Desmond Reed
(Photo by Icon Sports Media)
This is the best Notre Dame team USC has played since the Trojans barely escaped South Bend in 2005 with a win. Quite a few experts are picking a Notre Dame victory due to the Irish being led by Heisman Trophy candidate Jimmy Clausen, the Trojans playing back-to-back road games (please note the bye in between) and this being a landmark game for the Irish program.
The experts who are predicting a Notre Dame upset must also think the Trojans are going to revert back to penalty and turnover laden football. If the Trojans keep penalties down and win the turnover battle, they will win the game. Unless the Trojans get up big early, I expect it to be a tight battle that will come down to some classic 4th quarter drives.
1-- Play Disciplined Football: #1 priority every week! Limit turnovers and penalties.
2-- Contain ND's running game: Though Jimmy Clausen has thrown 12 TD's only 2 Int's and leads the nation in passing efficiency, he will only have success against the best secondary in the country if the Trojans give up over 120 yards on the ground. If the Trojans put Clausen in obvious pass situations, he will make mistakes. The throws he has gotten away with against much lesser defenses will not happen against the Trojans.
3-- Don't Let the Golden One get loose in the Red Zone: Wide Receiver Golden Tate is having a phenomenal year. He is a big and athletic and Clausen loves to throw him fade routes and he is great at catching high passes. The Trojans need to make sure he is well covered in the red zone and force other ND players to make plays when it counts.
4-- Stay aggressive and balanced offensively: QB Matt Barkley is playing with a swagger after the Cal game and the Trojans need to take advantage of that. Barkley seems to have his hands around most of the playbook and with Ronald Johnson back, the Trojans need to stretch the field early. Even if some of the deeper throws are incomplete, it will soften the ND defense up and the Trojan running game should be able to have a great day. The Trojans should be able to run for over 200 yards.
5-- Avoid the 2nd and 3rd quarter lull: The Trojans cannot suffer some of the 2nd and 3rd quarter lulls they have had this season. The best case scenario for the Trojans is to get up early on the Irish and not let them back in the game for a 4th quarter run. The Trojans are best to avoid the 4th quarter magic that Clausen has been mastering this season.
More notes after the jump...
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Former Trojans participating in today’s Pro Day at USC:
QB Mark Sanchez
WR Patrick Turner
LB Brian Cushing
LB Clay Matthews Jr.
LB Rey Maualuga
LB Kaluka Maiava
S Kevin Ellison
CB Cary Harris
DL Fili Moala
DL Kyle Moore
DL Gerald Washington
P Greg Woidneck
K David Buehler
TB Hershel Dennis
TB Desmond Reed
WR Jason Mitchell
TE Dominique Byrd
There will be around 100 representatives from the NFL. Players will be evaluated in the weight room and then on the field for running agility drills and individual workouts. All activities are closed to the public.
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Anybody catch the guy wearing a Rey Maualuga jersey in the first row by the third base dugout at the MLB All Star game? Football Dennis Dodd wrapped up his series of position coach evaluations by naming Pete Carroll top head coach in the land. [CBS Sports] The Matt Barkley hype is up to another unprecedented level. USC's future...
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In what's become a great Rose Bowl tradition, a group of seniors led the Trojan Marching Band in several rounds of "Conquest" before walking off the field for the final time. Desmond Reed (22) went first and was literally dancing on top of a ladder while holding the drum major's sword. It was the perfect follow-up to his spectacular...
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(Photo by Image of Sport)
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USC 49 Illinois 17 USC dominated the Granddaddy of 'Em All and wrecked an outmatched Illinois team. We finally got to see the team that we had all hoped USC could become back in August. The game was never in question and it was basically over when the plane that the Fightin' Illini were traveling in touched down at...
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Desmond Reed stood at the 13-yard line waiting for Notre Dame's kickoff to reach him. He looked up and realized the ball was sailing over his head so he began to backpedal. At the 4-yard line, he planted his foot and turned, but his right foot got caught in the grass, causing his knee to hyperextend....
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<!--start image--><!-- end image-->The competition between John David Booty and Mark Sanchez is real for the first time since spring practice of 2006 ... for this week. But when Booty makes a full recovery, the job will be his. Also inside: Butch Lewis' unique perspective on the Bush Push, the latest injury info and Desmond Reed returns to South...
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Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis was asked about the grass today. ``No, I don't have any comment. The only thing, and I will comment on one thing. I knew that in that game, and I remember Desmond Reed got hurt in that game, OK, and no way do you ever want a player getting hurt from another team for...
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<!--start image--><!-- end image-->With Stafon Johnson a likely scratch this week against Stanford, Joe McKnight, Hershel Dennis, Allen Bradford and Desmond Reed are left to compete for his carries. But the lucky winner may not know it until Saturday's game begins. Also inside: USC's secondary still can't catch the ball...
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Battle of the Washingtons. Trojan tailback Chauncey Washington eludes Washington defenders. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
While the Washington Huskies will lie in bed thinking about the #1 that got away, the USC Trojans will spend the night thanking their lucky stars they escaped on top. Trojan fans everywhere woke up Sunday morning breathing a sigh of relief, after a penalty plagued USC team barely edged the Washington Huskies, 27-24.
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A lot of people thought USC answered all the big questions after going to the air last week to take down the Cougars. There may not be many questions for this Trojan squad to answer at this early stage of the season, but there are some. These are nit-picky considering how embarrassingly good the team is, but still need...
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