Pac-10 football: A team-by-team look at what to expect this fall

Arizona
Storyline: After league-low 170.5 yards passing last year, Wildcats tried to upgrade air game.
New doin's: Cats seemed to have a newfound air of confidence after passable first year under Mike Stoops, capped by upset over ASU.
What happened: QB Adam Austin, originally a walkon, won respect in taking virtually all reps, about 1,500, in spring ball. ... Assuming Richard Kovalcheck is healthy after minor back surgery in March, he'll start fall as No. 1, but another option is freshman Willie Tuitama. ... JC WR B.J. Vickers (6-2, 220) looked capable of a big impact. ... NT Byron Smith looked very good, but he has pending felony burglary charge that awaits a court date in Texas. ... Another player with troubled past, DT Ricky Parker, is due in August from JC. He left ASU two years ago following an arrest for assault with a deadly weapon, but wasn't prosecuted. ... Secondary could be best in the Pac-10.
Fun fact: For the third time in the past four years, Arizona didn't have anybody taken in the NFL draft.
Fall call: Although clearly on the upswing, Arizona might struggle to improve its record. Its first two Pac-10 games are at Cal and USC, followed by home games with Stanford and Oregon.

Arizona State
Storyline: ASU tried to deal with the effect of the tragedy surrounding Loren Wade, Sun Devils running back charged in March in the shooting death of a former ASU player.
New doin's: An ASU law professor was named to head an eight-person committee looking into conduct of school employees in prior handling of Wade, who had had been implicated in some incidents before the shooting. That committee should finish its work by July.
What happened: As it has been in recent years, RB position is a question mark, although smallish Rudy Burgess gives ASU an option, albeit not every down. ... If QB Sam Keller is the player who threw for 370 yards to beat Purdue in the Sun Bowl, ASU could be very good, because the OL returns almost intact. ... TE Zach Miller may be nation's best. ... WR Derek Hagan caught 83 passes last year and, with 67 more, would tie for Pac-10 career lead. ... With defensive coordinator Brent Guy taking Utah State head-coaching job, Dirk Koetter hired well-traveled Bill Miller from Ron Zook's fired Florida staff. ... Six defensive starters return, plus CB R.J. Oliver, who has started 30 games and got a sixth year of eligibility after 2003-04 injury problems.
Fun fact: ASU befuddles media predictors like no other Pac-10 team. In 2002, they picked the Sun Devils ninth; they finished third. In 2003, they were tabbed second and tied for eighth. Last year, ASU was picked sixth and tied for third.
Fall call: Selected by many to be second to USC, Sun Devils travel to LSU on Sept. 10. Home games with USC and Oregon (Oct. 1 and 8) will have a lot to say about season.

California
Storyline: Bears looked to replace several key offensive performers and most of their defense from a 10-2 team.
New doin's: Highly touted JC QB Joe Ayoob struggled to learn Jeff Tedford's offense, and RS freshman Nate Longshore grabbed the lead entering fall.
What happened: RB Marshawn Lynch is dynamite but might not have the complementary passing game enjoyed by departed J.J. Arrington. ... OL, with four starters back, might rival USC's as best in the Pac-10. ... WRs Noah Smith and David Gray each had promising moments. ... On defense, Bears looking for leaders, but they get back rehabbed starters Tosh Lupoi (DE) and Donnie McClesky (SS). ... Key newcomers will be JC All-America LB Desmond Bishop (JC teammate of Ayoob), JC DE Nuu Tafisi, JC WR Lavell Hawkins and freshman WR DeSean Jackson.
Fun fact: On first day of season-ticket sales, Bears sold more than 5,000, twice the number that went in 2004.
Fall call: Don't expect Bears to unveil a lot the week before they travel to Washington on Sept. 10; they open with Sacramento State. If Cal can get by the Huskies, it should be 5-0 going to UCLA on Oct. 8.

Oregon
Storyline: Ex-BYU head coach Gary Crowton arrived to infuse some of the Utah-style offense into the Ducks' attack.
New doin's: Ducks, who essentially did away with the fullback in their new offense, had sporadic success and will now decide what to retain.
What happened: JC WR James Finley was a standout in an area that could return to high level of some previous years. ... JC OL Palauni Ma Sun, 365 pounds' worth, looked good. ... Nobody could block DT Haloti Ngata, who must stay healthy to fulfill vast promise. ... DE Devan Long missed most of spring with hamstring problem. ... Secondary finally seems shored up, with three starters back. ... Kickers, including coach Mike Bellotti's son Luke, were inconsistent. ... Two ex-Ducks will now coach the lines — Steve Greatwood moves from defense to offense, while Michael Gray returns from Rich Brooks' Kentucky staff to coach DL.
Fun fact: Another Leaf, Ryan's younger brother Brady, figures in the QB picture for the future. A rising sophomore, he's third team.
Fall call: Ducks' league opener at home against USC on Sept. 24 might dictate season for both. But then Oregon must go to Stanford and ASU in consecutive weeks.

Oregon State
Storyline: Replace several key NFL-bound seniors, particularly longtime QB Derek Anderson.
New doin's: Offseason staff changes were unusual for a moderately successful (7-5) team — four coaches departed, most notably offensive coordinator Paul Chryst, replaced by former Linfield player and ex-NFL assistant Danny Langsdorf, 33.
What happened: UCLA transfer Matt Moore is the clear frontrunner at QB, as RS freshman Ryan Gunderson continues to struggle with his delivery. ... In unusual switch, Robin Ross moved from Oregon staff to Beavers. ... OSU announced new student-conduct code in the wake of several bizarre off-field incidents involving football players. ... Florida transfer Jimtavis Walker figures prominently as TB but could miss a game after charge of offering marijuana to cabbie in lieu of payment. ... RB Ryan Cole of South Kitsap transferred out. ... With two spots open on OL, one should be filled by Tavita Thompson, RS freshman from Honolulu. ... LBs should be top-notch, but secondary will need major patching.
Fun fact: In another jurisprudence-related development, TV's "Judge Judy" recently ruled on a case involving two OSU players and a community-college student. Her honor awarded offensive lineman Adam Speer $1,500 for damages allegedly caused by JC student Ben Arends' punches to Speer's '94 Ford Bronco. But the judge also awarded Arends $5,000, ruling that Speer's teammate, cornerback Bryan Payton, inflicted injury to Arends' face in defending Speer.
Fall call: Beavers have last season's Liberty Bowl foes, Boise State and Louisville, back to back in games 2-3. With so much happening off the field, OSU will be a low-rung pick.

USC
Storyline: Trojans tried to mesh revamped coaching staff with prodigious returning talent.
New doin's: Take a deep breath — Offensive coordinator Norm Chow left for the Tennessee Titans, defensive line coach Ed Orgeron took Mississippi head-coaching job, offensive-line coach Tim Davis went to Miami Dolphins, quarterbacks coach Carl Smith to NFL Jaguars. Wide receivers coach Lane Kiffin adds offensive coordinator and recruiting-coordinator titles, Steve Sarkisian returns from NFL Raiders to be QBs coach, Ken Norton becomes full-time linebackers coach, and two NFL assistants, Jethro Franklin and Pat Ruel, take over DL and OL.
What happened: Heisman winner Matt Leinart sat out after elbow surgery, but John David Booty should be ready, anyway. ... OT Winston Justice, returning from year suspension, looked "by far the best he has ever been," said coach Pete Carroll. ... FB Brandon Hancock emerged, as did DT Sedrick Ellis, who Carroll said played "tremendous football." ... Carroll said JC transfer Scott Ware had a "fantastic" spring at FS, but Ware suffered a hyperextended knee. ... CB Eric Wright was cleared of sexual-assault charges but needs to surmount a student-affairs committee before he can return. ... Desmond Reed was exciting as RB, PR and KR. ... Questions remain over academic eligibility of a handful of players, including RB LenDale White and TE Dominique Byrd, whose jaw was broken in scrap over a video game with WR Steve Smith. ... DT Manual Wright entered the NFL supplemental draft after grade problems.
Fun fact: With time on his hands, Leinart was given the assignment of breaking down tape of NFL defenses by new mentor Sarkisian.
Fall call: Road tests at Oregon and ASU in games 3-4 will be early hurdles for Trojans, who look like the clear class of the conference.

Stanford
Storyline: Cardinal, without a winning season since Tyrone Willingham left after 2001, tried to adjust to new coach Walt Harris.
New doin's: Harris, late of Pitt, installed Bill Walsh's West Coast offense and tried to beef up a lagging run game.
What happened: They're making holdover Trent Edwards work for the starting QB job, as T.C. Ostrander challenged. Edwards was 15 of 17 in the spring game. ... WR Gerren Crochet, who had diluted his football with track in previous springs, was a big surprise. ... Ten starters return on offense, so if it makes any sort of transition, it should complement what looks to be one of Stanford's best front sevens on defense. ... Secondary is questionable, with one starter back. ... Top LB Jon Alston didn't practice as he rehabbed from surgery. ... Ex-WSU offensive coordinator John McDonell returned for second OL stint at the school. ... Pac-10 vet assistant Wayne Moses, whom Harris had recruited from Stanford to Pitt, also back on Cardinal staff. ... Counting punter and kicker, 17 starters return.
Fun fact: Stanford, which didn't go to a bowl game, had more players taken in the NFL draft (6) than USC (5).
Fall call: Stanford continues bizarre scheduling. Its September slate is Navy and Cal-Davis, and that's it.

UCLA
Storyline: Bruins wanted to sort out QB concerns and improve DL play.
New doin's: QB Ben Olson, transfer from BYU coming off Mormon mission, arrived and will challenge for the starting spot in the fall.
What happened: With DL coach Don Johnson departed for the Chicago Bears, head coach Karl Dorrell replaced him with Thurmond Moore, whose last two jobs were with U. of Buffalo and Tulsa. ... DL should be improved, with DT Kevin Brown playing strongly before his spring ended with a hyperextended knee. ... DE Bruce Davis went to LB and performed well. ... QB David Koral, who brought the Bruins back in the Las Vegas Bowl, appears out of the picture. ... Problem child C.J. Niusulu, former starting DT, is likely gone from the program after a serious of indiscretions.
Fun fact: Assistant Eric Bieniemy turned down chance to move to Texas, has taken over recruiting-coordinator duties, and Bruins have eight 2006 commitments.
Fall call: Bruins declined opportunity to move San Diego State opener to late November, giving them SDS-Rice tandem to open. It's believed they want to groom Ben Olson to be starter in those two games, unless rehabbing QB Drew Olson comes back strong from ACL injury.

Washington
Storyline: Huskies began the transition to head coach Tyrone Willingham and tried to sort out a jumbled QB picture.
New doin's: Willingham implemented stricter rules on hair and conducted position meetings at 6:30 a.m.
What happened: Isaiah Stanback, who almost brought the UW back against WSU last fall, took the lead at QB. ... RB Kenny James has the edge but Louis Rankin made strides. ... Joe Toledo made a good transition from TE to LT, firming up what should be a solid OL. ... WRs seem only average and don't provide downfield threat. ... Defensive front seven should be solid, especially LBs. ... CBs could be WAC transfers Chris Handy and Roy Lewis.
Fun fact: Not so fun for UW fans, but in this decade, only Army, with 44 turnovers in 2003, has coughed the ball up more than the Huskies' 42 last year.
Fall call: Huskies don't play outside Seattle in September, but October is menacing with first-division picks UCLA, Oregon, USC and ASU — three on the road.

Washington State
Storyline: Cougars worked at running game and tried to shore up depleted secondary.
New doin's: QB Josh Swogger, given rare honor of captain as a sophomore, didn't win that vote this time as he rehabbed broken foot.
What happened: Offense mostly cruised as coaches tried to simplify scheme. ... QB Alex Brink, 2-3 as a starter last fall when Swogger was hurt, performed well and put himself in position to compete in the fall. ... RB Jerome Harrison was terrific; Cougars must keep him healthy. ... G Sean O'Connor of Redmond solidified starting spot. ... Secondary is biggest defensive concern, although touted safety Michael Willis finally was cleared to be admitted, missing spring drills. ... Kicking remains a big concern.
Fun fact: Since Bill Doba assembled his staff two years ago, WSU has had no changes among full-time coaches.
Fall call: The nonleague schedule is criminally easy, so it would be a major disappointment if the Cougars don't go bowling.