PACIFIC 10 FOOTBALL / DAN HAFNER : Top Defenses Steal the Show

Forget about all those quarterbacks the pro scouts are supposedly drooling over. The game in Pacific 10 Conference football this season is defense.

The new catch phrase to describe college players, who are potential pros, especially quarterbacks, is Sunday player, good enough for the NFL.

In the last two weeks, two quarterbacks lauded as Sunday players have gone down to shocking defeats because of defenses they were unable to handle.

First, UCLA’s heralded Wayne Cook was overwhelmed by Washington State’s defense. Although it was not an unknown quantity, nobody expected the Cougars to shut down Cook and the Bruins so thoroughly that they couldn’t score.

But there was absolutely no indication that an Oregon team that had given up 104 points in four games against opposition that included Hawaii and Portland State, could hold USC and Rob Johnson to one touchdown.

Although due praise was given to sophomore Tony Graziani, who played a fine game in his college debut as the replacement for another top quarterback, Danny O’Neil, it was the Ducks’ defense that accounted for the major upset.

Before Johnson went out with a sprained ankle, it appeared that the Ducks’ combination of blitzes and tenacious pass defenders had him completely befuddled. He was sacked seven times, threw an interception, and gained only 237 yards with 20 completions.

Although Graziani passed for 287 yards, the Trojan defense wasn’t that bad, yielding only one touchdown. It’s that Oregon’s defense was superb.

Even though the Ducks blitzed often and had pressure on the passer, they were able to contain Shawn Walters and the running game that blistered Baylor.

Walters rambled 27 yards on the game’s first play but gained only 51 more yards in 16 carries.

Despite losses to Hawaii and Utah, the Ducks are in the Rose Bowl chase.

They will send their newfound defense into Pullman on Saturday, to take on Washington State. The Cougars finally gave up a touchdown at Tennessee and were knocked out of the unbeaten ranks.

But with players such as DeWayne Patterson, Chad Eaton and Ron Childs charging at him, Graziani might not be as cool as he seemed against the Trojans. After all, the Trojans are last in defense, the Cougars first.

“We didn’t really get a chance to enjoy our victory,” Oregon Coach Rich Brooks said. “We had to start thinking about the Cougars. Arizona gets the publicity, but it’s the Cougars who lead in all the defensive categories. This will really be a test for Tony.

“The Cougars have struggled on offense, but their defense can score. It has accounted for 38 of the Cougars’ 64 points.

“And don’t forget, one surprise reverse for 62 yards is the only touchdown scored on Washington State all year.

“If we can’t move the ball on the ground, we’re in deep trouble.”

The Cougars, who have a favorable schedule that has them playing Oregon, Arizona and Washington at home, aren’t taking the Ducks lightly.

“I just finished watching the Ducks chew up USC,” Washington State Coach Mike Price said. “It was amazing. That old fox Rich really had his kids ready to play. They wanted that game. We better be ready.

“Remember, the winner of this game is 2-0.”

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The quarterback who has jumped well ahead of the rest in the West is Steve Stenstrom of Stanford. The senior from El Toro turns in one outstanding performance after another.

Although Notre Dame won handily, Stenstrom made a real game of it for a half. He controlled the ball for 22 of the first 30 minutes with his passing, but Notre Dame led, 10-3.

The Irish, never worried about the run, went after Stenstrom as if there were a bounty on him and still couldn’t contain him.

Although defenders were harassing him from every angle, he appeared to have a touchdown on the first drive on a short pass to wide-open Justin Armour. But in an unusual call, it was ruled that a Stanford receiver--not the pass catcher--was guilty of offensive interference because he bumped a defender while running his pass route. The replay showed that defender wasn’t even close to Armour.

On the next drive, Brian Manning dropped a sure touchdown pass and later dropped another pass on the five. Three touchdowns might have made it tough for Notre Dame.

In spite of the dropped balls, and the all-out blitz, Stenstrom completed 37 of 59 for 360 yards and two touchdowns. He has passed for 1,260 yards in four games and, despite heavy pressure has thrown only two interceptions. With 45 yards against Arizona State this week, he will break the Pac-10 record for yards passing. It is 9,393 by Erik Wilhelm of Oregon State in 1988.

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Arizona is still unbeaten, ranked sixth in the nation and is the favorite in the Rose Bowl race. But Coach Dick Tomey is not happy.

“We still have a long way to go to get where we want to be,” he said. “We are not playing as hard as I want. The guys are working hard, though, and we may be getting there.”

The Wildcats will play host to unbeaten Colorado State (5-0), Saturday. Tomey figures the game should get his team ready for the tough league schedule to follow.