Pac-12 Roundup: Week 2
We’ll call it a tie this week as the favorites of both divisions in the Big 10 came out West for what were supposed to be easy wins against Oregon State and UCLA, instead, Nebraska and Wisconsin went back to the Midwest with their tails between their legs and the Big 10’s reputation in shambles.
Oregon State pressured Wisconsin QB Danny O’Brien all day and gave Heisman candidate Montee Ball NOWHERE to run. O’Brien averaged only 4.5 yards per pass and Ball was shut out of the endzone for the first time in 21 games.
The Beavers felled Montee Ball’s Heisman candidacy like a majestic Douglas Fir Photo: Jaime Valdez-US PRESSWIRE
The Beavers didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard themselves with only 354 total yards and 10 points, but their dominant defensive performance forced the worst offensive totals by the Badgers in recent memory and it looked less than coincidental when the Badgers fired offensive line coach Mike Markuson first thing Monday morning.
Meanwhile, the Bruins quelled any fears that last week’s offensive explosion against Rice was a fluke. UCLA had 650 yards of offense and Freshman Brett Hundley looks like a star in the making after carving up the Black Shirts for 300 yards and 4 TDs.
WORST LOSS:
No one had a worse week than Utah, whose quarterback, Jordan Wynn suffered a career-ending shoulder injury in the 2nd quarter, and that might have been the least bad news for the Utes. Utah’s offense managed only 45 yards and three points (set up by a turnover) in nearly an entire half with Wynn at quarterback, and the Utes fell to Utah State for the first time since 1997. The Utes offense showed signs of life in the 2nd half with Jon Hays and freshman Travis Wilson at quarterback, but was hardly a juggernaut.
The Pac 12 is an offense-driven league that has become a mecca for the brightest offensive coaches in football. Chip Kelly, Lane Kiffin, and Steve Sarkisian all made names for themselves in the Pac. And when struggling programs needed re-tooling in the offseason, they hired three of the biggest name offensive coaches: Rich Rodriguez, Mike Leach, and Todd Graham.
Kenneth Scott’s two superb touchdown catches were the only good news for Utah’s offense last weekend. (Photo: Russ Isabella-US PRESSWIRE)
So, When Utah lost the greatest offensive coordinator in college football history during the offseason, Kyle Whittingham was peppered with questions about whom he would hire to replace him. Whittingham was short on details, but confidently brushed off the question as though he had a dozen of the best offensive minds around begging for the job.
So you can imagine the surprise when Whittingham made the most hubristic move of the offseason and announced that his replacement for Norm Chow would be… Nobody.
Of course, Utah has a coach who is responsible for the offense calling the plays, but putting a sign on Brian Johnson’s door that says, “Offensive Coordinator” does not make him qualified for such a huge responsibility. Johnson is Utah’s all time winningest QB and may one day develop into an excellent coach, but at 25 years old, Johnson is simply not yet ready to lead a big time college football offense.
On Saturday Johnson’s play calling was lacking when Utah’s first half of FBS football this season notched five punts, two fumbles and less than 50 yards against a WAC opponent. The Utes had a few scoring drives in the 2nd half, but the play calling was extrodinarily predictable and it was hard to discern an overall objective beyond getting tailback John White killed.
Utah State is an improving program, but If the Aggies defense gave Utah this much trouble, it’s hard to imagine the Utes having any production in conference play, regardless of who replaces Wynn at quarterback.
It doesn’t take a very careful reading of recent coaching hires in the Pac 12 (Utah’s hire of Norm Chow last season included) to see the league is in the middle of an offensive schematic arms race. Please, Coach Whittingham, hire an Offensive Coordinator!
PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
No big deal, Jonathan Franklin is just on pace for 2500 yards, that’s all (Photo: Brendan Maloney-US PRESSWIRE)
When UCLA put up an avalanche of offense against Rice in their opener, the near universal response was, “call me if they do it against Nebraska next week.” Well, the phone is ringing and the Bruins look for real.
No one told Jonathan Franklin the Huskers were supposed to be a tougher opponent than East Texas Ivy. Franklin ran through the Black Shirts for his second consecutive 200+ yard game and now leads the entire FBS with 431 rushing yards and an incredible 10.5 ypc average!
Don’t look now, but UCLA’s next opponent, Houston has the #114 rush defense in the nation. Don’t be surprised if Franklin makes it three 200 yard games in a row this week.
HOBBLED DUCKS: Oregon and USC have been prohibitive favorites to win their divisions in the Pac-12 all summer, but the Ducks may be beginning to look vulnerable in the ultra-competitive North Division.
The Ducks revealed on Monday that two-time All Pac-12 1st team Safety John Boyett, will have surgery on both his left and right knees this week in Northern California and will miss the remainder of the season. Boyett was the leading returning tackler in the Pac-12 this year and arguably the conference’s best safety. Boyett was also the only Senior starter in the young Oregon secondary.
The Ducks have some troubling injuries on offense also. Three of their starting O-linemen were on the sideline by the end of Saturday’s game with Fresno State including 4-year starter Carson York. Fellow guard Ryan Clanton, and Tackle Jake Fisher were also hurt during Saturday’s game.
Clanton and Fisher should return to action soon, but Oregon revealed on Monday that York has a broken patella and will miss the remainder of the season. As the lone player on Oregon’s offense who has started Chip Kelly’s entire tenure as head coach, York’s leadership and experience will be sorely missed. Oregon has Tennessee Tech this week, but then welcomes explosive Arizona to Autzen Stadium, they’ll need to find answers soon if they hope to remain favorites in the Pac-12 North.