FootballGuide by Arizona Daily Wildcat

Section B •

thur s d ay, se p te m be r

1, 2011

No looking

back inside

Nick Foles’ evolution as a college quarterback sets the bar high his senior year B4 — —

Daily Wildcat

all in. Whatever it

“If we are going to play on this team

we’ve got to be

a revamped league brings about opponents new and old. where will they all finish? B6 — —

— senior safety Robert Golden

the extra, we’ve got to do it.”

takes to win, whatever it takes to do

Juron criner is a gamechanger, but he’s not alone in the wildcats’ receiver platoon B5 — —

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER

• THE FOOTBALL GUIDE

1, 2011

WILDCATSTAFFPICKS 5 QUESTIONS FOR COMMENTARY

— winning its final six contests leading up to the Pac-12 Football Championship Game.

X-factor: Mickey Baucus and Fabbians Ebbele How effective Arizona’s offense will be in 2011 really just comes down to the effectiveness of its offensive tackles. If they can give Foles enough time to go through a couple of reads, he’s shown that he’ll find someone that’s open. If not, then things could get ugly.

Dan Kohler DAILY WILDCAT

aking on three Associated Press top-10 opponents in the first four weeks of the season won’t be an easy task for the Record prediction: 8-5 after a loss in the PacWildcats, and if they can’t get any wins out of 12 Championship Game those games, it’ll be a long year. However, if the Bowl prediction: Sun Bowl team can pull off an upset against Oregon or Stanford, Arizona will regain some of the necessary confidence that it has been lacking for a long time. The Wildcats return a bevy of their offensive playmakers from last season, and there’s no doubt they have the ability but will they be able to produce when it counts?

Mike Schmitz X-factor: Offensive line One of the biggest offseason questions about DAILY WILDCAT the Wildcats offense was the concern for the lack of experience on the offensive line. With five new starters, will they be able to allow running lanes rizona picked a bad time to have two of the to open up and give Nick Foles enough time to top offensive players in the Pac-12. Nick throw the football? Only time will tell. Of the five Foles, Juron Criner and Arizona’s deep new faces, only Kyle Quinn has started, so it’s going receiving corps will shred opponents’ defenses, to be a steep learning curve for all involved. It’s simple though, if the line can stop the penetration, but the Wildcats’ schedule is too brutal to make a serious splash in the new-look conference. With the Wildcats will be able to run an offense. NAU, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Oregon and USC to open the season, Arizona could very well start Record prediction: 7-5 off the year 1-4. Then add in that Arizona will Bowl prediction: Sun Bowl most likely be without Adam Hall, Jake Fischer and Jonathan McKnight for that nearly impossible stretch and early success becomes that much more unrealistic. The good news is that even if they falter early, the Wildcats could still compete in the Pac12 South. But if they’re battered early on, it may be too tough to bounce back.

Alex Williams DAILY WILDCAT

rizona isn’t going to be a great team in 2011. There are too many holes on the offensive and defensive lines, to be specific, that the Wildcats need to fill to get themselves over the hump they’ve been stuck on the past two seasons. But Arizona also won’t be a bad team. The talent at skill positions is as good as anybody in the conference, USC and Oregon included. The youth on the O-line will burn Arizona at the beginning of the season when it starts out 2-4, but the unit will gel and Arizona will finish the season with momentum — something that hasn’t happened since 2008

X-Factor: Running back stable Mike Stoops has made it clear that, if the Wildcats have to, they’ll throw the ball 60 times a game. They certainly have the personnel to air it out, but if they want to compete with the big boys, capitalize on drives and close out games, they need a running game. That’s where Keola Antolin, Daniel Jenkins, Ka’Deem Carey and Kylan Butler come in. If two of these backs can emerge and Arizona’s offensive line can open up holes, Nick Foles won’t need surgery and the Wildcats won’t be one-dimensional. Arizona struggled mightily in the red zone last season, scoring touchdowns only 56 percent of the time, and without a running game, that trend will continue. Record prediction: 7-5 Bowl prediction: Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

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THE UA DEFENSE By Mike Schmitz DAILY WILDCAT

Arizona’s defense has its fair share of proven veterans. But for every established Wildcat, there’s a young and inexperienced player still yet to earn his stripes. Between Robert Golden, Trevin Wade, Paul Vassallo, Derek Earls, Justin Washington and Sione Tuihalamaka, the Wildcats do have a handful of established defensive players to run out there on Saturdays. Then add in proven commodities like Jake Fischer and Adam Hall when they return from ACL injuries, and Arizona will feature even more trusted players. But questions still remain for the UA defense:

1. Will Wade return to form? Trevin Wade was a shell of his former self in 2010. After finishing 32nd in the NCAA in interceptions in 2009, Wade picked off only one ball last season. He also finished with 24 fewer tackles and nine fewer pass break-ups. Wade says he’s re-energized and focused after a nightmare of a season and it’s showed training camp. Wade picked off two balls at the Meet the Team scrimmage and appears to be back on track, but now must prove it in a regular season game.

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Red Zone Defense: 83.5 conversion percentage (6th in Pac-10) Source: Pac-12 Conference

said Richardson has the talent to produce, but he needs to mature and pay closer attention to detail.

4. Can Hankins/Lopez/Grandon overcome youth? With Fischer out, UA will lean on firstyear Wildcat linebackers Rob Hankins and David Lopez, as well as redshirt freshman nickelback Jourdon Grandon. Hankins is fresh out of high school, Lopez was a late summer addition who was originally committed to Portland State, and Grandon has yet to play a collegiate football game. This trio has plenty of veterans around them, but it’s up to them to fill in the cracks.

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2. Can things click for Flowers? Marquis Flowers was expected to do big things in 2010 but fell short of massive expectations by making his only mark on special teams. But players and coaches have said one year of maturity has gone a long way for Flowers and he’s poised for a big sophomore season. However, he’s yet to start a game as a Wildcat. He’s impressed at training camp, but can Flowers maximize his potential and become a mainstay as UA’s 5. Will Usman and Parish mimic starting strong safety? Reed and Elmore? Replacing Brooks Reed and Ricky 3. Will Shaq mature and produce? Elmore is a tough task, but CJ Parish With Jonathan McKnight out for the and Mohammed Usman are expected season, the Wildcats will lean heavily to do exactly that. Coaches rave about on sophomore Shaquille Richardson. the energetic duo, but despite their He made a huge splash last season, senior status, they’re still unproven. picking off two balls in his first Arizona It’s going to be tough to match Reed start before finishing the year with 29 and Elmore’s production, but all they tackles and seven pass break ups. But need to do is bring pressure and proRichardson had a sub-par training duce. Will they? camp. Secondary coach Ryan Walters

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER

1, 2011

THE

FOOTBALL GUIDE

WILDCATS ALL IN, NOT LOOKING BACK By Mike Schmitz DAILY WILDCAT

MIKE CHRISTY/ DAILY WILDCAT

Head coach Mike Stoops and his team flopped in the 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl. Now, the Wildcats are hoping to bounce back behind a new theme that has brought the team together.

MOLINA’S

KETURAH OBERST/ DAILY WILDCAT

A football player sports a silicone band that bears the message “No Looking Back, All In.” The Wildcats are trying to move on from the sloppy end to the 2010 season.

Foles will no longer throw a pass at Arizona Stadium after this season, and Juron Criner will take his skill-set to the NFL. Senior defensive leaders Robert Golden and Trevin Wade

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we can do this thing and every time we step on that field we have to play with that passion, that fire. You can’t be hesitant at all, so that’s really what the band means. We’ll see at the end of the season.” The bands are a reminder that more than 200 people are dedicated to working toward the same common goal, which wasn’t the case toward the end of last season, players said. At times, not everyone bought into the system last season and the Wildcats suffered because of it. But for a handful of Wildcats, 2011 is the last chance to buy in and be part of something great. It’s all in or bust. “We’ve seen what it’s like to win and we know what it takes to win,” Beirne said. “We’re putting everything on the table this year. We’re not looking back. We’re not going to leave anything on the field.”

BELVEDERE

Arizona football ended 2010 as a program filled with uncertainty. The Wildcats’ unfathomable lateseason meltdown led to question after question regarding the state of the program and Arizona’s relevance in the Pac-12. Why did the Wildcats close out the year with five straight loses? What happened to the once-promising season that included a top-10 ranking? Will Arizona ever make the jump from good to great? And how does a team possibly bounce back from a deflating loss in the 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl? Senior quarterback Nick Foles and the rest of UA’s leaders answered those questions with a new mindset featured on the wrist of everyone involved with Arizona football: All In, No Looking Back. “We went through a lot of adversity last year,” said senior safety Robert Golden. “We saw how we didn’t respond. So this year we’re coming with a stronger approach, and just being all in for the team. If we’re going to play on this team we’ve got to be all in. Whatever it takes to win, whatever it takes to do the extra we’ve got to do it.” At the beginning of the summer, Foles, quarterback Bryson Beirne and a handful of other Wildcats had UA’s equipment staff make more than 200 black silicon bands. The black Nike bands can be seen on the wrist of everyone from head coach Mike Stoops to study hall coordinators. Although it’s only a rubber wristband, it represents something much more, encompassing the family atmosphere that’s developed as a result of the trials and tribulations throughout the nightmare that was the end of the 2010 season. “It’s just a band,” Foles said with a laugh. “All it is, is silicone. It’s all in your heart. Everybody has to buy in with their heart and their mind that

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will no longer represent the Stoopsbred secondary. Keola Antolin’s hardnosed running won’t be displayed every Saturday. So the seniors and their understudies

•

“It’s critical, I’m proud of Nick and the captains and seniors to show that type of leadership.”

— Greg Byrne Athletic director

have bought into the brand of Arizona football in hopes of weathering arguably the Pac-12’s toughest schedule. Arizona hasn’t won a game since October 30, 2010, and the Alamo Bowl loss to Oklahoma State was UA’s second consecutive embarrassing bowl performance, leaving the Wildcats with a sour taste heading into 2011. The wristband is a reminder of not to dwell on one game. “They put it on the wrist band — don’t look back at anything, keep moving forward,” said quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo. “You’ve learned a great deal, you’ve come a long way. It’s not going to change. You can’t look back and constantly harp on one game. That’s not who you are. Don’t let anybody judge you and tell you who you are based on one game.” This offseason, the Wildcats said they have captured the team unity they lacked down the stretch of last season. “We need to go to the next level of this program,” Stoops said. “We’ve established ourselves as a good team but we want to be a great and elite team and there’s certain things we need to get better at and continue to grow this program.” Of course, poor play and inferior talent could easily offset a solid mindset, but the Wildcats discovered an ingredient that was lacking last season and ultimately led to their demise. They found answers to those seemingly never-ending media questions and if they stay true to their newfound theme, they may finally be able to capitalize on a crucial 2011 season and rid the demons of 2010’s forgettable meltdown. “We’ve always had the potential. We’ve always had the players and the coaches to do it and I think so much about what you do is your mindset and how you approach things,” Foles said. “Right now we’re approaching things the right way and that’s the reason we’ll be successful.”

thursday, september

• The football guide

1, 2011

Theevolutionof

nickfoles 2008

2010 2009

2011

By year: 2008 - Photo courtesy of Karen Cassidy / The State News, 2009 - Michael Ignatov / Arizona Daily Wildcat, 2010 - Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Wildcat, 2011 - Gordon Bates / Daily Wildcat

By Mike Schmitz

Foles Chasing Tuitama

Daily Wildcat

Nick Foles came to Tucson in 2008 as a 19-year-old transfer with only eight collegiate pass attempts to his name. At the time, the ASU commit turned Michigan State backup was still searching for the right program to help him transform his NFL intangibles into collegiate success. Three years, 23 games, 39 touchdowns and 5,677 yards later, the 6-foot-5, 240-pound quarterback is now the face of not only UA football, but the entire athletic department. Foles proved last season that he could put up big-time numbers, ranking second in the Pacific 10 Conference in passing yards and sixth in the NCAA in completion percentage. But for Foles to step into the role of Arizona’s unquestioned leader and Arizona’s big man on campus, the Austin, Texas, native needed to take the reins this summer and make the Wildcats his team. Teammates say Foles has done all of that and more this offseason. Now, the fate of the Wildcats rests in his right arm. “He’s much more confident and a better leader,” said head coach Mike Stoops of Foles’ growth. “He’s just become a more complete player and really embraced the role of taking the team and putting it on his back, and doing what he can do to give us a great chance of winning. He does everything he can to put us in a positive direction.” Foles further developed those leadership skills this summer at the Manning Passing Academy, where he and 35 other Division

1. Willie Tuitama (2005-08) 9,211 yards 2. Tom Tunnicliffe (1980-83) 7,618 yards 3. Alfred Jenkins (1983-86) 6,016 yards 4. Keith Smith (1996-99) 5,972 yards 5. Jason Johnson (1999-2002) 5,749 yards 6. Dan White (1993-95) 5,723 yards 7. Nick Foles (2009-present) 5,677 yards I quarterbacks served as counselors. Foles learned from Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Archie Manning, with other top quarterbacks like Stanford’s Andrew Luck. Foles brought that newfound knowledge back to Tucson where he organized 7-on-7 drills this summer, helping the Wildcats grow as not only a team but also a family, teammates said. During scrimmages he walked both sidelines, giving his input on both sides of the ball. Backup quarterback and friend Bryson Beirne said Foles transformed into both a better leader and teammate, something that will help him handle his talented receiving corps, which figures to be one of the best in the conference. According to receivers coach Dave Nichol, Foles is “exactly what you want at that position.” “He’s just matured a lot more,” Nichol added. “He’s good about getting on the

guys when they need it and then loving them up when he needs to. You could tell he had it as a sophomore, sometimes he just didn’t know how to say it or put it or whatever. But now it’s his team.” More than anything, Foles understands that this is his team, making him accountable for everything he does on and off the field. He said his experience has taught him that he’s both leader-by-example and leader-by-command. “They rally around me,” Foles said. “I’ve got to be out there working my but off everyday. “I can’t have a bad day,” he added. “That’s unacceptable. I always have to have a good day and that’s something that I understand and embrace.” Foles showed flashes of that leadership last season, marching the Wildcats down the field for back-to-back game winning drives against Iowa and Cal early on.

But he fell short of expectations at times late in 2010. Despite putting up monster numbers, he flopped during the Alamo Bowl, inside the same dome he’d played in five times before as a high school quarterback. The Texan threw three costly interceptions — two in the first half and one for a touchdown — and forced a handful of throws as the Wildcats were stomped 36-10 by Oklahoma State. But Foles has put the underwhelming performance behind him, and with a solid senior season infused with more accountability he could cement himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks in program history. He’s prepared himself for the pressure that comes with being the leader of Arizona’s 2011 football team, and he’s tasted the success and failure of the past, giving him the necessary makeup to thrive as the big man on campus, according to quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo. “I think it’s obvious,” Scelfo said. “I think he embraces the atmosphere but also he’s very level-headed and keeps both feet on the ground.” Cool and collected, Foles is leaning on his growth as a leader to make his senior year his best yet. “I’m not going to put myself out there and say it,” Foles said. “That’s just the position I’m going to be in. The thing is I’m not going to change anything. I’m just going to stay true to who I am, and that’s what I’m always going to do. That’s how I play this game.”

Arizona’s crippled legion Knee injuries plague Wildcats during offseason By Alex Williams Daily Wildcat

before going down in Arizona’s spring game. He racked up 58 tackles last season and notched two interceptions and two pass breakups. Fischer’s absence may be magnified by his replacement — neither junior college transfer David Lopez or freshman Rob Hankins has taken a Division I snap. But Arizona may be able to mask Fischer’s loss a little bit by playing more nickel defense, which replaces a linebacker with a defensive back.

The offseason was not a kind one to the Arizona defense. Three starters went down with a torn ACL — Jonathan McKnight, Jake Fischer and Adam Hall — and backup tackle Willie Mobley also tore an ACL playing pickup basketball. Here’s a look at each of the Wildcats that went down with ACL injuries #12 Adam Hall during the offseason: 6-foot-4, 220 pounds Junior safety #33 Jake Fischer Hall may have been the biggest play5-foot-11, 225 pounds maker in Arizona’s secondary. After Junior linebacker starting seven games in 2010, he was After starting eight games as a tied for the team lead with two intercepsophomore in 2010, Fischer was tions and had the ability to change the poised for a breakout year in 2011 game with violent hits. Hall’s size also

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made him a force in the secondary. Furthermore, Hall showed up when the stage was the biggest; he recorded a career-high of 11 hits at Oregon and also had a 22-yard interception return against the Ducks. #6 Jonathan McKnight 5-foot-11, 175 pounds Sophomore cornerback Coaches said McKnight had been Arizona’s most impressive defensive player in fall camp up until he went down with a torn ACL just more than a week before the season opener. A true sophomore, McKnight was slotted to start opposite either senior Trevin Wade or sophomore Shaquille Richardson, and he was likely to see time in punt return duties. McKnight appeared in all 13 games as a freshman, breaking up two passes and picking up 12 solo tackles.

#34 Greg Nwoko 6-foot-2, 235 pounds Junior running back If Nwoko had entered the 2011 season in good health, Arizona would likely be using more of a platoon at running back. Instead, senior Keola Antolin will likely get the majority of the carries, with Daniel Jenkins and Ka’Deem Carey splitting however many are leftover. Nwoko’s numbers don’t jump off the page — he was Arizona’s third-leading rusher in 2010 with 277 yards — but he’s a physical runner, a complement to the little guys in Antolin and Jenkins. Nwoko averaged 4.7 yards per carry in 2010.

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#96 Willie Mobley 6-foot-2, 280 pounds Junior defensive tackle Though he likely wouldn’t have started, Mobley would have seen significant time in the rotation at defensive tackle if he hadn’t torn his ACL playing basketball during spring practice. Mobley appeared in 10 games in 2010 as a redshirt sophomore, picking up seven tackles and a half-sack. 2010 was Mobley’s first year playing football since redshirting at Ohio State in 2008. Mobley attended Orange Coast Community College in Costa Mesa, Calif., in 2009, but didn’t play.

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Receiver Juron Criner makes a move against an Iowa defender in the Wildcats’ game against Iowa on Sept. 18, 2010.

Corps of

receivers Not only do the Wildcats have an NFL-caliber receiver in Juron Criner — they’ve got his crew. By Alex Williams Daily Wildcat

If there’s something missing from Arizona’s receiving corps, it’s not obvious what. The Wildcats have a game-changing No. 1 receiver in Juron Criner, and one of the Pac 12 most reliable pass catchers in David Douglas at No. 2. Throw in two inside receivers with electric speed — Garic Wharton and Richard Morrison — and athletic freaks Dan Buckner, Austin Hill and Terrence Miller, and quarterback Nick Foles shouldn’t have any problem finding targets this fall. “You have so many options to go to,” Foles said. “I really don’t know how (the ball) is going to be dispersed.” The most dangerous thing about the group isn’t Criner at the top — it’s the depth beneath him. Foles is prepared for defenses to do as much as they can to take Criner away as an option. But because of the depth the rest of the group has, Foles isn’t fazed. “If they take Juron out of the game, that’s going to help our other guys,” Foles said. “They’ve got to make plays. If the other receivers are making plays, you can’t really key on one guy because you have all these other threats.” A big reason for Arizona’s depth at receiver is the evolution of senior David Douglas. Other than Criner, Douglas was the only one that separated himself from the rest of the group during preseason camp, according to receivers coach Dave Nichol. But that had just as much to do with what Douglas did off of the field as what he did on it. Douglas was able to add about 10 pounds of muscle this offseason, improving to his allaround game at receiver. “I just wanted to be a stronger, more physical receiver when it comes to blocking,” he said. Douglas put in the work in the weight room while doubling as Foles’ roommate, something that makes the duo even more dangerous on the field. “That chemistry goes a long way,” said

Waiting in the wings While there may be a logjam of upperclassman receivers out wide, Austin Hill, a redshirt freshman, has found his way into the mix. After an impressive spring turned into a successful fall preseason camp, Hill has been drawing comparisons to Juron Criner, who sits just above him on the depth chart. “I feel like he’s gonna be the next Juron Criner, if not better,” Golden said. “He can go up and get the ball, he’s physical … we have great receivers throughout the whole receivers crop.”

Douglas, who was on the receiving end of 515 yards and five touchdowns in 2010. Foles and Douglas aren’t the only ones with improved chemistry heading into 2011. The entire receiving corps has spent several years together, improving their communication with their quarterback and fellow wideouts. “As a whole, this receiving crew, all of us have been together for a long time now as a unit,” Douglas said. And that’s a nightmare for defenses, according to cornerback Trevin Wade. “They’re all on the same tune with Nick (Foles) in everything they do,” Wade said. “I think we’ve got the best guys (in the Pac-12) … they’re all really good, fast and have good chemistry with Foles.” Safety Robert Golden is on the same page as Wade, calling Arizona’s receivers “one of the best receiver crops out there in the nation.” Golden also said that the Arizona secondary has a leg up after practicing against the Wildcat receivers during spring and fall camp. “I feel like going against these guys every day in practice,” Golden said. “It’s gonna make game times a lot easier.”

jumbo They

tron: said it “That board’s impressive, seeing it, walking around on campus. It’s going to be hard to deny a holding penalty from now on. It’s going to be pretty clear of whether it was or not so it’s going to clear up everyone’s images of what was a penalty and what wasn’t.” — center Kyle Quinn

‘“We really think that’s going to be a heck of an addition to game day, and I think our fans will like it. Like I’ve said before, I think everybody but the officials will think it’s a heck of a deal.” — UA athletic director Greg Byrne

“(Players) learn a lot from the replays. It’s funny, they can see what happened. You see it in the NFL — it’s the same way — they all look up to see what happened after each play, so I think it’s really going to enhance our stadium and create a lot of energy in there.” — head coach Mike Stoops

“Nick showed me a picture of it. It had some pandas or something on it. It looked pretty sweet. It’s going to be an awesome deal and an awesome and exciting thing for us.” — wide receiver David Douglas

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER

• THE FOOTBALL GUIDE

NORTH

DIVISION

1, 2011

12-PACOFPOW

Who’s smooth, who’s bitter? Wh Pac-12 teams are ice cold when under pressure and which will g crushed by the competition?

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No. 3 Oregon

No. 7 Stanford

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A loss in the BCS National Championship last season has done nothing to Oregon’s confidence coming into this year and the Ducks should still be primed to keep their run going. Although Oregon has to fill the void at the wide receiver position left by Jeff Maehl and DJ Davis, who combined for 1,546 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, the cornerstones of its offense are still there. Heisman finalist LaMichael James and gunslinger Darron Thomas both return to pace the Oregon offensive , and as long as head coach Chip Kelly is on the headset for the Ducks, it should be a quick shot to the inaugural Pac12 Championship game.

After preseason consensus No. 1 pick for the 2012 NFL Draft pick Andrew Luck decided to return to the Cardinal for his senior year, Stanford skyrocketed to the top of both major polls. Head coach Jim Harbaugh, however, was poached by the San Francisco 49ers in the off-season and he took defensive coordinator Vic Fangio with him. Now coach David Shaw’s co-coordinator front is creating skepticism about Stanford’s defense. If Luck stays hot like he was the entire season last year, then there’s plenty of reasons to believe that Stanford will be playing at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2

The Beavers have been stuck in the shadow of both Oregon and Stanford for the last couple of years, and it doesn’t look like much is going to change this season. Running back Jacquizz Rodgers was one of the most dominant backs in the nation last year, and the hole will be tough to fill for the OSU ground game. With the loss of tackle Stephen Paea, the Beavers will also be concerned with a weakened defensive line. Junior quarterback Ryan Katz returns after a successful 2010 campaign, where he completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,401 yards.

There’s some speculation as to whether head coach Jeff Tedford is in the hot seat. The Golden Bears didn’t make a bowl last season, and with the loss of Shane Vereen, the offense won’t be producing as many numbers on the ground as it has in the past. However, the Bears have greater mobility at the quarterback position thanks to junior Zach Maynard, a transfer from Buffalo. And last year’s leading receivers Marvin Jones and Keenan Allen return as threats to Maynard’s dynamic game. The Bears should cruise through their non-conference schedule, but if they want a bowl bid, they’re going to have to work for it.

Running back Chris Polk returns after running for more than 1,400 yards last season and comes in as the second best back in the conference. But with Jake Locker now in the NFL, the adjustment to new quarterback Keith Price could hurt the Huskies in the long run. Starting his third year at the helm, head coach Steve Sarkisian has yet to give the program real reason to keep his job secure and this year could be a make or break season for him as well. The Huskies can’t contend with Stanford and Oregon, so it’s essentially a battle for third and whatever bowl bid comes along with it.

They’ve been the cellar dwellers of the conference for years, and unfortunately it looks the same for the Cougars this season. WSU returns junior quarterback Jeff Tuel, whose surprising play last season accounted for 2,780 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Wazzou offense. WSU also returns its leading receivers from last year in Marquess Wilson and Jared Karstetter, who combined for 1,664 yards and 13 touchdowns. If the Cougs are lucky they might be able to squeeze out a win over Washington or Cal, but as of now it looks like they be fighting Colorado for the conference’s worst record.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER

1, 2011

THE

FOOTBALL GUIDE

WERRANKINGS

•

SOUTH DIVISION

hich n get

1 2 3 4 5 6

No. 25 USC

Although the Trojans are ineligible for postseason play, they’re without a doubt the Pac-12 South’s most talented team. USC returns quarterback Matt Barkley, who may be the top signal-caller in the conference, along with a staple of running backs, including the Trojan’s rushing leader last year, Marc Tyler. Leading receiver Robert Woods — who led the team in all-purpose yards after averaging nearly 140 total yards per game while doubling as a kick returner — also returns for his sophomore season, along with junior safety T.J. McDonald, who led the Trojans with 54 solo tackles in 2010. Beer Selection: Blue Moon

ASU

The Sun Devils might not have a proven starter at quarterback, but Brock Osweiler has shown that he’s adequate enough to not to cost ASU any games. And linebacker Vontaze Burfict is one of the conference’s top players. The Sun Devils return six starters off the defense that led the Pacific 10 Conference in rushing defense a season ago, but linebacker Brandon Magee is out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon and corner Omar Bolden is also out for the year after tearing an ACL during spring practice. The ASU offense will have big play capabilities, but it may struggle to consistently put together long drives. Beer Selection: Heineken

Arizona

Utah

UCLA

Colorado

Beer Selection: Corona

Beer Selection: MGD

Beer Selection: Bud Light

Beer Selection: Milwakee’s Best

A trendy pick to be one of the Pac-12’s worst teams in 2011, the Wildcats are too talented to be a bottom-feeder in the conference. Returning two potential All-Americans in quarterback Nick Foles and receiver Juron Criner, Arizona will have an explosive offense. But questions arise on the defensive side of the ball after the Wildcats lost three defensive ends to the NFL draft. If the Wildcats can win one game during their brutal three-game stretch (against Stanford, Oregon and at USC) to open conference play, they’ll have a shot to make it to the conference’s inaugural football championship game.

Utah is a talented team, but the Utes’ depth will be tested in the school’s first season in a BCS conference. Junior quarterback Jordan Wynn is just another name to add to the Pac-12’s list of top quarterbacks, boasting an 11-4 career record as Utah’s starter. But Utah’s secondary struggled against top quarterbacks in 2010, losing all three games against above-average opponents TCU, Boise State and Notre Dame. The offense should get a boost from the addition of offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who left UCLA to join the Utes during the offseason. The Pac-12 South schedule also isn’t in Utah’s favor — the Utes travel to both USC and Arizona.

The good news for UCLA is that the Bruins return eight starters off of the 2010 defense. The bad news is that defense ranked ninth in the conference in both scoring and total defense last year, and it’s without linebacker Akeem Ayers, who now plays for the Tennessee Titans. UCLA brought in highly touted quarterback recruit Brett Hundley, but he missed much of the Bruins’ fall camp after undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee. Offensive coordinator Norm Chow bolted for Utah during the offseason, which disrupts the little continuity the Bruins had on offense entering 2011.

Colorado has lost 18 consecutive games away from Boulder, Colo., entering 2011, and that’s not going to be easy to reverse with the Buffaloes’ schedule. CU travels to Hawaii, Colorado State and Ohio State out of conference, and Stanford, Washington, ASU, UCLA and Utah in Pac-12 play. Senior quarterback Tyler Hansen will lead the Colorado offense after winning the starting job during the spring. But he may have been named the starter by default — he’s the only quarterback on the roster that’s taken a snap in college.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER

• THE FOOTBALL GUIDE

MEET THE

OFFENSIVE

LINE 1. Mickey Baucus Left tackle

Player bio

5. Fabbians Ebbele

Putton appeared in five games in 2010 as a redshirt freshman, gearing him up for a shot at the starting job at left guard in 2011. Putton, a pre-business major, went to Glendale’s Cactus High School, where he also

Entering his redshirt freshman season, Ebbele hasn’t taken a snap at Arizona. He was a basketball standout while playing forward at Simeon High School in Chicago and also threw shot put. Similar to Baucus, Ebbele has ideal size for the tackle position.

Left guard

Right tackle

threw shot put for the track team.

Player bio

Class: Redshirt sophomore

Height: 6-foot-8 Weight: 305 pounds Class: Redshirt freshman Hometown: Chicago

Hometown: Glendale, Ariz.

He said it

Weight: 298 pounds

He said it

“(Ebbele) is just tall and (has) freakishly long arms. That’s him.” — Kyle Quinn

“Mickey and Chris are really the same person. Chris got cut on his arm already, and he was like ‘Oh, cool.’” — Kyle Quinn

Height: 6-foot-8 Weight: 303 pounds Class: Redshirt freshman Hometown: Mundelein, Ill.

With last year’s entire offensive line lost to graduation, the Wildcats’ new crop of big guys up front collectively own a single game of starting experience under their belts. Here’s a look at the five names you should know:

3. Chris Putton

Height: 6-foot-4

After redshirting his first season on campus, Baucus is in a position to anchor Arizona’s line for the next four seasons. Although he hasn’t seen any game action, Baucus has the physical appearance of a prototypical left tackle.

He said it “He’s just dirty. He doesn’t say much, he just goes out there and does his thing.” — Kyle Quinn

2. Kyle Quinn Center

The lone player on Arizona’s line with starting experience, Quinn was the unit’s vocal leader throughout spring and fall practice. Quinn, a history major, appeared in 12 of Arizona’s 13 games in 2010.

Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 300 pounds Class: Redshirt junior Hometown: Brentwood, Calif.

4. Trace Biskin Right guard

Biskin’s lone career appearance was in the 2009 game against Washington State. During his redshirt season in 2008, Biskin was named the scout team player of the week twice, including the week leading up to the Las Vegas Bowl against BYU.

Player bio

Height: 6-foot-5 Weight: 295 pounds Class: Redshirt junior Hometown: Westlake Village, Calif.

Player bio

1, 2011

He said it

He said it “(Quinn) has got to call the defenses out like that, make sure they know what to do. He’s a smart guy.” — Keola Antolin

“Trace is quiet, but he carries himself very well. He has a physical presence out there.” — Kyle Quinn

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thursday, september

1, 2011

commentary

really pac-12?

Come on! Dan Kohler Daily Wildcat

hen Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott announced the division alignments for the conference last spring, hope was instilled in Wildcat football fans when Arizona was pegged in the South Division, far away from the powerhouses of Stanford and Oregon. But that was when fans were unsure how the schedule was going to be constructed. The general thought was that Arizona would simply have to beat the teams in its division — taking a break from either Stanford or Oregon — and by doing so, earn a slot in the Pac-12 Championship game. If this format were in fact, reality, it wouldn’t look so daunting for the Wildcats this season. UCLA football hasn’t been a problem for the Wildcats in years, and Colorado will be battling Washington State for the title of the Pac-12 bottom feeders. This leaves ASU and Utah as the only other contenders for the Pac-12 South title. Arizona would still have to take on head coach Lane Kiffin and his USC Trojans in Los Angeles, but with the Trojans still in their second year of a postseason ban, even second place would be good enough to play in the Pac-12 Championship. OK, so ASU and Utah — the Wildcats could handle that, right? Not so fast. Arizona couldn’t ask for a rougher start to the season after NAU. First, it’s preseason No. 9 Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., then No. 7 Stanford and No. 3 Oregon at home. And following that, the Wildcats travel to No. 25 USC. That’s a four-

week buzzsaw against top-25 teams. While UA’s schedule is brutal, the Utah Utes aren’t scheduled to play either of Stanford or Oregon — the Wildcats and the Buffaloes of Colorado have to play both. It just doesn’t make sense. If the goal of a championship game is to have the two best teams in the conference playing each other, then it seems ill-planned to have a team that won’t even play the two best teams in the conference. What’s done is done. Now all the Wildcats have to do is play their game. Arizona’s been emphasizing a “No Looking Back” theme throughout camp so far, and for this first month of regular season play, the Wildcats will have to play with blinders on. Even if they glance back, even if they blink too long, they could be 1-4 midway through the season. From there, the schedule starts to taper down a little, so if the Wildcats can come out of the stretch still breathing, it will be considered a victory. That’s a big if. And on a different note, just a little advice for the powers behind scheduling Arizona football; don’t schedule a Thanksgiving weekend game against maybe one of the most random opponents ever. Nothing says irrelevance like a visit from the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns to close out the season. — Dan Kohler is a journalism senior. He can be reached at sports@wildcat.arizona.edu.

2011 Arizona football schedule Sept. 3 Sept. 8 Sept. 17 Sept. 24 Oct. 1 Oct. 8 Oct. 20 Oct. 29 Nov. 5 Nov. 12 Nov. 19 Nov. 26

vs. NAU Tucson 7 p.m. at Oklahoma State Stillwater, Okla. 5 p.m. vs. Stanford Tucson 7:45 p.m. vs. Oregon Tucson 7:15 p.m. at USC Los Angeles TBA at Oregon State Corvallis, Ore. TBA vs. UCLA Tucson 6 p..m. at Washington Seattle, Wash. TBA vs. Utah Tucson TBA at Colorado Boulder, Colo. TBA at ASU Tempe TBA vs. Louisiana-Lafayette Tucson TBA

new faces:

the coaches By Mike Schmitz Daily Wildcat

After struggling with a co-coordinator system Joe Salave’a last season, head coach Mike Stoops revamped the Wildcats’ coaching staff with new roles and Defensive line coach three fresh faces. The departure of last year’s offensive line coach and co-offensive coordi- Coaching experience: Defensive line coach at San Jose State University in nator Bill Bedenbaugh gave Seth Littrell full 2008-09 control of the offensive coordinator position. Playing experience: Like Bedenbaugh, co-defensive coordinator Defensive tackle at the UA and secondary coach Greg Brown left the UA, 1994-97, played for the leaving longtime linebackers coach Tim Kish in Tennessee Titans from charge of the Wildcat defense. 1998 to 2002, the Baltimore Kish and Littrell have been staples in Stoops’ Ravens and San Diego coaching staff, moving up the ranks to their Chargers in 2003 and the current positions, but the new faces come in Washington Redskins from the form of Robert Anae, Ryan Walters and Joe 2004-06. Salave’a. Walters and Salave’a were late additions last season prior to the 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl while Anae jumped ship from BYU during Analysis: Salave’a is out to return the Wildcats’ defense to the Desert Swarm form he helped the offseason. create during his playing days at the UA. He brings eight years of NFL experience as well Robert Anae as an intensity and passion perfect for his role. Offensive line coach, Salave’a also coached under legendary Arizona run game coordinator coach Dick Tomey at San Jose State and appears to be a great fit for his alma mater. Coaching experience: Offensive coordinator at BYU from 2005-10, offensive line at Texas Tech Ryan Walters from 2000-04, offensive line at UNLV from 1997- Secondary coach 98, offensive line at Boise State in 1996, offensive line Coaching experience: Defensive graduate assisat Ricks College from 1992- tant at Arizona in 2010 95, offensive line grad assisPlaying experience: tant at BYU from 1990-91, Defensive back at Colorado and offensive line at Hawaii from 2004-08 from 1986-87. Playing experience: Analysis: Walters, 25, is a Offensive lineman at BYU Greg Brown prodigy and from 1981-84 the youngest coach in the Pac-12. The former Analysis: Luring Anae from the Cougars was Colorado standout clearly a huge victory for Stoops and his staff this has the respect of Stoops offseason. He has quite the challenge in front and his players, evident by the fact that Stoops of him, as he’ll have to coach up five offensive chose Walters over other, more experienced, linemen with a combined one start under their coaching candidates after the departure of belts. But Anae has the pedigree to do it. He also Duane Akina, who returned to Arizona briefly understands the spread offense well, thanks to this offseason before reneging on his decision his days at BYU and Texas Tech, making him a and returning to the Texas Longhorns. great fit for UA’s pass-happy offense. There’s a reason Walters has moved up at Anae will also be asked to man Arizona’s such a young age. He’s easy to relate to, yet running game, which has been unimpressive harsh enough to keep Arizona’s young secondduring the last few years. ary minding its P’s and Q’s.

B10

â&#x20AC;˘ The football guide

thursday, september

1, 2011