USC Blog

December 26, 2009

Trojans go nuts
By: Matt Deringer

 
As if finishing the season in the Emerald Bowl wasn't bad enough, USC does so tonight without its No. 1 weapon, tailback Joe McKnight, and two other offensive starters whose first semester grades made them academically ineligible.
 
Redshirt freshman Matt Kalil will make his first start in place of Tyron Smith at right tackle, while Rhett Ellison replaces Anthony McCoy at tight end. USC's offense, averaging 34.5 points per game with freshman Matt Barkley distributing the ball to McCoy, second on the team in receiving yards, dropped off precipitously - 18.3 ppg - when the senior sprained his ankle against Oregon State and missed most of the Trojans' next three games, including losses to Oregon and Stanford.
 
Ellison is the only scholarship tight end ready to play tonight. Wide receiver Jordan Cameron and long-snapper Cooper Stephenson will serve as his backups with Blake Ayles out with a knee injury.
 
"(Ellison's) used to playing when we use two tight ends," Pete Carroll said. "So it's not that big a deal."
 
"I'm used to practicing a lot because guys have been hurt all season," Ellison said. "But it's definitely exciting knowing I will get to play a lot."
 
Defensive tackle Averell Spicer also was declared academically ineligible after his first semester grades. The senior was a backup and missed most of the season with physical problems, so his loss isn't as much to mitigate as Smith's.
 
Kalil is as prepared as possible. A prep All-American whose brother, Ryan, was a second-round draft choice by the Carolina Panthers in 2007, Kalil has practiced at both tackle spots the last two years, and played (on a limited basis) in every game but the one at Arizona State this season.
 
"I'm excited," he said. "It's a chance for me to show what I can do and step up. I think I'm ready to play."
 
Which is what Carroll is counting on. Even with McKnight, USC's leader in rushing (1,014 yards) and touchdowns (eight) and tied for third with McCoy in receptions (22) - likely to be held out pending completion of a university investigation into an "improper benefit" reported by the Los Angeles Times, the Trojans have the talent to dispose of a Boston College team not expected to go bowling when the season began.
 
The x-factor, as it is in most bowl games, and as was visibly the case in USC's last game against Arizona, is whether the Trojans have their hearts in it. USC returned scores of unsold tickets to the Emerald Bowl, and even Carroll admitted earlier in the week that he was looking forward to the season ending, so he could get to work on the next one.
 
With guys like safety Taylor Mays and left guard Jeff Byers playing their final games, Allen Bradford probably getting the ball at tailback more than at any time in his USC career, and No. 1 wide receiver Damian Williams potentially off to the NFL after the Emerald Bowl, Ellison hasn't seen motivation as an issue.
 
"There's been a lot of new energy, and everyone is fired up," Ellison said. "I think guys are pretty excited."
 
Carroll definitely is.
 
"Our players like to work out," he said. "They love to play games. I can guarantee you that they're going to play this game like it's the national-championship game."

December 15, 2009

Going and Gone
 By: Matt Deringer
 

Josh Pinkard, a sixth-year senior who missed 2006 after tearing his right ACL in the season opener and 2007 after tearing his left ACL in fall camp, won't play in USC's bowl game because of a knee injury sustained in the season finale against Arizona.
 
With Pinkard out, Shareece Wright, who has practiced with the Trojans but been able to play this season while academically ineligible, T.J. Bryant (PS#12), and Brian Baucham (PS#23) are in the mix to start at cornerback the night after Christmas against Boston College.
 
Wright, a former starter, is awaiting the posting of fall semester grades to determine whether he is eligible. Pinkard moved from safety to cornerback in his place last year after the suffered a hairline fracture in his neck, causing him to miss most of 2008.
 
Bryant is a sophomore the Trojans pried away from Florida powerhouse Lincoln High in Tallahassee two years ago. He started all year in Pete Carroll's nickel defense after playing sparingly as a freshman.
 
Baucham is a redshirt freshman from nearby Torrance, Calif., who wasn't as widely regarded as Bryant, a more athletic cover corner, but has impressed coaches with his toughness since enrolling at USC. Baucham has been limited since September by a foot fracture and other injuries he suffered in a motorcycle accident.
 
"It's a tough break for Josh," secondary coach and defensive coordinator Rocky Seto said. "Now we'll see how other guys respond."
 
One Trojan who already has is utilityman Garrett Green, who tore his ACL Thanksgiving weekend, but got himself cleared by doctors to play in his final game at USC. Green will hold on extra points and field goals.
 
One senior who might have already played his final game at USC is Stafon Johnson. Reports last week on NFL.com and yesterday on ESPN have the senior tailback opting for the NFL Draft rather than applying for a medical hardship year and sixth season of eligibility at USC.
 
Over the weekend, Johnson was named most inspirational player at the team's award banquet for coming back from a life-threatening weight lifting accident. He continues to have difficulty talking, but is almost back to his playing weight of 215.
 
Carroll said Johnson hasn't informed him of a decision yet, but, "Wherever his heart is, where he feels best about it, I'm going to support him."

December 4, 2009

Senior Day
 By: Matt Deringer
 

USC closes the season against someone other than UCLA or Notre Dame for the first time since 2003 (Oregon State), and can go to the Holiday Bowl - or more importantly, not go to the Sun Bowl - with a win over Arizona. But for Pete Carroll, it's about one more time in the Coliseum with his seniors.
 
"It feels unusual," Carroll said of a game USC moved from October to Saturday for TV purposes. "This is a normal finishing point of the season when you play your cross-town rival. But it's not like we got surprised by this. We've known all along that this was happening. So I don't think it's going to be any problem. We're looking forward to another game.
 
"It's a great group of (seniors). I hate seeing them go. But we'll be excited as always to see them go on and move on ahead. We'd love to send them off on a great note."
 
Coming off a win over UCLA - and the fallout over UCLA's timeout and USC's 48-yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds remaining - and facing a team the Trojans have beaten by seven points each of the last two years, it won't be easy. Arizona is second in the Pac-10 in passing offense and total defense, and came within seconds of beating Oregon and playing to go to the Rose Bowl itself this week.
 
"They've had a big year," Carroll said of Mike Stoops' Wildcats. "They've had at times really, really big things happen offensively. They've got a really unique offense. They do some real classic stuff in the running game and their play-actions with all kinds of basic personnel groups. Then they have a big influence of their spread offense. They have a wide open throwing game as they spread it out in their four receiver looks.
 
"And they have a two-quarterback potential system where when they bring in (Matt) Scott, he's much more anxious to run the football and do the quarterback running things that we've seen so common in the last couple of years. So they present a lot of problems for us."
 
Especially when Carroll can't be sure which defense to expect. In the last month, the Trojans have given up 1,082 yards and 95 points to Oregon and Stanford, and held more-pedestrian Arizona State and UCLA to 669 yards and 16 points.
 
After the Oregon game, Carroll blamed himself for running too complicated a defense. He simplified things for Stanford, the Trojans just got run over.
 
"We didn't play well at Oregon," Carroll said. "We played a lot better (against) Stanford than we did at Oregon. It didn't look like it but we did. I think it's a combination of those teams being really good and us not being on it.
 
"We also matched up better in the styles of play with (Arizona State, UCLA). The Arizona State game, we were right on track, we balanced everything just right. Against UCLA, we controlled the rhythm. I also think really good quarterback play made a difference (in losses to Oregon and Stanford).
 
"We need to pare everything down (against Arizona)," Carroll said. "We just need to make sure we give ourselves a chance to play our best with our gameplan."
 
USC also needs more consistent quarterback play from Matt Barkley. Thanks to the late score against UCLA, the freshman has averaged 175 yards passing per game with five touchdowns against six interceptions as the Trojans have slid from 6-1 to 8-3 the last month.
 
"I was hoping as the play around him improved, we would make it easier for him," Carroll said of his quarterback, who has taken every snap since returning from a shoulder injury that kept him out of USC's loss at Washington. "The running game has been OK, but third down is a problem. I wish we didn't have penalty issues and more support from the defense."
 
Of particular concern is USC's 34 percent conversion rate on third downs, which ranks 100th out of the 120 teams in Div. I-A.
 
"It continues to be an issue," Carroll said. "We had a little bit of an upswing. Because of the long yardage situations, we gave up on some of them just to kick the football back. But we were 4 of 12 last week again, which is what stinks for us. We have to improve there."
 
The Trojans will try with an improved Joe McKnight, who looks full-speed after bruising his thigh against UCLA - Allen Bradford bullied the Bruins for 62 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries in his stead - and a retooled offensive line. Kris O'Dowd is back at center for the first time since mid-October, with sixth-year senior Jeff Byers again at left guard and Butch Lewis in place of Alex Parsons, who has started the last 21 games, at right guard.
 
"We haven't had a chance to get Kris playing much," Carroll said of his preseason All-American center, who coaches have been sitting because of disappointing play after returning from a dislocated kneecap. "It's really a chance to get Kris in a game."
 
It helps that O'Dowd chose USC as one of the top offensive linemen in the nation coming out of high school in Tucson. But for Carroll, Arizona is more about the last home game for the seniors. Byers and defensive backs Josh Pinkard and Kevin Thomas remain from the last USC team to play for the national title (against Texas in 2006), and the 16 other seniors on the team were part of the most successful run in USC history.
 
"It will be the end of all the jokes about the 14-year vets and all that stuff," Carroll said of Byers and Pinkard. "They've been around forever.
 
"But those guys have really paid the price physically. The reason that they're here for their sixth year is because of the injury situations that they've had to overcome and endure. Jeff's had a myriad of things that he's gone through and dealt with. And Josh, with both the knee injuries. So they kind of stand out in my mind and I think in our team's mind. Both those guys are captains on this team and great leaders for us, great kids in the program and the. They're kind of emblematic of why we celebrate the seniors.
 
"Regardless of whether you're going from Anthony McCoy at tight end, and Charles Brown (at left tackle), those guys have grown up in the program. Taken hold of their positions and become great players for us and leaders at their positions.
 
"(Safety) Taylor Mays has had a fantastic career started every game but his first one that he ever participated in. He's been an extraordinary Trojan in so many ways, and has given back to his teammates and to his school and the community and all of the beautiful things that he's stood for. It goes on and on."
 
One senior who won't be on the field for the Trojans is Garrett Green, the multipurpose star who tore his ACL last week against UCLA. Green will undergo surgery after the bowl game so he can go through the tunnel in USC's pregame salute, as will tailback Stafon Johnson, who continues his recovery from a late-September weightlifting accident.
 
"I don't know if I'll be on crutches, hopping or limping," Green said, "but I'll find a way. Hopefully, I won't slow anyone down."
 
Green came to USC a quarterback from one of Southern California's foremost high school football programs (Sherman Oaks Notre Dame), and as a sophomore, threw a touchdown off a lateral for USC's first points in a Rose Bowl-rout of Illinois. But the business administration major with a B+ average will be remembered more for his versatility and work-ethic than any one moment.
 
"He has been an absolute leader in this program, in particular this season," Carroll said. "He just kind of took over the special teams units. He is by far the biggest point-getter for his overall play. He's done something at every phase of our special teams and has been uniquely good. You know, he's really stood out.
"And he's such a great kid and such a hard-worker. Always been open to help with anything we've ever asked him. He's played quarterback, receiver, safety for us. He's done a little bit of everything. We'll miss him tremendously.

"I was crushed when I saw he was going to come out of there on crutches the other night, that he was going to miss the last couple of games of the year, just because he was such a big factor. He was special teams captain of the game (against UCLA) for the third time this year. You know, that's a big loss.

"But more importantly, I wanted to see him finish off this year and really take big pride for having such a big impact on this football team. We won't not recognize that, but I just wish he would have had a chance to finish."

USC and Arizona finish at 12:30 p.m. Pacific on ABC.

November 27, 2009

Rivalry Week
By: Matt Deringer
 

USC will gladly throw the records out against UCLA - at least, the 716 yards rushing and 102 points it's allowed in losing two of its last three games - if that's what it takes for the Trojans to get back on track.
 
"This is a game where no one worries about the past," middle linebacker Chris Galippo said. "It's just about winning. Losing (like the Trojans did last time out) and then having a bye week is awful."
 
Pete Carroll agrees. To a point.
 
"We're tuned into the fact that we're playing crosstown rivals and we're playing at home," Carroll said. "It's a big deal here finishing well with the season. Our focus is very keen right now.
 
"But that doesn't mean we're not going to enjoy it and have fun with it. That's the whole point. We're here to enjoy the heck out of it and win when we can."
 
USC (7-3, No. 24) comes in with its annual goal - the Rose Bowl - out of reach, and its lowest ranking in the AP poll since the end of 2001. But with wins over UCLA and Arizona, the Trojans can finish with double-digit victories for the eighth consecutive season, and even sneak one of the at-large BCS bids (though the Holiday Bowl appears the best they can do).
 
"I don't ever talk about the BCS," Carroll said. "I don't talk anything about those games that are out there and those matchups and rankings. We never talk about it. To me, it's a waste of time.
 
"If it's at the very end of the season, then it's topical. You take a look and accounting of where you are. But in the meantime, those are not the dwelling points. So when it looks like those aren't options that might come to pass, those aren't topics.
 
"Now, are the kids thinking about it and talking about it in the locker room? Sure. It comes up. That's part of it. But it's never been our focus. Our focus is about maximizing opportunities and doing the best with what we have and taking it as far as we can. That discipline, to focus in that manner, is something that's really helped us over the years. It's helped us deal with the highs and the lows and the challenges and the computers, you name it, all that stuff that has happened.
 
"Talking about bowl games, I have no idea where that is right now. I don't want anybody else figuring that out. We don't need to. We need to play this game and have a really good day to demonstrate those abilities that demonstrate the focus that allows us to play as well as we're capable. That's how we think, and how it works.
 
"So (bowl possibilities) probably enter into the conversation, but (players) aren't hearing it from me. They never have. And we're not backing off anything. We'll see how far we can go this weekend, and that's how we do it."
 
USC hopes to do it with leading receiver Damian Williams, who sat out against Stanford after suffering a high-ankle sprain Nov. 7. Williams returned to practice last Monday, and has been cleared to play.
 
"I think he's the kind of guy that will find a way," Carroll said of the junior. "He's going to try. He'll find out how to adapt. He did it with a hamstring strain a couple weeks ago (at Arizona State) when he shouldn't have played."
 
Injuries are no longer an issue for tight end Anthony McCoy (ankle), fullback Stanley Havili (shoulder), and Allen Bradford (foot). Nick Howell worked in place of fellow senior Alex Parsons at right guard during the bye week, but Parsons will start against UCLA. Senior Jeff Byers is still ahead of Kris O'Dowd (kneecap) at center, meaning Butch Lewis will start again at left guard.
 
The bigger question, of course, is on defense, where the Trojans get back end Everson Griffen (turf toe) and tackle Averell Spicer (torn calf) from injuries. Griffen, the Pac-10's sack leader, was missed against Stanford, while Spicer is expected to give the Trojans a physical presence they lacked in losses to the Cardinal and Oregon.
 
Armond Armstead will play his second game in a row with a cast on his broken wrist, while freshman defensive end Devon Kennard (PS#7), will make his second start at linebacker in place of senior Michael Morgan (wrist). Against Stanford, Kennard had four tackles opposite weakside starter Shane Horton, who struggled a week after a strong effort at Arizona State, and Malcolm Smith, who was returning from a shoulder injury.
 
"We've put a lot of emphasis in our positioning and done extra work against the run," Kennard said. "I feel like we'll take a big step forward."
 
"He's transitioned beautifully," Carroll said of Kennard. "He's really physical."
 
So are the Bruins, who will wear their home jerseys at the Coliseum for the first time since 1982, and for the 79th time in as many years of the rivalry - USC leads 43-28-7 - can make their season with a victory.
 
"This time around, this is a big game for everybody. And for everybody that lives in southern California," Carroll said. "We recognize that.
 
"It is (a big game), of course, for our fans and our school and all of that, as it is for (UCLA). You know, it's an opportunity to own something that's really precious here. When you have that win, it's a big deal, and it's fun, I love it. Don't want to give it up. It's too fun to be on that end of it."
 
The fun kicks off at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports Net.

November 20, 2009

Can USC Stop the Hemorrhaging?
By Matthew Melon
(soularchives.blogspot.com)

It is still baffling to me how USC’s defense went down in flames last Saturday in the Los Angeles Coliseum. Stanford handed the Trojans an emphatic beatdown, putting up 55 points on USC. And if fiendish Jim Harbaugh had more time, he would have instructed his team to punch in more touchdowns. Pete Carroll never imagined that his team would give up the most points in school history, not in his tenure, I bet. Carroll’s track record has been nothing short of brilliant: seven Pac-10 titles, six BCS bowl victories, seven BCS bowl appearances, 63 consecutive games of 20 points, two national championships and the list goes on. What has happened to this team that used to be a juggernaut on offense and played sound defense?

Through the first five games, the defense gave up an average of 8.6 points per game. It started with the Notre Dame game where they gave up 27 points, and they stopped an Irish team that was coming back for the win. The following week saw them thwart an Oregon State team that has given them headaches in the last couple of years, beating them in 2006 and 2008.  Then the Halloween game in Autzen Stadium: this scenario could not get any worse. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli unleashed a monster game against the defense, racking up 164 yards rushing and true freshman running back Lamichael James upped Masoli, adding 183 yards on the ground with one touchdown. The Ducks cruised to a 47-20 win. It was embarrassing to see a defense get picked apart like they did. They looked defeated and were outplayed the entire game.

Arizona State was next and this game ended up being a close contest, 14-9. The defense played notably better, making better tackles and their angles of pursuit were more precise. However, the Sun Devils are 92nd in total offense. Hardly an offensive juggernaut, compared to Oregon who is 32nd in total offense and 6th in rushing offense. The city of Los Angeles rested easy after this game and had confidence in Carroll and his staff that what happened against the Ducks would not happen again. But it did.

Last Saturday, the Cardinal team undressed the USC on their home field. Senior running back Toby Gerhart racked up 178 yards on the ground with 3 touchdowns, and true freshman quarterback Andrew Luck (who is going to be a star when he comes out) ran for 61 yards for good measure. There wasn’t anything that Stanford did that USC has not seen: North-South running by Gerhart which opened up play-action passes and precise throws by Luck. There was no spread-option attack that Oregon runs, nothing of the sorts. Probably the best facet of the game for Stanford was the play of the offensive line; they mauled and pushed back the Trojans’ defensive line and negated the linebackers. Luck had time to throw, and Gerhart had seems to run through. Basic football, nothing else.

But the blame does not rest solely on the defense’s shoulders. On offense, Matt Barkley threw 3 interceptions and fumbled; these turnovers were converted into points, 28 points. I’m not going to be overly critical of Barkley because for a true freshman he has done well. He needs to improve and do better at taking what the defense gives him.

Injuries have hit USC hard this year similar to Oklahoma: Anthony McCoy, Stanli Havli, David Ausberry, Allen Braford, Damien Williams and the defense has their own share of set backs.  A young quarterback needs his safety valves in times when things are not going well. Barkley has a good rapport with Williams (who did not play due to injury) and McCoy (who returned from injury but pulled in one catch for seven yards). The good news was sophomore Brice Butler stepped up with six catches for 96 yards and one touchdown. This was a bright spot for this offense. Even with Butler’s performance, Joe McKnight might have out-shined him with 146 yards on the ground, an outstanding 8.9 yard per carry average. Simply, brilliant by McKnight.

Carroll has raised expectations since he started in 2001. And we are finally seeing that it is hard to maintain that level of success: he has given us a rich piece of chocolate cake with a delectable layer of frosting, but now our piece of cake is devoid of frosting and does not wash down smoothly. We have been spoiled with the reloading of players, but this year we see a noticeable drop off. Also, losing your coaching staff adds to this problem as well. The loss of Norm Chow, Lane Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian, Nick Holt and many others behind the scenes we do not know about. Carroll needs a veteran assistant to help him on gameday to see things he might miss and to give him a hand. He is doing too much.

Tuesday’s practice saw Carroll talking about shaking things up and utilizing other players: “this week, there will be a number of players moving around and playing with the first-team to get a chance to showcase their talents.” The bye week has come at the right time for the players to heal, and for Carroll and his staff to assess new players that can contribute. The open competition will make everyone accountable for doing the best at their respective positions. It cannot get any worse for The Men of Troy. When you hit rock-bottom you can only go up. And if there is anyone I would want guiding my ship through the perilous waters, it is Pete Carroll.

Feel free to leave comments at matthewmelon617@verizon.net

November 14, 2009

Rubbing It In
By: Matt Deringer

A season unlike any other at USC - a true freshman starting at quarterback, a come-from-behind win at Ohio State, a second-consecutive upset in the Pac-10 opener, a record eighth W in a row over Notre Dame, the largest loss of the Pete Carroll Era two weeks later - took another unexpected turn when, up 48-21 after a Toby Gerhart touchdown run halfway through the fourth quarter, Jim Harbaugh ordered Stanford to go for two. The Trojans won that battle, stopping the Cardinal at the goal line, but lost the game, suffering a 55-21 defeat of un-USC like proportions that sent a Homecoming crowd off wondering which Sun Belt city would be next month's bowl destination.
 
"I'm not sure I have the right words to describe being humbled like this," Carroll said. "I don't really know where to put it. ... We have fallen apart and given our opponents the opportunity to do whatever they want. But you have to give Stanford a lot of credit."
 
Without Arizona State to kick around, the Trojans were back to missing tackles, taking wrong angles to the ball, getting lost on misdirection, and getting pushed around up front. Stanford's Gerhart (178 yards rushing) and Andrew Luck (144 passing, 61 rushing) scored three touchdowns apiece, while the Cardinal piled up 469 yards of offense and converted eight of 11 third downs.
 
"We came out, and there was something wrong," defensive captain Taylor Mays said. "To be a senior and leave a legacy like this, it's sickening."
 
The defense wasn't alone. Matt Barkley turned the ball over four times, fumbling at the Stanford 29 on the first series, getting a flat-footed pass tipped and picked at the USC 35 the next, throwing a pick-six down 35-21 early in the fourth quarter, and  again two series later. In the two wins (by 11 points) and two losses (by 61) since his record-setting day at Notre Dame, Barkley has completed 55 percent of his passes for six touchdowns and seven interceptions.
 
"I'm not used to this," Barkley said. "I don't know what to think right now."
 
And what to think of Stanford's two-point attempt with 6:47 remaining?
 
"I just honestly thought there was an opportunity coming off the ball," Harbaugh explained, "the way our backs were running and the way we were playing."
 
"I don't know what they were thinking with that," Carroll said. "But in that situation, they get to do whatever they want."
 
Unfortunately, there wasn't anything he could do about it.
 
Notes: The Trojans have a bye next week. They play again the Saturday night of Thanksgiving weekend, against UCLA at the Coliseum.

November 12, 2009

Homecoming for Trojans
By: Matt Deringer

USC plays its first home game since Oct. 24, and just its second since Sept. 26, tomorrow when its oldest rival comes to town.

"Homecoming has a significant ring this time around, Pete Carroll said. "More so than ever, it feels great to have a chance to play at the Coliseum and play in front of our home crowd."

Despite leading the series 59-25-3 since its inception in 1905, USC (7-2, 4-2, 4th in the Pac-10) needs all the help it can get this year against Stanford (6-3, 5-2, 3rd in the Pac-10). The Cardinal's 6-foot-1, 235-pound tailback Toby Gerhart leads the Pac-10 and is second in the nation in rushing at 135 yards per game (5.2 per carry), while its redshirt freshman quarterback, Andrew Luck, leads the conference in passing efficiency and ranks second in total offense (244 yards per game passing, 11 rushing). Stanford is also the only team since 2002 to beat USC at the Coliseum, upsetting the Trojans 24-23 in 2007, Jim Harbaugh's first season.

"They have a real obvious core of their offense in Toby Gerhart, just a hammer back there running the football," Carroll said. "They've built their style around his physical nature, and it's working very well for them.

"They've turned out a fantastic talent at quarterback in Andrew Luck, who has just grown before our eyes just this season. He's playing great football and (Harbaugh's) showing tremendous confidence in him. They allow him to throw the ball all over the field."

Stopping the run is always Carroll's first worry, but the play-action pass this week comes in a close second. Gerhart and Luck accounted for 474 of Stanford's 505 total yards last week in an upset of Oregon.

"It surprised me the way they did it," Carroll said of how Stanford put up 51 points. "They didn't do it running the football, they did it by throwing the ball. They totally bombed them. They went deep, I don't know, 10 times in the first half and hit about six of them.

"As the game wore on and they had developed this factor that they were going to go after you in the throwing game, the running game became easy for them and (Gerhart) just pounded away."

Which might be USC's biggest shortcoming on defense. Freshman defensive end Devon Kennard (6-3, 255, PS#10) might start at strongside linebacker in place of Michael Morgan (6-4, 220), who has a problem with his wrist. Kennard just switched to linebacker Monday, but has impressed coaches.

"He's really astute and picked stuff up quickly on film," Carroll said. "He sees everything and has a knack for the position."

Kennard's move is in part because of Stanford's physical style, but primarily due to USC's lack of depth at linebacker. Chris Galippo is OK after bruising his knee at Arizona State, but Malcolm Smith (shoulder) is doubtful another week, and freshman Jarvis Jones (neck) is out his second game in a row. Shane Horton, who was second on the Trojans in tackles against Arizona State but got eaten up at Oregon, will start if Smith can't go, and play either way.

Working the team in half-pads as has been his practice every November since taking over at USC, Carroll couldn't emphasize filling gaps and wrapping up enough this week.

"This is a really precise team," Carroll said of Stanford. "We took extra work on blocking for the running game and the passing game. It's a challenging plan. We need to stop the run and pressure the quarterback."

And they need to do a better job of protecting their own. Barkley has thrown four interceptions the last two weeks, missing receivers but also getting pressured more than in the previous seven games. Arizona State frustrated the freshman with its defensive ends, tipping two passes, and breaking up four more.

"We don't have to make adjustments," offensive coordinator John Morton said. "Everybody has to do their job."

It would also help if Barkley got Anthony McCoy (sprained ankle) back. The senior tight end practiced lightly, but is questionable for Stanford's. So is No. 1 receiver Damian Williams, who suffered a dreaded high-ankle sprain on his touchdown at Arizona State, and is in a protective boot this week.

Redshirt freshman Brice Butler (PS#17) will start if Williams can't. Tailback Joe McKnight, who would return punts in place of Williams, could be a factor at receiver as well.

"Joe works at his route running every week," Carroll said. "Sometimes we get it to him and sometimes we don't. We'd like to be active this week."

The Trojans look to do so with fullback Stanley Havili, who will make his first start since separating his shoulder at Notre Dame. Havili is fourth on the team in receiving (14 catches for 207 yards), and gives Barkley and McKnight a more experienced blocker against the eighth-ranked total defense (giving up 388 yards per game, almost six per play) in the Pac-10.

"We're anxious to have Stanley back on the field," Carroll said.

He's also anxious to try to run his record in November to 29-0 (8-0 on Homecoming), and see if the Trojans can continue their streak of seven consecutive Pac-10 titles, AP Top 4 finishes, BCS bowl trips and 11-win seasons.

"The fact is, it's a huge opportunity in the conference for us," Carroll said. "It's Homecoming, and [Stanford's] coming off an enormous win. It's a great championship atmosphere for us as we prepare and as we take on our challenges here down the road to finish it off."

November 8, 2009

Trojans Eclipse Sun Devils
By: Matt Deringer

The Pac-10's eighth-ranked offense and a true freshman backup at quarterback were the cure for what ails USC - at least for a night - as Damian Williams broke a long touchdown pass and the much-maligned defense ran back another for a touchdown as the Trojans held off Arizona State, 14-9, in their final road game of the season.
 
"Basically it was going back to basic football this week," said safety Will Harris, who erased a 3-0 Sun Devil lead in the second quarter by picking off starter Danny Sullivan's pass and returning it 55 yards for a touchdown. "We played man-to-man coverages. That last game against Oregon, it made us realize we have to do things right."
 
USC did just enough right to win. With tight end Anthony McCoy in Los Angeles and fullback Stanley Havili limited (the pair were two of USC's three leading receivers before being injured) Matt Barkley and the offense seemed to return to September levels another week. The Trojans were outgained 347-258, and out first-downed, 23-12, going two of 13 on third downs and giving up almost as many sacks (one) as plays they ran on the Sun Devils' side of the field (three).
 
If Williams hadn't taken Barkley's check-down on a rollout with pressure in his face, gotten a key block from tight end Rhett Ellison, cut back, and sprinted 75 yards before diving into the end zone to make it 14-3 to start the second-half – (perhaps the Play of the Season) the Trojan offense would have scored just three points the last six quarters.
 
Oh, yeah: Williams sprained his ankle on the play and left in the fourth quarter.
 
"Things weren't clicking tonight," Barkley said. "I don't know exactly what it was. I felt like we couldn't get in a rhythm."
 
Often hurried or hit as he threw, Barkley completed just seven of 22 passes for 112 yards and the touchdown. More worrisome, one pass was intercepted, one was dropped, and another was nullified because of a penalty. The freshman is now 28 of 60 for 299 yards the last two weeks.
 
"Our defense bailed us out," first-year play-caller and quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates said.
 
Which it did. And after giving up the most points of any three-game stretch in USC history, the defense was the story against Arizona State. The Trojans gave up 26 yards rushing to tailback Cameron Marshall in the first quarter, and 16 the rest of the game, and forcing Dennis Erickson's hand to Quarterback of the Future Brock Osweiler after Harris' pick-six of the senior Sullivan.
 
Osweiler, 6-foot-8, showed nice touch on a 23-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-9 USC (cornerback Josh Pinkard blocked the PAT) late in the third quarter, but was too immobile for the Trojans' speed. Nose tackle Jurrell Casey collapsed the pocket on a regular basis again, picking up one of USC's three sacks in the process, and Malik Jackson (a sack, a forced fumble, and a pass broken up) and Wes Horton (six tackles, one pass broken up) spelled junior defensive end Everson Griffen (out with turf toe) admirably.
 
In particular, linebackers Shane Horton (six tackles and a pass broken up), Michael Morgan (six tackles, one of them for loss), and Chris Galippo (a tackle for loss and an interception) acquitted themselves well after last week. In all, the Trojans forced four turnovers.
 
"We were determined to win the football game from start to finish, and do what it took to win," Carroll said. "On this night, it took a great defensive effort."
 
"It was a great night for the turnovers. To get back on track defensively is really obviously important to us."
 
Especially important for next Saturday, when USC (7-2, 4-2) hosts Stanford (6-3, 5-2) and the nation's second-leading rusher, Toby Gerhart.

November 6, 2009

Heat is on the Trojans
By: Matt Deringer

USC travels to Arizona State today tied for third in the Pac-10 after the worst loss in the Pete Carroll Era.
 
"It's a week that's unusual for us," Carroll said. "Coming off a game that we played that was so disappointing."
 
The Trojans don't need reminding about what happened in Oregon - 613 total yards allowed and three points scored in the second half of a 47-20 final that wasn't even that close, but they could use a doctor. Tight end Anthony McCoy will miss his second game with a sprained ankle, linebackers Malcolm Smith (shoulder) and Jarvis Jones (neck) probably won't be able to play, and leading defensive ends Everson Griffen (toe) and Nick Perry (knee) are questionable at best for the Sun Devils.
 
On the bright side, Stanley Havili will start for the first time since separating his shoulder at Notre Dame, and tailbacks Joe McKnight (hamstring) and Allen Bradford (knee) and receiver Damian Williams (glute) all returned after being held out of practice earlier in the week, as did linebacker Chris Galippo (neck) and defensive lineman Armond Armstead (wrist).
 
With injuries taking their toll on the front seven, more of a premium is going to be put on the play of backup defensive tackle DaJohn Harris (PS#5TE) and reserve linebackers Jordan Campbell (out since starting and spraining his ankle against Washington State), Shane Horton (converted UNLV strong safety), and Uona Kaveinga (PS#36DL).
 
"We have great history there of guys stepping up and playing really well and coming through," Carroll said. "That's the only way we know how to expect that to happen. And that's what we're counting on. These guys have all come to do great stuff here. Nobody's come to just sit around."
 
None of the players came to USC (6-2, 3-2) not to contend for national championships either, which makes Arizona State (4-4, 2-3) trickier than the Pac-10's No. 1 total defense, led by run-stuffing recruit Vontaze Burfict, who Carroll would have loved to plug in at linebacker and seventh-best rush and pass offenses would suggest.
 
"Win or lose, we actually deal with it in a very similar fashion," Carroll said of how he can get the Trojans over last week's loss. "When the game is over, it's done. We can't do anything about it, and we have to move forward and get on with it. It's your ability and strength that you have to discipline yourself to focus on what's coming up that really is the challenge."
 
"We have [the Arizona State game] to play. We have one chance. That's all we have. Our guys know that they may never get another chance. That's kind of how we go about it, and try to do everything we can. Sometimes it works out for us, sometimes it doesn't. That's been our way of focusing for years. And it serves us well quite often, and it certainly does this time around."

 

November 4, 2009

Carroll takes blame, moves on
By: Matt Deringer

USC was still making sense of its worst loss in 12 years when Pete Carroll did what the Trojans couldn’t last Saturday: tackle Oregon, and what went wrong.

Amid a host of injuries - linebackers Chris Galippo and Jarvis Jones sprained their necks against Oregon, but are expected to play Saturday. Malcolm Smith, the starter on the weakside, is not. Smith broke a bone in his shoulder, and his return is indefinite. Jordan Campbell, who started for Smith versus Washington State, is expected back from a sprained ankle he suffered in that same game. Campbell will wear a special cast. Ditto defensive tackle Armond Armstead, who is expected to be cleared with a broken wrist - Carroll took the hit before reporters at his weekly media lunch to discuss USC’s upcoming game (at Arizona State).

“We made a mistake in the (defensive) plan, in our approach,” Carroll said, “and it didn’t carry over to the game. What happens is we didn’t play with the same commitment and intensity that we normally do. We got caught looking and reaching and grabbing (for tackles), and it was a nightmare. It was just a calculated approach that didn’t work out.

“Physically and mentally, we weren’t able to carry it out. That was a mistake on my part to put the guys in that position.”

How much the coaches are at fault, and how much the players couldn’t handle for various reasons is debatable. And to Carroll, so is what USC has left to play for this year.

“It’s interesting,” Carroll said. “I’ve been asked even in some of the phone call interviews and things about how do you structure salvaging the season? You know, we’ve never talked about the season in a manner that I know you probably think we do, about the championships and rankings and bowl matchups and all that stuff. That’s never. I’m talking in nine years of this. I’ve never talked like that to these guys on a regular basis, because it isn’t the way we approach it. It isn’t the way we focus it.”

With the way USC’s defense has played the last three weeks, a freshman quarterback, and injuries on both sides of the ball, Carroll’s focus truly doesn’t go beyond Saturday. But after his 2007 USC team lost two games before November, then rallied to win its remaining four and play in the Rose Bowl, he’s not ready to concede anything.
“When we lost [at Oregon] a couple years ago and Mark (Sanchez) was playing, everybody said the exact same things,” Carroll said. “We were coming off a game that was such an outline of what the system was. But the ability to return and deal with the finish of the season has been something that’s been pretty unique for us. We need to see if we can rediscover that again.

“Each year, it’s been an individual situation. New guys, new matchups, new circumstances and all of that. And we’ve got it again. So we’ll see what we do with it.”

For now, that’s all they can.

 

November 1, 2009

Ore-gone
By: Matt Deringer

There weren’t the turnovers of previous upsets - Matt Barkley threw an interception, but it wasn’t until the last play of the game - just a loss, or “lost”, as USC got throttled like never before in the Pete Carroll Era, watching its seven consecutive Pac-10 titles and seven BCS bowl appearances in a row probably go away like the month of October in a 47-20 defeat at Oregon.

“I can’t remember a game where a team pushed us around the field like that,” senior cornerback Josh Pinkard said.

The Ducks didn’t beat Pinkard and mates so much as they shocked and awed them. Oregon rolled up 613 yards of offense, 391 of them rushing, with quarterback Jeremiah Masoli frustrating the Trojan defense as much as any pro-style signal caller USC’s faced the last two weeks. The 5-foot-11, 214-pound junior threw for 222 yards and ran for another 164 (12.6 per carry!), as many of them off designed plays as on scrambles, while redshirt freshman tailback LeMichael James carried 24 times for 183 more.

“This was a real mess,” Carroll said. “Oregon did everything they wanted to do. Masoli was ridiculously effective. We really had our chances to make things happen, but we couldn’t tackle them in the backfield. We made a couple calculated errors on the approach to the game, and they knocked us out of our gameplan early on.”

It probably didn’t matter. Oregon outgained USC by almost 300 yards - 613 to 327 - and amassed almost twice as many first downs - 31 to 17 - in turning around a 3-0 deficit on the Trojans’ first series of the game to a 24-17 halftime lead. The Ducks proceeded to score on all five of their possessions in the second half.

The 47 points were the most USC’s ever given up to Oregon, the loss the biggest for USC since 1997 - the worst for Carroll since Notre Dame beat his first Trojan team 26-15 in 2001.

“I could never imagine this in my career at USC,” senior safety Will Harris said.

The beating overshadowed an effort by Barkley that in years past, would have been good enough to win. The freshman was off-target early, and had what would have been a long gain glance off the hands of Blake Ayles, filling in for Mackey Award candidate Anthony McCoy at tight end. But Barkley gathered himself enough to complete 21 of 38 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns before throwing into coverage on the last play of the game.

“The biggest thing is realizing that there’s nothing we can do about this loss,” Barkley said. “We need to close out with wins.”

The Trojans could conceivably end up in a BCS bowl - a 10-2 USC team would be as attractive as any at-large entry - but won’t do any better than El Paso if they can’t regroup for Saturday’s game at Arizona State.

“I’m as confident as I can get about turning it around and getting it right,” Carroll said.

October 30, 2009

GameDay: No. 5 at No. 10
By: Matt Deringer

 

USC hasn't won in the state of Oregon since 2005 - losing its last two times in Corvallis (2006 and 2008) and coming up short in Eugene in 2007 - but a change in weather this week and earlier trips to Columbus and South Bend have Pete Carroll feeling alright about Saturday night at Autzen Stadium.

"It was good elements to be working in," Carroll said of the cold front that blew through Southern California Tuesday, dropping temperatures 15-20 degrees (to the mid-60s) and kicking up winds to 30 mph. "There’s a lot of stuff that can go on up north.

"The wind, it’s good to be out here. It’s really tough for the receivers. They have to really concentrate, and the quarterback has to know what direction they're going. All that stuff is good work for us."

So was September's Top 10 clash at Ohio State, as well as the rivalry game two weeks ago at Notre Dame for freshman quarterback Matt Barkley. Autzen won't ever match either in history, but in Oregon's 24-17 over USC two years ago - the only game the Trojans have been an underdog in since their 2003 season opener at Auburn - ESPN recorded the noise level at 127.2 decibels, the loudest in college football. Pain is said to begin at 125 decibels. 

“It doesn’t matter to me,” Barkley said of the Autzen rowdiness. "I've never been there. I heard it’s crazy, but I say this every road game: It won't matter."

"I feed off that energy. I feed off that noise. I love it."

Carroll wasn't so cavalier, but did express confidence his quarterback could handle it.

He's gone out there and played great football and done everything that a young guy could possibly do with his opportunity so far," Carroll said. "Hopefully, he can continue to grow and gain confidence and the wherewithal about the places that we go.

"Someday there won't be a surprise for him anywhere. There won't be these firsts that he goes through."

First, USC has to get through Oregon. Mackey Award candidate tight end Anthony McCoy is out after spraining his ankle in the fourth quarter of last week's win over Oregon State. Rhett Ellison (PS#42) will start. Fullback Stanley Havili (shoulder) will play, but for the second straight week, D.J. Shoemate (PS#5WR) will start. And wide receiver Ronald Johnson, who caught six passes for 99 yards and a leaping touchdown in just his second game back last week from a broken collarbone, is expected to increase his workload by returning kickoffs. The junior led the Trojans in return yards the last two years. 

Jeff Byers also appears set at center in place of Preseason All-American Kristofer O'Dowd, who came back for USC's win at Ohio State, but hasn't been right since dislocating his kneecap in August. With Byers at center and Butch Lewis at left guard (Alex Parsons at right guard and Tyron Smith and Charles Brown at the tackles), the Trojans rushed for 229 yards and didn't allow a sack last week.

"We tried to get (O'Dowd) back early because we knew how important he was to the team," offensive line coach Pat Ruel said. "He came back, and we might of pushed him into playing too soon because he was never 100 percent healthy. As he's playing, we saw him struggling to push and make things happen. Because he was struggling, we decided the best thing would be to give him time."

But the bigger question around USC right now is what's wrong with the defense. The Trojans have given up 849 yards of offense the last two weeks, 614 of them passing, in beating Notre Dame 34-27 and Oregon State 42-36.

"We have been really susceptible to them throwing the football," Carroll said. "Being out ahead didn't help us any. We didn't play well with the lead when the teams threw the football a bunch.

"You know, the first halves of those games, the passing game and the mix of the pass and run was not a big issue for us. We were in great command, I thought. But when the teams decided they needed to throw the football to win, they did very well, and I think a lot has to do with the quarterbacks. The quarterbacks that we just played were fantastic throwers. They showed that."

The challenge this week is different, run-first threat Jeremiah Masoli, who returned last week from an Oct. 3 knee injury to throw for 157 yards and a TD and run for 54 yards and two mores scores in Oregon's 43-19 victory at Washington. The Ducks are averaging 45.7 points and 484.7 yards in the last three games Masoli has played (at Washington, vs. Washington State, and vs. Cal).

"They are going to be moving around and on the perimeter. (Masoli) makes a lot of really quick decisions to utilize his perimeter passing game."

He also has super-quick tailback LeMichael James to pitch to - "He's really on fire right now," Carroll said of LeGarrette Blount's replacement who is averaging 6.9 yards per carry - and All-Pac-10 tight end Ed Dickson to throw to. After Oregon State's Joe Halahuni burned the Trojans for nine receptions and 127 yards last week - after catching just nine passes for 127 on the year, Dickson is a particular concern.

"He's really a prototype tight end," Carroll said. "He's a feature part, and is the leading receiver, 27 catches. He had a big game against Cal, kind of took over in that game, and he's been a big factor since.

"So they have got their weapons. They've got some great weapons."

So, of course, does Carroll.  Big games seem to bring out the best in his USC teams - 14-3 against Top 10 opponents the last nine years - making Oregon a more exciting trip than usual for the Trojans. 

"Playing on Halloween up in Eugene, this is a great task for us," Carroll said. "It's by far the biggest game we get to play this week, and it's a huge championship matchup for us. We couldn't ask for more build up.

"We have been on the road a lot, and that gives us a sense of confidence that we know that we can go into a crazy situation, which is exactly where we are headed. Hopefully, we will bank on our experiences and be able to play good football and perform at a high level, and see if we can get ourselves another win and a game that we can be proud of."

Notes: ESPN will broadcast its popular pregame show "GameDay" at 7 a.m. Pacific from outside Autzen. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. ... The forecast for Eugene is highs in the upper 50s and lows in the lower 40s, with a 60 percent chance of precipitation. Wind isn't expected to be a factor, with gusts Saturday around 10 mph.

 

October 25, 2009

Trojans dam Beavers
By: Matt Deringer

For the second week in a row, USC went up by three scores early in the fourth quarter only to hang on and win by single digits, giving up beating Oregon State 42-36 at the Coliseum.
 
The Rodgers brothers, who tormented USC last year in the upset in Corvallis, totaled three TDs against the Trojans, sophomore tailback Jacquizz rushing 20 times for 113 yards - most of them in the second-half - and a pair of scores while junior wideout James caught seven passes for 56 yards and ran six times for another 42.
 
"They did it all," Pete Carroll said. "They did exactly what I didn't want them to do. I hoped we could separate from them and we just didn't. We couldn't get their offense off the field."
 
The biggest hurdle might have again Oregon State head coach/playcaller Mike Riley. Down 21-9 at halftime, Riley adjusted his offense from a zone-running game to a spread passing attack, with senior quarterback Sean Canfield (PS#40) time and again finding tight end Joe Halahuni between the hashmarks.
 
Halahuni led Oregon State in receptions with nine, while Canfield completed almost 70 percent of his passes (30 of 43) for 329 yards - 127 of them to Halahuni - and three touchdowns.
 
"They spread our defense out and picked away," free safety and anticipated Top 10 NFL draft pick Taylor Mays said. "It was frustrating."  
 
"Mike (Riley) did a nice job coaching tonight," Carroll opined.
 
USC got out to an early lead, Matt Barkley finding tight end Anthony McCoy for a touchdown a little more than five minutes in. A Ronald Johnson highlight-reel catch - the receiver followed his season debut last week at Notre Dame with six grabs for 99 yards and the second-quarter touchdown - and Matt Barkley quarterback sneak later, and it was 21-6 USC.
 
Oregon State closed to 28-23 late in the third quarter before Allen Bradford ripped off his second touchdown run of the game, a 43-yard run through the left side of the line. The junior linebacker-turned-tailback finished with career highs in carries (15) and yards (147).
 
Damian Williams followed by returning a punt on Oregon State's next possession 63 yards for a touchdown to make it 42-23 USC with 14:05 remaining. Leading 42-29, the Trojans had a chance to close Oregon State out next time they had the ball, going from their own 13 to the Beaver 39. But a Barkley pass was intercepted - for the second time in the game - at the Beaver 19, and Oregon State went 74 yards in 10 plays to make it 42-36 with 5:41 remaining.
 
"It was a different game than we hoped to have," Carroll said. "We were scrambling, trying to slow them down. Our offense just carried us, which I love. You saw the way we ran out the clock?"
 
That the Trojans did - unlike last week, when they gave the ball back to Notre Dame with 4:18 remaining - riding Bradford and Barkley to three first downs and their fourth consecutive win since Washington.
 
"We survived one," middle linebacker Chris Galippo said. "You just never know what to expect from these Pac-10 games."
 
"There is no doubt the Pac-10 is stronger than ever," Carroll said.
 
Notes: USC (6-1, 3-1) goes into next week's ESPN GameDay showdown at Oregon (6-1, 4-0) ranked fourth in both polls. Oregon State (4-3, 2-2) goes home to face UCLA. ... Senior Jeff Byers (PS#1) started at center in place of Kristofer O'Dowd, a preseason All-American. The junior has not played well since dislocating his kneecap during training camp and returning to start at Ohio State. He did not play against Oregon State. ... With Byers at center, Butch Lewis (PS#20), a starter last year at right tackle, took over at left guard. ... Mackey Award candidate tight end Anthony McCoy left in the fourth quarter with an apparent ankle sprain. He will be reevaluated Monday. ... USC is already thin at the tight end position. McCoy's backups, Rhett Ellison (PS#42) and Blake Ayles (PS#1), are more of a blocker and a pass-catcher, respectively, while freshman James Boyd (PS#8) primarily played defensive end and quarterback in high school.

 

October 22, 2009

Oregon State Preview 
By: Matt Deringer

The Trojans are about as healthy as can be at the halfway point - it was decided this week that tailback Marc Tyler (PS#1) will have surgery on his broken foot. Tyler joins tailback Stafon Johnson (neck), defensive tackle Hebron Fangupo (leg) and defensive back Marshall Jones as out for the year - as they prepare to face the only team that beat last season tomorrow at the Coliseum.

"We know we have a lot of home games in the second half of the season, and it would be great to get off on the good foot here against Oregon State," Pete Carroll said.

The Beavers took a bite out of USC's No. 1-ranking last year in a made-for-ESPN Thursday night game in Corvallis. Two weeks removed from their Game of the Year defeat of No. 5 Ohio State, USC fell behind 21-0 and eventually lost 27-21 as diminutive freshman Jacquizz Rodgers rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns - his older brother, James, caught two more - against what was statistically the best defense in USC history.

So Mike Riley, the offensive coordinator under John Robinson (1993-97) who came thisclose to interviewing - and probably getting - the job Carroll landed in 2000, and the Beavers will have USC's full attention this time around.

"The Rodgers brothers are ridiculous," Carroll said. "They're both terrific football players. They can get you a number of different ways. They can both catch it, they both can run it if you don't look out there and you see something happening in the kicking game as well.

"That and the play of their offensive line has been really sharp so far. We take this with a lot of respect based on last year, knowing how they blocked us pretty well, and ran well against us."

The Trojans tackle Riley's beloved fly sweeps (a handoff to a receiver in motion) without Christian Tupou at the nose, an absence mitigated by the play of sophomore Jurrell Casey (PS#28), who took over against Notre Dame and earned Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week honors. Sophomore Armond Armstead (PS#19) will start at the other defensive tackle in his second game back from a broken foot.

The Rodgers brothers also probably mean more Wes Horton (PS#20) at defensive end rather than team sack leader Nick Perry (PS#7), his redshirt freshman counterpart who is better in obvious passing situations, and an even greater onus on middle linebacker Chris Galippo. The redshirt sophomore (PS#2) isn't the physical force departed All-American Rey Maualuga was, but has shown superior instincts in so far leading the Trojans in tackles his first full season.

"I'm very impressed with their front, they don't give people many breaks," Riley said. "They're high energy and really hard to block."

Blocking might be USC's biggest concern on offense right now. Quarterback Matt Barkley (PS#5) comes off the biggest game of his freshman year - 19 of 29, 380 yards, two touchdowns, one interception - but does so without Stanley Havili. The fullback, also tied for second on the team (with tight end Anthony McCoy) in receptions, dislocated his shoulder at Notre Dame and is doubtful for Oregon State.

Sophomore D.J. Shoemate (PS#5WR) will start if Havili can't go.

"D.J. does everything Stanley does, and I'm eager to see him play," Carroll said. "We originally thought of him being a slot receiver. He's a really good receiver."

Ronald Johnson will start at receiver in his second game back from a broken collarbone. The move means fewer chances for David Ausberry (PS#2), who is said to have a sore calf, but in recent weeks has yielded time to redshirt freshman Brice Butler (PS#17) as he's continued to struggle with separating from defenders and holding onto the ball. Damian Williams, who has three games in a row with 100 or more yards receiving, remains the go-to.

"This is really the heart of the schedule for us, as we've got Pac-10 ballgames all the way through the end," Carroll said. "We need to start the second half on the right foot with the big win here with Oregon State coming in.

"It really does seem like we haven't been home much. We've been road warriors and out and about. We've had a great time on the trips, and we've grown from it. It's wonderful to be back and playing in front of our home crowd."

 

October 21, 2009

Eat with Pete  
By: Matt Deringer

 
Pete Carroll spent most of his Tuesday media lunch answering questions about last Saturday's win - "It was great to beat Notre Dame twice" - but made a point to talk about his Mackey Award candidate tight end Anthony McCoy and young defensive line.
 
Against Notre Dame, McCoy had five catches for 153 yards, setting up touchdowns in the 1st and 3rd quarters by beating the Irish for big gains (35 and 60 yards, respectively). McCoy also grabbed the Trojans' first first down of the game against Cal, a 31-yard drag across the middle on 3rd and 9, and hauled in a 40-yard pass against Washington State.
 
"The thing I like to talk about Anthony is, he's a good blocker," Carroll said. "He's a really, really good blocker, and takes a lot of pride in it. He's a good technician. He's tough. He's got an amazing wing span that allows him to really engulf guys.
 
"And the fact that he takes pride in that just enhances the fact that he can run down the field and look great catching the football, too. He's a really big weapon for us in a number of ways, and we love looking for ways to get him the football."
 
Carroll also loves the development of redshirt freshmen Wes Horton (PS#20) and Nick Perry (PS#7) on the defensive line. While statistics figure to edge up as USC gets into the heart of Pac-10 play, the defense is giving up 67.7 yards per game and 2.2 yards per rush, compared to 83.6 and 2.36 through six games last season. The Trojans lead the nation in sacks, with 26, and pressured Jimmy Clausen all day long last week at Notre Dame.
 
"We have guys that play a lot of spots," Carroll said. "We've moved a lot of guys around. And Jurrell (Casey) played nose tackle in the game for the first time extensively. We have a lot of flexibility with our guys. We've moved Everson (Griffen) around, tight end side. He's been inside on a few rare occasions. Our guys are very flexible."
 
To wit, Perry - who leads the team in sacks, with eight - and Horton - who Carroll credits as better in non-passing situations - have alternated starts at defensive end, while sophomore Armond Armstead (PS#19) returned from a broken foot to start next to Casey - fourth on the team in tackles after 10 against Notre Dame - in place of Christian Tupou, who is hobbled by a sore knee.
 
"It's not really a finished product yet," Carroll said of the defensive line. "I think now that Armond (Armstead) is back, we need to find on out how he's doing, where he fits in. He played in a nice football game, but we have more information to gather. He was just a budding starter (at defensive end before the injury in training camp). He never really got a chance to take advantage of it."
 
Carroll didn't mention it with the media, but another factor in how well the defense is doing is the play of Chris Galippo (PS#2). In his first full season, the middle linebacker leads the Trojans in tackles (41), and tied for the team lead with one interception (his 51-yard return at Ohio State), four passes broken up, and five defended.
 
"Galippo's speed on the field is because of his reading ability and his instincts," Carroll said. "He plays fast on the football field."
 
Notes: The Trojans could play this week without fullback Stanley Havili (USC's second-leading receiver - 14 - along with McCoy). Havili dislocated his shoulder at Notre Dame and is undergoing rehab.

If Havili can't play, sophomore D.J. Shoemate (PS#5WR) will start. Walkon Adam Goodman is his backup.

 

October 19, 2009

It's Over. Again.
By: Matt Deringer

It took the clock hitting 0:00 twice, a juggling catch in the end zone ruled out of bounds, the most passing yards by a USC quarterback ever in South Bend, and 60 yards of penalties against them in the second-half, but the Trojans rode a 34-14 lead to a 34-27 victory, tying them with Michigan State for the most wins (13) in the history of Notre Dame Stadium.

"There were a lot of heart-attack symptoms," Butkus Award semifinalist Chris Galippo said. "This is the most stressed-out game we've had. They had so many second chances that we could control. Penalties killed us."

"I hate that we didn't put them away," Pete Carroll said of USC's record eighth consecutive win against Notre Dame, his eighth in nine tries. "It's my fault."

Credit Carroll for getting USC out to a 20-point lead (two Damian Williams touchdown catches - and his third consecutive game with 100 yards or more receiving -  Jordan Congdon field goals from 24 and 37 yards, and touchdown runs by Joe McKnight and Allen Bradford) with 13:33 remaining before handing the game over to his defense.

Notre Dame came off the ropes with a Jimmy Clausen touchdown dive and an Irish interception of his freshman friend Matt Barkley - who completed 19 of 29 passes for 380 yards (a Notre Dame Stadium record) and 2 TDs - that set-up a Clausen strike to Golden Tate - who caught 8 passes for 117 yards and the first 2 touchdowns of the season against USC's pass defense - with 7:28 to go.

Then the drama began.

USC gained 501 yards on the afternoon, but only 18 in its next five plays, giving a Notre Dame offense used to such things the ball back with 4:18 on the clock. Clausen threw for three first downs - including one after a fumble; USC forced four on the day, but couldn't recover any, prompting Carroll to say, "That drives me crazy" - and ran for another before the Irish faced a 4th and 10 at the USC 29 with 42 seconds remaining.

A Clausen completion and USC personal foul followed by a roughing the passer on Notre Dame's next play drew the Irish to the Trojan 4. On 1st and Goal, Clausen threw into the end zone - the same end zone Reggie Bush pushed Matt Leinart into to cap USC's last-second comeback in 2005 - the ball was tipped, and Irish tight end Kevin Rudolph came down with it with his leg just out of bounds.

With 0:04, Clausen just short of the end zone and incomplete to Tate, sophomore cornerback T.J. Bryant (PS#12) stepping inside of him, setting off a celebration on the USC sideline. But the Pac-10 crew officiating the game ruled there was 0:01 left on the clock, turning the teams around onto the field for a final play.

On 3rd and Goal, Clausen threw wide of his receiver in the end zone, and everyone on the USC sidelined breathed a sigh of relief.        

"By far, that was the most mentally exhausting game," senior cornerback Josh Pinkard said. "This game was so emotional, it was ridiculous. Being out on the field so much and at the end was tough. At least the Ohio State game, the offense was on the field at the end."

In the end, USC outgained the Irish 501-367, with Notre Dame recording more first down, 27-21. Joe McKnight (19 carries) and Allen Bradford (eight) combined for 124 yards rushing, tight end Anthony McCoy caught five passes for 153 yards - the most without scoring a touchdown ever by a USC receiver - and defensive tackle Jurrell Casey continued a strong sophomore year by leading the Trojans in tackles (with 10), while redshirt freshman Nick Perry added two more sacks to his season-leading total.

"It didn't go quite the way we wanted it to," Carroll said. "But when it came down to it, we found ways to make plays."

 

October 16, 2009

USC (5) vs. Notre Dame (25)
By: Matt Deringer

 

USC-Notre Dame hasn't lived up to its "greatest intersectional rivalry in college football" billing lately - the Trojans' 27-point average margin of victory the last seven games follows 12 Irish wins (and one tie) from 1983-95 - but media types aren't the only ones who think this season is different.

"They're a much better football team than last year," Pete Carroll said. "It's not going to be like those games."

Carroll hasn't lost to Notre Dame since 2001 - when Bob Davie and the Irish gave his first USC team the biggest beating (11 points) of his career - and he likes his chances tomorrow. Quarterback Matt Barkley is over the shoulder bruise he suffered at Ohio State, tailback Joe McKnight is coming off a 20-carry (his most at USC), 119-yard, two-touchdown game at Cal, Ronald Johnson returns to give the wide receivers a deep threat, the offensive line is healthy, and Stafon Johnson is out of the hospital. Johnson won't suit up again this season, but his recovery from a life-threatening weightlifting accident is an inspiration to his teammates, and he will join them on the sidelines tomorrow. 

"Stafon made a surprise visit (to USC's team meeting yesterday)," Carroll said. "That was really fun and a good uplift."

But it might be Barkley's development that has been the biggest boon to the Trojans, with the true freshman playing his best game of the season - 20 of 35 for 283 yards and an interception (after USC was up 23-0) - at Cal.

"There's more of a comfort level now because we're used to him," center Kris O'Dowd said of Barkley. "If you were to compare the Ohio State game to the Cal game, it's a big difference."

But even more so than usual, the difference tomorrow will be how well USC protects Barkley.

"They're the most aggressive they've been," Carroll said of the Irish under second-year co-defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta. "Last year they started really coming after people, and this year they've picked up on that. They're pressuring well over half of the time, which is a tremendous percentage of pressure from the defense. In certain games, they'll get it up higher than that.

"It's just whether or not we're able to handle the heat that they bring. If we can, we can have a chance at moving the football. If they can't, they can control the game and cause some bad things and create some negative plays and give you issues that you don't want.

What Carroll wants is his running game to take over on offense, with junior Allen Bradford (PS#3LB) potentially taking the role of LenDale White to McKnight's Reggie Bush. Bradford rushed 12 times for 53 yards and a TD last time out, and gave the Trojans the look they've often missed since Justin Fargas and White started USC's BCS-bowl run.

"We really want him to be aggressive and attack the line of scrimmage," Carroll said of Bradford. "He's still a fairly young running back for us. He hasn't carried the ball that much. He's only going to get better. And we're jacked that he does bring some real special dimensions.

"He certainly can score. And when he's coming downhill at you, he's a load. So we're hoping this will turn into a really big factor for us."

Weather in South Bend certainly could be a factor tomorrow - the forecast is for temperatures in the 40s, with drizzle early - as well as Notre Dame's own running game (averaging 4.1 yards per carry). USC is likely without Averell Spicer, and Christian Tupou (knee) was limited in practice this week, meaning Armond Armstead could make his season debut by starting at defensive tackle.

Malcolm Smith (ankle), who had problems with Washington's running game, will get the start at weakside linebacker, where Shane Horton, who made his first start against Cal, also will play.

The front seven in particular will be tested inside by tailback Armando Allen (5-foot-10, 200 pounds), while the secondary hopes to have its hands full of Golden Tate, who has 602 yards receiving and is averaging 7.2 yards per carry so far this season.

"It's really a challenge," Carroll said of defending Tate. "They move them in all their receiver spots, and then he winds up behind the center getting the football.

"He is like a running back at receiver. He's a bigger, stronger, more physical guy when the ball's in his hands. We just have to keep track of him and know the tendencies when he moves.

"With Allen and with Tate back there, they've got a lot of different things that they can do. They give you a very difficult spectrum of things to prepare for."

The Trojans also have to prepare for quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who in his third year in South Bend, is poised to make the Heisman run many expected of him coming out of Los Angeles as the No. 1 quarterback in the nation.

"They're riding the strength of what Jimmy Clausen brings to them," Carroll said. "They're such a high-efficiency throwing game, why not?

"You can't be much better than they are. The efficiency he's throwing at right now, Clausen's on it. He's finding receivers. They're protecting him well. He's keeping the negative plays down. Only two picks in all the plays he's made so far."

Meaning this is the best Notre Dame team USC's faced since its classic finish in 2005.

"This will be a tremendous match up," Carroll said. "Hopefully we're ready."

Series Notes: USC and Notre Dame first met in 1926, and have played every year since 1946. The two have beaten each other more than any other opponent. ... All-time, Notre Dame leads 42-33-5, with USC 12-25-1 away from the Coliseum (two of the losses came in Chicago). ... The Trojans have won the last three times in South Bend, and four of the past six.

 

October 14, 2009

Moving Up  
By: Matt Deringer

 The Trojans fly to South Bend tomorrow with a new No. 2 quarterback, and a renewed attitude.
 
Mitch Mustain, the former Arkansas star (PS#1) who has lost out on two quarterback competitions since transferring to USC in 2007, came on in practices leading up to the Cal game, and surpassed Aaron Corp as Matt Barkley's backup during the bye week, Pete Carroll said.
 
"Mitch is throwing so much more consistently," Pete Carroll said. "He looks like a different guy.
 
The Trojans also will have a different look at receiver, where Ronald Johnson returns from a broken collarbone, and defensive end, where Armond Armstead is back from a broken foot.
 
In addition to being USC's top deep receiving threat, Johnson was the Trojans' No. 1 kick returner the last two years. But with Johnson still building up his stamina, tailbacks C.J. Gable - a senior who has wondered about playing time - and Curtis McNeal - a redshirt freshman (PS#34) who Carroll relishes getting the ball in space - will retain those roles against Notre Dame.
 
More uncertain is the defensive line. Defensive tackles Averell Spicer (ankle) and Christian Tupou (knee) started the week gingerly, and redshirt freshman defensive end Nick Perry, the team's sack leader, continues to nurse the knee bruise he suffered at Washington.
 
"I thought he would look better than he did, Carroll said of Perry. "But knowing Nick, he will push through and play."
 
The Trojans will play Saturday with stickers on their helmets that read "STA FIGHT ON" over the number 13, in honor of tailback Stafon Johnson.
 
Johnson underwent more than seven hours of surgery Sept. 28 after a weight bar with 275 pounds on it slipped from his hand and onto his throat. The senior has lost about 10 pounds, and still is unable to talk, but is feeling better and expected to be released from the hospital today.
 
"There is a process for all of the recovery of all the intricacies here, but he's going to be out and about and all of that," Carroll said. "We're thrilled for him."

 

October 9, 2009

Trojans getting Bye
By: Matt Deringer

USC has the weekend off before playing at Notre Dame, which gives several Trojans extra time to get healthy.
No. 1 deep-receiving threat Ronald Johnson, out since breaking his collarbone in August, returned to practice this week wearing a yellow quarterback's jersey. Johnson was held out of contact, and Pete Carroll plans on easing him back into the rotation.
"I don't think we can get him in full shape by next week," Carroll said. "We made a big deal with the coaches not to get too excited and overwork him."
Carroll said Johnson will "be part of the game plan," but how much - and how much he can handle - remains unclear. Just his return is a welcome one for quarterback Matt Barkley, who reported the bruise in his throwing shoulder he suffered at Ohio State is "not a factor anymore."
"We're not really changing what we're doing," Barkley said of Johnson being back. "But he adds another dimension."
So does Armond Armstead, the defensive end who moved outside from tackle in spring practice, and was set to start before breaking his foot during fall camp. Armstead (6-5, 295, PS#19) took part in individual drills and looks ready to get back on the field at Notre Dame.
"I've been working on my lower body all week and doing leg workouts," Armstead said. "I'm excited about playing next week."
Weakside linebacker Malcolm Smith also looks like a go for Notre Dame. Smith returned to practice from a sprained ankle suffered at Washington - Jordan Campbell sprained his ankle while playing in Smith's place against Washington State, while former safety Shane Horton made his first start at linebacker last week against Cal - and Carroll said the junior will compete for playing time.
The news isn't so good for sophomore tailback Marc Tyler (PS#1), who was pointing toward Notre Dame as the game he would return from a broken big toe. Tyler has worked on conditioning during practice, but remains out indefinitely.
"I don't feel like I can play anytime soon," Tyler said.
Neither will back-up fullback Adam Goodman, who dislocated his shoulder at Cal, and will be out two to three weeks.
The timetable is similar to that of freshman tight end/defensive end James Boyd (PS#8), who said he would return to practice in a couple weeks. Boyd underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last month.
Update: Two weeks after his weightlifting accident, Stafon Johnson still is unable to speak. But the senior tailback no longer requires a feeding tube, and test results on his injured throat were very positive. 
"The doctors were beside themselves," Carroll said. "The hopes are high for a good recovery."

 

October 4, 2009

From No. 6 to This 
By: Matt Deringer

Going into last weekend, Cal was No. 6 in the country, the favorite to reach the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1958, and a longshot national champion pick. Going into the fourth quarter yesterday, the Golden Bears had given up 75 unanswered points and were on their way to their sixth consecutive loss to USC - the last four knocking Cal from the Top 25 - and 0-2 in the Pac-10.
 
The 30-3 victory, USC's best, most-all-around of the season - Joe McKnight rushing for 119 yards and two touchdowns, Damian Williams returning a punt 66 yards for a score, and the defense stacking up Jahvid Best to 47 yards on 14 carries - capped an emotional five days for the Trojans, and sent them into the bye week with the loss at Washington a distant memory.
 
"That's how we play," Taylor Mays said. "We know what we have in the locker room, and we've been playing close to our potential for the last few weeks."
 
Wearing a brace on his knee to protect a sprained medial collateral ligament he sprained at Ohio State, Mays made the play of the game on the opening possession of the game, coming in late to intercept Kevin Riley's 3rd-and-Goal pass in the back of the endzone. The pick squelched what looked like an early hole to climb out of, and propelled the Trojans to touchdown of their own, Matt Barkley zipping a pass to tight end Anthony McCoy across the middle for 31 yards on 3rd and 9, and McKnight ripping off a 38-yard run three plays later.
 
Not only did the turn of events give USC a 7-0 lead, it seemed to suck the air out of the Golden Bears and the 71,799 in Berkeley. Matt Barkley completed three of four passes for 75 yards - finishing 20 of 35 for 283 - en route to a field goal the next time the offense had the ball, Williams - who also caught eight passes for 101 yards - returned his second punt for a touchdown in as many weeks, Allen Bradford gained 30 yards on three carries - 12 for 53 in all - and USC went into the locker room leading 20-0.
 
When the Trojans took the second-half kickoff and went 70 yards in 14 plays for a 23-0 lead, Cal had gone from up 3-0 the previous week at Oregon to a 42-3 defeat, and at the USC 6 on the first possession of the game to down 23-0 after another Jordan Congdon field goal. With 8:35 remaining in the third quarter, USC had outgained Cal 330 yards to  200.
 
"Give USC credit," Pete Carroll's friend and Cal counterpart, Jeff Tedford said. "They are a great football team, no question about it. Their defense is one of the best in the country.
 
"But there were chances out there for us to make plays today and we didn't make them. There were a lot of missed opportunities."
 
"If our defense is playing like that, then we don't need a whole lot of offense," Barkley said. "I thought we executed well when we had to."
 
The Trojans still didn't hit on all cylinders, settling for field goals twice inside the Cal 10-yard-line, while Barkley also forced a pass for an interception in the fourth quarter. But the offensive line was the most consistent it's been all season, Shane Horton recorded seven tackles in his first start at linebacker, first-year starter Chris Galippo continued his All-Pac-10 campaign at middle linebacker, breaking up three passes, and Jake Harfman averaged 40 yards in his second week as punter as the Trojans got the win for injured Stafon Johnson, who watched on TV from his hospital room.
 
"Stafon is a leader and a big brother in the locker room, so I wanted to come out and win the game for him," said McKnight, who carried a career-high 20 times in his first game at USC without the senior. "We were thinking about him the whole time tonight, and we know he was liking what he saw back home."

October 2, 2009

Help on the Way
By: Matt Deringer

 
USC renews its rivalry with Notre Dame in a couple weeks by welcoming back two projected starters to the rotation.
 
Wide receiver Ronald Johnson, who broke his collarbone in an August scrimmage, and defensive end Armond Armstead, out since fall camp with a broken foot, both have been cleared to practice and will join the Trojans on their trip to South Bend.
 
Johnson (PS#14DB) had been the No. 1 deep receiving threat and a dangerous kick returner his first two years at USC, while Armstead (PS#19), a football/basketball star in high school, moved from tackle in spring practice to defensive end, where he gives the Trojans a unique look with his size (295 pounds).
 
"It's a big deal getting them back," Pete Carroll said.

Trojans limp into Berkeley
By: Matt Deringer
 

Sprained ankles and bruised knees pale in comparison to Stafon Johnson's accident earlier this week - the senior running back is "up and around" now, and could be released from the hospital in the next few days - but the Trojans trudge on to Cal and Pac-10 second-leading rusher Jahvid Best with a first-time starter at linebacker and their No. 1 defensive end coming off the bench.
 
Shane Horton, who moved from safety to weakside linebacker in August, will start in place of Jordan Campbell, who sprained his ankle last week against Washington State after starting in place of Malcolm Smith, who sprained his ankle the week before at Washington. Smith will be available this week, Campbell will not, leaving Horton (who has put on five to 10 pounds of muscle since switching positions) to make his first start at USC.
 
Horton's brother, Wes (PS#20) gets the nod at defensive end over fellow redshirt freshman Nick Perry. Horton has been a regular in the lineup this season, but it is Perry (PS#7) who leads the Trojans in sacks, with six.
 
As much of a challenge as Best presents to the Trojan defense, it's the offense - third in the Pac-10 at 216 yards per game rushing, but fewer point scored the last three weeks (48) than in the season opener (56) - that's under the microscope.
 
Quarterback Matt Barkley's shoulder isn't 100 percent yet, but it is much better, allowing the freshman to deliver the ball with more velocity than at any time since injuring it at Ohio State. However, other than preseason All-American Damian Williams - who scored his first touchdown of the year last week - the Trojans are missing a go-to wide receiver, and are converting a woeful 25 percent of the time on third down.
 
"We've left a lot of yards on the field in the running game," senior left guard Jeff Byers said. "It's a consistency issue.
 
"We've put ourselves in bad situations on first and second down. You could have Johnny Unitas at quarterback on 3rd and 8 and it would still be tough.
"They're solid," Pete Carroll said of the offensive line, which came into the season ranked by Phil Steele as the best in the nation. "We're averaging 200 yards in the running game and protecting the quarterback."

Still, what the offense is doing isn't enough.

"We've got a lot of work to do," Carroll said. "This is a tough stretch ahead and we need to get sharper fast."

September 29, 2009

Stafon Johnson OK
By: Matt Deringer

 
Stafon Johnson, USC's second-leading rusher, and the tailback the Trojans turn to for clutch short yards - see his 3rd and 2, fourth-quarter conversion against Cal in 2007, or his game-winning touchdown this season against Ohio State - underwent seven hours of emergency surgery yesterday following a weightlifting accident.
 
Johnson was working out Monday morning when the weight bar he was bench-pressing slipped out of his hand and fell on his throat. He was taken from USC to California Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he doctors worked to repair his larynx, and performed a tracheotomy to enable him to breathe. Pete Carroll said Johnson's injuries are not considered life-threatening, but he was unable to speak en route to the hospital.
 
"The guy's been an integral part of our program for years," Carroll said. "We all feel a bit damaged today. It's a bad deal. We feel horrible for him."
 
Johnson, a senior, is not expected to return to playing football this season. He had a redshirt year available, but having played in USC's first four games, it is unknown whether the NCAA would grant him an extra year of eligibility.
 
Former starter C.J. Gable, who for the most part has been relegated to fourth-quarter carries this season after fumbling against UCLA late last year, is expected to split carries in place of Johnson with 5-foot-11, 235 pound Allen Bradford.
 
Marc Tyler (PS#1), considered by some to be USC's best back, is out until at least the Notre Dame game with a fractured big toe.

September 27, 2009

Two-Deep Depleting 
By: Matt Deringer

 
Hebron Fangupo (PS#5JC), part of USC's rotation at defensive tackle, suffered a broken leg in the win over Washington State. Marshall Jones (PS#10), a backup at both corner and safety this season, broke a vertebrae in his neck. Both are out for the season.
 
Jordan Campbell sprained his ankle after starting in place of weakside linebacker Malcolm Smith. Smith is expected back for the Cal game after struggling against the run and spraining his ankle at Washington.
 
With senior Luthur Brown again bothered by a back injury, Shane Horton, a converted safety, is Smith's only healthy backup. Freshman Jarvis Jones (PS#23DL), who's recorded nine tackles as the backup on the strong side, is a candidate to play behind Smith as well.

Trojans Too Much  
By: Matt Deringer

 
It was over after 15 minutes, but went on for another three hours, as USC welcomed back Matt Barkley by opening up the offense - against a Washington State squad only slightly less overmatched than it was last year in a 69-0 loss - to the tune of 20 first-quarter points and a 27-6 win Saturday night at the Coliseum.
 
"He played a beautiful game for us coming back under these circumstances," Pete Carroll said of Barkley, who went 13 of 22 for 247 yards and two touchdowns (no interceptions) with pain in his shoulder a week after being unable to get loose in the loss at Washington. "I'm really proud of him. He was really pumped up about doing well.
 
"He did his part. The rest of the guys have to do their part. It's not all about Matt."
 
It was early, as the Trojans took the field after three Washington State plays and a 27-yard Damian Williams punt return to the WSU 31. Barkley to Williams for 12 yards and two Joe McKnight runs for 19 yards later, it was 6-0 USC (a low snap negated the point after attempt), and the Trojans' 46th win in 47 home games was on.
 
Two more Washington State three-and-outs begat Williams' 26-yard punt return and Barkley's perfect pass to redshirt freshman Brice Butler (PS#17) in the corner of the end zone, and a 13-0 USC lead nine minutes into the game.
 
Jake Harfman followed up by recovering his own onside kick at the 43, Barkley lofted a pass to Williams streaking past the Washington State safety, and it was 20-0, with the only suspense left how long the Cougars' scoreless streak would last (a touchdown - and botched PAT - with 22 seconds remaining in the game made for their first points against USC since the third quarter of 2007).
 
"We executed for the most part," Barkley said, dismissing any discomfort in his shoulder as tightness during the game. "I was happy with how we moved the ball."
 
"We played OK," an agitated Carroll said afterward. "It was great to see Matt play well. He did a really good job tonight, so he's back in action, which is great.
 
"But we've got a lot of work to do. We're still giving too much stuff away. We let these guys hang around with us."
 
USC outgained Washington State 403-228, thanks in part to eight quarterback sacks (two more by redshirt freshman Nick Perry!), but turned the ball over twice and failed to get any points out of 1st and Goals from the Cougars' nine- and five-yard lines. The Trojans also committed 13 penalties for 115 yards.  
 
"It was crazy," Carroll said. "We had a terrible night with the officials. They had a good night, we didn't."
 
The Trojans were better on special teams, where Harfman took over punting duties, and averaged almost a first down better (46.3 yards vs. 37.3) on three tries.
 
"I thought he did a good job tonight," Carroll said of Harfman. "He punted the ball very well, kicked off more consistently than what we've had, and the punt return game was alive with Damian back. There's some good things there that we improved on.
 
"But it's about going back to work. We're an unfinished product right now."

September 25, 2009

USC-WSU  
By: Matt Deringer

  
Another week, another Washington, this time the Cougars, in Los Angeles, with Matt Barkley back under center.
 
While Barkley's back, he isn't 100 percent healthy. The freshman's thrown with his usual delivery in practice this week, but without the velocity he had before suffering a bone bruise at Ohio State. Barkley couldn't get warmed up to save USC in last week's loss at Washington, and his shoulder remains sore whenever he tries to throw.
 
"He's OK now," Pete Carroll said. "He's not quite back yet, but he's able to function and play.
 
"He's going to give us the best chance to win right now."
 
The same might not be true for Taylor Mays, who Carroll expected to play last week, but couldn't make post in the final college game in his hometown. Mays sprained the medial collateral ligament in his knee the week before at Ohio State, played the rest of the game, but sat out in Seattle.
 
"It's going to be a struggle for him to make it for (Washington State)," Carroll said.
 
"I'm like a 4.6 (40-yard dash) player right now," said Mays, who was clocked at 4.25 in the spring. "It's just that little bit of the last five percent of going full speed that I need."
 
If the Thorpe Award candidate can't play, he will again be subbed by sophomore Drew McAllister, who had four tackles last week at Washington.
 
The Trojans will for sure be without Malcolm Smith (sprained ankle), who is spelled at weakside linebacker by Jordan Campbell (PS#93) and converted strong safety Shane Horton. Nick Perry (PS#7), a rising star after four tackles and two sacks - he leads the team with five - at Washington, will again split time with Wes Horton (PS#20) at defensive end, while junior college transfer Jake Harfman (PS#36JC) will take over punting duties.
 
Harfman, whose leg strength has had him kicking off since the start of the season, will try and improve on the Trojans' Pac-10-worst 37.3 yards per punt.
 
But make no mistake, the Washington State game (7:15 p.m. Pacific, Fox Sports) is about offense, and if USC can get a rhythm going going into the teeth of its schedule (at Cal and Notre Dame the next three weeks). The Trojans have scored three touchdowns the last two weeks, and been made fun of from Jay Leno - "Do you know what USC stands for? Unable to score consistently" - to fans on message boards.
 
"We need to open it up," quarterbacks coach and play-caller Jeremy Bates said. "We've got to get in more three-wide receiver formations, four-wides and seven-step drops and all that stuff.
 
"I've got to do a better job of taking a more aggressive approach."
 
It's not a completely unfamiliar approach for USC, which won 10 in a row and made it back to the Rose Bowl after losing its Pac-10 opener last year at Oregon State. The Trojans also lost in the third game of the season in Matt Leinart's first year as a starter (2003), before going on to win the rest of their games and claim a share of the national championship.
 
"What it might be is sometimes it takes a loss to generate a sense of urgency to create a (winning) run," Carroll said.
 
He'll have a better idea tomorrow night.

 

September 19, 2009

Shiftless in Seattle  
By: Matt Deringer  

USC's 16-13 clunker wasn't a letdown like last year after Ohio State, and it wasn't an upset like Stanford the season before.  

The Trojans squandered scoring opportunities like those losses - fumbling at the Washington 26 and 16, and throwing an interception at the 18; turning the ball over on back-to-back possessions with the score tied in the third quarter - but couldn't control the line of scrimmage, falling for the fourth year in a row to an unranked opponent.  

The loss was USC's sixth in conference play the last four years. The Trojans are 14-0 against the rest of the nation in that span.  

  "Washington wasn't the better team. They just outplayed us," said tailback Joe McKnight, who scored the Trojans' lone touchdown on the game's opening possession. "Clearly, we have superior athletes. But hard work beats athleticism any day."  

"We didn't get any better from last week," Pete Carroll said. "I'm not doing a good enough job of making the points of how we win."  

Unlike last week, when the Trojans and freshman quarterback Matt Barkley converted key third downs in a comeback win at Ohio State, USC and first-time starter Aaron Corp went 0-10 at Washington. Meanwhile, Carroll's defense gave up 7 of 15 third-down tries, including a 3rd & 15 on the Huskies' game-winning, 10-play, 63-yard drive culminated by a field goal with four seconds remaining.  

Steve Sarkisian's Huskies didn't turn the ball over in outgaining USC 198-173 from the second quarter on, getting the Trojans to go three-and-out on four of eight possessions, and turning a 10-0 deficit with 4:36 left in the first quarter into a 13-10 lead with 9:53 remaining in the game. Thanks to the first 10 minutes, USC outgained Washington 360-293, but the Huskies got more first downs (20-16) and controlled the ball more than half a quarter more (34:11-25:49).    

"We didn't throw the ball very well today," Carroll said. "It was obvious. We threw the ball for 110 yards and couldn't get the ball down the field. We rarely get in that situation."  

The loss drops the Trojans back to a situation like last year, when they had to go unbeaten after Oregon State to win their seventh consecutive Pac-10 title. With three touchdowns the last two weeks, however, any championship talk appears as far away as the flight back from Seattle.  

"We've got a long way to go," Carroll said.  

Barkley's shoulder didn't respond well to throwing the last two days, and he didn't play. Taylor Mays (sprained MCL) also made the trip but did not play.

 

September 16, 2009

Trojans hurting
By: Matt Deringer  

"Turnover Wednesday" is the weekly practice where the Trojans pay extra attention to creating turnovers, but it might be more appropriately applied to the depth chart today.

Quarterback Matt Barkley's throwing shoulder remains bruised from the hit he took at Ohio State, and Aaron Corp - No. 1 before giving way to the freshman with a cracked fibula the first week of training camp - has taken all the reps with USC's first-team since. Barkley will try to throw today, but sat out yesterday's practice because it caused him too much pain.  

"I can't really bring my shoulder back," Barkley said. "It has gotten better though."  

In his weekly media lunch Tuesday, Pete Carroll wouldn't answer definitely about when Barkley would have to practice to be able to start Saturday at Washington (12:30 p.m., ABC).   "We'll see," Carroll said. "Fortunately, we have a tremendous alternative at the quarterback spot with Aaron."   Corp said he is about 95 percent recovered from his injury. ...  

Taylor Mays (sprained MCL) didn't run Tuesday, but Carroll said he was "sure" the senior Thorpe Award candidate would play Saturday. Mays will wear a brace on his knee. ...  

If Mays can't make post, sophomore Drew McAllister (recovering from a hip pointer) will start. Freshman T.J. McDonald (PS#12) is his backup. Junior Marshall Jones, who came to USC as a safety (PS#10) but moved to corner because of depth problems, switched back to safety with Mays hurting. ...  

Left tackle Charles Brown continues to be bothered by the flu. Butch Lewis, who has played right tackle and both guard spots at USC, will start Saturday if Brown can't. ...  

Patrick Hall (PS#3) will not attend USC after failing to meet NCAA academic requirements. The safety from Ventura, Calif., is recovering from surgery to knee ligaments he tore during his only practice at USC.   Hall can enroll in the spring semester if he qualifies. He also is free to sign with another school.

September 14, 2009

USC Pulls Ahead of the Buckeyes in the Horseshoe
Matthew Melon (soularchives.blogspot.com)

With 106,033 (an attendance record) screaming fans in the Horseshoe, this was unlike any place that true freshman quarterback Matt Barkley has played. Scrimmages and practice could not have prepared Barkley for Saturday’s night game in the hostile environment of Buckeye Nation. Even though he wasn’t spectacular nor was McKnight, they both worked in tandem to push USC ahead of Ohio State.

Public perception has been that Ohio State cannot hang with the big boys: they have lost miserably to the likes of Florida, LSU, and USC. The last time a Big Ten team beat USC was in 1974 when Penn State knocked them off in the Rose Bowl. And this loss by Ohio State marks the sixth time they lost to a top 5 ranked team.

One must remember though, if there was any time to hit The Men of Troy in the mouth and take a win, this was the time. Pete Carroll brought his boys into Columbus with a new offensive and defensive coordinator, a true freshman quarterback, and also lost one of his down-field threats Ronald Johnson to a broken collarbone.  

From the onset, this was a highly contested game where the defenses hung tough. On the third play of the first quarter, Terrelle Pryor threw an interception that was run back 51 yards by linebacker Chris Galippo. Stafon Johnson finished off this drive, scoring six points on a two yard run in the endzone. It was evident that Ohio State was not going to be intimidated like they have in previous years.

Pryor came back with a pass to Dane Sanzenbacher for 58 yards and that set up a 2 yard run by Daniel Herron for six points. The Buckeyes went 6 plays gaining 72 yards that took three minutes and thirty-one seconds off the clock. The game stood tied at 7-7 for the rest of the first quarter, both defenses playing good sound football.

The beginning of the second quarter found The Buckeyes on fourth and goal on USC’S one yard line, and Tressel elected to go for the field goal instead of punching it in for 6 points. I cannot blame Tressel because it is always good to get points on the board; it’s better to get some points than none. Holding a 10-7 lead, the Buckeyes and Trojans would trade back and forth with unsuccessful drives.

With Ohio State being up 15-10 in the fourth quarter at the 7:29 mark, it seemed improbable that USC would come back for the win. With USC backed up on their 10 yard line because of a sack by Devon Torrence on Barkley and then a delay of game, no one saw what was going to happen next. On third and 9, Barkley hits Mcknight who shuttles off a 21 yard gain.

This would start a 14 play, 86 yard drive that lasted six minutes and ten seconds. The touchdown was scored by Stafon Johnson bouncing the run to the outside for six points and the two point conversion pass was made by McKnight to seal the win.

In this drive, Barkley went 3/5 for 55 yards and McKnight had four rushes for 23 yards. The Trojans got on top 18-15 with a minute and five seconds left.  On the last play of the game, fourth and ten, Pryor heaves up a pass with three Trojan defenders around one Buckeye receiver. The ball was batted down and the game ended for the Buckeyes.

No one can find fault with the phenomenal job that Ohio State’s defense did in this game. The only problem was the offense could not score when needed in USC’s territory. But credit the young linebackers for USC by playing a solid game and the rest of the defense as well.

Pryor did not look like Vince Young, in the 2005 National Championship game, where he made the Trojans defenders look like they had concrete in their cleats. Carroll’s defense did not let him run circles around them and contained him in the pocket forcing him to beat them with his arm.

McKnight ended the night with 60 yards on 16 carries, averaging 3.8 yards per carry, nothing jaw-dropping at all. And Barkley went 15/31 for 195 yards with one touchdown and one interception. These stats are not going to be noted as the highest passing totals, by any stretch, but what will remain in everyone’s mind is the control and poise by the true freshman Barkley. And on the flipside of things, McKnight gained good, tough yards on the ground.

Pryor finished the night 11/25 with 177 yards and one interception. He showed moxie and a will to win, and no one can find fault with this kid. He came to play. At the end of the night, Ohio State had 265 total yards and the Men of Troy had 313 yards.

The Buckeyes can take a moral victory away from this game, but I know the players and staff wish it was a victory on the field. If anything, I know this does not go a long way in changing perception of the Big Ten and Ohio State but this was a start, especially since they stayed in the game until the final seven minutes of the game.

This close call might serve Pete Carroll and his team well. This will cause the Trojans to take every team seriously and not look ahead to big matchups. Maybe this year they will not have that let down game they seem to have every year where they lose to the likes of Stanford, UCLA or Oregon State. The only real offensive powerhouse they need to look out for is Cal and those two teams meet on October 3rd.

Feel free to leave comments at matthewmelon617@verizon.net

September 13, 2009

Hollywood Ending
By: Matt Deringer

 
Fourteen plays. Eighty-six yards. Six minutes and 10 seconds.
 
That's all that stood between USC and its first loss to a Big Ten team in the Pete Carroll Era (7-0), as Stafon Johnson's touchdown run with 1:05 remaining and Matt Barkley's two-point conversion pass to Joe McKnight pushed the Trojans past the Buckeyes, 18-15, in front of 106,033 at Ohio Stadium.
 
Pete Carroll's decision to give the freshman quarterback his first road start at Ohio State, play-calling that produced just 227 yards (21 in the second half!) halfway through the fourth quarter, missed tackles on defense, and kicking games that gave Jim Tressel's Buckeyes repeated field position advantages, all of it was in question when USC took possession with 7:22 on the clock and 15-10 on the scoreboard. Barkley got sacked, then flagged for delay of game, giving the Trojans 2nd and 19 from their own 5-yard-line with 6:33 remaining.
 
And then, it started. McKnight took a handoff to the USC 15, Barkley slipped him a pass to change the momentum for a first down at the 37, and tight end Anthony McCoy split a couple Buckeyes with a catch and a first down at the Ohio State 37.
 
Barkley found Damian Williams for eight yards on 3rd and 9, then rode center Kris O'Dowd for the first down with 3:27 remaining. McKnight rushed three times in the next four plays for 21 yards, getting the Trojans to 3rd and 2 at the Ohio State 6. Barkley snuck four more yards for a first down and an Ohio State timeout, setting up Johnson's sprint around the right side and into USC history.
 
"We're Trojans. That's what we do," Barkley said. "Doesn't matter where we are in the score. We found a way. I love this."
 
USC fans had about a quarter's worth of things to love, sandwiched between 45 minutes of frustration. Middle linebacker Chris Galippo made a nifty interception and runback of Terrelle Pryor's second pass of the game, a 51-yard interception return that set-up Johnson's first touchdown on 4th and Goal from the Ohio State 1.
 
But Pryor staggered the Trojans the next time Ohio State had the ball, connecting on a 56-yard pass to the USC 3, the Buckeyes scoring two plays later. Two USC three and outs later, Pryor took them downfield again, hitting another big pass (34 yards) to the USC 2 before Ohio State settled for a field goal to make it 10-7 at the start of the second quarter.
 
The Trojans's goal-line stand would be a sign of things to come, though, as USC would limit the Buckeyes (206 yards in the first quarter!) to 184 the rest of the way, finishing with more first downs (20-11) despite giving up one more sack (2-1) and botching a long snap that gave Ohio State a safety and a 12-10 lead in the third quarter.
 
Neither young quarterback (Barkley 15 of 31 for 195 yards and an interception - one pass forced into coverage, a couple thrown out of bounds, two or three dropped, and one or two saved by USC receivers) nor Pryor (11 of 25 for 176 yards and an interception; 44 yards rushing on 11 attempts - 40 on 11 in 2008 - including a key first down) were particularly sharp, though both made their share of plays. Fortunately for USC, Barkley made just enough to win.
 
"I think it's a beautiful statement for our whole team," Carroll said. "We realized we had a really tough game. We talked about it, that we'd have to win it in the fourth quarter.
 
"It was really a great job by a lot of guys."

September 11, 2009

Columbus Collision 
By: Matt Deringer

 
The hype's not as great as last year, when no summer college football conversation was complete without talk of USC and Ohio State at the Coliseum, but tomorrow's pairing in Columbus tops 2008 in terms of intrigue.
 
"You've got young quarterbacks," Pete Carroll said. "Terrelle Pryor played against us for the first time extensively. I thought it was a big move. They hadn't done that earlier in games. They had the confidence in the kid for obvious reasons. He's a great player. He's a focal point guy. You can't watch them and not watch him.
 
"So they've got Pryor going, and we've got Matt (Barkley) coming in in his first away game as a freshman. It will be a good matchup."
 
How the Trojans contain Pryor - running quarterbacks (Virginia Tech's Bryan Randall, Texas' Vince Young, Oregon's Dennis Dixon) have given Carroll's defenses problems over the years; USC sacked Pryor once and limited him to 40 yards on 11 rushes last season - and handle Barkley will tell which team is likely eliminated from BCS title game consideration.
 
"We've changed so much over the years," Carroll said of game-planning against quarterbacks like Pryor. "We had to adjust. Everybody has trouble with them. It's the hardest thing to defend."
 
The Trojans will do so with senior Averell Spicer and sophomore Jurrell Casey at defensive tackle, and Kevin Thomas at cornerback. Spicer returns after missing the season opener with an ankle sprain, while Casey and Thomas both started against San Jose State, but suffered from the flu earlier in the week.
 
"Spicer coming back with all the experience he has, and he has very good quickness, he might give us a little bit more penetration and play-making in the backfield," Carroll said, "which would be great. But we're still coming together."
 
The Trojans are still coming together offensively as well.
 
Phil Steele Preseason All-America center Kris O'Dowd returns after sitting out the season opener with a kneecap he dislocated during training camp. Jeff Byers, who filled in for O'Dowd, moves back to left guard, where he started all last year. Butch Lewis, who started last week in place of Byers, will be limited in his back-up role to Byers and left tackle Charles Brown by a sprained ankle. Sophomore Tyron Smith (PS#5) can play either tackle spot, but appears ensconced on the right side, where he acquitted himself well in his first start against San Jose State, and offensive line coach Pat Ruel loves his athleticism.
 
Other notable starters include tailback Joe McKnight - who fumbled on his third carry, but went on to rush for 145 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener; Carroll is intent on making the Louisiana native a star in his third year - walk-on punter Billy O'Malley - who averaged 34.7 yards on six kicks in his first game - and, of course, Barkley.
 
"I would think he's going to have fun with it," Carroll said of Barkley making his second career start in Ohio Stadium. "He's going to be excited to see what it looks like to be in an on opponent's stadium of that stature and all. And then he's going to go play. I don't think it will matter to him at all."
 
A national television audience (ABC, 5 p.m. Pacific) will see.

September 6, 2009

By the Numbers  
By: Matt Deringer

 
After a shaky start, No. 4 USC cruised past San Jose State as expected - though bigger than anticipated - yesterday in its opener. But what does a 56-3 victory really mean?
 
"They were too much better for us to hang in there," San Jose State coach Dick Tomey said. "I've seen them do that to lots of teams. It's a lesson for us to learn. I hate it, but it's necessary for us to get better."
 
As they usually do, the Trojans got better as the game went on. They had as many false starts - including one on their first play of the game - and fumbles - one by tailback Joe McKnight on their second series, another the fourth time they had the ball - as first downs (two) in the first 15 minutes, ending the quarter trailing San Jose State 3-0. True freshman quarterback Matt Barkley debuted 2 of 4, throwing the ball out of bounds on third down the first series of the game, and taking a sack instead of trying to find a receiver downfield on the Trojans' third possession.
 
USC coach Pete Carroll wouldn't call the gameplan "conservative," but the Trojans threw the ball 12 out of 34 plays in the first half, with Barkley aiming outside the hashmarks on almost every one. Whatever Carroll and new assistant head coach of the offense Jeremy Bates called it, though, it eventually worked, as USC started to push around the undermanned Spartans in the second quarter. Tailbacks Stafon Johnson (PS#3), Allen Bradford (PS#3LB) and Joe McKnight (PS#3DB) ran for touchdowns on four consecutive possessions, and Barkley went 6 of 7 for 117 yards en route to a 28-3 halftime lead.
 
"The slow start was about as understandable as you can imagine," Carroll said. "Once we settled down, we played some good football. Matt Barkley just absolutely handled this. It was just no big deal for him. ...
 
"Everything came off the running game. We have all kinds of stuff we didn't have to do."
 
What USC did was end any suspense by scoring on its first two possessions of the second half, a 54-yard touchdown run by McKnight, and a four-yard Barkley play-action pass to tight end Rhett Ellison to make it 42-3 halfway through the third quarter. It was pretty much freshmen and reserves from there as sophomore tailback Marc Tyler (PS#1) carried five times for 72 yards and a touchdown in the fourth, and previous No. 1 quarterback Aaron Corp went 4 of 4 for 45 yards and a touchdown to fullback D.J. Shoemate (PS#5 WR) for the final margin with 4:13 remaining.
 
In all, the Trojans amassed 620 yards (342 rushing) and 22 first downs to 121 and 9 for San Jose State. Barkley finished 15 of 19 for 233 yards and a touchdown - and no interceptions; the key among USC faithful - while McKnight carried off his role of No. 1 tailback by leading the team with 145 yards and two TDs. Phil Steele Preseason All-Pac-10 receiver Damian Williams and tight end Anthony McCoy each caught three passes, Williams for 67 yards, McCoy for 64.
 
And while Spartan quarterbacks Kyle Reed and Jordan La Secla (a combined 14 of 27 for 109 yards and no interceptions) will never remind anyone of Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor, the retooled USC defense did sack them five times in limiting San Jose State to 53 yards (-14 rushing) after the first quarter.
 
Freshmen defensive end Devon Kennard (PS#10) and linebacker Jarvis Jones (PS#23DL) behind only Chris Galippo and Thorpe Award candidate Taylor Mays in tackles with five apiece, while redshirt freshman defensive end Nick Perry (PS#7) led the team in sacks with two. Sophomore defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (PS#28) also recorded a sack and forced a fumble.
 
"It was a little frustrating when you stop a team and stop a team and don't see points on the board," Galippo said. In his first start replacing Rey Maualuga at middle linebacker, the redshirt sophomore (PS#2) had a team-high nine tackles, four of them for losses, and a forced fumble. "The first quarter didn't look good from a fan's perspective. But the offense came out and scored 28 points (in the second quarter).
 
"It's good for us to experience this the week before we play Ohio State."
 
At least one Trojan wouldn't mind experiencing it again.
 
"I'd like to play like this every week," Carroll said. "You have to defend those runs."

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September 4, 2009

USC vs. SJSU
 By: Matt Deringer

 
No. 4 USC's game against San Jose State (12:30 p.m. Pacific, Fox Sports) isn't so much the season opener as it is Matt Barkley's debut at quarterback for the Trojans. Barkley, who enrolled last January, is the first true freshman quarterback to start an opener at USC. Ever.
 
"It's hard for a first-time freshman to play a lot, and here we're looking at a quarterback," Pete Carroll said. "It's just new. It's just a different setting because the game is on the line and all of that."
 
Carroll will put Barkley (PS#5) into position to succeed as much as he can. Trojans return their top four tailbacks from last year, perhaps the best fullback in the country, and even without center Kris O'Dowd, who will rest his dislocated knee until the following week at Ohio State, one of the top offensive lines in the nation.
 
San Jose State counters with head coach and Arizona's "Desert Swarm" mastermind Dick Tomey, and the Ihenacho Brothers, defensive end Carl and defensive back Duke, two of the best the Western Athletic Conference has to offer. Defensive end Justin Cole also is a Phil Steele Preseason All-WAC first-teamer, after finishing ahead of both with 68 tackles last year.
 
If USC's offense struggles, the Trojans feel they can turn to Aaron Corp, the No. 1 quarterback before breaking a bone in his leg and missing most of fall camp. But Carroll would prefer to rest the redshirt sophomore another week, and get Barkley as many snaps as reasonable going into next week's game at Ohio State.
 
"We'll just see how the game goes and see what's happening," Carroll said. "But it would be better for (Corp) if he waited longer. If we're able to do that, we will. I know he doesn't want to do that. He wants to play, and he's capable of playing."
 
Tomorrow will also get a start on showing just how well the "new" USC defense is capable of playing. The Trojans have a freshman (end Wes Horton), a sophomore (tackle Jurrell Casey) and two linebackers (sophomore Chris Galippo and junior Malcolm Smith) making their first career starts against a San Jose State offensive line that returns all five starters from last year. The Spartans ranked 115th in the nation in rushing last year (86.7 ypg) and gave up an average of two and a half sacks per game, but did take care of the football, finishing in the Top 20 in turnover margin.
 
The strength of the USC defense, the secondary, will be tested by seniors Kyle Reed (PS#18, Cal transfer), who completed 64 percent of his passes and ran for four touchdowns last year, and Kyle Jurovich, who caught a school-record 85 passes in 2007. Jurovich redshirted last year after being diagnosed with mononucleosis the second week of the season.
 
"We're expecting a lot of great things out of the secondary with Josh Pinkard and Will Harris and Kevin Thomas," Carroll said. "They're to support Taylor Mays, one of the best players we've had here since we've been here, on free safety.
 
"We have a few new guys up front on the defensive side, but everybody for the most part has played. So we're excited about it, and we think we have a good opportunity to do some good stuff."
 
Notes: Pinkard will play corner in place of Shareece Wright, who has been ruled academically ineligible. Harris will start at strong safety.

Linebacker Luthur Brown (PS#6) has made grades and will be eligible this season. The senior is capable of backing up all three linebacker spots and is expected to contribute on special teams, though how much he will play in the opener remains unclear.

August 31, 2009

No RoJo 
By Matt Deringer

 
USC begins game-week preparations for San Jose State without its leader in kick returns the last two years, junior Ronald Johnson. Johnson, also USC's No. 1 deep receiving threat, will miss 6-8 weeks after breaking his clavicle over the weekend in a mock game.
 
In his place, the Trojans are expected to turn to a pair of freshman, redshirt Brice Butler (PS#17), the son of former NFL defensive back Bobby Butler, and De'Von Flournoy (PS#27), who turned heads with his speed after stepping on campus earlier this month.
 
David Ausberry, who won the No. 3 wide receiver job in training camp, will take over flanker, while Damian Williams - a Phil Steele Preseason All-Pac-10 selection capable of playing any of USC's three receiver positions - moves to split end.
 
Other depth-chart changes from the start of August include freshman defensive end James Boyd (PS#8, also played quarterback in high school) joining the rotation at tight end, where he will back-up starter Anthony McCoy, receiver Blake Ayles, and blocker Rhett Ellison.
 
Butch Lewis or Zack Heberer will start at left guard, with Jeff Byers manning center and Alex Parsons remaining at right guard while Kris O'Dowd (knee) is out.
 
Defensively, in the absence of senior Luthur Brown (still not academically eligible) and freshman Frankie Telfort (no longer playing football because of a medical condition), freshman Jarvis Jones will back-up linebacker Michael Morgan on the strongside, while UNLV transfer/strong safety Shane Horton joins Jordan Campbell behind Malcolm Smith on the weakside.
 
Horton's brother, Wes, or redshirt freshman Nick Perry, or sophomore Malik Jackson will start opposite Everson Griffen at defensive end. Christian Tupou will start alongside Jurrell Casey at defensive tackle, with junior college transfer Hebron Fangupo and senior Averell Spicer (sprained ankle) backing them up, respectively.
 
Kevin Thomas is atop the two-deep at cornerback, where sixth-year senior Josh Pinkard will play if Shareece Wright isn't academically eligible. If and when he is, Pinkard will move back to strong safety, where Will Harris currently is the starter.

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August 28, 2009

Roster Notes 
By Matt Deringer

 
Matt Barkley at quarterback isn't the only change from Phil Steele's 2009 Preview.
 
Either sophomore Malik Jackson or redshirt freshman Wes Horton (PS#20) will start in place of Armond Armstead at defensive end. Armstead, who moved from defensive tackle in the spring, is expected to miss most of September with a broken foot suffered in practice. Redshirt freshman Nick Perry (PS#7) also will be part of the rotation ...
 
Freshman Devon Kennard (PS#10) will play right away as he backs up weakside defensive end Everson Griffen. Sophomore Jurrell Casey appears to have supplanted Christian Tupou at nose tackle, with Tupou playing defensive tackle the last two weeks in place of Averell Spicer, who has been limited by a high ankle sprain. Junior college transfer Hebron Fangupo (6-2, 330 pounds) impressed early in training camp, and will be part of the rotation ...
 
Center Kris O'Dowd hopes to return from a dislocated kneecap in time for the season opener. When O'Dowd first got hurt, offensive line coach Pat Ruel planned on playing last year's starter at right guard, Alex Parsons, at center. But Ruel has since changed his mind, and if O'Dowd can't go next Saturday, plans to keep Parsons at guard and move Phil Steele Preseason All-American guard Jeff Byers to center, the position he starred at in high school. Butch Lewis, who started seven games last year at right tackle, would move to left guard in place of Byers, with sophomore Tyron Smith (PS#5), regarded by coaches as USC's most-athletic lineman, taking over at right tackle.
 
USC's experience (the entire two-deep returned from last year) and depth (eight out of 10 VHTs, Phil Steele's No. 1-rated offensive line) means the shuffling will continue until coaches find the combination they like best ...
 
Stafon Johnson and Joe McKnight look like the top two tailbacks, with McKnight ready to get more chances than ever. C.J. Gable looks like the odd-man out, with Allen Bradford likely to get chances as USC's short-yardage back ...
 
Projected starting cornerback Shareece Wright still hasn't been cleared to play this year while he awaits a grade from summer school. Backup linebacker Luthur Brown also awaits grades, but unlike Wright, is not practicing with the Trojans ...
 
Freshman safety Patrick Hall (PS#3) has until Sept. 11 to be certified by the NCAA, or he will not be able to attend classes at USC. Hall will sit out this football season regardless, as he tore his ACL in practice last week ...
 
As projected by Phil Steele, junior college transfer Jacob Harfman (PS#36JC) will handle kick-off and punting duties for the Trojans. Former Nebraska transfer Jordan Congdon (PS #1) won the placekicking job, though Harfman will attempt anything further than 45 yards.

---

Upset! 
By Matt Deringer

 
Freshman quarterback Matt Barkley (PS#5), who enrolled in January from Mater Dei High School (alma mater of Heisman winners John Huarte and Matt Leinart), today was named starter for USC's season opener next Saturday against San Jose State.
 
Barkley beat out sophomore Aaron Corp, who came into August as the No. 1, but just Tuesday was cleared by doctors to return from a crack in his fibula that kept him out of practice the previous two weeks. Barkley had taken all the first-team repetitions while Corp was out, with former Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain stuck in a backup role.
 
Barkley will work exclusively with the first-team Saturday in USC's mock game at the Coliseum.
 
"We'll utilize this weekend to have (Barkley) learn what it's like to go through preparations as the starter," Pete Carroll said in announcing the move. "For our ability to perform at our very best next week, it helps us to express it now instead of game week."
 
"Aaron has done a marvelous job of getting back from his injury," Carroll said. "By next Saturday, we'd expect him to be ready to play if needed, but he's not ready yet."
 
While Carroll stressed that the competition will remain open, nothing in his history at USC suggests he will rotate quarterbacks. Carson Palmer started every game for the Trojans Carroll's first two seasons, Leinart beat out Matt Cassel in 2003 and went 37-2 the next three years, and only a broken finger got Mark Sanchez under center for three games instead of John David Booty from 2006-07. Last year, Sanchez beat out Mustain and started all 13 games en route to being a first-round selection by the New York Jets.

---

August 19, 2009

Updates
  By: Matt Deringer

 
The MRI on center Kris O'Dowd showed nothing more than a dislocated right kneecap, which is expected to keep him out two to three weeks. That puts O'Dowd back in time for the Sept. 5 season opener against San Jose State, or USC's Sept. 12 trip to Ohio State.
 
X-rays on quarterback Aaron Corp showed that the cracked fibula in his left leg has healed enough for him to resume practicing next week. The Trojans start classes Aug. 24, practice Aug. 25-28, and close out training camp Aug. 29 with a scrimmage at the Coliseum.
 
Corp has thrown select passing drills the past few days.

August 18, 2009

O'Dowd Out
By: Matt Deringer

 
Kris O'Dowd, All-Pac-10 last year and Phil Steele's First-Team All-American center this preseason, dislocated his kneecap in Monday night's intrasquad scrimmage and will miss the next three to four weeks. The injury is similar to the one O'Dowd suffered in 2007, when he became the first true freshman to ever start for the Trojans at center, then dislocated his kneecap the last Saturday in September, and sat out the next four games while recovering. An MRI is scheduled for Tuesday.
 
"It just depends what it looks like when they take a look at it, if there are any nicks and chunks like they were last time, when it took him a month to get back," Pete Carroll said. "We'll just have to wait and see."
 
In the meantime, senior Alex Parsons (PS #88DL) will move from right guard to center, with Phil Steele's First-Team All-America left guard Jeff Byers backing him up. Nick Howell (PS #72), who was projected to rotate with Parsons at guard, sprained his ankle in last night's scrimmage, leaving Phil Steele's No. 1-rated offensive line in the country in a state of flux with a week and a half remaining in training camp.
 
Zack Heberer, who started three games last year, including against Ohio State, stands as the chief beneficiary of more practice time.
 
"We're fortunate to have that kind of depth," Carroll said. "But it's a crusher that (O'Dowd) got banged up like that."

Halfway through
By: Matt Deringer

 
Highlights from USC's second scrimmage of training camp ...
 
QBs: Matt Barkley (PS #5) took a night off from being a freshman sensation, missing his first six passes (one dropped and another knocked down in double coverage) while completing just five of 18 for 109 yards against the first-team defense. "The first throw of the scrimmage was the worst throw he's made since he's been here," Pete Carroll said. "He just chucked it. He knew to throw the ball away. He had so much time, and he just kept drifting. He made a horrible decision to throw that ball. He hasn't done that the whole time we've had him."
 
For his part, backup Mitch Mustain was efficient, completing 10 of 16 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown against the second-team defense.
 
Aaron Corp, who came into camp as No. 1, did not scrimmage Monday night, but threw passes out of the shotgun formation over the weekend. Corp will have X-rays today to determine if the crack in his fibula has healed enough for him to work out more with the offense.
 
WRs: David Ausberry (PS #2) caught two passes for 32 yards Monday night, and has taken the lead to be the No. 3 receiver. "He's ready to bust out," Carroll said of the 6-foot-4, 235-pound junior.
 
Freshman De'Von Flourney (PS #27) caught three passes for 105 yards, including the 53-yarder he turned into a touchdown from Mustain, and appears on track to crack the receiving rotation. Flourney, who ran an 11.08 in the 100 meters in high school, has turned heads with his big-play ability.
 
"He's knows what he's supposed to be doing," wide receivers coach John Morton said. "We knew he had this speed, so it's not a surprise. But he's made a really smooth transition."
 
DBs: Phil Steele's Preseason First-Team All-American safety Taylor Mays led the defense in making life difficult for Barkley and the offense Monday night, recording six tackles and breaking up a pass. Linebacker Malcolm Smith and cornerback Shareece Wright also broke up passes, while junior college defensive tackle transfer Hebron Fangupo (6-2, 330, PS #5JC), who has stood the first week and a half of training camp, finished with three tackles, including one for a loss.
 
"The defense did whatever they wanted to do tonight," Carroll said. "This wasn't where we held back and made it easier on the quarterback. With such good work the past few days, we thought we should make it real hard. And we did."
 
"We run through the defense in almost every practice, and then in the scrimmage, they shut us down," tailback Allen Bradford said. Bradford averaged 7.3 yards on seven carries Monday night, second only to Joe McKnight's 12.8 yards on six carries. "We ran hard out there and did what we need to do. The defense said they were coming for us."
 
"I thought the defense played well," Carroll said, "The first group made it hard on Barkley all night long. He had time to throw the football; guys did a nice job protecting. We just couldn't find our guys getting open and get them the football.
 
"This defense is capable of covering people like that."

August 13, 2009

QB Quandry
By: Matt Deringer

 
Aaron Corp, USC's No. 1 quarterback coming into fall camp, could miss the next three weeks with a crack in his left fibula. An MRI Wednesday revealed the crack after Corp sat out Tuesday's practice with a swollen left knee. X-Rays Tuesday showed no ligament damage.
 
The redshirt sophomore was tabbed No. 1 coming out of spring practice, where he impressed coaches with a near-error free month of workouts, and mobility not enjoyed by a quarterback in the Pete Carroll Era. In his place, freshman sensation Matt Barkley (PS #5) - the No. 2 QB coming into the fall - and former Arkansas wunderkid Mitch Mustain (PS #1) will split the bulk of the repetitions.
 
"As always, it creates a great opportunity for Matt (Barkley) to feel like he's the guy, and feel like he's in charge for whatever the length of time is here," Carroll said Wednesday. "And it's important for him to do that to show us, to feel it, and to show his teammates, too."
 
Corp will wear a brace on his left knee while he is sidelined, but will be able to continue throwing.
 
"I don't feel like we're rocked by this or anything," Carroll said. "It's just what happens."
 
It's worth noting that last year, quarterback Mark Sanchez - who had won the job over Mustain in the spring - dislocated his knee on the third day of training camp, and missed most of August. Sanchez returned to practice the last weekend of training camp, and started the season opener at Virginia.

August 10, 2009

Trojans Open

By: Matt Deringer

USC officially started pursuit of its eighth consecutive Pac-10 title over the weekend, minus nine starters from the nation's No. 1 defense in points allowed (9.0 ppg) and the quarterback whose first-half highlights had channels changing across the country in the Trojans' Rose Bowl-beatdown of Penn State (now New York Jet Mark Sanchez).
 
But Pete Carroll being Pete Carroll, there's enough talent (another Top 10 recruiting class) and coaching (including his first special teams coordinator since Ed Orgeron) for USC to have a shot at an NCAA-record eighth year in a row of 11 or more wins, and its first national championship since 2004.
 
"The key is to recapture the competitiveness and intensity that we've always played with," Carroll said. "I loved how competitive we were in spring practice, and how our players worked in the offseason to get ready. Their conditioning and focus was phenomenal, and that should carry over at a high level into the fall."
 
Sophomore Aaron Corp comes into fall as the starter under center, having bettered Mitch Mustain (PS #1) and freshman Matt Barkley (PS #5, enrolled early) in the spring.
 
Corp, maybe USC's most-mobile quarterback since Rodney Peete, led his 2006 Orange Lutheran team to the California state title, but appeared in only five games last year as a redshirt freshman. Nonetheless, he proved the most consistent and made the fewest mistakes of USC's quarterbacks in the spring, and stands as the favorite to start Sept. 5 against San Jose State, and, more interestingly, the second game of the season, at Ohio State.
 
Barkley wowed the crowds at Howard Jones Field with his arm in the spring and has continued to do so the first few days of camp, but probably forces too many throws for Carroll's taste to be more than No. 2 the next month. One-time Arkansas transfer Mustain lost out to Sanchez last year in his bid to be the starter, and doesn't seem to have recovered enough to figure as more than a backup.
 
Whoever ends August as the starter - it's the first time in nine years that Carroll's had to replace his quarterback in back-to-back seasons - won't be asked to do too much. As noted in the 2009 Phil Steele College Football Preview, USC boasts its most-experience offensive line of the Carroll Era. Reserve Thomas Herring (PS #5DL) has ended his career by taking a medical redshirt his senior year, but the entire two-deep from the Rose Bowl returns, including First-Team Pac-10 center Kris O'Dowd and Third-Team All-America guard Jeff Byers.
 
New assistant head coach of the offense Jeremy Bates (called plays for quarterback Jay Cutler and the Denver Broncos in 2008) and first-year offensive coordinator John Morton (former Raiders and Saints assistant has coached wide receivers since 2007) can also call on any number of VHT tailbacks (three Trojans return from rushing for more than 600 yards) and Damian Williams (PS #11, transferred with Mustain from Arkansas), last season's leader in receptions and touchdown catches.
 
"We'll surround our new quarterback with some impressive talent," Carroll said. "We'll be very stout up front with our deep, experienced line. And our skill guys are fast, exciting, veteran playmakers. Jeremy Bates’
background in the NFL and John Morton’s background here give us a great 1-2 coaching punch."
 
The questions might be bigger on offense, but there are more of them on defense, where the Trojans have to replace Bednarik Award winner Rey Maualuga, All-American Brian Cushing, and Rose Bowl Defensive MVP Kaluka Maiava at linebacker. No Trojan returns with more than 35 career tackles, but veteran coaches and close friends Ken Norton Jr. (now assistant head coach of the defense) and Rocky Seto (in his first-year as defensive coordinator) are excited about the improved speed of this year's group.
 
Freshman Jarvis Jones (PS #23DL) will contend right away for playing time with first-teamers Chris Galippo (PS #2, slimmed down to 238 pounds after back problems coming out of high school) in the middle, Michael Morgan (PS #12, started last year against Oregon) on the strongside and Malcolm Smith (PS #12RB) on the weakside. Smith, burlier but just as heady as his brother, New York Giant wide receiver Steve Smith, has shown a nose for the ball on special teams his first two years at USC, and a knack for creating turnovers in practice.
 
Carroll was counting on Frankie Telfort (PS #18) to contribute right away, but the Miami freshman was diagnosed with a genetic heart condition before fall camp opened, and will not be able to continue with football. (USC will honor his scholarship.) In his place, Shane Horton, eligible this season after transferring from UNLV, has moved from safety to weakside linebacker, where he will compete for playing time.
 
"Don't underestimate them,” Carroll said of USC's linebackers. Especially with a "very fast" defensive line coached by new assistant Jethro Franklin (groomed Mario Williams with the Houston Texans the last two seasons) that could be "one of our best pass rushing units in years." Freshmen defensive end Devon Kennard (PS #10) and defensive tackle Hebron Fangupo (PS #5JC)
 
The Trojans also sport perhaps the best secondary in college football. Safety Taylor Mays passed up a likely Top 10 draft slot to return for his senior year (and grace the cover of USC's media guide), and will play closer to the line of scrimmage so he can be utilized more against the run and blitzing the quarterback. The move is made possible by Josh Pinkard, who will start the season at strong safety, where he spent the first part of his Trojan career before returning last season from near career-ending injuries at cornerback in 2006 and 2007. Veterans Kevin Thomas, Shareece Wright, and T.J. Bryant, and freshmen Byron Moore (PS #24) and Torin Hall (PS #55) will compete for time at cornerback.
 
New special teams coordinator Brian Schneider, the first full-time assistant at the position in Carroll's tenure, entered August with a bevy of options. Carroll wanted tailback Joe McKnight to spark the Trojans on punt returns last season, but ended up pulling him after trouble with fumbles; leading rusher Stafon Johnson also paced the team in punt return yardage. Both return.
 
Kickoff returns will feature receiver Ronald Johnson (already ranks fifth among USC's career leaders), and either tailback C.J. Gable (ran a kick back 93 yards at Stanford last season) or diminutive redshirt freshman Curtis McNeal (PS #34). McNeal, generously listed at 5-foot-8, turned heads in the spring, and Carroll wants to take advantage of his talents in space this season.
 
Junior college transfer Jacob Harfman (PS #36JC) has already impressed kicking off and punting in fall camp, and is the favorite to fill those roles. The competition appears more open at placekicker, where Nebraska transfer Jordan Congdon (PS #1) and Joe Houston (PS #143JC) will try to hold off Harfman.
 
"Every season presents new and different challenges, as is certainly the case this year," Carroll said. "But we do have the ingredients to have another very good team."
 
Notes: The Trojans practice in pads for the first time Wednesday, begin two-a-days Thursday, and will hold a closed scrimmage next Monday at the Coliseum. The annual Salute to Troy fan kickoff banquet on campus is Aug. 22, with a free, open-to-the-public scrimmage Aug. 29 at the Coliseum.