Quarterbackin

Todays entry will focus on the most intriguing dilemma that Arizona fans are faced with. Who will replace Willie Tuitama as the starting quarterback? Competing for the job we have two talented yet inexperienced sophomores, Nick Foles and Matt Scott. A distant third, btw, is Bryson Bierne. For the record, Scott is #15 on my countdown and Foles is #14. Also, I will be straying just a little from the traditional format as many of the things usually covered within the countdown will be covered here.

Nick Foles is a 6'5, 235 pound sophomore who hails from Texas. Attending the same high school as Drew Brees, Foles rewrote Austin Westlake's record books, compiling one of the most spectacular prep careers in Texas history. That, my friends, is no small feat. Nick is a pretty solid athlete, has a strong arm, and possesses great composure. He saw some PT in 2007, as a true freshman at Michigan State. Foles decided that he didn't like the cold weather and headed to Tucson. Interestingly, and I will touch on this later, Foles committed to head coach Dirk Koetter and Arizona State before Koetter was ousted, leading to his de-commitment.

Matt Scott is about 6'3 190, and has a completely different skillset. Scott played for Centennial High in Corona, California, on one of the most loaded teams in Southern California history. Interestingly, he has 6 former teammates playing for the bad guys up in Tempe, including Ryan Bass, a former UA commit who fell for the ASU 'plan'. While it did get him into school, he is looking like a bust thus far. More on him later. As for Scott, he is a devastating runner, in my opinion one of the 5 fastest guys on the team. He served as Tuitama's primary backup last year (Foles had to sit out as a transfer) and looked good early before being relegated to spot duty against Oregon and a few other teams. He was 7 for 11 with a touchdown and no interceptions last year, and also was the Wildcats #3 rusher, averaging 8.8 yards a carry.



Arm: While most assume that the mammoth Foles has the advantage here, I am not so sure. He has good touch on intermediate and deep routes, and does a great job of going through progressions. What I really don't like about Foles arm is his release. It isn't sidearm, but in the spring game the ball looked more like a shot put. Scott has some work to do on the deep ball, but he is much better on the short stuff. Bubble screens, outs, swing passes to the backs, and quick strikes to Rob Gronkowski are huge parts of the offense. I think that Foles takes the intermediate and the progression, while I like Scott's release better and his short game is a considerable strength. I give this a Push, which I am sure shocks man of you.

On the run: Foles is a solid runner. Scott, however, is a great one. He is more dangerous in the open field than any quarterback in the conference. With Scott, you would see a lot more stuff incorporated into the offense, such as option, fly sweeps, and zone reads. Don't get me wrong, Nick is no slouch. Defensive Ends and Linebackers will have to respect his abilities on roll out plays. However, Scott is so dangerous that it changes the way you call a game. The running ability is a total win for Scott.

Poise: This is where Nick separates himself for some fans, particularly after last night. He comes across as a hell of a guy (so does Scott) in interviews, and looked great in the huddle. After dropped passes or mistakes by teammates, Foles appeared to be composed in the huddle and shrugged it off. Having a short memory can't hurt. In last night's scrimmage Matt was plagued by drops from the get-go, including a beautiful deep ball to DeWayne Peace (more on him at the end). He appeared visibly frustrated, and his performance seemed to reflect that. Matt is by no means a spaz, and I hope none of you are drawing comparisons to Trudy Carpenter up north, who had an entire offense quit on him last season. Nick just seems to have a cooler head, and that's why I give Foles the nod here.

Miscellaneous: As you can see, things are even to this point. This is where I feel that the two separate just a little. Nick seems to have a tough time in the pocket. He has poor technique on his drops, and has backed into his own offensive line a few times, in effect collapsing his own pocket and creating a sack. Also, at one point his master plan was to attend Arizona State. We can't have that (KIDDING). More importantly is the rapport with the go-to receivers. The coaching staff has been very careful with Gronkowski and junior Delashaun Dean during fall camp. However, throughout the off season I noticed that Scott did a better job of getting Dela and Gronk the ball. With the two key receiving cogs in, the offense moves better, and Scott is just better at getting it to these two guys. So, I give the edge to Scott.

Let me make something very clear. I do believe that Matt Scott should get the ball against Central Michigan on September 5th. The simple reason is that he knows where to put the ball, and the offense becomes that much more dangerous. However, I feel GREAT about the team if Nick is the man. I also want a starter decided on. I don't think whoever it is should have a 'short leash', in fact to some extent let them build off the positives and the negatives of their actions on the field. I hate two quarterback systems. Arizona fans will point out Keith Smith and Ortege Jenkins, who shared the reins in '98, leading the Cats to a victory over Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. Despite a great year, I think the Cats should have stuck with one (my pick would be Smith, an undersized gunslinger and all-around BAMF) and gone from there. Others will point to the Leak-Tebow combo that led Florida to a national title. Honestly, that team had a noticeable change in pace whenever they made a switch, and in my opinion, it wasn't even a platoon. They essentially used Tebow in the 'Wildcat' formation, running about 3 plays with him.

Whoever gets the call, I expect all of you to treat our boy with respect, be patient, and cheer him on. Remember, we are Wildcat fans, not Scott or Foles fans, first.

DeWayne Peace is a talented freshman receiver from just outside of Dallas, Texas. At one point, he was heading to Michigan before changing his mind. His final two choices were Oklahoma State and Arizona. While he didn't have a high 'star' ranking, take a look at those schools. We beat out Rich Rodriguez and Mike Gundy for this kid. Two leading experts on the spread offense. In camp, DeWayne has shown a ton of talent, but two things are holding him back. He is inconsistent as hell. Peace has a bad case of the dropsy's, and that can't happen here. He has run a little with the number one offense, but we simply cannot have a guy booting the ball around with young quarterbacks. Give him a red shirt, and let him dominate from 2010 forward. Secondly, he wears number 9. On offense, the last man to don good old 9 was Anthony Johnson. AJ was big, athletic, and a hell of a guy. He had one major problem. Drops. Whether it was a touchdown against BYU, or 3! count em 3! scores dropped against New Mexico (you may remember, we lost by 2 points), he had a knack for hauling in the most unlikely passes. At the same time, he would drop bubble screens and easy catches in stride. To rid this current squad of previous demons, Peace HAS GOT to change his number. In an epilogue, I hope things are going well for AJ. Like I said, couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. But college football is not a charity, and unfortunately for all his talents he never came close to an (enormous) potential. Lets hope history isn't repeating itself here. For Real.

Hiatus

I would like to apologize for my extended hiatus. Moving from one place to another has dominated my attention the past few days so unfortunately we have fallen a little behind. As a result, we will be going with 2 players a day until the season starts, as well as a return of the season previews of particular teams. Today, we will have the Oregon Ducks.

Coming in at #17 on my countdown of Wildcats is Cam Nelson. Cam is a senior safety from Dallas. You may not recognize him on campus, he is a pretty quiet dude, but rest assured #20 is plastered (in a good way) across billboards throughout southern Arizona. Cam is a three year starter, a guy that began his career as a corner back here at Arizona. What a lot of people don't know about him is that in high school he was an outstanding quarterback, and as a true frosh there was some consideration to move him there. You may recall that at that point wide receivers Syndric Steptoe and Anthony Johnson had taken snaps at quarterback, with Johnson even getting a start. Lets hope that this season it doesn't come to that. Cam is no doubt the face of the program this season, an outstanding leader and potentially the smartest player on the field. Other than Taylor Mays, I would challenge any of you to give me a faster safety than Nelson. His primary strengths are subtle nuances of the game. He calls out the defense, lines everyone up, things like that. Cam takes perfect angles, and is perfect as the last line of defense because of his tackling ability. The one thing I don't love about his game is his ball skills. In two seasons as a starter, Cam has notched Zero interceptions. While I would love to see him force takeaways in a more aggressive manner, he is far from a liability in pass coverage. Look for senior Cam Nelson to garner all league type accolades at the end of the season.

#16 is Trevin Wade. Another Texan in Tucson, Wade joins Nelson in the defensive backfield. Last season, the sophomore played about 50 snaps. Despite the lack of defensive playing time, (he got a lot of run on coverage units) Wade tied for the team lead with 4 interceptions. Trevin was a 2 star recruit, who literally did not have another division one scholarship offer. This goes to show you the outstanding evaluating abilities Arizona's coaching staff posses. From the day he showed up for his first practice, Wade has frustrated Arizona quarterbacks to the point that they don't even challenge him in practice anymore. It isn't too big of a stretch to see that extend to games.

On to the Oregon Ducks. Oregon is a program that has become something of a national name, however the Ducks have taken a circuitous route to get there. Nike owner Phil Knight (known affectionately as Uncle Phil around campus) has pumped a ton of capital into the program, producing maybe the best facilities in the nation, not to mention way too many uniform designs. This has led to a solid team that routinely challenges for conference supremacy and even makes some noise on a national level. The Ducks play in Autzen Stadium, maybe the roughest environment on the West Coast or anywhere. Similar to Iowa's Kinnick, the fans are mere feet away from the players, with some of the smallest sidelines around. Look on any list of 'toughest places to play'. Autzen is right up there with any of the Big 12 or SEC cathedrals. This season, the Ducks introduce a new coach, Chip Kelly. Kelly is the mastermind behind a wildly successful offense that has turned the PAC-10 upside down, isolating players in unlikely one on one match ups and springing guys loose on gadget plays throughout the season. Regardless of his familiarity with the program, there is a lot of turnover on this squad, not only from graduating but from player defections, which has to alarm fans.

Quarterback: This is the nerve center of any offense, but here things are a little different. The Ducks offense utilizes athletic signal callers in a way that gets them in places to create big plays. Wide Receiver throwbacks, flea-flickers, and other crazy plays are a norm here and something coaches must prepare for. The man with the keys to the machine, at least to start the season, is Jeremiah Masoli. Despite a ton of success in junior college, Masoli was pretty under-recruited, perhaps due to his size. His skillset is similar to that of a running back, and at 5'11 and probably 220 pounds Masoli sure looks the part. He is a pretty solid passer who came into his own late last season, but his best attribute is as a runner. With Pat White moving on, I am not sure how many dual-threat quarterbacks have the makeup of a Masoli. Basically, with Masoli behind center the Ducks are always in a "Wild" formation. The backups are Nate Costa, another outstanding runner who nearly beat out Dennis Dixon in 2006 but is always hurt, and sophomore Darron Thomas, who looked to run away with the starting job before a car accident last season. These guys are all good, which is fortunate for Ducks fans because history shows a lot of injuries at this spot.

Running Back: The best player on this team is LeGarrette Blount, who stormed onto the scene via junior college in Mississippi last season. Not since LenDale White has there been such a stunning combination of power and speed in one body. He will play alongside LaMichael James in what should be dubbed, 'Le Backfield' (shout out to Graham Landry). James is a speed guy, and will play a role similar to Cal's Shane Vereen this season. Rounding out the rotation is Andre Crenshaw, a steady senior who has always produced when his number gets called. This is a great group, right up there with the units in South Central, Berkeley, and Corvallis in my opinion.

Receiver: This is a position with a fair amount of turnover this year. Gone are the dependable Terrence Scott and the massive, perennially underachieving Jaison Williams. At 6'5, 240 and maybe the fastest receiver in the PAC-10, Williams has to be considered the biggest disappointment since the setback Dennis Dixon had in Arizona a few years back. (NOTE: It's great to see Dixon get some PT in the NFL. Here's a guy who does everything right and unfortunately caught a terrible break. At Real Talk we are rooting for DD to make a ton of money in the League) This year, Jeff Maehl and Jamere Holland are the names to remember. After that, I see a pretty big drop off, but Oregon has brought in several JC guys, and that is always something they have success with. Holland is a huge X-factor. A former USC commit, Jamere was the United States fastest teenager back in 2006, running a 10.3 in the 100 meters. If he has figured out the nuances of the position, look out. Tight end Ed Dickson bears the unfortunate task of playing in the shadow of one Rob Gronkowski. This guy is an elite player in his own right, and coach Kelly is always finding new ways to get the ball in his hands.

Offensive Line: I'm not going to give you any names here, because this is an area where the Ducks were hit pretty hard by graduation. Oregon finds some of the biggest guys in division one football, and they generally have a pretty talented unit, so I wouldn't expect anything different this year. However, with so many newcomers there will be growing pains, and it wouldn't shock me to see Masoli and Blount struggle early while the line gels. If they stay healthy into November, look out. This is a squad with some dangerous guys and once the line gets up to speed, this offense turns games into a track meet. Just ask Oregon State, Oklahoma State, or anybody down here in Tucson.

Defensive Line: Another place where the Ducks lost a lot of talent, including a starter who transferred, apparently not fitting in with the Kelly regime. You may remember the name Will Tukuafu. Big Will was an Arizona commit, who then proceeded to have a 'dream' about playing in Eugene, which changed his plans. Other than ASU's Dexter Davis, and maybe Cal's Cam Jordan, I think Will is the best end in the league. He is about 280 pounds, which means unlike many of the smaller end/'backer hybrids you are starting to see he can play the run. Tukuafu will be a very high pick for any 3-4 defense come April. Other than that, this group is a bunch of unknowns.

Linebacker: This is a solid, dependable unit for the Ducks. Spencer Paysinger was second on the squad in tackles last year with 95, not bad for his first season as a starter. The junior plays in the weak side, and will be flanked by classmate Casey Matthews. Matthews is very disruptive around the line of scrimmage. The strong side backer will be either sophomore Eddie Pleasant or JC transfer Bryson Littlejohn. Littlejohn was one of my favorite recruits to follow last season, a slightly undersized 6'1 227 who hits like a train. Several schools wanted to enlist Bryson as a fullback, but the Ducks and their willingness to put him on defense ultimately won out. Depth will be provided by DeWitt Stuckey, Josh Kaddu, and former Arizona commit Terrance Pritchett, who hasn't been able to stay out of trouble in Eugene.

Secondary: I don't know about Good, Bad and Ugly, but this is without question a weird group. Rover TJ Ward returns and is right up there with the aforementioned Cam Nelson and Taylor Mays as far as safeties go. Ward is a former walk-on, and basically is a 4th linebacker, often playing close to the line of scrimmage and shadowing tailbacks. At the other safety I will give you a bunch of names: Titus Jackson, Brian Butterfield, Javes Lewis, and John Boyett. Any one of these guys could be the opening day free safety and it wouldn't shock me. At corner, ball-hawk Walter Thurmond III returns for his senior season. Thurmond posted 5 interceptions lasts season, and is a guy that must be avoided, or at least thrown at only occasionally. Opposite him, senior and former DeLaSalle standout Willie Glasper and junior Talmadge Jackson are in a tight battle to start.

P.S. RIP Todd Doxey. You may remember his tragic passing last summer in Eugene. Dox was a stand up guy, a great character, and a hell of a family man, not to mention one of San Diego's most decorated athletes of all time. We miss you buddy.

Special Teams: The kicker will be Morgan Flint. Flint wasn't called upon much last season, going 7-9 from the field. He is pretty dependable and a guy that fans have to have confidence in. However, he is completely untested from distance so its a gamble lining him up from beyond 40 yards. The punter from last season, Josh Syria, moves on, so any number of guys could get the job there. Last season Thurmond and Talmadge Jackson got reps as kick returners, and it wouldn't shock me to see LaMichael James utilized back there as well. Punt Returner is wide open.


Season Outlook: From 1-22, I have to say I really like the starters. I do, however, see them running into depth problems. Off season transfers mean that the Ducks have 10 or so less players on scholarship than the rest of the league. If any starter at almost any position misses extended time, the Ducks can't feel good (save for maybe QB). If healthy, this is a potential 10 win club. If not, than anything can truly happen.


How can the Wildcats win? On defense, you need to essentially trap Masoli and Blount. I would throw the kitchen sink at this line, who may or may not be a firmly established group of guys. Blitzes from unexpected angles, and hitting them right, will stop this offense in its tracks. Play a zone close to the line of scrimmage, and Dare Masoli to beat you deep. Is he capable, yes, but the Ducks are much more dangerous on running plays and quick hitters and long, developed routes. On offense, the Gronkowski brothers had a field day against the Ducks last season. While I don't think Rob will have another 12 catch performance, the linebackers aren't outstanding in coverage. Utilizing the Gronks, Terrence Miller, and the running backs could pay dividends here. It is too early to tell, but with this being a November home game for the 'Cats I feel pretty good about it.


Tomorrow's blog will focus on the Arizona quarterback competition. It has grabbed headlines for weeks now, and rumor has it the starter could be named Monday. Keep reading, its been Real.

#18

Not much to talk about tonight, all I have for you right now is the ongoing countdown of my favorite players. Tonight we have #18 for you. I will warn you, as we get deeper into the countdown there will be some surprises and possibly some notable omissions.

My 18th favorite Wildcat is Blake Kerley. Playing center, the 5th year senior is one of the last guys remaining on the squad that came to school with me back in August 2005. Man, time flies. As a redshirt freshman in 2006, Blake beat out a senior and returning starter, playing every snap of a 6-6 campaign. His success continued into 2007. In fact, as a sophomore he was so successful that heading into 2008 Kerley was a candidate for the Rimington Trophy, which is given annually to the best center in college football. Things went south for the Texan against UCLA, as he suffered a season ending injury. Blake brings toughness and smarts to the position. He has been frequently praised for his ability to call a game and recognize defenses, which paved the way for some great early season running by Nic Grigsby. As a 5th year senior, look for Blake to bring more leadership to the table than anything else. His injury is not quite healed and his replacement, Colin Baxter, did a great job in relief. He may not be on the field as much this season as years past, but Kerley is not a guy to count out. I look for him to come around late in the season, and it wouldn't shock me if he was a big part of on-field successes if and when he gets another chance to bring it.

That's all I have. Keep reading, and I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing.

Pitino...

Welcome back. Much has been made in the past several days about Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino. I am going to weight in myself in a bit. First, I would like to continue on with our countdown of my favorite Wildcats. Lets pick up where we left off last night.

My 19th favorite Wildcat. This is a guy that I guarantee none of you are familiar with, yet. Vaughn Dotsy will be starting at offensive guard this season, taking over for 3 year starter Joe Longacre. A highly regarded recruit out of Southern California powerhouse St. Bonaventure, Dotsy is a sophomore who checks in at 6'5, 335 pounds. While that is massive, consider that he weighed much closer to 4 bills last summer. This is a guy who has transformed his body in college, changing from an out of shape Charles Barkley-type body to one of a fit behemoth. Dotsy was coveted by everyone as a senior in high school, most notably LSU. As I have stated before, anyone that Les Miles deems good enough to get free tuition is good enough for me. This is why the 'star rankings' are not the be all, end all for prospects. Generally, yes, they predict who makes it to the NFL about as accurately as one can hope for. But there are plenty of guys who must be doing something right, as Vaughn here clearly has been, to warrant an LSU from a school that at that point was a National Champion. He may take some time to adjust to game speed, but look for Dotsy to be an elite guard in the PAC-10 and beyond by the end of 2009.

On to Pitino. I read an article on CBS Sportsline that laid out why the author, Gregg Doyel, believed Pitino should stay at Louisville. With respect to Doyel, who by the way spews a ton of venom in the direction of Arizona athletics, I completely disagree. His main point was that a very high percentage of Americans sleep around, and cheat on their significant others. The number he threw out was 50%. For one thing, I consider that to be a pretty high and slightly embellished figure. While there is no way of knowing, I just don't see how 50% of adults have time for affairs. Regardless, Mr. Pitino is in the wrong for more than that. As I lay this out, I am not going to touch the religious aspect. Rick's transgressions and his relationship with god are things that he must work out himself, and that has nothing to do with employment at a public institution.

Lets take a closer look at what Mr. Pitino did. A married, devoted father of five (he tragically had a son die in 1987) did something that goes a little bit beyond cheating. This wasn't just a situation where he was a little too sauced and was taken advantage of. Mr. Pitino waited until after hours, and performed 'the deed'. He had a driver waiting outside, which tells me this was calculated. Later on, when the object of his affection was late, he donated 3,000 dollars to her health insurance. Seems a little bit convenient, doesn't it.

While all of that is sketchy, and in my opinion downright repulsive, that is not why he should be fired. He clearly misled the athletic department about the whole situation. He first called this an extortion attempt, counting on his p.r. people and good name making a messy situation blow over. That is grounds for dismissal. As a public figure, you cannot lie to your superiors about something with ramifications like these and get away with it when smelly things land on the fan. The prospect of having to convince high school athletes' parents that you are the proper mentor for their child's hoop dreams has been explored ad nauseam, and in my opinion, irrelevant. My gripe is that Pitino knowingly lied to higher-ups within the University structure and is now trying to cover it up. Things just don't add up here, and I think when you endanger the integrity of your superiors, as well as the ability of your place of employment to function, its time to go. By the way, I think he is more sorry that he was caught than anything else. Mr. Pitino is guilty of harming the credibility of an institution, and for that he should be fired.

Let me summarize by saying that there is no excuse for cheating. I realize that I have never been married, or in a long term relationship. Regardless, character is something that has nothing to do with how 'experienced' you are in life, or relationships for that matter. The marriage vows that I have heard at every wedding I have ever been to state being exclusively intimate, among other things, with your spouse. That is kind of the central component of a relationship. If you can't even keep that in order, I am sorry, you are dog****. It shows that you are a shady individual, and a loser, if you have an extramarital affair. You can't keep the most basic promise in a pretty big part of your life? You suck. Waiting until after hours at the most popular restaurant in town, in a place where you are the de facto mayor, is a whole different level. That makes one a sleazeball of epic proportions. For for that, Slick Rick, you Miami Vice coke dealer looking clown, I tip my cap. As a public figure and liar, I hope with all of my heart that this is the end of the line for you. For the record, I also think Kobe, Governor Sanford (as I am on record discussing), John Edwards, JFK, and everyone else (women too) that have cheated are scumbags.

In conclusion, you shouldn't be fired for cheating. But you should, however, for lying about it and compromising your place of employment. If you are a screw up and you do this, fess up before you get caught in an even bigger mess. Be real with people you're marrying or dating, otherwise don't waste peoples time. Real Talk.

Recruiting Wishlist

For the past few days I have teased you guys with my 2009 Arizona Wildcat wish list. So, after the countdown, I will provide you with the names of 12 guys that I really want to see in an Arizona uniform. Enjoy. PS Kyle Orton sucks.

At #20 is Jake Fischer. Jake is a Tucson native, playing his high school ball at Ironwood Ridge up in Oro Valley. When I worked at KVOA in 2007, oftentimes I covered games on the northwest side of Tucson. I probably got to see Fischer in action 6 or 7 times that year. Though he was just a junior, it was clear to all of us at channel 4 that Jake was a man among boys, and that he needed to be a priority for Coach Stoops' gang. Fischer committed last year, with Arizona edging out Nebraska, among others, for his services. He is a little short at 5'11, 225, but that really doesn't bother me. As a 9th grader Jake had enough athleticism to dunk a basketball, lettering in that sport before figuring out his calling. Barring an unforeseen disaster, Jake will be a backup this season. However, I can honestly say that he will be a force to be reckoned with one day in the PAC-10 and beyond. Linebackers with jaw-dropping athleticism and sideline to sideline tackling ability don't grow on trees, and when they come in a package as smart and vicious as this one look out.

Moving on, its time for my list. I have analyzed a fair amount of prospects that Arizona is actively recruiting and I think that while we certainly won't land all of these guys, there are at least a few who will stick. Some guys listed here are complete longshots. But hey, Turtle is dating Jamie-Lynn Siegler in real life (REAL LIFE), so like KG said, anything is possible!

1) Jordon James. Jordon with an O is a tailback from Corona, California. Arizona is in competition with some pretty elite schools, such as Notre Dame and UCLA, for his services. Last season he had over 1,100 yards. That decent, however James production came in 4 games! On tape, he is electrifying. I have watched all the top running backs this season (on tape), as well as Marion Barber and Reggie Bush in person when they were seniors in high school. James is right up there with both of them. He can stop, start, catch, break tackles, and he can really pull away. If you watch his highlight tape, he toys with Vontaze Burfict, and ASU freshman considered by many to be the top defender in last years senior class. He will visit Arizona, and if he is impressed the Slip'n'Slide crew had better look over their collective shoulders.

2) Marquis Flowers. Some will tell you that they don't consider in-state recruiting to be important. I do. Flowers is a Goodyear, AZ product who can run and hit with the best of them. Among others, ASU, USC and Arizona are competing to land this stud. By no means are we favorites, but this is a kid we can get if we have a successful season. Flowers wants to announce at the Army All-American Bowl. Keep your eye on this one.

3) Keanu Nelson. Keanu hails from right here in Tucson, AZ. The Sabino product has the versatility to play just about any skill position. I think he fits the mold of a spread-type receiver. Nelson has wiggle, hands, and speed. He is also one of the most intelligent kids on the West Coast. Stanford, UCLA, and a host of other great universities are vying to pick up Nelson. Lets hope that he realizes the best school of them all is right here in from of him.

4) Shaydon Acuna. Acuna is a big, mean linebacker from Hawaii. Many of the guys we have brought in the past few years are a little undersized. At 6'3 with a frame to add a ton of weight, Acuna is the opposite. With all 3 starters on track to graduate, I think its safe to say linebacker is a priority for the coaching staff. With early playing time potentially available, getting a decorated kid from the islands is a distinct possibility.

5) Josh Robbins. One of the finest programs in Tucson is Canyon Del Oro, commonly known as CDO (or CDBro, depending on who you talk to). Despite a ton of success, CDO is known more for producing baseball players. With Robbins coming up and KaDeem Carey a junior, CDO becomes an immediate priority. Oregon State has already offered this stud, and with the success they have with Arizona kids that tells me all I need to know. Arizona is recruiting him, and his father played here back in the 80s, which helps. As for his game, I think Robbins fits as another big, rangy safety in the mold of Adam Hall and, hopefully, Marquis Flowers. This guy may be #5 on my list, but consider him a must-get.

6) Donovan Vestal. If you know my buddy Creed (and maybe its better if you don't) then you immediately recognize this name. As far as I know, Donovan is NOT related to Creeds ginger girlfriend, aptly last-named Vestal. All kidding aside, Vestal is a big, strong Texan who plays defensive end. Already 6'5 240, I see this kid really becoming a beast. While we only have one senior at end in 2009, depth is important, and this is the type of guy who can dominate games after a redshirt year.

7) Victor Burnett. While he is only a 3 star prospect, Burnett may be the biggest longshot of all of these guys. The Culver City, California product just received an offer from Oklahoma. Burnett has uncanny size, even for a D1 prospect. He is a linebacker, and another kid who I think has the goods to play right away. Also competing with Arizona for his services, among others, is Washington (********More on this development at the end of my post). Lets hope he sees the light here.

8) Demetrius Wright. Wright is a highly decorated cornerback prospect who Arizona is battling a host of programs for. With Devin Ross graduating, and Marcus Benjamin and Mike Turner due to be seniors next season, there isn't much depth here. I think Wright has the goods to contribute on special teams early, and depending on his weightlifting, maybe contend to start. He is another longshot, but he does like U of A and that has to count for something.

9) Jourdan Grandon. Jourdan is another corner, hailing from Westview High School just, well west, of Phoenix. Grandon is about 6'1 or 6'2, and possesses outstanding moxie and speed. He also stars as a quarterback at the high school level, but at Arizona he would play corner. One has to think that these defenders would look at Antoine Cason, Wilrey Fontenot, Ross, as well as Derrick Strait at Oklahoma, and realize Mike and Mark Stoops are second to nobody when it comes to developing defensive backs. Landing Grandon also sends the message to Arizona State that they must consider Phoenix to be, at best, shared turf. Landing sleepers like this goes a long way in winning in-state recruiting.

10) Derek Earls. Earls is a Junior College guy, playing his ball at North Dakota College of Science. While its a funny name in a weird part of the country, NDCS produces some outstanding talent, regularly being raided by Big 12 and Big 10 schools. At 6'4 and probably about 230, Earls is physically ready to play linebacker at this level. If he gains some weight, he could even do damage as an end in our system. This is an outstanding athlete and maybe the most underrated guy Arizona is after.

11) Bruce Gaston. Bruce is a big defensive tackle from Chicago. This is one of the hardest positions to evaluate and recruit for college coaches. Despite already weighing close to 300 pounds, Gaston isn't just another fat 17 year old sitting on other teenagers. This is a guy with good strength and agility who can plug gaps. He is also a pretty good pass rusher. This is a guy who may be a little tough to land. I hope he realizes how many other Chicago kids call Tucson home for college, and based on my experiences, love it out here.

12) Svondo Bradley. Aside from having a sweet first name, Bradley is another athletic defensive lineman. At 6'1 240, I think he can go either inside or outside. Coming to Arizona would be perfect for him. With a lot of juniors on the team in 2009, he won't be counted on to play right away and can redshirt. After beefing up under Corey Edmond (maybe the most legit strength coach ever) Bradley can play the Marcus Smith/Donald Horton role. It's a good one, just ask Smith, who now plays for the Dallas Cowboys.

****I had to touch on Washington. It seems like EVERY kid on the west coast is infatuated with that program. They will no doubt land a good class this year. What many of these teenagers fail to realize is that Steve Sarkisian is the type of used-car salesman that will tell you exactly what you want to hear in order to sell you a Ford Festiva for 40 grand. Washington can have all the talent in the world, but with the staff they have they are still going to suck for a few years. Let's hope that nobody on this list drinks the purple kool-aid up there in Protest Ci...I mean Seattle. How are the Supersonics doing?

Anyway, remember this list is my opinion, which can lead you to two conclusions. First, that I am an insightful guy that really knows his stuff. Second, that I have way too much time on may hands this summer. Both of these are quite true. I can assure you that other guys will end up at Arizona, and not all of these kids will be great, so take this list for what it's worth. Stop by tomorrow, and I will have more stuff for you to read. Its been very, very real on Real Talk.

Marching on plus a look at Wazzu

Tonight's blog is going to look a little bit different than the past few days. For one thing, the countdown is continuing unabated. In addition, I am giving you another preview at a conference opponent. Tonight, it is the Washington State Cougars. For brevity's sake, I am keeping this one short, because Washington State sucks and I don't think any of you really want to read about them very much. I also have a few other thoughts with the NFL's preseason officially underway. With all that said, lets jump into it.

Coming in at #21 is #88, A.J. Simmons. A highly touted Tight End out of Oakland, Simmons has had to take a backseat to all world superstar Rob Gronkowski. Despite this, A.J. has shown a commitment to the team, providing stability in short yardage situations and flashing good hands when necessary. Back on parents weekend in 2007, Simmons caught a touchdown pass keeping the 'Cats in the game. Another key thing about him is his leadership. Younger players at his position, Jack Baucus and Terrence Miller, rave about his on field demeanor and how willing he is to teach his competition the correct way to play. In 2010, I expect Gronkowski to head to the NFL, which means we will finally get to see what A.J. brings to the table on a full-time basis. The coaches think highly enough of him that they rate him in the top 5 tight ends in the PAC-10, despite never getting a chance to show what he can do. Look out for big #88 in an endzone near you, possibly sooner than you think.

On to Wazzu. This is a team in transition. I will say that I think Paul Wulff is the right man for the job. However, his coaching style is very intense and he expects a ton from his guys in the offseason. For that reason, I hope Cougar fans are patient, as it may take longer than they want to produce a contender in Pullman. Former coach Bill Doba left Wulff with nothing to work with, and many of the guys that he inherited turned out to be scumbags and otherwise malcontents. Lets check back in in 2011. At quarterback, things got so bad last year that the coaches held an OPEN TRYOUT for students on campus to potentially join the team. Kevin Lopina is the key name at that position. They actually have a pair of backs that could be productive. If you are familiar with James Montgomery, its because he played at Cal in 2007, famously being flipped over Louis Holmes' shoulder en route to the ground. Joining him is sophomore Logwone Mitz. Mitz averaged 4.9 yards a carry last season, astonishing when you consider how awful his line is and was. I think people are sleeping on him, and he could have a productive season. Jeshua Anderson is a long, fast receiver who could sneak behind a few secondaries this season. Other than that, I will say that I consider the cupboard completely bare. The defense is a complete work in progress, and I can't say definitively who will start at any position. I think special teams goes without saying. Look, I don't mean to be disrespectful, but if Arizona loses AT HOME to Washington State in 2009, I will camp out in front of Jim Livengood's office until he and Mike Stoops join me in unemployment.

Tonight I watched the Steelers-Cardinals preseason matchup. I'm going to be blunt, ESPN's NFL crew is absolutely atrocious. I appreciate what Chris Berman has done, as he was an original part of getting ESPN going, but its time to cut him loose. The whole nickname thing was funny about 15 years ago, but anytime something clever becomes a desperate gimmick I die a little more inside. Put the man on a beach in Boca Raton and keep him away from my television. Good riddance. As far as resident geek Mike Tirico goes, DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Dennis Dixon was hurt against THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA!!!!! Not ASU like you 'reported'. I am sure a lot of you get sick of correcting relatives and idiots alike who don't realize a state can have more than one university (which in Arizona is, of course, debatable). ESPN's NFL guys have a tough time forgetting that we don't tune in for them. The best announcers stay out of the way and let the game come to them. I don't need 500 useless stories, just tell me who was involved, maybe where they are from, and critique the product in front of you. For preseason games, I would like to see them highlight more position battles and take note of guys fighting for roster spots, which makes the second half of these games much more interesting.

Tonight, I switched over to an old game on FSN. It was the Texas Tech-Nebraska matchup from October 20, 2001. I remember watching this game in my buddy Grimes' basement in Minnesota. That was the week that my dad was fired from his job, starting a chain of events that led to us moving to San Diego, and eventually landing me in Tucson. Also, this game reminded me of how great college football is. The pro's are pretty tight, but in my opinion you can't beat the passion and Americana that comes with the college game. I had forgotten just how good Eric Crouch was in his day. Watching this game was a trip, that's for sure. I hope you are like me. I cannot wait for the 2009 season to finally kick off.

Keep reading. I have some big things in the works, including a new college football system, a UA recruiting wish list, and my idea for an effective minor league to the NFL, among others. Always real, and if your reading this I love you.

Deuce Deuce

Today we have another member of the team highlighted, as well as a few of my thoughts on other things. Enjoy

Coming in at #22 is Trevor Foster. Foster is a junior safety from Ontario, California. Nicknamed Tito, Foster is a headhunter on special teams, similar to fellow countdown member Orlando Vargas. Throughout the country, every team has a couple of unheralded, relatively unknown guys that make big plays on special teams. Often these plays take place away from the ball, and thus out of sight of the common fan. Tito walked on the team several years ago, but earned himself a scholarship last season for his efforts on special teams. Wearing #29, Foster figures to be a mainstay crushing kick returners and downing Keenyn Crier's punts in great spots this season and next. With Cam Nelson moving on after this year, it wouldn't shock me if a heady, talented guy like Tito found his way into the starting lineup in 2010.

USA had a pretty rough outing today. It was apparent who got a good nights rest and who was rattled in Mexico City. Azteca Stadium is, in my opinion, the best homefield advantage in the world, regardless of the sport. There are some positives to take out of this afternoons loss. First, Charlie Davies is legit. Lets keep our fingers crossed, the kid looks like the type of athlete that teams will gameplan against in South Africa next year. Second, at least none of our player's were apparently entering a Joakim Noah lookalike contest after the game. Guillermo Ochoa, I'm looking right at you. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillermo_Ochoa) Lionel Richie called, he wants his terrible 'hairstyle' back. I was hoping the jheri curl died with Rick James. and finally, Third, win or lose, Americans are great fans who don't throw bags of urine at the opposition. Score one for the States there. Regardless, I don't believe in moral victories. We (the USA) got slapped around out there. Despite a late goal, Mexico was allowed to dictate the tempo throughout the game. It's time to swallow our pride and admit the better team won today.

Good to see Jeff Samarasifdasfdasgja get rolled today. No matter the sport, I usually find a reason to cheer against good old Notre Dame. Rudy was offsides. Sorry, had to get those last two off my chest.

Finally, I heard something today that you all should hear. It was inspirational, moving even. A man was explaining what he does when hes feeling down in the dumps. He reminds himself something. He reminds himself that somewhere, way out there, there is a Mr. Pelosi. Good night, stay tuned, etc. It's always real.

His Airness...

That's correct, its time for number 23 on the countdown. Before we get to that, I want to talk a little about tomorrow's biggest game. United States versus Mexico. I won't be making any big predictions, but it is a very important match up if for no other reason than the fact that we (which I say as an American, not considering myself a part of the team like many fans seem to) have never won in Mexico City. This sport is truly the world's game, and I love the fact that earlier this summer America burst onto the scene. For decades we have been whipping boys, as has-been nations have enjoyed routing us on the pitch for years. Win or lose tomorrow, I love America and you all had better as well.

On to the countdown...#23 on the list is Alex Zendejas. Zendejas is a redshirt sophomore from up in the Valley, playing his high school ball at Ironwood in Glendale. Zendejas is a member of maybe the royalty of placekicking. Among others, Alex had two uncles, Luis and Alan, who kicked at Arizona State. Uncle Max was an All-American here in Tucson in the '80s before moving on to the Green Bay Packers. Alex got a little bit of playing time last season, kicking a few extra points and looking pretty good on kickoffs. At least since 2005, when I entered school, placekicking has been a strong point that Cats fans haven't had to worry about. Lets hope that continues with Mr. Zendejas this season.

Stay tuned for a preview on the Oregon Ducks, my idea to turn the BCS upside down, and more! Always real.

#24...The countdown Continues

What's up readers. I hope you are enjoying my thoughts and opinions. Tonight we will be keeping it rather light, with another player on the countdown. If you are keeping track (as I am) the number on the countdown does not correspond with opening day. I decided to give myself 2 or 3 days for emergencies, or simply being too busy to post. Without further ado, lets continue where we started last night.

#24 on my list is Orlando Vargas. Wearing jersey number 38, Vargas is a sophomore defender from Winslow, Arizona, which is up near the Grand Canyon. Out of high school, Vargas spent a season at Panhandle State University, which is in Goodwell, Oklahoma. Goodwell may be in the most desolate stretch of the United States, the Oklahoma Panhandle. It may not be the end of the world, but you can certainly see it from there. One can completely understand Orlando's decision to transfer to Tucson, where much more 'scenery' surrounds us. On the field, Vargas plays safety and linebacker. A walk-on, I wouldn't be shocked to see Vargas earn a scholarship, especially considering the way he plays. Vargas is a wedge buster on kickoff coverage, and a total headhunter. These are the types of guys I really love to watch. As an underrated overachiever in my own football career, I treated special teams like my life was on the line. Vargas is an outstanding blocker as well, famously springing Money Thomas' punt return TD against ASU. Look for #38 flying around the field this season on all special teams, and if he keeps busting his butt you may just see him become a fixture on defense as a junior in 2010.

Keep reading. Nothing else to say tonight, really. As usual, I always keep it real.

The Countdown Begins...#25

When I started this blog, my idea was to give you my personal insight into the Arizona Wildcats, sports, and the world in general. While I am not interviewing athletes (yet) I am pretty confident in what I am providing, and I would like to think that you the reader has gained a lot from reading my thoughts. Furthering this notion, I would like to shed light on members of the 2009 Arizona Wildcats football team that I think have earned it. The following is a list that includes superstars, walk-ons, future pros, and guys that I hold in high regard from personal experience. The goal is to make watching Arizona football a richer, more beautiful thing than it already is. Lets get started.

Coming in at #25 is Colin Baxter.Wearing number 64, Colin is a junior offensive lineman from Rolling Hills, California, on the Palos Verdes Penninsula. As a freshman in 2007, he beat out returning starter Daniel Borg and hasn't looked back. He brings an old school nastiness to the PAC-10. Baxter is the type of guy that plays right until the whistle blows, putting the team before himself every single play. An offensive line needs a mean streak, and Baxter continues to provide that from both guard and center. I fully expect him to contend for All Conference honors when the season concludes, and as a senior in 2010 All-American consideration wouldn't shock me either. While he isn't my absolute favorite player on the team, this is a guy any football fan will get a kick out of watching. Look out for #64 this season.

Keep reading for further information on PAC-10 teams, Arizona recruits, and some other things that have been on my mind lately. I realize that I have readers across the country and not all of you are die hard Arizona fans, so stand by as I have some stuff coming with you in mind. Always real

Season Opener: Central Michigan University

The next team that we take a look at is CMU, more commonly known as Central Michigan. Serving as the Wildcats first opponent of the year, the Chippewas are an important barometer for how the season will go. If Arizona can win this game easily, then it shows that at the least we have ourselves a solid defense and our major offensive questions will be solved. If its a struggle, then it isn't much of a stretch to imagine trouble on the 'Cats horizon. The Chippewas are coached by Butch Jones, who is in his 3rd season as head coach, posting back to back 8 win seasons. They are favored to win their 3rd Mid-American Conference (MAC) title in 4 years. CMU plays at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, one of the smaller venues in Division 1 FBS Football at just over 30,000 spectators. Kelly/Shorts has a FieldTurf surface, and in every aspect of the term the Chips are a 'turf team'. There offense is built around quick plays and making people miss in the open field. They run a spread, although it is a little bit different than what we are used to in Tucson. While we run out of spread and power I looks, as well as both shotgun and under center, CMU runs a 4 wide, 1 back set almost the entire game. This also isn't an offense that is known for scoring 70 points a game. Generally, CMU stays under 40 points, surpassing that only in a 52-56 loss at Eastern Michigan.

Quarterbacks: By now you have heard all the hype surrounding Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow, and a few other national heavyweights. Let me tell you, Central Michigan has a guy that is right up there with all of them. Don't be surprised to hear the name Dan LeFevour called early on draft day next spring. In 2007, LeFevour joined Vincent Young as the only quarterbacks to throw for 3,000 yards while rushing for over 1,000 in a single season. While he doesn't have electrifying speed, the senior out of suburban Chicago serves as his teams primary rushing treat. He is just as capable through the air. Last season, LeFevour completed 67% of his passes for just under 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns, with only 6 interceptions. He has an uncanny ability to see the field and distribute. This guy has no problem sharing the wealth and keeping a defense guessing. After LeFevour, however, things start to get dicey. The past three seasons the Chippewas have had an outstanding backup QB, a guy named Brian Brunner. He has moved on, leaving several freshmen in his place. Should anything happen to LeFevour, this team is one hit away from missing out on the MAC title, and any potential bowl bid is also out the window.

Running Backs: Balancing LeFevour's act the last couple years were the dependable Ontario Sneed and Justin Hoskins. Both have moved on, leaving sophomores Bryan Schroeder and Paris Cotton to pick up the pieces. I figure Schroeder gets the lions share of carries here, as he looked pretty good in spot duty last season. One thing I look for is action from the receivers. Antonio Brown and freshman slotback Jahleel Addae are deadly in space, and it wouldn't shock me if end-arounds and reverses start getting called, especially if Arizona has success against the run early on. LeFevour of course is also a decorated runner, who has scored a ton of rushing touchdowns in his career. While this isn't a group that wows you, they will find ways to be effective.

Receivers: LeFevour is undoubtedly the star of the team, but the most talent on the quad is right here. They will start 4 guys at wideout, 3 of whom are proven commodities. Junior Antonio Brown is an undersized lightning bolt who had nearly 2500 all purpose yards last season. You know it, you hate it, but damn if it works; Brown is utilized a lot on the bubble screen. This is essentially a running play and I love it, its a guaranteed 5 yards and maybe more with a guy like Brown. Bryan Anderson is a massive target at 6'5, 215 pounds. The senior has a chance to become the all-time leading receiver at CMU, removing the legendary Reggie Allen (OK, not that legendary) from the top of the list. Junior Kito Poblah and Addae will also see plenty of passes thrown there way. Make no mistake about it, this is a top flight receiving corps. I doubt that it is the most talented unit our secondary will face, but these guys can make you pay with the slightest lapse in concentration.

Offensive Line: As we have seen the past few years up in Tempe, you can have a ton of talent at the skill positions (just ask them) but it won't matter if your hogs can't play. This is a massive concern for Central Michigan. The spread is great because it allows for wide splits and quick ball movement, but lets take a look at what Coach Jones is working with here. Returning starters at Center and left guard, and a senior right guard, Allen Ollenburger, who has started in the past. We've certainly seen worse. But then you look at the tackles. I don't have the current weights for these guys, but as of Spring Practice right tackle Rocky Weaver checked in at 253 pounds, and Jake Olson was JUST 237! Weaver actually was a tight end last year. Look, these guys would be undersized playing in the Los Angeles H.S. City Section, so imagine what trouble they are in this season in Division 1 football. A quarterback's best friend is a big, solid veteran protecting his blind side, and LeFevour literally has the opposite here. 'Nuff said.

Defensive Line: This is a solid unit for CMU, but it is not anywhere near what the 'Cats will face later on down the road. Seniors Sam Williams and Frank Zombo start at the ends. Zombo is easily the best player of the bunch, posting 9 sacks last season. These guys have an opportunity to make a statement early on against a left tackle who is moving over from guard. In the middle, they play Sean Murnane and nose guard John Williams. These guys are quite undersized, and with a pair of 335 pound guards, it wouldn't shock me to see the Wildcats pound the ball early. Last season the Chips had a rotation of 4 guys at nose guard(3 have moved on), and it wouldn't shock me to see at least that many throughout the game here.

Linebackers: 3 starters return to a veteran unit, including Nick Bellore, who led the MAC in tackles last season with an astounding 148! Matt Berning and his 70 tackles also returns. Tim Brazzel is a returning starter, but the senior is just 195 pounds. I think you notice a theme here. Even though this isn't a "power conference" team, they are as undersized as any non service academy squad that I have ever seen in Division 1. Brazzel is a converted safety, which tells me that the team decided to sacrifice size in order to cover more ground against other wide open offenses. This is a solid group, but other than Georgia last season none of the personnel they have faced compare (favorably or relatively, that is) to Arizona's.

Defensive Backs: This is the toughest group to evaluate, and I wouldn't be shocked if names I haven't come across figure prominently into the Chips' plans. The best player is Chaz West, who had a respectable top 10 finish in the frattiest name contest (former OSU DE Slade Norris took home the hardware there). However, where he plays is up in the air. Bobby Seay and Eric Fraser started at safety last season. CMU also returns Josh Gordy and a guy named Tommy Mama at cornerback. This group had a bad year last season. However, there are a ton of experienced players competing for time, and I think that Chippewa fans can expect to reap the benefits of healthy competition here.

Special Teams: The placekicker is Andrew Aguila and the punter, who I am not related to, is Brett Hartmann (Two N's). Neither of these guys will wow you and Aguila had some consistency problems last season. Where this unit really shines is the return game. Antonio Brown had nearly 800 KR yards last year. More renowned on punt returns, he averaged an astounding 20.5 yards per return in this department, with an impressive score as well. As long as Brown is on the field, Arizona coverage units have really got to bring it or things could go south.

Season Outlook: I pay almost zero attention to the MAC, which gets almost no media coverage out west. That said, I think that Central Michigan is probably the class of the conference. This is a solid team, and although it has some holes I think that they can get away with some things, in conference play at least, they may not be able to in a BCS league thanks to a solid cast of skill position guys. I fully expect to see them bowling, and with the right things happening LeFevour could see some serious Heisman Trophy consideration.

How can the Wildcats win? By being mistake free on offense. While they have 10 starters back on 'D', the Chippewas really struggled defensively and found themselves in a lot of shootouts. Expect nickleback Corey Hall to play nearly the entire game. He did a great job on Kyle Williams, Nick Moore, and Ronald Johnson last season. I think that Arizona has a defense that is perfect for what Dan LeFevour and the Chippewas bring to the table. Arizona wins here by executing on offense. I know that is simple, but it really is the case here. Unless 'Zonas new quarterbacks completely bomb, Central Michigan may have an impossible time keeping up with an offense that can get pretty hot down in Tucson. I don't like predictions, but this is a game Arizona will be favored in and should feel pretty good about.

Stay tuned. The next edition will feature the start of my 25 favorite Wildcats. Be on the lookout for more team analysis, and a breakdown of the 11 recruits I want to see finish out Arizona's recruiting class. With me, its always real, enjoy and keep up the support!

University of Washington

Our next stop is in Seattle, Washington. You wouldn't know it now, but the Washington Huskies have quite the history in football. They even won back-to-back national championships in 1990 and 1991. Following the controversial firing of Rick Neuheisel the Huskies have not returned to a bowl game, bottoming out (or so they hope) with last season's 0-12 debacle. Coach Tyrone Willingham resigned following a 56-0 shellacking at the hands of USC. In steps Steve Sarkisian, who was previously on Pete Carroll's staff in Los Angeles. The Huskies play at Husky Stadium, one of the larger stadiums in the conference with a capacity of just over 72,000. Husky Stadium held office as the home of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and is renowned as a great place to watch a ballgame in the fall.

Quarterback: The Huskies will start Jake Locker. Locker is a home town hero and an outstanding athlete. As a red shirt freshman in 2007, he just barely missed the 1000 rushing barrier, but established himself as one of the most dangerous weapons in the PAC-10. Locker was hurt in the 4th game last season and while the Huskies were off to an 0-3 start, this is where the wheels really fell of. Ronnie Fouch, a sophomore whose name sounds like a backup quarterback, became the starter. Normally I would use phrasing along the lines of 'took over', but nothing of that sort happened here. Fouch failed to complete even 50% of his passes, and threw 4 touchdowns to 13 interceptions. I fully expect either red shirt freshman Luther Leonard or true frosh Keith Price to be the primary backup this season. For all of his hype, lets not pretend that Locker set the world on fire through the air either. Through 3 and a half games last year he only had 1 touchdown and his completion percentage of 53.8% is hardly world-beating. Sarkisian is planning on changing Locker into more of a pocket passer. I am not keeping score of this or anything, but generally it makes sense to tailor your system around your athletes, and not vice versa. Ask Nick Sheridan or Steven Threet how running the spread worked out for them at Michigan last season. Locker is a great talent, but honestly he is proof that one player does not a team make.

Running Back: This position is, simply, a hot mess. The leading returning rusher is a kid named Willie Griffin, who rushed for 219 yards and a touchdown last fall. That's not going to cut it, and based on literature I have seen it is safe to assume that Griffin doesn't figure into the plans this year. I think Chris Polk, a decorated recruit who was committed to USC at one point, takes the job here, but he didn't exactly dominate last season before taking a medical red shirt. Here are some other names to remember: Curtis Shaw (So), Brandon Johnson (Jr), and David Freeman (So). They could plug any one of these guys in and in my opinion no one would know the difference. The fullback will be Paul Homer, a senior and 3 year starter. These guys may have talent, but it is raw talent. This group, at best, is a complete work in progress.

Receivers: Aside from Locker, this is the bright spot on offense. Jermaine Kearse is a 6'1 sophomore who averaged 15 yards a catch last season. Every time I saw the Huskies play, I wondered why Kearse wasn't seeing the rock more. Junior D'Andre Goodwin is the leading returning receiver, hauling in 60 passes a year ago. Look for sophomores Devin Aguilar and Cody Bruns to help out some. Bruns famously had his red shirt burned by Willingham only to suffer a season ending injury almost immediately. New coaches tend to favor personnel that they brought in, so while I like those guys, I think we might see a lot of James Johnson. Johnson is a true freshman and one of the most prolific receivers in Southern California history. This is a guy that a lot of other staffs were in on, and his signing put the PAC-10 on notice that Sarkisian isn't afraid of going after the big fish. At tight end, Kavario Middleton should be improved as a sophomore. This is a guy with the potential to challenge for post-season honors (2nd team all league of course). I think that if Locker gets enough time, these guys can help him. Expect brilliant moments along with equally frustrating ones from this group.

Offensive Line: This is another spot where I think the Huskies are in trouble. Gone are three starters, including C Juan Garcia, the leader of the big uglies. The starting center will be Ryan Tolar, who has seen started at guard the past two seasons. The guards are Ben Ossai and one of either Senio Kelemete or Morgan Rosborough. 'Senio moves over from defense, where he started 4 games last season. Rosborough is nearly 400 pounds but as a senior has not had the breakthrough needed to contribute in this conference. Tackles will be Cody Habben, and a player to be named later. I hate to be negative, but this group has all the makings of the 2008 Arizona State unit. Early in the season it will be important for the coaches to settle guys into positions and not be tempted to shift youngsters around. You never know with a new staff, but at least on paper this is a glaring problem area.

Defensive Line: I like the personnel Sarkisian has to work with. Daniel Te-o-Nesheim is a 4 year starter who had 8 sacks last season. He is not only the best player on this defense, but a guy I fully expect to see in an NFL uniform next summer. Vying for time on the opposite end are senior Darrion Jones, and sophomores Kalani Aldrich and Everette Thompson. Jones may get the call early, but I think Thompson is the best pure pass rusher on the team aside from Te'o-Nesheim. At tackle I expect Alameda Ta'amu and Johnny Tivao to get the start. Both of these guys are over 345 pounds! Ta'amu had a tough time last year, but I think with a year in a college strength and conditioning program, along with an accomplished junior college transfer next to him (Tivao) he is a rising star. I think this group has solid depth, young talent, and a proven commodity. This is the strength of the team.

Linebacker: The Huskies will start Mason Foster, Donald Butler and EJ Savannah. This is the most experienced unit on the team, with Savannah returning after a 1 year sabbatical. There are two guys here that have had 100+ tackle seasons, so Husky fans have to feel pretty good about their ability to stop the run. The only weakness here that I could potentially see is depth. Coach Sarkisian had a lot of needs addressed via junior college, but not here. Aside from the 3 starters and senior Trenton Tuiasosopo, there isn't much experience or talent of note.

Defensive Back: The Huskies return two starters here, and bring in some potential help from the junior college ranks. Nate Williams was an Honorable Mention all PAC-10 selection last season, posting 76 tackles and an interception. Quinton Richardson started as a red shirt freshman and is a guy I think is poised for a breakout year. He has solid size at 6'1, 200. In my opinion corner backs are best under 6'1. Any taller than that and they have a tough time switching from backpedal to sprinting. He has great hips, and at 200 pounds he has good size to play up against the run. I expect David Batts, a junior college transfer, to start at free safety. Dominique Gaisie, an undersized JC corner, is my pick at the other corner. With junior college transfers, there is a learning curve so there may be other names there but I think these are the best guys on the roster. One thing that killed the Huskies last year was terrible speed in the defensive backfield, so they had better hope that Batts and Gaisie live up to the hype or it may be another long year.

Special Teams: Erik Folk, the younger brother of Arizona legend Nick Folk, will handle the placekicking duties. The punter is a position that could very well be won by a walk on. I don't have any insight into that, but if you are a Husky fan this is another concern of yours. The kick returners could be any number of young skill players, this was another area where no one shined last year. I have to think that long strider Jermaine Kearse or James Johnson gets a long look here.

Season Outlook: First off, lets acknowledge that the Huskies had more talent last season than their awful record would lead you to believe. There are some guys here that can play, and you never know how young players with game experience will develop, who will burn out, etc. I am not convinced that Steve Sarkisian is much of a coach. If you talk to USC fans or look at their message boards, many Trojan faithful were not fans of the guy. I place more stock in message boards than most because many of the fans you see on there, no matter how big of losers you may imagine them to be, know quite a bit about there team and the game itself. If they hinder Jake Locker's talents, this could be another long season. In addition, there are some positions that you can get away with mediocrity from. They are not offensive line, special teams, or the defensive backfield. This team has too many question marks, and not enough answers. They will be better than last year, and in a few years, when Sark gets the hang of things, may be a big player in this league, but anything more than 3 or 4 wins against a schedule that features LSU, USC, Notre Dame, and the rest of the PAC-10 is simply delusional.

How Can the Wildcats win? To be blunt, Arizona is better. A lot better, in my opinion. Confuse Locker with different blitzes and dare the Huskies to beat you on the ground. Kearse broke loose for a 60 yard reception last season, and I expect big things out of him, but I think we have a play making secondary that can at least contain the strength of this offense. Coach Stoops likes to rotate players on the defensive interior, which is always good, but especially here. An inexperienced offensive line that has faced 3 national title contenders leading up to this game will be battered by the 4th quarter. On offense, read option is going to come into play. The strength of this defense is right up the middle, so I expect to see a lot more of guys like David Douglas and Juron Criner this game in an effort to spread the linebackers across the formation and keep them out of plays. Look for a lot of draws and play action in this game. It is important to remember that Jake Locker had the best game, to date, of his career against Arizona in 2007. This game is a road game for the 'Cats, and it is important not to look past these guys. We were swept, after all, by New Mexico the past two years. The score won't be 48-14 again, but barring UW catching lightning in a bottle early, this is a game that the Wildcats should feel pretty good about.

Stay tuned, I have a lot more coming. Always real.