Eugene weekly., August 28, 2003, Page 35, Image 35

STANFORD CARDINAL
Saturday, October 25, 12:30 p.m. (PDT)
Autzen Stadium, Eugene
Series Record: Stanford leads, 43-22-1
Head Coach: Buddy Teevens (2nd year), 2-9
2002 Record: 2-9, 1-7 (tied for ninth in Pac-10)
This is Year Two of the Buddy Teevens Experiment
at Stanford. His predecessor, Tyrone Willingham,
was very successful (four bowl games in seven seasons
and a 9-3 record in 2001) running a conservative,
run-based offense. Following his departure to Notre
Dame, Stanford made what many considered to be
a curious hire in Teevens, the former Florida assistant,
who is a proponent of the downfield passing game.
Whether he can make it work at The Farm remains
to be seen. Last year several key injuries, difficulties
installing the offense and a porous defense all
contributed to a disastrous 1-7 league record, tying
for last in the conference.
F R E E SA F E T Y
This year Cardinal fans may be disappointed
OS H I OM O GH O
AT OG W E
again. Only three starters return on an offense that
scored only 20.5 points a game. The defense returns 8 starters, but there are no
seniors among them. Stanford has to play BYU in Provo, does not get to play hapless
Arizona (the only PAC 10 team they beat last year), and faces Notre Dame at the
end of the season. Due to all of these factors, many observers pick Stanford to finish
with another dismal record.
The defense should be improved, however, starting with the line, where junior
tackle Amon Gordon (6-3, 285), sophomore end Julian Jenkins (6-4, 260) and
senior end Louis Hobson (6-4, 255) are expected to contol traffic. The three
starting linebackers should be junior Jared Newberry (6-2, 235), junior David
Bergeron (6-4, 245) and sophomore Michael Craven (6-1, 230), with sophomore
Jon Alston (6-1, 210) and senior Jake Covault (6-3, 230) as backups with some
starting experience.
Junior free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe (5-11, 198), a Canadian sprinter on
the Cardinal track team, is the top returning starter in the secondary, having led the
team with 71 tackles last year. Fellow track team members Stanley Wilson (6-0, 189,
junior) and Leigh Torrence (6-0, 183, junior) return as the starting cornerbacks.
Major questions reside at the quarterback position. Senior Chris Lewis (6-3, 215)
will probably be the starter, but he has only played sporadically over his Cardinal
career due to injuries (rotator cuff last year) or attitude (suspended for the opener
last year). (Oregon fans might remember him as the backup QB who led the Cardinal
comeback at Autzen in 2001, in which the Ducks blew a 14-point lead, costing
Oregon an undefeated regular season and a shot at the national title.) Lewis’s sometime
replacement, sophomore Kyle Matter (6-2, 195) has been very inconsistent and
finished last season with a sprained left shoulder. Teevens might pull the plug early,
if the two older guys falter, in favor of his own recruit, redshirt freshman Trent
Edwards (6-4, 210).
Speedy junior running back Kenneth Tolon (6-1, 190) gained 346 yards last year
with a 5.2 average. Sophomore J.R. Lemon (6-1, 225) is more of a power runner in
reserve. Senior flanker Luke Powell (5-8, 175) is the only wide receiver of note, while
tight ends Alex Smith (6-5, 255, junior) and senior Brett Pierce (6-6, 262, injured last
season) are the next best options.
Fifth-year senior tackle Kirk Chambers (6-7, 315) has 34 consecutive starts
on the Cardinal offensive line, but will have his hands full mentoring the woefully
inexperienced personnel at the other line positions.
If Stanford fails to beat San Jose State in its opener, the Cardinal could be 0-5 coming
into Autzen on October 25. And if the Ducks play up to their potential, Coach Teevens’
hot seat could be a little warmer by the end of that day.
WASHINGTON HUSKIES
Saturday, November 1, 7 p.m. (PDT)
Husky Stadium, Seattle
Series Record: Washington leads, 57-33-5
Head Coach: Keith Gilbertson (1st year)
2002 Record: 7-6, 4-4 (tied for fourth in PAC 10)
This summer college football “experts” were
nearly unanimous in picking the Huskies to finish
no worse than second in the Pac-10, with some
visualizing an undefeated regular season and a berth
in the Sugar Bowl for a shot at the national title.
Most of the unbridled praise has focused (and
rightfully so) on the incredible offensive combination
of senior quarterback Cody Pickett and junior wide
receiver Reggie Williams. But all of this discussion
took place before head coach Rick Neuheisel was
fired for his involvement in a high-stakes college
basketball betting pool and lying about it. The
residual effects of his dismissal, the late hiring of
W I DE R EC E I V ER
his assistant Keith Gilbertson as his replacement,
RE GG I E W I L LI A MS
and Neuheisel’s ongoing lawsuits against the university
and the NCAA remain to be seen. In a way the whole off-the-field fiasco involving
“Tricky Rick” may have diverted attention away from any deficiencies the Huskies
might have on the field.
Offensively Pickett (6-4, 220) and Williams (6-4, 225) have impeccable credentials.
Last year Pickett completed 60% of his passes for a Pac-10 record 4,458 yards and 28
touchdowns with 14 interceptions. Williams, a probable top-five pick in the next NFL
draft, made 94 receptions for 1,454 yards, a 15.5-yard average and 24 TDs. Both are
leading candidates for national honors including the Heisman Trophy. However, at
least twelve defensive coordinators will be devising bracket coverages for Williams and
multiple blitz packages for Pickett to reduce their effectiveness.
One important countermeasure will be junior receiver Charles Frederick (6-0, 180),
“the guy on the other side.” Last season he caught 45 passes for 651 yards, but only two
scores. He needs to get open and catch the ball often to keep the offense moving when
Williams is covered. The rest of the receivers, including the personnel at the tight end
position, have very little experience and are unproven at the Division I-A level.
Which brings us to the alternative method of advancing the ball downfield and an
area of concern. Last year Washington averaged only 74.5 per game on the ground and
a total of 968 yards in thirteen games. Inconsistent senior running back Rich Alexis (6-0,
220) got 688 of those yards, but only 3.4 yards per carry. Backup junior Chris Singleton
(6-0, 195) managed 224 yards with only 3.5 yards per carry. In another legal develop-
ment starting junior fullback Zach Tuiasosopo (6-2, 245) decided to destroy windows of
four cars last May ($6,800 damage) and faces a three- or four-game suspension. Senior
tackle Nick Newton (6-5, 330) was honorable mention All Pac-10 last year. His linemates
have talent and experience, but will need to run block as well as pass block, if
Washington intends to live up to expectations.
Defensively last year the Huskies were strong against the run, but weak against the
pass. The line has returning talent led by senior tackle Terry Johnson (6-4, 285) and
junior end Manase Hopoi (6-4, 260), but must be more consistent. Senior linebackers
Marquis Cooper (6-4, 215) and Greg Carothers (6-2, 230) are solid (184 tackles total).
Junior Derrick Johnson (6-0, 185) and senior Roc Alexander (6-0, 195) are a matched
pair at cornerback. Both have 4.3 speed and a lot of experience, but like the rest of the
defense, must do a better job keeping opponents out of the end zone.
The Huskies biggest hurdle is the first one, a road game at last year’s national
champion, Ohio State. If Washington can get the upset in Columbus, the rest of the
schedule makes running the table very possible, playing lesser conference opponents
on the road and stronger teams at home. Of course, the Ducks might have something
to say about this on November 1.
CALIFORNIA BEARS
Saturday, November 8, 12:30 p.m. (PDT)
Autzen Stadium, Eugene
Series Record: California leads, 35-28-2
Head Coach: Jeff Tedford (2nd year), 7-5
2002 Record: 7-5, 4-4 (tied for fourth in Pac-10)
Head coach Jeff Tedford (a former offensive coordi-
nator for the Ducks) did a masterful job in his first year
with Cal, scripting college football’s biggest turnaround
last year. He inherited a sad team that went 1-10 in Tom
Holmoe’s last year, and transformed it into a 7-5 team
in 2002. It was Cal’s first winning season in nine years,
and Tedford was selected Pac-10 Coach of the Year.
However, that was then, this is now. Last year’s
team had experience, but needed direction. This year’s
team has direction, but is short on experience. Only six
starters return on offense and two on defense. Tedford
has some degree of talent on hand, but most of it is
young and has yet to show the ability to compete at the
D E F EN SI V E T AC KL E
Pac-10 level. And historically the rest of the league has
LO RE N Z O A LE X A N DE R
been very rude to teams with growing pains, especially
one that snuck up on them the previous year.
The biggest loss from the offense is four-year starting quarterback Kyle Boller, who
struggled under Holmoe, but flourished under Tedford, and set the school record of 64
touchdown passes. However, his replacement appears to be junior Reggie Robertson
(6-2, 190). Against Kansas State last week in the first game of the college season, he
completed 16 of 29 passes for 257 yards and 3 touchdowns. Sophomore JC transfer
Aaron Rodgers (6-2, 195), who played in the second half, going 9 for 13 (121 yards)
and a TD, will compete for the job.
Against KSU frosh redshirt tailback Marcus O’Keith (6-1, 175) carried the ball seven
times for 32 yards. Junior J.J. Arrington (5-11, 215) got only 10 yards on four carries,
but made two touchdown receptions. Experienced senior Adimchinobe Echemandu
(6-0, 225) sat out 2001 with academic problems and missed 2002 with an ACL injury.
On Saturday he appeared less than 100% with only four carries for 18 yards. At wide
receiver senior Jonathan Makonnen (6-0, 175) and junior Geoff McArthur (6-1, 200)
each averaged 12.6 yards per catch last season and combined for 1136 yards and eight
touchdowns. Against a good Wildcat secondary Makonnen caught 3 balls for 37 yards,
while McArthur had a big night with eight catches, 169 yards and one score. The most
experienced part of the offense is the line with senior tackles Mark Wilson (6-6, 295,
All Pac-10 honorable mention) and Chris Murphy (6-6, 310) and junior guard Jonathan
Giesel (6-4, 300). All are returning starters and all played well against K-State.
Cal is relying on senior punter Tyler Fredrickson (6-3, 220), a three-year starter, to
do the placekicking, too.
On defense junior tackle Lorenzo Alexander (6-3, 295) All Pac-10 honorable
mention) and sophomore rover Donnie McCleskey (5-10, 180) are the only holdover
starters. As for the rest of the defense, there’s just not much to talk about yet. Opposing
offenses will have a field day exploiting the Golden Bear defense, unless the young
players grow up fast. Case in point: Kansas State rolled up 535 yards of total offense,
330 on the ground.
For Duck fans one of the more interesting games on Cal’s schedule is a road contest
Ducks I llustrated
AUGUST 28, 2003 17