Pacific 12 quarterbacks are on target

The Pacific 12 Conference is loaded with can’t-miss quarterbacks. That is, most of them can’t seem to miss when they drop back to pass.

In terms of efficiency, the Pac-12 has eight of the nation’s top 37 passers, led by Washington State’s Marshall Lobbestael, whose 180.2 rating ranks sixth.

Eight of the Pac-12’s quarterbacks are connecting at a rate of at least 60%, led by Arizona’s Nick Foles, who has completed 70.5% of a second-in-the-nation 183 passes.

“He’s playing at a very high level right now,� Arizona Coach Mike Stoops said of Foles on Tuesday during the weekly Pac-12 football coaches’ conference call. “He even threw a pass left-handed Saturday that was beautiful.�

League coaches have some different explanations for the percentages’ being so high. One answer is the offensive schemes some teams employ.

“The bubble screen and things that are getting called forward passes that are really part of the running game are adding to the numbers,� UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel said.

Neuheisel said that in the past when defenses loaded the box, offenses threw down the field. Now, he said, they’re using high-percentage swing passes. And because so many teams run spread offenses, defenses tend to play a bend-but-don’t-break style that can give up chunks of yards.

Washington Coach Steve Sarkisian called the Pac-12’s quarterback play “unbelievable� but noted the league has long been known for its productive passing attacks.

He also credited creative coaches who recruit and design schemes around the talent at quarterback. “I think it’s all of that coming together,� he said.

Colorado Coach Jon Embree praised the league’s crop of receivers, including USC’s Robert Woods and Arizona’s Juron Criner.

“As a defensive back, you don’t get a week off,� Embree said. “You don’t get to take a play off.�

King James

Oregon running back LaMichael James rushed for a school-record 288 yards against Arizona, and Ducks Coach Chip Kelly refused to credit his team’s mile-a-minute pace on offense.

“I believe he would flourish in any system,� Kelly said of James.

“He’s just a talented guy. He’s a lot more physical than some people I think give him credit [for] because he’s 5-9. He can pack a punch. He can make guys miss. He can shoulder the load.�

Pulling rank

Six of Arizona’s last nine opponents have been ranked in the top 15. The Wildcats have lost against each, but Stoops isn’t discouraged.

“We ain’t playing Southwest Texas State or whatever,� he said. “We play good teams.�

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