2018 Preseason Story Lines

[PiratesRoost]

So, cricket's chirping around here for a long time, eh?  Well, season getting going soon and the preseason story lines are getting solidified.  If anybody's still around maybe you'll vote whether they're a lock or pure bunk.

UW is the clear favorite...
IMHO, lock.  Everybody else is solidly in "prove it" territory after the past few seasons.

USC will regress w/o proven QB
IMHO, bunk.  USC still recruits better than anybody else, and their scheme is not too complex to pick up.  Still have good line, good D, tall fast receivers.  I dunno if they are top shelf again yet, but they're not down to having rebuilding years like mere mortals either.

UO is back to being good, but probably not great
IMHO, lock, but only b/c of the complete cakewalk schedule.

And it ain't a story line but Utah is falling under the radar again, and the rest of the Pac always makes a mistake when they forget about the Utes.

[847badgerfan]

Good stuff PR. Glad to see you make it back here. Maybe the crickets will leave when more come back to the fold.

[DevilFroggy]

Agree UW is the favorite I do see Stanford as a very potent challenger with Love, Costello, and and always potent Cardinal OL standing in the way. Also agree USC will take a step back but still has too much talent to completely rule out. 

If the Utes are ever going to win the South, this is the year. UCLA absolutely will need some time to adjust from Mora to Kelley, Colorado is well coached and all but still lacks the depth and overall talent consistently make waves. uofa has Tate and not much else, and I am skeptical that the Mazzone/Sumlin offense is nearly as well suited to him as RR's offense was. ASU obviously has tons of questions mostly regarding the new coaching. Their offense will be fine despite losing two productive senior RBs to graduation, but the defensive depth especially at safety is very very thin. 

[CatsbyAZ]

USC will regress w/o proven QB
IMHO, bunk.  USC still recruits better than anybody else, and their scheme is not too complex to pick up.  Still have good line, good D, tall fast receivers.

I’ll work my way through more of the conference as the season approaches, but to start with SC, I’m certain we’ll see that the last two seasons of high bowl success were propelled by the arm and decisions of Darnold, not so much Helton’s coaching. Helton is an average cook with access to excellent ingredients, so, IOW, he’s pretty much what Sark and Kiffin were for SC.

 I’ll go so far to expect SC get it handed to them in Austin next month. And after a rebound SC’s play will drop off as the season progresses (clear sign of mediocre coaching). Conversely UCLA will play better under Chipster as the season progresses to the point that the Bruins will beat the Trojans at season’s end.

[CatsbyAZ]

Stanford: Teams will stack the box with 8 & 9 man defensive fronts not only stifle Bryce Love but knock him out of the game. I don’t understand why BLove passed up going pro last season when he was projected as a high pick despite injuries that slowed him down toward the end of last season and are much more likely to repeat themselves now that teams know that stopping him is key to beating Stanford. 

It’s easy to say Stanford is a one-dimensional team going into this season, but that gives no credit to their big OL that can bully enough of the PAC 12 to hold enough offensive ground despite 8/9 man fronts and with or without BLove to keep the Cardinal in games Vs the lower & midsection of the Conference.

[DevilFroggy]

Stanford won't be THAT one dimensional, once they settled on Costello their passing game did improve and Stanford does have a few capable WRs too. 

[847badgerfan]

So, cricket's chirping around here for a long time, eh?  Well, season getting going soon and the preseason story lines are getting solidified.  If anybody's still around maybe you'll vote whether they're a lock or pure bunk.

UW is the clear favorite...
IMHO, lock.  Everybody else is solidly in "prove it" territory after the past few seasons.

USC will regress w/o proven QB
IMHO, bunk.  USC still recruits better than anybody else, and their scheme is not too complex to pick up.  Still have good line, good D, tall fast receivers.  I dunno if they are top shelf again yet, but they're not down to having rebuilding years like mere mortals either.

UO is back to being good, but probably not great
IMHO, lock, but only b/c of the complete cakewalk schedule.

And it ain't a story line but Utah is falling under the radar again, and the rest of the Pac always makes a mistake when they forget about the Utes.

Too bad this guy doesn't post here much anymore.