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USC Trojans (Last Year: 12-1)
2009 College Football Season Preview:
Star Players:
RB Stafon Johnson, RB Joe McKnight, RB C.J. Gable, FB Stanley Havili, WR Damian Williams, WR Ronald Johnson, TE Anthony McCoy, T Charles Brown, C Kris O’Dowd, DE Everson Griffen, ILB Chris Galippo, CB Kevin Thomas, SS Josh Pinkard, FS Taylor Mays.
Draft/Graduation/Transfer Losses:
QB Mark Sanchez, WR Patrick Turner, WR Vidal Hazleton (transfer), DE Kyle Moore, DT Fili Moala, OLB Clay Matthews, OLB Brian Cushing, OLB Kaluka Maiava, ILB Rey Maualuga, CB Cary Harris, SS Kevin Ellison, K David Buehler, P Greg Woidneck.
2009 USC Trojans Offense:
Much to the dismay of head coach Pete Carroll, Mark Sanchez opted for the NFL, which was the right move. It doesn’t matter if you are ready to play in the NFL or not when a $25 million guaranteed contract is on the table and you date supermodels… then again you can also date supermodels at USC.
It looks like Aaron Corp is going to be the big man on campus, but I don’t even know if he can do as well as John David Booty. Corp doesn’t have any experience like Booty had, but he does have an veteran wide receiver corps and offensive line. I haven’t seen Corp so I can’t personally comment, but I have heard he has a weak arm. We’ll see, but there was a reason why Carroll was not happy about Sanchez leaving for the NFL. Will Matt Barkley be ready as a true freshman? I doubt it.
The good news for Corp is there are several weapons around him. The Men of Troy seem to be going with a running back by committee and they have been successful with it in the past. USC ranked No. 16 in the country in yardage average gaining 5.05 per attempt. I don’t really see a first-round draft pick in this crop, though Joe McKnight has potential as a No. 2 back in the NFL. However, I even see him as a third- or fourth-round pick at this time. The offensive line is not bulky or strong at the point of attack, but they are very athletic and smart. Center Kris O’Dowd has first-round potential. Watch out for left tackle Charles Brown as I expect him to have a big senior year and potentially go in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
The best player on this offense without a doubt is junior Damian Williams. He is an elite route runner with good speed and soft hands. Aaron Corp will rely on Williams early and often in 2009. An emerging vertical threat on this team is tight end Anthony McCoy.
2009 USC Trojans Defense:
Can a defense lose more in one offseason than the USC Trojans did from 2008 to 2009? It was a miracle Taylor Mays did not declare for the 2009 NFL Draft. However, we all know the Men of Troy do not rebuild – they reload.
A big concern entering the 2009 season is the pass rush. The Trojans only generated 29 sacks total, which ranked 38th in the country. In 2007, the team had 16 more sacks. What I am getting at is how much Sedrick Ellis meant to this defensive front. Somebody in the middle needs to step up.
The top three defensive tackles on this team are Averell Spicer, Jurrell Casey, and Christian Tupou. Next to Fili Moala, not one of these players generated a sack in 2008. This should be a huge concern up front for Pete Carroll.
On the outside is junior Everson Griffen, who also took a step backward in 2008. Although he forced two fumbles, he had very similar production to his freshman season despite more playing time. Griffen needs to elevate his level of play if he wants to be drafted in the first round one day.
The linebacking corps should be fine despite the losses of Clay Matthews, Brian Cushing, Kaluka Maiava and Rey Maualuga. Chris Galippo was a highly decorated linebacker coming out of high school in Corona, Ca., and he just looks like an old-school-type player. I think he will be a star. Michael Morgan and Malcolm Smith are said to be very fast players, but they seem to lack bulk to be adequate run defenders. I have not seen these players perform before, and it is impossible to judge exactly how good they will be.
Taylor Mays returns at free safety, and quarterbacks will avoid throwing his way at all costs. He covers a ton of ground in the backfield, though I would like to see him come away with more interceptions since he is in position to make plays. Kevin Thomas was the nickleback last year for USC, and he is a playmaker. Josh Pinkard might be an upgrade over Kevin Ellison in terms of run defense.
Overall, Southern Cal is talented as usual, but they might have growing pains due to inexperience.
2009 USC Trojans Schedule and Intangibles:
With the loss of David Buehler, this team is breaking in a new kicker in Joe Houston. Houston is a junior college transfer and sat out last season, but he could be a critical part of USC’s record because they will likely have erratic quarterback play. Houston is the X-Factor for Southern Cal and it will be important to track his production.
You have to respect Pete Carroll because he even though he plays in the Pac 10, he still schedules a difficult non-conference schedule. The Trojans visit Ohio State in the Horseshoe on Sept. 12, and that game will be the highlight of that Saturday. At Notre Dame will be a difficult victory on Oct. 17, but USC has a bye week before the game so they should be well versed.
Even though I initially thought Oregon would win the Pac 10 because USC lost Mark Sanchez, I looked at their depth chart and I am just not confident they can beat Southern Cal on paper, though there could be a different result in Autzen Stadium.
I just don’t see much competition in the Pac 10 again for USC this year, but bad quarterback play can lose you games you should win.
2009 USC Trojans Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):
Quarterbacks |
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Offensive Line |
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Secondary |
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Special Teams |
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Receivers |
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Coaching |
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2009 USC Trojans Analysis:
Pete Carroll is the best coach in the country and he gets everything he possibly can out of his players. However, there will be a few bumps along the way in 2009. I think USC loses one non-conference game whether it is in Ohio State or in Notre Dame. They might lose both if things don’t go their way. I also see some kind of sleeper loss in the Pac 10 whether it’s California, Oregon State, Oregon, etc. I think somebody will surprise the Trojans and upset them. Matt Barkley will be waiting in the wings for 2010, but USC should be back at the Rose Bowl winning the Pac 10 conference in 2009.
Projection: 10-2 (Pac 10 Champions)
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