ran from 1994 to 1998 when he retired for a second time. Part three ran from 2001 to 2003. This was the part when MJ came out of retirement again to play for the Washington Wizards.

- The three distinct parts of both the Godfather and Jordan’s career also share some similarities. The Godfather I was a huge success and won three Oscars. The first section of Jordan’s career was also incredible, including three NBA championships, three league MVP Awards and three NBA Finals MVP Awards. Lots of threes there. Strange but not earth shattering I suppose. The second sections of each are great as well. Both are right on par with the first sections in terms of greatness. MJ wins another three championships and Godfather wins six Oscars. The Godfather III is similar to Jordan’s stint in Washington. Neither could live up to the standard set forth by the previous two sections but people still loved to see them anyway. I would also argue that the sexual tension between Andy Garcia’s character and his cousin in part III was awkward and uncomfortable for people, just like seeing Jordan in anything other than a Bulls jersey.

- Another eerie comparison between the two: both Michaels must deal with the death of their fathers at the end of the first stages. Vito Corleone dies in the garden and Michael becomes the new Don of the family. Michael Jordan’s dad dies and Michael makes the switch to baseball. Kind of creepy.

So all of this explains why I feel Michael Jordan compares to the Godfather trilogy. I welcome you guys to add anything I missed in the comments. Give me something to waste time thinking about as finals are fast approaching.

Oregon Ducks PG, SG, and SF Preview

The Oregon Ducks finished their season Wednesday night in LA with a loss to the Cougars. As a Duck follower, this season was more agonizing to watch than any other I can recall. However when Thursday or Saturday night rolled around, I was always there in front of the TV or radio following this team till the bitter end. I don’t want to talk about the future of Coach Ernie Kent right now, his future will be evaluated by people much closer to the situation that I am. I will instead break down the team, position by position and give you my quick analysis of this team’s future.

Point Guard: Duck fans often like to blame Tajuan Porter for the team’s struggles. I understand he isn’t the ideal point or shooting guard, but I love the kid’s intensity and mindset. Tajuan wants to be the one to take the last shot, or have the ball in his hand at the end of the game, and I appreciate that. Most players don’t share the same will to win that Tajuan does. On a side note, Porter may end his career as the Ducks all time leading scorer, so maybe some duck fans should back off him a bit, he has done a lot for this program. Freshman Garrett Sim certainly tailed off toward the end of the season, but he has the potential to be the Ducks starting PG for the next 3 years. Kamyron Brown either needs to make great strides this off season, or find himself a seat next to the coaches. Brown’s development has been slow to non existent and his erratic play makes it hard for his teammates to get in any sort of a rhythm throughout the game.

Shooting Guard: Freshman Matthew Humphrey improved as the season progressed, and if that continues I find it hard to imagine he wouldn’t be vying for more minutes next fall. Humphrey reminds me of a more energetic Bryce Taylor, the emotion Humphrey shows on the court was clearly contagious in wins over Stanford and Oregon State. Junior to be LeKenderic Longmire was the teams best defender, and plays with an intensity I truly enjoy. While his offense is still raw, he shooting improved over last year, and I look for him to develop his ball handling skills this off season to make him a more complete player. Freshman Teondre Williams didn’t play much this year due to injuries, but his athleticism is second to none, and he has the potential to be a big time player for the Ducks next year. This group has an array of talented players; I think the big key at this position will be finding someone that can score consistently throughout the season instead of in a game here or there.

SF: The small forward position is one of great intrigue for the Ducks going into next season. Big time recruit Jamil Wilson from Wisconsin will be a contributor immediately. From what I have seen of him, he appears to have a good stroke, and bounce similar to that of an Alex Scales (I’m not just saying that because their both from Racine, Wisconsin). Drew Wiley came on strong at the end of the year, and he has the three point ability to really stretch a defense. Wiley must improve his own defense, and inside game but that should come with more time in the weight room this spring. Incoming freshman EJ Singler and Jeremy Jacob could also see minutes next year, although I would expect at least one of them to redshirt. Once again the small forward position will be young, but the talent is in place for years to come.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Mavericks 93, Trail Blazers 89

I don't really have a lot to say about this loss because it just ended and it was very painful. Portland struggles against Dallas for some reason and it frustrates me to no end. Seeing Dirk tug on his jersey in celebration on the Rose Garden floor makes me sick. I hope the Blazers take some things from this game however and come out ready to play on Friday against the Nets.

Thoughts.....

- Aldridge played well on both ends, especially defensively in the 2nd half. He seemed to be the most intense Blazer on the floor on a night when Brandon seemed unusually flat. I couldn't move for a good three minutes after that dunk over Dampier in the 3rd quarter, I was just too weak physically. Incredible plays paralyze me for some reason. It was the Best dunk of his career that I can remember.

- Outlaw picked up the scoring slack in the 4th quarter and he almost willed us to a win down the stretch. You almost never see Jason Kidd get his pocket picked like that during a crucial 4th quarter possession but Travis did it. His defense and intensity seem to be getting a little better.

- B-Roy looked a little off all game but he still put up 22 points and 6 assists. He did take 20 shots however and couldn't get it going like he usually does down the stretch of a close game. I suppose it happens. Forget it and move on.

-Przybilla was his usual self. He really has to cover up so many other people's defensive mistakes it's amazing he is in position for so many rebounds and avoids fouling out by the 2nd quarter. I love Joel.

- No one else really stood out to me too much. Batum played with good energy overall and did a reputable job on Kidd. Those blocks on the fast break just keep getting better and better. Steve Blake kept us in it with his shooting in the first half but I fear that all I will remember is that turnover he committed following the Outlaw steal at the end of the game. That hurt me. Frye had a few decent plays defensively but when Dallas was in that zone it would have been nice to get a couple of made shots from him on the perimeter. Sergio aired two threes and was generally uninspiring. Bayless didn't do anything worth mentioning that I can remember.


That game felt a little like a punch in the gut but Portland can't let this single loss become a losing streak, especially when facing a very winnable game against New Jersey in the garden on Friday night. I expect a bounce-back effort.

Beaver Season Recap

The Beavers season came to an end on Wednesday night, but the loss to Stanford certainly does not define this team’s season.Oregon State was picked last in the Pac 10 at the start of the year, and they exceeded any imaginable expectations Beaver Nation set forth before the year. With all the Beavers accomplished on the hardwood this year, the lasting effects of this season will be felt next October when they gear up for the 2009 campaign. This team returns nearly everybody, and Robinson has a top 25 recruiting class coming to Corvallis for the first time since Corey Benjamin laced them up for the Beavs.

The reason the Beavers experienced success this year was because they bought into Robinson’s system. Robinson was the first to admit his team was outmatched athletically nearly every time they took the floor, however his players accepted their roles and grew into them as the season progressed. The Beavers smothering 1-3-1 defense was able to keep them in games by slowing their opponent’s tempo this year. Scoring was where Oregon State struggled, and incoming recruits Roberto Nelson and Jared Cunningham should give the team an immediate shot in the arm on offense.

Big Rue returns to run the point/center position once again; if he can become a more physical presence on the inside the sky will be the limit for this talented European. Gunner Calvin Haynes should once again lead the team in scoring, and I’d imagine he will be scoring his points as a starter, not reserve next season. With valuable pieces such as Seth and Josh Tarver, Daniel Deane, and Lathan Wallace all coming back I expect the Beavs to make strong push for the postseason next year, with the NCAA tournament a real possibility. Beaver Nation hasn’t sniffed March Madness in nearly two decades, but if the Beavers progress like I expect them to, the March Madness dreams may come to fruition sooner than anyone ever expected.

Trail Blazers vs. Mavericks Preview

The Portland Trail Blazers welcome the Dallas Mavericks into the Rose Garden tonight in a battle of Western Conference playoff contenders. Portland is sitting in 5th place in the tight conference race while Dallas is in 8th, but the teams are only separated by a game and a half. Portland really needs this win to keep pace in the West and Dallas is undoubtedly looking to build on a win in Phoenix last night. There are some good and bad things to consider for Portland when dissecting this game. The good news for the Trail Blazers is that they have been impressive at home all year and even more devastating on the home court as of late. The bad news is that Dallas has owned Portland in the last few years and they are one of only five teams to win in the Rose Garden this year. The Blazers should win this behind the rowdy Blazer faithful, but a let-down following the big win over the L@k*rs on Monday night is a definite possibility. Let’s look at some of the keys to the game:


- The Blazers need to come out with energy early and often. The Mavs are coming off a game last night in Phoenix and their tired legs should be no match for the younger, fresher Blazers.

- Nowitzki is obviously the lynchpin of the Dallas attack and keeping him relatively in check will be a key to Blazer victory. Teams have great success when they can limit Dirk to under 20 points. The Blazers accomplished this in their loss at Dallas last month but still lost by five. I will take my chances if the Blazer defense can manage to do this again on the home floor.

- Portland needs to establish dominance inside like they did against the Lakers on Monday night. Dirk is not a banger and Dampier is slow and foul-prone. I like it when Portland looks for Przybilla in the offense even if he isn’t the most dynamic scorer. Forcing the Dallas defense to worry about the paint should give the Blazer shooters plenty of open looks.

- Outlaw, Batum, and Przybilla need to rebound on both ends of the floor. Przybilla always does this and Batum will usually try to get involved on the boards, but Outlaw needs to scrap for second-chance opportunities and defensive rebounds as well. LaMarcus Aldridge will most likely be paired up with Nowitzki, whose perimeter game should neutralize much of Aldridge’s ability to get rebounds.

Overall Blazer fans should be hoping for intensity and passion from both the players and the crowd as the team tries to get a game from another playoff contender. A let-down after the L@k*r game is possible but coming down the stretch of the season the Blazers need to realize that EVERY game is important and play accordingly. A loss tonight would erase a lot of the good feelings from Monday’s thumping of K*be and Lake Show.

Prediction: Blazers 102 Dallas 95

2009 Mariners Outlook: Erik Bedard

Over the next few weeks I will be breaking down the Mariners roster as I try to forget the painful memories of the 2008 season. The Mariners should be improved, but it will take a magnificent turnaround to completely destroy the stench created from a year ago (a stench made worse by the Sonics debacle, the Seahawk's injury woes, and Washington's ineptitude during the 2008 Pac-10 football season. If you run into a Seattle sports fan on the street, give him a hug.) I will be going through and previewing some of the Mariners’ key players for 2009 and giving you a little preview of what you might expect this year. First up is everyone's favorite Canadian, Erik Bedard!

Erik Bedard:

The Erik Bedard trade before the 2008 season was supposed to make the Mariners contenders by giving them two front line starting pitchers. Obviously hindsight is 20/20, but I was opposed to this trade from the moment it happened. I didn’t want the Mariners give up such a good package of players for someone who no one else appeared to be bidding on and who could leave in free agency in a couple of years. I am also very high on Adam Jones, the CF prospect in the center of the Orioles’ package. He Seattle also gave up George Sherrill along with three minor league pitchers to get their hands on Bedard. Chris Tillman, one of the minor league pitchers that went to Baltimore in the deal, had a great year in the Orioles farm system and now looks like a possible future #2 or #3 starter. All of this negativity aside, there is one huge positive for the Mariners in all of this; Erik Bedard can pitch! No matter how you slice it, Bedard was good in 2006 and even better in 2007. Old-School fans with an appreciation for traditional statistics should have liked Bedard’s 2007 campaign. He went 13-5 on a Baltimore team that lost 93 game. He also posted a 3.16 ERA and a whopping 221 strikeouts. The nerds who play in their table-top simulation games in Mom’s basement were also impressed by Bedard’s 2007 campaign (BTW, I am pretty much a perfect fit in this category). The advanced stats showed that Bedard was worth an estimated 5.4 runs to the Orioles in 2007. This ranked him 6th in the league just behind names like Sabathia, Halladay, and Beckett. So what did all these good feelings lead to in 2008? A year that saw Bedard hampered by injuries and the Mariners out of the race in May. He was hurt much of the season so he only made 15 starts and pitched just 81 innings. If he can return to anything close to his 2006 or 2007 form however, it would ease much of my pain from the trade and 2008 season.

Bedard Projection:

Stephen’s Dream Scenario: 30 starts, 185 IP, 200 K, a K/BB over 3.5, and GB% in the high 40s…pretty much his 2007 campaign in Baltimore.

Worst Case Scenario: see 2008 only more injured and less effective. I just threw up.

Likely Scenario: ~25 starts, 140 IP, 150 K, and a K/BB ratio around 2.5. I want Adam Jones back.

Coach of the Year Controversy?

The Pac 10 handed out their end of the season awards this week, and one name many Beaver fans expected to see was head coach Craig Robinson as Pac 10 Coach of the Year. Washington’s Lorenzo Romar got the honor instead, after his team won their first conference title since 1985, leading the Huskies to a 14-4 conference record. What Robinson has done at Oregon State in less than 12 months is nothing short of a miracle. Last year they finished 0-18 and were competitive in only a handful of games. With essentially the same lineup the Beavers finished this year with a 7-11 record, and were ready for action in nearly every game.
With that said, I understand why the coaches did not vote Robinson in for the award. His team certainly improved over the year, and his 1-3-1 zone troubled every coach in the Pac on a weekly basis. However the bottom line is that his team finished 8th in conference, and regardless of how much the Beavers improved, 8th place is still 8th place. If Robinson stays in Corvallis for the long haul, Beaver Nation could be in for something special. With a recruiting class that includes a couple of four-star recruits in Roberto Nelson and Jared Cunningham, the Beavers will have talent like they haven’t seen since the Payton era. Robinson accomplished what many Beaver foes have long feared, he has “Rallied the Legend”, and brought life and excitement back into a depleted fan base. Robinson may have missed out on the Coach of the Year award this year, but his time will no doubt come.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Pacific Life Pac 10 Tourney Predictions

Wednesday Games:
#8 Oregon State vs. #9 Stanford – It’s extremely difficult to beat a team three times in a season, and OSU will find that out the hard way.
#7 Washington State vs. #10 Oregon – Oregon hasn’t been competitive against the Cougs all season, little will change in a Cougar blowout.

Thursday Games:
#4 ASU vs. #5 Arizona – The Wildcats need a win to secure their spot in March Madness, but Harden and company will be to much once again for Jordan Hill and crew.
#1 Washington vs. #9 Stanford – The Huskies will blow away the hapless Cardinal, behind All Leaguers Brockman and Dentmon.
#3 California vs. #6 USC – USC has the talent to win this game, but Cal is a better team top to bottom.
#2 UCLA vs. Washington State – The Bruins will be looking for revenge after WSU knocked them out of at least a share of the conference title with a win at Pauley last month.

Friday Games:
#1 Washington vs. #4 ASU – The Huskies beat the Sun Devils twice in the regular season. ASU looks to change that trend, and they knock off the regular season Pac 10 Champions.
#2 UCLA vs. #3 Cal – UCLA’s defense will bother the Cal three point shooters, and the Bruins will move on to the Championship round behind the All-American play of point guard Darren Collison.

Championship game:
#2 UCLA vs. #4 ASU – While UCLA didn’t win the regular season conference title for the first time in three years, a conference tournament championship will have to do as they look to enter March Madness on a high note.

Pac 10 Football Preview

2008 ended with USC once again claiming its 7th consecutive Conference Championship, as well as Oregon State Coach Mike Riley and freshman running back Quizz Rodgers winning both Conference Coach/Player of the Year awards. With the conference coming off a 5-0 bowl season, the PAC 10 looks to be one of the premier conferences, in my opinion. Here is a brief overview of each team, and where I anticipate them finishing the 2009 season.

1. USC – The loss of Mark Sanchez hurts the offense as Coach Pete Carroll expected him to return for his senior season, but a number of 5 star recruits will compete for his vacated spot. The defense graduated numerous stars, but the return of All American Safety Taylor Mays should enable the defense to pick up where it left off last year. USC plays at Ohio St. early in the year which would be challenging. I feel USC will without doubt win the PAC once again, and should challenge for a spot in the National Championship if they approach every game with the same intensity as they do “big” games.

2. California – Every year people say this could be the year Cal knocks off USC…well its not going to happen, but second place isn’t bad as the Bears look to build on a 9 win season. Running back Jahvid Best is the best player in the Conference, and could be a dark horse for the Heisman. The defense lost a lot in the front seven, but Cal has accumulated the talent to reload, not rebuild. “Strawberry Canyon” is undergoing a much needed face lift, which could give the Bears even a great home field advantage.

3. Oregon – Jeremiah Masoli came on strong at the end of last year, and teamed with LaGarrette Blount (temporarily suspended) the offense is capable of putting up 50 points any given Saturday. The defense lost some key play makers, and the uncertainty of Mike Bellotti’s future could mess with team chemistry. With all the big games in rowdy Autzen Stadium this year, Oregon should once again finish with a 10 win season regardless of who is at the helm.

4. Oregon State – Player of the Year Quizz Rodgers returns along with brother James, forming the most explosive duo in the PAC without question. Lyle Moevao is a senior and the conference title is often decided by Quarterback experience, which he has. The defense lost the entire secondary, and All Conference performers on the D-Line. Coach Mike Riley's team should get off to a better start this year, and that could mean big things because OSU always plays there best come seasons end.

5. Stanford – With the return of Tavita Pritchard and Toby Gerhardt the Cardinal should surprise a few teams this year, and contend for a bowl for the first time since 2002. Coach Jim Harbaugh landed the 2nd rated recruiting class this year in the PAC this year, and there is reason for optimism on “The Farm” this year. He had them headed for bowl contention last year, until the wheels fell off in the later part of the season.

6. ASU – Ranked Pre-season top 10 last year, and then a 5-7 finish isn’t exactly what Coach Dennis Erickson had in mind. 4 year starter Rudy Carpenter is gone, as are many from the offensive side of the ball, but a change of scenery may be a good thing down in Tempe as they have underachieved for the better part of a decade. Much of the defense returns, and playmakers are a plenty down in the desert.

7. Arizona – Coach Mike Stoops directed Arizona to their first bowl since 1998, and it’s a good thing because the heat was on after 5 underwhelming seasons at the helm. This years team losses quarterback Willie Tuitama, but returns an array of skill position players, headlined by All American tight end Brad Gronskowski. Coach Stoops may need this team to be playing post Christmas in order to keep his job in Tucson.

8. UCLA – Any type of offense this year would be an improvement over what Bruin fans witnessed last year. I believe Coach Rich Nuehisel will have this team contending for the conference in a few years, but as of now the talent or chemistry isn’t there for them to be a factor in the postseason. With spots 5 through 7 crowded in the conference, maybe they will spoil another teams postseason dreams, because their own are non existent.

9. Washington – After a miserable season finishing 0-12 and being the only winless team in college football change was needed, that change come in the form of giving the ax to Ty Willingham and bringing in “The Shark” Steve Sarkisian from USC. The Shark was able to convince numerous USC assistants to travel North with him to Seattle and instill energy back into a depleted fan base. The Shark does inherit Tim Tebow 2.0 in Jake Locker, but he doesn’t have much help in the Emerald City. Husky Stadium will come alive in the near future, just not this September as they host LSU, and USC.

10. Washington State – Never has there been a more over matched team in the history the PAC 10 as the Cougs were last year. Giving up 60 plus points 5 times, and being out of games immediately following kickoff made for a dreary winter up in the already chilly Palouse. A late season miracle win over Washington eased some of the pain, but the roster is completely void of anything resembling football talent, as second year Coach Paul Wulff has a long road to hoe in order to get the Cougs back to respectability.

Oregon Ducks Football Preview: Skill Positions

The Oregon Ducks certainly have momentum going into 2009 season after a strong finish to the 2008 campaign. Here is a brief look ahead at where the Oregon offense looks to be headed entering the 2009 season.

Quarterback:

It took nearly half of the season last year, but the Ducks finally found what they were looking for in sophomore QB Jeremiah Masoli. Masoli struggled in the early part of the year, but took control of the offense in a fourth quarter comeback against Stanford and never looked back. After that memorable 4th quarter drive against the Cardinal, Masoli lead his team to three very impressive offensive performances, and the Ducks finished the season in the top 10. It would appear Masoli will be entrenched as the starter entering the spring. He does however have worthy competition in juniors Nate Costa, Justin Roper, and possibly sophomore Darron Thomas, although the Ducks would like to redshirt him after burning his redshirt last year in the loss to Boise State.
Conclusion: Oregon appears to be in good hands with Masoli under center. If he can continue to build on what he did in his last four games then Masoli, then the sky is the limit in terms of what this team can accomplish going into 2009. Remember that it took Dennis Dixon 5 years to show the potential that Masoli did in a half season under the helm. Masoli must gain more confidence in his arm, because running 127 times again may be to much to ask.

Grade: A-


Running Back:


Senior LaGarrette Blount has been suspended indefinitely by the team, and if he can get things in order it would appear that he will be the Ducks workhorse entering the 2009 season. Blount does provide the thunder, but lightning counterpart Jeremiah Johnson has departed, and Oregon needs to find another back that can help ease the pain of his graduation. Senior Andre Crenshaw, and Junior Remene Alston do return, and have game experience in the Pac 10. It is yet to be seen as to whether one of them can fill Johnsons void, but Texan Freshman LaMichael James wowed the scout team last year and could be the ideal compliment to Blount with his blazing speed and stop on a dime jukes.
Conclusion: Blount set a school record with 17 touchdowns last year, and rushed for over 1,000 yards. Oregon has had its best teams however when there is a two headed monster in the backfield, look for James or possibly Crenshaw to fill the void left by Johnson and spell Blount for a few series each game.

Grade: B


Wide Receivers:

With Jaison Williams and Terrance Scott both graduating, the Ducks are looking to gain more consistency at the receiver position this spring. By no means is the cupboard bare, but much of the talent is unproven and young. Junior Jeffrey Maehl returns as the most experienced player, with 39 receptions and a team leading 5 touchdowns. Others expected to contend for starting spots are Juniors Drew Davis and USC transfer Jamere Holland. Davis and Holland have the physical tools to make a big time impact, but Davis suffered a torn ACL last year, while Holland has been slow to pick up the playbook. Quarterback turned receiver Chris Harper could be the wild card of the group, as he has the athleticism and size to give defensive coordinators nightmares whenever he lines up in the slot.
Conclusion: Similar to the last the start of last season the Ducks receiving corp once again has many questions to answer. If either Davis or Holland can emerge as a big play threat them the offense has the potential to be more explosive than last season. That however has yet to be seen by either of them.

Grade: C