USC Team Report
INSIDE SLANT
Sitting on three losses as it goes through a bye week, USC is out of the BCS bowl picture and needs a crazy Pac-10 pileup at the end of the season to grab a share of the league title.
OK, so that’s not likely, but coach Pete Carroll said there are some things that the Trojans (7-3 overall, 4-3 Pac-10) can do to fix some problems and end the season with home wins over UCLA and Arizona.
“We’ve been through it, and we have a way of going about our business,” Carroll said. “First, you have to get to the truth of what happened and make sure everyone is clear about that.
“Then you have to go back to practicing really well. We’ll certainly bounce and bounce back in a positive manner, and, hopefully, we’ll put together a good game for UCLA.”
One of the things that has needs fixing is a pedestrian offense that hasn’t scored more than 21 points in any of the past three games. Starting with the second half of the Oregon game, spanning 10 quarters, true freshman quarterback Matt Barkley is 33 of 69 for 357 yards, with two touchdowns and five interceptions.
On the other side of the ball, USC just gave up 55 points in a loss to Stanford, the most the Trojans have ever allowed.
“We allowed Stanford to run the plays they wanted to run,” Carroll said Tuesday. “We didn’t knock them out of those. Normally, we try to get team out of their favorite stuff and not let them have it. We thought we could get it done, and it didn’t happen.”
Is that fixable?
Well, UCLA doesn’t have a high-powered offense or multiple threats on offense. Arizona, does, however.
But the games can wait. USC welcomes the time this week to work on itself.
“We can’t worry about being 10-3—we’ve got to get to 8-3 first,” running back Allen Bradford told the L.A. Times. “We know it’s not going to be an easy task because we’re down right now. A lot of teams see that and they’re just going to try and keep us down, but we have to finish off this season.”
NOTES, QUOTES
• One of the big talking points from the 55-21 loss to Stanford was the Cardinal going for a two-point conversion after pushing the lead to 48-21 midway through the fourth quarter. Controversy? Bad blood between Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh and USC’s Pete Carroll? Harbaugh on Tuesday said the decision to go for two was “strategic”—that he thought he had a play that would work. USC stopped it. “I have nothing but respect for him and his program,” Harbaugh said of Carroll. “Certainly, there is nothing personal involved in any of this. … USC has set the bar and everyone is working like crazy to rise up to that standard.”
• TE Anthony McCoy was selected as one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award, given to the nation’s best tight end. McCoy has only 17 catches this season but has a staggering 22.5-yard average. The other semifinalists are Pittsburgh’s Dorin Dickerson, Oregon’s Ed Dickson, Florida’s Aaron Hernandez, Iowa’s Tony Moeaki, BYU’s Dennis Pitta, Notre Dame’s Kyle Rudolph and Marshall’s Cody Slate.
Next Game: UCLA at USC, Nov. 28—The Bruins have a good enough defense to keep this game close and have a chance to pull it out. Perhaps USC can come up with some answers on offense by then. The Trojans have allowed only 14 total points in winning the past two meetings.
This Week ‘S MISSION: The coaching staff was getting in some recruiting work while holding four practices during the off week. The big goal is getting the team in a positive frame of mind with the season’s big prizes having been taken off the table. Coach Pete Carroll has a reputation of having more fun than anyone else; this would be a good time to lighten the mood.
Novemer /DECEMBER AT A GLANCE: The Trojans have two games remaining, both at home—UCLA and Arizona. The Trojans need some help, but if they win out, there’s a decent chance for a second-place tie in the Pac-10, which could mean the Holiday Bowl for USC. The Holiday Bowl gets to pick among teams tied for second.
Quote To Note: “We’d be scrambling to put this thing to rest—now we have time to get it done. The team’s mentality has to come back together and get back on track.”—Coach Pete Carroll, on his team’s bye this week.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Looking Good: Some things look good; nothing looks great. In the eight major categories for offense and defense (rushing, passing, total yards, scoring), USC ranks no higher than 34th. That comes in rushing offense, as the Trojans average 181.2 yards per game on the ground, fueled by Joe McKnight, who is averaging 93.2 yards per game. The Trojans have a veteran line and a deep backfield, so even ranking 34th nationally is a disappointment, however.
Still Needs Work: The most debilitating thing for the USC offense has been its 34 percent conversion on third-down (41 of 120). The Trojans haven’t been as dominant up front as expected with a veteran offensive line. On defense, the Trojans have often been near the top of the national leaders in turnover margin, but the ball hasn’t been bouncing their way this season as USC is at minus-0.3 per game.
Star Watch: RB Joe McKnight—The junior has emerged from a crowded backfield to be the main ball carrier this season. He has four 100-yard rushing games, including a 142-yard effort against Stanford in the most recent game. He also has 20 receptions for 138 yards, and was used as a punt returner against Stanford.
Critical Decision: Was it the right call to start QB Matt Barkley from the opening game? He might have the most upside of the USC quarterbacks, but the play-calling was conservative early in the season to give the true freshman some time to ease into the playbook, and lately he hasn’t been able to make enough plays. Barkley has a bright future, but the growing pains are something coach Pete Carroll decided he had to live with when he went with Barkley over Aaron Corp and Mitch Mustain.
Roster Report:
• WR Damian Williams (sprained ankle) did not play against Stanford. He was replaced by redshirt freshman Brice Butler, who did a nice job with six catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.
• Backup TE Blake Ayles (knee, ankle) did not play against Stanford.
• Starting TE Anthony McCoy, who had missed the previous two games because of an ankle injury, played some against Stanford, catching one pass for 7 yards.
• Freshman DE Nick Perry made the first start of his career against Stanford in place of Wes Horton. Perry had two tackles in a poor game for the defensive front, which did not have a sack.
• Starting LB Malcolm Smith (shoulder) was out against ASU on Nov. 7. Although he did not start against Stanford, he ended up with 11 tackles.


128 Comments
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Now for the Non USC fans, ill be nice and stick with that title, your lovin life right now, and @#$%, if I was u I would be too....lol...you've been waiting and waiting and waiting for the mighty trojans to finally slow down for a season.....must be nice huh? common guys we cant be the @#$% every year, Now ill be honest i have respect for the other top three out there right now, but id take ANY of them and promise you a victory when USC is running on all cylinders, So "haters" please eat every bit of this up....enjoy it, come for seconds if you will, because you know just as well as I do, that it wont last to long, our records and excellence speak for itself. As for all the other BS you throw out ther....means nothing, u were probably just on the wrong end of a Trojan ass whoopin at some point along our beautiful domination these past 4/5 years...lol....so, like I said I usually dont jump on here and do this, but todays been pretty slow, I dont have another patient for a bit, so I thought Id jump on and speak my two cents......ill probably get some responses from some SEC or BIG 12 fans or somthin....just do me a favor and get off our nuts, like I said if I was another team, Id be hatin too.....lol so everyone enjoy ur day ....ill be off soon, probably enough time to still catch a wave or maybe go snowboardin or somthin lol.....and yeah and fellow Trojans....please dont trip we just needed a lil break from being tight as @#$%......oh yea and FIGHT ON.
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I absolutely love to see you all crumble like this........Your team is swimming in the crapper and there's nothing you can do about it........nothing.........except maybe express a little interest in my sex life and living arrangements........You did leave out my grandmother, sister and dog you know.........Can you please get back to me on all the ways I do or don't have sex with one or all of them?........Take your time and think about it......But this time we need it to be funny and clever.....be a little original would ya?.......you can do it!
I hope this helps you in taking your mind off the truth.......even for just a moment
P.S.....did I mention what a great weekend I had?
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If Rhett Elison was a fisherman his Net would be empty cause that dood can't catch a thing.
Look on the bright side...ND won 3 games and got a great recruiting class last year...UCLA sucks and the recruits are buying the "were going to be good in the future" Yo they've been saying that for 8 years...maybe by losing we'll get some kids...Oh wait their all going to Florida..Ronald Powell and most of the ESPN 150 this year are heading to the east. LOOK....when I played(NFL) when a punk ass team with a tree from a mascot goes for 2 up by world...you take it real personal...you cheap shot Luck! you cheap shot the tree..you do something...and then to have no pride and let them score...It ain't rape if you let them do it! Oregon...coach chip kelly was drooling trying to run it up. Man and you still come out that uninspired. F me. And Positions Coaches.....you still let some of these kids who have been playing this bad with no heat on the field.
FRANKIE TELFORT....I pray every night for you man.....We need your heart...YOUR the next 55! Stafon Johnson....God Bless...come back we need you!
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Rocky your a nice man...but someone needs to fire this defense up. Their in a negative feed back loop and everyones doing the same old thing. It's not about executing..it's about changing...Our team is like an old doll with a string. everyone knows what it does when you pull the string. Let me give you a name...Curtis McNeal..try it see what happens. Christian Tupou..buddy I've never seen a Hawaiin on rollerscates. Did I say Malcolm Smith is killing Us!
Where is DJ shoemate that kid can play! Is luther brown hurt..or did he hurt one of the coaches feelings...that dood is a monster! Yeah let's not play him put in Malcolm Smith...Look watch the film..I put 5 on it they run at Malcolm Smith all day. Honestly....Rett Elison...What is up with rewarding these guys for playing awfull....Pete..you got some coaches under you who have done enough damage. The team and the staff don't look connected at all. NOW YOU KNOW THE ROSE BOWL IS SOMETHING you have to EARN! YOu thought it was part of the USC season. NOW YOU KNOW...You actually have to play hard!....Unleash the offense....you got the kids..change up the defense..Hello!
Look I know when Barkley hurrys up in the 2 minute drill we move the ball......so of course we should only put their defense on there heels when were down. It works ...I know don't do what works!
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Rich-Rich
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Perfect - the best part - blow outs like this even criple your recruiting. How Sweet.
War Eagle y'all
Oh - Pete, win the PAC-thetic 10 Champ and then maybe, you can go to the California Bowl.
Sweet, I love this.
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Oh!......Mike L and AaronC......grow up!.....your buttons are huge and get pushed way too easily.......but thanks for showing the true mindset of the typical USC fan....all bark and no bite.....You two should hook-up, you sure got a lot in common........Oh! and my HOT, HOT girlfrend gave me a blow job just as your losing team was limping off the field.........again!.....what an awesome weekend!
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Have fun, and good luck Trojans.
ROTFLMAO!!!!!
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qbs name is luck the dude from usc is obviously not ready
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Fight On!
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Roll Tide......................................................just one at a time
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Yet USC was seduced by Ducks whose music was an option that spreadout the Trojan's strength and seduced USC into overpusuit and confusion.
Orpheus's song would have been "Stay at Home." Odysseus would have stayed tied to his simple assignment. Instead the coaches, convinced they were clever, strong, and smart, played right into the siren Ducks webbed feet..
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Yet USC was seduced by Ducks whose music was an option that spreadout the Trojan's strength and seduced USC into overpusuit and confusion.
Orpheus's song would have been "Stay at Home." Odysseus would have stayed tied to his simple assignment. Instead the coaches, convinced they were clever, strong, and smart, played right into the siren Ducks webbed feet..
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this years score usc-oregon 47-20 Ore won by 27 points
USC still ups ore there
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this years score usc-oregon 47-20 Ore won by 27 points
USC still ups ore there
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