Stanford returned to the top of the Pac-12 in 2015 with a 12-2 record that included an 8-1 mark versus conference opponents. The Cardinal will once again be among the favorites to win the Pac-12 North but they aren’t without their concerns after losing their starting quarterback in the offseason. Oregon, Washington State and California all have the potential to be better as well but just like Stanford they aren’t without their own issues heading in to the season. Here is a look at the biggest concerns for teams from the Pac-12 North division.
Stanford Cardinal
The Cardinal return just nine starters from a year ago but one of them is Heisman trophy runner-up Christian McCaffrey, who set the NCAA single-season all-purpose yardage record with 3,864 total yards in 2015. McCaffrey will be leaned on even more this season as Stanford breaks in a new quarterback following Kevin Hogan’s graduation. Hogan was a steady force under center for the Cardinal over the last couple of years so there are obvious concerns about the change at the position with sophomore Keller Chryst and junior Ryan Burns competing to replace him. Both passers have the potential to play at a high level but neither has one the starting job heading in to August and that is obvious reason for concern.
Oregon Ducks
Oregon was forced to move on without Marcus Mariota a year ago and that led to some major inconsistencies throughout the season. Perhaps the most intriguing element of their 2015 season was the fact that the offense held its own for the most part while it was actually their defense that struggled the most. The Ducks ranked No. 117 in the nation in yards allowed per game and that led to Mark Helfrich bringing in former Michigan head coach Brady Hoke as his defensive coordinator. Hoke will have his work cut out for him with a young group that doesn’t include a single returning starter at the linebacker position so the defense remains the biggest concern for Oregon heading in to 2016.
Washington State Cougars
Mike Leach loves to move the football through the air and while he has the weapons to do what he wants at Washington State in terms of passing offense he could certainly afford a little more balance. That will mean relying on Gerard Wicks and freshman James Williams to handle more carries at the running back position in order to take some of the pressure off of Luke Falk and the passing attack. Wicks and Williams have the talent to handle the running load but their lack of experience could be a concern early on.
California Golden Bears
California recorded eight wins a year ago and finished the season with an Armed Forces Bowl win over Air Force, marking quite the turnaround just two years after they posted a 1-11 record in Sonny Dykes’ debut season. The problem is that they will lose their star quarterback Jared Goff, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Making matters even more difficult is the fact that Cal lost its top six receivers from 2015, which will mean a completely new group leading their passing attack. The Golden Bears brought in some intriguing talent including five-star receiver Demetris Robinson but it’s hard to imagine the passing game matching last year’s production with graduate transfer Davis Webb taking over for Goff at the quarterback position.
Washington Huskies
Washington has the potential to be one of the most improved teams in the country in 2016 with quarterback Jake Browning and running back Myles Gaskin poised to be one of the most improved tandems in the Pac-12. However, the Huskies will need improved play from their wide receivers in 2016 and that won’t be a guarantee without Jaydon Mickens. Junior Dante Pettis is the top returning wide receiver after he had just 30 catches for 414 yards and one touchdown a year ago while Brayden Lenius and John Ross both need to step up as well. The lack of a true No. 1 receiver could be the weakness that keeps the Washington offense from reaching its potential.
Oregon State Beavers
The Beavers allowed 37 points per game to rank No. 114 in the nation in that department and they dropped six games by 20 points or more. Oregon State will be expected to take a step forward after falling to 2-10 a year ago but they need their defense to do a better job. The Beavers have several issues including the lack of an established starting quarterback and needing help at wide receiver and on the offensive line but the defense was an absolute mess a year ago and will need to be better in order for Oregon State to become a more respectable team in 2016.
