2009 - Not The Year of the Pac-10 Quarterback?

by JConant on Jul 31, 2009 11:02 AM PDT in Football Comment 7 comments

I was reading Paul's Morning Quack notes, reviewing how Pac-10 coaches are trying to prop up the conference's overall reputation as a football powerhouse. USC has mostly obliterated the conference for more years than I care to recall. Yet, here's Pete Carroll telling us "Our conference is so challenging for us...".

Now, I don't neccesarily disagree with Carroll. USC has had a hard time escaping conference play unscathed the past few years. At the same time, I'm not ready to buy into notions that the 2009 Pac-10 is on par with the Big XII or the SEC. Close, but not quite. The reason why? Quarterbacks.

My question for the group today: Is 2009 the worst collective group of starting QBs in the Pac-10 in the past 20 years?

I'm not sure I've reached an answer myself. For now, I'll say, maybe. Here's why.

Consider Phil Steele's pre-season all-Pac-10 QBs (I had to pick someone's list, and like him or not, Steele is respected). Jeremiah Masoli was first team, followed by OSU's Lyle Moevao, Washington's Jake Locker, then Cal's Kevin Riley.

Don't question my appreciation of Masoli. I'm as enamoured as the next Quacker. Remember, however, that Masoli leads this list as an out-of-nowhere guy who was unexpectedly forced into action less than one year ago. He scuffled through some big games, then finished huge over the final four games to finish 2008. We're not sure Moevao's going to be the starter coming off surgery. Locker seems to have the potential, but thusfar he's been held back for many reasons, about none of which you can lay on his shoulders. Riley is the veteran of the group, yet coach Tedford is readily admiting he needs to see considerably improved consistency from Riley if the Bears are truly to be Golden this season.

The conference lost USC's Mark Sanchez to an early NFL exit. Willie Tuitama is done at Arizona (I'm happy to see that guy moving on). No more Rudy Carpenter (and I wonder if that poor guy will spend the rest of his days looking over his shoulder for the next big guy who's going to hit him). New guy at ASU. And at USC, UCLA, Arizona and it sounds like Standford too. Washington State will start someone with experience, though it was mostly the kind of experience that requires years of counseling and/or physical therapy.

I do believe there is talent waiting to blossom. Some of the new guys will struggle, but one or two will surprise us and come on strong. Masoli should eat the conference alive. Riley and Moevao/Canfield will be very productive, I believe. Aaron Corp might win a national championship at USC. Otherwise, 2009 will probably be remembered as the year of powerful rushing attacks (think: Jahvid Best, Jacquizz Rodgers, LeGarrette Blount, Toby Gerhart, Joe McKnight, Nic Grigsby, Stafon Johnson and Shane Vereen).

Poll

Is 2009 the worst collective group of starting QBs in the Pac-10 in the past 20 years?

Yes. Without a doubt.

55 votes

Yes. Just barely.

80 votes

No. But not far from it.

225 votes

No. It's not even close.

108 votes

JShufelt should be 2nd team over Lyle Moevao.

30 votes

498 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Conference V Conference

Relative conference strength fluctuates year to year. On average I would put the Pac-10 about on the same level as the SEC and the Big 12, but the order is different each year really.

As for QB’s. Check out the SEC’s abysmal lineup. It’s Tebow, then Snead, then…..nothing. Actually, really bad nothings.

by Janus09 on Jul 31, 2009 4:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I would agree that this year's crop of QBs is not as talented as we've had in years past

But remember that it’s always hard to judge the QBs BEFORE the year. Masoli has the ability to be an outstanding QB. And I believe, if healthy, he will have a year that was as good, if not better, than Dixon’s senior year. But the health bug is a huge question mark at Oregon. You can claim flukes if you like, but the reality is you haven’t finished a year with your original starting QB in a few years now.

What I think is getting overlooked here, however, is how experienced the Pac10 is at QB. Not counting USC and Oregon (Oregon having an established talent in Masoli, and I’m going to say its safe to assume that Aaron Corp at USC is talented) most all teams have guys that have been on the team for a few years. Danny Sullivan down at ASU is no slouch at QB (you can bring up his mop up duty statistics all you want, but remember that it was still MOP UP DUTY), and him being a Senior ready to make his mark on the team makes him all the more dangerous. Kevin Riley is a RS Junior, Lyle Moevao and Canfield are both RS Seniors with a lot of playing time for each, and Jake Locker is a RS Junior. Kevin Prince and Andrew Luck appear to be talented at both UCLA and Stanford. And while I’m not sold yet on Prince and UCLA, I am very intrigued (read: scared) about Andrew Luck and Stanford. I think they are going to be the real deal. Just because we don’t have the names like Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford and Todd Reesing and Chase Daniel like the Big 12 had last year, doesn’t mean this group of QBs lacks talent. Yes, I would say there is no Heisman candidate in this year’s QB class, but there are definitely plenty of guys who can lead their respective teams to 8+ win seasons, and it is only going to be made better with the talented slew of running backs our conference has this year.

Also, well done, on JConant not tagging Jacquizz Rodgers

I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.

by The VD Special on Jul 31, 2009 6:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Lots of potential, agreed. Some of it will be realized, some not. It will be interesting to see who, at the end of the season, who was a surprise and who was a bust. Price, Luck, and Sullivan might all do well. Would you really be surprised if any or all struggled against what appear to be improving defenses, in general, around the conference?

Quizz was completely unintentional…ran auto tag, checked every name that came up, didn’t realize Quizz got missed. No slight intended. I’m not a Beaver hater.

I'm really tired of it not being football season.

by JConant on Jul 31, 2009 7:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damn. Focused on spelling Jacquizz right, misspelled Rodgers. Fixed.

I'm really tired of it not being football season.

by JConant on Jul 31, 2009 7:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This ain't the 90s, that's for sure

I mean, it’s not likely that we’ll see a bunch of good ole fashioned Pac-10 shootouts (the kind where the game doesn’t start until each team has scored at least 5 TDs) but I think that’s due to the increase in defense as well.

"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely

by skywaker9 on Aug 2, 2009 11:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Pac10 defenses have most certainly improved

It started with USC. Pete Carroll knew (and rightly so) that the way to beat a team wasn’t to outscore them, but stop them from scoring. That is what led to USC’s early and often dominance. Other Pac10 teams have followed suit (OSU, Cal, Oregon) and it is only a matter of time until USC is taken over.

What I find interesting is that when the Pac10 was in 56-49 games, everyone in the Big 12 was screaming about how bad our defenses were. Now that we are in 27-21 games, and the Big 12 is in the 56-49 games, they are screaming about how bad our offenses are. Will those children ever learn?

I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.

by The VD Special on Aug 2, 2009 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You right, VD.

Same 0, same 0. Some really great rushers, rumblers and slashers, speed and more speed, so, the quarterbacks ‘are down’ this year? Bug pucky.
From ‘Lanky’ at U$C to Sark’s Locker, ain’t no slouchers coming out in the PAC 10. Period. QB’s come screaming to the PAC 10 outta high school becuz this is where they get to show off their skills and, have fun.
There are exceptions yes, because there are lots of high schools. But let’s not be delusional Dudes and Doodettes. Do ya really think that Erickson is gonna have some muscle head throwing the ball into the ground? Or into the stands?

I know that ‘we just need something to talk about in anticipation of the upcoming season’ and that its really kind of fun to sling some mud at the bark-chewers after last Civil War but that was last year. Repairs have been made and, including Wazzoo, I think we’re going to be surprised at the quality of QB in our league. It’s all Masoli’s fault. He set the standard in the Holiday Bowl.

GO DUCKS!

by DONALDUCK on Aug 2, 2009 5:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs