THE PAC 12 THREAD v.3

[trojanfan12]

How would you guys grade the conference so far as far as expectations?

Oregon: Pretty much as expected. I thought they'd be unbeaten at this point (didn't think 'Zona could get them 2 years in a row), they have 1 loss, so not too far off. O-line is getting healthy, so they should have clear sailing to the CCG.
Stanford: Definitely under. They haven't looked that good in their wins and have looked really bad in their losses.
Cal: Definitely better than expected.
Washington: Right about where I expected, maybe slightly under because I thought their offense would be better.
Oregon State: Right about where I expected.
WSU: Slightly under expectations.

USC: Right about as expected. I thought they'd be inconsistent and they are. If they can stay healthy and continue to improve on consistency, they can finish strong.
Arizona State: Better than expected largely because the defense hasn't been quite as bad as I thought. They also have discovered their next qb.
Arizona: About as expected.
Utah: well above expected
UCLA: Well below where I thought they'd be. I thought they'd be 6-1 at worst and maybe 7-0 right now. However, even their wins haven't looked very good.
Colorado: Slightly better than expected. They hadn't lost a game by more than 14 until USC got them 56-28.

 

[WhiteMamba]

Agree with most.

Stanford under. Not because of the defense. They are the best tackling team in the country I have witnessed so far. Open field tackling especially.

At this point The offense is what it is. Which is not good. Hogan is playing poorly. No running lanes for RBs and just don't have playmakers outside of Ty Montgomery who they can't seem to get the ball to in open space. They also really miss Gaffney.

Other than furd, agree with most.

 

[963BUSC]

How would you guys grade the conference so far as far as expectations? here is what i think
Oregon as expected.
Stanford about as expected maybe a little under
Cal above expected
Washington about as expected
Oregon State under what I expected
WSU Under expectation

USC about expected
Arizona State just above expected
Arizona above expected
Utah well above expected
UCLA under expected
Colorado about expected.

Oregon Under expectations - They had a pretty high Bar.
Stanford Under Expectations - No bad losses, but they have lost all 3 of my pre-season toss up games.
Cal above expected
Washington about as expected - As far as win loss though I expected them to be more dominant.
Oregon State as Expected.
WSU as expected - Bad opening loss but what is turning out to be a huge win vs Utah.

USC Under expectations - good win vs Stanford negated by ugly loss to BC.
Arizona State meets expectations.
Arizona above expected
Utah well above expected - Surprise team of the PAC.
UCLA under expected
Colorado about expected. - sadly they are who I thought they were.

 

[mrwallace2ku]

UCLA is the biggest disappointment in the South. Their D is porous and anyone can score on em.

Oregon...get that O-line back in shape and who can stop that Offense? It's all about keeping Mariota contained in the pocket. Utes will do that, should be interesting. Duck D? Nothing special there, they will continue to be scored on by good offenses. Cream of the crop here still.

Oregon State...can't win the big games. Close, but no cigar. THEE BEST passing QB this conference has ever seen. Doing it with average talent, besides Cooks-n-Wheaton who tore this conference to shreds. Nothing to show for the effort. I think DC Banker maybe the best "un-seen" coach in the Pac12 and should be noticed. Good gawd IF he had 4-5 star talent to develop. We are spoilers now, should play loose the rest of the way as no one expects anything from this team.

 

[WhiteMamba]

So you land a great recruit, but his "reason" for picking UCLA is a loaded one.

 

[WhiteMamba]

If Mariota came back he would break Mannion's record in yards passed for as well as Leinart's td passes.

All with 10 career INTs thus far.

 

[mrwallace2ku]

Utah...LOVE the "pressure D" that KW has developed down there. He is writing the book on to handle explosive offenses. He aint doing it with exceptional talent, but rather with team speed and constant blitzing and gap assignments. Terrific stuff here and he is sure to be on someone's HC radar soon. To bad the O consist of the best RB in the conference and not much else. Goes to show a team can win with a so-so O. They will go far in my OP. Time to see what the USCs and the Oregons of the Pac can do in the Wasatch Mt range this year.

 

[mrwallace2ku]

If Mariota came back he would break Mannion's record in yards passed for as well as Leinart's td passes.

All with 10 career INTs thus far.

Perhaps mamba, but this kid is gone after this year. Money to be had on the next level and why "risk OR waste" his playing days in the Pac. He is ready to move on.

 

[WizardHawk]

That's why those records are with a * to me. The best kids never stay for their senior season, or at least nearly never. So career stats are typically carried by guys who had to stay to even have a chance at the NFL or aren't even on the radar for the next level.

 

[WhiteMamba]

Perhaps mamba, but this kid is gone after this year. Money to be had on the next level and why "risk OR waste" his playing days in the Pac. He is ready to move on.

He gone.

 

[WhiteMamba]

Mannion looks different this year to me.

No offense Wallace. I don't see those NFL sideline throws we saw last year.

I just hope he doesn't heat up just in time for the Civil War.

 

[mrwallace2ku]

That's why those records are with a * to me. The best kids never stay for their senior season, or at least nearly never. So career stats are typically carried by guys who had to stay to even have a chance at the NFL or aren't even on the radar for the next level.

Mannion will play on Sundays Whiz, no? His accuracy is outstanding, his wheels not so much. All he needs is time in a protected pocket to shred a D.

 

[mrwallace2ku]

Mannion looks different this year to me.

No offense Wallace. I don't see those NFL sideline throws we saw last year.

I just hope he doesn't heat up just in time for the Civil War.

Injuries be mounting on our O Mamba...O-line is patchwork, losing receivers we need to run those routes you speak of and our TE are always on the mend.

Utah just beat the crap out of our O last week. Lost a starting RB and receiver in that game alone, as well as another starting O-linemen. Such is the life a Pac team I spose.

Civil War?..."JUDGEMENT DAY" NEARS!

 

[WizardHawk]

Mannion will play on Sundays Whiz, no? His accuracy is outstanding, his wheels not so much. All he needs is time in a protected pocket to shred a D.

Wasn't dissing on your guy and he might be picked up by someone, but he wasn't on any national radar as a slam dunk for last years draft. The top QB, RB, and WR don't tend to stay for their sr season if their draft stock appears high.

There are exceptions, but often it's about what more the kid can get out of another year like with Jake Locker. He dropped a lot down the draft boards staying, but he needed a lot more work in his passing mechanics and having another year under Sark's pro style offense was a big thing for him.

Maryhoda doesn't need another year and won't gain anything to apply to the next level for staying. He'd be insane for passing up his high value now for the injury risks.

 

[TROJAN-MAN]

So you land a great recruit, but his "reason" for picking UCLA is a loaded one.

[MEDIA=twitter]524934131960926208[/MEDIA]

A Huge LOL

 

[WhiteMamba]

A Huge LOL

He unintentionally dissess the program, and also sets immediate huge expectations for himself.

 

[azchamps]

I think the PAC in general is doing more than I expected. Maybe I'm wrong but, I can't remember the last time the PAC had six teams in the top 25 at mid season. ARIZONA and UTAH have are above my expectations so far.

 

[WhiteMamba]

No pressure kid.

 

[azchamps]

I think the PAC is doing fine. I may be wrong but, I can't think of the last time the PAC had six teams in the top 25 at mid season. ARIZONA and UTAH are both ahead of where I thought they would be at this time.

I tried to post this earlier but it didn't take. So if it pops up some how, sorry for the double.

 

[The Derski]

How would you guys grade the conference so far as far as expectations?

Oregon: Pretty much as expected. I thought they'd be unbeaten at this point (didn't think 'Zona could get them 2 years in a row), they have 1 loss, so not too far off. O-line is getting healthy, so they should have clear sailing to the CCG.
Stanford: Definitely under. They haven't looked that good in their wins and have looked really bad in their losses.
Cal: Definitely better than expected.
Washington: Right about where I expected, maybe slightly under because I thought their offense would be better.
Oregon State: Right about where I expected.
WSU: Slightly under expectations.

USC: Right about as expected. I thought they'd be inconsistent and they are. If they can stay healthy and continue to improve on consistency, they can finish strong.
Arizona State: Better than expected largely because the defense hasn't been quite as bad as I thought. They also have discovered their next qb.
Arizona: About as expected.
Utah: well above expected
UCLA: Well below where I thought they'd be. I thought they'd be 6-1 at worst and maybe 7-0 right now. However, even their wins haven't looked very good.
Colorado: Slightly better than expected. They hadn't lost a game by more than 14 until USC got them 56-28.

I'm humbled that you thought UA would be 5-1 and ranked in the top 15 at this point in the season.