I'm interested just for the story lines. Will Sark and Holt prove that their contributions to USC were more than just being figure-heads and lead their team of inferior talent to be at least competitive against their old employer? Or will the players that used to call them "coach" teach them a lesson in leavin'? Stay Tuned!
2 weeks too early to really think about UDub....Columbus is next up. However, I will say that one of the biggest criticisms of Sark while at USC was that he didn't run the ball enough and that the RB rotation didn't serve USC or the talent very well. Bates has said his game plan is to run the ball until the opponent proves it isn't working then he'll go to the air. Based on just one game (and not a true test), our Oline performed extremely well and the WR's were open all day long. Bates kept each RB in the rotation long enough to develop a rhythm. The only surprise was to see the FB Havili, lined up in the backfield and getting some carries. The pressure will be on UDub's D. I liked Holt. He did a good job IMO. The D players however, never really bought into his style and it showed at times. Jethro Franklin has been a huge improvement in terms of what he's done with the DLine. Locker will get some things done but perhaps not enough. Makes for an interesting story line but zero impact on the field. USC has traditionally struggled at Husky Stadium so that's in their favor. I'm sure they felt pretty good after Saturday's game. It could be our stumble game but I'm thinking that's more likely to be kal.
Our defense, didn't look good. Maybe we're not as talented on that side of the ball as we think. I know the recruiting says we are, but maybe they're wrong. Other than Peterson, I didn't see that many play makers. The thought of these guys versus all the speed that Florida has kind of scares me. Also, if Washington could run the ball on us, what is Alabama going to do? Hopefully what we saw was just them getting adjusted to the new scheme.
Okay, for a Pac-10 perspective on this. Last year's USC-Washington game was an absolute disaster, a shutout with the Trojans scoring in the 50's on us. I think the closer game will be to look at 2006 and 2007. 2007 first, the last time that Locker played the Trojans: In 2007, in Seattle, The Trojans of USC outgained Washington 460-190 (just a few yards shy of 2 1/2 times). What was the final score of that game? 27-24. You should know from your own season last year that weird things happen in conference games. In 07, USC kept us in the game the entire way. There were 5 turnovers that day, and the Huskies only had a +1 turnover margin for that game. USC Trojans vs. Washington Huskies Box Score, September 29 2007 - NCAA College Football - ESPN 2006: This is another very telling game. Now many of you might remember the 2006 season as the "season where we don't stop the clock for anything, ever". Washington lost that game 26-20, at USC's 15 yard line on a very fast drive where nothing seemed to be going wrong. What went wrong? The clock was stopped for a while, with 2 seconds left in the game, and started suddenly without any signal. To quote from the recap: "Stanback's 19-yard completion moved the ball to the USC 15, but the Huskies had no timeouts remaining. The clock stopped while the chains were moved, then the officials spotted the ball, but huddled for several moments before starting the clock with two seconds remaining." This game was also won off of one of USC's few trick plays of the decade. A guy headed for the sideline on a Field Goal attempt. Instead of going out, he stopped about a yard short and USC snapped the ball, passed to the guy who had an open field for the score. Clock runs out on Huskies' upset bid; USC survives - NCAA College Football Recap - ESPN So the USC game could go either way. While USC lost their OC and DC to Washington, Pete Carrol always called the Defensive plays for USC, so it's not like the Defense is going to change dramatically. Plus USC won't be able to hold any of the playbook in this week against Ohio State, which should only help.
dont get false hope by this lost LSU team saturday or moral victories of the past. 5 wins and consider your season a success. one will not be USC.
