ESPN Insider Blue Ribbon PAC 10 Previews

[Hache Man]

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
Marshawn Lynch and Cal are focused on a run at the Pac-10 title.
Pacific Heights
Is this the year USC gets knocked off the Pac-10 throne? Will Marshawn Lynch lead a Cal coronation? Or will Arizona State's QBs place the Devils next in the line of succession? Blue Ribbon knows.

[Hache Man]

Updated: Aug. 2, 2006, 6:25 AM ET
Team preview: Arizona



Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook

Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 119 Division I-A teams. To order the complete 2006 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255). (All information as of July 1, 2006) Arizona Wildcats LOCATION Tucson, Ariz. CONFERENCE Pac-10 LAST SEASON 3-8 (.273) CONFERENCE RECORD 2-6 (8th) OFF. STARTERS RETURNING 7 DEF. STARTERS RETURNING 9 NICKNAME Wildcats COLORS Red, Blue & White HOME FIELD Arizona Stadium (56,002) COACH Mike Stoops (Iowa '86) RECORD AT SCHOOL 6-16 (2 years) CAREER RECORD 6-16 (2 years) ASSISTANTS • Mike Canales (Utah State '84), Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks • Mark Stoops (Iowa '89), Defensive Coordinator/Secondary • Dana Dimel (Kansas State '86), Tight Ends • Kasey Dunn (Idaho '92), Running Backs • Tim Kish (Otterbein '76), Linebackers • Joe Robinson (LSU '85), Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Ends • Mike Tuiasosopo (Pacific Lutheran '89), Defensive Line • Charlie Williams (Colorado State '82) , Wide Receivers • Eric Wolford (Kansas State '94), Offensive Line TEAM WINS (last five yrs.) 5-4-2-3-3 FINAL RANK (last five yrs.) 59-69-90-75-85 2005 FINISH Lost to Arizona State in regular-season finale. 2006 Schedule | 2005 Results | 2005 Statistics COACH AND PROGRAM More than two years ago now, Mike Stoops left, at the time, the premier program in the country in Oklahoma for a program in absolute shambles in Arizona. It's a tribute to Stoops and his staff that Arizona has avoided the Pac-10 cellar in each of his two seasons, given the fact they inherited a team that lost 10 of its last 11 games in 2003. But the rebuilding process, while certainly nowhere near concluded, needs to take that next step and this season, it's time for Arizona to at least compete for a bowl bid. If the Wildcats fall short at 5-7, with three Pac-10 wins, so be it, but even that would constitute significant progress. Inside the Pac-10 Take an Inside look at the Pac-10 with Blue Ribbon's 2006 team reports: Arizona Wildcats Arizona State Sun Devils California Bears Oregon Ducks Oregon State Beavers Stanford Cardinal UCLA Bruins USC Trojans Washington Huskies Washington State Cougars Last season, like the one before, Arizona finished 3-8, 2-6 in the conference, with several close losses. In both campaigns, there were some one-sided defeats, too. But though it doesn't show on paper, the Wildcats improved tenfold in 2005, losing by a touchdown or less to Purdue, Stanford, Oregon and Arizona State. They also trailed USC by a score in the fourth quarter before succumbing 42-21. And of course -- on Nov. 5 in Tucson -- Arizona produced arguably one of the two or three most-stunning scores of the college football season: Arizona 52, UCLA 14. That still looks like a misprint. UCLA was undefeated and ranked No. 7 in the nation at the time, while the Wildcats had earned their first Division I-A win of the season a week earlier at Oregon State, 29-27. But the jubilation over that victory was short-lived. Following on its heels was easily the most disappointing performance in Stoops' two-year tenure. Visiting Washington, winless in the conference, last-place Washington, defeated Arizona, 38-14. "The way the kids play says a lot about who we are," Stoops said. "To me, we played the worst game in Arizona football history against Washington. I don't ever want to take anything away from Washington -- they physically beat us up and down the field -- but that's something that still lingers with me. I don't like the way we presented ourselves on the field. That is not who we are. I can really say we did not present ourselves the way we're capable of doing." Overall, though, Stoops felt good about his second season. "It was a good 3-8 season, if that makes sense," he said. "I was happy with how we competed." Count on Stoops to be as honest as any coach in the country when sizing up his own team. "We were a few plays away from winning a bunch of games, but at the same time, make no mistake, we have a lot of ground to make up," Stoops said. "We see the signs that we're close and the kids understand it takes time and that we have to stop beating ourselves to win those games. It's hard with a young team." "It's very difficult to learn how to win. It's very difficult not being selfish. We just haven't been mature enough, and often times, we're too selfish to win football games. We will overcome that." "We feel like we've closed the gap on the conference, but there's still a lot of space between us and most of the other teams. But we've closed that gap. Winning those close games, winning more games in general, that's the last piece of the puzzle." With 18 starters back, nine on each side, and strong special teams intact, this could be the transition year every program needs to leave mediocrity behind. The learning curve, for Stoops and his players, seems officially concluded, and it's hard to imagine Arizona, at least under Stoops, ever suffering through another three-win campaign. QUARTERBACKS Last year more than 5,000 words were written about the Wildcats in this publication. And not even two of them were Willie Tuitama (6-3, 218). Thing is, outside of recruiting lists, his name wasn't mention in any other season previews, not even the one offered from Arizona itself, for the simple reason he was expected to redshirt, run the scout team and begin the maturation process of acclimating to college life and learning the offense. That plan lasted until Oct. 22, though, as Tuitama was summoned from the bench in a loss to Oregon in hopes of transforming an offense that was practically on life support. While his comeback effort fell short, 28-21, the then 18-year old completed 18-of-34 passes for two touchdowns and 182 yards. It was obvious within a few series that afternoon that barring injury, it would be some time before another quarterback earned the starting assignment at Arizona. The following week, on the road, in the rain, Tuitama led the Wildcats to their first Division I-A victory of the season, throwing for 336 yards and two scores in a 29-27 victory over Oregon State. And then came the stunner of the college football season seven days later in Tucson, as Arizona throttled previously undefeated UCLA, 52-14, behind 204 yards and two more touchdown passes from the freshman. It marked the first time Arizona had won back-to-back conference games since Bill Clinton was president. Here's the scoop, though: The kid was more or less just playing on instincts, rarely using his athletic ability within an offense simplified to its most basic form. This season, never mind next and 2008, it's hard to even place a ceiling on him. "Willie was a little bit of a surprise, sure, you just don't see a true freshman quarterback perform like he did at this level," Stoops said. "You can't expect the success he had -- no one could've." "But he has a long way to go in his maturity. Last season was all natural instincts, but he has the leadership skills needed and he performed admirably. Think about it, two weeks before his debut he was running the scout team. He has just scratched the surface. Also, the other kids respond well to him. We haven't had that guy here capable of leading, one that had the confidence Willie has in his abilities." Despite starting just four games and playing five, Tuitama threw for 1,105 yards, nine touchdowns and only five interceptions, three of which came in the Washington disaster. He also completed 57.7 of his 142 passes. Not much of a runner, although he avoids the rush well in the pocket with a variety of jukes, Tuitama is expected to run more of the Arizona playbook this fall as third-year offensive coordinator Mike Canales more or less threw his schemes in the desk drawer once the promotion was made. "Absolutely, we very much simplified the offense for Willie, we shrunk formations, limited our packages, I mean, we had no choice, he had barely had a grasp for the basics," Canales said. "We have so many more options this year, we've really stepped up his understanding of our offense and this spring, I thought he really showed leaps and bounds in reading defenses. We think this will give us the ability to move the ball downfield, open up the running game. Once Willie came in last season, we averaged 100-plus yards more of total offense and 14 more points a game." With Tuitama all but a guaranteed lock to start the remainder of his days on campus, last year's first half starter, Richard Kovalcheck, transferred to Vanderbilt and because he was able to graduate in three years at Arizona, he's eligible to play this season. He has two years of eligibility remaining and is expected to vie for Vanderbilt's starting job. As for Tuitama's backups, seniors Adam Austin (6-3, 217) and Kris Heavner (6-2, 230) are likely two and three, respectively, on the depth chart. Austin, a former walk-on, knows the offense inside and out and should be a valuable commodity in tutoring Tuitama, while Heavner returns to the program after taking a season off to concentrate on pitching for the Wildcats' baseball team. He has 14 career starts and threw for 1,501 yards as a true freshman in 2003. There's a chance Heavner could redshirt as well. "We have a young guy who we feel can take this program to new levels, a guy like Adam who will push Willie and who we feel very comfortable playing, and then a guy like Kris Heavner who started six games for us our first year," Stoops said. However, while depth is nice, Arizona is hopeful this season will conclude a three-year run of changing starting quarterbacks in midseason. "Willie will be a stronger player mentally and physically than he was a year ago," Stoops said. "He made a lot of young mistakes -- totally natural -- last year, but I look for him to be a much more polished player. "He played a lot on adrenalin and instincts last year, and I look forward to him being a much more complete player. He was able to rally the team around him and help our numbers jump when he came in." RUNNING BACKS While the offense lost just two full-time starters from the latter stages of last season, one was workhorse tailback Mike Bell, who racked up nearly 1,200 yards of total offense in 2005. But Stoops and Canales are optimistic that several players, each with better wheels than Bell, are primed for increased duty. It's worth mentioning that Arizona also graduated backup tailback Gilbert Harris, who rushed for 284 yards and five touchdowns on 79 carries. As for this season, the all but guaranteed starter for the season-opener against BYU on Sept. 2 is junior Chris Henry (6-0, 215), who finished with 119 yards on 34 attempts (3.5 yards per carry) last season. Among the faster players on the team, despite his linebacker-like build, Henry was the California CIF-State 100-meter champion in 2003. The bulk of his yards last season came in the UCLA upset, including a career-high 21-yard run in the fourth quarter. "Chris is fast, and he's our sole guy back there going into the fall," Canales said. "He's our best receiver in the backfield, too, and we want to use him in different ways, get the ball into his hands so he can make things happen." While a pair of redshirt freshmen, in Xavier Smith (5-11, 196) and the heavily recruited Terry Longbons (5-11, 200), should see some spot action, the primary goal entering the season is getting the ball into the hands of Henry around 20 times a game. "Replacing a Mike Bell and a Gilbert Harris at running will be a main focus," Stoops said. "I think we have more speed in the backfield than we ever have. Those guys are game-breakers and can take the ball the distance and we will have a chance to be much faster." "I don't think we've seen the real Chris Henry yet. Now that you're looked at as 'the guy,' I hope that changes his mindset. He's not the No. 3 guy, he's the No. 1 guy. Chris has at times shown great maturity. You look for consistency. It's not a rollercoaster. You come out every day with an attitude that 'this is how it's done and this is how I'm going to do it.' That's something I think Chris has learned." As a team, Arizona rushed for barely 1,300 yards last season, almost 700 less than its opponents. Look for that statistic to be closer to even in 2006. Also, among the No. 1 goals for Canales this season is getting the running backs more involved in the passing game. At fullback, sophomore Brandon Lopez (6-1, 224), a converted linebacker, took over midway through last season and while he won't see many, if any, carries, he has soft hands and could become a nice fallback option for Tuitama. A tough blocker and solid special teams player, Lopez will be supported by true freshman Earl Mitchell (6-2, 250) of North Shore High School in Houston. WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS While Arizona expects to compete for a bowl bid this season, none of the expected starters among the skill positions this season will be seniors. And at receiver, like quarterback and perhaps even tight end, the No. 1 option is a sophomore. Diminutive Michael Thomas (5-8, 173) earned freshman All-American honors last season behind 52 receptions for 771 yards and five scores. In the process, he set a slew of school freshman records, too. He wasted zero time making his presence felt, with seven catches for 92 yards and a touchdown in the season-opener at Utah. The connection between Tuitama and Thomas didn't take much time to gel, either, the duo hooking up four times for 162 yards in the upset of Oregon State in Tuitama's first start. Thomas impressed all by taking the field in the season finale against Arizona State wearing a cast. And while he doesn't have ideal size, he's a solid route runner with speed to lose cornerbacks and even safeties. "Mike and Willie, there's a natural bond there," Canales said. "They've been working out with each other all spring and planned on doing so during the summer. Those two are joined at the hip. We want to get the ball in Mike's hands this year. For a freshman receiver, never mind being 5-8, to have those numbers is impressive." It's not certain who the No. 2 wide-out will be, but it's probably not a huge deal considering the candidates, senior Syndric Steptoe (5-9, 182) and junior Anthony Johnson (6-2, 205), produced similar numbers last season. Steptoe, the team's primary kick and punt returner, hauled in 37 passes for 493 yards and a touchdown, while Johnson finished with 32 catches for 419 yards and three scores. Both are solid. Johnson is the better athlete with ideal size and Steptoe possesses breakaway speed that's capable of stretching the field. Others in the receiver mix include junior B.J. Dennard (5-11, 194), who has also seen time at cornerback, and sophomore Bobby McCoy (6-1, 182). Stoops said of Dennard, "We need to get him more involved (this season)," while Canales singled out McCoy as the surprise of the spring season. At tight end, senior Brad Wood had 27 receptions for 304 yards, which represented the second-highest totals for a tight end in school history. A knee injury suffered in the season finale against Arizona State kept him out of action this spring and while he's expected back by August, he might have fallen to No. 2 on the depth chart. The reason for that is sophomore Travis Bell (6-6, 235) already has solid pass-receiving skills and athleticism. If his blocking improves enough so he isn't a detriment on running plays, he should see plenty of action. Junior Brandyn McCall (6-4, 246) suffered a season-ending injury in the 2005 opener and should also vie for playing time. OFFENSIVE LINE Until Stoops inserted Tuitama after the midway point of last season, the offensive philosophy during his brief tenure was more or less, let's not make any mistakes, hope our defense can keep it close, catch a break on special teams, win 20-17. Make no mistake, Stoops and Canales weren't enjoying themselves during this stretch, but they had no choice. The program Stoops inherited simply didn't have enough talent, especially at quarterback, for any other method. That was then, though, and this season the plan is going to change dramatically. "We want to attack, attack and attack some more, we're not going to be afraid of making mistakes any longer, we need to score some points," Canales said. And while, obviously, some of that confidence stems from having more speed in the backfield, betters receivers and tight ends and Tuitama to pull the trigger, the experienced o-line is a reason for that optimism, too. Arizona not only returns its entire starting unit here, but in multiple instances, No. 2 on the depth chart entering August practice may be more viable options come September, October and beyond. "For the first time, I think we have a chance to put two lines on the field that have really quality players across the board," Stoops said. "We're going to have the best competition we've had since we've been here. We're going to have some quality depth." The likely anchor of this unit is junior tackle Peter Graniello (6-5, 296), who earned All-Pac-10 honorable mention honors last season and was a second-team Freshman All-American selection in 2004. He should be among the top three or four tackles in the conference this season. The other tackle is senior Tanner Bell (6-8, 294), who started all 11 games last season and is the healthiest he's been since arriving at Arizona. In the middle, senior Erick Levitre (6-1, 282), a former walk-on, earned the starting job last August and was solid throughout, while the starting guards are senior Adam Hawes (6-4, 302) and sophomore Joe Longacre (6-3, 303). Both can also play tackle, and there's likely to be some movement if redshirt freshman Daniel Borg (6-5, 270) proves the real deal at guard. He was Arizona's high school Gatorade Player of the Year in 2004 and is still maturating physically. Others expected to see significant playing time up front include sophomore guard Bill Wacholz (6-6, 294) and redshirt freshmen tackles Eben Britton (6-6, 280) and Adam Grant (6-6, 258). KICKERS In the spring game, senior Nick Holt (6-1, 215) launched a 62-yard field goal between the uprights. This kid has a legitimate NFL leg, which he proved twice last season. He would've also led the Pac-10 in punting last season if he had enough attempts to qualify. About to become a four-year starter, Holt's current career-long is 53 yards. Last season, he was 7-of-11 on field goals (two were blocked) and 31-of-33 on extra points. His kickoffs are also among the best in the country, with 38 touchbacks in 53 efforts. "Nick is great, he has a ridiculously strong leg, he's a senior, been kicking here since his freshman year, and if our offense gets inside the 40, we can get points," Stoops said. DEFENSIVE LINE Last season, Arizona, at least statistically, was among the upper tier defenses in the Pac-10, fourth in total defense and fifth in scoring defense. That performance, plus some offseason improvement, has given Stoops considerable hope for this season. "Our defense is greatly improved from a season ago and I'm pretty excited about what it's capable of," Stoops said. The strength of the defense, without debate, is the secondary. However, for any great secondary to have the opportunity to make plays, especially takeaways, it starts with a pass rush. "The front is the most important aspect of the defense, pressure allows you to do a lot, and we'd love to take advantage of an experienced secondary," Arizona defensive coordinator Mark Stoops said. "Overall, as a defense, I felt pretty good coming out of the spring, but we have some guys who really needed big summers for us to reach our goals." "If that defensive line comes along, though ..." "I think the defensive line is an area where we significantly need to improve, and will," said Mike Stoops, who was the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma. Arizona, which plays mostly four down linemen, mustered just 24 sacks last season. In the Pac-10, that's just not enough to equate to season-long success. And no returning player had more than two sacks. The returning player with the most potential is sophomore end Johnathan Turner (6-3, 250), who as a redshirt was a third-team freshman All-American selection with 27 tackles, four for loss and 1.5 sacks. He's gained some muscle since last season and needs to greatly increase his presence in opposing backfields. "We need a big year from Turner, there's no doubting that," Mike Stoops said. The other likely starting end is senior Marcus Smith (6-5, 285), who missed most of last season injured but took advantage of the time away to add some much-needed muscle, nearly 20 pounds worth. The starting tackles are a pair of juniors in Yaniv Barnett (6-1, 285) and Lionel Dotson (6-4, 278). Barnett was considered a huge signing for Arizona, and while he showed flashes in starting 11 games in 2005 with 27 tackles, including three for loss, he needs to offer more than mostly just clogging up the middle. Dotson started four games last season and had 21 tackles. He also broke up three passes. Mike Stoops isn't sure who will start on the line, meaning several players will enter the fall with a chance to bump one of the aforementioned, including sophomore end Michael Shelton (6-3, 230), who had three tackles for loss and two sacks in seven games; junior Jason Parker (6-3, 256), who played 11 games in 2005 and is strong against the run; and senior tackles Paul Philipp (6-3, 294) and Rickey Parker (6-3, 286). Mike Stoops signaled out both Parkers for their work in the spring. As of mid June, it was still unclear whether a pair of JUCO linemen would be joining the team in August. Defensive end Louis Holmes (6-5, 280) of Scottsdale Community College and tackle Gabe Long (6-2, 275) of Fullerton College were both attempting to become academically eligible by completing their junior college course loads. If one or both gain eligibility, Arizona's defense drastically improves. Both would probably start. Holmes is considered by most recruiting analysts to be the best junior college player in the land, regardless of position. USC heavily recruited him. Long is strong against the run but also runs a 4.79 40-yard dash. LINEBACKERS This season's expected starting trio combined to miss 13 games with assorted injuries in 2005. Arizona is hoping for a lot less down time from the unit this season. "We started maybe four or five groups of linebackers and really never got good continuity in the second level of our defense," Mark Stoops said. "I don't think we ever saw the true linebacking corps [in 2005] that we're capable of having." The trio of expected starters, who were each expected at 100 percent health-wise entering August, include junior Spencer Larsen (6-1, 236), who made 51 tackles in eight games after returning from a two-year Mormon mission; junior Dane Krogstad (6-2, 236), who missed five games and finished with 38 tackles including four for loss and two sacks and sophomore middle linebacker Ronnie Palmer (6-3, 239), who also missed five games and also had 38 tackles. Senior Marcus Hollingsworth (5-10, 220) played both strong-side linebacker and strong safety last season and is perhaps the team's best pure tackler. His vitals last season included 41 tackles, six for loss, four broken-up passes, two sacks and an interception. While he might not start, he'll be on the field more often than not. Sophomore Adrian McCovy (6-2, 223) had two sacks last season and should see plenty of action on passing downs. Senior John McKinney (5-11, 226) is also in the mix. DEFENSIVE BACKS How deep is the Arizona secondary? Though one of the two starters lost on defense was All-Pac-10 safety Darrell Brooks, the Wildcats could still feature one of the top two or three secondary units in the conference this season. Last season, Arizona finished second in the Pac-10 in pass defense, allowing 225 yards per contest. More impressively, however, opponents scored just 13 touchdowns through the air over 11 games. It probably doesn't hurt that both Stoops brothers were defensive backs, with Mark still coaching the secondary. Three of the four starters are back here, led by junior cornerback Antoine Cason (6-0, 182), who was a second-team All-Pac-10 selection last season. A near-lock to be playing on Sundays, Cason finished his true sophomore campaign with 50 tackles, five broken up passes, three interceptions and 2.5 tackles for loss. His partner in shutting down opposing wide-outs is fellow true junior Wilrey Fontenot (5-9, 174). His 2005 vitals included 51 tackles, six broken up passes and two interceptions. Since arriving on campus Cason and Fontenot have each started 22 straight games and neither has missed a single defensive snap over that time. "That's experience," Mike Stoops said. At strong safety is senior Michael Johnson (6-2, 205). The JUCO transfer was a huge factor last season, with 60 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions and four broken-up passes. He had three picks alone in the win over Oregon State. The former JUCO All-American should vie for All-Pac-10 honors in 2006. "Our secondary has to be the glue behind everything we do [defensively]," Mike Stoops said. I think they're capable of playing to the highest level of anyone in this conference. Those guys have all-conference type of abilities but need to be more consistent." Replacing Brooks at free safety is sophomore Brandon Tatum (6-1, 181), the cousin of former Oakland Raiders hard-hitting safety Jack Tatum. He played mostly on special teams as a freshman, but the staff is confident he's ready for the starting job. He'll be pushed by junior Dominic Patrick (6-1, 207) and JUCO transfer Nate Ness (6-2, 190). It wouldn't be a stunner if any of the three were starting in September. There isn't much depth at cornerback, with true freshmen Devin Ross (5-11, 180) and Michael Turner (5-11, 170) the likely backups. PUNTERS This is one area Stoops hasn't had to worry too much about. Well, outside of two blocked punts last season. In 2005, before a season-ending injury, Danny Baugher was leading the nation with an off-the-charts 47.5 average. Then, kicker Nick Holt stepped in and almost ended up leading the nation, falling one game short of the minimum needed to qualify. Good as he is as a punter, Holt doesn't like handling both duties. "Nick says that punting hurts his concentration kicking, so we're leaning toward Kyle (McQuown)," Stoops said. McQuown (5-9, 170) doesn't have Holt's leg, but then again, who does? A transfer from Idaho State -- he was a redshirt last season -- McQuown has a career average of 43.0 yards over 71 punts. SPECIAL TEAMS Outside of allowing opponents to block five kicks last season -- two field goals, two punts and an extra point -- this unit is among the best in the country. The leaders in the Pac-10 on kickoff coverage, with opponents' average starting position the 20-yard line, the Wildcats do a lot of things right. The return game is solid, with Syndric Steptoe handling the majority of the kicks and punts, having ranked 24th nationally in punt returns (11.1) and 27th in kickoff returns (25.5). He became the first Arizona player to return a punt for six points with a 63-yard dash in the UCLA upset. He also brought a kickoff back 78 yards against USC. Junior Garon McHone (6-4, 270) is back as the long snapper, while McQuown will probably handle the holding chores. BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS When Arizona hired Stoops as its head coach, no one was expecting a repeat of what Stoops and his brother Bob accomplished in Oklahoma, winning the national championship their first season. This was a major rebuilding project with sparse talent and an all-around moribund feeling associated with Wildcats football. Grading the Wildcats Unit Grade Offense B Special teams B Defense B+ Intangibles B+ However, in season three of the Stoops era, behind back-to-back top-20 recruiting classes -- the last ranked by most behind only USC in the Pac-10 -- it appears time for the third stage of the reclamation plan to kick in. The fans are back, the talent is there, and now it's time for some wins. In the most-balanced Pac-10 in at least five seasons, if not longer, Arizona can compete with just about anyone on a given afternoon. We're by no means saying the Wildcats match up with USC and Cal, but there are no more automatic wins when Arizona takes the field. The Wildcats have lost five games the last two seasons by four points or less, and another three by no more than a touchdown. With a potent field-goal kicker, strong overall special teams, and legit Pac-10 talent at the skill positions, some of those tough-luck defeats should land in the win column. Not including a nonconference game with Stephen F. Austin, Arizona has 11 games this season, the nine Pac-10 tilts, BYU and LSU. Can the Cats win six and qualify for a bowl game? Yes, they can, but more than likely, there are a few minor speed bumps still awaiting this young squad and we're guessing more along the lines of 6-6 overall and 4-5 in the conference

[Hache Man]

Updated: Aug. 2, 2006, 6:24 AM ET
Team preview: Arizona State



Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook

Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 119 Division I-A teams. To order the complete 2006 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255). (All information as of July 1, 2006) Arizona State Sun Devils LOCATION Tempe, Ariz. CONFERENCE Pac-10 LAST SEASON 7-5 (.583) CONFERENCE RECORD 4-4 (t-4th) OFF. STARTERS RETURNING 10 DEF. STARTERS RETURNING 5 NICKNAME Sun Devils COLORS Maroon & Gold HOME FIELD Frank Kush Field/Sun Devil Stadium (71,706) COACH Dirk Koetter (Idaho State '81) RECORD AT SCHOOL 33-28 (5 years) CAREER RECORD 59-38 (8 years) ASSISTANTS • Tom Osborne (Washington State '83), Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends/Special Teams • Roy Wittke (Wisconsin Eau-Claire '82), Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks • Bill Miller (Texas-Arlington '78), Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers • Brett Myers (Eastern Washington '82), Running Game Coordinator/Offensive Line • Dan Fidler (Arizona State '81), Safeties • Darryl Jackson (San Diego '92), Wide Receivers • Al Simmons (Cal State-Hayward '87), Cornerbacks • Grady Stretz (UCLA '96), Defensive Line • John Wrenn (Western Illinois '73), Running Backs TEAM WINS (last five yrs.) 4-8-5-9-7 FINAL RANK (last five yrs.) 69-43-54-21-32 2005 FINISH Beat Rutgers in Insight Bowl. 2006 Schedule | 2005 Results | 2005 Statistics COACH AND PROGRAM Entering the 2006 campaign, Arizona State has played 866 football games. Only twice over that span, however, have the Sun Devils took part in a Rose Bowl. Those two Rose Bowls came on the heels of the 1986 and 1996 regular seasons, 20 and 10 seasons ago, respectfully. Anniversary celebrations are scheduled to honor both teams at halftime of the ASU-Washington State game on Nov. 11 at Sun Devil Stadium. This history lesson begs a question: The short answer is yes. But before looking ahead, let's pause and retrace a few steps already taken. Inside the Pac-10 Take an Inside look at the Pac-10 with Blue Ribbon's 2006 team reports: Arizona Wildcats Arizona State Sun Devils California Bears Oregon Ducks Oregon State Beavers Stanford Cardinal UCLA Bruins USC Trojans Washington Huskies Washington State Cougars Coach Dick Koetter arrived in Tempe -- via Boise State -- in 2001. The program was coming off back-to-back 6-6 efforts -- both concluding with Aloha Bowl losses -- and a 3-5 Pac-10 mark in 2000 that cost Bruce Snyder his job. And while Koetter has enjoyed moderate success -- ASU is 17-8 over its last 25 games, third in the Pac-10 behind just USC and Cal -- the Sun Devils have finished no better than 5-3 in the conference and are 17-23 overall in the Pac-10. Last season's squad appeared in just about everyone's Top 25 and it certainly appeared warranted with a 3-2 start that included a last-second loss to LSU and a gutsy, 38-28 defeat against USC. However, setbacks to Oregon, Stanford and UCLA knocked ASU to 4-4 in the Pac-10, tied for fourth place and 6-5 in the regular-season. A 45-40 defeat of Rutgers in the Insight Bowl marked the first instance the program had won bowl games in back-to-back seasons in nearly two decades. But truthfully, defeating Rutgers in the Insight Bowl was not exactly how the staff, players and fans had drawn up the 2005 campaign during fall practice. "Looking back at last season, there are some aspects of our team about which we were tremendously satisfied, and some areas that needed improvement," Koetter said. "The bottom line is that we had a 7-5 season." While Koetter doesn't come out and say as much, veteran defensive coordinator Bill Miller, who has coached under the likes of Jimmy Johnson, Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban, isn't one for "coach-speak.'' "Our defense better be better than last season's or they're going to run me out of Dodge," Miller said. "Last season was & well, it was frustrating." In 2005, Arizona State ranked second nationally in total offense (519.1), third in passing yards per game (373.4) and seventh in points per game (36.8). It set a ton of school records along the way, showcased a one-two combination at quarterback that is downright unfair, and even established a running attack with nearly 150 rushing yards per game. Sounds like a national contender, right? From the moment he stepped on campus, coming over from Florida where he was the associate head coach in 2004, Miller couldn't go 10 minutes without another one of his players suffering an injury. It was a nightmare. Players that were third, sometimes even lower, on the depth chart heading into spring practice were starters come early September. Arizona State allowed nearly 200 points in its five losses, a miserable 38.8 points-per-game average. And that's obviously not including the 40 points Rutgers dropped on the Sun Devils in the Aloha Bowl. "The best way to improve our defense is to re-establish ourselves as being fundamentally sound," Koetter said. "We were not satisfied with how our defense ranked last season, and we're doing what is necessary to get the best players on the field." Since moving to the Pac-10, from the WAC, for the 1978 season, the Sun Devils have won just the two conference titles, in 1986, under John Cooper, and 1996, with Jake Plummer and Snyder. With 10 offensive starters returning and the Pac-10 expected to be more balanced than in recent years, Arizona State has an outside -- but not unrealistic -- shot at continuing the every 10 years thing. But the Sun Devils aren't the favorites by any stretch and have more question marks than periods and exclamation points combined on defense. It's post time for the Sun Devils. Another middle-of-the-pack finish isn't likely to be taken lightly in Tempe. It's time to return the program to yesteryear and while 1986 and 1996 are unfair comparisons, nine or 10 wins is certainly an accomplishable goal. QUARTERBACKS About a fifth of Division I-A teams last season, 23 to be exact, threw for fewer than 2,000 yards. Arizona State had two players, senior Sam Keller (6-4, 240) and sophomore Rudy Carpenter (6-2, 204), turn the trick individually, as Keller threw for 2,165 yards and 20 touchdowns while Carpenter led the nation in pass efficiency (175.01) with 2,273 yards, 17 touchdown tosses, a 68.4 completion percentage and just two interceptions over 228 pass attempts. "I'm the happiest guy in America," Koetter said. "We have two great quarterbacks. Don't I wish we had this problem at every position? How good would we be? It is the greatest thing is the world." Koetter makes a valid point through his obvious efforts to avoid a controversy. It's safe to predict that half the country's starting quarterbacks in early September will be replaced this season for either injury or ineffectiveness. Imagine a replacement coming off the bench as the reigning passing efficiency champion in the country. At the conclusion of spring practice, in the opinion of Koetter and first-year offensive coordinator Roy Wittke, Keller was No. 1 on the depth chart. With Andrew Walter -- who was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft -- out injured, Keller made his first collegiate start in the 2004 Sun Bowl. His performance served notice -- 370 yards passing, three touchdowns and game MVP honors. That great game was no fluke; Keller had a pair of 400-yard efforts and two other 300-yard games over his first six games of 2005. He also tossed four touchdown passes in each of his first four games and was en route to one of the most prolific passing campaigns in Pac-10 history. Alas, for Keller, on Oct. 22, in a 45-35 loss to Stanford, he suffered a season-ending thumb surgery that required surgery to repair. "Despite having two excellent quarterbacks, I will not allow a player to lose his spot on the depth chart because of injury," Koetter said. "Sam Keller was playing great as a starter, especially against top-caliber teams. When Rudy Carpenter came in, he also played incredibly, which enabled him to lead the nation in passing efficiency." Both Koetter and Wittke, who was the Arkansas offensive coordinator last season, do not foresee Keller and Carpenter alternating drives or quarters. "We both feel that the team is better off with one guy, it's difficult to do otherwise, the position needs flow," Wittke said. "Both Keller and Carpenter saw extensive reps in the spring," Koetter said. "I do not foresee us utilizing a two-quarterback system down the road. But I will never close the door to anything." Perhaps the most impressive statistic from the passing game last season was that Keller and Carpenter combined to throw just 11 interceptions in 12 games and that includes the five picks Keller tossed against USC. As for the differences between the quarterbacks, Keller is more the prototypical pocket passer, while Carpenter is more mobile, and takes less risks. Keller is definitely more of an NFL prospect, while Carpenter's ceiling appears more comparable to former Texas quarterback Major Applewhite. However, it should be duly noted that Carpenter lost just once in five starts and earned offensive-player-of-the-game honors at the Insight Bowl. In that game, Carpenter threw for 467 yards and four touchdowns. "After a couple of heartbreaking losses and with the injury to Sam, our team's confidence took a major shot," Koetter said. "As Rudy came in, we regained our confidence as the season went on." Apparently. ASU finished 4-1 with Carpenter as the starter. Still, it appears clear Keller will be under center come the season-opener against Northern Arizona on Aug. 31. Redshirt freshman and former walk-on Brett Boon (6-1, 174) is the team's third-string quarterback, while 22-year redshirt freshman Nate Mortensen (6-1, 205) is back from a two-year Mormon mission and is the likely No. 4 on the depth chart. Mortensen's father, Fred, was the quarterback of ASU's undefeated 1975 Fiesta Bowl champion team. RUNNING BACKS Last season, most wouldn't argue that the Sun Devils had one of the nation's top five all-around offenses. In previous seasons, with longtime starter Andrew Walter under center, ASU was more like those old BYU teams that threw the ball 50 times a game than a complete offense, like say USC of the last several seasons. That changed in 2005, as the Sun Devils were among just eight Division I-A teams to rack up 3,500 passing yards and 1,500 via the ground. This year, it's not beyond the realm that ASU could be the lone team in the nation with 4,000 passing and 2,000 rushing. The balance is there, the talent is there, the schemes are there and this attack is going to be potent. The addition of local high school coaching legend John Wrenn, who recently won two 5A state titles at Chandler Hamilton High School, as the new running backs coach, will help. "As a unit, the running back position might have the biggest upside on the entire team," Koetter said. "I'm very excited about the addition of coach [John] Wrenn. With the returning running backs and the arrival of some bigger backs, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about our running game." The running game emerged as legit last season behind a true freshman that set a slew of school records and should be vying for All-Pac-10 honors come 2007. Sophomore Keegan Herring (5-11, 190) rushed for a freshman school record 870 yards last season, averaging 5.5 per carry. Despite mostly splitting carries, Herring also found the end zone six times. He didn't come along slowly, either, going for 134 yards in the season-opener against Temple. That broke the school record for rushing yards in a debut established by ASU legend Woody Green in 1971. He also gained 197 yards in his third collegiate contest against Northwestern. Even after that impressive rookie campaign, Herring is likely to again split carries this fall. While no one among the ASU staff came out and said so, the coaches would like to see a back that can break more carries and form a kind of thunder and lighting package with Herring. Another factor is that Herring didn't show much in terms of being an option in the passing game, with just three catches, two of which combined for minus-five yards. As for who the probable provider of said thunder will be, sophomore Shaun DeWitty (6-2, 216) seems to have a good chance. "Shaun had an outstanding spring, we could definitely be using three tailbacks this season," Wittke said. DeWitty, while a hair slower than Herring, has a straightforward running style and is hard to bring down with just one tackler. He's also athletic and has a little agility in moving side-to-side between the tackles and finding lanes. DeWitty barely played as a true freshman, gaining 24 yards on six carries and not catching a pass, but the coaching staff spent the majority of the spring raving to anyone who would listen about this kid, to the point that some close to the program think DeWitty will take over that No. 1 spot on the depth chart before the season-opener with Northern Arizona on Aug. 31. It's hard to say who the third option in the backfield will be because it's tough to figure how many plays junior Rudy Burgess (5-10, 181) is good for. On offense, that is. Burgess is expected to shuttle between cornerback, wide receiver, tailback, third-down back and, in his spare time, he'll share the kick return duties. And while we'll be talking about him in several other sections of this preview, his involvement at tailback will likely be in a diminished role from his previous two ASU campaigns in which he rushed for more than 1,000 yards. In 2005, Burgess rushed for 644 yards and six scores and was also the team's No. 2 receiver. He spent the majority of the spring lining up at cornerback and wide-out due to the emergence of DeWitty. But Burgess will take some handoffs and probably run a few reverses. And lest defenses let their guard down, well, Burgess threw a 43-yard touchdown pass last season. That play could be called at any time. If Burgess' touches at running back are limited, the likely No. 3 option at tailback is junior walk-on Preston Jones (5-8, 181). By no means an every down back, Jones emerged last season as a legitimate four- or five carries-a-game change-of-pace option, rushing for 187 yards and two scores and averaging nearly five yards per effort. His role really shouldn't change much in 2006. Arizona State also utilizes an H-back, a combination of a fullback and tight end. Depending on the formation the Sun Devils line up in, they have mostly relied upon Lee Burghgraef the last few seasons there. But with last year's co-captain having exhausted his eligibility, the probable starter is junior Brent Miller (6-5, 236). The older brother of Blue Ribbon and Playboy's preseason All-America tight end Zach Miller, also an ASU junior, Brent Miller caught seven passes last season for 111 yards (15.9 average) and two touchdowns. While he's still learning the position, he's a more than capable receiver who should be able to handle the blocking responsibilities as well. Sophomore Dane Guthrie (6-3, 274), a transfer from Florida, should also see time at H-back and possibly even tight end. WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS How will the Sun Devils replace All-Pac 10 and NFL third-round draft pick Derek Hagan as the No. 1 wide out? In bulk. "We won't be replacing Derek with one player, it'll be more by committee," Wittke said. Hagen finished his career as the Pac-10's all-time leading receiver. It's worth noting that Koetter has had a 1,000-yard receiver in each of his five campaigns in Tempe. Who will step up to keep that streak alive in '06? The obvious choice is Burgess, but if he also logs time as a starting cornerback, he might not get enough touches. And the Sun Devils may not have a better option at corner. But if Burgess ends up just playing nickel back on passing downs, he's capable of increased production as receiver. Last year, he caught 59 balls last season for 655 yards and four scores. Here's another factor that should tell us Burgess' production will increase significantly: There's just one other wide receiver on the roster that hauled in more than 23 receptions in 2005. "Rudy is a tremendous athlete and a smart player at the same time," Wittke said. "We're going to ask a lot of things from him this season. We need some of the young receivers to step up and we made some strides there this spring. It's fair to say that wide receiver is our biggest question mark offensively going into the fall." The ideal situation would be using Burgess as a No. 3 receiver, allowing him to play about half the snaps on offense. For that to become a reality, though, the Sun Devils need multiple players to take that next step. Senior Terry Richardson (6-1, 187), an All-America kick returner, started seven games last season at flanker, and racked up 37 receptions for 495 yards (13.4) and five touchdowns. In three seasons, Richardson racked up 98 catches for 1,410 yards and 11 scores. He wasn't with the team this spring because of an undisclosed rules violation, but he's expected back this fall. While he'll definitely be deep on kickoffs with Burgess, it's not entirely clear if the starting flanker job is still his. The reason for that uncertainty is sophomore Mike Jones (6-3, 200), who says Wittke, "had an outstanding spring." Jones, also is the starting center fielder on the baseball team, caught just four passes for minimal yardage last season, but he proved this spring he's ready for significant playing time in 2006. His size makes him a desirable target. Another big receiver is converted tight end Jamaal Lewis (6-4, 230). A senior who caught 23 balls for 446 yards (19.4) and five scores last season and led all tight ends in yards per reception, Lewis is a match-up nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. In the red zone, few are more dangerous. Also in the mix at receiver are sophomore Nate Kimbrough (6-1, 178), who had seven receptions for 76 yards and a score in 2005, and redshirt freshmen Brandon Smith (6-1, 192) and Chris McGaha (6-1, 185). "Brandon Smith has the ability to be a key player in our offense in 2006," Koetter said. "We're very excited to see if he can take that incredible speed of his and be the home run threat that we've been missing since (current St. Louis Ram) Shaun McDonald left." Arizona State has one of the best tight ends in the country in junior Zach Miller (6-5, 258). A potential first-round NFL pick in 2007, he finished his sophomore campaign with 38 catches for 476 yards and four touchdowns. However, while many talk about his sure hands (Miller's 94 receptions the last two seasons are more than other tight end in the nation), he's also an exceptional blocker. Nicknamed "The Truth," Miller's name will turn up on a lot of All-American list's this season, including Blue Ribbon's. "Zach Miller is one of the best blocking tight ends in the nation," Koetter said. "He gets a ton of credit for his acrobatic catches, but when you watch cut-ups, you see what a tremendous blocker he is." Wittke was impressed watching Miller for the first time this spring. "No question, he's a wide receiver in a tight end's body in terms of his hands, but he just doesn't get enough credit for his blocking in the running game," Wittke said. "And he came back even bigger and stronger than last season, too." While Lewis and Guthrie are likely to see some snaps as a second tight end, sophomore Andrew Pettes (6-4, 262) played in six games last season and should earn expanded playing time in 2006. "We know we have great quarterbacks and tight ends, the big question in the passing game is how are we going to replace those three senior wide receivers (from last season)," Koetter said. OFFENSIVE LINE While health is a huge issue with this unit, Arizona State returns seven players who started at least one game last season. Those starting five have combined for 86 career starts, led by senior right tackle Andrew Carnahan (6-8, 300), who has started all 33 games in which he's dressed over his three campaigns at ASU. Injury-prone but well known in the conference for playing through pain, Carnahan has earned All-Pac-10 honors twice, including an honorable mention nod in 2005. A decent pass blocker, Carnahan excels on running plays. Senior left guard Stephen Berg (6-5, 309) has 22 career starts and should be 100 percent come August after offseason shoulder surgery. The other guard spot is manned by senior Zach Krula (6-7, 339), who started the first three games of 2005 before a season-ending ankle injury. He missed the spring rehabbing but should be ready come August. Junior Brandon Rodd (6-4, 300), ASU's best pass blocker, is the left tackle. He was the lone lineman to start all 12 games last season and earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors. The expected starting five is rounded out by junior center Mike Pollak (6-4, 300), who has ten career starts. The top reserves include junior guard Robert Gustavis (6-4, 213), massive sophomore guard Leo Talavou (6-4, 371) and highly touted redshirt freshman center Thomas Altieri (6-2, 294). It wouldn't be surprising if Altieri were starting by the season opener. A trio of other redshirt freshmen could also see extensive action including Shawn Lauvao (6-3, 314), Richard Tuitu'u (6-5, 362) and J.D. Walton (6-2, 306). "We have four redshirt freshmen that are all foaming at the mouth to break in," Koetter said. "However, we still have a veteran group, but each of the four will be ready to compete when his time comes." KICKERS Senior Jesse Ainsworth (6-3, 220) ranks among the nation's elite kickers. Not by accident is Ainsworth entering his fourth year as a starter. He's dependable, pretty much money (31-of-34, 91.2 percent) on his career field goal attempts inside 40 yards. Last season, Ainsworth converted 9-of-9 inside 40, and because ASU was usually scoring touchdowns, he had just 11 attempts overall. He enters 2006 having booted 97 consecutive extra points dating back to 2003, a streak that has already broken the school record set during the 1981-82 seasons by former NFL place-kicker Luis Zendejas. Ainsworth is also a weapon on kickoffs, with 46 touchbacks last season among his 78 kickoffs. In 24 career Pac-10 games, Ainsworth and the kickoff unit have allowed just one return past the 35-yard line. Ainsworth's only weakness, at least thus far, has been his inability to convert kicks outside of 40 yards. ASU is almost forced to punt or go for it on fourth down anywhere beyond the opponents' 25-yard line. With longtime holder Chad Christensen having graduated, it's unclear who'll handle those duties, although Keller is the early favorite. DEFENSIVE LINE The Sun Devils allowed 470 yards and 30 points a game in 2005, and for them to compete with the likes of USC and Cal this fall, those numbers need to improve. And whether that transformation takes place will likely be determined by the defensive line. Last season, ASU had just 22 sacks. That brought up the rear in the conference. In his first season as defensive coordinator, Bill Miller's unit was riddled with injuries, more so than any offense or defense in the Pac-10. It started from his first day on campus, too, with half his projected starters not taking part in spring practice because of injuries. The lack of healthy bodies just escalated in the fall. "I hate to depend on guys who are always injured," Miller said. "I hate entering a season needing to depend on guys who were injured in the spring. It was very frustrating last season and this spring again, we had a bunch of players out with injuries and that's very frustrating. It's concerning as a coach, and with that many guys out again, we need a great summer and preseason camp. "But I believe we found some football players this spring, guys who can step in and make this a better defense than last season." With an influx of Division I-A transfers, ASU's line will be revamped from a season ago, and possibly among the top units in the conference. The projected starting ends, although both were unable to practice this spring because of injuries, are senior Kyle Caldwell (6-3, 261) and senior Loren Howard (6-4, 280), who transferred from Northwestern and sat out last season. They were high school teammates at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Ariz., and could provide some needed pressure on opposing backfields. Howard was a three-year starter at Northwestern, compiling 150 tackles, 34 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. If he's at 100 percent come September, Howard's one of the top three ends in the conference. "Loren's the real deal, unlike anything we had here last season," Miller said. "He's a year removed from ACL surgery and should be ready come the first practice. We're really counting on him; he's a very bright kid who's familiar with our defense schemes, too. He could make this unit a real strength." Caldwell had seven sacks as a sophomore but battled multiple injuries last season and mustered just 17 tackles and zero sacks. "He's been hurt the entire time I've been here and really hasn't done anything quite frankly," Miller said. "Who knows?" The leaders on the depth chart at tackle include senior Jordan Hill (6-2, 298) and junior BYU transfer Michael Marquardt (6-4, 288), who was the defensive MVP of last year's scout team. Hill is a captain and converted linebacker who Miller would rather see in a more limited role than playing every down as he did last season. Depth on the line is offered by senior tackle/end Will Kofe (6-2, 290), who also battled injuries this spring, sophomore end Tranell Morant (6-5, 280), a transfer from Florida with a huge upside, and redshirt freshman Dexter Davis (6-2, 250). "Any good defense starts with that front four, and there are a lot of question marks, but we'll start fresh in the fall and see how it plays out," Miller said. LINEBACKERS Having graduated two of its three leading tacklers, including co-Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year Dale Robinson, the linebackers are an unproven group. Compounding matters is that several potential starters missed the spring season with injuries and other issues. The lone returning starter here is junior Robert James (5-11, 225) at Will. He started six games in 2005 and finished with 36 tackles, five for loss, a sack and an interception. The former safety also led the Sun Devils with five pass deflections. While an asset in pass coverage, he needs to improve against the run. He missed the spring for personal reasons but is expected back come August. The likely replacement for Robinson at middle linebacker is senior Beau Manutai (6-1, 262). The former JUCO All-American, who turns 25 in September, started two games last season and saw plenty of action as a reserve, finishing with 36 tackles. Despite missing the spring with an ankle injury, Manutai is expected to lead this unit come the fall. "We were pretty barren out there this spring [at linebacker]," Miller said. "But our staff feels good about some of the young guys coming in." At the strong side, aka Sam, is sophomore Chad Lindsey (6-0, 224), who mostly played special teams last season and has added 25 pounds of mostly muscle since arriving on campus. His backup on the depth chart is sophomore Wes Evans (6-3, 245). Others expected to see playing time include freshman Mike Nixon (6-2, 216), who spent the last three seasons playing minor league baseball, senior Derron Ware (6-4, 220), sophomore Adam Vincent (6-2, 239) and a host of newcomers, including JUCO transfer Garrett Judah (6-3, 232). DEFENSIVE BACKS It's also hard, if not impossible, to gauge whether it's more the lack of pass rush or the lack of coverage that allows a defense to surrender 5,500 yard of total offense, including nearly 300 a game through the air. As Miller says, "it all begins with the line," but that in no way excuses the ASU secondary. This season, though, with both starting safeties returning, two good ones at that, if a few of the younger cornerbacks can come through, the secondary could rate among the top units in the conference. At strong safety is senior Zach Catanese (6-2, 219), who was second on the team in tackles last season with 107. He also had two sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. The leading returning tackler in the Pac-10, the JUCO transfer is expected to blossom into a real leader for this unit. "Zach is our mainstay, our best tackler, he makes the plays," Miller said. "He had a great spring, too, and is a year older, understands the defense better. We're expecting a special season from him." Junior Josh Barrett (6-2, 220) started two games last season and is the faster player on the team. NFL scouts think he's a likely candidate to play on Sundays, and he could be the most improved member of the defense. He had 37 tackles last season. "Heading into the season, Zach and Josh are our best two guys on defense," Miller said. Sophomore Jeremy Payton (6-1, 208) is the team's probable nickel back. He had 25 tackles and two forced fumbles as a redshirt freshman in 2005. The cornerback spots aren't nearly so settled. Behind an impressive spring, junior college transfer Justin Tryon (5-9, 178) is a virtual lock for one of the starting spots. A JUCO All-American at the College of the Canyons, he won multiple California state sprint championships as a senior in high school in 2002. He's somewhat raw, but with two solid safeties, he could vie for defensive newcomer-of-the-year honors in the Pac-10. Senior Keno Walter-White (5-11, 185) is expected to be the No. 1 cornerback, but he missed the spring with injuries and failed to record an interception in 11 games last season. He did have 26 tackles and three deflected passes. And then there's Burgess, who actually took more snaps during the spring game at cornerback than wide receiver. It's not the ideal situation if he starts, but the defense needs him infinitely more than the offense. He's likely to play both ways, though, possibly as the No. 3 receiver and No. 3 cornerback, allowing him to grab a breather here and there. "Rudy is a hell of a player," Miller said. "He'll help us back there in some capacity." Others in the mix at corner include juniors Chris Baloney (6-0, 185) and Chad Green (5-10, 190). PUNTERS If not for the punting situation last season, the team's overall special teams would've ranked right there with any team in the country. Alas, four blocked punts in half a season equates to a special teams disaster. Thing is, junior Chris MacDonald (6-3, 218) can absolutely crush the football, having averaged 42.3 yard per kick last season. He's a former freshman All-American with a long of 67 yards in 2005. His 42.8 career yards-per-punt average is the second highest in school history, too. However, MacDonald also holds a few other marks, with six career blocked punts, including the aforementioned four last season. Koetter says no one works harder, and he admires the effort MacDonald has made to improve his mechanics and release, but a change had to be made last season. Ainsworth took over the punting chores, averaging 35.0 yards on 21 kicks. He did place nine kicks inside the opposing 20-yard line, though. As for this season, MacDonald will be given the first chance, with incoming junior Jonathan Johnson (6-1, 205) of the College of the Canyons, ready to step up. SPECIAL TEAMS Richardson, who should catch plenty of passes at flanker, was a second-team All-American selection in 2005, returning two punts for touchdowns and totaling nearly 1,000 kick and punt return yards. His 337 punt return yards were the most for any ASU players since 1971. His two scores included an electrifying 84-yard flash against No. 1 USC and an 80-yard dash to complete a 15-point second half comeback against Arizona. His average of 15.3 yards per punt return was second in the Pac-10 and seventh in the nation. He also returned 23 kickoffs, averaging 27.3 yards per effort. Burgess is likely to join Richardson on kick returns. Senior Jason Burke (6-2, 260) is a four-year starter at long snapper and has been credited with just one bad snap over his 36 games. As previously mentioned, the kickoff unit is among the best in the nation in terms of coverage while the punt squad could use a little improvement, allowing 13 yards per return and a touchdown in '05. BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS Aspirations, as they have been in seasons past, are once again lofty in Tempe. And with USC probably not as strong as the last two seasons, the Pac-10 is somewhat up for grabs at the top, with the Trojans facing stiff competition from Cal and Arizona State. Grading the Sun Devils Unit Grade Offense A Special teams A- Defense C Intangibles A- Barring injury, it says here that Keller will take the majority of the snaps for the Sun Devils, with Carpenter even being a possibility to redshirt if Keller remains healthy all season. No reason to waste a season with mop-up duty. As for Keller, he's an NFL talent with one season remaining to prove it. The running game is the best it has been in Koetter's six seasons, and while the offensive line has issues, there's so much depth and young talent that it should be better than last season's injury-riddled group. Look for at least two and maybe three of the redshirt freshmen to be starting on that line come November. Outside of the blocked punts issue, which should work itself out with or without MacDonald, this season comes down to nothing more or less simplistic than, "Can this defense stop anyone?" Miller, among the more respected defensive coordinators in the country, has an abundance of talent compared to last season, and barring another unthinkable rash of injuries, the addition of Howard and Tryon alone should have this group at least in the middle of the pack in the conference. That would be a huge improvement over last season. As far as the schedule, ASU didn't catch any breaks with road dates at Cal and USC, and that alone might be enough to prevent a Pac-10 title. However a 10-2 regular mark is plausible, and anything less than 9-3 would be disappointing. Without question, this should be the program's best season under Koetter, topping the 9-3 (5-3 in the Pac-10) campaign in 2004.

[Hache Man]

Updated: Aug. 2, 2006, 6:24 AM ET
Team preview: California



Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook

Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 119 Division I-A teams. To order the complete 2006 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255). (All information as of July 1, 2006) California Golden Bears LOCATION Berkeley, Calif. CONFERENCE Pac-10 LAST SEASON 8-4 (.667) CONFERENCE RECORD 4-4 (t-4th) OFF. STARTERS RETURNING 7 DEF. STARTERS RETURNING 8 NICKNAME Bears COLORS Blue & Gold HOME FIELD California Memorial Stadium (67,537) COACH Jeff Tedford (Fresno State '83) RECORD AT SCHOOL 33-17 (4 years) CAREER RECORD 33-17 (4 years) ASSISTANTS • Jim Michalczik (Washington State '88), Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line • Mike Dunbar (Washington '72) , Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks • Bob Gregory (Washington State '86), Defensive Coordinator • Pete Alamar (California Lutheran '83) , Special Teams/Tight Ends • Ken Delgado (San Jose State '84), Defensive Line • Dan Ferrigno (San Francisco State '78) , Wide Receivers • Bob Foster (UC Davis '62), Linebackers • Ron Gould (Oregon '88), Running Backs • J.D. Williams (Fresno State '90), Secondary TEAM WINS (last five yrs.) 1-7-8-10-8 FINAL RANK (last five yrs.) 96-42-37-15-22 2005 FINISH Beat BYU in Las Vegas Bowl. 2006 Schedule | 2005 Results | 2005 Statistics COACH AND PROGRAM Others, especially Bears fans, could -- and probably have -- talk for hours, throwing around statistics showing just how remarkable a turnaround the Cal program has made under fifth-year coach Jeff Tedford. There's really no need, though. Tedford's success can be summed up quickly: In 2001, the Bears won a single football game. That's 1-10. Last season, a mere four years removed from that debacle, Cal finished 8-4. However, here's the catch -- last season was considered not only a transition year, but also somewhat of a disappointment. Inside the Pac-10 Take an Inside look at the Pac-10 with Blue Ribbon's 2006 team reports: Arizona Wildcats Arizona State Sun Devils California Bears Oregon Ducks Oregon State Beavers Stanford Cardinal UCLA Bruins USC Trojans Washington Huskies Washington State Cougars Think about that -- from being perhaps the least regarded program among the major conferences to winning eight games in a four-season span and the latter is almost looked upon as a rebuilding year. Now that's a turnaround. Over the last three seasons, Cal has won 26 games (26-12), the most by the program over a three-year span since the 1949-51 teams combined for 27 victories. As for last season, the Bears weren't expected to repeat their double-digit victory success from 2004, but a plethora of injuries and issues behind center made that already long shot implausible by mid-October. Thing is though, even dealing with those issues, of Cal's four Pac-10 defeats, only one, a 35-10 decision to USC, was by more than a touchdown. That included a field-goal defeat against Oregon State and an overtime loss at then No. 13-ranked Oregon. The fourth loss came at UCLA, 47-40, on Oct. 8. Tedford, as are the majority of football coaches, isn't a fan of talking about the past. It's all about moving forward, the next step, the upcoming season -- you know, one game at a time, all that good stuff. "We're a different team this season," Tedford said. "We are a year older after being very young last season. But we need to continue to build team chemistry and gain knowledge and experience. There is a lot of potential in a lot of places." While that potential will likely decide this team's ceiling in 2006, perhaps no team in the conference -- yes, including USC -- returns more high-profile players than Cal, including, depending on who you ask, two or three preseason All-Americans. That trio includes tailback Marshawn Lynch, defensive tackle Brandon Mebane and cornerback Daymeion Hughes. Each has been selected first-team All-American by established national publications, including The Sporting News and Playboy. Suffice to say the program has never been in better shape, from having one of the most respected coaches in the game in Tedford, a strong staff, a nucleus of returning players and the potential of four straight top-20 recruiting classes. Actually this marks Tedford's first season at Cal with a full roster of his players. His first recruiting class of 2002 has either already graduated or more likely, is gearing up for their senior campaign after having taken a redshirt. And it should be a memorable season on the Berkeley campus, too. Tedford, considered an offensive mastermind who has developed six quarterbacks who were first-round NFL picks, brought in former Northwestern offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar this offseason to implement certain aspects of the spread offense. And while Tedford will still call the plays, this is a monumental change in philosophy for an offense that averaged 32.9 points per game in 2005 and returns virtually every skill-position player. "I've been thinking about it for a while," Tedford said. "I pursued someone with spread knowledge and [Dunbar] is one of the leading guys in that. It's a work in progress right now, but we'll have it figured out by the fall. "It can be a very entertaining system to watch, and we all know how effective it can be. This offseason has been very busy. It's been a challenge, but it's been exciting." The defense, which led the Pac-10 last season in scoring defense (21.2 points per game) and returns eight starters, should be improved as well under defensive coordinator Bob Gregory, and while no one is quite ready to predict USC's demise, the Bears have closed the gap in talent, marquee players and depth. At least entering practice in August, Cal appears poised for a historic campaign. And perhaps the program's first conference title since 1975. The 12-game regular season schedule kicks off on Sept. 2 at Tennessee in one of the more highly anticipated early-season match-ups. For those looking ahead, Cal travels to Los Angeles and USC on Nov. 18. QUARTERBACKS In 2004, Aaron Rodgers parlayed one of the most-prolific and productive quarterback campaigns in program history into becoming the first-round draft choice of the Green Bay Packers. In 2005, well, not only were NFL scouts not flocking to Berkeley, the usually faithful Bears fans were literally booing their own signal caller, senior Joe Ayoob (6-3, 216), off the field. By season's end, Cal ranked last in the conference with just 192.7 passing yards per game. Could it be Cal fans won't have Ayoob to kick around any more? Ayoob, who like Rodgers arrived at Cal via the JUCO route, is not first on the depth chart entering fall practice. Then again, when the Bears opened last season against Sacramento State, Ayoob wasn't the starter, either. The task of replacing Rodgers was originally handed to then redshirt freshman Nate Longshore (6-5, 230), but he was lost for the season after breaking his ankle in the first half of the season opener. And while some within the Cal program insist the quarterback situation was still undecided after spring practice, it's obvious the gig is Longshore's to lose. "Nate will take the first-team snaps when we start fall practice; he has a pretty good handle on the spread offense thus far," Cal offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar said. "But it's a wide-open race come double sessions; that's fair. It's a long season and we'll let the situation work itself out." Dunbar did say he and Tedford would prefer to enter the season with one quarterback; neither is a fan of alternating possessions or quarters. It's impossible to gauge Longshore on his brief appearance last season. While it was impressive -- 8-for-11, 131 yards, one touchdown pass and an interception -- it was also against Sacramento State. He certainly has the size and the arm strength to become a big-time Pac-10 quarterback and none of the coaches on the Bears' staff have any hesitation about his leadership skills. As for Ayoob, well, 2005 wasn't one for the scrapbooks, as he became an unfortunate, and at times, unfair target of the frustrated Cal faithful. He played in 11-of-12 games, and finished with a 49.2 completion percentage (125-of-254) for 1,707 yards, 15 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions. His 114.1 pass efficiency was last among Pac-10 qualifiers. Part of the problem, even from spring practice in 2005, was that Ayoob had difficulty understanding, and thus implementing, Tedford's offensive schemes. Dunbar and Tedford, however, were impressed with how rapidly Ayoob grasped the spread offense and his mobility could give him a legitimate chance come August. Also in the mix is senior Steve Levy (6-1, 229), who led the Bears to narrow victories -- against Stanford and BYU -- in each of their final two games last season. He completed 61.5 percent of his 52 pass attempts for 439 yards, four touchdowns and two picks. His efficiency checked in at 150.2. The former fullback is likely to begin the season No. 3 on the depth chart. Redshirt freshman Kyle Reed (6-2, 228) saw lots of repetitions this spring and could factor into the picture next season, likely as Longshore's backup. RUNNING BACKS It can be argued, and quite convincingly, that no Pac-10 team is stronger at a specific position than Cal is at running back. It's almost unfair, really, much like the duo of Reggie Bush and LenDale White were for USC last season. The Bears were second in the conference and ninth in the nation last season with 235.2 rushing yards per game. And while Tedford and Dunbar are hopeful of having a more balanced offensive attack, thus relieving some defensive run pressure, there's no debating the backfield is this team's No. 1 strength. Last season, Cal rushed for 2,755 yards and 97.6 percent of those yards are back in 2006. That attack begins with junior tailback Marshawn Lynch (5-11, 223), the odds-on-favorite preseason Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. If Cal upends Tennessee in the season-opener, Lynch could become a Heisman Trophy candidate as well. His numbers last season would have been significantly better if he hadn't missed two games and portions of several others with a hand injury. It's seems insane to say or write, but more was expected of Lynch last season, this despite the fact he finished third in the Pac-10 in rushing (124.6) and all-purpose yards per game (164.2). Lynch -- who possesses breakaway speed to the outside but can also grind it out between the tackles -- finished with 1,246 yards (6.4 per carry) and 10 touchdowns and also had 15 receptions. In the team's final five games, including the bowl win over BYU, Lynch rushed for 753 yards, more than 150 per game. "We are obviously talented at running back; Lynch is a special player," Dunbar said. "Our goal is to have a balanced offense, work the ball to the receivers and the ends, take advantage of our explosive speed, have two, three running backs on the field at once -- this is going to be a fun offense to coach. Obviously, though, one of our goals is getting the ball into Marshawn's hands and not having the defenses focus being on him." Only two Cal backs have ever rushed for more yards than Lynch did last season, and 2,000 yards this year seems more than plausible if Lynch remains healthy. One aspect of Dunbar's spread offense, which shattered numerous program records last season at Northwestern, is running backs are integral to the passing game. This should be a huge advantage for the Bears, because it allows them to have Lynch and junior Justin Forsett (5-8, 183) on the field together. Forest rushed for 999 yards and six touchdowns last season, averaging a gaudy 7.6 yards per attempt. He also had seven receptions. With Lynch out with his hand injury, Forsett rushed for 235 yards against New Mexico State on Sept. 23. More of an elusive runner that excels on sweeps, Forest has breakaway speed if he can turn the corner at either end. While Dunbar wouldn't say, the likely goal is for Lynch to have 20-25 touches a game, with Forsett having 10-12 carries and the occasional reception. The gold mine that is the Cal backfield doesn't end with Lynch and Forsett, either, as senior Marcus O'Keith (6-1, 194) averaged a staggering 11.0 yards per rush last season, including a team-high 71-yard dash. He also scored four touchdowns despite having just 25 touches from the line of scrimmage. At fullback, the Bears must replace four-year starter Chris Manderino. It will be interesting to see how often a fullback is on the field with Dunbar's new spread formations. When one is needed, however, look for senior Byron Storer (6-1, 227) -- a top-notch special teams contributor -- and sophomore Will Ta'ufo'ou (6-0, 250) to handle the bulk of the duties. Ta'ufo'ou is the better blocker of the two and behind an impressive spring is the likely starter. WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS Cal is also loaded at these positions; the Bears return 2,124 of a possible 2,312 receiving yards (91.9 percent) and 20 of their 22 touchdown receptions. Last season's starting wide-out duo of junior Robert Jordan (5-11, 166) and sophomore DeSean Jackson (6-0, 160) are back, along with an abundance of depth and unproven talent that could transform this offense into an absolute nightmare for opposing defenses. "Every offense had too many plays, and what we have to do, as offensive coaches, is narrow down those plays and take advantage of the talented individuals we have," Dunbar said. "With the spread offense, we want balance, from running to passing, to the tight end to our explosive receivers like Jordan and Jackson. Those two have some real speed and we want to use that to stretch the field and create running lanes for our backs." As a freshman, Jackson was the team's leading receiver, with 38 grabs for 601 yards (15.8) and seven touchdowns. Behind 4.3 speed, which he showcased by scoring touchdowns on his first pass reception and punt return in the season opener, Jackson should be among the conference's top-five wide-outs this fall and come 2007, he should be among the top NFL receiving prospects in the country. Jordan, the veteran of the receiving corps, starts at the "Z" spot and had 34 catches last season for 455 yards (13.4 yards per) and four scores. While he can bust the big play, in comparison to Jackson, he's more of the move-the-chains possession option. Senior Lavelle Hawkins (5-11, 183) came via the JUCO route last season and at times showed flashes, finishing with 18 receptions despite being hampered by an ankle injury that caused him to miss three games. With numerous sets in Dunbar's offense, including three wide-outs, Hawkins could easily double his output this season. Others in the mix at receiver include junior Sam DeSa (5-11, 199), who can run with any wide-out in the Pac-10 but made only four grabs in 2005; sophomore LaReylle Cunningham (6-2, 193), who had five catches for 112 yards against Washington State on Oct. 22 and not a single reception before or after; and junior Noah Smith (5-11, 188), who is returning from a season-long injury. Junior Craig Stevens (6-5, 255), an honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection in 2005, returns at tight end. He finished with 13 receptions and two scores and could become a red zone weapon. "We didn't use the tight end much at Northwestern, but we feel it can be a real important position for us and I like how we incorporated it into the offense this spring," Dunbar said. "We're going to use the tight end, and I think Stevens could really be a solid option for us, especially in the red zone." The depth at tight end includes seniors Eric Beegun (6-3, 216), who had six catches last season, and David Gray (6-3, 232), who had seven grabs at more than 16 yards per in 2005. Also look for redshirt freshman Cameron Morrah (6-5, 244), although likely more so in 2007 and beyond than this season. OFFENSIVE LINE It's impressive enough for just about any program in the country, outside of perhaps USC or Texas in 2006, to have three players selected in a single NFL draft. And then it's something else entirely to have three players chosen at a single position. The Bears had three offensive lineman taken in last April's draft, with tackle Ryan O'Callaghan, a two-time first team All-Pac-10 selection, center Marvin Philip and guard Aaron Merz going in the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds, respectively. Despite that massive loss of talented personnel, the Bears should still be OK up front. The line got an unexpected boost in late May when senior Andrew Cameron (6-5, 360), a three-year letter winner, rejoined the team after recovering from injuries sustained last season, and former Duke starter Tyler Krieg (6-4, 300) took advantage of a new NCAA rule and transferred with immediate eligibility. Cameron started the first two games of 2005 at left tackle, but missed the next two with injuries. After returning to the starting lineup for game five against Arizona, Cameron underwent surgery and was done for the year. He sat out spring practice and wasn't expected to return, but he apparently missed the game. Cameron was an honorable mention All-Pac-10 pick in 2004 after starting all 12 games. He ranked second on the line with 23.5 knockdown blocks. Krieg, from Tualatin, Ore., played in 26 career games over three seasons for the Blue Devils, including starting every game in 2004 and 2005 at right guard. An ACC Academic Honor Roll selection, Krieg was also talented enough to earn second-team preseason All-ACC honors from The Sporting News last season. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science in May and was able to take advantage of a new rule that allows players who graduate with eligibility remaining to transfer without sitting out a redshirt season. Before the addition of Cameron and Krieg, Cal had done its best to replace its depleted line. Senior Scott Smith (6-4, 276), who inherited the starting job last fall because of an injury and ended up being one of the most efficient run blockers in the Pac-10, was listed at one tackle. Slightly undersized, Smith has also played some center at Cal. He started eight games last season. The other returning starter up front is senior guard Erik Robertson (6-2, 311), who much like Smith is a solid-run blocker who also offers versatility in being able to play center. In a pinch, he could probably step in at tackle, too. At the other tackle, massive sophomore Mike Tepper (6-6, 334) will contend for a starting job. Growing up a soccer player, Tepper has outstanding footwork and offers much-needed pass protection from a mostly run-blocking orientated group. He was expected to see significant playing time in 2005, but last June, while coming to the defense of a female student, Tepper's leg was backed over by a car, breaking his fibula and tearing several ligaments. The men responsible for driving the car were charged with felonies, but Tepper's season was finished before it started. Tedford said he was proud of the courage his young lineman had showed in the incident. Unless Krieg steps in, the second starting guard will probably be sophomore Noris Malele (6-4, 298), who had perhaps the most impressive spring among all the linemen. He saw some action last season as a redshirt freshman. "We will be looking for some of our young players to gain some experience there and give them a chance to gel," Tedford said before spring practice. "We thought before Mike Tepper's injury that he could have been a factor for us [last season]." In the middle, the Bears have multiple options, but after spring practice, sophomore Alex Mack (6-5, 295) was first on the depth chart to replace Philip. With the former battling injuries last season, Mack saw some playing time, and while he's mostly unproven, the staff believes the talent is there. Maybe not on Philip's level, but close. Center Mark Gray (6-2, 275), a junior college transfer, was on campus for spring drills, and while he isn't expected to start, he should provide valuable depth. The top reserves include touted redshirt freshman Kevin Bemoll (6-5, 310) at tackle and junior Brian De La Puente (6-4, 301) at guard. "The offensive line made excellent progress this spring, and Eric Robertson and Scott Smith both had good spring and really worked hard," Dunbar said. "We're going to be solid on the line." KICKERS Junior Tom Schneider (6-0, 194) returns for his third campaign as the team's primary kicker, having converted 9-of-16 field goals in each of his previous two seasons. He was also 50-of-52 on extra points in 2005. While his job certainly isn't in jeopardy, the Bears are hopeful Schneider is more consistent this season, as he tends to lose focus at times, with misses last year from 27, 34 and 35 yards, plus those two extra points. His range tends to max out around 50 yards, with his long in 2005 coming from 49. He also split the uprights on a pair of attempts from 45. DEFENSIVE LINE After spring practice in 2005, Cal defensive coordinator Bob Gregory made a proclamation. "We're really not as decimated as some think," he said. Talk about a prophet; the Bears, under Gregory's direction, replaced eight starters with mostly inexperienced underclassmen and led the Pac-10 in scoring defense at 21.2 points per game. Cal was also second in total defense (359.2). This season, it's the exact opposite situation, as the Bears return eight starters, including six of the front seven. But even with that experience back, don't look for Cal to implement more advanced defensive schemes. "The general thought is that with so many people returning you can do a lot more on defense," Tedford said. "But I'm not always sure that more is better. I do think that with our returning experience, we can do a good job of eliminating mistakes." Gregory agrees. "We're looking to run the same stuff on defense, our base packages," he said. The anchor of the line, if not the defense itself, is senior tackle Brandon Mebane (6-3, 306). A first-team All-Pac-10 selection last season, Mebane finished with 22.5 tackles, 9.5 for loss and 7.0 sacks. But Mebane's contributions can't be fairly measured in statistics -- he was double-teamed on virtually every snap last season and even drew the occasion triple team. He's among the more disruptive defensive forces in the country. "Brandon is a force inside that you can't really address one-on-one," Tedford said. "He can be a dominating factor, no doubt about it. He really helps our linebackers because he draws so much attention." Sophomore Mika Kane (6-3, 303) is the likely starter at the other tackle. He saw significant playing time off the bench over the second half of last season and should be a stabilizing presence in the middle. His main objective will be taking up blockers, and in the process, limiting the double and triple teams against Mebane. Senior Jason Miller (6-4, 267) and freshman Tyson Alualu (6-2, 309) should be the first tackles off the bench. Alualu was rated the No. 2 player in Hawaii in 2005 by Rivals.com. At end, the Bears have three players capable of starting for just about any program in the nation. Entering fall practice, the two leading candidates were seniors Nu'u Tafisi (6-2, 260) and Abu Ma'afala (6-4, 281). Last season, Tafisi, a JUCO transfer, tied for the team lead with 10 tackles for loss. He also had 34 tackles (30 solo) and 3.5 sacks. For this defense to really reach its lofty potential, Tafisi has to find his way into the backfield more often and perhaps double his sack output from 2005. As for Ma'afala, a transfer from Hawaii, he finished last season with 14.5 tackles, 3.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks and is considered more of a run stopper than a pure pass rusher. On passing downs, Ma'afala is likely to give way to junior Phillip Mbakogu (6-3, 265). While a knee injury kept him out of spring practice, Mbakogu is expected to be 100 percent in the fall. For a sophomore, actually for any collegiate defensive end, his numbers were impressive last season, with 22 solo tackles, 18 assists, 10 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. If he's indeed healthy, as expected, Mbakogu should be on the field just about every snap outside of short yardage. Seniors Steve Kelly (6-1, 238), a former linebacker recovering from a major knee injury, and Fahim Abd Allah (6-3, 236) should also see some playing time at end. Gregory also thinks JUCO transfer Rulon Davis (6-5, 275) has a chance to crack the lineup as well. LINEBACKERS Sophomore Anthony Felder (6-3, 229) was a freshman All-American last season, making 39 tackles and starting eight games. And that was as a true freshman, too. Among the fastest linebackers in the nation, having been timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.5 seconds, Felder is already considered an NFL prospect. Oh, and after spring practice, Felder wasn't even a projected starter. He did nothing wrong, actually showed a better understanding of the defensive schemes. That's how strong Cal's linebackers are this season. Of course, Felder's going to see plenty of action, but the fact a guy who would start just about anywhere else in the country is coming off the bench shows just how spectacular this unit could be. Even better, of the team's top five linebackers, only one's a senior -- middle linebacker Desmond Bishop (6-2, 243), a second-team All-Pac-10 selection last season. "The linebackers are still young and when you take Desmond Bishop out of the picture, they're very young," Tedford said. "They are a very talented group with a lot of competitors. They can really create a mindset for your football team." The unquestioned leader of this unit, and the defense, is Bishop. Last season, the JUCO transfer led the team in tackles with 89, including a team-high 62 solo. He also added six tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Like most middle linebackers in the 4-3, Bishop isn't much of a pass rusher, but he can get into the backfield on slow developing running plays like a draw or sweep. The surprise of the spring, and a stunning surprise at that, was junior strong-side linebacker Justin Moye (6-1, 228). While Moye and Felder are expected to split time, Moye lassoed the starting job from the freshman All-American with a remarkable spring performance that floored the coaching staff. He's been strictly a special teams player at Cal, but that's going to change this season. "Justin had a heck of a spring, he really did," Gregory said. The weak-side linebacker chores will be handled by sophomore Worrell Williams (6-0, 257), the brother of former Miami standout D.J. Williams. He had 26 tackles, including four for loss, last season and could be among the conference's most-improved players. When Williams tackles an opposing player, he's more than likely to remember it the following morning. Behind Williams is another freshman All-American in sophomore Zack Follett (6-2, 230). He played in each of Cal's 12 games last season and finished with some impressive numbers, including 32 tackles, three for loss, three pass breakups and two sacks. Again, there are few teams in the country that he wouldn't be a lock to start for, Williams is that special of a talent. Providing depth are junior Greg Van Hoesen (6-3, 231) in the middle and senior Mickey Pimentel (6-2, 226) at the strong and weak side. "Our front seven, we know that's the system's strength this season and there's some real good depth at linebacker," Gregory said. "We have a good group back on defense, and while we weren't bad statistically last season, I'd be lying if I said this defense, without question, should be better than last year's." DEFENSIVE BACKS As the Bears' offense isn't without question marks -- the inexperience at offensive line -- the defense has similar issues in the secondary. "That's our biggest concern, we have to replace our safety and rover," Gregory said. On the positive side, both cornerbacks are back, including a potential All-American, senior Daymeion Hughes (6-2, 188). A first-team All-Pac-10 selection last season, Hughes finished with 62 tackles (46 solo), 12 pass breakups and a team-high five interceptions. Outside of possibly USC's Dwayne Jarrett, there's not a wide-out in the conference Hughes can't shut down one-on-one. And unlike some shutdown corners in the college ranks, Hughes doesn't shy away from contact either. On the other side is senior Tim Mixon (5-10, 187), who had 43 solo tackles, 10 pass breakups and three interceptions. He's also among the nation's top punt returners and can sprint with anyone on either side of the ball. Not as fundamentally sound as Hughes, Mixon is still among the top five or six corners in the conference. As for the question marks, Cal graduated its second-leading tackler and team leader in strong safety/rover Donnie McCleskey. Former walk-on tailback Brandon Hampton (5-10, 187), a junior who had 12 tackles and an interception last season, has the inside track on the starting nod and showed promise this spring. He also might be the team's best all-around athlete. At safety, junior Thomas DeCoud (6-3, 200) is the likely starter. A special teams demon the last few seasons, with six blocked kicks to his credit, DeCoud has ideal size and speed to replace Harrison Smith as Cal's last line of defense. He can also play corner if need be. Gregory is high on a pair of redshirt freshmen adding needed depth in cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson (5-11, 180) and safety Robert Peele (5-11, 182). Others in the mix include senior cornerback Randy Bundy (6-0, 159) and redshirt freshman safety Gary Doxy (6-2, 186). PUNTERS With the graduation of David Lonie, this is one of the few openings on the depth chart. But that could change quickly come fall, as one of the top punters among the JUCO ranks last season, Andrew Larson (6-1, 190), is all but a lock to start. Larson averaged 42.9 yards per punt last season at Saddleback (Calif.) Community College and dropped 17 inside the 20-yard line. SPECIAL TEAMS Cal was fifth in the nation with its average of 15.6 yards per punt return last season. That anchor of that effort was Mixon, who averaged 14.9 yards on his 24 returns. That included a 79-yard touchdown. He should again be among the conference's and the nation's elite. No one else brought back more than one, but as already mentioned, Jackson showed he has the ability, returning his lone effort 49 yards for six points. The kick return unit wasn't as strong, with Lynch averaging 20.8 yards per. However, with his role likely increasing offensively, look for his backfield mate O'Keefe, who averaged 24 yards on three kick returns in 2005, to handle the majority. Others who could see some action deep include Hampton, the likely starting rover, and Forsett. Sophomore long snapper Nick Sundberg (6-1, 252) was solid as rookie and is once again expected to handle the duties. His backups include sophomore Christopher Janeway (6-1, 226) and senior Greg Yamamoto (6-0, 219). Both the punt and kickoff coverage teams had some issues last season, especially the punt unit that allowed nearly 13 yards a return and a touchdown. BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS Cal is a fashionable top 10 pick, with good reason. The Bears have a realistic chance to not only complete the program's most accomplished season in at least half a century -- if not ever -- but more important to Tedford, his staff and his players, Cal has a legitimate opportunity of traveling to Los Angeles on Nov. 18 with the Pac-10 title on the line. Grading the Bears Unit Grade Offense A- Special teams B Defense A- Intangibles A- The Pac-10 is infinitely more balanced this season than the last two campaigns, when USC was clearly the preseason favorite. Cal, UCLA and Oregon, and possibly even Oregon State and Arizona State, have made up significant ground, and at least for this season, as Southern Cal is somewhat inexperienced but loaded with young talent, the competition for conference bragging rights won't be decided in mid-August. So, can the Bears win the program's first league title in 31 years? We think they can, however, it's hard to pick a horse with a questionable jockey, and the quarterback situation, which was nothing short of disastrous in 2005, is still dicey. Maybe Longshore is the answer, maybe Ayoob will be more comfortable in the spread offense, but it's hard to recall a team challenging for a national title with an unproven QB. If the Bears start out 2-0, at Tennessee on Sept. 2 and a week later in Berkeley against Minnesota, watch out, as that won't be possible without someone stepping up under center. The defense should be potent, led by perhaps the most complete collection of linemen and linebackers west of the Mississippi. The pass rush should be more than enough to bypass potential growing pains by the safeties. And then there's Lynch, who along with USC receiver Dwayne Jarrett should bring the Pac-10 any national attention some might fear departed with Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart. Lynch is a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate and here's guessing Cal produces a 2,000-yard rusher for the second time in three seasons (J.J. Arrington did so in 2004). In the end, we see Cal as a lock for double-digit wins and at worst, third-place in the Pac-10. Best-case scenario, though -- one of the quarterbacks takes to the spread offense and the Bears unseat USC, the three-time defending Pac-10 champs, and earn a coveted BCS bid that many thought they deserved two seasons ago.

[Hache Man]

Updated: Aug. 2, 2006, 6:23 AM ET
Team preview: Oregon



Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook

Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 119 Division I-A teams. To order the complete 2006 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255). (All information as of July 1, 2006) Oregon Ducks LOCATION Eugene, Ore. CONFERENCE Pac-10 LAST SEASON 10-2 (.833) CONFERENCE RECORD 7-1 (t-2nd) OFF. STARTERS RETURNING 7 DEF. STARTERS RETURNING 6 NICKNAME Ducks COLORS Green & Yellow HOME FIELD Autzen Stadium (54,000) COACH Mike Bellotti (UC Davis '73) RECORD AT SCHOOL 90-42 (11 years) CAREER RECORD 111-67-2 (16 years) ASSISTANTS • Neal Zoumboukos (San Francisco State '72), Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams/Tight Ends • Gary Crowton (BYU '83), Offensive Coordinator • Nick Aliotti (UC Davis '76), Defensive Coordinator • Gary Campbell (UCLA '73), Running Backs • Michael Gray (Oregon '84), Defensive Line • Steve Greatwood (Oregon '90), Offensive Line • John Neal (Ole Miss '95), Secondary • Don Pellum (Oregon '86), Linebackers • Robin Pflugard (Portland State '80), Wide Receivers TEAM WINS (last five yrs.) 11-7-8-5-10 FINAL RANK (last five yrs.) 2-40-41-59-14 2005 FINISH Lost to Oklahoma in Holiday Bowl. 2006 Schedule | 2005 Results | 2005 Statistics COACH AND PROGRAM Talk about a statement season. After seven straight bowl appearances, Oregon dropped the 2004 season finale against Oregon State to finish 5-6, and ineligible for a bowl bid. The dean of Pac-10 football coaches, Mike Bellotti, admitted how disappointing the campaign was, going as far to say his team lacked the energy to defeat its in-state rival. That's harsh, but Bellotti was simply planting a seed, providing an honest answer but at the same time, hopeful his message would be properly received in the locker room. It was. Inside the Pac-10 Take an Inside look at the Pac-10 with Blue Ribbon's 2006 team reports: Arizona Wildcats Arizona State Sun Devils California Bears Oregon Ducks Oregon State Beavers Stanford Cardinal UCLA Bruins USC Trojans Washington Huskies Washington State Cougars Oregon was among the surprises of the college football season in 2005, winning 10-of-11 regular-season games, the lone blemish coming at home to USC, 45-13. However, that decision came in the conference opener and it's hard to fathom the Ducks didn't garner enough support in the polls to earn a BCS invite by running the table -- seven straight wins in the conference. Alas for Oregon, it fell short, the last team not to crack the eight invitees and ended up losing to Oklahoma, 17-14, in the Holiday Bowl. "That was a special group of kids," Bellotti said. "Our whole motto was focus and finish, especially after 2004. We had a chance to match the best record in school history. It was the second-most prolific offense in school history and an improving defense that really made a difference down the stretch. In my mind, that may have been the best group of kids I've ever been associated with in my 33 years of coaching in terms of their ability to support each other and to find a way to win football games." It was certainly an impressive campaign -- 10 wins, second-place outright in the Pac-10, and in the regular-season finale, with a year earlier obviously on their minds, the Ducks defeated Oregon State, 56-14. For Bellotti, it was another impressive line on the coaching resume and there have been a few since arriving in Oregon a dozen seasons ago -- ninety wins, a .682 winning percentage and three double-digit victory campaigns since 2000. He needs just one more victory to surpass Rich Brooks for most coaching wins in program history. Despite being just 55, Bellotti has become almost an institution in Oregon, having been in Eugene since 1989, serving his first six years on campus as offensive coordinator. He raises more than $100,000 each year with his charity golf outing and in 2002, donated $25,000 to the school's library system. Even after the 5-6 campaign in 2004, there wasn't a sole whisper -- at least from anyone worth listening to -- about perhaps some new blood being in order on the sideline. Bellotti has created a model of consistency that allows for that minor setback season and yet, the program's mentality doesn't change. "We've set the bar fairly high here and I'm comfortable with that and the expectations that go with it," Bellotti said. "If a few positions come along, we have a chance to be a good team. If you asked each coach on the staff, they would tell you, in all honesty, that this could be a very good football team." Those words were spoken by Bellotti in late May 2005. Twelve months later, they apply to another autumn of Oregon football. And chances are, come spring 2007, they could be spoken again. QUARTERBACKS First off, and this is important, there's no quarterback controversy. It doesn't exist. Sure, there were numerous stories written about the spring battle between juniors Dennis Dixon (6-4, 196) and Brady Leaf (6-5, 231), but the thing is, it didn't exist then and it most certainly won't be an issue come August. At least not to those who matter. "The situation is the same -- Dennis is our quarterback," offensive coordinator and former BYU head coach Gary Crowton said. "They both are capable, but Brady's our backup." Last season, after Kellen Clemens went down with an ankle injury in late October, Dixon started four games, with Leaf virtually splitting time, as evidenced by the numbers. Dixon completed 66.3 percent of his 104 throws for 777 yards, six touchdowns and just three interceptions. As for Leaf, he completed 58.5 percent of his 82 attempts for three touchdowns and three picks. And yes, in case anyone doesn't already know, Leaf is indeed the younger brother of former Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf, the No. 2 overall pick of the 1998 NFL draft. This season, Crowton says the sharing of possessions is likely no more. "We might try getting Brady a drive a game, but there won't be a rotation of any kind," Crowton said. "When there's a need for Brady to come in, he will, but Dennis is our starter going into the season. Dennis is athletic, accurate, runs well [4.55 speed], and that's the direction we're heading right now." Dixon is among the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the conference, having rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown last season. He also avoids pressure well, almost instinctively, and unlike many scramblers, Dixon doesn't take many sacks. And the ones he does are usually minimal in terms of yards lost. As for Leaf, he's the prototypical pocket passer, much like a Drew Bledsoe. If he gets that split extra second, few throw the ball with more precision. The protection shouldn't be an issue, either, with five returning starting linemen from a unit that allowed just 20 sacks in 2005. That said, the decision to go with Dixon doesn't seem based on mobility. While sophomore Kyle Bennett (6-4, 220) is currently listed third on the depth chart, more than likely, Oregon's top recruit this season, quarterback Justin Roper (6-6, 200) of Buford (Ga.) High School, will serve as the unofficial No. 3 while taking a redshirt season. If either Dixon or Leaf are injured, or are ineffective, Roper would likely be next in line. RUNNING BACKS The Ducks graduated a solid back in Terrence Whitehead, who rushed for 679 yards, but sophomore Jonathan Stewart (5-11, 234) could prove an upgrade as soon as this season. The nation's leading kick returner as a freshman, Stewart was second on the squad with nine touchdowns, six coming via the ground, two on kick returns and another through the air. He rushed for 188 yards as Whitehead's backup on 53 carries, or 3.5 yards per attempt. This spring, Stewart showed what he was capable of, with 74 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries, plus five receptions in the spring scrimmage. "Jonathan was outstanding this spring, he's without question to me, an every down back," Crowton said. "He's just a great athlete, was highly recruited and there's no doubt whatsoever, this kid's our starter this season." Stewart has already become a workout legend at Oregon, gaining six pounds of muscle last season and this spring, running the fourth-fastest 40-yard dash in program history (4.34). He also benched-pressed 410 pounds, a program record for running backs, and his 38.5-inch vertical leap is second all-time behind just Latin Berry's 40.5-inch effort in 1988. Though Stewart won't be eligible for the NFL draft until 2008, scouts already have him on their radar as a potential first-round pick. It wouldn't surprise anyone within the program if he challenged for All-Pac-10 honors this season. As a running back, Stewart is the all-around package, too, strong enough to run between the tackles and quick enough to burst around the ends. And as shown on his kickoff returns, he has the breakaway speed to evade the secondary. As an added bonus, he has soft hands and above average receiving skills. Stewart's backups, Jeremiah Johnson (5-9, 213) and Terrell Jackson (5-9, 190), are also sophomores. Both are similar in style -- change-of-direction runners looking for holes. Last season, Johnson rushed for 147 yards and two scores on just 24 carries (6.1 yards per rush) while Jackson had 107 yards on 27 attempts (4.0 average). Both are decent receivers and offer solid depth. When the Ducks go with an H-back, or fullback, the likely candidate is senior Dan Kause (6-4, 252), who caught two passes in 2005 in six games. His backups include redshirt freshman Ed Dickson (6-5, 230) and sophomore Matt Larkin (6-2, 220). WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS Oregon lost three of its four leading receivers from a season ago, at least in terms of receptions, including one of the best in program history, Baltimore Ravens draft choice Demetrius Williams. The Ducks' leading receiver in 2005 concluded his stellar four-year career on campus with 2,600 yards and 20 touchdowns. Oregon still has talent at the position, though, with two returning starters and potentially plenty of depth, too. Senior James Finley (6-2, 204) was just two catches shy of tying Williams for the team lead last season, hauling in 57 for 571 yards and two touchdowns. In terms of hands, Finley's right there with any wide-out around; however, while he's sure-handed, he's definitely more of a possession receiver, not showing much in terms of after-the-catch or stretching the field. With others around him who can motor down the sidelines, Finley is the perfect complement and a nice second- or third option for Dixon when the primary target is covered downfield. The second returning starter in Oregon's mostly three-wide-out set is junior Cameron Colvin (6-2, 205), who finished last season with 22 catches for 332 yards and three scores. More of a long threat than Finley, Colvin, at times, seems capable of really taking that next step. Crowton said Colvin had "a strong, strong spring." The third starter, at least departing the spring, was junior Brian Paysinger (6-2, 208), who was hand-clocked this spring at 4.34 seconds in the 40. He caught six passes last season in limited action. He'll be hard-pressed to hold onto his job if freshman Derrick Jones (6-1, 186) comes in as advertised. Originally signed by USC, he practiced with the Trojans in August 2004 before being declared ineligible by the NCAA. While he hasn't played competitively since the fall of 2003, Jones can flat-out fly, running a 10.2 on Oregon's 4x100-meter team that fell just shy of qualifying for nationals this spring. At Polytechnic High School in Los Angeles, he was considered among the top prep receivers in the country. Others vying for playing time at Oregon's deepest position are sophomore Jaison Williams (6-5, 243), senior Jordan Kent (6-5, 210) and junior Garren Strong (6-3, 200), who had 13 receptions last season and looked strong this spring. "We're going to play a lot of guys, rotate them in and out, use our size and speed," said Crowton, who was among six finalists for the Broyles Award last season as the nation's top assistant coach. "It's pretty exciting having this group of players." In late May, the Ducks added yet another wide-out worthy of playing time in transfer Ryan Mattice (6-3, 200) of Dixie State (Utah) College. A tight end at Dixie, and a quarterback in high school, Mattice served a two-year mission after a year of junior college and despite being 22, has three years of eligibility remaining. At tight end, senior Dante Rosario (6-4, 250) has the size and the receiving skills to make for a viable option in the passing game. He finished 2005 with 15 catches for 168 yards and two touchdowns. OFFENSIVE LINE Like its instate Pac-10 counterpart, Oregon returns all five starters on the line. The anchor, ranked among the top in the nation at his position, is senior center Enoka Lucas (6-4, 299), who has 20 career starts and was a second-team All-Pac-10 selection last season. An NFL prospect, Lucas is the leader of this unit -- in the huddle and off the field. "Just a smart kid, smart football player -- Enoka is the leader of this team," Crowton said. "We were young here last season, but this unit is really going to be a key for us." The rest of the returnees were first-year starters last season, including senior Palauni Ma Sun (6-6, 235) and junior Josh Tschirgi (6-4, 311) at the guards and massive junior Geoff Schwartz (6-7, 359) and sophomore Max Unger (6-5, 296), a first team freshman All-American, at the tackles. While the run blocking wasn't any great shakes last season, the pass protection was superb, allowing just 20 sacks over 12 games. With the entire unit back and Unger expected to mature into an elite player, a potential all-conference guy, plus the mobile Dixon taking the majority of snaps, a reachable goal for this group could be allowing no more than a sack per game. However, while the returning starters are locked in entering practice in August, a pair of JUCO transfers in guard Pat So'oalo (6-5, 355), who was originally signed last season but wasn't eligible, and tackle Fenuki Tupou (6-6, 322) could be pressing come September. Others looking for some playing time include sophomore center Mark Lewis (6-4, 292), redshirt freshman guard Simi Toeaina (6-4, 308) and sophomore tackle Jacob Hucko (6-7, 307). KICKERS The Pac-10, without debate, has the most accomplished array of kickers of any conference in the country entering the season. To many, Oregon State's Alexis Serna is the preseason All-American selection, but in reality, Justin Medlock at UCLA or even Arizona senior Nick Folt, who was routinely booting 65-yarders this spring, could corral Pac-10 honors and few would be surprised. The same goes for Oregon senior Paul Martinez (6-2, 210), who has an NFL leg and led the nation last season with field goals made per game (2.11). He converted 19-of-24 three-point efforts, including an impressive 8-of-9 from beyond 40 yards. Included in that total was a season-long of 51 yards. His kickoffs were solid, too, although punter Matt Dragich handled the bulk of those duties last season. DEFENSIVE LINE Last season defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti's unit led the Pac-10 in total defense, allowing 357.7 yards per game, and passing defense (223.8) while placing third in scoring defense 23.2 and just off the pace with 31 sacks. Washington State finished with 34. "The players made their coach look good," the ever-humble Aliotti said. One player in particular certainly made Aliotti and just about anyone who took the field with him look good, and then some. That was Haloti Hgata, and the Baltimore Ravens saw enough of his dominance to make him their first-round pick last April. The consensus All-America tackle was a disruptive force last season, drawing double and often triple teams and still somehow finishing with 61 tackles, nine for loss and three sacks. He was also chosen co-defensive player of the year in the Pac-10. "Absolutely, he was a dominant tackle, a force, if not the best out there last season, certainly one of the best in the country," Aliotti said. "We don't have another one like him. The Ravens do, though." Hgata's loss, a year before his eligibility was up, obviously gives this unit a different look. "The line was an area of concern this spring, but we made some strides," Aliotti said. "But we didn't look as good as last season, that's fair to say." Of the six returning starters on defense, two are among the linemen, led by senior Matt Toeaina (6-3, 301), who played mostly end last season but was shifted to tackle this spring for lack of better options. He was solid in 2005, with 30 tackles, six for loss and three sacks. Toeaina could move back to end depending on which players step up come August. The other returning starter is senior end Darius Sanders (6-5, 269), who had 9.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 2005. Sophomore Cole Linehan (6-4, 295) is projected to start at tackle, while senior Victor Filipe (6-2, 290) departed spring as the other starting end. Both saw limited action last season. Others in the mix include junior tackle David Faaeteete (6-2, 307), sophomore end Nick Reed (6-3, 259) and sophomore tackle Ra'Shon Harris (6-5, 305). Another familiar name on the roster is Dexter Manley II (6-2, 260), the son of former Redskins Pro Bowl defensive end Dexter Manley. "The line showed some potential surprises this spring, but we need some guys to really step up," Aliotti said. "Harris, Linehan and Reed all had good springs, and that was encouraging." LINEBACKERS The Ducks use multiple defensive alignments, switching between a 4-2-5 system, with a rover taking the place of a third linebacker, and the conventional 4-3-4. Within the rover system, both starting linebackers are back from last season in seniors Blair Phillips (6-2, 246) and Brent Haberly (6-0, 228). However, a huge loss at strong-side linebacker is Anthony Trucks, who led the Ducks across the board with 99 tackles, 15.5 for loss and 11 sacks. "It's a recurring theme, talking about losing some playmakers, but Trucks really made a lot of plays for us," Aliotti said. "We lost five starters from last season that weren't just out there taking up space, they were productive. "But Haberly and Phillips started quite a bit for us, and we feel good about our linebackers." Haberly, who had just three career tackles as of last August, started all 12 games and finished with impressive numbers, including 63 tackles, 5.5 for loss. He was also effective in pass coverage. Phillips started eight games and had 45 stops, nine for loss and two sacks. When Oregon goes with three linebackers, look for junior A.J. Tuitele (5-11, 213) to draw the majority of the work. The versatile Tuitele, who can play strong safety as well as all three linebacker positions, had 37 stops in 2005. Backups include sophomore John Bacon (6-3, 235) and junior Jason Turner (6-2, 221). DEFENSIVE BACKS Last spring, while speaking with a reporter about the upcoming season, Aliotti couldn't stop gushing about then 17-year old freshman rover Patrick Chung (5-11, 205). He had committed to Oregon without even taking a visit a few months after his 16th birthday in December 2003 and Aliotti, not one prone to hyping his players for the sake of hype, said, "Patrick is so athletic and he's strong enough to play in the Pac-10 right now. Chances are he'll be starting." While many were puzzled to why Chung wasn't chosen the conference's defensive newcomer of the year by media and coaches, The Sporting News didn't miss out, tabbing him the defensive freshman of the year. He was the team's second-leading tackler with 91 and also added two interceptions. "It's nice when a young man steps up like that and proves his coach right, huh?," Aliotti said. "Patrick's a true warrior on the field, in every sense, just a special football player that's only going to improve." Keep in mind that Chung turns 19 years old on Aug. 19. While it's not likely an option, having taken a redshirt his freshman year, Chung could conceivably be drafted as a teenager, because he's three years removed from high school, as per NFL guidelines. If he remains healthy after offseason shoulder surgery that kept him out of spring practice, Chung should lead the team in tackles and compete for All-Pac-10 honors. Senior free safety J.D. Nelson (5-11, 219), who had offseason knee surgery but is expected at 100 percent this fall, was a second-team All-Pac-10 selection in 2005, with 64 tackles and an interception, and forms a solid 1-2 combination with Chung. The likely starter at strong safety is junior Kwame Agyeman (5-11, 205), who had 12 tackles in a reserve role last season. He'll be pushed by sophomore Jerome Boyd (6-2, 211), with senior Parris Moore (6-0, 190) backing up Chung and junior Ryan DePalo (6-1, 199) the No. 2 behind Nelson on the depth chart. "The secondary, after Chung and Nelson, is up for grabs," Aliotti said. "The key for us, though, is what to do at cornerback." The starters through the spring, hardly set in stone, but nonetheless, were junior Jackie Bates (5-10, 180), who had 30 tackles as a reserve last season, and redshirt freshman Willie Glasper (5-11, 175). Pushing both are redshirt freshman Walter Thurmond III (6-0, 175) and JUCO transfer Jameel Dowling (6-2, 184), of Butte (Calif.) College, who enrolled in January and took part in spring practice. "Willie and Thurmond were surprises this spring, a lot of the younger guys played better than expected," Aliotti said. "I really think Jackie's going to be a great player for us." Another redshirt freshman, Terrell Ward (5-10, 189), had a solid spring and could vie for some action. Overall, the goal for Aliotti is keeping his defense competitive as it gels and develops in the early stages. And then, say early October and the meat of the Pac-10 schedule, the unit will be forcing turnovers and winning games. "We played pretty good defense last season and I hope we're solid enough early to compete," Aliotti said. We have to really get better during two-a-days, and if we do, this group could be pretty good, especially as the season progresses." PUNTERS The Ducks split the punting chores in 2005 between then juniors Matt Dragich (6-1, 213) and Aaron Knowles (6-0, 182) and while the former departed spring practice No. 1 on the depth chart, production, possibly even on a game-by-game basis, will dictate this situation. Dragich averaged 38.9 yards on 32 punts, while Knowles was slightly better at 40.0 over 14 efforts, although he had one blocked. Neither senior is all-conference caliber, although Dragich, the back-up kicker, has a strong leg. Part of the issue could've been adjusting to the punt formation changes implemented last season in hopes of improving coverage. SPECIAL TEAMS The return game should once again be strong, as it was last season, with cornerback Justin Phinisee handling punts as one of the best in the conference and Stewart leading the nation at 33.7 yards over a dozen returns, two of which he brought back for touchdowns. However, with Phinisee having graduated and Stewart likely to see part-time action at best while concentrating on his starting tailback responsibilities, it would appear the Ducks were lacking in the return game. And while that could end up being true, some serious talent is inheriting those jobs, with lightning-quick freshman wide-out Derrick Jones, an elite Pac-10 sprinter, slated to handle punt returns and backup tailback Jeremiah Johnson the front runner on kick returns. Both have the ability to actually improve the return game from a season ago, especially Jones. The coverage units were decent outside of a return punt going for six points, although whoever kicks off could use a little more distance. BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS Unless Stewart ends up being the second coming of Jim Brown, and even then, it's tough crunching the Oregon schedule and coming up with another double-digit victory campaign. Even with the added regular-season games as the Pac-10 finally goes to a full schedule, with each team playing every other team. In years past, two teams took a season off from one another on a rotating basis, obviously somewhat of an advantage for whoever didn't have USC the last four years. Grading the Ducks Unit Grade Offense A- Special teams B Defense B- Intangibles B The Ducks are a bowl-caliber team, but nonconference games at Fresno State and at home against last season's Holiday Bowl foe Oklahoma, plus a stronger Pac-10 from top to bottom, will make it tough going. The Ducks caught some breaks along the way last season, remaining extremely healthy, not facing UCLA, beating Cal in overtime and a field-goal decision at Washington State. Can such good fortune happen again? Don't misunderstand. Oregon was worthy of a BCS bowl, and the loss to Oklahoma in the Holiday Bowl was likely more of a letdown factor than anything else, much like a year previous with Cal losing to Texas Tech in the same bowl. The loss of Ngata is huge. If for some reason he pulled a Matt Leinart and stuck around for his senior campaign, conventional wisdom would have placed the Ducks right there with Cal and USC in a three-team battle for conference supremacy. But as it is, the defense needs some patchwork, the special teams are decent, with an upside of being solid, and the offense appears loaded, ready to score 35-40 points a week. To some degree, we saw this formula last season with Washington State, and a few injuries later, well, we're certainly not predicting Oregon to suffer a similar fate as the Cougars. But it's worth noting how similar the teams appear on paper. Oregon starts off with a vicious six-game schedule that includes Stanford, at Fresno State, Oklahoma, at Arizona State, at Cal and UCLA. If the Ducks somehow come away at 3-3, or better, even with USC looming and tough road dates at Washington State and Oregon State, they should end up around 7-5, maybe 5-4 in the Pac-10. And while Oregon has an upside, this team appears a middle-of-the-road finisher in the conference.

[Hache Man]

Updated: Aug. 2, 2006, 6:26 AM ET
Team preview: Oregon State



Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook

Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 119 Division I-A teams. To order the complete 2006 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255). (All information as of July 1, 2006) Oregon State Beavers LOCATION Corvallis, Ore. CONFERENCE Pac-10 LAST SEASON 5-6 (.455) CONFERENCE RECORD 3-5 OFF. STARTERS RETURNING 9 DEF. STARTERS RETURNING 6 NICKNAME Beavers COLORS Orange & Black HOME FIELD Reser Stadium (43,300) COACH Mike Riley (Alabama '74) RECORD AT SCHOOL 28-30 (5 years) CAREER RECORD 28-30 (5 years) ASSISTANTS • Danny Langsdorf (Linfield College '95), Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks • Mark Banker (Springfield College '78), Defensive Coordinator/Safeties • Bruce Read (Portland State '86), Special Teams Coordinator • Nigel Burton (Washington '99), Secondary • Mike Cavanaugh (Southern Connecticut State '86), Offensive Line • Jim Gilstrap (Western Michigan '64), Running Backs • Lee Hull (Holy Cross '88), Wide Receivers • Greg Newhouse (Nevada '75), Linebackers • Joe Seumala (Hawaii '89), Defensive Line TEAM WINS (last five yrs.) 5-8-8-7-5 FINAL RANK (last five yrs.) 46-33-35-24-29 2005 FINISH Lost to Oregon in regular-season finale. 2006 Schedule | 2005 Results | 2005 Statistics COACH AND PROGRAM Every new season holds the promise of great accomplishment, some more so than others. The 2006 football campaign at Oregon State is an example. It's not that coach Mike Riley's job is in jeopardy, because it's not. Even a second straight losing season wouldn't change that. So what exactly makes this season any different than the previous two since Riley returned to Oregon State after four years in the NFL? (Riley also coached the Beavers in 1997-98.) Inside the Pac-10 Take an Inside look at the Pac-10 with Blue Ribbon's 2006 team reports: Arizona Wildcats Arizona State Sun Devils California Bears Oregon Ducks Oregon State Beavers Stanford Cardinal UCLA Bruins USC Trojans Washington Huskies Washington State Cougars In 2000, with a majority of Riley's recruits, Dennis Erickson guided OSU to a program-best 11 victories and a stunning 41-9 defeat of Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. Since, the Beavers are a pedestrian 33-27, including last season's 5-6 effort that concluded with an embarrassing 56-14 defeat at rival Oregon on Nov. 19. What's our point? For Riley, his staff and his players, the time has come to decide whether 2000 will forever be a one-year abnormality or the foundation in erasing decades of mediocrity and at times, futility. Of course, the Beavers don't need to win 11 games and defeat Notre Dame in January for this season to be deemed a success. But with his fourth recruiting class in the books since returning, it's time for Riley to guide Oregon State back into the upper echelon of the Pac-10, win eight, maybe nine games and secure a solid bowl bid. Is that possible in 2006, especially with the memory of last season so fresh in the minds of players and coaches? "We didn't get accomplished what we wanted to last year, but we have to put that behind us," Riley said. The karma just wasn't there in 2005 on many levels, from off-the-field issues hanging over the program during spring practice to devastating injuries to key players to a pair of Pac-10 home losses by two and three points to Arizona and Stanford, respectively, in 15 days. If last season's record appeared destined before the first ball was snapped in the season opener against Portland State, the OSU staff and players departed spring practice with a similar predetermined feeling. This one, though, was brought about via positive vibes and the sense of opportunity awaiting them come August. "There are a lot of more knowns this year, especially from the standpoint of reps," Oregon State defensive coordinator Mark Banker said. "There's something about this group right now, we have their attention. Last season, something else had their collective focus. This group is tight, too, and that factors into the mix." Banker was speaking of his defense, but his sentiments were echoed by several coaches and players this spring around Corvallis. "It's been a great spring," Riley said. "There have been a lot of individuals who had a chance to grow. The team has practiced tremendously well. That's one of my big deals that I look for as much as anything. We got some stuff established football-wise that will take us into the fall." Come the fall, the Beavers, like many schools, are looking at the first 13-game schedule in program history. Unlike last season, that includes USC, which Oregon State will play host to on Oct. 28. The nonconference opponents include Eastern Washington and Idaho at home and Boise State and Hawaii (regular-season finale, Dec. 2) on the road. It's difficult not seeing this team dramatically improved from a season ago and not at the least qualifying for the program's fourth bowl bid in five years. While receiver is a question mark entering preseason practice in August, the offense, behind second-year coordinator Danny Langsdorf, returns nine starters and should be among the more potent west of the Mississippi River. The defense has potential holes, but Banker is regarded as one of the premier defensive minds in the nation. Come season's end, it would've been an even decade, 10 campaigns, since Riley inherited the program the first time, in late December 1996. In his second season, Riley guided the Beavers to a 5-6 mark, the program's best record in 27 years. Success can become its own bizarre burden on occasion. Think about it -- as recently as 1998, five wins was considered a near-miracle for Oregon State. Riley's two-year rebuilding project was deemed so successful he was rewarded with an NFL head-coaching job with the Chargers. Just seven years later, that same 5-6 season was labeled by all a disappointment. For the hometown boy -- Riley's father, Bud, was an OSU assistant from 1965-72 and Mike led Corvallis High School to the 1970 state title -- this season is about determining this program's future. Seems a mighty burden to place on just 13 or, Riley hopes, 14 football games, but with 14 expected underclassmen starters, the Beavers need not compete for the conference title. May that happen in 2007 or beyond. No, Riley just has to prove, for the final time, that Oregon State isn't returning to the days of celebrating losing seasons and that nothing short of a bowl invitation will ever again suffice for the Beavers. And in the process of accomplishing that, this season's about restoring pride from the likes of some humiliation -- on and off the field in 2005. It's hard to imagine the program looking back three, five, maybe even 10 years from now and not pointing to 2006 as the turning point. It's just a matter which direction the program is headed. QUARTERBACKS At the conclusion of last season, Langsdorf -- one of the youngest offensive coordinators working for a BCS school -- went back and reviewed each of the 355 passes Matt Moore (6-4, 193) threw. And while he charted each, there were a few dozen that Lansgdorf watched again and again. After transferring from UCLA after his sophomore season (he started five games there in 2003), Moore won the starting job last August. At times, he appeared a more than worthy follower to the likes of Jonathan Smith and Derek Anderson, who combined to start every game -- except the 1998 season opener -- for almost seven seasons. And then there were a few throws that defined Oregon State's season. Of those, 19 were intercepted, while another four or five could have been. Moore finished the season with 2,711 yards -- his 271.1 yards-per-game average was second in the Pac-10 -- and 11 touchdowns. He completed nearly 60 percent of his passes, too. Good as those numbers were, Moore's interception total stood out while Langsdorf was watching more film than Roger Ebert. "A few of those 19 picks were miscommunication, a tipped ball or two, but the fault of Matt on the other interceptions that I found was throwing late, his footwork, making poor decisions and forcing the ball," Langsdorf said. "We put a huge emphasis on Matt this spring with progressing through his reads and he seemed much more comfortable with our offensive system. It really showed, too." At times last season, despite a lack of pressure near him, Moore tried forcing passes to his first target. He also struggled with second and third reads, often not even looking them off as decoys. However, Moore showed the arm strength, and at times, the poise, to blossom into one of the conference's top quarterbacks this season. "He was doing a much better job staying back, a much better job of allowing the offensive line to provide protection. I think you'll see a much different quarterback this season," Langsdorf said. With several Pac-10 starting quarterbacks departed from a season ago, Moore's actually considered a veteran -- with 15 career Pac-10 starts -- by present conference standards. "At the quarterback position, it's really important to have someone with college game experience, and Matt played almost the entire season," Riley said. "Matt made a lot of good plays and played just a lot of good football for us. There are things he can improve on, but those are tangible things that we can work on. I really expect Matt to take a step to the next level." Junior Ryan Gunderson (6-5, 230) started last season's finale at Oregon -- Moore was injured a week earlier -- and has served as the primary backup the last two seasons. He threw for 542 yards and two scores in '05. However, it's hard to imagine him holding off strong-armed, mobile redshirt freshman Sean Canfield (6-4, 228). Some long-time observers of the program think he could be better than current Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson. RUNNING BACKS Depth is an issue in the backfield, but Oregon State returns one of the more dynamic talents in the conference in junior Yvenson Bernard (5-9, 202). And if he stays healthy, Bernard has a chance to be the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. Yes, he's that good. In 2005 Bernard finished ninth in the nation with 120.1 rushing yards per game, but he's got other skills. With Reggie Bush having left for the NFL, Bernard is arguably the best receiving tailback in the conference. He caught 37 passes last season and this year, that number could easily hit 50. Overall, he finished last season with 1,637 yards from scrimmage, including the sixth-highest ground total in program history with 1,321. "Yvenson is a special quality, he's going to see a good amount of touches this season, and should really rack up some yards from scrimmage," Langsdorf said. Bernard won't be seeing many breathers on offense, as he's not only the team's primary, but the offense's third-down option as well. The Beavers are more than likely to line him up at flanker on occasion, too, much like USC did last season with Bush. "He's one of the most versatile players I have ever been around," Riley said. "He's an excellent runner, he has great toughness, he's a good receiver, he's smart and he's a good blocker." Among the favorites to back Bernard up was senior Nate Wright. But in early-April, he decided to transfer, leaving just sophomore Patrick Fuller (5-11, 199) and junior Clinton Polk (6-2, 230), a junior college transfer who impressed the staff with 107 yards in the spring game. "We're a little bit worried about depth," Langsdorf said. "Both Clinton and Fuller showed a lot of improvement this spring. But they're also unproven." WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS Even Langsdorf admitted, with a laugh, that he's pretty sure Oregon State won't be laying claim to another Biletnikoff Award winner this season. However, while Mike Hass, who had 90 receptions for 1,532 yards last season, graduated (he was selected in the sixth round by New Orleans), this should be an area of strength. Overall, the receivers have more speed than last season's group, but the real upgrade here comes at tight end with the return of senior Joe Newton (6-7, 252). A medical redshirt in 2005, having suffered a left leg injury hours before the first practice in August, Newton is not only a favorite for All-Pac 10 honors but the Mackey Award, as the nation's top tight end, as well. His absence last season was a huge blow to Moore and the passing game, especially in the red zone. "He's a real threat match-up wise, and Joe has very good hands," Langsdorf said. "This is a legitimate NFL player, he's already there blocking-wise and he's going to be a dangerous player for us. "This offense is built inside out, with the focus on Newton and Bernard. We really want to take advantage of their skills." In 2004, Newton was the team's second-leading receiver, behind Hass, with 56 catches and seven touchdowns. If a wide-out or two can stretch the field and take some pressure off Newton in the middle of the field, there's no telling the type of numbers he could produce. Few within the program would be surprised by 75 receptions and double-digit touchdowns. And come next April expect Mel Kiper Jr. and the like to be talking about Newton early and often as a legitimate first-round draft pick. Senior Jason Vandiver (6-4, 266) started three games last season and hauled in 10 passes. He'll serve as Newton's primary backup with a pair of promising freshmen, Gabe Miller (6-2, 220) and Joe Halahuni (6-2, 220), possibly bypassing a redshirt season and pushing Vandiver for playing time. Moving to the wide-outs, junior Anthony Wheat-Brown (6-1, 223) is the only returning starter in the three-receiver offense. Despite playing through a host of injuries last season, Wheat-Brown, who mostly lines up at slot back, finished second on the team with 40 receptions for 400 yards. Despite just the 10.0 yards-per-catch average, Wheat-Brown is an exceptional athlete who could stretch the field if healthy. For Langsdorf, the surprise of the spring was the play of junior split end Sammy Stroughter (6-0, 183). The team's punt return the last two years, Stroughter caught just five balls last year but Langsdorf said, "He's definitely a potential starter, and Sammy's going to have a big role in our system." The third starter, at flanker, is likely senior Ruben Jackson (5-10, 200). He finished 2005 with 11 receptions for 118 yards. His backup is likely redshirt freshman Anthony Crosby (6-0, 191), while senior Marcel Love (6-0, 189) is also expected to see some snaps behind Stroughter. "This is a group that has a lot to prove, but it also is a group that has a nice talent base," Riley said. OFFENSIVE LINE Some coordinators can spend a career and not return an entire starting offensive line. This season marks the first time Oregon State has done so since 1977. Under first-year line coach Mike Cavanaugh, the Beavers fielded their strongest front since the 2000 Fiesta Bowl unit. To have the group return intact is a huge advantage. "The offensive line is the foundation of a team, and I really like how our line developed through the year last season," Riley said. "I like the attitude of the guys on our offensive line, and it's a tremendous bonus to have all your starters back in this area." The unit's strength lies in its balance, as all five starters could vie for All-Pac 10 honors this season. The tackles are both seniors who enter 2006 having started 23 straight games. Josh Linehan (6-5, 315) mans the right side, while Adam Koets (6-6, 299) handles the left. Both are solid run blockers, but the unit as a whole, if there's a weakness, needs to improve its collective pass protection. The Beavers allowed 32 sacks last season, which probably led to Moore rushing a few passes. In the middle is junior Kyle DeVan (6-2, 296), who earned Pac-10 honorable-mention honors last season, while the guards are junior Roy Schuening (6-4, 315) on the right and sophomore Jeremy Perry (6-2, 313) on the left. Schuening was also a Pac-10 honorable-mention honoree, and Perry was the conference's co-freshman of the year and also appeared on numerous freshmen All-America teams. The line also has some depth, with sophomores Andy Levitre (6-3, 334), Adam Speer (6-3, 282) and Tavita Thompson (6-6, 302) all having gained some game experience last season as redshirt freshmen. KICKERS A former walk-on, junior Alexis Serna (6-2, 162) has a legitimate chance at becoming one of the most-accomplished place-kickers in collegiate football history. As just a sophomore in 2005, Serna was the Lou Groza Award recipient as the nation's top kicker, and first-team All-Pac-10. He was also second-team AP All-American. "It's great to know that we have two more years with Alexis. He's one of the great stories in college football," Riley said. Serna enters 2006 as the second-most accurate kicker in Division I-A history, having converted 40-of-48 attempts (83.3 percent), including 23-of-28 last season. He also booted 32-of-32 extra-points in 2005. His 101 points last season was a program record for kickers. Automatic inside of 30 yards, at 18-of-18 in his career, Serna was 6-of-10 beyond 40 yards last season and in 2004, he launched a career-best 55-yarder. He is 32-of-34 from 39 yards or closer over his two seasons at OSU. Serna should be the country's premier kicker this season. DEFENSIVE LINE Banker, a former NFL defensive coordinator, didn't waste much time in getting to the point when asked about his defense last season. "Our pass defense was putrid," he said. The Beavers finished with 22 sacks, an average of two per game. That was tied with Arizona for last in the conference. Oregon State, in a statistical anomaly, finished last in pass defense, allowing nearly 300 yards per game, yet led the conference in pass completion defense at 52.7. Actually, there's a simple explanation. "That's from allowing big plays, especially in the beginning of the year. Communication was a huge issue," Banker said. Those big plays led to some equally big defeats, including a 63-27 setback to Louisville on Sept. 17. The Beavers also lost to UCLA, 51-28, on Oct. 22 and of course, that aforementioned 56-14 defeat to Oregon in the season finale on Nov. 19. Ironically, a unit that allowed 33.2 points per game just a season ago could be among the stronger defensive units in the conference this year. Whether the Beavers achieve that status, though, likely depends upon the health and performance of their front four. For those who consider the spring a barometer of future success, the line couldn't have performed better. Junior Jeff Van Orsow (6-4, 267), who had 31 tackles, including seven for loss last season, was dominant in the spring game, with six tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Van Orsow isn't the lone returning starting end -- senior Joe Lemma (6-3, 257) is back on the left side -- but the key to success this season rests in the health of senior tackle Ben Siegert (6-4, 294). While he doesn't officially count as a returning starter, Siegert has 25 career starts and could vie for All-Pac-10 honors. As a sophomore, Siegert had 30 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. However, last season was a virtual waste, between off-the-field issues involving a stolen sheep (you read that correctly) and a season-long shoulder injury. He did manage 4.5 tackles for loss including 3.0 sacks. "Ben is a good player and I expect him to be a leader for our line," Riley said. Junior Curtis Coker (6-1, 307) departed spring camp with the fourth starting position, at right tackle, but he's expected to share time with sophomore Naymon Frank (6-5, 318) and likely junior William Vea (6-2, 288). Banker expects JUCO transfer Gerard Lee (6-3, 276) to compete for playing time at end. LINEBACKERS While the pass defense struggled last season, Oregon State led the Pac-10 in rushing defense, allowing just 108 yards per game. That was attributable to the act the Beavers had a pair of first team All-Pac-10 linebackers in Trent Bray and Keith Ellison. Both have departed, but neither Banker nor Riley is terribly concerned about this group. "We have a lot of guys who have been waiting for their opportunity," Riley said. Junior Andy Darkins (6-2, 233), who had 35 tackles in 2005, is the lone returning starter, although he mostly split time last season at weak linebacker with classmate Derrick Doggett (6-3, 208), the team's second-leading returning tackler with 42, including four for loss. Both are expected to start this season, though, with Doggett manning the Sam. However, Darkins is somewhat of a question mark entering fall practice -- he missed the entire spring recovering from bicep surgery. His health status come August was unclear. Another junior, JUCO newcomer Joey LaRocque (6-4, 235) departed spring camp the starter in place of Darkins at the Will. The middle linebacker job has already been claimed by junior Alan Darlin (6-1, 257). While he made just 12 stops last season, he looked solid during the spring, even taking on the play-calling responsibilities. No one expects him to replace Bray after 15 spring practices, but Banker couldn't be more pleased with his progress. "He's done extremely well, and he'll continue to grow," Banker said. "He hasn't had a lot of reps in games, but he's taking on that leadership role. It's not like he's some kid coming in off the street, either. "He's been here, playing special teams for two years. He made a big play for us, as a freshman, his first game, against LSU on the opening kickoff two years ago in front of 96,000 fans on the road. That says a lot about the type of player and person he is." A trio of sophomores is likely to see action as reserves, including Jared Cornell (6-1, 245), Isaiah Cook (6-2, 216) and Dennis Christopher (6-1, 214). JUCO transfer Danzel Issac (6-3, 218) could also join the mix for playing time. DEFENSIVE BACKS Oregon State returns its entire starting secondary. And while this group was burned for several big plays last season, most of which came in the first month and if the line can muster any pressure on the opposing backfield, this unit should be a strength for the Beavers. "Pass coverage is pass rush and coverage, they go hand-in-hand, and having the secondary back for us is a good thing," Banker said. "We didn't settle on four starters until the Washington State game last season [OSU played Washington State on Oct. 1] and it took time for this group to hit its stride." "A secondary needs to trust one another and early on, we had issues across the board, communication, body language, trust." The anchor of the secondary is three-year starter and All-Pac-10 candidate Sabby Piscitelli (6-3, 226). A senior strong safety, Piscitelli already ranks among the top 10 in program history with 10 career interceptions. He's quick, instinctive toward the ball and without debate, the leader of this unit. He finished 2005 with 53 tackles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Sophomore free safety Al Afalava (5-11, 198) appears, by all accounts, a future All-Pac-10 honoree. An authoritative tackler who handed out some big hits as a redshirt freshman in 2005, Afalava had 32 tackles in nine games. "Al showed a lot by earning the starting job last year," Riley said. "He has a real physical presence to him. He's smart, he has a great feel for the game and we're expecting even better things from him this season." Few, if any, teams in the conference matches up with Piscitelli and Afalava at the safety position. At cornerback, after some rough early goings, sophomores Keenan Lewis (6-1, 191) and Brandon Hughes (5-11, 178) showed the making of a strong duo in the latter stages of 2005. Neither had an interception, but Lewis did finish fourth on the squad in tackles with 45. Hughes was close behind with 41. "From last spring to this past spring session, Lewis and Hughes, it's night and day, it's like watching different football players," Banker said. Junior Gerard Lawson (5-11, 192) is the likely nickel back, with junior Coye Francies (6-1, 176) next in the line. At safety, depth includes junior Daniel Drayton (5-10, 205) and sophomore Bryan Payton (6-2, 214). PUNTERS The Beavers had both the All-Pac-10 place-kicker and punter last season; however, while Serna has two years of eligibility remaining, punter Sam Paulescu graduated. Freshman Kyle Loomis (6-3, 185) will enter fall practice as the team's new punter, while junior Jon Strowbridge (6-2, 249) was erratic this spring in looking to unseat him. He did, however, launch a wind-aided 77-yarder in the spring game. Paulescu averaged 43.0 yards a boot in 2005. The goal this season is more likely around 40.0, although Loomis, from Roseburg, Ore., has the potential to one day emerge as an all-conference selection. SPECIAL TEAMS The Beavers could use a little more giddy-up from the return game, as Stroughter, a wide-out, averaged 6.5 yards on 26 punt returns last season with a long of 29. While the Beavers would love him to break one now and then, Stroughter is solid, and as he enters his third season handling the duties, he's more than dependable. He's also the favorite to emerge as the primary kick returner, despite taking back just six last season at 21.6 per. Lawson, a backup cornerback, is expected to share the duties, with Jackson, the starting senior flanker, also in the mix. Gunderson, the backup quarterback, will once again handle the holding duties, while senior Joel Cohen (5-11, 242) departed spring practice as the long snapper. Sophomore Aaron Carlson (6-1, 243) is Cohen's likely backup. Last season, Cohen was the primary punt snapper before an injury in September; Carlson handled the punt snapping thereafter. Both the kickoff and punting units could use some improvement, as they allowed 23.0 and 9.0 yards per return, respectively. The No. 1 enemy of any defense is field position, and that usually starts with special teams. BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS We think the two most-improved teams in the Pac-10 this season will be Oregon State and Arizona. That said, the Beavers weren't as bad as their record indicated last season and could have easily earned the program's sixth bowl invitation in seven seasons with a break against either Arizona or Stanford. Grading the Beavers Unit Grade Offense A- Special teams B Defense B Intangibles A- All the makings are there for the second-best season in program history. The Beavers won 11 games in 2000 and nine in 1962. Including a bowl game, there's no reason Oregon State can't go 10-4, maybe even 11-3. Obviously, the key to this predicted success is Moore, but unless there's a mental block that the coaching staff is unaware of, he appears headed for a breakout season and with future NFL players like Bernard and Newton around him, this offense should be fun to watch. The defense has holes, especially the front seven, but barring an outbreak of injuries in August, Banker and Riley should be able to put together one of the top three or four units in the conference. And while the Beavers just don't have the depth of USC or UCLA, we think Oregon State can challenge for third place in the Pac-10 and at the least, place fifth at 8-5. Either way, anything less than a bowl bid would be wildly disappointing and to us, a big surprise.

[Hache Man]

Updated: Aug. 2, 2006, 6:22 AM ET
Team preview: Stanford



Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook

Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 119 Division I-A teams. To order the complete 2006 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255). (All information as of July 1, 2006) Stanford Cardinal LOCATION Stanford, Calif. CONFERENCE Pac-10 LAST SEASON 5-6 (.455) CONFERENCE RECORD 4-4 (t-4th) OFF. STARTERS RETURNING 10 DEF. STARTERS RETURNING 6 NICKNAME Cardinal COLORS Cardinal & White HOME FIELD Stanford Stadium (50,000) COACH Walt Harris (Pacific '68) RECORD AT SCHOOL 5-6 (1 year) CAREER RECORD 68-74 (12 years) ASSISTANTS • A.J. Christoff (Idaho '72), Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs • Tom Freeman (San Diego State '69), Offensive Line • Jeff Hammerschmidt (Arizona '91), Outside Linebackers/Special Teams • Nate Nelson (UC Davis '01), Recruiting Coordinator/Specialists • Darrell Patterson (TCU '84), Inside Linebackers • Buzz Preston (Hawaii '82), Running Backs • Doug Sims (Oregon State '78), Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends • Dave Tipton (Stanford '71), Defensive Line • Tucker Waugh (DePauw '93), Wide Receivers TEAM WINS (last five yrs.) 9-2-4-4-5 FINAL RANK (last five yrs.) 13-70-49-67-43 2005 FINISH Lost to Notre Dame in regular-season finale. 2006 Schedule | 2005 Results | 2005 Statistics COACH AND PROGRAM The Pac-10 had co-coaches of the year last season, with the Los Angeles-based duo of USC's Pete Carroll and UCLA's Karl Dorrell sharing the honor. Both were deserving, too. Carroll guided the Trojans to a record-tying fourth straight conference crown and Dorrell produced the program's first double-digit win campaign since 1998. But in terms of exceeding preseason expectations, even in-season expectations, no conference foe rivaled Stanford in 2005. Inside the Pac-10 Take an Inside look at the Pac-10 with Blue Ribbon's 2006 team reports: Arizona Wildcats Arizona State Sun Devils California Bears Oregon Ducks Oregon State Beavers Stanford Cardinal UCLA Bruins USC Trojans Washington Huskies Washington State Cougars Actually, no one came remotely close, and to some, that criterion is more fitting a coach-of-the-year honoree than an overwhelming-preseason favorite, loaded with talent, actually placing first. Under first-year coach Walt Harris, Stanford finished 5-6 last season, 4-4 in the Pac-10. That may not seem like a huge improvement over 2004, when the Cardinal went 4-7 and 2-6, but finishing tied for fourth place in the conference was considered a reach last August. Picked ninth by the media and coaches in the preseason polls, the Cardinal seemed lost in the early going trying to grasp the West Coast offense instituted by Harris. The defense wasn't much better and what was supposed to be an easy 1-2 combo to kick off the season turned into a complete mess, with Stanford allowing 38 points to Navy in a field-goal win before losing to Division I-AA UC Davis, 20-17. The following week Oregon rolled, 44-20, and it appeared Stanford, which didn't play Washington last season, was headed for the Pac-10 basement and perhaps a 1-10 campaign. And then Harris rallied his team, and improbably, the Cardinal won three straight, defeating conference rivals Washington State, Arizona -- both on the road no less -- and then stunning Arizona State in Palo Alto. Almost made it four in a row, too, before losing to UCLA by a field goal in overtime. That and a 38-31 defeat to Notre Dame in the season finale prevented Stanford from being bowl eligible. But enough about last season. Harris is ready for 2006. "I'm looking forward to this season because our system and our program is now set and the players have a better idea of what to expect," Harris said. "We have a lot of experienced players back on offense, and I expect us to be more effective and efficient in moving the ball downfield. "I'm excited to see our improvement from year one to year two. We have some talented and experienced players on our team, but we will need our young players to step up and become quality Pac-10 football players this season." Tough to imagine the Cardinal repeating last season's success, having lost five quality defensive starters and undergoing a complete overhaul of the coaching staff, including defensive coordinator and special teams. Harris, who came cross-country from Pitt, will continue handling the offensive coordinator's duties himself. QUARTERBACKS More than one preseason publication this spring pegged Stanford senior Trent Edwards (6-4, 220) as the conference's first-team signal caller. It's not tough seeing why, either. A veteran of 24 career starts, Edwards is the dean, at least in terms of games played, of Pac-10 quarterbacks. Last season, in leading Stanford to a 4-4 mark in the conference, Edwards completed 63 percent of his 268 attempts for 1,934 yards, 17 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in the low-risk West Coast offense. His 139.0 passer rating was 28th in the country, third in the Pac-10. He also showcased some wheels, rushing for 356 yards not including his negative sack yardage. More than anything, though, Edwards showed maturity, limited mistakes and kept the Cardinal in most games. "Troy has a lot of areas to improve, but he has the ability to be a dominant player," Harris said. "I think Troy is a tremendous team player and a real good leader for our young players. We need to protect him better and improve our running game." Edwards, who has NFL size and should get a chance to play on Sundays, is approaching some lofty career numbers as well, with 4,402 yards and 28 touchdown passes. He already ranks eight in program history in passing yards and total offense and ninth in touchdown passes. Edwards might trade in all those stats if he could graduate with a bowl game on his resume. In pursuit of that goal, Edwards was optimistic after the spring -- especially after completing 17-of-20 passes for 203 yards and three scores in the final scrimmage. "I think we accomplished a lot of our goals this spring," he said. "I feel much more comfortable with my accuracy and ability to put balls in more places. I think, as an offense, we are responding well to the coaching and doing a lot of the little things we've been coached to do." Despite Edwards' considerable talents throwing the ball, Stanford would like to get away from last year's trend of more than 70 percent of the total offense coming via the air. If needed, the Cardinal has strong depth behind Edwards with senior T.C. Ostrander (6-3, 215), who actually challenged for the top spot last spring and into fall camp. While there's not a hint of quarterback controversy this time around, Ostrander has played in 12 games the last two seasons, including two starts. His career numbers include 1,443 yards and five touchdowns. Ostrander was especially impressive in the season finale against Notre Dame, completing 11-of-15 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown. "I think T.C. has got a lot of talent and great throwing ability," Harris said. Rounding out the depth chart is junior Garrett Moore (6-2, 205) and sophomore Tavita Pritchard (6-4, 180), one of which is likely to start in 2007. RUNNING BACKS The running game, to be kind, wasn't a huge success last season. Looking at the numbers, it's almost hard to fathom Stanford somehow won four Pac-10 games with virtually no semblance of a ground attack. How bad was it? Stanford didn't have a single player with 250 rushing yards last season. To put that in the proper perspective, Washington State's Jerome Harrison and USC's Reggie Bush gained more than that against UCLA alone in 2005. Bush also torched Fresno State for 294 yards. Stanford's leading rusher, senior Jason Evans (6-1, 190), didn't even start a game. He finished with 248 yards and a touchdown on 72 carries (3.4 per attempt). Here's another telling stat from a year ago: Opponents tallied 23 rushing scores to Stanford's eight. Harris expects better production this season. "We are way ahead of where we were last year at this time," Harris said. "We've got experienced players and coaches in our system, which should make us more effective." Evans wasn't even first or second on the depth chart departing the spring. Still, he should see some carries as the Cardinal are likely to stick with a committee approach unless someone breaks out in the fall. Evans is also a solid option in the passing game, having hauled in 18 passes a season ago. The projected starter is junior Anthony Kimble (6-1, 195), a former wide receiver. He was four yards shy of Evans in 2005, rushing for 244 and two scores on 66 carries (3.7 per). Quicker than Evans, especially in the open field, Kimble also had 14 receptions for 145 yards and two scores. His best effort of the season came against Washington State with 77 yards on 18 carries. Kimble solidified his starting role entering the fall with 98 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown, on just five carries in the spring game. He also caught three balls for another 43 yards. Evans finished with 31 yards and a score on 10 attempts. Behind Kimble on the post-spring depth chart is junior Ray Jones (6-0, 210), who didn't play last season. He, too, was impressive this spring, highlighted by 58 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown run, on 10 carries in the spring game. At the conclusion of spring practice, Harris picked Jones as one of two recipients of the most improved offensive player award. Also in the mix is sophomore Xavier Carter (6-1, 195), the lone running back recruit in last year's recruiting class. His father, Russell, was a first-round pick of the New York Jets in 1983 and played seven NFL seasons. At fullback, senior Nick Frank (6-2, 260) started all 11 games last season after converting from the defensive line. And he wasn't just a blocker, either, with 134 yards and a team-high three rushing touchdowns. Frank also became a viable option in the passing game, catching 17 passes. All-around, he could be the most valuable fullback in the conference this season. His backups include senior Emeka Nnoli (6-1, 235) and sophomore Ben Ladner (6-3, 265), who's also a converted defensive lineman. WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS Stanford needs to find a few more bodies to help fill out this unit "Our depth is thin and we'll need to have some of our younger and more inexperienced players get themselves ready to play, and contribute this season," Harris said. The team's leader in catches, yards and touchdowns returns is senior Mark Bradford (6-2, 200). The flanker finished 2005 with 37 receptions for 609 yards (16.5 per catch) and six touchdowns. For his career, Bradford has 108 grabs for 1,678 yards and 10 scores. Officially, the Cardinal has 10 returning starters; however, that 11th position was a starting wide receiver in 2004 and is set to reprise that role this season. Senior Evan Moore (6-7, 235) caught three passes for 66 yards and a touchdown in the 2005 season opener at Navy before suffering a season-ending hip injury. Moore has 50 career receptions, including eight touchdowns. His presence in the red zone creates match-up issues for defensive backs. "In Bradford and Moore, we have two of the most respected receivers in the Pac-10," Harris said. Moore showed no effects this spring, either, even catching two passes for 53 yards in the spring game. "Coming into the spring, I didn't know if I'd be able to handle every practice," Moore said. "I was hoping my hip would hold up, and it did. It's 100 percent and it feels great." After that duo, however, experience is sparse, with only senior Marcus McCutcheon (6-0, 200) having seen any game action. And he caught just three passes last season. Among the other wideouts on the roster, senior Michael Miller (6-1, 195) and junior Kelton Lynn (6-2, 190) departed spring as the listed backups. Also vying for time are junior Nate Wilcox-Fogel (6-1, 185) and sophomore Charlie Hazlehurst (6-2, 200). At tight end, fifth-year senior Matt Traverso (6-4, 250) is back after hauling in 19 passes for 223 yards and a score last season. A solid combination blocker/receiver, Traverso should see the bulk of the snaps with seniors Patrick Danahy (6-4, 240) and Michael Horgan (6-6, 250) are also capable. Overall, with some young talent also in tow, tight end is perhaps the deepest overall position for the Cardinal. But that may not be the case in the fall if Harris doesn't reinstate Traverso to the team. He was one of two players -- the other was three-year starting strong safety Brandon Harrison -- suspended during spring practice because of, in the words of Harris, "conduct inconsistent with the goals of the Stanford football program." Harris stressed this wasn't a university issue and that the players could return in the fall. OFFENSIVE LINE Unlike Oregon and Oregon State, the other two Pac-10 programs that return five starting lineman, this unit does not rate among the nation's elite. Actually, considering the line allowed 42 sacks (41 in 2004) and the Cardinal averaged 2.6 yards per rush, this line wasn't an asset in 2005 and that's why, of those five returnees, only one starting job is secure. Fifth-year senior center Tim Mattran (6-5, 295), a former walk-on, was given the starting assignment in mid-September last season, after the UC Davis loss, and ended up being arguably the team's best all-around lineman. This season, he's the unquestioned leader of the unit on and off the field. While Harris has declared the other four positions an open competition, the returning guards seem reasonably secure barring a reserve making a dramatic leap come August. Senior Josiah Vinson (6-4, 315) has started 23 career games, including 20 the last two seasons while sophomore Alex Fletcher (6-4, 295) started all 11 games in 2005, three at center and eight at guard. At times, Fletcher showed signs of becoming an anchor for this unit, with a lack of consistency being the lone hindrance. Pushing the duo at guard are seniors Mikal Brewer (6-3, 295) and Ismail Simpson (6-4, 305). While Brewer has little experience, Simpson has 26 career starts, including four last season. At tackle, fifth-year senior Jeff Edwards (6-6, 290) has 26 career starts, including seven a season ago, and while he remained No. 1 on the depth chart leaving spring practice, his pass protection needs improvement come August. Pushing him is another five-year veteran in Jon Cochran (6-6, 310), who has 20 career starts, including, like Edwards, seven in 2005. He also plays guard and will likely move around as needed. Juniors Allen Smith (6-4, 300) and Ben Muth (6-6, 285) departed spring in a dead heat for the starting left tackle spot, with Smith holding a slight edge. KICKERS This is a possible area of concern, as four-year starter Michael Sgroi has exhausted his eligibility after a stellar career. The fifth-leading scorer in program history drilled 15-of-23 field goals last season, with the lone downside being four blocked attempts. As for this season, a pair of walk-ons enter the fall battling for the job, with junior Aaron Zagory (6-0, 165) holding a slight edge through the spring over senior Derek Belch (5-11, 195). While they've been on the Cardinal roster for a combined seven seasons, neither has ever attempted a field goal or an extra point. DEFENSIVE LINE For starters, as mentioned earlier, a new defensive coordinator is on board with the hiring of A.J. Christoff, however, much like USC bringing in former assistant Nick Holt to run the defense, it's not exactly starting the process from scratch. And while Holt was two years removed from being the Trojans linebackers coach, Christoff's return should be even smoother, considering he left the Farm for just one season, serving as the San Francisco 49ers secondary coach. Christoff was Stanford's defensive coordinator in 2003-04 under Buddy Teevens. "A lot of these young men were in recruiting classes I was involved with, and I also looked through all the film from last season," Christoff said. "I've even viewed all the film on the incoming freshman, so I feel pretty acclimated, definitely a comfortable situation coming back." The defense wasn't bad last season, allowing 442 yards and 30.6 points per game. In the Pac-10, that's not bad. The issue was third-down defense. Stanford allowed opponents to convert more than 40 percent of their third-down situations, often in more than short-yardage situations. Nothing is more frustrating for a coach. For the most part, the Cardinal played a 3-4 system last season, relying upon an immensely talented linebacker corps that included NFL draft choice Jon Alston. As for this season, Christoff plans on using both formations, switching between three and four down linemen depending on the situation. "We'll be moving in and out of both; we don't have a lot of depth at defensive line and that's partly why we switched schemes to begin with," Christoff said. "Without a guy like Alston, we need to shift the emphasis of our defense. You can't ask a player to step in for Jon, we simply don't have someone with his speed and talent." The projected starters in a 4-3 formation include senior end Udeme Udofia (6-4, 240), who had 36 tackles last season, sophomore tackles Ekom Udofia (6-2, 335) and Matt Kopa (6-6, 270) and junior end Pannel Egboh (6-6, 260). Outside of Udeme Udofia, this group has limited collegiate experience. Christoff was especially impressed this spring by Ekom Udofia. And yes, they're brothers. Others in the mix include senior end Chris Horn (6-5, 270), who had three sacks in 2005, sophomore end Will Powers (6-4, 230), sophomore tackle James McGillicuddy (6-4, 285) and junior tackle Gustav Rydstedt (6-3, 280). LINEBACKERS This should once again be the strength of the defense. Especially if a pair of redshirt freshmen are as advanced as Christoff thinks. The leader of the unit, if not the defense, is senior Mike Silva (6-2, 225), who finished fourth on the squad in tackles last season with 57. He's capable of playing both the middle and on the outside and should take on more of Alston's departed pass-rushing role. However, in the 3-4, he'll likely remain inside with senior Michael Okwo (6-0, 220). Expected to emerge last season, Okwo battled multiple injuries and ended up with 34 stops, 5.5 for loss and two sacks. Even more than Silva, if he can remain healthy, Okwo could make a run at 100 tackles and All-Pac-10 honors. The third starter, on the outside, is sophomore Clinton Snyder (6-4, 215), who Christoff cited as the surprise of the spring along with fellow sophomore outside linebacker Fred Campbell (6-1, 220). Both redshirted and actually have four years of eligibility remaining, though Stanford lists them by their academic standing. "Playing [redshirt] freshmen, to me, is more mental than physical, these kids are physically ready to play in the Pac-10," Christoff said. "But come that season opener, walking out at Oregon State, seeing all the people, that's a mental issue, how they react to that situation, the pressure. That's what you're worried about with younger, inexperienced players. I know they're capable; they looked great this spring." Also supplying some depth at linebacker are seniors Peter Griffin (6-0, 215) and Emmanuel Awofadeju (6-4, 240). DEFENSIVE BACKS This group only mustered seven interceptions last season, but despite allowing nearly 300 yards per game, this wasn't an area of weakness. It wasn't an area of strength, either, but outside of the third-and-long issues, which is an overall defensive issue, last season's secondary certainly wasn't the conference's worst. Three of those four starters are back, and while depth is desperately needed behind them, it's a solid foundation. Seniors Brandon Harrison (6-2, 210) and Trevor Hooper (6-1, 205) are the safeties, strong and free, respectfully, for the third straight season. Harrison was third on the squad in tackles last season with 67 and added a team-high three interceptions, while Hooper had 40 stops. However, the stability at safety became unraveled this spring when Harrison -- along with starting tight end Matt Traverso -- were suspended. While the reason wasn't disclosed, Harris said both could possibly return come August. "It's up to them," Harris said. "They built a challenging road for themselves. I want to stress that this is not a university issue. It is a Stanford football program thing." Sophomore Bo McNally (6-0, 205) was expected to push Hooper for the starting spot. Currently listed No. 1 on the depth chart at strong safety is fifth-year senior David Lofton (6-4, 220), who had 35 tackles last season and is the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver James Lofton. Of course, before NFL greatness, Lofton, too, played for the Cardinal. At cornerback, senior Nick Sanchez (6-0, 185) returns after finishing second on the team in tackles last season with 71. He also had two interceptions and ranks among the best-tackling corners in the Pac-10. Opposite him is either senior Tim Sims (5-11, 190) or junior Carlos McFall (5-11, 200), while sophomore Kris Evans (6-0, 175) is also vying for playing time. "In the secondary, we have to improve our tackling dramatically," Christoff said. "Both McNally and Lofton had strong springs, and fundamentally, athletic ability-wise, we're better than last season. Again, though, we have to tackle better, that's a must." PUNTERS The punting should be an asset this season with three-year senior starter Jay Ottovegio (6-0, 195) once again handling the duties. In 2005, he averaged 40.6 yards on 67 boots and placed 22 inside the 20-yard line. He also didn't have one blocked. The season before, Ottovegio averaged 41.3 yards per kick. Harris expects Ottovegio to be among the conference's top punters and there's no reason to believe otherwise. He'll also handle holder duties for a third year. SPECIAL TEAMS The return teams were more than solid last season with the presence of T.J. Rushing, who returned two kicks for scores and averaged double-digit yards on punt returns, but Rushing graduated. While nothing is set in stone with either job, the kick return candidates entering the fall include McCutcheon, the senior flanker, who averaged 19.0 yards on 15 kick returns in 2005, and Jones, the projected No. 2 tailback. As for the punts, look for Sanchez, the starting cornerback, to have first crack, with potential starting tailback Kimble also being a possibility. Neither fielded a punt return last season. The long snapper for punts is senior Brent Newhouse (6-4, 235), while senior Jon Cochran (6-6, 310) handles the snaps on field goals and extra points. The coverage teams were both solid last season, especially the punt unit, which allowed just 4.2 yards a return. BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS What Harris pulled off last season was nothing short of extraordinary, from losing to Division I-AA UC Davis to winning four Pac-10 games. This team was an overtime field goal from being bowl eligible. Grading the Cardinal Unit Grade Offense B Special teams B Defense C Intangibles B As for this season, the problem is two-fold: 1. Stanford won't be sneaking up on anyone this time around, and 2. Stanford's five wins last season were by a combined 23 points, including field-goal decisions over Washington State, Navy and Oregon Sate and a four-point victory at Arizona. Those games could easily be reversed this season, especially without a proven kicker. The conference also appears a little stronger overall. Along with Washington, the Cardinal, at least on paper, lack the speed and depth (especially on defense) of the remainder of the Pac-10. No team's going to play harder, and Harris' system took hold quickly last season. The coaching overhaul won't help in '06, with a transition likely taking place defensively. Behind Edwards, even with the running game a mess, Stanford will still pull off an upset, maybe two, and should beat Washington. Give the Cardinal wins in two of three nonconference games, and it adds up to 4-8.

[Hache Man]

Updated: Aug. 2, 2006, 6:27 AM ET
Team preview: UCLA



Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook

Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 119 Division I-A teams. To order the complete 2006 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255). (All information as of July 1, 2006) UCLA Bruins LOCATION Los Angeles, Calif. CONFERENCE Pac-10 LAST SEASON 10-2 (.833) CONFERENCE RECORD 6-2 (3rd) OFF. STARTERS RETURNING 5 DEF. STARTERS RETURNING 7 NICKNAME Bruins COLORS Blue & Gold HOME FIELD Rose Bowl (91,500) COACH Karl Dorrell (UCLA '87) RECORD AT SCHOOL 22-15 (3 years) CAREER RECORD 22-15 (3 years) ASSISTANTS • Jim Colletto (UCLA '67), Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line • Jim Svoboda (Northwestern College '83), Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks • DeWayne Walker (Regents '92), Defensive Coordinator • Dino Babers (Hawaii '84), Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator • Chuck Bullough (Michigan State '92), Linebackers • Gary DeLoach (Howard Payne '76), Secondary/Cornerbacks • Todd Howard (Texas A&M '91), Defensive Line • D.J. McCarthy (Washington '94), Wide Receivers • John Wristen (Southern Colorado '84), Tight Ends/Special Teams TEAM WINS (last five yrs.) 7-8-6-6-10 FINAL RANK (last five yrs.) 23-34-57-70-12 2005 FINISH Beat Northwestern in Sun Bowl. 2006 Schedule | 2005 Results | 2005 Statistics COACH AND PROGRAM The only drawback to creating lofty expectations is producing the expected results. While fourth-year UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said all the right things last season, about his team being able to compete with anyone in the Pac-10 and the program taking the next step, it's unlikely that many expected the Bruins to be playing for a share of the conference title in December. Turns out Dorrell's preseason comments were close to being dead on. Inside the Pac-10 Take an Inside look at the Pac-10 with Blue Ribbon's 2006 team reports: Arizona Wildcats Arizona State Sun Devils California Bears Oregon Ducks Oregon State Beavers Stanford Cardinal UCLA Bruins USC Trojans Washington Huskies Washington State Cougars His team proved it could play with just about anybody in the Pac-10. The Bruins went 10-2, won six-of-eight in the league, defeated Northwestern in the Sun Bowl and brought an undefeated record into November. But no team in the land lived more dangerously. The Bruins won four games in October alone within the final minutes, including two in which they allowed 41 points. Point is, as evidenced by their two losses, 52-14 to Arizona and 66-19 to USC, this team probably wasn't as good as the record indicated in 2005. Now subtract three of the elite skill position players in the country last season, in quarterback Drew Olson (34 touchdown passes, six interceptions), tailback/punt returner Maurice Drew (20 touchdowns, 1,963 all-purpose yards) and the nation's premier tight end in Marcedes Lewis (58 receptions, 10 touchdowns). Can the 2006 Bruins live up to the lofty standards set by last year's team? Don't for a nanosecond think Dorrell -- mentioned by some as a potential NFL coaching prospect last offseason -- is thinking about a transition season with just 12 starters returning. "We have better depth and talent overall, and maybe we're not sure what to expect early on, with some young guys coming in," Dorrell said. "But our offense has the potential to be as productive as last year, even with the three new skill position starters. I think it's possible to match last year's success at 10-2, but only this team can determine that. "We've set the bar where this program needs to be, that was our goal last season and this year, the goal is winning the Pac-10 title. The goal moving forward is contending for that championship every season." That offense Dorrell speaks of scored the fourth-most points (469) in program history. Another potential issue facing UCLA is a significant overhaul among the coaching staff, with new coordinators on both sides of the football highlighted by the hiring of former NFL assistant DeWayne Walker, who spent the last two seasons coaching the secondary of the Washington Redskins under Joe Gibbs and highly-respected defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. "It worked out pretty well in the spring, we were really put under the clock but had the entire staff in place about two weeks before practice started and the coordinators did a tremendous job," Dorrell said. "We're incorporating new schemes and ideas defensively, and that was a challenge, but it went well. Any time you change a system, it takes time." While a new offensive coordinator is on board in Jim Svoboda, Dorrell said the basic offensive philosophy and the schemes themselves will remain pretty much the same. It also helps that Svoboda was the team's quarterbacks coach in 2005, a position he retained with his promotion. QUARTERBACKS Ben Olson (6-5, 227) was the nation's No. 1 recruit in 2001. He signed with BYU and was expected to restore the program's legacy of elite signal callers, a player destined to join the ranks of Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Robbie Bosco and Ty Detmer. Several players who graduated high school with Olson, including Reggie Bush, have moved on to the NFL. As for Olson, well, he's about to embark upon his sophomore season at UCLA. After taking a redshirt his freshman season, Olson spent two years in Canada on his Mormon mission. After returning, he decided to transfer to UCLA, where he was expected to push Drew Olson (no relation) for the starting job. A disappointing spring season combined with Ben Olson suffering a small fracture in his left (throwing) hand during fall practice quickly ended those notions and he finished his long-anticipated redshirt freshman season by completing 2-of-4 pass attempts for 11 yards. Not exactly the stuff of legends from the get-go, but at 23 years old, the time has finally come for Olson. Well, not officially. When asked in May about Olson starting, Dorrell said he wasn't prepared to select a starter between sophomore Patrick Cowan (6-4, 215) and Olson. "Contrary to what some people may think, our starting quarterback hasn't been decided upon," Dorrell said. "Ben's going to have to prove that he's ready; he's going to have to earn it. There's a competition, and Cowan has the advantage with this being his third year in the program." While most have assumed it was Olson's job to lose, apparently that's not the case. Olson -- who was on every All-American team as a senior at Thousand Oaks High School in California and was ESPN's High School Player of the Year -- was for the most part like a ball in tall grass last spring. Lost. His accuracy was a major issue, but so was his grasp of the offense. However, Dorrell says the 23-year old looked more comfortable this spring. "His age and maturity have helped him, he's showed some grasp of the offense, although he's still playing catch-up," Dorrell said. "This spring, Ben was playing at a much faster pace than last year; he's come a long way." While he has seen limited game action since the fall of 2001, and that's an obvious issue, Olson has ideal size, a strong arm and also moves well in the pocket. As for Cowan, he spent the majority of his redshirt freshman campaign No. 3 on the depth chart and has never attempted a collegiate pass. He did take a few snaps in the fourth quarter against Rice last September. The younger brother of Bruins senior wide receiver Joe Cowan, the St. John Bosco High School product is more of a dual-threat option than a pure drop-back style quarterback. He was impressive this spring, but despite Dorrell's assurance that it's an open competition heading into the fall, it's tough imagining Olson not taking the snaps in the season-opener against Utah on Sept. 2. Dorrell did say he wanted a one-quarterback system and wasn't in favor of the two alternating snaps or quarters. Sophomore Osaar Rasshan (6-4, 215), the likely third-stringer, is also a dual-threat option. "Ben has worked extremely hard to get ready for his opportunity," Dorrell said. "Even though his game time is limited, it was vital that he get back into action last season and begin the process of believing in himself. The more experience he has with the system, the better he will get. He has a strong arm and great ability." "Patrick showed us last year that he has the physical abilities necessary to be a great quarterback at this level. He just needs time to refine his skills and gain experience in the system. His progress was noticeable during the course of [last] year." RUNNING BACKS While the loss of Maurice Drew certainly hurts the Bruins overall, from his three punt return touchdowns to his pass-catching ability out of the backfield, he wasn't even a 1,000-yard rusher last season. That's not a knock against Drew -- who despite leaving with a season of eligibility remaining is the program's career leader in all-purpose yards -- but the Bruins' backfield is still in good hands with junior Chris Markey (5-11, 203). At times, with all the offensive talent UCLA possessed last season, there weren't enough footballs to go around. Markey, who had a 5.1 yards-per-carry average to Drew's 4.9, finished with 561 yards and three touchdowns on 110 carries and also caught 17 passes for 231 yards and two more scores. In the Sun Bowl win against Northwestern, Markey busted out for 161 yards on 24 carries and earned co-MVP honors. "Chris is a tremendous back," Dorrell said. "He was a great complement to Maurice last season and we're in good shape at tailback. Chris is an exciting player to watch." Markey had shown glimpses of his talent before last season, having racked up 215 yards from scrimmage, including 131 via the ground, against Oregon as a freshman and earning Pac-10 Offensive Player-of-the-Week honors. And his all-around receiving skills, important in UCLA's offense, are at least on par with Drew's. Sophomore Kahlil Bell (5-11, 206) is the likely No. 2 on the depth chart at tailback. As a freshman he rushed for 310 yards and three touchdowns on 52 carries, good for a nifty 6.0 yards per attempt average. He shared co-MVP honors of the Sun Bowl with Markey, finishing with 136 yards and two scores on 19 carries. Built much like Markey, he possesses deceptive speed, especially past the line of scrimmage, and he's likely to see an increased role in the passing time, too. While Markey and Bell will handle the bulk of the carries, junior Derrick Williams (5-10, 208) could also see some action. He could also evolve into a short-yardage back. Dorrell singled out Williams among the offensive players as having surprised him, in a positive way, this spring. At fullback, junior Michael Pitre (5-11, 230) is back for his third campaign as the starter. He rushed for 69 yards and a score last season and also caught 10 passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Pitre, a solid lead blocker, is a two-time honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection. His backups include junior Jimmy Stephens (6-2, 244) and senior Danny Nelson (6-1, 225), who played in 12 games last season as a reserve linebacker and special teams contributor. "We return quality performers in our backfield who are capable of producing the kinds of results we need to keep this offense on an upward swing," Dorrell said. WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS While the tight ends are lacking experience, the wide receiver corps is the complete opposite. "Our wide-outs are our most experienced group on the team," Dorrell said. Despite all the worries about the loss of the Big Three, Olson, Drew and first-round NFL pick and All-Pac-10 tight end Marcedes Lewis, the Bruins' more pressing issues are on the lines and with the defense. The running game appears secure with two bowl game MVP winners and while tight end is a possible issue, the receivers, at least on paper, have more depth than last season's group. Senior Joe Cowan (6-4, 220), whose younger brother Patrick is battling to start at quarterback, is the team's leading returning receiver with 35 receptions for 469 yards and three touchdowns. Only Lewis had more grabs in 2005. Cowan, the expected starter at flanker, has the rare combination of being a big target and possessing stretch-the-field type speed. This season he could become more of a possession option, as the Bruins take advantage of his size for quick seven- and eight-yard routes. Lining up down the line of scrimmage from Cowan will be either junior Marcus Everett (6-1, 200) or senior Junior Taylor (6-1, 213). Before he suffered a season-ending ACL injury early in the season against Oklahoma, Taylor was the team's No. 1 wide-out, having caught 32 balls for 463 yards in 2004. Taylor is expected back this fall and should regain his starting job. "Junior started to take his game to another level during the latter half of the 2004 season," said Dorrell, a former UCLA wide receiver himself. As for Everett, after missing the first few games with a shoulder injury, he was solid, with 32 receptions for 390 yards and two scores. He had six grabs against both Oklahoma and Cal. He tends to disappear for games here and there, but when focused, he's a physical presence not wary of bumping his cover or going across the middle. Also in the mix for playing time at flanker, if not a starting nod depending on Taylor's health, is junior Brandon Breazell (6-0, 165), who had 24 catches for 297 yards and four touchdowns last season. Some may remember him for monopolizing the season highlight film, with the 23-yard over-the-shoulder overtime catch that propelled UCLA over Stanford as well as returning two, yes two, fourth-quarter onside kicks for touchdowns in the Sun Bowl. Other receivers vying for playing time include sophomore Gavin Ketchum (6-4, 190), who had three grabs for 80 yards against USC as a freshman in 2005, and senior Andrew Baumgartner (6-0, 189), a former walk-on who started two games last season. At tight end, well, even the ever-optimistic Dorrell admitted in May that, "we're still ironing out the tight-end situation, but no question, we want to keep the tight end involved with our offense." That wasn't difficult the last few seasons with Lewis, who won the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end in 2005. His three possible replacements combined for 13 catches last season, while Lewis finished with 58 grabs and 10 touchdowns. Senior J.J. Hair (6-5, 248) isn't much of a receiver, with three receptions for 16 yards the last two seasons, but he's without question the best blocking tight end on the roster and that should be enough to start. On passing downs, look for sophomores Ryan Moya (6-3, 230), who had 10 catches for 153 yards and two scores as a freshman in 2005, and Logan Paulsen (6-5, 222). OFFENSIVE LINE The offensive line returns six players who started in 2005, but there's little familiarity here, with just two full-time starters back. Having allowed the UCLA offense to average more than six yards per play the last two years, this unit has the added responsibility this season of an inexperience quarterback. And if that's Olson, a southpaw, there's also a shift in protection philosophy. Not the positioning per say, but passing schemes will have to account for his blind side. The anchor of this group is junior Shannon Tevaga (6-3, 310), who enters this fall having started 18 straight games at strong guard. The team's best run blocker, he was an All-Freshman Pac-10 selection in 2004 and earned an honorable-mention all-conference nod last year. The key for the line is probably junior tackle Brian Abraham (6-6, 300), a former high school All-American who started nine games in 2005 and would have Olson's blind side if Olson does win the job. While he hasn't reached the level some forecasted for him coming out of high school, Abraham is a solid all-around blocker with a high ceiling for improvement his final two years. In the middle, replacing three-year starter Mike McCloskey is senior Robert Chai (6-3, 285). A veteran of 14 career starts at guard and center, Chai, Dorrell thinks, will be a stabilizing presence in the middle. The other two positions are up for grabs, with junior Chris Joseph (6-4, 290), who started four games last season before suffering a knee injury against Cal; redshirt freshman Aleksey Lanis (6-6, 326); and junior P.J. Irvin (6-4, 310) battling for playing time at weak guard. Sophomore Nick Ekbatani (6-5, 280), of Los Angles Harbor College, is the early frontrunner at weak tackle. He'll be pushed by sophomore Scott Glicksberg (6-4, 300). Others likely to see playing time include redshirt freshman Nathaniel Skaggs (6-4, 275), junior Noah Sutherland (6-4, 290) and sophomore Aaron Meyer (6-3, 295). "We developed a level of depth and versatility along the line a year ago which should pay off for us," Dorrell said. "We did a much better job in protecting our quarterback and developing our overall offensive game from the point of attack last year and we will continue that trend in 2006." UCLA dropped back to pass more than 400 times last season and allowed only 26 sacks. KICKERS The Pac-10 has perhaps the two top kickers in the country, with Oregon State junior Alexis Serna, the Lou Groza winner last season, and Bruins senior Justin Medlock (6-0, 186). One of only two kickers in program history with at least four career field goals of at least 50 yards, Medlock converted 13-of-17 field goals last season and all 50 extra point attempts. A second-team All-Pac-10 selection, he was an impressive 7-of-11 from outside of 40 yards. In his three seasons as the Bruins' kicker, Medlock has missed just one of 119 extra-points. Medlock's career was almost cut short because of a drunk driving incident last December. He was suspended from the team immediately and missed the Sun Bowl and spring practice. He was reinstated in mid-April, though, after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor drunk driving charge. Medlock was originally charged with two felonies, as the incident injured a female member of the UCLA golf team. "Now that the legal proceedings have been finalized, I feel that missing the Sun Bowl and being suspended for four months is sufficient punishment," Dorrell said in a statement. Medlock has an NFL-caliber leg and is also an asset on kickoffs. "Justin's a proven player, an experienced place-kicker who could be among the best in the country," Dorrell said. DEFENSIVE LINE UCLA allowed 410 points last season, more than 34 per game. In the first quarter alone, the Bruins allowed 132 points. It's remarkable this team won 10 games last season allowing those kinds of points and ranking 118th in the nation in run defense. Providing optimism for overall defensive improvement, along with the intensity Walker brought this spring as first-year coordinator, is junior defensive tackle Kevin Brown (6-2, 297). His absence in the middle was a major reason UCLA struggled against the run, as Brown's size pounds, combined with his quickness and freakish strength, would've closed many of those open lanes. Unfortunately for the Bruins, he suffered a sprained left ankle that required season-ending surgery during a preseason scrimmage and he never saw the field in 2005. As a sophomore, Brown had 25 tackles and led the Bruins with 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. Brown is the key to this defense's success or lack thereof in 2006. Junior tackle Brigham Harwell (6-1, 274) should benefit from Brown's return. The undersized down lineman did all he could last season, with 35 tackles, 11.5 stops for loss and four sacks. However, while the former end was able to use his speed to accelerate into opposing backfields, he often found himself looking up on running plays. He should see less double teams with Brown back. The likely starting ends include senior Justin Hickman (6-1, 261), who started 12 games last season and led the team with 5.5 sacks, and junior William Snead (6-4, 253), a converted linebacker who started five games in 2005. The depth includes juniors Bruce Davis (6-3, 245), who has 4.5 career sacks, Nikola Dragovic (6-3, 252) and sophomore Kenneth Lombard (6-1, 268), a converted tackle, at end and sophomore Chase Moline (6-1, 274), a freshman All-American with 25 stops in 2005, at tackle. "We're not the deepest in terms of depth on the defensive front, but with the return to health of some of our key players, and Kevin should become a big-play defender for us, we'll perform at a more consistent level," Dorrell said. LINEBACKERS This unit, led by Spencer Havner, was expected to anchor the Bruins defense last season. That didn't end up being the case, though, as UCLA simply could not stop the run in any way, shape or form. After a strong showing against Oklahoma in September, the run defense just got progressively worse, bottoming out against USC when Reggie Bush and LenDale White shredded the Bruins for 414 yards (you read that correctly) and four touchdowns. So while three starters have departed, that's certainly not the worst news considering last season's results. The No. 1 surprise this spring, at least defensively, was junior middle Christian Taylor (6-0, 220). He finished with 43 tackles last season and was a special teams maven, but no one was expecting the undersized Air Force transfer to come in this spring and take over. But Taylor secured the starting Mike job, and says Dorrell, "He's our leader now, he's calling the plays in the huddle and we're excited about that. The biggest surprise of the spring, for me, was his growth as a leader." Taylor isn't the fastest middle linebacker around, but he should offer a huge upgrade against the run because of his off-the-chart instincts. Sophomore John Hale (6-4, 225) started seven games as a freshman in 2005 and is expected to handle the strong-side responsibilities. He recorded 20 tackles last season. On the weak side is senior Eric McNeal (6-2, 209), who began last season as a safety and changed positions in late-October. He finished with 35 tackles and an interception. Right behind McNeal on the depth chart, if not running equal with him, is junior Aaron Whittington (6-2, 210), who battled several leg injuries last season but was expected at 100 percent for fall camp. Others expected to see some playing time include junior Fred Holmes (6-1, 245) and redshirt freshman Reggie Carter (6-1, 225). "Linebacker may be a position with relatively little returning experience, but it has players with plenty of ability," Dorrell said. DEFENSIVE BACKS It's hard to always gauge a unit's success on statistics, as the Bruins allowed just 2,824 passing yards and 19 scores through the air. In the Pac-10, that's solid, if not impressive. Some may immediately say, well, the run defense was so poor why would teams pass against UCLA? That would seem a decent point, except the Bruins' opponents actually attempted more passes than they did last season, meaning the secondary more than earned high marks. However, two valuable starters graduated, including four-year starting strong safety Jarrad Page. His replacement, if healthy, should be junior Chris Horton (6-1, 200), who missed the first six games in 2005 with a wrist injury and was never really the same after he returned. He did make his first career start against USC, not that any individual player can be fairly judged on that overall defensive effort. As a redshirt freshman, though, Horton blocked two punts and recorded 27 tackles and an interception. And no one among the Bruins packs a wallop like Horton. The free safety is junior Dennis Keyes (6-1, 192), who started nine games last season and finished fourth on the team, first among returnees, with 57 stops, including eight for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles. "We need to raise our level of consistency in the secondary this season and we need Dennis and Chris to take the next step in their development," Dorrell said. At corner, junior Trey Brown (5-10, 189) should compete for All-Pac-10 honors, having started 17 consecutive games there and tying for team honors with 10 broken up passes. He also had 53 tackles and an interception. While slightly undersized, Brown more than makes up for that with his physical-style. "Trey played very well at corner last season and will be one of our leaders on defense," Dorrell said. The other corner is a question mark, with junior Rodney Van (6-1, 185) likely having first dibs on the starting nod. Mostly a special teams contributor the last two years, Van, or whoever starts opposite Brown, should see plenty of action. Behind Van are junior Michael Norris (5-11, 185) and sophomore Byron Velega (5-10, 190). Sophomores Bret Lockett (6-2, 195) and Robert Kibble (5-10, 170) provide depth at safety. PUNTERS Dorrell expects significant improvement from sophomore punter Aaron Perez (6-2, 232), who had a decent season as a redshirt freshman. "This spring, we saw a big difference with Aaron and we expect him to be much better," Dorrell said. Last season, Perez averaged 39.9 yards per punt, which ranked eighth in the Pac-10. His long was 52 yards, while his net average of 35.6 yards placed fifth in the conference. He showed a deft touch for a freshman, too, placing 19 of his 54 kicks inside the 20-yard line. SPECIAL TEAMS The punt-return statistics of Maurice Drew last season appear almost made up. Over 15 punt returns, Drew covered 427 yards, 28.5 yards per touch. That included three touchdown returns, including an 81-yarder. With his departure, the bulk of the punt returns will fall to another tailback in Chris Markey. He was impressive too, last season, averaging 16 yards for three punt returns. Markey has also been the primary kick returner, averaging 22.5 yards on 17 chances in 2005. With his expected added load in the backfield, though, it's likely Markey, like Drew last season, will handle just punts, leaving the kick returns to yet another tailback in Kahlil Bell. He was unimpressive in 2005, averaging 15.9 on 11 kickoff returns. Senior Riley Jondle (6-3, 213) is back for his fourth season as the long snapper, while Cowan is the likely holder. With a slew of veterans returning on special teams, the Bruins should be among the better coverage teams in the conference, too, after allowing 7.1 yards per punt and 19.5 yards per kick a season ago. BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS UCLA was our surprise team last season in the Pac-10 and while the Bruins more than met and even exceeded those expectations, it's not reasonable to expect another double-digit victory campaign. There's a ton of young, unproven depth within the program, and while UCLA might take a slight step backward in 2006, the program appears in solid shape. Grading the Bruins Unit Grade Offense B Special teams B+ Defense C Intangibles B With just five offensive starters back, though, and question marks every place outside the running backs, matching the prolific attack on 2005 seems a lofty, if not unattainable goal. Thing is, no one has any real clue just how Olson will perform, and that's even if he's the starter. He's played very little football the last four years. As with any team, injuries will play a major factor with the Bruins, especially on defense, which will feature several unproven players. The special teams are strong, though, and Medlock should win UCLA at least one game, perhaps more, with a few long field goals. The schedule isn't brutal, although a road date at Notre Dame on Oct. 21 isn't ideal in the midst of the Pac-10 schedule. The Bruins also travel to Oregon and Arizona State and host USC in the season finale. Even given its inexperience, UCLA could enter that Oregon game on Oct. 14 at 5-0, with Utah, Rice, Washington, Stanford and Arizona all being winnable games. But this appears a team capable of winning or losing against just about any conference rival this season. Overall, a bowl berth, at 7-5 and 5-4 in the Pac-10 would constitute a successful campaign for the Bruins. A few injuries to key players, though, and a losing record isn't out of the question.

[Hache Man]

Updated: Aug. 2, 2006, 6:28 AM ET
Team preview: USC



Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook

Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 119 Division I-A teams. To order the complete 2006 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255). (All information as of July 1, 2006) USC Trojans LOCATION Los Angeles, Calif. CONFERENCE Pac-10 LAST SEASON 12-1 (.923) CONFERENCE RECORD 8-0 (1st) OFF. STARTERS RETURNING 4 DEF. STARTERS RETURNING 6 NICKNAME Trojans COLORS Cardinal & Gold HOME FIELD L.A. Memorial Coliseum (92,000) COACH Pete Carroll (Pacific '73) RECORD AT SCHOOL 54-10 (5 years) CAREER RECORD 54-10 (5 years) ASSISTANTS • Steve Sarkisian (BYU '97), Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks • Lane Kiffin (Fresno State '89), Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers • Nick Holt (Pacific '86), Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line • Sam Anno (USC '87), Special Teams • Brennan Carroll (Pittsburgh '01), Tight Ends • Al Everest (SMU '72), Special Teams Coordinator • Todd McNair (Temple '88), Running Backs • Ken Norton Jr. (UCLA '98), Linebackers • Pat Ruel (Miami '72), Offensive Line • Rocky Seto (USC '99), Secondary • David Watson (Western Illinois '01), Defensive Line TEAM WINS (last five yrs.) 6-11-12-13-12 FINAL RANK (last five yrs.) 37-5-2-1-2 2005 FINISH Lost to Texas in Rose Bowl. 2006 Schedule | 2005 Results | 2005 Statistics COACH AND PROGRAM Mark Twain, at least to our knowledge, wasn't a Trojans fan. What we do know, though, is that his famous quote, "The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated," could certainly be applied -- with a slight modification inserting "demise" for "death" -- to USC's football team in 2006. Inside the Pac-10 Take an Inside look at the Pac-10 with Blue Ribbon's 2006 team reports: Arizona Wildcats Arizona State Sun Devils California Bears Oregon Ducks Oregon State Beavers Stanford Cardinal UCLA Bruins USC Trojans Washington Huskies Washington State Cougars When last seen on a football field, USC, like the majority of us, was watching Vince Young run around celebrating touchdowns. Well, the Trojans weren't watching in quite the same manner as the rest of us -- they were doing their best to keep Young from going crazy. But their efforts fell short and in the process, one of the more remarkable runs in collegiate football history ended. The Rose Bowl/BCS Championship Game loss to Texas, 41-38, snapped the Trojans' 34-game winning streak that dated back to 2003 and concluded their season at 12-1. It's worth pausing and reflecting upon what USC accomplished the last four seasons while consistently playing one of the toughest schedules in the country: • Four Pac-10 titles. • Four BCS bowl appearances, including three wins. • An all-time record 33 consecutive weeks atop the Associated Press rankings. • Two national championships, in 2003 and 2004. • A school-record 52 straight games scoring at least 20 points. • Three Heisman Trophy winners and 19 first-team All-Americans. • Since losing to Washington State, 30-27, in overtime on Oct. 5, 2002, USC has won 45-of-47 games. Some are forecasting the magical ride to take a minor detour this season. Nothing major -- most preseason polls have USC in the Top 10, and the majority have them barely edging Cal for another Pac-10 title. No one is talking back to BC (Before Carroll) when the program was, well, a mess. Behind four straight consensus top three-ranked recruiting classes, the Trojans have a collection of talent unmatched in the country. However, this was supposed to be a sort of transition year, for lack of a better term -- the plan going back to a few weeks after USC just crushed Oklahoma, 55-19, in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 4, 2005 and in the process secured its second straight national title. Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart was turning pro, all but a lock to be selected No. 1 overall by the San Francisco 49ers; highly-touted John David Booty would take his place; the offense would barely fly off course with Reggie Bush and a host of future NFL players in tow. And come 2006, despite the probable loss of Bush, but with the likes of LenDale White at tailback and arguably the best offensive line in recent college football history, USC was all but a lock for preseason No. 1. Well, the plan hit a few snags. Bush blew up and blew out to the NFL. White impressed enough to follow him to the next level. And then two All-Pac-10 offensive linemen, Winston Justice and Fred Matua, decided to join them in declaring early, and that's where the Trojans are entering fall camp. More specifically, try this: little experience at quarterback, two glaring gaps in the line, a tailback who hasn't played since 2003, a host of stud recruits that haven't even stepped on campus yet but that will be expected to play this fall, open tryouts at kick and punt returner, a young defense and oh yeah, have we mentioned no Reggie Bush? So is sixth-year coach Pete Carroll worried? He doesn't sound overly concerned. "There's no denying we lost a lot of outstanding players from the 2005 team, especially on offense, but this is not an unfamiliar situation for us," Carroll said. "It has the feel of the 2003 season, when we lost Carson [Palmer] and Troy [Polamalu] and all those running backs. We regrouped and had a real nice season." That nice season included a national title. "That's the challenge each year in college football, how well you can replace good players," Carroll said. "We've shown that we're very capable of doing that. I don't see it being any different this season." "No doubt, we'll come in a little unsure of our offense, but we have great confidence in our players and coaches on that side of the ball. We set some high standards last year and it'll be fun to go after them again this season." That offense became the first in NCAA history with a 3,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard rushers and a 1,000-yard receiver. Of those four players, though, only wide-out Dwayne Jarrett is back. However, the program couldn't be in better shape outside of some off-field incidents during the offseason that really shouldn't affect the team. Carroll has spurned NFL interest and seems more than content with USC being the final stop of his coaching career. "It's pretty clear that USC football is the place to be," Carroll said. "We expect it to be more of the same in 2006." It's hard to disagree. QUARTERBACKS Few preseason competitions for a starting job in the country will be watched and followed with as much interest as who takes the snaps for USC this season. Hard to argue against it not being the most high-profile gig in college sports, at least the last five seasons between No. 1 overall NFL pick Carson Palmer and three-time All-American Matt Leinart, who book-ended the Trojans' great run with Heismans. There was a time there, around mid-May, when it looked as though neither expected competitor, junior John David Booty (6-3, 195) and redshirt freshman Mark Sanchez (6-4, 215), would even be around in the fall. Each had their own issues this spring, with Booty practicing just once before suffering severe back spasms that required surgery and Sanchez being suspended from the team on April 27 after sexual assault charges were filed against him. While Booty was recovering from surgery quicker than expected and was already throwing in early June, this wasn't the first instance of back trouble. Booty experienced spasms during his redshirt freshman campaign of 2004. Carroll was aware of a pre-existing back condition before Booty even arrived at USC. As for Sanchez, the 2004 consensus high school player of the year at Mission Viejo, Calif., the charges were dropped by Los Angeles County prosecutors on June 2 because of a lack of evidence, and he was reinstated to the team. Carroll said that Sanchez, 19, could face team-related discipline for underage drinking and using a fake ID on the night he was arrested. USC offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin watched Sanchez throw three days after the charges were dropped and came away impressed. "First off, we're excited to have Mark back and that behind us," Kiffin said. "That experience can help him moving forward. On the field, he looked great; he was really throwing the ball well." "David has just now started throwing, but he'll be 100 percent come August and the first practice. It's a wide-open competition, the only reason John David is first on the depth chart is because they make us fill one out. That means nothing." Heading into spring practice, before the back issues, Carroll did say Booty was the front-runner. "John David Booty is in the lead position going into the spring," he said. "He had a great showing last spring when Matt Leinart was out with his elbow injury, and we expect he'll do so again this spring. But Mark Sanchez will contest him for the job. The competition is on." It wasn't a surprise that Booty was No. 1 entering the spring, considering Sanchez was a redshirt last season while Booty completed 27-of-42 passes (64.3 percent) for 327 yards and three touchdowns and just two interceptions. Booty saw action as Leinart's backup in 10 of the team's 13 games. This is Booty's fourth year in the program -- he graduated from high school a year early and enrolled at USC in 2003. The younger brother of Josh Booty, who played for the Florida Marlins and the Cleveland Browns, John David was actually expected to compete against Leinart back in 2003, in what should've been his senior year in high school. But Leinart became a superstar and Booty's been patiently waiting to embark upon what many thought would be a prolific collegiate career. Before Booty suffered the back spasms, Kiffin said he looked "awesome, a bona fide, big-time quarterback," this spring. While no one is sure who'll be under center come the season-opener at Arkansas on Sept. 2, Kiffin is sure of one thing. "We want a starter by the opener, we want one guy going forward with the offense," he said. "We have no intention, none, of alternating the two of them every other drive or quarter or any of that. To us, that's not a possibility." The scouting report on each signal caller has Booty the better decision-maker, which is expected considering his four years in the system. And while both have NFL size, Sanchez is the prototype in terms of height, weight, strength, throwing arm -- you name it. It's almost like he was born to play quarterback. Booty is more mobile, and a better runner, but that's never really been as aspect of the Trojans' offense. The lone knock from the coaching staff this spring against Sanchez -- who has been universally praised for his work ethic since arriving on campus -- was being a little slow on reads and making the commitment to pass a little quicker. Carroll said after spring practice that Booty, if healthy, would enter the fall taking the first snaps. But, as Kiffin said, nothing is set in stone. "The thing is one guy is first string and the other guy is second string. In essence we are in the same position coming out of spring time," Carroll said. "It is the only thing that makes sense to me. It doesn't diminish any of the competitiveness for the fall. This is a different situation than when we named Matt two years ago." "We need to make sure John David makes it back. If he makes it back and he comes out flying, then it is going to be hard for Mark to knock him out, just because of the background and the information. I wouldn't count Mark out. He has done too well and he has exceeded every threshold. He will be so much more confident when he comes back in to fall camp after putting spring in his back pocket. It is a big jump I think. Both guys can play. We are in a very lucky situation." The third-stringer is junior and former walk-on Michael McDonald (6-2, 185), who tossed a 4-yard touchdown on his lone attempt of 2005. He's the son of former USC All-American and NFL quarterback Paul McDonald. RUNNING BACKS While replacing Leinart is obviously an issue, there are two potential NFL quarterbacks, one who has been around the program four years, battling for that assignment. Take nothing away from Leinart, but the No. 1 issue for the Trojans' offense this season comes at tailback, not behind center. Imagine if Bush and White, who combined for an NCAA-record 3,042 yards in 2005, decided to follow Leinart's lead and return for their senior seasons. No one would be predicting a slip for the Trojans, of that we can be certain. But the duo has departed. And while at first glance this position appears mostly inexperienced, with a host of unproven candidates vying for carries, thanks to some classroom work this spring, running back could prove a real strength. Outside of hardcore college football fans and USC followers, this name certainly isn't a familiar one -- at least not as of the summer of 2006. Check back in October or November and that might be a different story. By then, the name Chauncey Washington (6-0, 215) might be among the most recognized in college football. A junior, this is Washington's fourth year on the USC campus. So where the heck has he been? Not buried behind Reggie Bush and LenDale White, as most would probably assume. Instead, Washington, who many believe has comparable talent to White, has been academically ineligible since playing as a freshman in 2003. In early May, after missing spring practice while concentrating on his grades, Washington regained his eligibility. And while Washington's collegiate resume includes 65 yards on 19 carries three seasons ago, Kiffin says there's no debate that Washington's the guy heading into fall camp. "He's eligible and 100 percent," Kiffin said. "Chauncey didn't practice this spring; we wanted him constantly focused on academics. But we're excited; he can do a lot of things. He has good hands, runs strong routes, and there's no doubt to me that he can handle 20 touches a game. "Let me preface this by saying he isn't as fast as Reggie Bush, but he's the kind of back that I'd describe as a cross between LenDale and Reggie. He has more size than Bush and is quicker than White, and well, it's going to be fun watching him play this season." Senior Hershel Dennis (5-11, 200) was expected to either start or back up Washington this season, but he suffered a torn ACL in spring practice and is out for the season. Dennis missed last season after tearing knee ligaments before the 2005 Orange Bowl. He actually started as a sophomore in 2003, and has nearly 1,000 career yards. As for who will be behind Washington on the depth chart, it's anyone's guess, including Kiffin, who said, "We have a bunch of guys with a shot, but until August, I have no idea who'll emerge." There's certainly some serious talent in tow, with two of the top tailback recruits in the country this year in Emmanuel Moody (6-1, 195) of Coppell (Texas) High School and highly touted Stafon Johnson (6-2, 215) of Los Angeles Dorsey High School, who rushed for 2,220 yards as a senior in 2005. Sophomore Michael Coleman (6-1, 235) is built somewhat like White and rushed for 95 yards on 20 carries as a freshman last season before missing most of the second half of the season with a hip injury. At fullback, replacing reliable David Kirtman is probably senior Brandon Hancock (6-1, 230), who was the starter in 2003 and has nine career receptions and a touchdown. Senior Ryan Powdrell (6-0, 250), a converted linebacker, is the likely backup. WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS No question marks or unproven players here. The fact senior Steve Smith (6-0, 195), a two-year starter with 119 career receptions, might have lost his starting job illustrates just how loaded USC is at wide-out. That group, of course, starts with everyone's All-American (including Blue Ribbon), junior Dwayne Jarrett (6-5, 210). All but guaranteed to be departing after this season and declaring for the NFL draft, where he was projected as a top-five pick, Jarrett finished 2005 with 91 receptions for 1,274 yards (14.0 yards per catch) and a school-record tying 16 touchdowns. "Dwayne is a big, strong acrobatic receiver with great hands and he's so difficult to defense," Carroll said. "He has a knack for making big plays. We expect even better things from him in 2006." Kiffin says Jarrett, in just his third year on campus, is starting to show some leadership, too. That another area the Trojans, especially offensively, are lacking in entering the fall. Jarrett would seem the ideal candidate to step up and assume a leadership role. "First, Dwayne's work ethic is better this year, it was this spring, and that says so much about the player, coming off that kind of the season and working even harder," Kiffin said. "He's getting there with the leadership, not only on the field, but off as well. He's setting an example for the other players to follow." "Steve just does all the little things that turn into big things. He's fast, runs great routes and makes tough catches." Lining up opposite Jarrett is either Smith, who had three 100-yard efforts last season as a junior and would've been drafted this season if he had chosen to declare, or says Kiffin, the next great USC receiver -- following the likes of current Detroit Lion Mike Williams and Jarrett -- sophomore Patrick Turner (6-5, 220). In 2005, as freshman, Turner had 12 receptions for 170 yards and two scores. He was hampered by a hamstring problem, plus the combination of being a bit lost in the talent shuffle and acclimating to life on campus. The adjustment period appears to over, though. Turner showed this spring -- highlighted by two touchdown catches in the spring scrimmage -- that he's ready to become one of the nation's best this fall. "Patrick's more like Mike Williams than Dwayne in terms of size, he's 230 pounds, but he's faster than Mike is," Kiffin said. "He's going to see more chances and even push Smith as the second starter." In case three all but guaranteed NFL wide-outs weren't enough for the Trojans, there's more talent on hand, including senior Chris McFoy (6-1, 200), who had 17 receptions in 2005; junior Whitney Lewis (6-1, 225), who could also see time in the backfield; and perhaps the top wide receiver recruit in the nation, Videl Hazelton (6-3, 200) of New York City and Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy. Hazelton signed late, reportedly going against his family's wishes and choosing USC over Penn State. At tight end, Kiffin expects a monster season from junior Fred Davis (6-4, 245). In 2005, Davis corralled the starting job from Dominique Byrd, he of 81 career receptions, toward the later stages and finished with 13 grabs for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Originally recruited as a wide receiver, Davis needs to improve his run blocking. But catching balls over the middle isn't an issue. "Fred has a chance to become the best tight end we've had in my five seasons here," Kiffin said. Behind Davis are junior Dale Thompson (6-4, 255) and sophomore Jimmy Miller (6-5, 250). OFFENSIVE LINE The line was absolutely decimated by the NFL, with three players being selected, two of which -- guard Fred Matua and tackle Winston Justice -- departed with a year of eligibility remaining. And even if losing the third, guard Taitusi Lutui, was expected, it's always rough to see a consensus All-American depart. However, Kiffin, is confident this year's offense, even with the loss of seven starters, will rank among the nation's elite. "We've set standards here to field a dominant offense, one that puts us in position to win every game," Kiffin said. "We're not going to run less plays, or change anything. Our challenge is being as good as last year's offense, and we plan on accomplishing that goal." While there are question marks up front, especially on the right side, not many units around the country have a better anchor than junior left tackle Sam Baker (6-5, 305). A potential All-American, Baker is the overall package -- strength, athleticism, quick feet, intelligent -- and all but a guaranteed to be a first-round NFL pick, say the scouts. In the middle is another stud, senior center Ryan Kalil (6-3, 285). A first-team All-Pac-10 selection last season, Kalil is the ideal center, from reading defenses to being the unquestioned leader of this unit. "Sam and Ryan are among the best offensive linemen in the country," Carroll said. "They're veterans and team leaders who are technically sound blockers. They form a solid nucleus for our line." While not officially a returning starter, sophomore guard Jeff Byers (6-3, 300) started as a freshman in 2004 before missing last season with a hip injury. He's 100 percent and should combine for a potent left side with Baker. Both starting slots on the right side are open entering fall camp. "It's important that we not only identify starters but develop quality depth on the line," Carroll said. The favorites are senior Kyle Williams (6-6, 295) at tackle and sophomore Chilo Rachal (6-5, 300) at guard. Both saw significant action in reserve roles last season. The depth includes junior Alatini Malu (6-4, 340) pushing Rachal, redshirt freshman tackle Thomas Herring (6-6, 335), who missed the spring with a knee injury that sidelined him in 2005, and junior Matt Spanos (6-5, 300), who plays center and tackle. KICKERS While he doesn't have the range of several Pac-10 kickers, junior Mario Danelo (5-10, 185) is as accurate as they come from inside 40 yards. He was 83-of-86 on extra points, setting NCAA single-season records in both departments, PAT makes and attempts. After missing his first career attempt, the son of former NFL kicker Joe Danelo drilled his next 11 attempts to finish off the season. His long was 43 yards. His limited leg strength, though, keeps him away from kick-off duties. Sophomore Troy Van Blarcom (6-3, 210) will handle that chore for the second season. Of his 110 kickoffs, which is a staggering number in itself, 51 pinned opponents within their 20-yard line, including 31 touchbacks. He could also be called upon for field goals outside of 45 yards and there's also a chance Van Blarcom could end up the team's punter, too. "We have a solid kicker in Mario and Troy showed us at the end of the year that he's capable of booming his kickoffs," Carroll said. DEFENSIVE LINE First off, in case you missed it, Pete Carroll was fired. No, he really was. Well, not exactly. On Feb. 9, USC hired Nick Holt as the team's first defensive coordinator since Carroll came aboard. In the past, the former NFL defensive coordinator handle dual roles, but no more after the hiring of Holt, who left Idaho after two seasons as head coach. "I have demoted myself," Carroll said. "What we have done is added to what we have done. Nick has been great. We are still doing all of the meetings together, and planning. He takes care of the day to day stuff that keeps us going and helps me keep the continuity of the work and the staff." Before his stint at Idaho, Holt had been the linebackers coach at USC. "I was here before, I know the defense, we were running it for the most part at Idaho," Holt said. "I'm more than comfortable with the schemes and such, and I helped recruit some of the upperclassmen. I've watched the film from last season, the cut-ups and such, so it's not like this is an entirely new situation." As for the defensive line, it returns two starters in junior end Lawrence Jackson (6-5, 265) and junior nose tackle Sedrick Ellis (6-1, 285). Both are All-Pac-10 candidates, with Jackson having earned first team honors a year ago behind 46 tackles, 13 for loss, 10 sacks, six deflections, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. You could say this guy's a playmaker. To some the top pure pass rusher in the nation, Jackson could vie for All-America honors although he's likely to draw multiple blockers on just about every passing play this season. He practiced only four or five times this spring, hampered by a thigh problem, but Holt says it was minor and that Jackson will be 100 percent in August. "Lawrence is a dominating end and should be one of the best in the nation," Carroll said. Ellis was solid in the middle, with 50 tackles, eight for loss, 4.5 sacks and three deflections and is the leader of the unit, if not the entire defense. After that, though, the line has little experience. Among those battling for the second starting end assignment include sophomore Kyle Moore (6-7, 265), who was No. 1 on the depth chart after the spring despite just six tackles in 2005, juniors Jeff Schweiger (6-4, 260) and Alex Morrow (6-6, 265) and senior Rashaad Goodrum (6-3, 245). "Moore has a chance to be a good player," Holt said. "He was impressive this spring." At tackle, junior Chris Barrett (6-5, 265), a converted end, is the leader in the clubhouse. Holt said Barrett finally appeared confident this spring and seemed poised for a breakout campaign. Also in the mix at tackle are sophomore Fila Moala (6-4, 300) and senior Travis Tofi (6-4, 255), who had 15 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2005. "We have a good nucleus on the line, but not a lot of depth," Holt said. LINEBACKERS The somewhat unexpected early departure of Lofa Tatupu for the NFL really hurt this unit last season, no further evidence needed than the Rose Bowl. But if linebacker wasn't a team strength last season, it certainly is in 2006. Six players who started games last season are back, including senior Dallas Sartz (6-5, 240), the three-year strong-side starter that was knocked out for the season in early September with a shoulder injury. While he missed the spring, still rehabbing the shoulder, he should be healed come August. In the middle, it's going to be a close competition between senior Oscar Lua (6-1, 240), who had 66 tackles in 2005, and sophomore Rey Maualuga (6-3, 250), who finished last season with 37 tackles, 4.5 for loss and two forced fumbles. "Oscar is an excellent leader, guys look to him for leadership," Holt said. "And Rey, when it's all said and done, Rey Maualuga is going to be a special player. He's a little faster, and more mobile than Oscar and it should be an excellent battle between those guys." Returning at the weak side is junior Keith Rivers (6-3, 220), who finished his first starting campaign with 52 tackles, three for loss and two fumble recoveries. He'll be pushed by sophomore Kaluka Maiava (6-0, 220) and if healthy, sophomore Brian Cushing (6-4, 235) and perhaps, oft-injured junior Thomas Williams (6-3, 230), who can play any of the three linebacker positions. Also in the mix are talented freshmen recruits Joshua Tatum (6-1, 225) of San Pablo, Calif. (McClymonds High School) and Allen Bradford (6-0, 230) of Lemoore (Calif.) High School. "This is the strength of our defense and certainly our most competitive group," Carroll said. "I am really fired up about the defense. I think the depth at our linebacker spots will give us the ability to move these guys around and the use of talents will really help us." "Kaluka and Rey's emergence has been obvious -- both of those guys could be starters. That is a great improvement from where we were a year ago." DEFENSIVE BACKS Come midseason, perhaps even earlier, the Trojans could be starting multiple true freshmen in their secondary. Are they that desperate or are the kids so talented they can't be kept off the field? The answer is likely some where in between. Three starters are gone, including All-American Darnell Bing, the lone USC defensive player last season to bid adieu with eligibility remaining. While nothing is definite, that returning starter, junior Josh Pinkard (6-1, 200) is likely to line up at free safety. He can play anywhere in the secondary; he started the last six games in 2005 at cornerback. His vitals last season included 54 tackles, seven pass break-ups, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Behind Pinkard, USC has some holes to fill. Sophomore Kevin Ellison (6-1, 220) has the inside track at strong safety, but because he's coming back from a serious knee injury suffered just a year ago, who knows? Other candidates at safety include freshmen Antwine Perez (6-2, 205) of Westville Grove, N.J. (Woodrow Wilson High School) and Taylor Mays (6-4, 225) of Seattle (O'Dea High School). Perez was on campus for the spring and if he isn't starting in September, it's only because Ellison is at 100 percent. "We're going to need those two freshmen at safety, no doubt about it," Holt said. Senior Brandon Ting (5-10, 180) should also see some minutes at safety, probably in dime packages. Holt actually has high hopes for his corners, led by junior Terrell Thomas (6-1, 195), who missed most of last season but can run with any wide-out in the Pac-10, and sophomore Kevin Thomas (6-1, 190). Also vying for playing time are sophomores Cary Harris (6-1, 180) and Mozique McCurtis (6-1, 225). PUNTERS This hasn't been an issue for USC the last four seasons, as the program's only All-American punter, Tom Malone, handled the duties. And while his senior campaign wasn't his best, he finished with a 44.0 average for his career. There are two candidates to replace Malone, walk-on sophomore Taylor Odegard (5-9, 170), who punted once last season, late in the early-season Hawaii blowout, and Van Blarcom. "There are some big shoes to fill at punter," Carroll said. Odegard handled the duties in the spring scrimmage, and launched a pair of 50-yarders. While the competition is open entering the fall, it appears he has the inside track. SPECIAL TEAMS Because Bush handled the majority of kick and punt returns the last two seasons, both responsibilities are up for grabs, with a host of players in the running. Reserve safety Ting departed spring as the punt returner, but there's a more than realistic chance of freshmen handling both chores. The favorites included freshman tailbacks Kenny Ashley (5-9, 210) of Los Angeles (Venice High School), and Emmanuel Moody along with tailback/cornerback C.J. Gable (6-1, 190) of Sylmar (Calif.) High School. All are exceptional athletes. Junior Desmond Reed would've been the favorite to return kicks, but he'll miss another season recovering from a knee injury suffered against Notre Dame last season. Back for his third year as the long snapper is junior Will Collins (6-2, 220), who has performed flawlessly to date, with senior fullback Mike Brittingham (6-1, 205) serving as the backup. The graduation of Malone opens another job besides punter -- he was also the holder the last four seasons. That job will probably be filled by either third-string quarterback McDonald or perhaps even Sanchez if he doesn't overtake Booty as the starting quarterback. While the kickoff unit was solid last season, averaging about 21 yards a return, the punting squad really struggled, allowing 17 yards a return and two touchdowns. "We need to get back to the point where our special teams are special," Carroll said. "We had some breakdowns in some areas last season." BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS In 2005, USC set Pac-10 single-season records in total offense (579.8 yards per game) and points scored (49.1 points per game). Those numbers are video game-like, and simply put, the Trojans were a historic Vince Young effort away from being classified among the great college football teams of all-time. That offense still merits joining any debate about the elite of yesteryear. Grading the Trojans Unit Grade Offense A- Special teams B Defense B+ Intangibles B+ Those offensive numbers not only won't be repeated this season, they may never be. However, despite as much turnover as any team in the conference, USC is just fine, thanks. Some of the talent is young and unproven, but even if only half the new starters pan out, the Trojans can match offensive and defensive starting units with any team in the country. The depth is lacking in several areas, but the Pac-10 is more balanced this season than last, and unless USC suffers a rash of injuries, it should battle Cal for the conference title. The schedule includes likely the toughest back-to-back games on any schedule this season with Cal and Notre Dame on Nov. 18 and 25, respectfully. But those highly anticipated games are taking place in Los Angeles, where USC has won 27 straight. Actually, make it a three-game run, as Oregon visits a week previous to Cal. As the team finds itself in the early going, the schedule is favorable. A loss in the first six games would be surprising. USC is still very much a part of the BCS picture, and while an undefeated campaign appears unlikely, this could be one of those seasons where the national title game has one, if not two teams with a blemished record. It wouldn't surprise us if the Trojans were there once again.

[Hache Man]

Updated: Aug. 2, 2006, 6:29 AM ET
Team preview: Washington



Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook

Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 119 Division I-A teams. To order the complete 2006 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255). (All information as of July 1, 2006) Washington Huskies LOCATION Seattle, Wash. CONFERENCE Pac-10 LAST SEASON 2-9 (.182) CONFERENCE RECORD 1-7 (t-9th) OFF. STARTERS RETURNING 6 DEF. STARTERS RETURNING 8 NICKNAME Huskies COLORS Gold & Purple HOME FIELD Husky Stadium (72,500) COACH Tyrone Willingham (Michigan State '77) RECORD AT SCHOOL 2-9 (1 year) CAREER RECORD 67-60-1 (11 years) ASSISTANTS • Tim Lappano (Idaho '83), Offensive Coordinator • Kent Baer (Utah State '73), Defensive Coordinator • Mike Denbrock (Grand Valley State '86), Offensive Line • Randy Hart (Ohio State '70), Defensive Line • Trent Miles (Indiana State '87), Running Backs • Bob Simmons (Bowling State '71), Tight Ends/Special Teams • Chris Tormey (Idaho '78), Linebacker/Recruiting Coordinator • J.D. Williams (Fresno State '90), Secondary • Eric Yarber (Idaho '85), Wide Receivers TEAM WINS (last five yrs.) 8-7-6-1-2 FINAL RANK (last five yrs.) 14-23-39-89-84 2005 FINISH Lost to Washington State in regular-season finale. 2006 Schedule | 2005 Results | 2005 Statistics COACH AND PROGRAM While Notre Dame is expected to challenge for the national championship this season, with the majority of its players having been recruited by him, Tyrone Willingham embarks upon Year 2 in a massive rebuilding project of a program just four years removed from sharing the Pac-10 title with USC in 2002. It's hard to fathom how devastated Washington was by the dismissal of Rick Neuheisel in the summer of 2003 for taking part in a college basketball pool. And it wasn't a process, either, as Washington went from a perennial Pac-10 contender that won 32 games from 2000-03 to losing 10-of-11 games in 2004. It marked the first double-digit defeat campaign for the Huskies in the program's 115-year history. Inside the Pac-10 Take an Inside look at the Pac-10 with Blue Ribbon's 2006 team reports: Arizona Wildcats Arizona State Sun Devils California Bears Oregon Ducks Oregon State Beavers Stanford Cardinal UCLA Bruins USC Trojans Washington Huskies Washington State Cougars If not for a surprising upset at Arizona on Nov. 12 last season, we'd be talking about back-to-back double-digit loss seasons. The hiring of Willingham was a huge step moving forward and brought needed credibility to the erstwhile national power. The Huskies took their lumps at times last season, but they improved, too, as evidenced by impressive showings at UCLA (a 21-17 loss) and the fact they collectively outscored their final three opponents despite dropping two-of-three. Still, it was a trying season for Willingham, the national coach of the year and The Sporting News Man of the Year just three years earlier at Notre Dame. That's a long way from 2-9 in Seattle. "Last year, we couldn't tell you that we knew our players, nor could our players tell you that they truly knew us," Willingham said. "Hopefully, after a year of being together, we have more insight into each other. We have more insight as to what brings a great response from our young men, and our young men understand clearly what our program is all about. Hopefully, we are more on the same page." This isn't an overnight rebuilding project; the talent Willingham inherited at Notre Dame in 2002 just isn't here. Given the number of transfers and recruiting issues between Neuheisel's controversial dismissal and Willingham's hiring in December 2004, the talent base compared to other Pac-10 teams doesn't measure up. And while the Huskies brought in a solid class -- ranked by most experts fifth or sixth in the Pac-10 -- this season, Willingham is still at least one and likely two cycles away from being able to field a team capable of earning a bowl invitation. Like last year, 2006 is about stabilizing the program, and the players buying into Willingham and his staff. "Everything is in need of attention and we need all of our areas, even though some showed promise, to really step up," Willingham said. The Huskies should be more competitive this season, and should be able to avoid the likes of the 56-17 loss to Cal they suffered last September. First off, the Pac-10 is more balanced overall, although from top to bottom it may be stronger than in 2005. But considering Willingham brought in mostly his own coaching staff, the team should be more comfortable with the offensive and defense playbooks. "I think that with knowing the system, and understanding the schemes, there's a chance this offense could be fairly productive this season," Washington offensive coordinator Tim Lappano said. In 2005, Washington was outscored on the season by exactly 100 points, scoring 237 (21.5) and allowing 337 (30.6). And while the Huskies return 14 starters, six on offense, eight on defense, those numbers are kind of shaky at best. Like Pete Carroll at USC, Willingham doesn't believe in depth charts and returning starters. "It should always be the case," Willingham said. "Even when you have a fourth-year starter who's an All-American, his position should be open. And to be honest, he should welcome the knowledge that his position is open. It's he truly an All-American, he should play like an All-American. He shouldn't need a name or number on his jersey. People should come to practice and say, "whoa, that's an All-American.' That's the way his practice should be every day. "To make us a better football team, we need competition. We need to have all the positions open. I've always believed that everything should be open, and that your most competitive ballplayers, the real winners and champions, they love it that way." If nothing else, Washington showed some signs of registering what the coaching staff was preaching last season, committing just 68 penalties over 11 games. That's probably Willingham's No. 1 pet peeve, and if not, it's a close second to laziness. QUARTERBACKS For reasons not completely understandable, rumors were rampant this spring that senior quarterback Isaiah Stanback (6-3, 215) was in danger of losing his grip on the starting job. Word was, Washington was more or less building for the future and it made little sense to start a senior. True, Willingham has made it abundantly clear that every starting assignment is up for grabs, but it makes no sense to bench Stanback to build for the future considering many within the program are hopeful that top recruit and freshman Jake Locker (6-2, 210) of Ferndale (Wash.) High School will be a four-year starter after taking a redshirt this fall. Stanback, who started all 11 games in 2005, is the starter this season, and to hear offensive coordinator Tim Lappano tell it, he could be the surprise of the Pac-10 this season. In 2005, Stanback completed 54.2 percent of his 264 passes for 2,136 yards, nine touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also rushed for 353 yards and five scores. "I think Isaiah has made progress, a year ago he didn't have a lot of experience, but there were flashes of brilliance but he was inconsistent overall," Lappano said. "He had a good spring, threw three touchdown passes in the spring game and having been in the system, he really understands it now. "We're going to open it up more offensively this season, especially in the running game. It's time to roll the dice. There is a lot of similarity between Isaiah and Vince Young. Running a straight line, Isaiah is faster and he has a stronger arm, but he's not as quick as Vince. But they are similar, very much so. "The thing with Isaiah is that he has to learn how to take that 20 yards rather than throw an incomplete pass. That's feel, and he just doesn't have that instinct for it that Vince does. He has the ability and the speed. Isaiah can put a lot of pressure on defenses; he can pull the ball down and hurt you. Force issues on defense." In the span of a few weeks in the spring, Stanback's athletic ability was showcased. He narrowly missed qualifying for the NCAA track and field championships, running 10.46 in the 100-meter dash at the West Regional, 0.02 off the qualifying time for the nation's elite. In early June, Stanback was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles despite not playing since high school. Stanback's accomplishments weren't limited to athletics. On June 10, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in American Ethics Studies. "The upcoming football season is my No. 1 priority," said Stanback, who Baltimore selected in the 45th round. "My first love really is baseball, since I played it growing up. I didn't start playing football until eighth grade. "My dream is really to play both sports. While I was growing up, I really looked up to guys like Deion Sanders, who were able to succeed at both sports." Juniors Johnny DuRocher (6-4, 215) and Carl Bonnell (6-3, 200) will compete for the backup job, with DuRocher, who threw for 247 yards over five games last season before breaking his wrist against Oregon State, having the edge entering fall camp. RUNNING BACKS James Hasty (5-11, 200) arrived on campus last August amid speculation he could start as a freshman and if not, at the least, he would be the young man responsible for putting the Huskies back on the college football map. Though he ended up traveling with the team for road games, Hasty ended up taking the redshirt. The decision showed that Willingham appreciates his situation and that no one player was going to make much of a difference in 2005. But there might have been another reason to keep Hasty out of action. Hasty departed spring practice No. 3 on the depth chart, and while some believe he's a lock for 1,000 yards and Pac-10 Offensive Newcomer-of-the-Year honors, that appears more fiction than reality for the son of former NFL cornerback James Hasty. "Hasty has a ways to go, he needs to improve his pass protection, his ball leverage, certainly you can say we were disappointed with his spring," Lappano said. "He gained 12 pounds last season as a redshirt and hasn't taken it off, either. "He's always got by on his natural ability. J.R. has work to do. I mean, he has good feet and balance. And he's obviously talented, but by no means are we just handing him the starting job." Hasty is a high school legend in Washington, rushing for 5,500 yards and 92 touchdowns, 50 as a senior. His signing was huge for Willingham, who was barely three months into the job. However, it appears the Washington coaches are attempting some tough love on their young talent in hopes of Hasty committing more time and effort toward football. No player's performance will be watched more this fall by coaches and fans alike. While the staff waits on Hasty's maturation, the Huskies actually have a little depth at running back, with senior Kenny James (5-10, 215) and junior Louis Rankin (6-0, 195) likely to split carries in the early going. Rankin rushed for 485 yards on 104 carries last season, good for 4.7 yards per effort. That included three 100-yard games, highlighted by 109 at UCLA. However a toe injury curtailed his campaign with a month remaining. He's quick, with a little explosiveness through the line, but while he can handle 20-25 carries a game, Rankin's better served as a five or six-carry change-of-pace back. As for James, he was injured most of 2005, but he has 15 career starts and 1,300-plus career rushing yards. "We've got to get better at running back even though we had occasions last year where we had some good performances," Willingham said. Senior Mark Palaita (5-10, 240), a former walk-on, is the likely starter at fullback, which in this offense means blocking, blocking, and more blocking. His backup is sophomore Luke Kravitz (6-2, 230). WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS The loss of Craig Chambers, who transferred to Montana, certainly hurts this unit considering he averaged 18 yards a grab and caught a team-leading six touchdowns, but it's certainly not devastating considering he hauled in just 31 passes. However, his efforts of stretching the field will need replacing, as senior and three-year starter Sonny Shackelford (6-2, 180) is more of a possession guy. Last season, he led the Huskies with 41 catches for 592 yards (14.4 per grab). It marked Shackelford's second straight season as the team's No. 1 receiver. And while there's no doubting Shackelford as the team's go-to guy, the competition behind him is fierce entering the fall. The list of candidates for the second starting slot include junior Anthony Russo (5-11, 185), the starter last season with 30 receptions for 487 yards; transfer Marcel Reese (6-3, 235) of El Camino Community College, who has 4.4 speed and could become an NFL prospect; and junior Chancellor Young (6-2, 210), a transfer from Duke. Also in the mix are junior Corey Williams (6-2, 190), who had six grabs for 91 yards last season, and sophomore Cody Ellis (6-1, 185), who had eight for 154 and a touchdown. "Russo had a good spring, was much more confident in his route running but there's some competition," Lappano said. "Sonny had some injuries this spring and didn't run well, but he was consistent a year ago. With Reese, it's a big step from El Camino to the Pac-10 and there's likely to be a growing period at first. But we're excited about him. "Young is more of a role player. He was there in spring ball and really had an impressive showing. And Williams, is just a great athlete -- he's a top hurdler -- but he dropped a big pass for us against Air Force in the season-opener last year and just never recovered mentally. He was trying to body catch everything after that. It sounds weird, one play messing up an entire season, but it happens. "We've made some big strides at receiver the last year." The Huskies have some depth at tight end, and the position could end up being a real strength this season. While it's entirely unclear who'll end up starting, it's not for lack of options, beginning with sophomore Michael Gottlieb (6-5, 240), a former walk-on who didn't catch a pass last season. However, he was the surprise of the spring and is currently slated No. 1 on the depth chart. "Mike was the most improved player this spring on the offense; he got so much better it really gives us options," Lappano said. Last year's starter, junior Robert Lewis (6-5, 230), is back. He caught 14 passes for 162 in 2005, while sophomore Johnie Kirton (6-3, 290) is also in the mix. "With Kirton, he just has so much potential, like NFL potential, he's 290 pounds and can run," Lappano said of the converted running back. "He can make us so much better as an offense. He just has to understand the game more, and his position. He has to play with leverage, use his size and strength." OFFENSIVE LINE When the 2006 season concludes for Washington, there's a real chance this unit could be what kept the Huskies from really making some noticeable gains on the rest of the conference. Four starters were lost from a season ago, but it's not as if the line provided world-class protection or opened gaping running lanes. So that news shouldn't be automatically translated as a negative. And a host of returning linemen have some experience. To Willingham, this is the unit that more or less sets the tone for not only the offense, but the team in general. "The offensive line, in many cases, is the most critical and important position on your team," he said. "They allow everyone else to function with ease. A great offensive line provides great protection, and quarterbacks look good because they have time to throw. A great line makes it so the running back looks at the holes like they're as wide as a freeway. When you have a great line, it changes everyone's demeanor and it really changes everyone's level of production." The lone returning starter is senior left guard Stanley Daniels (6-4, 310), a converted defensive tackle. He's easily the best all-around blocker on the team. The other guard, at least heading into the fall, is senior Clay Walker (6-4, 300), who while not officially a returning starter has made 13 career starts. At tackle, junior Chad Macklin (6-8, 300) and redshirt freshman Ben Ossai (6-6, 290) are currently leading the depth chart, but that could change by the opener against San Jose State on Sept. 2. In the middle it's junior Juan Garcia (6-3, 310), who has battled injuries at WU, although Walker could end up moving between the guards, too. "The line is an area of concern for us," Lappano said. "Daniels can run, is real athletic, but needs to become more physical. Garcia at center is tough, but inexperienced, and we like Walker at guard -- we want him to stay there. Macklin is steady, and Ossai had a great spring. He has unlimited potential." Five sophomores are vying for playing time, to: Ryan Bush (6-2, 285), Nathan Flowers (6-3, 335), Robert Lukevich (6-2, 250), Jordan White-Frisbee (6-6, 335) and Casey Bulyca (6-5, 315). KICKERS This was one area the Huskies didn't have concerns with last season, with Evan Knudson drilling 11-of-14 field-goal attempts inside of 50 yards. With Knudson graduated, the duties fall to one of two candidates, junior Michael Braunstein (5-8, 185) or redshirt freshman Ryan Perkins (6-0, 185). Braunstein kicked a little in 2004, going 3-for-3 inside of 30 yards and missing all four attempts beyond 40 yards. He was also 11-of-12 on extra points. He handled the kicking duties this spring, but Perkins is believed to have the stronger leg. Either way, barring an unforeseen injury or mental breakdown, this position appears secure, not only this season but for three years beyond. Perkins could potentially kick and punt. "I think that's one of the areas that if things fall into place, it could really be a good area for us," Willingham said. DEFENSIVE LINE The Huskies' defense wasn't half bad last season, nothing like one might expect from a 2-9 squad in the Pac-10. Sure, there were games like the 56-17 debacle against Cal, but Washington held UCLA to 21 points and Oregon State and Arizona under 20. The unit returns eight starters and 24 lettermen, and while some key cogs were lost, the defense should be improved from a season ago. "The spring went well, better than a year ago," defensive coordinator Kent Baer said. "That might not equate to wins, but we know each other better this time around." As far as the defensive line, there's a little experience back, including potentially one of the conference's top pass rushers and a slew of able bodies. But overall, there were more questions than definitive answers as spring practice ended. "I don't care who starts, I'm not interested in finding four guys to start, I need eight guys and we need to develop some depth,' Baer said. The unquestioned anchor of the line is junior end Greyson Gunheim (6-4, 240), the team's top lineman a year ago with 38 tackles, 11 for loss, five sacks and three pass deflections. He's quick off the ball and goes full throttle from snap to tackle, a rarity among ends. "The surprise of the spring for me was Greyson, and that sounds strange with what he did last season," Baer said. "But he really showed what a tremendous athlete he was and how smart of a football player he is." The other end duties will probably be shared by sophomore Walt Winter (6-5, 245) and redshirt freshman Daniel Te'o-Nesheim (6-4, 235). "Daniel stood out this spring because he's got a big motor, and he's physical," Baer said. "We're going to need him." On the inside, the Huskies have two returning starters in senior tackle Donny Mateaki (6-5, 285), who started 10 games at end in 2005 and finished with 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, and junior tackle Wilson Afoa (6-3, 290), who had 7.5 tackles for loss. Others in the mix include senior end Brandon Ala (6-3, 245) and junior tackles Jordan Reffett (6-6, 295) and Erick Lobos (6-3, 300). LINEBACKERS Behind departed starters Evan Benjamin and Joe Lobendahn, Washington's linebackers were better than most in the conference last season, allowing the Huskies to finish fifth in run defense at 143 yards per game and sixth in total defense. However, while Baer knows the numbers are adequate, even impressive all things considered, he wasn't overly thrilled with his defense last season. "You know what really grinded on me last season, just drove me nuts," Baer said. "Our third-down defense was terrible. I guess that happens on the way up, but giving up first downs again and again on third down and 10 yards or longer was very, very frustrating." As for the linebackers, the goal is to somehow equal the success of last year's unit and hope the line improves. Those efforts will be led by senior Scott White (6-1, 230), a three-year starter with nearly 200 career tackles, including 79 last season. White may have to increase that number in 2006. "We're untested overall here, but Scott can play inside, outside -- it all starts with him," Baer said. White is set at the strong side, with senior Tahj Bomar (6-2, 215) handling the middle and sophomore Chris Stevens (6-0, 195) probably starting at weak side. Both are undersized but capable. The depth, which is inexperienced at best, includes junior Dan Howell (6-1, 225) and redshirt freshman E.J. Savannah (6-2, 215). DEFENSIVE BACKS This unit wasn't good last season, allowing 276 passing yards per contest, 106th in the nation. Opponents were successful on 44 percent of third downs. That's the killer Baer was talking about, and while that statistic starts with the pass rush, it certainly ends in the secondary. Another issue Baer has, which mostly relates to the secondary, is Washington had the second fewest takeaways, 17, in the conference. "I want our secondary to lead the defense," Baer said. "I'm not into many statistics, most are skewed. But two stats that interest me are points allowed and takeaways. That's it. Nothing else really matters." Seven returning players in the secondary started at least a game last season. It's nice to have experience, but these are the same players that struggled a year ago. That said, though, Washington has some talent here, led by senior Dashon Goldson (6-2, 195), who is moving from free safety to cornerback and is a potential first-day NFL selection in 2007. His vitals last season included 80 tackles and three pass breakups. A solid tackler, he has the speed to excel at corner. The other starting corner is likely junior Roy Lewis (5-11, 185), who had 47 tackles and an interception in 2005. Strong safety is solid with senior C.J. Wallace (6-0, 205), who had 86 tackles, 5.5 for loss and four pass breakups in 2005 and should really be a force. Free safety is still up for grabs with juniors Chris Hemphill (6-6, 215) and Jason Wells (6-2, 210) competing with sophomore Mesphin Forrester (6-2, 185). Senior Matt Fontaine (5-11, 180) is the likely nickel cornerback, while JUCO transfer Jordan Murchison (6-0, 184) should compete for playing time as well. PUNTERS An honorable mention All-American last season, senior Sean Douglas (6-1, 215) should be among the top two or three punters in the conference. He also has the ability, if his hang time improves, to become one of the top punters in the nation. In 2005, he averaged 42.6 yards a kick and placed 16 inside the opposing 20. This will be his third year as Washington's No. 1 punter. "Sean has the opportunity to be one of the best in the country," Willingham said. "We're looking for some more directional punting from him, more of the ability to pin people down in their own end. I think he can be a really excellent punter for us." SPECIAL TEAMS This unit was an unequivocal mess last season. From allowing 27.5 yards per kick return and 12.7 per punt return to being nearly non-existent in their own return game, the Huskies were a special teams nightmare. With more depth in the program -- especially if Willingham doesn't redshirt half his recruits -- at the least, the coverage should improve. It's hard to imagine the kickoff unit being any worse. As far as returns go, several players gave it a shot last season, each with varying degrees of mediocrity. Junior wideout Alex Mercier (6-1, 190) departed spring No. 1 on the depth chart at punt returner, while junior Marlon Wood (5-10, 180) is as good of a guess as any at kick returner. Willingham is likely to hold open tryouts for both jobs once again in August in the hopes of perhaps a newcomer being able to offer a spark. BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS It's hard to believe Willingham won't be successful in terms of wins and losses at Washington. But it's doubtful that success will come in 2006. This program is still two years away from competing for a bowl bid, and maybe three or four years from returning to the glory days. Willingham seems to be the man for the job, but it's just one heck of a reclamation project. It's hard to believe decades of success was torn apart so quickly and effectively over a college hoops pool. Grading the Huskies Unit Grade Offense C Special teams B- Defense B- Intangibles B As for this season, there's more talent and depth than a year ago, but outside of a few positions, Washington is inexperienced across the board. The Huskies were playing better toward the latter stages of 2005, especially defensively, and maybe some of that momentum will carry over. It had better. The nonconference schedule doesn't offer any favors. It's hard to envision Washington winning more than two or three games. But Willingham and his staff are headed in the right direction. The process just needs another season or two before .500 is a realistic goal.

[Hache Man]

Updated: Aug. 2, 2006, 6:19 AM ET
Team preview: Washington State



Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook

Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 119 Division I-A teams. To order the complete 2006 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255). (All information as of July 1, 2006) Washington State Cougars LOCATION Pullman, Wash. CONFERENCE Pac-10 LAST SEASON 4-7 (.364) CONFERENCE RECORD 1-7 (t-9th) OFF. STARTERS RETURNING 7 DEF. STARTERS RETURNING 7 NICKNAME Cougars COLORS Crimson & Silver HOME FIELD Martin Stadium (37,600) COACH Bill Doba (Ball State '62) RECORD AT SCHOOL 19-16 (3 years) CAREER RECORD 19-16 (3 years) ASSISTANTS • Mike Levenseller (Washington State '78), Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers • Robb Akey (Weber State '88), Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line • Leon Burtnett (Southwestern College '65), Linebackers • Ken Greene (Washington State '77), Defensive Backs • Greg Peterson (Nebraska Wesleyan '84), Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator • Timm Rosenbach (Washington State '88), Quarterbacks • Kelly Skipper (Fresno State '89), Running Backs • Mike Walker (Washington State '82), Defensive Line • George Yamo (Washington State '79), Offensive Line TEAM WINS (last five yrs.) 10-10-10-5-4 FINAL RANK (last five yrs.) 10-9-12-43-65 2005 FINISH Beat Washington in regular-season finale. 2006 Schedule | 2005 Results | 2005 Statistics COACH AND PROGRAM Football aside, it was an offseason of heavy hearts for Washington State. On April 21, 2006, Judy Doba, wife of Washington State coach Bill Doba, died after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer. She was 65. The Cougars obviously would take great joy in being able to dedicate a memorable season in her honor. And despite Washington State concluding 2005 in the Pac-10 basement, a winning record and a bowl berth is possible. Inside the Pac-10 Take an Inside look at the Pac-10 with Blue Ribbon's 2006 team reports: Arizona Wildcats Arizona State Sun Devils California Bears Oregon Ducks Oregon State Beavers Stanford Cardinal UCLA Bruins USC Trojans Washington Huskies Washington State Cougars A close examination of last year's record, which included five losses by four points our less, would indicate that Washington State was close a year ago, but just couldn't break through. "That wasn't a bad football team -- I was looking at it the other day," WSU defensive coordinator Robb Akey said. "Take our team and UCLA last season -- one wins five games in the last few minutes, the other loses five the same way. A field goal here and there & we were mirrors of each other. That's what can happen with a young team, though, and we had a lot of injuries, too. "We fully expect to get back to a bowl game this season and playing in a bowl game is where this program belongs. This season should be a lot like last season, USC has much more talent than the rest of the conference, but if the rest of the league plays each other 10 times each, I could see a lot of 5-5 records." At least the Cougars finished the season by defeating host Washington, 26-22, and thus avoided a winless conference record. After that game, when asked what the difference was between those five agonizingly close defeats and the four-point win, Doba said, "If I knew the difference, I'd write a book and make a lot of money. We've been this close a lot and we just made a play." Akey said that while last season was tough on all involved, the team is that more focused and motivated toward 2006. "The kids were all in Pullman on June 3, starting summer workouts," Akey said. "That's not always the case -- some go home -- but in a way, what happened last year, the end result is driving them like never before." If there's a single reason to blame for all those close games going the other way, consider this: Washington State simply wasn't the same team in the fourth quarter as the previous three. On the season, the Cougars outscored their opponents 297-246 through three quarters. In the fourth, WSU mustered just 68 points while its opponents tallied 94, and that's not including the double-overtime loss to Cal by a field goal. Even more frustrating, Washington State scored enough points to win most weeks, dropping four Pac-10 games in which it scored at least 31 points. Also, the Cougars, with a defensive unit decimated by injuries and lack of experience, allowed 37.6 points per conference game. As for Doba, this will be his 17th campaign in Pullman. He'll turn 66 five days after the Cougars' season opener at Auburn, and while young compared to the likes of Joe Paterno, who'll turn 80 this December, and Bobby Bowden who turns 77 in November, some around Pullman have respectfully speculated if Doba's job security could weigh in the balance this season. From 2001-03, WSU became the first Pac-10 team in seven decades with double-digit wins three straight seasons. The last of those seasons was Doba's first as head coach, with Price departing for his short-lived stint at Alabama, but since the program is 9-13, having suffered through back-to-back losing campaigns. The time is here for the Cougars. Over the last two seasons, they've lost nine games in the final minutes and while that obviously shows the program is close, it's time for some more wins and a bowl invitation. Nothing less will suffice in 2006. QUARTERBACKS While many Pac-10 teams are entering the campaign with varying degrees of uncertainty, Washington State is not among them with junior Alex Brink (6-2, 202) coming off an impressive campaign in which he completed 57.3 percent of his 358 tosses for 2,891 yards, 24 touchdowns passes and just 13 interceptions. No returning conference quarterback threw for more yards or touchdowns. Brink's 140.0 passer rating placed 26th in the country last season. When Josh Swogger was injured midway through the 2004 campaign, Brink, then just a redshirt freshman, stepped in. And while there was a minor quarterback controversy last spring, Brink has started 16 straight games, and if he remains healthy, he could end up being among the rare college quarterbacks with 40 career starts. As for Swogger, recruited by Price back in 2001 with expectations of being a three-year starter, he transferred to Division I-AA Montana at the conclusion of last season and is expected to start because I-A players transferring to a lower classification are eligible immediately. There's a real possibility Brink could be the best quarterback in the Pac-10 this season, although it's sometimes tough to compare statistics to the likes of whoever takes the snaps for Arizona State and USC, because they could end up being first and second nationally in team scoring offense and yardage. While Washington State's offense should be among the conference's elite, it's not in that class. Few in the country are. While offensive coordinator Mike Levenseller was impressed last season with Brink's performance, it's sometimes tough to accurately gauge a quarterback's all-around efforts until time permits. "I've always thought Alex was a good player, but you appreciate him more and more going back and watching the cutups [on film]," Levenseller said. "It's pretty special watching him make such mature decisions. First, he has the ability to create a big play from the line of scrimmage, he sees something, and attacks. He's willing to trust that decision. That's growth. "And during the week, the process of sorting through the information -- that goes hand-in-hand of what he's looking at the line and when he drops back." It hasn't become an issue yet, but Brink's backup this season, sophomore Gary Rogers (6-5, 241), didn't come to WSU to sit on the sideline for four years and start his senior year. A highly touted recruit, built similarly to Bledsoe and Leaf, Rogers attempted just five passes as a redshirt freshman and struggled in this spring's four scrimmages. He has a strong arm, and perhaps was pressing in hopes of impressing the staff in limited duty, as Brink took the majority of the first-team snaps this spring. The No. 3 on the depth chart is redshirt freshman Cole Morgan (6-2, 182). RUNNING BACKS Nicknamed "The Ghost," Jerome Harrison was just that his senior campaign, rushing for 1,900 yards and earning first-team Pac-10 honors and landing on a few first team All-America squads, too. Looking at the offensive statistics, between Brink, Harrison -- a fifth-round NFL selection of the Cleveland Browns -- and some of the receivers, it's hard to believe the Cougars barely won a single Pac-10 game. Harrison, who concluded his career with a Pac-10 record 14 straight 100-yard efforts, has departed, and while there's some talent in the backfield, how exactly do you replace one of the nation's most productive ball carriers? "We don't plan on replacing him, that's not realistic," Lavenseller said. "It was important for us to solidify the position in the spring, but our starter doesn't need to be as good as Jerome for us to succeed on offense this season." The expected starter is sophomore DeMaundray Woolridge (5-8, 223), who carried 52 times for 312 yards and two scores last season, including a 70-yard run. While two inches smaller than Harrison, he's 25 pounds heavier and more than capable of taking on 15-20 carries per game. "Woolridge is more of a power runner, he can plant, though, but he has less speed than Jerome," Lavenseller said. "But yeah, plain and simple, we have to be open about the tailback situation, and we have a couple guys coming in and we can use the competition. "How many carries one guy gets depends -- one guy could carry most of the load, we could develop someone, we could end up with no one separating themselves." One potential issue with Woolridge, who will have every chance come August to secure 15-20 touches, is that he didn't catch a single pass last season. Harrison was a valuable option in the passing game, often serving as a last-second outlet for Brink. He finished with 24 catches. "DeMaundray was better than I thought he would be this spring catching the ball -- he needs some route work, especially on screens -- but I was pleased," Lavenseller said. "It's more of an issue with concentration than technique or hands, too. It's different catching a football from two feet, say on a lateral or pitch, and 10 feet, on a little dump-off or screen. The process is different, the ball comes in at different angles." The aforementioned couple guys coming in are junior college transfers J.T. Deiderichs (6-2, 235) of Dixie State (Utah) College and Darrell Hutsona (5-10, 185) of Grossmont (Calif.) College. Both are expected to at the least push Woolridge, with the plan being at least one emerges as a 10-touch-a-game option. There's also a chance one could be better than advertised and end up stepping into the starting role. Also in the picture for the one-back offense are junior Kevin McCall (5-11, 215) and redshirt freshman Dwight Tardy (5-11, 200). WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS After that brutal 2005 season, Washington State finally caught a break in the offseason. Perhaps it's an omen. There was a chance the Cougars could've lost their starting wide-outs from 2005, with one mulling the jump to the NFL and the second battling academic issues. In the end, though, second-team All-Pac-10 selection Jason Hill (6-2, 208) decided to return for his senior campaign and junior Michael Bumpus (5-11, 186) won an appeal after being declared academically ineligible in early January and dismissed from school. To most, Hill is the conference's second most-talented returning wide-out, behind only USC All-American Dwayne Jarrett. But not everyone would necessarily agree with that assessment. "Who's first in the conference, who's better than Jason?," Levenseller said when a reporter mentioned the assumption in passing. When reminded about Jarrett, Levenseller paused and said, "That's fair & that's a decent answer." By no means did he seem convinced, though. Appearing alongside Jarrett on just about every preseason All-Pac-10 team, Hill caught 62 passes last season for 1,097 yards (17.7 yards per catch) and 13 touchdowns. His 109 yards per game and those 13 scores were each second in the conference. It marked the second consecutive 1,000-yard campaign for Hill, who was also a second team All-Pac-10 selection as a sophomore. Upon his return, the immediate question becomes how Levenseller gets Hill the ball, because he's likely to see double teams from the time he steps off the team bus. "We can run different schemes, with multi-formations, try and get Jason in situations where he's isolated," the sixth-year offensive coordinator said. "With Jason, we're looking for consistency -- that's the next step for him. He's shown the ability to make big plays, he's shown that he's end-zone friendly. "Jason's a special kid. We'll need his leadership this season." Despite missing four-plus games with a high ankle sprain, Bumpus was the team's second-leading receiver last season with 30 catches. And though he's an electrifying punt returner, one of the nation's best, Bumpus is more of a possession receiver as the slot-back, averaging less than a dozen yards a catch in 2005. At flanker, senior Chris Jordan (6-1, 210) enters the fall No. 1 on the depth chart. He caught 12 balls for 129 yards and a score last season. Behind him, and closing fast, is sophomore Brandon Gibson (6-0, 195), who has more big play ability as evidenced by his 19.1 yards per catch and two touchdowns last fall. Others in the mix for playing time include sophomores Benny Ward (6-4, 184) and Scott Selby (6-6, 222). At tight end, the Cougars have a massive target, capable of really emerging this fall, in senior Cody Boyd (6-8, 257). In a reserve role, Boyd has 14 catches last season and somehow, despite being the tallest player on the field every game, zero touchdowns. "Cody's key for us, if he's healthy, we need to use that big target," Levenseller said. "He's never really had the opportunity before, he missed the spring with an injured foot, but he also used that time to work on his upper body. He's been working hard since the spring season on his routes, too. "Instead of going home for a month or five weeks, like in the past, he decided not to. A lot of players stuck around." Boyd's backups include junior Jed Collins (6-2, 250), who had a strong spring, and sophomore Ben Woodard (6-5, 237). OFFENSIVE LINE No one could complain about this unit's efforts last season; the line allowed the Cougars to amass 489 yards per game, third to just USC and Arizona State in the Pac-10. Just as important, opposing defenses managed just 18 sacks. And when a running back goes for nearly 2,000 yards, as Jerome Harrison did last year, there are obviously some large holes being cleared out in front of him. A reason for the line's success was good health -- the same five players started all 11 games. But two of those starters -- Nick Mihlhauser and Norvell Holmes -- graduated, leaving three solid returning starters but little playing experience behind them. The anchor of the unit is three-year starting left tackle Bobby Byrd (6-7, 314). The massive senior enters the season with 20 consecutive starts and should vie for All-Pac-10 honors in 2006. The other returning starters include senior right tackle Charles Harris (6-6, 308) and senior left guard Sean O'Connor (6-5, 287). Sophomore Andy Roof (6-3, 316) is expected to start at the other guard, while redshirt freshman Kenny Alfred (6-2, 294) leads the depth chart in the middle. The backups up front include sophomore center Dan Rowlands (6-5, 283), senior guard Josh Duin (6-3, 311), sophomore guard Derek Hunter (6-4, 270), sophomore tackle Colin Donovan (6-7, 284) and redshirt freshman tackle Scott Friberg (6-4, 275). Overall, despite minor question marks at tailback and on the line, this should again be among the more potent offensive attacks not only in the conference but in the nation as well. "We want to move the football, no doubt, and score some points," Levenseller said. "We have a lot of weapons, especially at the receiver positions, and we have to spread the field and have the maturity to take advantage of those weapons." KICKERS Last spring, Doba wasn't thrilled with his kicking situation, even offering a tryout to a reporter. Of course he was joking & we think, but no matter, while those last-minute losses in 2004 could be attributed to the kicking, that wasn't the case in 2005. Junior Loren Langley (5-8, 150) more than stabilized the position, winning the job with a strong August and converting 14-of-22 during the season. That's only 64 percent, which isn't actually bad at the collegiate level, but it's worth noting that four of the misses were from 49 yards and beyond, meaning Langley was 14-of-18 (78 percent) inside of 49 yards. He was also 10-of-12 inside of 40 yards. His other vitals included 38-of-41 on extra points and 18 touchbacks on 69 kickoffs. While he doesn't quite rank in the upper echelon of Pac-10 kickers, he's definitely in the next tier with room to a legitimate threat from 50 yards. DEFENSIVE LINE At this point, defensive coordinator Robb Akey must wake up some mornings and think he's starring in Groundhog Day. After experiencing every coordinator's nightmare season in 2005, with at times half his defense out with various injuries, this spring several players he was hopeful would gain some experience were sitting on the sidelines with assorted bumps, bruises and ailments. But at least as of early June, Akey was cautiously optimistic his defense, at long last, would report for summer drills at 100 percent. Even with some help from the incoming recruiting class, mostly via JUCO transfers, this defense won't have a lot of depth this season and certainly not enough to deal with another M*A*S*H unit. "I would've liked more practice time this spring, as far as some of the players being on the field," Akey said. "We have some kids back, some starters, but it comes down to health, just like last season. But if we come out in full force in August, I think we'll be OK." Despite the overall struggles last season, the Cougars registered 34 sacks, more than three a game. Putting pressure on opposing backfields shouldn't be an issue this season, either, with the return of senior end Mkristo Bruce (6-6, 250), second in the Pac-10 last season with 15 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. However, he's by no means one-dimensional, finishing with 67 tackles, 45 solo, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. "He really played well for us, that was a hell of a football season he put together," Akey said. "He's been voted a captain, too, and we're expecting him to really step into that role. This should be a huge season for Mkristo." Inside, the Cougars appear strong, at least on paper, with juniors Aaron Johnson (6-6, 310), who started 11 games last season, and Ropati Pitoitua (6-8, 299), who was a huge loss with a broken leg in 2005, at the tackles. As a redshirt freshman, Pitoitua was selected to The Sporting News' All Pac-10 freshmen team. "I'm really expecting a great season from Ropati, he's much stronger than before the injury," Akey said. Also, sophomore A'I Ahmu (6-1, 284) started 11 games at tackle last season, in place of Pitoituam and offers Akey options in terms of keeping the trio fresh. That's been a huge issue the last two seasons as Akey hasn't had any depth to work with. There isn't much experience at end outside of Bruce, with juniors Matt Mullennix (6-5, 256) and Lance Broadus (6-2, 211) expected to compete for the second starting job. Sophomore Mike Graise (6-3, 216) is also in the picture. LINEBACKERS No injury hurt last season's team more than middle linebacker Will Derting, who was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection as a sophomore and was really expected to be the backbone of the defense. He suffered a left knee injury late in the Pac-10 opener at Oregon State and while he came back for the final two games of the season, he wasn't the same player. This unit really struggled last season, especially in the latter stages. However, while it certainly wasn't enjoyable for anyone involved, the experienced gained should make this a stronger defense this season. All three starters, at least after Derting was out, are back, led by strong-side senior Scott Davis (5-10, 228), the unquestioned leader of not only the defense but the team in general. Elected as one of the four captains at the conclusion of spring practice, Davis had already assumed the role. "He calls the plays, and he's going to lead this defense," Akey said. "I like him a lot this season in terms of really having a big year." Last season, Davis had 66 tackles, five for loss and six pass break ups. Akey is also excited about his returning weak-side starter in senior Steve Dildine (6-1, 229), who was the third-leading tackler last season with 68 stops. Making exactly one tackle more than Dildine last season was sophomore Gary Trent (5-10, 230), the middle linebacker. There might even be some depth here, too, with sophomores Cory Evans (6-2, 215) and Jason Stripling (5-11, 218) and senior Brian Hall (6-2, 242). DEFENSIVE BACKS An interesting statistic of note: In 2005 Washington State placed last among Pac-10 teams in time of possession at 27:30. And the more a defense is on the field, well, let's just say the fourth-quarter struggles last season add up on many levels. However, no matter what the offense does, the Cougars' defense must accept responsibility for their third-down defense. More than 40 percent of opposing teams' third downs were converted for first downs. While that's an overall defense issue, the defensive backs are often the ones on the television screen having just tackled someone who is seconds away from celebrating a first down, or worse, six points. The first issue is making plays. The Cougars managed just 10 interceptions last season, less than one per game. Both starting safeties are back, with senior Eric Frampton (5-11, 208), easily the team's leading tackler last season with 87, at strong and junior Husain Abdullah (6-0, 189), who had 54 stops and two interceptions, at free. Akey was also impressed this spring with senior free safety DeWayne Patterson (6-2, 195) and especially sophomore Michael Willis (6-3, 205). "Willis had a huge spring, if he figures out the defense, he can really make plays with his hitting, that kid's a son of a gun the way he hits," Akey said. If the cornerbacks struggle, Abdullah could move over, allowing Willis or Patterson to step in. Speaking of the cornerbacks, there's not much experience there, although the best of the bunch this spring, senior Tyron Brackenridge (6-0, 180) saw action as a nickel back in 2004 before missing last season after being declared academically ineligible. He's penciled in as one starter, while senior Don Turner (6-0, 183) has first crack on the other side. Also in the mix are sophomores Ryan Kensok (5-9, 164), Courtney Williams (6-1, 193) and Ian Bell (5-9, 180). "Turner has to pick it up, as does Williams," Akey said. "We'll have three JUCO transfers in for the fall camp and they could factor in, too." PUNTERS With the departure of four-year starter Kyle Basler, this is an area of minor concern entering fall practice. However, both candidates had solid springs. Sophomores Darryl Blunt (6-0, 178) and Fritz Brayton (6-3, 184) finished the spring scrimmages with similar averages, but Blunt departed for the summer No. 1 on the depth chart. SPECIAL TEAMS The return of Bumpus was perhaps more important here than in the receiving corps despite him being the unquestioned No. 2 option there. There aren't many players in the country who possess his ability on punt returns. Last season, the junior flanker averaged a gaudy 13.6 yards on 17 returns, including an 87-yard touchdown return. Look for teams to keep the ball away from him if possible, going as far as angling kicks out of bounds rather than deal with his athleticism in the open field. Junior Lorenzo Bursey (5-8, 175), a reserve tailback, is expected to return the bulk of the kickoffs, along with back up split end Ward. Bursey averaged 23.5 yards last season on 19 returns, sixth best in the Pac-10. The long snapper is redshirt freshman Tony Thompson (6-2, 235) while Blunt is the likely holder. BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS If the schedule serves as an indicator for the team's chances at returning to the postseason, the Cougars have one in their favor, with home dates against USC, Cal and Oregon -- to most the top three teams in the conference this season. After that tough opener at Auburn, the Cougars have winnable home dates with Idaho and Baylor. Grading the Cougars Unit Grade Offense A- Special teams B+ Defense C+ Intangibles A- While it's never smart to start going through a schedule and marking down wins and losses in June, or at any time for that matter, a more balanced Pac-10 and a favorable slate make it possible that Washington State will be the conference's most improved team this season. Not a lot has to fall into place for that to happen. The offense is loaded, and even if the running game takes a hit, which is likely, the Cougars can follow the path of Arizona State and simply start passing 40 or so times a game. Brink is capable and the wide-outs and tight ends rank among the top three in the conference. Not to mention the line is better in pass protection than run blocking, although it's solid at both. Success, or lack thereof, this season comes down to defense and its ability, more than anything else, to remain healthy. There's going to be injuries in football, that's a given, but there comes a point -- like last season -- where the best defensive minds in the game couldn't have mustered much from the Cougars depleted depth. In the end, WSU is a bowl team, likely one with six or seven wins and capable of more with a few breaks. And if any team has a few saved up, it's the Cougars.