August 15, 20188 yr What do you expect from the teams in the Pac 12 this year? Division winners? Champion? Sleeper teams? Teams destined to take a step back?
August 15, 20188 yr Author Washington should be the class of the conference again and I fully expect to see them in the playoff again this year. I think they should run the table in the Pac 12. They don't need to beat Auburn to make the playoff, but just keep the game close and hope Auburn has a good season. In the South I have no idea what is going to happen. My head tells me USC, but I'm really curious to see what happens with three teams with new coaches UCLA, Arizona, and Arizona State. I really like the coaching hires for all 3 schools. Championship game: Washington vs. USC Champion: Washington Sleeper Teams: UCLA, Arizona, Arizona St. Team who will have a really good year but come up just short and will have a heisman trophy finalist: Stanford
August 16, 20188 yr Washington should be the class of the conference again and I fully expect to see them in the playoff again this year. I think they should run the table in the Pac 12. They don't need to beat Auburn to make the playoff, but just keep the game close and hope Auburn has a good season. In the South I have no idea what is going to happen. My head tells me USC, but I'm really curious to see what happens with three teams with new coaches UCLA, Arizona, and Arizona State. I really like the coaching hires for all 3 schools. Championship game: Washington vs. USC Champion: Washington Sleeper Teams: UCLA, Arizona, Arizona St. Team who will have a really good year but come up just short and will have a heisman trophy finalist: Stanford As far as Washington being the class of the conference again, USC was the champion last year. JT Daniels will probably start for USC as he has nudged ahead of Jack Sears in the QB competition. If JT performs as many in the Trojan camp expect, USC can make a playoff run. That remains to be seen, however. I can't wait until Sept. 1.
August 16, 20188 yr Author As far as Washington being the class of the conference again, USC was the champion last year. JT Daniels will probably start for USC as he has nudged ahead of Jack Sears in the QB competition. If JT performs as many in the Trojan camp expect, USC can make a playoff run. That remains to be seen, however. I can't wait until Sept. 1. Love the optimism on the USC front. I have a hard time thinking USC can win big in the first year post Sam Darnold. USC is always going to be extremely talented at the skill position, but as good as I expect JT to be I just don’t think they’re ready to compete for anything more than a Pac 12 Title in year 1. I could see a season similar to 2016 though where they lose a couple of games early in the season due to inexperience then go on a tear to end the season. If they can go to Austin and pull out a win that will be huge, I’m not sure they can do that though.
August 16, 20188 yr Love the optimism on the USC front. I have a hard time thinking USC can win big in the first year post Sam Darnold. USC is always going to be extremely talented at the skill position, but as good as I expect JT to be I just don’t think they’re ready to compete for anything more than a Pac 12 Title in year 1. I could see a season similar to 2016 though where they lose a couple of games early in the season due to inexperience then go on a tear to end the season. If they can go to Austin and pull out a win that will be huge, I’m not sure they can do that though. Sept. 8 at Stanford and Sept. 15 at Texas are keys to the season.
August 16, 20188 yr Author Sept. 8 at Stanford and Sept. 15 at Texas are keys to the season. Right now I wouldn’t pick them to win either game with a freshman QB. Hence, why I said I could see a 2016-esque season. Best of luck to your Trojans.
August 16, 20188 yr Washington has to much talent this year. USC's roster is loaded with 4 and 5 star talent.
August 16, 20188 yr Author USC's roster is loaded with 4 and 5 star talent. Curious what your thoughts on Clay Helton are.
August 17, 20188 yr Curious what your thoughts on Clay Helton are. There are two kinds of USC fans right now. They are called sunshine pumpers and haters. I am in neither camp, as I am taking a wait and see approach with Clay. Trying to use my 30 years of coaching football as a guide. The haters think he can't walk and chew gum at the same time. The pumpers think that Clay walks on water. He did bring stability to the Head Coaching position. Kiffin and Sark were serial adulterers and a drunk, in that order. He also has the best winning percentage of any USC coach in history after their first two years. However, there are concerns. Hopefully, he has learned from past mistakes. The O Line regressed last year. Early reports out of camp indicate, if there has been improvement, it is marginally. We shall see. The D may have to carry the Trojans until the QB gets settled in, whether it is JT Daniels or Jack Sears. My money is on JT. According to a person I correspond with, He has been as good as advertised. He is a true freshman and will make mistakes. But, he is not an ordinary freshman. If they do not have the season they expect, then it will be because of O line play, coaching, or both. I want Clay to succeed and I think he is a better coach than two years ago. We will have to see game by game. Hope this helps.
August 17, 20188 yr Author There are two kinds of USC fans right now. They are called sunshine pumpers and haters. I am in neither camp, as I am taking a wait and see approach with Clay. Trying to use my 30 years of coaching football as a guide. The haters think he can't walk and chew gum at the same time. The pumpers think that Clay walks on water. He did bring stability to the Head Coaching position. Kiffin and Sark were serial adulterers and a drunk, in that order. He also has the best winning percentage of any USC coach in history after their first two years. However, there are concerns. Hopefully, he has learned from past mistakes. The O Line regressed last year. Early reports out of camp indicate, if there has been improvement, it is marginally. We shall see. The D may have to carry the Trojans until the QB gets settled in, whether it is JT Daniels or Jack Sears. My money is on JT. According to a person I correspond with, He has been as good as advertised. He is a true freshman and will make mistakes. But, he is not an ordinary freshman. If they do not have the season they expect, then it will be because of O line play, coaching, or both. I want Clay to succeed and I think he is a better coach than two years ago. We will have to see game by game. Hope this helps. That was exactly what I was hoping for. My knowledge on Pac 12 football is based solely on what I watch at 10:30 on Saturday nights in the fall. Other than that it might as well be a different country because people in the Midwest and south act as though the Pac 12 doesn’t exist (see plantmans post earlier in this thread for proof)
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