In February, Coach Carroll and his staff went through what has now become an annual event. USC once again signed one of the nation's elite recruiting classes, if not the absolute best class in college football. Following that, there was the annual Huddle during which many fans had an opportunity to either see or read about the Football Trojans of 2007, (of course, without most of the new recruits who could not yet participate-though some were on hand for the festivities). Following the end of the school year, we have all had time to learn which guys would not be returning to the team for any variety of reasons and we have also had time to either watch some of the intense, "voluntary" summer conditioning programs in person or to watch a fabulous and informative array of video clips which show the guys in various stages of their training. Yeah, one thing is for sure. In this day and age, even during the off season, what I call the "real dead time of year", there is still a way to keep in touch with SC Football and Recruiting on a daily basis.
As the start of the 2007 Fall Camp approaches, it is generally agreed that USC has a very strong chance to be number one in many, if not all the earliest polls. I suppose for those who began following SC during the early 2000's, this lofty rating is nothing short of "what else could or should one expect?” If one were to merely look back at the last five years, it would appear that SC has a permanent spot in the top ten and is usually a finalist for the championship or at least for a top five slot. But for those of us who have lived and died with the team for many years, ya know, like even before there was such a thing as the internet or football team message boards, it is much more like a dream come true and I often wonder how it ever really came to be like this once again. Although the teams have established some records under Pete Carroll's leadership that had never before been seen at SC, the decade of the seventies was no slouch either. Three national championships, in 72, 74 and 78 and two other teams that were arguably the best in the nation, the 1976 team that goofed up against Mizzou (but a team that I swear would have killed national champion Pitt and Tony Dorsett had they met) and the 1979 team that somehow managed to lose, ahem, tie Stanford, meant that SC was only a hop, skip and a jump from five crowns in one decade. But then again, SC is only about three plays away from having four consecutive national championships under Head Coach Pete Carroll in an era during which an almost mandated form of parity had been the constant excuse used by many to justify mediocrity and lack of constant winning. If nothing else, I think it is fair to say that once again, SC is flying high and there is no end in sight, and man doesn't that feel great for all Trojan Fans? And to give a guy his due, I have to admit that Mike Garrett was correct when he said on more than one occasion that even with the scholarship limitations and all the other rules that have been put into place over the years, USC Football absolutely can be at or near the top and it can be done in a consistent fashion!
As summer workouts come to an end and the guys take their last break before fall camp starts in early August, there are lots of interesting things to discuss with regards to the football team. Among the questions that come to mind are the following. Will the log jam at running back work itself out and if so, where will all the guys end up? Will some change positions or perhaps redshirt or even leave the program? With regards to the defensive line, will the loss of Chris Barrett and seldom, if ever used, Lawrence Miles leave the defensive line painfully thin in terms of absolute numbers of guys available who can play? Will John David Booty emerge as a legitimate Heisman Trophy Candidate and even if he is, could yet another Trojan really win the award again?? Will this be one of the best offensive lines in recent years in terms of both depth and talent? What impact will the coaching changes have on the team, especially on offense? Is this finally the year that Pete steps back a bit from the offense and he really gives Sark the green light to light it up all over the place? Will USC fans see an SC quarterback in the shotgun on lots of occasions? Will the linebacking corp live up to all the preseason hype and will the down four be absolutely awesome with perhaps the best fifth year senior tandem we are likely to see on any one defensive line in the near future--namely Lawrence Jackson and Sedric Ellis? One can't help but wonder if we finally have the bevy of cover corners needed to allow tight pressure, man defense with so many blitz packages the opposition won't know what hit them--just ask Michigan! With regards to the receivers, can SC have an awesome passing attack after having lost perhaps the nations best duo last year in Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarrett? And heaven forbid, one can't forget to ask the inevitable. With all the hype about recruiting in this day and age, which of the current "best ever true blue chippers" will make an immediate and awesome impact from the getgo? Now that football is all revved up once again in this SC Honk's head, these are just a few of the things that come to mind about--well---every minute I am awake and then some.
One of the topics that have appeared over and over again on the various internet sites is the congestion USC has at running back, ie tailback. Truth is told, the number of tailbacks on scholarship supports that line of questioning. It is well known that there are more backs than can possibly play meaningful minutes. It is one thing to talk about competition and quite another to realistically satisfy the egos and demands of so many highly recruited tailbacks. Ironically, even with all the guys who will be competing for minutes in just a few short weeks, little, if anything was absolutely settled this spring. Moody was hurt, Johnson was hurt, Gable was gone for the latter part of practice and the big named freshmen were not yet eligible to compete. Yet toward the end of the spring session, it was Hershel, Patch Dennis who may have looked the best of the bunch. Rumor also has it that even Desmond Reed is continuing his remarkable rehabilitation and is starting to look like the kid he was prior to the ND incident during which he tore his knee so severely. All I can say is this. It would be the irony or ironies if, after all is said and done, the guys who handle the rock from the backfield on most occasions this season end up being a sixth year senior and two fifth year guys: Hershel Dennis, Chauncey Washington and Desmond Reed. Now I am not saying that will happen, but it could, and I find that to be almost unbelievable. Of course, I am not writing off guys like Gable, Moody and especially not Stafon Johnson. And to hear things up even more, there are still Joe McKnight, Mark Tyler and Broderick Green. Well, just have fun trying to figure how this will all play out, especially since injuries are likely to occur based on everything we have seen over the past many years.
Before Chris Barrett became ineligible, I thought USC would actually have three fifth year seniors playing on the DLine simultaneously for a good amount of time. That would have been something we simply won't get to see very often in this era. To my way of thinking, the reality is now that SC has a very good group of guys but will likely have to have some youth really step up to lend depth to this critical unit. In Jackson, Moala, Ellis and Moore, USC should be pretty darned tough. It is what SC has backing them up that will possibly determine a great deal. Spicer should be a terrific backup noseguard and if ever there was a guy who looked to contribute from the very start on the Dline it is this kid Everson Griffen. He simply has it all except experience. But, he is going to get thrown into the nick of things quickly; the numbers and need simply dictate that fact. With Gerald Washington being a question once again, there is simply no much experienced depth at DE, so it is also possible that Orange County prep standout Michael Reardon may also get significant minutes as a true frosh. . One thing is for sure. SC's Defensive line is going to have a few young guys getting some minutes this year, or the starters will have to play all the time. It is interesting how that is the case even when SC has recruited so well for so many years in succession.
I am personally very interested to see how John David Booty leads this team in his final year. He has certainly waited his turn and although he had some rough times in his first year as a starter, his numbers were very impressive. With a new Offensive Coordinator who has evidently included the shotgun into the gameplan, and with a year of major experience, Booty's accuracy should really help him become one of the best quarterbacks in college football. Batted down passes not withstanding, the guy can throw the ball and I am convinced the new group of receivers will be there to catch it. Some might be worried about the loss of Smith and Jarrett, but don't count me among them. I already know what Patrick Turner can do. He showed it by tying the all time SC one game reception record in the one game during which he was the MAN. I also know that Ronald Johnson is just a true freshman, but he is not routine. I have seen enough of that guy to state that even as a freshman, he is a difference maker. The speed of Patterson and Holland is hard to defend and Ausberry really does remind me of a determined Mike Williams, though Ausberry is more cut. And the tight ends that SC puts on the field are hardly of the ordinary variety. Fred Davis showed stuff at times last year and ya just have to love this kid McCoy as a major weapon with his hands on the ball. One should not forget some other things that Booty will have going for him. This time around, I expect major contributions from Havili, Dennis and maybe even Jordan Campbell catching the ball out of the backfield. But perhaps the biggest gem of them all will be the one weapon that Leinart had that Booty did not have last year and that is a game breaker who can catch the ball and is a threat to circle out of the backfield on any given play. Yes, Joe McKnight is a true freshman and it is asking allot. But ask Percy Harvin if it can be done. Once again, I fully expect this to be amongst the best offenses in college football and I will be surprised if it is not very productive from midseason on, if not sooner.
Speaking of the offense, will the backs have holes through which they can run and will Booty have time to throw? Yes, that is the answer to both questions. Baker is a legitimate All American Left tackle and I love the fact that Spanos is eligible and he will give us a fifth year senior at the all important center position. This should be the year that we finally get to see Jeff Byers play major minutes. He has never been healthy but it looks like his day is here and moving Drew Radovich to right tackle seems to be a win-win situation for all involved. There appears to be some real depth with backups Charles Brown, Thomas Herring, Nick Howell, Tiny Malu and hopefully a fully recovered Butch Lewis--a guy who reportedly lost a ton of weight and is now trying to gain it back. Whether or not any true freshman such as Kris O'Dowd can contribute or will have to remains to be seen, but he will get his shot, that seems to be for sure.
As for the linebacking unit, rated number one by more than one magazine and writer, what can anyone say? If there is a weakness at that position this season, I can't see it. There is size, speed, experience and a ton of raw talent. Even with the departure of Josh Tatum, this unit rocks. Rey Maualuga gets his shot as the starter and Keith Rivers might even be an All American when it's all over. Brian Cushing gets to return to his natural outside linebacker position and I still think Luther Brown is dangerous and somebody carrying the ball is likely to find out just how it feels to get hit by this talented kid. There is more depth with Matthews, Maiva and Thomas Williams. SC also has kids named Chris Gallipo and Malcolm Smith coming on board and anyone who has seen them knows the sky is the limit but here's a thought. If running back is really too crowded, at 225 pounds, Mark Tyler might be as good as linebacker as any other linebacker that SC recruited. Pete has a knack for getting kids at their best position, so would anyone be really shocked if such a move were to ever materialize.??
Over and over again I have read that for all his magical ability, Pete Carroll simply can't close the deal for whatever reason on the big name cornerbacks--you know, the kind that simply shut the door on the receivers etc etc. Well, in a socially acceptable way I will merely state that I disagree. With the likes of Terrell Thomas, Kevin Thomas, Cary Harris, Vincent Joseph, Shareece Wright and maybe even Ron Johnson or/+ dare I mention it, Joe McKnight, one would be hard pressed to think of any better groups of cornerbacks at SC in recent history. Add to that the bevy of safeties like All World Taylor Mays, Josh Pinkard, Zeke McCurtis, Will Harris, and Kevin Ellison and I can't remember a more talented or deeper group of defensive backs and that goes back longer than I care to admit at times. Conceivably, Pete Carroll now has the size, speed and depth on defense to unleash the meanest, fastest and most diverse defense that any of us has seen at USC in a long time, if ever. Of course, it is easy to make statements like this on paper. They still have to prove it on the field and of course, as we all know, only time will tell how it will all turn out.
As for the coaching changes, it will be very interesting to watch how this offense plays out now that Kiffin is gone. Will Sarkesian be given a free hand, or nearly free hand to run the show? Will the passing game be markedly different than in the recent past? Does Steve really want to run that ball or does he really subscribe to the BYU school of thought? Personally, I think he loves to pass the ball and only seeing something markedly different will convince me otherwise. Whether or not he likes the long ball or short ball and whether or not he will show some stuff he learned from the Raiders remains to be seen. Just remember, there has to be some reason he stayed on and did not take a pro job. I think he really wants to show what he can do and one can't help but figure Pete will give him the chance. As for the receiver coach, John Morton, all I have heard is exceptionally positive. I suspect that the receivers will develop very nicely indeed. And on defense, I would not be surprised if the biggest change is that Pete is more involved than he was early last season. As a fan, I just hope we seen a hard hitting, incredibly aggressive, attack style of play. Now that isn’t asking for too much, is it?
So, as another off season comes to an end, the blood is starting to boil. I have to admit that in this day and age, with all the videos, interviews, audios, full time reporters and the like, even the off season is full of SC news. But truth be told, nothing can match the actual start of the season. There have been some clamps put on what the guys can report from the practices, but we still have a ton to look forward to reading and viewing. How can anyone who loves SC Football not get excited at the thought of yet another season? Pete, the guy who never seems to age, is as energetic as ever and nothing like having a fan base that has unrealistic expectations. Yet that does not seem to phase Head Coach Pete Carroll one iota. He just seems to thrive on all the excitement and attention. And of course, after reading the statements of some coaches like Les Miles at LSU and Harbaugh at Stanford, the makings of some classics just might be starting. We all know that Pete is going to do this and that after this season. I mean Jim Harbaugh has already told us, right? And we all know that the Pac-10 is a weak, nothing conference, because that SEC genius Les Miles said so. Yep, football is almost here and I could not be happier.
