OSU8085
04-15-2009, 03:51 PM
Rivals.com College Football - Pac-10 finds success by staying grounded (http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=935590)
Yet, a strong case can be made that the Pac-10 projects as the most grounded conference in '09. Six Pac-10 running backs rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season, and five are back for the '09 season. The Big Ten also had six 1,000-yard rushers a year ago, but Penn State's Evan Royster is the only returnee.
Wow, I didn't realize the Pac Ten had so much talent at running back.
Arizona returns Nic Grigsby and Keola Antolin, both good, albeit, small backs. Oregon has Legarrette Blount and will no doubt develop another back, most likely crenshaw (UO always plays two backs)....Oregon State obviously has JacQuizz Rodgers, and James Rodgers also has a great running threat. USC's triple threat returns - johnson, mcknight, gable. Cal has a heisman hopefull in Best and Stanford has a greatly underatted beast of a running back in Toby Gerhart
Great stuff -
Perhaps that's because so many Pac-10 coaches have ties to the NFL. Riley, USC's Pete Carroll and Arizona State's Dennis Erickson have been head coaches in the NFL. UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel spent three seasons as an NFL assistant before being hired by the Bruins. Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh had a 15-year career as an NFL quarterback.
Last season, Stanford ranked 19th in the nation in rushing offense; two years ago, it ranked 115th. Last season, Gerhart became Stanford's first 1,000-yard rusher since Tommy Vardell in 1991.
Cal has produced a 1,000-yard back in each of the past seven seasons. USC has run well under Carroll. Oregon has had three 1,000-yard rushers in the past two seasons and projects to continue to run under new coach Chip Kelly. Oregon State has had an impressive streak of 1,000-yard rushers with Ken Simonton, Steven Jackson, Yvenson Bernard and now Rodgers.
Yet, a strong case can be made that the Pac-10 projects as the most grounded conference in '09. Six Pac-10 running backs rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season, and five are back for the '09 season. The Big Ten also had six 1,000-yard rushers a year ago, but Penn State's Evan Royster is the only returnee.
Wow, I didn't realize the Pac Ten had so much talent at running back.
Arizona returns Nic Grigsby and Keola Antolin, both good, albeit, small backs. Oregon has Legarrette Blount and will no doubt develop another back, most likely crenshaw (UO always plays two backs)....Oregon State obviously has JacQuizz Rodgers, and James Rodgers also has a great running threat. USC's triple threat returns - johnson, mcknight, gable. Cal has a heisman hopefull in Best and Stanford has a greatly underatted beast of a running back in Toby Gerhart
Great stuff -
Perhaps that's because so many Pac-10 coaches have ties to the NFL. Riley, USC's Pete Carroll and Arizona State's Dennis Erickson have been head coaches in the NFL. UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel spent three seasons as an NFL assistant before being hired by the Bruins. Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh had a 15-year career as an NFL quarterback.
Last season, Stanford ranked 19th in the nation in rushing offense; two years ago, it ranked 115th. Last season, Gerhart became Stanford's first 1,000-yard rusher since Tommy Vardell in 1991.
Cal has produced a 1,000-yard back in each of the past seven seasons. USC has run well under Carroll. Oregon has had three 1,000-yard rushers in the past two seasons and projects to continue to run under new coach Chip Kelly. Oregon State has had an impressive streak of 1,000-yard rushers with Ken Simonton, Steven Jackson, Yvenson Bernard and now Rodgers.