[socalstanfan1]

I actually expect we will end up at #3 after Oklahoma beats Ok. State at Bedlam.  And I honestly could not complain about that ranking, or even #4 if that is where we end up.  Losing to Oregon at home in the way we did was a disappointment, and the team lost the chance to control its own fate with that stumble.  The loss was understandable, given all the issues mentioned by dabigv, but given that it was a home game for us, the loss was disappointing.

Looking back on this season, I firmly believe that the biggest loss to the team was Ertz.  Our offense took a big step back IMMEDIATELY, when he was lost for the USC game.  The Skov and Howell injuries were bad, and we started giving up more big running plays without them controlling the middle of the field, but we had guys who could capably fill in (and I think our middle linebacking dept could be the best in college football next season, if Skov returns at full strength, Vaughters continues to develop and moves inside, and Lancaster and Tarpley take all their experience from this season into next).  But we really never adequately replaced Ertz, and the 3-TE offense that put other defensive coordinators in such a bind just did not function effectively without him.  I hope we continue to recuit and develop great TEs and make that a staple of our offense in years to come.

[socalstanfan1]

I actually expect we will end up at #3 after Oklahoma beats Ok. State at Bedlam.  And I honestly could not complain about that ranking, or even #4 if that is where we end up.  Losing to Oregon at home in the way we did was a disappointment, and the team lost the chance to control its own fate with that stumble.  The loss was understandable, given all the issues mentioned by dabigv, but given that it was a home game for us, the loss was disappointing.

Looking back on this season, I firmly believe that the biggest loss to the team was Ertz.  Our offense took a big step back IMMEDIATELY, when he was lost for the USC game.  The Skov and Howell injuries were bad, and we started giving up more big running plays without them controlling the middle of the field, but we had guys who could capably fill in (and I think our middle linebacking dept could be the best in college football next season, if Skov returns at full strength, Vaughters continues to develop and moves inside, and Lancaster and Tarpley take all their experience from this season into next).  But we really never adequately replaced Ertz, and the 3-TE offense that put other defensive coordinators in such a bind just did not function effectively without him.  I hope we continue to recuit and develop great TEs and make that a staple of our offense in years to come.