| Pac-10 Player Watch: Brock Osweiler | ||||
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College Football Insiders "Pac-10 offensive players to watch for 2010" series continues with Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler.
Why would somebody be excited about a quarterback who last season as a true freshman threw 55 passes and completed less than 50 percent of them? Ask Dennis Erickson. Prior to spring practice most people were ready to hand the starting job to Steven Threet, the Georgia Tech and University of Michigan transfer who was forced to sit out last season. Threet, a pocket-style passer, started eight games for the Wolverines in 2008, but headed for Tempe because he was not happy playing under the offensive system of Coach Rich Rodriguez. But something happened during the Sun Devils’ spring practice; Threet didn’t win the job. Why not? Because of Osweiler’s high potential and the progress he made in the off-season. The Montana native’s physical stature may be his biggest asset. At 6’8” and 245 pounds he has the size to stand firm in the pocket and see clearly over the defense. On top of that, he is a dynamic athlete with a canon of an arm. In high school Osweiler accepted a scholarship from the University of Gonzaga to play basketball before deciding he wanted to play football. If you have never seen a 6’8” quarterback stiff arm a player the size of USC’s Devon Kennard to the ground or juke Montana high school players out of their shoes, then plug Osweiler’s name into YouTube and take a look. The Sun Devils begin the season by hosting Portland St. and Northern Arizona before heading to Wisconsin and then opening their Pac-10 schedule. Word from the coaching staff is that we will learn who the starting signal caller will be on Monday but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the competition continue into the fall. Considering the state of ASU’s offensive line, the week-to-week answer under center may be whoever is able to remain healthy. However, one has to think that the sophomore will get his chance at some point in the season, if not in week one. Especially if Coach Erickson looks to the future, as it appears the future will be Brock Osweiler. Related Columns: Pac-10 Player Watch #1 - James Rodgers, Oregon State Pac-10 Player Watch #2 - Shane Vereen, California Pac-10 Player Watch #3 - Chris Owusu, Stanford Pac-10 Player Watch #4 - Chris Polk, Washington Pac-10 Player Watch #5 - Jeff Tuel, Washington State Pac-10 Player Watch #6 - Nick Foles, Arizona Pac-10 Player Watch #7 - Nelson Rosario, UCLA Photo Courtesy of Jason Wise/ASU Media Relations 
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There is no shortage of top of the line quarterbacks in the Pac-10 at the moment. With