The college football season is still a long ways off, but after the conclusion of the 2016 season, many of the contours of the 2017 season can already be seen. Among the foremost Pac-12 contenders, which issues jump to the forefront more than others?
USC Trojans
Burning Question: Retooled Offensive Line?
The Trojans have the golden-boy quarterback in Sam Darnold, one of the leading contenders for the 2017 Heisman Trophy. They have receivers who can step in and make plays, replacing the departed JuJu Smith-Schuster. More importantly, they have a lot of healthy momentum. Remember, they were in the dumps after a terrible start to last season (due to a very difficult schedule) but they finished the year very strong. On top of that, they had a signature win in the Rose Bowl where they made a statement on national television by beating Penn State.
The big question is up front, where USC will have to replace multiple starters on its offensive line. Getting adequate run and pass blocking, to enable the skill position talent to thrive, will be a chief challenge for second-year coach Clay Helton, who seems to have settled into a comfort zone but must now learn how to build off a good season. He has to guide a team through pressure and expectations in the offseason.
Washington Huskies
Burning Question: Secondary Replacements?
There are a number of concerns to address for a team which will face the pressure of having to defend its Pac-12 championship, but no issue is bigger than the secondary. Yes, Washington loses some members of its defensive front and might need to find more of a pass rush from unexpected sources, but the secondary is the biggest area of need. Washington won the Pac-12 title by swallowing up the Colorado passing game and coming up with two interceptions just after halftime to blow open the Pac-12 Championship Game last December. However, three starters from that secondary are gone. It’s more than just replacing one player. The Huskies have to address most of their secondary and make sure they have players who can shrink both sides of the field. That will become a big issue in a Pac-12 North with quarterbacks Justin Herbert of Oregon and Luke Falk of Washington State. Head Coach Chris Peterson has shown from his time at Boise State that he knows how to reload as well as anyone and have seamless transitions, so don’t be surprised if he finds a way to do the same at Washington. This is a team that should be built for success for many years to come.
Stanford Cardinal
Burning Question: Is There An Elite Quarterback?
Whereas some teams in the Pac-12 North have great quarterbacks, Stanford does not. Keller Chryst was decent last year, but he did not beat top-level opponents, and early in the Sun Bowl against North Carolina, he was knocked out for several months with an injury. Ryan Burns started the 2016 season as the Cardinal’s quarterback, but he never really got on track. Will he use the injury to Chryst as a source of motivation and urgency which will enable him to play better? Either way, Stanford needs a quarterback to step forward. This is a bit of a make or break year for the Cardinal as they seem to be tapering off over the last few seasons. The fan base would like to see them back in contention for the Pac-12 title but if they continue to regress, Coach Shaw could find himself working towards the hot seat.
Colorado Buffaloes
Burning Question: Who Replaces The Coordinators?
The Buffaloes watched their defensive coordinator and their safeties coach leave for different reasons. Their secondary was very strong last year, but will their front seven be tough enough to supplement what the secondary does? Changes in terms of both coaching and personnel leave questions surrounding the Colorado defense, which was the backbone of the team last year. Making sure the defense enjoys a reasonable amount of continuity amidst disruptive change is head coach Mike MacIntyre’s chief task in Boulder this offseason. A lot of people are wondering whether this team was a one-hit wonder and how they address this will be key to the team’s success in 2017.
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