ESPN Way2Early 2014 Preseason Poll has Huskies #19

Pac 12 Thoughts:

Oregon at #3. A little high. They should definitely be a few spots lower. They replace their secondary besides Ekpre-Olomu, they can be run on, they lack a little size and toughness on the DL. The offense will be explosive, but I don't trust Helfrich. I see a very good, but flawed team that will lose at least 2 games.

Stanford #4- Way too high. I know they have good depth on the OL, but they are probably losing 4 of 5 starters. They also lose Gaffney. On defense, you don't just replace Trent Murphy or Shayne Skov, especially Murphy. He was a fucking stud and was the best defensive player in the Pac 12 to my eyes. I see a good team that should be ranked in the lower half of the top 25. No way they should be #4.

UCLA #7- This one is about right. They should be ranked before Stanford and I would have them right there with Oregon. The only big loss is Anthony Barr. Big year for Mora, and anything less than winning the South will be a big disappointment. Hundley coming back is huge because they have all sorts of young talent. If Mora won 10 this year with a very young team and a patchwork OL, you gotta imagine next year will be even better.

USC #14- They will lose 3 or 4 games. Talent wise, this ranking is fine, but we all know who is coaching them. I bet UCLA blows them out next year.

UW #19- Too low. The whole OL and front 7 on defense returns. Not that the OL has been all that good, but having all 5 starters with over 2 years of starting experience is pretty rare. The DL should be very good next year with Shelton and Kikaha. There is some young talent on the DL to be excited about as well. We will miss Sankey, but I still think we will be very good running the ball next year. I am particularly impressed by Washington and think he will be the next stud RB. Cooper could look a lot better as well after knocking off the rust of not playing for 3 years. It remains to be seen how good Miles and/or Williams are, but after watching Miles, he is at the very least, a QB you can win with. He's no Casey Paus, Carl Bonnell, Ronnie Fouch, etc. This team should be better than Stanford next year. I think this is a top 10-15 team.

ASU #22- Should not be ranked. They will be decent, and I think Graham is a good coach, but they are replacing 9 starters on defense. Taylor Kelly and the offense will put up points, but I think this is a 7-6 or 8-5 type team.