Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Small and nimble Pseudo police car nabbed for speeding OSF adds 'Wrinkle in Time' Family Night Medford attorney Kelly Andersen named Distinguished Trial Lawyer for 2014 Labor Day picnic celebrates workers Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Pseudo police car nabbed for speeding Evacuation advisory given for residents of Humbug Creek Road near wildfire Lightning sparks new fires Emergency Services Dead burglar's partner back in jail Politics and Elections Commissioner Skundrick plans final four town hall meetings Medford eyes electronic sign visual pollution Medford council veterans plan exit Medical marijuana patients run for council seat Former colleagues laud Atiyeh's 'practical' leadership Education High-tech tools Eagle Point equips kindergartners with iPads A test of mettle: GED tests are more rigorous Middle schoolers get a taste of college living Abraham Lincoln Elementary parents raise money for new playground Environment Those without senior water rights left high and dry Stressed but off life support Rogue watershed councils plan to merge West Nile Virus found in mosquitoes collected near Central Point State news Nation - World Obituaries Guenther Edmund Obendrauf Death Notices Helen (Deenie) Marrs Ray W. Robinson Susan Loretta Rambo Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories The ins and outs of college football's playoff Simms, Dungy likely not to use ’Redskins’ on TV Angels beat Red Sox to extend AL West lead Manziel’s gesture taints Browns’ loss to Redskins Chicago edges Cumberland 8-7 in LLWS Varsity 541 College Sports The ins and outs of college football's playoff Senior center Grasu is the anchor of Oregon’s offense Beaver linebackers aim to be best Pac-12 passes test Marshall’s heart leads the way at Oregon Pro Sports Simms, Dungy likely not to use ’Redskins’ on TV Angels beat Red Sox to extend AL West lead Manziel’s gesture taints Browns’ loss to Redskins Manning dominant for Denver in win over 49ers Villegas claims one-stroke win at Wyndham Community Sports Results / Standings Second season a success for Rogues Runners defend titles in Mt. Ashland Hill Climb Locals shine in Dwarf Car Nationals opener Mustangs rout Alaska in opener Business Latest Stories Small and nimble Blog: So how would you define 'solopreneur'? Revised figures show 1,180 more jobs in Jackson County Blog: Break Through Back to School Barriers If there's a way to fund energy savings, they'll find it Real Estate News Median residential housing prices rise 10.7 percent, but may begin to level out People In Business People in business Transportation Medford airport has second-best June ever Agriculture Hail has local pear growers checking for damage Opinion Latest Our View: Karuks have a head start on casino plans Michael Gerson: Rand Paul's bogus outreach Letters to the Editor, Aug. 19 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 18 Library keeps a close eye on (financial) books Editorials Our View: Karuks have a head start on casino plans Library keeps a close eye on (financial) books Other Views: U.O. president's abrupt departure invites speculation Parent-teacher conferences can wait a year Our View: Cheers and Jeers Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Aug. 19 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 18 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 17 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 15 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 14 Guest Opinions The power of local philanthropy Who I am and why I want to serve on the City Council City council members should be paid Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog:Doing laundry... Community blog: Give a Hoot Blog: HAIKU MONDAY: On The Big Spill That Is Community blog: Home-canned artichoke hearts a 'revelation' Green Scene: Diagnosing common tomato troubles Food Community blog: Home-canned artichoke hearts a 'revelation' Community blog: Spur quicker consumption with quick pickling Dutch ovens are a versatile way to cook outdoors Matt’s Favorite Pie Crust Peach Pie Home and Garden Green Scene: Diagnosing common tomato troubles Lawn talk Tips for keeping backyard birds cool this summer Bath time for the birds: You can help them stay cool and clean Learn to pick produce at the peak of ripeness Health Community blog:Doing laundry... Healthy Aging: An udderly unlikely vacation find Community blog:The Unfriendly Skies Community blog:Why a Broken Heart Feels Like a Punch in the Gut and What to Do About It Community blog:Can We Define Quality Health Care? Hiking Faith Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East - Part three of four Religion briefs Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East part 2 Religion briefs Community Blog: Peace: The inward passage - by Bonnie Greenwell Milestones and Achievements Century Club New Arrivals Wedding: Schulman-Nadolny Stuss-Bones Births Columnist for a Day Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Brian Regan hands out the laughs at Britt Randall Theatre extends 'Godspell' World of Wine celebrates local varietals American Idol Live! comes to the Britt Stage 'Pump Boys & Dinettes' opens at Camelot Theatre Theater Randall Theatre extends 'Godspell' 'Pump Boys & Dinettes' opens at Camelot Theatre Film festival kicks off annual 'Daedalus Project' Review: The joy of 'Godspell' is infectious Randall Theatre opens 'Godspell' Music Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue at Britt Ashland Blues Society Jam at The Little Brown Jug American Idol Live! comes to the Britt Stage Festival celebrates roots country music Review: Béla Fleck pairs his banjo with Britt orchestra Community Events Brian Regan hands out the laughs at Britt World of Wine celebrates local varietals Annual Xtreme Bike Show and Street Party 5 Things to Do This Weekend 5 Things to Do This Weekend Dining Kelly's Crepes Basil & Berries India Palace Taco Riendo Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW COLLEGE FOOTBALL Pac-12 passes test League boasts strong set of returning starters at QB By Steve Gress Corvallis Gazette-Times MailTribune.com By Steve Gress Corvallis Gazette-Times Posted Aug. 17, 2014 @ 5:52 pm Updated Aug 18, 2014 at 7:04 AM By Steve Gress Corvallis Gazette-Times Posted Aug. 17, 2014 @ 5:52 pm Updated Aug 18, 2014 at 7:04 AM » Social News Playing in the defensive secondary in the Pac-12 Conference is no easy task. Oregon State cornerback Steven Nelson found that out last season, his first in the conference. Week-in and week-out, Nelson and his fellow DBs across the conference went up against some of the most explosive signal callers in the country. “It’s a big challenge,” Nelson said of facing so many top-notch quarterbacks. “I definitely think you have to respect each and every team, each quarterback, each offense. You can’t go out there and just expect things to happen. You have to work on your game and watch film also.” This year, Nelson and his Pac-12 mates should expect much of the same as the conference returns 10 quarterbacks who started last season. Only Washington and Arizona will have new players at the crucial position. And many of those 10 put up impressive numbers in 2013. Third-year UCLA coach Jim Mora and second-year Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre agree with where the conference ranks on a national scale when it comes to quarterback play returning. “The class of quarterbacks in the Pac-12, to me, is by far the best in the country,” MacIntyre said. “There are quite a few of these guys that are going to play on Sunday. They’re also dynamic playmakers.” Added Mora: “I don’t think it’s even close. I don’t think there is another conference that has near the quality of quarterbacks. I think there are a lot of great quarterbacks out there.” Those may sound like brash statements from coaches trying to promote their conference, but think of it this way: Oregon State’s Sean Mannion threw for a conference record 4,662 yards last season, to go with a school-record 37 touchdowns, and is predicted to be a fourth-team selection in the conference this season. While Mannion’s production will likely drop some this year without the services of star receiver Brandin Cooks, he should still put up some big numbers in his fourth season starting for the Beavers. So who’s ahead of Mannion? For starters, Oregon’s Marcus Mariota (3,665 passing yards and 31 TDs) and UCLA’s Brett Hundley (3,071, 24) are preseason Heisman Trophy candidates, and both are expected to lead their teams to division titles and a spot in the Pac-12 title game. While those three — along with Arizona State’s Taylor Kelly (3,635, 28) — may garner a lot of the attention, their isn’t that big of a drop off when you look at the rest of the conference returners. Washington State’s Connor Halliday (4,597, 34), California’s Jared Goff (3,508, 18), USC’s Cody Kessler (2,968, 20) and Stanford’s Kevin Hogan (2,630, 20) all had solid seasons in 2013. Utah’s Travis Wilson (1,827, 16), who is back after missing four games last season with an injury, and Colorado’s Sefo Liufau (1,779, 12), who replaced an injured Connor Wood, are the other two returners who saw significant action as starters. What makes defending the group even more challenging is they aren’t all the same. Some, like Mariota, Hundley and Hogan, can make plays with their legs, either with designed runs or scrambles. Teams may give you similar looks, but each system has its unique wrinkles that make it tough to stop. “It does put a lot of pressure on defensive teams, defensive coordinators, because you’re going to have to prepare for a variety of different things as the season goes on,” Oregon State coach Mike Riley said. “So that is kind of the world that we’re living in right now.” So how does this group of returners stack up historically? “The neat thing about quarterbacking in our conference is there is a great history there in general,” said Riley, who is entering his 14th season as a head coach in the conference. “I love that. I’ve watched this conference since I was a kid and my dad was coaching at Oregon State, so it’s been pretty special to watch through the years the number of great quarterbacks that have come through this league. “But this is a great year, these are good players and I think it says a lot about what we have to look forward to with the league this year.” Third-year Washington State coach Mike Leach, who also coached in the Big 12 with Texas Tech, said this year’s group in the Pac-12 may be the best he has seen at any one time in a conference. “I don’t know that I’ve been around 10, where there are 10,” Leach said. “We have 10 returners here that are all fairly impressive. I don’t know that I’ve been around 10. “I think the conference already had a lot of depth to it. From top to bottom it was probably the strongest conference, but I think the quarterbacks add even more to it.” By Steve Gress Corvallis Gazette-Times MailTribune.com By Steve Gress Corvallis Gazette-Times Posted Aug. 17, 2014 @ 5:52 pm Updated Aug 18, 2014 at 7:04 AM » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Best Selections for Each Spot in 1st Round Aug. 19, 2014 at 8:55 pm Bernard Will Exceed '14 Fantasy Football Expectations Aug. 19, 2014 at 6:59 pm Cam Still Viable Fantasy QB Despite Injury and Depleted WR Corps Aug. 19, 2014 at 6:03 pm Marshall Will Be Top-3 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Aug. 19, 2014 at 5:14 pm Players Who Will Have Bounce Back Fantasy Years Aug. 19, 2014 at 1:27 pm 1st-Round Mock Draft and Updated Player Rankings Aug. 19, 2014 at 12:00 pm calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501