2008 USC Trojans Preview

Are the expectations high for USC’s football team this season? Put it this way: They’re no higher than those for Trojan alum Will Ferrell’s latest movie, or Oprah’s latest TV giveaway. Trojans football is expected to deliver every year in star-conscious L.A., and this season should be no different from any of the previous six, all of which remarkably produced at least 11 victories, a BCS bowl bid, a Pac-10 title and a top 4 AP poll finish.

Two Minute Drill

A Quick Look at the Trojans

This is another USC team overflowing with talent, but it will have to mature quickly at quarterback and on the offensive line in order to beat Ohio State on Sept. 13. The key to playing in just another BCS bowl, or participating in the biggest bowl of them all, will be the performance of Mark Sanchez at quarterback and an offense that still needs to develop a consistent big-play back or receiver. Stafon Johnson, Joe McKnight and Ronald Johnson, among others, certainly qualify as legitimate candidates, although it will be important for the offensive line to mesh quickly, as well. Defensively, this should be another strong unit led by Rey Maualuga, a Butkus Trophy candidate, at middle linebacker. The defensive line, without Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year Sedrick Ellis, won’t be as strong in the middle, but it could be even more effective rushing the passer, especially with a Taylor Mays, Kevin Ellison-led secondary that should be among the finest in the nation. The schedule, overall, isn’t nearly as imposing as a year ago, with Oregon, Arizona State, Cal and Notre Dame all forced to come to L.A., where Carroll’s teams are almost unbeatable. Barring any stunning upset, like the one a year ago against Stanford, these Trojans, with as much speed and athleticism as any team in the country, should once again be in the thick of the BCS national title mix.

The question is, can this be Pete Carroll’s third national championship team and his first since 2004?

It has a chance, if new quarterback Mark Sanchez plays up to his glowing potential and the rest of the team, with 11 returning starters, matures quickly and maintains the momentum created from yet another convincing victory in the Rose Bowl.

The defense, with seven of those 11 starters, should be outstanding again, particularly at linebacker and in the secondary. Offensively, Carroll needs to identify which of his seven — count ‘em, seven — star-spangled tailbacks will get the majority of the carries, while improving the receiving corps and rebuilding an offensive line that lost a bevy of early-round NFL Draft picks.

“This is a very exciting team, with a lot of speed and energy,” Carroll says. “I think we have a chance to be a really nice team.”

The schedule is easier than it was a year ago, with most of the tough games at the L.A. Coliseum, where the Trojans rarely lose. But the biggest test will come early, when an Ohio State team that has played in the past two BCS title games visits on Sept. 13.

If it wins that one, count USC among the favorites to play in January’s national title game.

Quarterbacks  

The hyped spring duel between Sanchez, the junior who started three games last year, and Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain never had a chance to develop. Although both candidates were former national prep players of the year, Carroll and his coaches always opt first for experience, and Sanchez had three years in the program to Mustain’s one, so it was basically Sanchez’s job to lose. Although he wasn’t spectacular, Sanchez was consistent and more mistake-free than in the past, and Carroll officially named him the starter a few days before the spring game. A high school All-American out of Orange County, Sanchez has the strongest arm the Trojans have had since Carson Palmer. He’s more mobile than the quarterback he replaces, the accurate-throwing John David Booty, and more fiery, too. But the coaches, wary of what they think is a gunslinger mentality, went out of their way to temper him and make him less excitable in the spring. It remains to be seen if that strategy works. Mustain, a better pure passer who went 8–0 as an Arkansas freshman two years ago, could start for most teams in the country, and Aaron Corp, a redshirt freshman who can run as well as pass, was the most impressive of all the quarterbacks in the spring game.

Running backs 

Junior Stafon Johnson, who ran for 673 yards and a 6.9 average in 2007, emerged from the spring as the likely starter, although dynamic sophomore Joe McKnight, the most exciting runner in the group, will get plenty of opportunity, both as a runner and pass-catcher out of the backfield. The list hardly stops there. Shifty sophomore C.J. Gable, who opened as the starter a year ago before abdominal surgery cost him the season, is back, along with Allen Bradford, the team’s flashiest runner in spring practice. Then there are powerful redshirt freshmen Broderick Green and Marc Tyler, who were both sidelined by injuries a year ago, and incoming freshman Curtis McNeal, who is a candidate to take over the Desmond Reed scatback/kick return role. Fullback Stanley Havili should be even better this year.

Receivers 

This was the most disappointing position on the team a year ago, when none of the highly regarded newcomers could make up for the loss of Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith. Most of the same candidates are back for another shot, with junior Vidal Hazelton seemingly the most advanced and the likely starter at flanker. Senior Patrick Turner and sophomore David Ausberry were even coming out of the spring at split end. The new names to watch for are sophomore Damian Williams, another Arkansas transfer, who had a head-turning spring, and sophomore Ronald Johnson, the potential deep threat who should be a much bigger factor with the strong-armed Sanchez throwing the ball. Travon Patterson, Brandon Carswell and Garrett Green are others who should figure in the mix. The biggest hole to fill will be at tight end, where junior Anthony McCoy will likely replace All-American Fred Davis.

Offensive linemen 

This is probably the most fluid of all positions on this team heading into the fall. Only one full-time starter, senior guard and All-America candidate Jeff Byers, returns, but there are a whole bunch of promising blockers who started games a year ago when injuries wiped out much of the line. True freshman Kristofer O’Dowd took over early when Matt Spanos went down at center, and he played exceptionally well, then added to his stature with a great spring. Sophomore Zack Heberer is the likely starter at the other guard, with junior Charles Brown, sophomore Butch Lewis and junior Alex Parsons all battling for the two tackle spots. Juniors Nick Howell and Thomas Herring and redshirt freshman Michael Reardon will provide the depth, along with incoming freshmen Matt Meyer, Khaled Holmes, Matt Kalil and Tyron Smith.

Defensive linemen 

All-American Sedrick Ellis, one of the best players in the Carroll era, is gone, and he will be impossible to replace at nosetackle, but the 2008 line can make up for his intimidating presence with some added quickness and mobility. Sophomore Christian Tupou, who had a good spring, and junior Averell Spicer likely will split time at Ellis’ old position. Steady senior Fili Moala will start at the other tackle. Everson Griffen, a freshman All-American, will take over for Lawrence Jackson as the primary pass-rushing end, with senior Kyle Moore at the other end and playmaking senior Clay Matthews Jr. alternating between end and linebacker. Senior end Gerald Washington, sophomore tackle Derek Simmons, redshirt freshman DaJohn Harris and possibly freshman Nick Perry will provide the depth.

Linebackers 

You begin with senior Rey Maualuga, a probable consensus All-American at middle linebacker, then add senior Brian Cushing, a former Rose Bowl MVP, at strong-side backer. That’s a pretty good start. Solid senior Kaluka Maiava or improving junior Luthur Brown will start on the weak side. The backups include sophomores Michael Morgan and Malcolm Smith and redshirt freshman Chris Galippo, the best defensive player in the spring game.

Defensive backs 

“This could be as good a secondary as we’ve had,” says Carroll, and that tells you all you need to know. All-America candidates Kevin Ellison, a senior, and Taylor Mays, a junior, start at safeties, with talented senior Cary Harris and gifted junior Shareece Wright at the corners. One of the back-ups, senior Josh Pinkard, was called the best football player on the team until injuries sidelined him the past couple of seasons. Juniors Kevin Thomas, at corner, and Will Harris, at strong safety, along with sophomore free safety Marshall Jones and possibly freshman corner T.J. Bryant, will all be in the rotation.

Specialists 

Both punter Greg Woidneck and placekicker David Buehler return after strong seasons in 2007. The return game will feature a host of possible gamebreakers in Ronald Johnson and Gable on kickoffs and McKnight, Carswell and possibly the freshman, McNeal, on punts.

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