Pac-10 Updates

[SoonerBS]

Olson re-injures foot backing away from center
By Bruce Feldman
ESPN The Magazine

Ben Olson re-injured his right foot at Saturday's practice backing away from center.
Olson, who hurt his foot last spring making the same move, was carted off the field and taken for a floorscan examination.
The test proved inconclusive, a UCLA spokesman Saturday night. Olson will have an X-ray, and possibly an MRI, Sunday. Olson, a BYU transfer, underwent surgery on the same foot in the spring.
In Olson's absence junior college transfer Kevin Craft and freshmen Chris Forcier, Kevin Craft and Nick Crissman took the snaps at practice.



UCLA is currently a 6 point dog most places in their opener vs. Tenn. If Olsen is out, you'll never see that number again.

I got down with TN-6.... hurry hurry .

I thought the same thing myself last night, Conan and got on it at $250. I also bought the .5 and got the line at -5.5 at -120 juice. I don't think I'll need it, but I bought it anyway . . . . .

Personally, I like Tennessee whether Olson plays or not. There will be a definite mismatch on the line in this game on both sides of the ball in Tennessee's favor . . . . .

 

[Conan]

I thought the same thing myself last night, Conan and got on it at $250. I also bought the .5 and got the line at -5.5 at -120 juice. I don't think I'll need it, but I bought it anyway . . . . .

Personally, I like Tennessee whether Olson plays or not. There will be a definite mismatch on the line in this game on both sides of the ball in Tennessee's favor . . . . .

Very true SBS. UCLA is toast regardless of who plays QB. I'm sure that the LA home dog money has become pretty scarce all of a sudden. There's more value at 6 than anywhere else the line is liable to go. A window of opportunity, though I doubt TN will need the extra point to cover. Should be a comfortable win for the Vols.

 

[Conan]

I also have a lean to Cal...I'm eyeing Idaho too...

Pags, I got on it when it was at Cal -5.5. Figured it's better than 6 however I've seen 5 show up around town.

So far what's come out of Berkeley has looked pretty good. They have the 2nd or 3rd best group of LB's in the Pac and it looks like Best and Vereen will be their tandem RB's. Both have plenty of career left and play like hungry young'ins. There seems to be a few WR's who are stepping up. Several things have been settled so far. I'll get more specific as the days roll by. Who are these "no name" guys anyway?

Cal wins their home openers comfortably. Healthy QB competition looks like Tedford has it covered and they tend to play better at the beginning of the season... obviously. Another reason why I like them is because they seem to be "snapping back" into form after last year's collapse. That's how I think they will start.

 

[Conan]

Finally, some good Q&A about Stanford....

Checkin’ on the Pac: Stanford


By Joey Kaufman
August 10th, 2008 12:25 AM
Related • Filed Under

Our latest Pac-10 interview is with Michelle Smith of The San Francisco Chronicle. She is the beat writer for the one of the most depressing teams in all of college football, the Stanford Cardinal. Thanks to Michelle for participating in this interview.

Q: Tavita Pritchard was good enough to beat USC, but is he good enough to the lead the Cardinal to a bowl game?
Can’t tell yet. Pritchard is in a 3-way competition with sophomore Alex Loukas and Jason Forcier, the transfer from Michigan. All three are running very even early in camp. Pritchard’s biggest issue is consistency. His outstanding performance against USC was followed up by some sub-par days and he needs to show that he’s more to the good than the bad.
Q: Toby Gerhart was one of the top Southern California high school football players in history and has showed some promise as a freshman last year. Will his high school success eventually transition to the college level?
He’s had injury issues. He had a huge first half against San Jose State last year, with 140 yards, then got hurt in the third quarter and was out for the year. Stanford has high hopes that he’s a power back in the mold of Tommy Vardell and that he can get a dormant running game going.
Q: Who will replace star wideouts Mark Bradford and Evan Moore?
Richard Sherman is the only receiver with significant experience and his a go-to quality player if he keeps his head on straight. Thus far, he appears to be focused and in good stead with the coaches. Beyond Sherman, it’s a lot of untested guys and possibly a couple of true freshman.
Q: They return nine defensive starters. How much better will/can the defense be?
The defense should be better, and the line could be among the best in the conference. The linebacker group is good, led by Clinton Snyder and the biggest question mark is at cornerback. But that’s a big question mark in the Pac-10, where teams win or lose on big passing plays. There’s a new defensive coordinator in Ron Lynn, but he’s running essentially the same system as last year, when the defense played hard and made big strides.
Q: How will they deal with the losses of Nick Sanchez and Tim Sims?
Wopamo Osaisai, who played in a three-player rotation last year with Sanchez and Sims, is back and he’s going to be partnered with a young player who will be learning on the job. Sophomore Corey Gatewood, who had to play running back last year in desperate times, is the leading candidate.
Q: Jim Harbaugh certainly talks a good game. However, is he the right guy to lead the program?
He’s recruiting well, the guys love playing for him and they definitely surprised people with wins over USC and Cal last year. He’s looking pretty good right now.
Q: Which is the real Stanford team? The one that beat USC or the one that lost to three win Notre Dame?
Something in between. Provided the Cardinal can find a legitimate starting quarterback, this team has a chance to be more consistent, more competitive and more successful.
Q: Lastly, please look into your crystal ball. How will the Cardinal do this year?
Four or five wins seems reasonable. A bowl game still seems like a reach.

 

[trentmoney]

olsen out 8 weeks

 

[Conan]

olsen out 8 weeks

That means Kevin Craft runs the first team. He hasn't done sh*t in practice so far. I think the Bruins are stuck with a so-so 3rd string QB for the first month of the year and Olson returning to the lineup in October is no guarantee of anything. In W1, UT will just stack the box and force Craft to throw and that means the end of UCLA. I figured Olson would get hurt sooner or later but before the season starts tops anything I expected.

The Bruins will be hard pressed to make a bowl game this year.

 

[trentmoney]

i wouldn't be surprised if they let forcier battle craft with an eye towards the future...

either way they are starting a jc transfer or a red fresh 3 weeks from tomorrow against one of the better secondaries in the country

 

[GoSooners]

Conan...What is the latest news on Sanchez? I heard dislocated kneecap. But I've always heard this isn't as serious of an injury as it sounds, and that he could be back for Virginia...Any updates?

 

[Conan]

Conan...What is the latest news on Sanchez? I heard dislocated kneecap. But I've always heard this isn't as serious of an injury as it sounds, and that he could be back for Virginia...Any updates?

He's uncertain for G1 GoSooners, but the rehab isn't major and he's not expected to be out for long.

Here's the latest news on USC's QB situation. If Mitch Mustain ever expected a chance to make his move, now's as good a time as any.
The article also mentions Sanchez's situation as of today (Sunday).

 

[GoSooners]

Sanchez will be as sore as hell for the next 3 or 4 weeks, but I think he's going to be back sooner than expected...If the injury had happened to his plant leg when he goes back to pass, then it would have been a little more serious, and taken longer for him to come back.

 

[SoonerBS]

Personally, I don't think USC will miss a beat because of this injury. I almost wish Carroll would decide to go with one of the other QBs for the first game now and sit Sanchez out a game. This would give Mustain the bulk of the snaps and he has actual starting experience on the road.

I like the fact that the line has now dropped to -20 . . . . .

 

[Conan]

Personally, I don't think USC will miss a beat because of this injury. I almost wish Carroll would decide to go with one of the other QBs for the first game now and sit Sanchez out a game. This would give Mustain the bulk of the snaps and he has actual starting experience on the road.

I like the fact that the line has now dropped to -20 . . . . .

Hmmm... maybe the line will drop more when word gets out this week about Sanchez and some more money gets bet. I haven't bet this game yet but lucky me, under 3 TD's looks like a gift. Could it get any better over the next few days?

 

[GoSooners]

I really don't see it as an issue against Virginia. And they get a bye week before they face OSU..I keep looking at these teams, and although I like the experience of Ohio State coming into the game, I still can't get past the team speed factor that USC will have over OSU, just like LSU did in their BCS title game...It will probably end up being a game that I'll just sit back and enjoy.

 

[Conan]

I can't help but wonder, under these new circumstances, what USC's offense will look like with Mustain (likely) to be starting the game. I figure counting on McKnight and Stafon Johnson to be pounding the ball on the ground is likely too. I'm still getting used to USC's WR's being considerably better than last year's group and I was never really sold on Booty either. USC should have a pretty good passing game this season with the added experience and some new receivers. That part of the USC offense has been missing lately.

Now you've got Mustain hooking back up with fellow former Razorback, Damien Williams who's been tearing up the practice field, mostly with Sanchez under center. They are going to full contact pads now. This will be an interesting week in fall practice.

 

[clowncar]

Is there a conference that has regressed more from 2007 to this year than the PAC-10 ?

Maybe conference USA.

Mustain is a better qb than sanchez in my estimation.

If you like USC bet it now. When we start getting closer to game time the squares will hop in and bet the trojans. Not saying that they are right or wrong in that bet , just saying that is how this line is likely to move.

 

[AlwaysKeen]

conan,

agree with your analysis of Cal...I really liked the way they finished the bowl game, most teams would have mailed it in after getting down by 3 TD's...should carry over some to the first game, the attitude that is...

 

[Railbird]

Aaron Corp is better than Mustain.

 

[SoonerBS]

Aaron Corp is better than Mustain.

He may be. The point is that I don't think USC will miss a beat with either one of those guys.

:toast:

 

[UoweDucks]

What Would Jake Locker's Absence Mean for the Washington Huskies?

It means:

Husky fans will endure one of the worst seasons in their existence

What is even more troubling that hasn't been mentioned is that starting RB Brandon Jackson is still severely hampered from his knee surgery this summer.


I know coug fans will argue that this is all about karma payback after the cheating and scandals in the late 80's and 90's but wow, they cannot catch a break. I would be really depressed if I were a dog fan right now.

 

[Conan]

It means:

Husky fans will endure one of the worst seasons in their existence

What is even more troubling that hasn't been mentioned is that starting RB Brandon Jackson is still severely hampered from his knee surgery this summer.

I know coug fans will argue that this is all about karma payback after the cheating and scandals in the late 80's and 90's but wow, they cannot catch a break. I would be really depressed if I were a dog fan right now.

If there's a silver lining to the Locker situation, at least UW will have a backup with some reps... FWIW. (not much)


Here's an interesting little piece from Cal's workout yesterday. (Stanford is still shrouded in dark cloth.) Note here Tedford's reaction to the QB questions... not encouraging but still early and it's nothing to be concerned about YET.

On the plus side, it looks like they have found more depth at LB which is a good thing. Some disturbing reports on their OL which has gotten a bit digned up. Probably nothing but worth watching.

Here goes:
The Bears practiced in full pads for the third straight day, and it’s starting to show. Several players sat out with injuries. Cal had trouble finding running backs to take reps after Tracy Slocum suffered a stinger. Jahvid Best ran with the first team, but his backups were walk-ons such as Peter Geurts and Langston Jackson.
Joining an already fairly extensive list on the sideline is linebacker Anthony Felder (swollen knee) and offensive tackle Chet Teofilo (hamstring). None of the injured players reported yesterday returned today.
Not much to report in the quarterback competition. To be frank, neither guy played all that well Sunday. Sunday was one of those practices that truly supports the argument that defense is ahead of the offense this early in camp.
Kevin Riley was back playing with the first team and Nate Longshore ran the second unit. Neither unit moved the ball very well. The best offensive player of the day was Best, who broke off two long runs, one of which went for a touchdown after he gave cornerback Darian Hagan a little stiff-arm at the 5-yard line.
Sunday marked the end of the first week of camp. I asked coach Jeff Tedford what he had learned about his team after one week.
“I learned that we have a great group of guys, guys that are working hard, taking pride in doing things right,” he said. “We have great chemistry.”
As for players that have stuck out for him, he cited only new players since he essentially knows all the returning players so well. Tedford said linebacker Mychal Kendricks has really stood out and there is a strong chance he will contribute as a true freshman. Kendricks has been flying all over the field making plays so far in camp. Tedford also singled out defensive back Bryant Nnabuife, a junior college transfer who just seems to always be in on a play.
As for a progress report on the quarterbacks after one week? Tedford wasn’t touching that one. After I asked him if he had any thoughts on the quarterbacks after one week, he paused for a long time, seemingly searching for the right words, or perhaps how to avoid the question. I finally jokingly offered that he could just say “No, I don’t.” He took me up on my offer.
The Bears will hold their second double-day session tomorrow, but both practices will be in helmets and shoulder pads only.