The first taste Colorado had of its new Pac-10 home came two weeks ago in Berkeley, Calif., and the Buffaloes are still spitting out bits of turf from every part of Memorial Stadium.
If the Buffs can get blown out 52-7 by a second-division Cal team whose true worth came through in its 52-31 loss to Nevada last week, what other troubles will Colorado face in 2011? No one can predict what will happen next weekend, let alone next year, but Colorado had better improve a lot or it’ll be near the bottom of the conference. The Pac-10 is going to get better before it gets worse.
In a conference that produces NFL quarterbacks like bobblehead dolls, eight starting quarterbacks are scheduled to return next fall.
Here’s a veeeeeery early look at the 2011 Pac-10, from the best to Washington State:
Oregon: The main culprits who have helped the Ducks outscore three opponents 189-13 will be around a long time. Quarterback Darron Thomas, who has made everyone forget Jeremiah Masoli; tailback LaMichael James, who’s averaging 180.5 yards a game; and his backup, Kenjon Barner, who scored five TDs in the first 21 minutes against New Mexico, are all sophomores.
They might be vulnerable on defense, as nine starters depart.
Arizona: Quarterback Nick Foles is getting hyped by NFL draft pundits. He’ll be a senior next year and must ask himself if he wants to return with four linemen gone. All-America cornerback Trevin Wade is only a junior.
Coach Mike Stoops is only making this team better. It has won eight games each of the last two years, is 3-0 and has only two difficult road tests, at Stanford and Oregon.
Stanford: If quarterback Andrew Luck doesn’t win the Heisman this year, he can win it next year. He’s only a junior and in 2011 could play himself into becoming the top quarterback in the draft.
He’ll lose three linemen, but seven defensive starters return and, more importantly, so will coach Jim Harbaugh. In his four years, the Cardinal has gone from four wins to five to eight to No. 16 in the country.
Southern California: The NCAA-sanctioned 15 scholarships lost per year probably won’t affect the Trojans — yet. They will still have plenty of Pete Carroll recruits to contend in 2011. Seven offensive starters will be back, including quarterback Matt Barkley.
Junior tailback Marc Tyler is finally healthy and they have a burgeoning star in offensive tackle Tyron Smith. Defensively, eight starters return, and three defensive backs are underclassmen.
Oregon State: Whirlwind tailback Jacquizz Rodgers is only a junior, and first-year starting quarterback Ryan Katz is a sophomore. They’ll lose flanker James Rodgers, Jacquizz’s brother, and must rebuild a defense.
Washington: Replacing Jake Locker will be one of two current freshmen: Keith Price out of Compton, Calif., or 6-foot-8 Michael Hartvigson. Capable tailback Chris Polk (88 yards per game) is a junior, and so is all-conference receiver Jermaine Kearse. But the Huskies’ defense is still awful.
UCLA: Forget coach Rick Neuheisel’s current quarterback problems. Waiting to enroll early is dual-threat phenom Brett Hundley, the No. 7 rated QB in the nation out of Chandler, Ariz. He already has his eye on starting next year.
And what a cast around him: seven starters back on offense and 10 on defense, including all-America linebacker Akeem Ayers.
California: Cal is currently the Buffaloes’ second game of 2011. Replacing QB Kevin Riley will likely be junior-to-be Beau Sweeney, the nation’s 13th-ranked pro-style QB in high school and grandson of long-time Fresno State coach Jim Sweeney.
And remember, receiver Keenan Allen is only a freshman.
Arizona State: If Dennis Erickson can survive this season — and the Sun Devils’ 20-19 loss at Wisconsin on Saturday shows they may be better than we think — he’ll be in good shape next year. He returns 10 starters on offense and defense.
Washington State: The only FBS teams the Cougars have beaten in Paul Wulff’s three years are Washington and SMU. Does it really matter 15 starters return?
