The Wildcats Come Calling

This is it folks . . . the finale . . . and who knows what’s going to happen. The Arizona Wildcats bring a formidable offense to the Coliseum, and the question is whether SC’s defense will be able to shut it down.

The SC offense also needs to have a good game, and maintain possession of the ball to keep the Wildcat offense off the field.

Here we go:

Arizona

Offense – The Wildcats bring in a very balanced offense behind QB Nick Foles who’s completing 67% of his passes with 17 TDs and only 7 INTs. UofA can also do some damage on the ground with Nic Grigsby and Keola Antolin, two quick RBs who both have 500+ yards rushing this season. As one might expect, the Wildcat OLine is very good, only giving up (9) sacks on the year.

Defense – This unit is solid, and boasts a couple of very good players. DE Ricky Elmore leads the Pac 10 in sacks with 10.5, while LB Xavier Kelley is a quick, smart player who patrols near the line of scrimmage. CB Devin Ross is one of the better cover-men in the conference, and leads the team in passes defensed.

USC

Offense – Well, this game represents another opportunity for QB Matt Barkley and the Trojan offense to find the groove that’s been missing since mid-season. The pieces are there as key injured players are back. But the play-calling has not helped the cause. SC should get series’ started with it’s solid run game, and get to 3rd and short situations . . . giving them a better chance to keep drives going.

Defense – Another stiff test for the Trojan defense that has struggled recently against teams that can score. And Arizona can score. So it will start up front with DE Everson Griffen, Jurrell Casey having to make a dent in a very good Arizona OLine. If they don’t, it will be a long day for the Trojan LBs covering the small and quick Wildcat RBs in the running game. The Trojan secondary can’t sleep, or they will be on the wrong end of some long gainers from the tall Wildcat receivers.

Prediction:

USC – 28

UA – 24

Trojans Show Some Fight, Beat Bruins 28 – 7

Take heart, Trojan fans . . . USC is still the king of L.A.

On a cool, crisp night at the Coliseum, things got kind of heated as SC took control and then applied the “sleeper hold” with a late TD pass that got the fans juiced up, and the Bruins riled up. It was beautiful.

Here’s the breakdown:

Offense

QB – Matt Barkley had a decent night going 18 – 26 for 201 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. But he has been unable to keep offensive drives going, and in my opinion, it’s not all his fault. SC is in 3rd and long situations all night long, and that just puts too much pressure on Barkley to complete downfield passes when the defense is expecting it. Grade: C

RBs/FBs – RB Allen Bradford led the way in this game gaining 70 yards on 14 carries, with 2 short TD runs. McKnight left the game early with a thigh bruise, but it was good to see FB Stan Havili back on the field and contributing. Grade: B minus

WRs/TEs – The trio of receivers Damian Williams, Ronald Johnson and TE Anthony McCoy combined for 13 receptions and 190+ yards. The late deep TD to Williams added a punctuation mark to a nice game by the group. Grade: B

OLine – The OLine didn’t overwhelm a solid Bruin front (7), but they did enough by not allowing a sack and opening holes for SC RB’s to average over 4 yards per carry on the ground. Grade: B minus

Defense

DLine – This group should have been more dominant vs. a weak Bruin OLine. Although, UCLA couldn’t get anything going offensively, NT Jurrell Casey had the only sack by the Trojan DLine. Grade: C minus

LBs – This unit had it’s best game since ASU. OLB Malcolm Smith got things going with a pick 6, and also made (15) tackles. Fellow LBs Chris Galippo and Michael Morgan each added a TFL to the cause. Grade: B

DBs – The Trojan secondary contributed some nice plays in this game. Safety Taylor Mays led the group with (9) tackles, while CB Josh Pinkard and Safety Will Harris both collected INTs. CB Kevin Thomas also broke up two passes, in addition to his (6) tackles. Grade: B +


Special Teams

Kicking/Coverage/Returns – The return of punt returner Damian Williams (62 yards in returns) added some spark to this unit. But the FGs continue to struggle with any kick over 40 yards, with Jacob Harfman missing again from long distance. Grade: C minus

Coaching

Finding a rhythm offensively was again a problem. And to me, it stems from not using the running game more often early on offensive possessions to set up the passing game. As a result, the team is in 3rd and long too much and not converting. Defensively, the game should have been a shut out, except for not falling on a fumble during UCLA’s only scoring drive. A good game plan would have been even better had SC been more stingy on 3rd downs. Grade: B minus

Prediction Winner:

J-Man scores one for the out-of-state Trojan fans!

The Pride Bowl: Trojans Take on Bruins

It's come down to this for the Trojans in 2009. I mean, if they can't beat the lowly Bruins on their own home field . . . what is there left to play for?

No matter what the records are, SC is 7 -3 and UCLA is 6 - 5, this game still means something. The winner will still be able to hold there head up high in their home city.

Let the battle for L.A. commence!

UGLA

Offense - It has been a real struggle for QB Kevin Prince and the Bruins. A lack of depth, talent, and injuries to members of the offensive line have made life tough for the inexperienced Prince (8th in the Pac 10 in passing efficiency) and the Bruin running game which ranks 9th in the Pac 10. As a result, scoring has been a big issue as the Bruins are only averaging 22 ppg. FG kicker Kai Forbath is the best offensive weapon on the team, ranking #1 in the conference at 89%.

Defense - The UGLA defense has carried the team for the most part. They lead the conference in takeways (27), and rush defense. DT Brian Price is the primary playmaker with a stunning 20 TFLs. LB Reggie Carter and Safety Rahim Moore provide leadership and playmaking in the back (7). Moore has (9) INTs this season.

USC

Offense - It's been awhile since the Trojan offense hit on all cyclinders, but getting WR Damian Williams, FB Stan Havili and TE Anthony McCoy back from injury should help big time. SC has been running the ball very well with Joe McKnight and Allen Bradford, but they and the OLine face a stiff test with the Bruin run defense.

Defense - The Trojan Dline must dominate this game against a suspect Bruin Oline. The Bruins struggle to run the ball, and protect the passer (given up 27 sacks this season), so DE Everson Griffen and DT Jurell Casey should make some plays. The LBs have been a much maligned group, but don't face a great offense in the Bruins. MLB Galippo and company should be able to hold their own in this one. And the Trojan secondary can take some chances in this game - CBs Pinkard and Thomas won't face consistent Bruin wideouts, so playing tight and physical should not be a problem.

Prediction:

USC - 34

UGLA - 10

Stanford Runs Over SC, 55 - 21

Well . . . that didn't go as planned, did it? Another trip to the woodshed for the Trojans, and this one hurt. Stanford ran left, ran right, and ran up the middle for a stunning 325 yards, and there was nothing SC could do about it.

I'm in pain writing about this shellacking . . . But here it goes:

Offense

QB - QB Matt Barkley had his worst game as a Trojan. You simply can't win with (3) INTs. Barkley had some terrific throws in the game, but those costly turnovers, which included a fumble, did him in. Barkley finished 21 - 31 for 196 yards with a TD pass and was sacked twice, as well.

Grade: D minus

RB/FB - RB Joe McKnight was a bright spot for the Trojans, finishing with 142 yards rushing on just (16) carries - a 9 ypc average. RB Allen Bradford had a TD run, but left the game early with an injury. Grade: B

WR/TE - WR Brice Butler had a little bit of a break out game, catching six balls for nearly 100 yards and a TD. RoJo also chipped in (7) receptions. No other receiver, however, was able to make an impact on the game. Grade: C

OLine - This group did not play that badly, and I don't think they were put in position to control the contest in the running game, even though McKnight had a very good game. They did give up a couple of sacks QB hurries, but that was due to SC's need to throw the ball exclusively in the 2nd half. Grade: C minus

Defense

DLine - This unit didn't make a play the whole game. Grade: F

LBs - See above comment. Grade: F

DBs - When the top tacklers for the game are the DBs . . . you know you are in trouble. Although the Cardinal passing game was not a problem, SC's DBs combined for (41) tackles, led by safety Will Harris who had twelve, coming up to make stops in the running game. Grade: C minus

Coaching

The offensive coaches missed the boat completely in this game. SC did not take advantage of the running game working well with Joe McKnight. This was a game in which McKnight should have had (30) carries, not the 16 he got. That would have allowed the Trojans to wear down the Cardinal defense, and keep the potent Cardinal offense off the field. Instead, SC passed on first down too much, and stayed in 3rd and long situations that were low percentage opportunities.

Defensively, I gotta blame the players. The whole stadium knew what Stanford was going to do . . . run the ball. Still SC was not able to stop it. And it wasn't just Cardinal RB Toby Gerhart who did the damage. On 3rd downs, QB Andrew Luck ran for a couple of key 1st downs on scrambles. At some point, a Trojan defender needed to make a stop . . . and they did not do it. Grade: F

Prediction Winner: There were no winners in this one.

The Cardinal Come Rollin' In

Week by week, it doesn't get any easier for the Trojans. And this week they face a hot Stanford Cardinal team that just finished beating the #8 Oregon Ducks (who of course, spanked SC a few weeks ago.)

So all is lost, right? Not exactly. Stanford is tough at home (5 - 0), but not so much on the road (1 - 3). Their defense is the main culprit, as the Cardinal give up twice as many points on the road (35ppg) vs. only (19ppg) at home.

So as the Cardinal roll into the Coliseum, it's time for the USC Trojans to put together a great effort in all (3) aspects of their game - offense, defense and special teams.

It's go time!

Stanford

Offense - RB Toby Gerhart is the heart and soul of the Cardinal offense. He's leading the Pac 10 in rushing, and is a tough back with surprising foot quickness. But the player who has taken Stanford's offense to the next level is redshirt frosh QB Andrew Luck who leads the conference in passing efficiency completing nearly 60% of his passes with 11TDs and 3 INTs. He's also good with the deep ball, and can scramble a little bit when he gets out of the pocket. WR Chris Owusu is a deep threat in the passing game with 5 TDs, and he's also a terrific kickoff returner with (3) TDs on the season.

Defense - If there's a weak link in Stanford's game, it's the defense which ranks 8th in the Pac 10. They've given up some big rushing yardage to the better teams they've played due to an undersized defensive line. Also, the Cardinal lost the captain of their defense MLB Clint Snyder for the season due to a knee injury just this past week.

USC

Offense - QB Matt Barkley and the Trojan offense are looking to bounce back from a rough game last week that saw them only put up (7) pts. And even though SC will miss WR Damian Williams who's out due to injury, the return of FB Stan Havili and TE Anthony McCoy should help them get back on track. The running game tandem of Joe McKnight and Allen Bradford will play an important part in this game, behind a Trojan OLine which should have an advantage against a smallish Cardinal front (7).

Defense - The entire defense will be tested this week as the Cardinal can run and pass the ball with efficiency. The matchup to watch is the Trojan Dline vs. the Cardinal Oline which has only given up 6 sacks this season, and paved the way for 211 yards rushing per game. Safety Taylor Mays and the Trojan DBs will need to remain alert, because Stanford gets defenders thinking "run", and all of a sudden is passing downfield.

Prediction:

USC - 27

Stanford - 14

Trojans Outlast Sun Devils, 14 - 9

This one will not go down as a masterpiece. In fact, the Trojan offense was downright ugly for most of the game. But the Trojan defense showed up time and time again to repel the Sun Devils who had to change quarterbacks just to threaten SC.

All in all . . . we'll take the "W" and keep moving.

Here's a detailed look at the unit by unit grades:

QB - Matt Barkley didn't want to look at the stat sheet after going 7 - 22, for only 112 yards. But his stats would have been much better if not for some key dropped passes by receivers. And although Barkley was only sacked one time, he was harassed all night by the ASU Dline. Grade: D +

RBs/FB - Joe McKnight and Allen Bradford continue to run consistently, each pounding out 5 yards per carry on a combined 29 carries for about 150 yards. Bradford really could have blown the game open but tripped on the 40 yard line of what could have been a 60+ yard TD run. Grade: B

WRs/Tes - Not a good night for this unit. It was Damian Williams to the rescue, though, with a 75 yard catch and run TD that gave SC it's win. Tight ends Blake Ayles and Rhett Ellison had some key drops, however. Grade: D +

Oline - This group led the Trojans to about 150 yards on the ground, and gave up only one sack. But that was the good stuff. The bad included allowing the ASU Dline to pressure Barkley most of the night, and a committing a couple of penalties that stalled offensive drives. Grade: C minus


Defense

Dline - Strong night against the run, as this unit helped limit ASU to only 81 yards on the ground. They also had (3) sacks. NT Christian Topou forced a key fumble in the SC red zone. And young DE Wes Horton had a very good game with (6) tackles, and Malik Jackson and DT Derek Simmons tallied a sack each. Grade: B +

LBs - A solid night for the LBs in this one. MLB Chris Galippo had an INT, and OLB Shane Horton laid the wood a couple of times on some nice plays. Grade: B

DBs - Safety Will Harris was the star of the show with (2) INTs, including a "pick six" that was SC's first TD of the game. The unit did make one mistake allowing a deep TD pass, as CB Kevin Thomas got caught looking in the offensive backfield in coverage. Grade: C

Special Teams

Kicking/Coverage/Returns - FG kicker Jordan Congdon missed what could have been an important FG for SC, and punter Jacob Harfman had an up and down night getting a 51 yarder, but also only averaging 37 ypp. Grade: C minus

Coaching

The offense could never get going in this game. But the coaches did call some nice plays that were not executed, including a dropped potential TD pass to TE Blake Ayles and a crucial 3rd down pass to FB DJ Shoemate that was called back due to a penalty. Defensively, SC bottled up the ASU offense for the majority of the night. SC's defensive coaches knew what to do against ASU's starting QB Danny Sullivan.

Grade: C +

Prediction Winner:

JMW does it again!

On the Road Again for SC vs. ASU

Who would have thought that this would be a big game for the Trojans and the Sun Devils? ASU has lost two straight games to CAL and Stanford, and is looking to get their mojo back. And after having their lunch money stolen at Oregon, SC is just looking to get it’s dignity back.

The final month of the season starts with this game, and the Trojans need to continue their “no loss November” streak to salvage the season. Here’s how the game breaks down:

ASU

Offense – The Sun Devils have been looking for an offensive identity all season. QB Danny Sullivan has not been consistent, only completing 54% of his passes with (8) TDs and (7) INTs. RB Dimitri Nance is solid, but not spectacular. The ASU WRs Kyle Williams and Chris McGaha are active, and have scored three TDs apiece on the year.

Defense – This unit has been the strength of the team. Led by leading tackler LB Mike Nixon, the Sun Devils currently rank #1 in defense in the Pac 10. They are particularly strong against the run keeping offenses to only 2.6 ypc. DT Lawrence Guy leads the team in sacks with 4.5 on the season, and safety Ryan McFoy has collected (3) INTs to lead the secondary.

USC

Offense – QB Matt Barkley and the Trojan offense has developed a balanced attack at this point in the season. The running game behind Joe McKnight and Allen Bradford has been consistent, but they and the Trojan OLine will be tested by a strong ASU run defense. SC can make the Sun Devils pay through the air, but the absence of TE Anthony McCoy and FB Stan Havili will be may felt again this week.

Defense – The ASU offense sets up very well for the Trojan defense to get back on track. The Sun Devils don’t do anything fancy, and the SC front (7) needs to establish itself in the trenches from the get – go. The Trojan LBs, especially, need a confidence building game, and can get it here. The DLine will probably not have DE Everson Griffen, so this is a big game for back up true frosh and Arizona native DE Devon Kennard to make his presence felt. The Trojan secondary will have to be ready against the ASU WRs who have good size, and will be a primary weapon for the Sun Devils in this game.

Prediction:

USC – 31

ASU – 10

Trojans Get Blasted by Ducks, 47 – 20

Ohhh . . . humanity.

We haven’t seen anything like it for a long time. The Trojans got their Halloween candy taken from them . . . and could do nothing about it. The Ducks ran the ball at will against a confused and frustrated Trojan defense. Offensively, SC hung in there for a half, but then got turned into a one dimensional team that could only hope to pass their way back into the ballgame. But it didn’t happen.

This wasn’t a game . . . it was a crime scene. And unfortunately, we gotta do our best impression of “CSI” to examine what’s left of the victims:

Offense

QB – Matt Barkley kept the Trojans alive and was very accurate in the first half. But with Oregon continuing to score, Barkley had to “wing it” in the second half, and the Trojan offense just wasn’t effective. Barkley finished 21 – 38 for only 187 yards with 2 TDs and a pick. Grade: C minus

RBs/FBs – RB Joe McKnight ran the ball very well, tallying 95 yards on 15 carries (6.3 ypc). But no one else got on track and could help carry the mail. Grade: C

WRs/TEs – WRs Damian Williams and Ronald Johnson each scored a TD, with Williams garnering (9) catches. But the receiving corp really missed TE Anthony McCoy. Replacement Blake Ayles only caught one pass for three yards. Grade: C

OLine – Believe it or not, the Trojan OLine was pretty good. Despite SC’s total reliance on the pass throughout most of the game, this unit only gave up two sacks. And they blocked well in the run game for McKnight. Grade: B

Defense

DLine – Zero sacks folks. And that wasn’t the worst part for the Trojan DLine. They couldn’t get any penetration to stop the run game. The Ducks rushed for an amazing 391 yards. NT Jurrell Casey led the team with (11) tackles . . . I just didn’t see any of them. Grade: F

LBs – This unit could not have played any worse. They simply didn’t know which Duck offensive player had the ball. MLB Chris Galippo did not fill the gaps fast enough, OLB Mike Morgan was a non-factor, and OLB Shane Horton was totally lost falling for the fake handoff to the Duck RB in the Oregon spread offense almost every single time. Grade: F

DBs – The Trojan secondary spent the night chasing Duck ball carriers. End of story. Grade: D minus


Special Teams

Kicking/Coverage/Returns – Just to add insult to Trojan injury, the KO coverage team gave up a 77 yard return to the Ducks. Grade: D

Coaching

Eeesh . . . where to start? The offense moved the ball well in the first half, but went dead in the water in the second half. The coaches obviously wanted to keep pace with the Ducks in the 2nd half by throwing the ball, but would have been better served to run the ball just to keep the ball out of the Duck offense’s hands. On defense, it was a total collapse of gameplan and player execution. The “containment” plan of Duck QB Jeremiah Masoli by the DLine did not work. And the coaches were helpless in assisting the Trojan LBs find the ball. Grade: F

Prediction Winner:

The AFLAC Duck

USC Goes to Oregon on Fright Night

As usual, when SC goes on the road to play a ranked opponent . . . it’s the “game of the year”. And this one is no different. The winner of this game will have the Pac 10 in a chokehold, and a BCS bowl invitation for the taking.

Oregon is on a roll after a shaky start, compiling an undefeated Pac 10 record of
4 – 0. The Trojans have picked up steam offensively, but are looking for its defensive mojo as it enters Autzen stadium – always a scary place to play.

So which team will impose it’s will on the other? Here’s the match up in a nutshell:

Oregon

Offense – After losing its star RB, Oregon found a young star in the making in RB LaMichael James who is averaging 105 yards per game. His backup Kenjon Barner is also very good, giving Oregon two very quick backs in their run-oriented spread attack. An early knee injury slowed QB Jeremiah Masoli, but he’s finding his stride as a dual threat now. The Duck WRs don’t do much, but TE Ed Dickson is a real threat leading the Ducks in receptions and TD catches with (4).

Defense – The Duck defense has had a lot of injuries, especially in the secondary,, but they’ve managed to be effective behind the play of MLB Casey Matthews and DE Kenny Rowe. Rowe has (7) sacks on the year, and Matthews leads the team in tackles. The Oregon defense is not big, but they are active and cause problems with their pressure on the opposing passers. They are 3rd in the conference in total defense, and first in pass defense.


USC

Offense – QB Matt Barkley has a ton of confidence on the road, but playing in Oregon will test him. The Trojan offense is getting on a roll with the return of key performers like WR Ronald Johnson, and the emergence of RB Allen Bradford. Maintaining possession of the ball and scoring in the red zone will be important to take the Oregon crowd out of the game early. So SC’s execution on 3rd down, especially, will be extremely important to keep drives going. Once again, keeping turnovers and penalties at a minimum will key SC’s effectiveness against a good opponent on the road.

Defense – The mantra for the SC defense this Saturday: Stop the Run. Oregon averages over 200 yards per game out of the spread offense, so SC’s DLine will have to be disciplined against the mis-direction and “slip” handoffs the Ducks like to execute. The Trojan safeties will play a strong role in run support. The Trojan LBs will need to be sure tacklers and take good angles against some very quick Duck RBs. Prediction:



USC – 34

Oregon – 20

Trojans Outlast Oregon St., 42 – 36

They say a win is a win . . . but that sure wasn’t a satisfying win by the Trojans. Once again, SC took a commanding lead in the 3rd quarter, but had to hang on to win at the end after the defense gave up two scores to the opponent in the 4th quarter.

Luckily, the Trojan offense came to play, and a big punt return by Damian Williams proved to be the difference. Here’s the good and bad of a performance the Trojans will need to learn from:

Offense

QB – Matt Barkley had his moments in this game with a couple of TD passes to TE Anthony McCoy and WR Ronald Johnson. But he also under-threw a couple of passes that turned into INTs. He was mostly efficient, though, going 15 – 25 for 200+ yards. Grade: C

RBs/FBs – This night belonged to Allen Bradford who rushed for nearly 150 yards on 15 carries with 2 TDs that included a 43 yarder. Joe McKnight also ran well for 65 yards until a cut hand sidelined him for most of the night. Without fullback Stanley Havili, replacement DJ Shoemate and the Trojans didn’t make an impact in the passing game. Grade: B

WRs/TEs – The Return of RoJo was a hit with the fans as it only took the lightning fast WR only one game to get his legs back. RoJo caught (6) passes for about 100 yards and a spectacular diving TD grab. Damian Williams was solid, and TE Anthony McCoy had a TD catch but left the game early after spraining an ankle. Grade: B +

OLine – This unit was very good in both run blocking and pass protection. They helped SC to 229 yards on the ground, and Barkley was not sacked once. C Jeff Byers and LG Butch Lewis did an outstanding job. Grade: A minus

Defense

DLine – A frustrating game for this group. Even though they had (2) sacks, the Beaver passing scheme and quick trigger QB prevented many more. Guys like Nick Perry and Everson Griffen were just one step away from blowing up a passing play several times. Grade: C

LBs – The worst game for this unit this year. MLB Chris Galippo and crew had a tough time corralling OSU RB Jacquizz Rodgers in the 2nd half both in running and receiving. Beaver RB and TE receptions over the middle turned into even more yards with a couple of missed Trojan tackles. OLB Malcolm Smith led the group with (10) tackles. Grade: D

DBs – The Trojan secondary was busy trying to break up the Beaver passing game. Unfortunately, they were unable to create turnovers and had to settle for making the tackle after a short reception. CB Kevin Thomas and S Taylor Mays led the team in tackles with (11). Grade: C minus


Special Teams

Kicking/Coverage/Returns – One of the bright spots of the night, the combination of Damian Williams’ key punt return for a TD and punter Jake Harfman averaging 44 yards per boot made this special teams effort a solid one. Grade: B plus

Coaching

The offense continues to come around with personnel additions on the OL and at WR making the team more balanced. The offensive coaches are becoming very comfortable going for it in different down and distance situations. Defensively, the coaches need to figure out how to keep a lead. More aggression is necessary when SC has a team down, and rushing 7 or 8 players should replace dropping 7 or 8 players into coverage when the opponent resorts to the passing game to make the game close. Grade: C minus


Prediction Winner:

J-Man rings it up!

Trojans Come Home to Face Oregon State

It’s been awhile since the Trojans played at home in the friendly confines of the Coliseum. And they get to exact a little revenge in the process against the Oregon St. Beavers.

The Beavers, you’ll recall, upset the Trojans last season in Corvallis behind the Rogers brothers (Jacquizz and James). Well, the Rogers boys are back, and SC will have to be prepared to stop them.

Here’s how the game shapes up:

Oregon State

Offense – RB Jacquizz Rogers leads the offensive charge for the Beavers averaging 116 yards per game rushing. QB Sean Canfield has been extremely efficient, completing 68% of his passes for 8 TDs against 4 INTs. WR James Rogers is also dangerous in the passing game, collecting 43 passes this season to lead the Pac 10. The OLine is not as good as it was last season. This unit has given up 19 sacks on the year, ranking 9th in the conference.

Defense – Oregon St. plays fast on defense, led by the underrated LB Keaton Kristick
Who leads the team in tackles, INTs, and TFLs. The DLine, however, doesn’t put a lot of pressure on the passer. They rank last in the Pac 10 in sacks with only (4) on the season. That pass rush weakness has led to difficulty in the secondary defending against the pass. The Beavers’ DB unit has given up 275 yards passing per game, and (11) TD passes so far this season.


USC

Offense – QB Matt Barkley has improved every game he’s started this year, and he could have a big game against the porous Beaver defense. RBs Joe McKnight and Allen Bradford will look to put their stamp on the game behind an OLine that now has Jeff Byers starting at Center and OG Butch Lewis joining the starting unit. Soph. fullback DJ Shoemate will also start in place of the injured Stan Havili. Look for WRs Damian Williams, returning starter Ronald Johnson and TE Anthony McCoy to find a lot of room in the Beaver secondary.

Defense – The challenge stopping the Rogers brothers starts up front with the DLine, and NT Jurrell Casey in particular. The DLine must force the hard to find and tackle Jacquizz Rogers to “dance” to find a hole, and the LB unit led by Chris Galippo must “clean up” before Rogers can hit the second level. Strong safety Will Harris will help by playing close to the line of scrimmage as well. Free safety Taylor Mays will need to shade over to Beaver WR James Rogers area to keep an eye on the crafty offensive playmaker.

Prediction:

USC – 31

OSU – 17

Trojans Out-Gun Irish, 34 – 27

Another trip to South Bend . . . another SC win. That’s eight consecutive wins for the Trojans over their intersectional rivals. And it feels good.

SC got out to a big lead, but the referees and a little bit of a defensive let down made it close at the end. But the Trojans prevailed, and got out of town.

Break down time!

Offense

QB – This Barkley kid is a keeper. Matt Barkley performed well on the big stage again going 19 – 29 for 380 yards, with (2) TD passes. The only blemish was an ill-timed INT in the 2nd half. But overall, Barkley showed his poise and precision to lead SC to the win. Grade: B+

RBs – Joe McKnight and Allen Bradford combined for 120+ yards rushing, and had some signature runs helped SC on scoring drives. Grade: B

WRs/TEs – Terrific game for TE Anthony McCoy who finished with 153 yards on 5 catches. WR Damian Williams caught (2) TD passes and finished with 106 yards receiving on 4 receptions. Even WR Brice Butler got into the act with a couple of clutch catches for first downs. Grade: A

OLine – A solid job by this group, that provided good pass protection for most of the day. Running the sweep proved to be a successful play for the OLine that got the tough yards when they needed to. Grade: B minus

Defense

DLine – Stellar effort for the DLine that garnered 5 sacks in the game, led by DEs Everson Griffen and Nick Perry who had two apiece. NT Jurrell Casey had an astounding 10 tackles. The Irish also only gained 82 yards on the ground primarily as a result of this unit’s effort. Grade: A minus

LBs – A bit of an up and down game for the LBs. MLB Chris Galippo shined when stopping 3rd and 4th down short yardage running plays by the Irish. But the group was also out of position on a few successful running plays by ND in the 2nd half.
Grade: C +

DBs – See LB commentary. While breaking up a few passes, the Trojan secondary surrendered its first two TD passes of the year. Safety Taylor Mays led the group with 10 tackles. Grade: C


Special Teams

Kicking/Returns/Coverage – No big plays from this group, but no major breakdowns either. A fake FG by the Irish was not sniffed out by the Trojans . . . but it was an illegal play the refs just missed. What a surprise. Grade: C

Coaching – The offensive game plan was very good. Highlighting TE Anthony McCoy in the seams of ND’s defense worked like a charm. The defense was great in the first half, but gave ground in the second half. The coaches relied on the front (4) DLine to pressure the Irish QB a little too much, and ND was able to throw down field with some success. Grade: B minus

Prediction Winner:

B-Dub takes the cheese!

Trojans Journey to South Bend

This is a game Dr. Phil would love. Notre Dame is 4 -1 by the skin of their teeth this season, and is looking to find out if they are for real or a fake by how they perform against SC. The 4 -1 Trojans are looking to keep the momentum going after improving noticeably as an offensive team the last few games.

So by the end of the game, which team will feel validated or crawl into the fetal position? Let’s breakdown the psyche of each team:

Notre Dame

Offense – QB Jimmy Clausen is finally having a season that matches the hype. With 12 TDs and only (2) INTs thus far, Clausen has been very efficient completing passes at a 67% clip. Helping Clausen is the appearance of a running game in the person of RB Armando Allen who’s run for 365 yards at 5.1 yards a pop. WR Golden Tate has been Clausen’s primary target with (33) receptions, and the playmaker the Irish rely upon. And 6’6 TE Kyle Rudolf has also proven to be a reliable target in the Red Zone and on 3rd downs.

Defense – It hasn’t been pretty for the Irish defense who rank 100th in Total Defense in college football. The defensive backfield led by Safety Kyle McCarthy has given up big yards, and the opponents have also been able to run the ball against the Notre Dame front (7). DE Kapron Lewis-Moore and his DLine mates have not been able to get much penetration this season, putting pressure on linebackers Brian Smith and Manti Te’o to try and make tackles at the second level.

Special Teams – The Irish do have an excellent FG kicker in Nick Tausch who has made 10 – 11 tries. The punt and kickoff return teams, though, have not been very helpful in generating good field position for the Notre Dame offense.

USC

Offense - At this point in the season QB Matt Barkley is no longer playing like a true frosh. His growth has been rapid, but he’ll have to repeat his performance at CAL this Saturday in South Bend. Barkley will be helped by a running game that is humming along with Joe McKnight (400+ yards rushing @ 7 ypc), and an OLine that is starting to assert itself after facing “8 in the box” due to SC’s passing game struggles earlier this year. Playmaking WR Damian Williams is playing fantastic football and will be a tough cover for the Irish DBs. And look for not-so-secret weapon Fullback Stan Havili to be heavily involved in the passing game.

Defense – The SC DLine that leads the nation in sacks behind DEs Everson Griffen, Nick Perry and DT Jurell Casey, is licking it’s chops to get after the pass happy Irish. OLB Michael Morgan has made a habit of getting into the opponent’s backfield, while Safety Taylor Mays is playing at an extremely high level. I expect SC to turn up the heat “blitz-wise” as the game moves along in hopes of forcing some turnovers by the Irish QB Clausen.

Special Teams – This unit is starting to gel with punter Jake Harfman averaging over 40 ypp, and the return game behind punt returner Damian Williams giving SC’s offense good field position or scoring. Look for the smallest Trojan, Curtis McNeal, as he will join CJ Gable on kickoff returns.

Prediction:

USC – 27
Notre Dame - 13

Trojans Trap the Bears, 30 – 3

Now that was Trojan football!!!

This total domination of CAL was a total team effort that keeps USC in contention for the Pac-10 crown and much more during this crucial October run. It’s wise not to bet against Pete Carroll and the Trojans when it comes to a big game. And they got the job done again.

Grades for your reading pleasure:

Offense

QB – The education of Matt Barkley continued as he put in another solid effort on the road. Passing for 283 yards on 20 – 35 attempts were only a part of the story. Helping SC convert 3rd downs with down-field passes shows Barkley’s increasing confidence and skill. He did have one INT that led to a CAL field goal, but took care of the ball in all other situations. Grade: B

RBs/FB – Joe McKnight stepped up big time with a 20 carry for 119 yard effort with (2) TDs. Allen Bradford also chipped in 53 yards on 12 carries. FB Stanley Havili contributed with a long reception for 56 yards. Grade: B +

WRs/TEs – It was the Damian Williams show once again, as he pulled in 8 rec. for 101 yards. Brice Butler and David Ausberry hauled in a couple of catches apiece. The TEs contributed some big plays, not only combining for 4 catches for 66 yards, but also blocking very well in the running game and down-field. Grade: B

OLine – Another very solid effort for the big uglies upfront. They led SC to 174 yards on four yards a pop on the ground. And they only gave up one sack against a very good CAL front (7). Grade: B

Defense

DLine – Another nice game from the Dline. They controlled the line of scrimmage from start to finish. DE Everson Griffen is playing consistent football, garnering (4) tackles and a sack. This group helped hold CAL to only 86 yards rushing. Grade: B +

LBs – The LB unit combined for (17) tackles, (2.5) TFLs and (2) sacks – a superb game. MLB Chris Galippo broke up three passes, and substitute OLB Shane Horton was very active with (7) tackles. Grade: A minus

DBs – Taylor Mays' INT in the end zone to stop a CAL TD on the Bears' first possession set the tone for the game. He also made (10) tackles, including quite a few at the line of scrimmage on CAL RBs. CBs Josh Pinkard and Kevin Thomas chipped in with a combined (7) tackles. Grade: A minus


Special Teams

Kicking/Coverage/Returns – After a rocky start, the special teams unit finally looked special. FG kicker Jordan Congdon went 3 for 3 on FGs, and punter Jake Harfman averaged 40 yards per punt with good hang time to help the coverage team. But the dagger came from PR Damian Williams with the spectacular 66 yard punt return for a TD. Grade: A

Coaching

The coaching staff is starting to put it together. Offensively, SC is starting to look cohesive and comfortable in its play-calling. Red zone offense, however, needs improvement as SC settled for FGs on 3 of its 4 trips in that area. Defensively, it was the status quo – great stoppage of the opponents’ run game, and pressure on the passer to make passing difficult. The extra focus on avoiding penalties also paid off as SC only had (5) for the game. Grade: B

Prediction Winner:

JMW does it again!

Fellas, a nurse from Carson, CA is killing us . . . what’s going on here?!

Showdown at CAL

Well, it’s time to ask the question: Will the real Trojan football team please stand up?!

We know about the growing pains of SC’s offense, but the Bears are coming off an embarrassing blowout loss to the Oregon Ducks. Both of these teams have one loss, and realize this game will determine who’s a contender, and who’s a pretender.

There’s simply no other way to look at it - it’s put up or shut up time. Let’s break it down:

CAL

Offense – RB Jahvid Best is the straw that stirs the drink for CAL. He’s the Pac 10’s leading rusher at 116 ypg, and a home run threat. But what type of game CAL has offensively may rest on the arm of QB Kevin Riley. Riley has decent stats (57% passer with 5 TDs and 0 INTs), but he couldn’t make a play last week when Oregon focused on Best and put the game in his hands. CAL’s OLine let Riley down too by allowing (5) sacks and (6) QB hurries. Bear WRs Verran Tucker and Marvin Jones are solid receivers, but the Bear passing game is not nearly as effective as when they had #1 WR Nyan Boateng who was lost to injury in game two of the season.

Defense – This unit has not lived up to the high expectations they had at the beginning of the year. There is great personnel at every level – DE Tyson Alualu, LB Mike Mohamed and CB Syd’Quan Thompson – are all active players and all conference candidates. But the defense against the run has been shaky, and teams are effectively using play action pass attacks against them. Giving up (42) points to the Ducks last week has left this unit with a bad taste in their mouths.

USC

Offense – Another big test for QB Matt Barkley and the Trojan offense. We know Barkley is not afraid of hostile environments, and he looked very good last week vs. Wazzu. The question is: Will the Trojan offense get out of its own way, and not kill itself with turnovers and untimely penalties?

SC’s ability to pass down-field is greatly enhanced with Barkley, and despite the loss of Stafon Johnson, RBs McKnight, Bradford and Gable should be able to take up the slack. This game is also the toughest test for the OLine since the Ohio St. game. Their ability to open holes for the RBs and protect Barkley (CAL is 2nd in the Pac 10 in sacks) is a key to the game. Playmaking WR Damian Williams will face some good Bear CBs, but he’ll have to be a factor for SC to win.

Defense – SC’s defense has played at a high level all season. There’s no time to let down now . . . especially against CAL’s run game. The Trojan DLine and LBs have excelled against the run game, and pressured passers very well. Their focus will no doubt be on CAL RB Jahvid Best – but watch for backup Shane Vereen, who is also a very good player. And after having an easy game last week, the Trojan DBs will be tested by a solid group of Bear WRs.

Prediction: This has the makings of a barn-burner, even though the score may low.

USC – 20

CAL - 16

Trojans Beat Cougars, 27 – 6

A masterpiece . . . it wasn’t. But the Trojans did what they had to do, and showed some signs of improvement in beating the Washington State Cougars. But while it was a bounce back win for the Trojans who got off to a quick start, some old chinks in the armor revealed themselves yet again.

Let’s go to the grades:

Offense

QBs – Matt Barkley is back, and the difference was obvious right away for the Trojan offense. Although not at 100%, Barkley’s willingness to throw downfield resulted in two deep TD passes that helped get SC out to a 20 – 0 lead. Overall, Barkley went 13 – 22 for 247 yards. Backup Aaron Corp got a few snaps and promptly fumbled leading to Wazzu’s only score and an end to the Trojan shut out. Grade: B

RBs – The Trojans spread the wealth among RBs, with Allen Bradford making a strong impact with 6 carries for 55 yards (9.2 ypc). Joe McKnight and Stafon Johnson added TD runs for the Trojans. Grade: B

WRs/TEs – Damian Williams was the star of the show with 5 receptions for 100 yards, and a spectacular hook up with Barkley for a deep TD pass. The only blemish for Williams was a fumble in the 2nd quarter that stalled a Trojan drive. The only other contribution was a nice TD catch by WR Brice Butler. Grade: B minus

OLine – This unit had another solid game. They led the way for 150+ yards rushing and only gave up one sack. OG Alex Parsons, in particular, had a nice game and is having a strong season. Holding penalties were a problem, and put SC in bad position in the 2nd quarter of the game. Grade: B minus

Defense

DLine – SC’s DLine was lights out. Wazzu could not run or pass due to a ton of pressure from the Trojan front four. The DLine accounted for 4.5 sacks, and helped SC hold Wazzu to only 85 yards rushing. Grade: A

LBs – OLB Michael Morgan had an outstanding game with 2.5 sacks. Jordan Campbell led the way with (8) tackles, and LBs Shane Horton and Chris Galippo chipped in with a combined (11) tackles. Grade: B +

DBs – CB Josh Pinkard came up with a clutch INT near the goal line, and CB Kevin Thomas had a sack. But otherwise, this group was not tested very much as Wazzu could only muster 144 yards through the air due to SC’s pressure on the QB.
Grade: B

Special Teams

Kicking/Coverage/Returns – On the positive side, SC may have found its punter. Jake Harfman averaged 46+ yards per punt. On the down side, SC missed an FG, as Jordan Longdon came up short on a 43 yarder due to messed up timing. For the second consecutive game, Damian Williams had a 25+ yard punt return. Grade: C

Coaching

With QB Barkley at the helm, the offensive coaches felt much more comfortable being aggressive in the passing plays - but may be a little too much, as SC could have run at will. Play-caller coach Bates is still searching for the elusive run/pass rhythm that can make SC’s offense go. Big negative issues are the penalties and turnovers which stopped Trojan drives in the 2nd quarter. Defensively, SC couldn’t have played much better with it’s first teamers. The 2nd/3rd team defense gave ground, but would have preserved a shutout if not for an offensive team fumble that gave Wazzu the ball back in the waning minutes of the game. Grade: B minus

Prediction Winner: Payback . . . bow down!

The Cougars Visit the Coliseum

Somebody has to pay for SC's poor performance last week, and it might as well be the Washington State Cougars. The Cougars have been a downtrodden team the last few years, and come into this game 1 - 2, with losses to Stanford and Hawaii.

But this is still an important game for SC. The Trojans have to work on some things, and have a clean game all the way around. Better execution and quarterback play on offense are essential for USC to start climbing back up the ladder to elite status. It starts tonight.

Washington St.

Offense - Wazzu is another Spread team that has used two QBs, Kevin Lopina and Marshall Lobbestael. Neither QB has lit it up as they've combined for only 3 TDs and 5 INTs. The RB unit was hurt by the loss of James Montgomery for the season. Dwight Tardy takes over, and he has rushed for 117 yards in three games this year. WRs Jared Karstetter and Daniel Blackledge lead the team with (11) receptions apiece.

Defense - This unit is in bad shape. The Cougars rank 119th in total defense, giving up 537 yards per game. The pass defense ranks last in the country (120th), and the run defense isn't much better ranking 92nd. Safeties Xavier Hicks and Chima Nwachukwu have been extremely busy, leading the Cougars in tackles with (20) apiece.

USC

Offense - QB Matt Barkley is back, but not at 100%. Hopefully, he will be healthy enough to take some shots down-field and get the SC offense going against a porous Cougar defense. The running game should flow well behind an offensive line that has been very good this year. Expect a lot of RBs to play in this game. After last game, the WRs Damian Williams and David Ausberry would like to get a work out against the Wazzu CBs who get knocked over by a stiff breeze.

Defense - After three games of solid defense, this unit is looking to pitch a shutout versus the Cougars. The DLine should be able to get excellent penetration, and the DBs are looking to have a bounce back game after a sub-par effort last week. The LBs have been really good all year long behind Chris Galippo and Mike Morgan.

Prediction Time:

USC - 41
WSU - 0

Trojans Suffer Dawg Bite, 16 - 13

Unbelievable. Not that the Trojans lost, but how they lost. Turnovers, poor quarterback play, suspect coaching calls . . . you name it. Losing this one hurt because after the very first offensive possession, this didn't look like Trojan football at all.

Here's the ugly truth:

Offense

QB - Well, this was pretty bad. This was Aaron Corp's chance to get it done, and the situation just overwhelmed him. Corp started out fine, going 6 - 7 for 43 yards in the 1st quarter. But then the kid came un-glued - short armed passes, pass thrown into double/triple coverage, and no desire to look down-field to make a play. Corp finished 13 - 22, for 110 yards and (1) INT . . . which easily could have been (4) INTs. Grade: F

RBs/FBs - Again, this group started off well. But then fumbles by Stafon Johnson, Joe McKnight and Stanley Havili played a crucial role in SC's offensive troubles. Despite rushing for 250 yards on 7+ yards per carry, this group put the ball on the carpet too much. Inexcusable. Grade: D minus

WRs/TE - These guys did not get much of a chance with SC's QB troubles. The unit had a paltry 6 receptions for 68 yards. Grade: C

OLine - The OLine was on point from the beginning opening huge holes in the first half behind the right side - Alex Parsons and Tyron Smith. Not only did they lead the way for 250 yards rushing, but they did not give up a sack in the game.
Grade: A

Defense

DLine - Another good game for this unit who recorded (4) sacks on the game, led by DE Nick Perry with two sacks. Washington rushed for only 56 yards on the game due in part to the DLine's penetration. Grade: A minus

LBs - Solid games from OLB Michael Morgan (3 TFLs) and MLB Chris Galippo (8 tackles to lead the team) were key to keeping UW QB Jake Locker locked up for the most of the game. OLB Malcolm Smith chipped in with (6) tackles. Grade: B

DBs - A sub-par game for this group considering their past high level performances. The DBs (Kevin Thomas in particular) were victimized on a couple of long passing plays on 3rd down. The Trojans did not allow a passing TD, but the Huskies throw for 237 yards. Grade: C minus

Special Teams

Kicking/Coverage/Returns: SC's kicking game is slowly, but surely improving. Punter Billy O'Malley averaged 41 yards per punt, and FG kicker Jordan Congdon was 2 - 2 on FGs. Punt returner Damian Williams also gave the Trojans a spark with a 29 yard punt return in the 2nd half. Grade: C+

Coaching

Really suspect offensive play calls in this game. With Corp completely frozen, SC did not use the run game enough. And the mismanagement of the FG try at the end of the first half (calling a running play with 11 secs. left and no timeouts) was brutal . . . and devastating. Defensively, the gameplan to bottle-up UW QB Jake Locker was good. But a decision not to blitz on UW's 3rd and 15 play with the game basically on the line was also devastating. Grade: D

Prediction Winner:

Nobody. There were no winners in this game.

Trojans Enter the Dawg Pound

The USC Trojans are singing that Willie Nelson classic, “On the Road Again”, as they venture up to Seattle to face a re-energized Washington Husky team. All of the drama surrounds the match up of former students vs. teacher, as former Trojan assistant coaches Steve Sarkisian and Nick Holt square off against Pete Carroll.

But the drama doesn’t end there. SC will have former first string QB Aaron Corp at the helm, and UW stadium can be a tough place to play. Can the Trojan take care of business, or will the Dawgs bite finally be bigger than its bark?

Let’s check out the matchups:

UW

Offense – The straw that stirs the drink for the Huskies is QB Jake Locker. A dual threat QB, Locker is slowly but surely improving his passing completing 60% with 5 TDs and 1 Int. He’s a good runner, as well. RB Chris Polk has provided some help in the running game, averaging 85 yards per contest. The receiver the Huskies count on is James Johnson who has a couple of TD catches this year.

Defense

The Husky defense is led by an active LB unit. MLB E.J. Savannah leads the team in tackles with (19), and OLBs Donald Butler and Mason Foster is an under-rated player with a nose for the ball. Upfront, DEs Daniel Te’o Nesheim and Cameron Elisara are pretty good pass rushers. Safety Nate Williams is the best DB in the Husky secondary.

USC

Offense – With QB Matt Barkley injured, Aaron Corp gets his chance to run the Trojan offense. Also a dual threat QB, Corp is a smooth player who moves the chains with smart decision making. Trojan RBs McKnight, Johnson, Bradford, et. al. will get plenty of opportunities as its always easier to run the ball in a noisy stadium. The WRs/TEs are chomping at the bit to have a break out game – could it happen here? The Huskies are a dismal 96th in the country in pass defense.

Defense – This unit has been excellent overall. The defensive line will once again have to play disciplined football to corral Husky QB Locker – led by DE Everson Griffen. DT Jurell Casey has been a monster so far in ’09. MLB Chris Galippo and OLB Mike Morgan have been extremely active, and CB Josh Pinkard and crew will have to be ready as Husky QB Locker has stayed in the pocket to pass more this year.

Prediction Time:

USC – 31
UW - 13

Dang . . . that was close! We said it was a clash of heavyweight college football programs, and the Trojans got the 15th round KO with one last offensive drive that will go down as a classic.

It doesn’t get much tougher: Ohio St. in the ‘Shoe . . . 106,000 screaming fans . . . trailing 15 – 10 . . . 1st and 10 at your own 15 yard line. . . with a true freshman at QB.

No problem for Matt Barkley and the Trojans.

So how did Barkley do it? Just when did the Trojan OLine finally take over the game? And is a stellar defensive effort by USC being overlooked? These questions and more are answered below . . . so let’s go to the grades!

Offense:

QB – The stats ain’t pretty for Barkley (15 – 31, 195 yards and an INT). He started the game a little shaky with some balls thrown behind receivers, and he missed some TD opportunities throwing the ball just out of bounds to Damian Williams and David Ausberry. But he came through when it counted. One of his spectacular throws was a 25 yarder in between defenders to TE Anthony McCoy on the final drive. Grade: B minus

RBs – Not a lot of running room in this game. But the Joe McKnight/Stafon Johnson combo rushed for 110 yards on 4 yards per carry, and got the tough yards when needed the most. Johnson rushed for 2 TDs. Grade: B

WRs/TE – The connections in the passing game just weren’t made to have a serious impact on the game. Damian Williams led the team with (5) catches for 51 yards. Success in this area would have really loosened up the 8 man “in the box” defensive formations Ohio St. was using. Grade: C minus

OLine – It was expected that SC had a significant advantage offensively in the trenches. It didn’t turn out that way during the game. According to OLine coach Pat Ruel, the Buckeyes used a defensive front four alignment that SC had not seen before. But they SC figured it out on the last offensive drive, and blew Ohio St. off the ball. However, SC only rushed for 118 yards on the game. Grade: C minus

Defense

DLine – Terrific game by this group. DT/NT Jurell Casey and DE Everson Griffen combined for (11) tackles, (2) TFLs, and a key sack that pushed the Buckeyes out of FG position that could have iced the game. Grade: B+

LBs – MLB Chris Galippo came through with an INT that led to SC’s first TD, and added (5) tackles for good measure. OLB Mike Morgan had a terrific game with (7) tackles, including (2) TFLs. Even LB Luthur Brown got back into the mix in goal line defensive situations. Grade: B+

DBs – In the first half, Safety Taylor Mays made a critical error in coverage that eventually cost SC a TD. But he did come back to make (8) tackles. CBs Josh Pinkard and Kevin Thomas were good against the pass, and contributed (7) more tackles between them, and a pass break up. Grade: C


Special Teams

The kicking and return units have yet to be special. Long snapper Cooper Stephenson air-mailed a deep snap to the punter for a safety, and punter Billy O’Malley has yet to get over the 40 yard per punt average (he only hit the 37 yard mark vs. the Buckeyes). To top it off, FG kicker Jordan Congdon banged the cross bar on a 44 yard attempt. He did nail a 23 yarder later in the game. Grade: D

Coaching

Offensively, the SC coaches were scrambling to crack the Buckeye code on defense. Give Ohio St. credit for a nice scheme and inspired performance, but I thought SC kept itself in 3rd and long situations by not running on first down enough. Defensively, the game plan to bottle up QB Terrelle Pryor mostly worked. Pryor hit a couple of nice passes in the first half, but then was frustrated by the Trojan defense for the majority of the game. Grade: C

Prediction Winner:

Mrs. Payback turned out to be the most reasonable one among us, and gets the W.


So what did you guys think? Post your "Comments" in the link below.

Trojans Go to the 'Shoe for Showdown with Buckeyes

This is why college football is fun. Two heavyweight teams . . . under the lights. . . 100,000+ fans.

USC crushed its first opponent San Jose St., while Ohio St. survived a serious scare from Navy. None of that matters now. Both teams will be jacked up to play the highlight game of the year so far. The winner will be the team that executes the best.

Let's get 'er done!

Ohio St.

Offense – For the Buckeyes, it starts and ends with QB Terrelle Pryor. A massive 6’6, 240lbs who can run, and is getting better at passing the ball with accuracy and consistency. Tailbacks Dan Herron and Brandon Saine will team with Pryor to pose a good running game. WRs Dane Sanzenbacher and DeVier Posey lead the receiving corp, and the OLine is solid with Center Michael Brewster anchoring the line with Jim Cordle at Tackle.

Defense – The Buckeyes had a lot of change over since last season. The DLine has the most returners with DE Cameron Heyward leading the charge up front. MLB Ross Homan mans the middle of the defense, and active Safety Kurt Coleman and CB Chimni Chekwa are the Buckeye’s best players in the secondary.

Special Teams – RB Brandon Saine and Lamarr Thomas are good return men on kickoffs, while WR Dan Sanzenbacher holds down punt return duties. The kicking game is good – FG kicker Aaron Petrey had a 50 yarder last week vs. Navy and was 3 – 3 on FGs. Punter John Thoma averages 44.5 yards per punt.

USC

Offense – Every week is a test for QB Matt Barkley, and Saturday night at the ‘Shoe is a tough one. Once again, it’s about protecting the ball and getting it to the playmakers. The RBs (McKnight, Johnson, Bradford and Gable) could be the stars of the show, behind an OLine that gets Center Kris O’Dowd back in the starting lineup. FB Stanley Havili should be the “not so secret weapon” that Ohio St. can’t cover, as well. WR Damian Williams and TE Anthony McCoy will need to help Barkley out with good games.

Defense – Corralling Buckeye QB Pryor will be no easy task. It starts with the DEs Everson Griffen and Wes Horton “staying at home” and not falling for the Read Option fake to the RB allowing Pryor to sprint to the outside. DT/NTs Jurell Casey and Christian Topou will have to control the middle as Ohio St. will run up the gut. It’s a big game also for OLB Malcolm Smith and the LBs who have to make sure tackles and play “downhill” football. Safeties Taylor Mays and Will Harris can be big helps to stopping the run game.

Special Teams – SC needs a better game out of its Punter Billy O’Malley who averaged less than 35 yards per punt. Kickoff return specialist CJ Gable should get some opportunities as the Ohio St. doesn’t get many touchbacks from its kickoff team.

Prediction:

USC – 31
Ohio St. - 10

Trojans Crush Spartans, 56 - 3

Well, it took a little while, but once the Trojan steamroller started moving, it left a trail of destruction the SJSU Spartans won't soon forget. USC moved into the Barkley era with a blowout victory, and answered a few questions along the way.

And now, let's grade 'em:

Offense

QBs - After a slow start, Barkley passed his first test with solid numbers of 15-19, 233 yards and a TD pass. Most importantly, he had no turnovers, no fumbled snaps, and didn't waste any timeouts because he was flustered. Aaron Corp got some mop up time and looked smooth on 4 for 4 passing and a TD pass. Grade: B

RBs/FBs - This was the RB unit's game to run wild. Joe McKnight, Allen Bradford and Marc Tyler each had spectacular long runs, and Stafon Johnson chipped in with (2) TDs. Stan Havili also had 3 receptions, and blocked very well on some long TD runs by the RBs. FB DJ Shoemate also had a TD catch. Grade: A minus

WRs/TEs - The WRs did a nice job of taking some short receptions and turning them into long runs. Damian Williams and TE Anthony McCoy led the way with 3 receptions. The only negative for the group was a fumble by McCoy in the first quarter.
Grade: B

OLine - The blocking at the point of attack and down-field was beautiful to see. Behind the big uglies, SC rushed for 342 yards. Grade: A minus

Defense

DLine - Great day for the young DLine that collected (5) sacks. DT/NT Jurell Casey was active, and redshirt freshmen DE Nick Perry tallied two sacks, while DE Wes Horton recovered a fumble. True frosh DE Devon Kennard had five tackles, including 1.5 TFLs, and JC transfer DT Loni Fangupo made his presence felt on the inside. Grade: B+

LBs - Nice game for the new posse. MLB Chris Galippo led the team in tackles with (9) including three TFLs. OLB Malcolm Smith was especially active, breaking up a pass while collecting 1.5 TFLs. True frosh Jarvis Jones also made his presence felt with (5) tackles. Grade: B+

DBs - These guys weren't tested much. Safety Taylor Mays, and CBs Josh Pinkard and Kevin Thomas supported the run defense well tallying (14) tackles, while holding SJSU to only 112 yards through the air. Grade: B

Special Teams

Kicking - Punter Billy O'Malley needs to improve upon his 34 yard average, but new kickoff specialist Jake Harfman impressed with three touchbacks. The return and coverage units were solid, with one spectacular hit from DJ Shoemate on the kickoff team. Grade: C+

Coaching - Coaches Carroll and Bates did a nice job of giving QB Barkley what he could handle, and easy options to choose from in the passing game. But as usual, a QB's best friend is the running game, and SC ran often to sprint away from SJSU. The defense did it's normal thing: Dominate. SJSU accounted for a measley 121 yards in total offense. Grade: B

Game Balls:

Offense - Offensive Line (Brown, Lewis, Byers, Parsons, Smith)
Defense - MLB Chris Galippo
Special Teams - FB DJ Shoemate


Prediction Winner: J-Man takes the cheese!

Trojans Face Spartans in the Coliseum

We're baaaack . . . for game one baby!

The 2009 season is about to jump off with more story lines than a Hollywood screenplay. But this ain't the movie "300" or "Gladiator"! This is Trojan football versus the San Jose State Spartans in the legendary Coliseum.

Let's get it crackin'!

San Jose State

Offense

It was a tough season for the Spartan offense in 2008. They only averaged 18 points per game, less than 100 yards rushing per game and less than 200 yards passing per game. But the hope is that returning QB Kyle Reed is another year older and wiser, and the offensive line is tougher after getting a couple of injured former starters back. Running back Patrick Perry returns after missing all of 2008, plus speedy Brandon Rutley will be a big part of the Spartan attack after gaining about 400 yards last season. WR David Richmond (72 catches, 7 TDs in '08) will be the big play receiver on the outside.

Defense

The Spartan defensive line was very solid in 2008, but they need to replace a couple of good players this season. Linemen Carl Ihenacho will be the leader, returning from a big 2008 in which he had 18.5 TFLs and 7 sacks. The linebackers are the strength of the defense with leading tacklers Travis Jones and Justin Cole manning the middle. The secondary is rebuilt and young. Safety Duke Ihenacho will lead the back four after posting 5 INTs in 2008.

Special Teams

The kicking game is up in the air for the Spartans as they have to replace their FG kicker with either a true frosh or JC transfer. Punter Phil Zavala is back, but must improve on a 36 yard average. The return game will be led by RB Brandon Rutley who averaged over 26 yards per return on kickoffs.

USC

Offense

The Barkley era begins! The first true frosh to start at QB in Trojan history goes to work on Saturday, and Matt Barkley is the guy. What must he do? Job numero uno is protect the football ... then spread the ball around to the athletes at RB, WR, and TE. The OLine is veteran and terrific (even without center Kris O'Dowd). Joe McKnight will start at RB, but Stafon Johnson, CJ Gable and Allen Bradford will all get carries. WR Damian Williams is a proven playmaker, and TE Anthony McCoy is ready for a big season after a strong Fall Camp.

Defense

SC doesn't rebuild, it reloads. And the defense is reloading with new starters in the front (7), but a veteran and talented secondary. DE Everson Griffen returns for what should be a big year. MLB Chris Galippo leads the LB core with new starting OLBs Malcolm Smith and Mike Morgan. Safety Taylor Mays patrols the DB unit that will strike fear into every opponent they face.

Special Teams

SC replaces it's FG kicker with Jordan Longdon, a transfer from Nebraska who is very accurate 40 yards and under. Billy O'Malley takes over the punting duties, with Jake Harfman kicking off after Trojan scores.

WR Damian Williams is the new starting punt returner, while CJ Gable assumes the familiar role of kickoff returner. Gable will be joined by redshirt frosh jitterbug, Curtis McNeal.

Prediction:

USC - 31

SJSU - 3

Trojans Skin Nittany Lions, 38 - 24