Chip Kelly vs. Herm Edwards! (2018 PAC-12 Preview Thread)

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

And no, I'm not talking about who's gonna win that epic November 10th showdown between the two coaches. No, I'm wondering about "How long are both of these coaches going to last here?". It's just one of the questions we'll try to answer while we look to preview the PAC-12 this week.

 

[Ojb81]

Chip Kelly will outlast Herm. I give Herm two seasons, and they'll cut bait and find the next guy at ASU

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Arizona State

The first preview segment for the PAC-12 Conference: The Arizona State Sun Devils

Chip Kelly will outlast Herm. I give Herm two seasons, and they'll cut bait and find the next guy at ASU

Last season: Okayyyy... that solves THAT question. But now we get to the bigger question: How does a school that sits in the talent-rich Phoenix area, that can grab it's fair share of great players from the state of California... could fall so hard that they had to resort to a former NFL coach (who hasn't coached anywhere since going 2-14 at Kansas City in 2008) to get some form of publicity?
What was that? Oh, about last season? Well, admittedly it was hit-or-miss for ASU in 2017 as they went 7-6. Maybe THAT'S why Herm was hired; maybe thinking outside the box will help matters somewhat.

Good news: Herm is keeping ASU's offensive staff intact, which will help Manny Wilkins and a improved O-line rack up some points. N'Keal Harry headlines a group of strong WR's that Manny can throw to.

Bad news: I heard ASU is moving to a 3-3-5 defense, but it's unknown if the Sun Devils will be able to use it properly this year. Not with the D-line being almost all-new and questions at the safety positions.

Key games:
9/8 vs. Michigan State (While Herm kept the offensive staff intact, he cleaned house on the defensive side [mainly because that unit finished 108th overall last year]. Hopefully the new staff will have a plan ready for the mighty Spartans.)
9/15 @ San Diego State (A good way for Herm to win some favor with the Phoenix media? Do what Todd Graham couldn't do and defeat San Diego State.)
9/22 @ Washington (Don't throw away this game, folks! ASU did stun the Huskies last year.)
11/10 vs. UCLA (Aww... Two high-profile coaches [who's been away from the game for a while] fighting it out. This is gonna be SO cute!)
11/24 @ Arizona (This, however, will NOT be cute; the 92th annual "Territorial Cup" between these 2 in-state rivals. ASU has split the last 4 meetings with the Wildcats.)

Bottom line: How's THIS for a bold prediction? I predict that Arizona State will be just fine in 2018. In fact, if they can solve their problems on defense, maybe Herm can flirt with 8 wins. It'll be the ensuing seasons (2019 and beyond) that'll tell the tale of this rather odd experiment in Phoenix.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Washington State

Preview segment: The Washington State Cougars

Last season: Another rock-solid year by Washington State standards; they were a strong 8-5 with wins over people like Oregon, Stanford, and a #5-ranked USC squad. But for the 2nd year in a row, the Cougars would let me down in their bowl game. And now that Luke Falk is gone, everyone is expecting Wazzu to have a downturn this year.

Bad news: The team went through a pretty tough winter, let's just say that. Now in the summer, Mike Leach is trying to fix 2 major issues: Who's gonna be his new starting QB (neither Trey Tinsley nor Anthony Gordon has too much experience), and how will Wazzu's line play fare (he needs to replace impact players on BOTH the offensive and defensive lines)?

Good news: Again, Washington State has some strong WR's that can make plays. And the linebackers Leach has right now will help the Cougar defense immensely.

Key games:
9/1 @ Wyoming (It looks weird to have Wyoming on this list, I know. But if 1 of those Cougar QB's breaks that Wyoming defense, I see him becoming a season-long starter.)
9/21 @ USC (Mike Leach is 2-2 against USC, and I'm guessing that Wazzu fans are LOVING that fact. Maybe the Cougars can catch USC bruised up from their games against Stanford and Texas.)
11/3 vs. California (Among-st a bunch of wildfire smoke in Berkeley, the Cougars suffered a terrible 37-3 loss that costed them ANY shot at a national title last year.)
11/23 vs. Washington (For the 4th year in a row, the "Apple Cup" will have an impact on the PAC-12 North race. If the Cougars defense holds tall, they can ruin Washington's chances for the division.)

Bottom line: With all that Washington State lost from last year's team, it's fair to say that the Cougars will most likely NOT have another 8-win season. Best to just hope that the offense finds a QB in time to drag Wazzu to another bowl.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Utah

Preview segment: The Utah Utes

Last season: Strangely, despite posting up some good numbers Utah only had a 7-6 season. And yes, they were the only PAC-12 team to win a bowl game last year, but they had to win their final game just to get that bowl berth.

Good news: However, a LOT of people from the 2017 team are back to do better. That includes QB Tyler Huntley, RB Zach Moss (who ran for over 1,100 yards last year), and THE best kicking game in the whole FBS.

Bad news: Utah has to replace some starters on their defensive line. But to me the biggest worries are at WR; the lack of experience at that unit could hurt the Utes.

Key games:
9/15 vs. Washington (Now that I think about it, hard luck was one of the reasons why Utah went 7-6 in 2017. They WERE pretty close to stunning Washington in Seattle before losing 33-30.)
10/6 @ Stanford (Utah also fell short against Stanford 23-20. I've got a feeling that the Utes will beat either the Cardinal OR Huskies this season.
10/12 vs. Arizona (Say... The month of October is gonna be a BUSY one for the Utes. After Stanford, they'll host a fellow PAC-12 South challenger on a Friday night...)
10/20 vs. USC (...before dealing with the defending PAC-12 champs. Who was ANOTHER team Utah just couldn't put away last year.)
11/24 vs. BYU (The last 5 games Utah played against BYU was exhausting (All 5 games decided by a TD or less), but successful. Utes fans are hoping for more of the same come Senior Day.)

Bottom line: With so many star players leaving Los Angeles and a new coach at Arizona, the time is NOW for Utah to win the PAC-12 South and aim for a PAC-12 championship. Utah has Huntley, they have Moss, and if the defensive front keeps it together I like their chances.
However! Let's hope that Utah defeats either Washington or Stanford early on. For if they lose to BOTH of them, the Utes will have NO margin-for-error in their quest.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

UCLA

Preview segment: The UCLA Bruins

Last season: In the last post, I said that Utah was the only PAC-12 team (out of 9 teams) to win a bowl game in 2017. That's right. 9 bowls, and only 1 win!
UCLA was one of those losers, as the defense turned into a rusty colander and the Bruins went 6-7. Not even Josh Rosen was able to help out. And now Josh is gone, as well as the coach Jim Mora, so now what will... Oh, wait a damn minute! Didn't you guys get Chip Kelly in the offseason? Well, this preview just got a whole lot easier!

Good news: The secondary is deep and experienced, and the running game has the chance to explode under Chip's new offense.

Bad news: Everywhere else, however, is in a state of flux; UCLA lost a lot of production from last year at WR, the O-line is undergoing a rebuild, and HOPEFULLY the defensive front will do SOMETHING to stop the run this time.

2018 X-factor: QB Devon Modster- Chip needs to find a QB to run his new offense; we all know that. Devon looked all-right in a few relief spots during the Josh Rosen era, but now he's in the middle of a tough QB battle between himself and celebrated recruit Dorian Thompson-Robinson. And to make things worse, Wilton Speight will be in Pasadena any second now to join the fight. Which way will Chip go? We don't know...

Key games:
9/8 @ Oklahoma (According to Phil Steele, UCLA has the toughest schedule in the nation. And it all begins with a trip to Norman. Let's hope that a QB separates himself from the pack for UCLA in this one...)
9/15 vs. Fresno State (...because this game will be crucial for in-state pride. Oh, and it'll also be crucial for the confidence of their defense.)
10/13 @ California (After hosting mighty Washington, the Bruins will deal with another challenge from someone in their home state.)
11/17 vs. USC (UCLA had a 3-game winning streak against USC from 2012 to 2014. Now USC has a 3-game winning streak in this series. Break the chain, Bruins!)
11/24 vs. Stanford (A tough assignment awaits UCLA on Senior Day: Stopping Bryce Love. But then again, the Bruins could ruin any of Stanford's grand plans for 2018 here.)

Bottom line: You know what, UCLA fans? I'm just gonna go away and let you guys crow about Chip Kelly all you want. Just don't get all angry and pissy when UCLA finishes with the same record as Washington State and Cal in 2018; most likely that trend won't last too long while Chip is in charge.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Stanford

Preview segment: The Stanford Cardinal

Last season: These fun times over at Palo Alto continued in 2017 as Stanford found themselves in the PAC-12 title game for the 4th time in 6 seasons. Yet I'll bet Stanford isn't pleased with the way the season ended; About 5 more points and they could have been 11-3 instead of 9-5.

2018 X-factor: QB K.J Costello- K.J showed off some of his skills late in 2017, and now with a extra year under his belt we're all expecting him to take the next step as a QB. But I heard he suffered a hip injury in the spring, so let's hope he comes back 100%; the passing game will suffer without him being there.

Good news: Weirdly, Bryce Love decided to stay for his senior season at Stanford. But the NFL's loss is Stanford's gain; he will wreck havoc alongside a strong-as-hell O-line.

Bad news: Though Bryce decided to stay, 3 of Stanford's best defensive players decided that THEY would leave early: Harrison Phillips, Quinton Meeks, and Justin Reid. And the 2018 defense WILL be poorer without them around.

Key games:
9/8 vs. USC (The Trojans took back control of this rivalry last year by beating Stanford twice.)
9/22 @ Oregon (Trust me: The Ducks WILL be 3-0 entering this big contest in the North.)
9/29 @ Notre Dame (...Okay, that's just not fair for Stanford. They gotta deal with the loaded Fighting Irish right after the Ducks?! Man, I hope K.J Costello is ready for this.)
11/3 @ Washington (Washington could be on a major roll by the time this game arrives. Let's hope Stanford is, too; the PAC-12 North will pivot on this one.)
11/17 @ California (Stanford has won the last 8 games against Cal, but is this the end of the line? Cal will be DESPERATE to get back the "Stanford Ax" this year.)

Bottom line: This could be a "offense first, defense later" kind of season for the Cardinal... which I honestly think won't work for a David Shaw-led team. So let's hope that Shaw can find some new players to become leaders on that defense. If he does, then MAYBE Stanford can repeat as PAC-12 North champions.

 

[THUNDER]

I hope Herm does a great job. I loved listening to his commentaries on the Nfl. He's a bright guy and is a disciplinarian also. Good luck to him!

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Arizona

Preview segment: The Arizona Wildcats

Last season: It started out so well for Arizona in 2017, as they accumulated a 7-3 record alongside their new superstar QB named Khalil Tate. But then the quality dipped. And soon, the Wildcats ended the season on a 3-game losing streak (which included a stunning bowl loss to Purdue).
But all of that was overshadowed by what happened in the offseason; R-Rod was dismissed following a sexual-harassment lawsuit (which is still ongoing right now), and now someone else has been brought in to get Arizona back on track.

2018 X-factor: New head coach Kevin Sumlin- Of course, we remember coach Sumlin from his tenures at Houston and Texas A&M. And last time we saw him, he was being shoved out of College Station by their demanding fans. But the fans in Tucson had welcomed him warmly, so we'll see how Sumlin plans to rebuild his reputation.

Bad news: Thanks to a lot of recruiting misses under R-Rod and his staff, depth will be a problem throughout the season. That problem could be felt the most at wide-receiver and at cornerback.

Good news: But if everyone stays healthy, the defense has the chance to make a BIG improvement with 9 starters returning. The RB position is strong, and let's not forget this: When Kevin first got to A&M, he inherited a competent Johnny Manziel. Now in Tucson, he inherits Mr. Khalil Tate. He should be so damn lucky...

Key games:
9/1 vs. BYU, and 9/8 @ Houston (Both of these openers will be key for Arizona to start off right. The former will be Sumlin's coaching debut in Tucson, while the latter will be a good test for that Arizona offense.)
9/29 vs. USC (This is easily the biggest game in terms of momentum in the PAC-12 South. And most likely, USC will have a steady QB all set when they visit Tucson.)
10/12 @ Utah (Listen up, Utah and 'Zona. I just can't see USC finishing below 2nd place in the PAC-12 South this year. So... looks like one of you will have to step aside {and it should be fun to see who it's gonna be}.)
11/24 vs. Arizona State (Another fun contest awaits us for two reasons. 1: The coaching match-up [Herm vs. Sumlin] will be unique, and 2: The Wildcats and Sun Devils have split their last 10 meetings in this series.)

Bottom line: Hmmm... 9 starters on defense eager to improve, Khalil Tate as their QB, renewed energy with a new coach... Damn! A LOT of things are telling me "Pick Arizona to win the South!", but I just can't pull the trigger. I guess it'll all come down to everyone staying healthy, Sumlin doing a good job, and if Tate can defeat USC and Utah this time around.

 

[OregonDucks]

The difference here is Chip will leave UCLA because he takes a job in the NFL. Herm will get fired.

 

[7Samurai13]

The difference here is Chip will leave UCLA because he takes a job in the NFL. Herm will get fired.

Dude has failed out of two NFL jobs in two years, I don’t think he is getting another head coaching gig in the NFL anytime soon.

 

[WizardHawk]

UCLA has been a total enigma for quite a few years now. One of the top recruiting classes year after year, and never turn it into any kind of dominating run. How much can/will Chip impact that? Remains to be seen. I doubt most are expecting anything miracle like in year one. I'm sure he's installing his offense and we've seen how much he really must have his type of players to maximize it.

2-3 years from now? I would expect some improvement and steady progress, but this is that weird vortex team that seems cursed so who knows.

 

[Montalban]

Chip Kelly will outlast Herm. I give Herm two seasons, and they'll cut bait and find the next guy at ASU

Agreed. Kelly is a much better coach than Edwards and better suited to the college game.

 

[OregonDucks]

UCLA will be winning the South in a year, and they will probably stay there until Chip decides to leave.

 

[WizardHawk]

UCLA will be winning the South in a year, and they will probably stay there until Chip decides to leave.

Avi bet on next year's South champ? I'll take the field, you take UCLA.

 

[OregonDucks]

Avi bet on next year's South champ? I'll take the field, you take UCLA.

next year as in 2019

 

[7Samurai13]

next year as in 2019

I’ll take it if he doesn’t.

 

[Wamu]

The difference here is Chip will leave UCLA because he takes a job in the NFL.

 

[WizardHawk]

next year as in 2019

1000% yes. I'll take that right now.

 

[OregonDucks]

1000% yes. I'll take that right now.

UCLA PAC-12 South Champions in 2019.