Moment of truth for Weis, Clausen - Wetzel

Notre Dame's aim: Win USC game to regain name - Dodd

Notre Dame and QB Jimmy Clausen must rise to occasion against sixth-ranked USC- Weiss

As you can see everyone in the press is tired of ND getting smacked around year in and year out...They want to see a competitive game.

As noted in our post below this could be the make or break game for Weis. Win and the pressure could be off. Lose and who knows...Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick says a loss to USC doesn't mean the sky is falling. He might want to talk to the boosters and fans who pump a lot of money into ND's kitty.

Heck, even the LA press thinks the USC-Notre Dame rivalry should be back to old form. I don't know about that, old form wold be the teams trading victories that are close games. We haven't seen that in a few years now.

Now finally, after seven years of lopsided USC drubbings, Saturday's game between the two teams in South Bend has a chance to be good. Meaningful. And, um, competitive.

How can you tell?

The team's 4-1 records and national rankings are a good start. But there's more to it. A tension, a testiness. Competitive juices flowing that only really get moving when there's a real competition on the field.

Last year at the Coliseum, the teams fought on the field before the game.

Afterward, defensive tackle Fili Moala said, "They thought they were hyped and they weren't as hyped as us.

"It started in the tunnel. They started talking and we were talking. We bit before they did and their bite wasn't hard."

Shelburne is reaching here with the whole tone of her piece. Yeah ND is 4-1...those wins came against teams with losing records and Notre Dame's one win was against a Michigan team that is 4-2. UM has their issues as well but they are still 4-2.

The fact remains that Clausen will face the toughest defense he will see this season. USC hopes to shut down Clausen like they have in the past. That means containing WR Golden Tate and TE Kyle Rudolf. That also means that USC has to get pressure on Clausen and the ND refuses to get ‘Manhandled' no more...We'll see.

Maybe they will maybe they won't but they will be in for the fight of their lives...

Regardless, Pete Carroll continues to keep focused on the task at hand...

"You have to have a really over-arching plan," Carroll said. "You need to have a plan to handle the challenge of the transition. You can't deviate from that plan.

"You have to approach the job with a vision so that you're not going to a mystery place. You have to know where you're going, accept the challenges and take it all in stride."

The Trojans do better than just take things in stride. They take things on a dead run.

They replace a Heisman Trophy winner (quarterback Carson Palmer, 2002) with a Heisman Trophy winner (Matt Leinart, 2004), and then the next year had a third Heisman Trophy winner (Reggie Bush) at running back.

With Carroll in charge, the Trojans have had 53 NFL draft picks, 14 in the first round. In that same period, Notre Dame has had 35 players selected, and two — center Jeff Faine and quarterback Brady Quinn — in the first round.

During Holtz's 11-year regime, the Irish had 75 players chosen in the NFL draft, 12 in the first round. Receiver/kick returner Tim Brown was the only Heisman winner.

Carroll said a diligence to the execution of the grand plan keeps the program on track.

Another part of that Plan is reloading the talent pool. Much has been made of Pete Carroll not being able to get back to MNC game with all the talent he has amassed. But look at ND Weis continues to draw big time recruits but he does verry little with them...I will address this more in another post.

It all comes down to the quarterbacks. Jimmy Clausen is finally living up to expectations (hype?) and even though he is just a true freshman Barkley acts like an old rookie.

Nobody on the Southern Cal campus takes Barkley for granted.

He's led the Trojans to four victories. Their only loss, to Washington, came with Barkley sidelined with a shoulder injury.

He got that injury in the win at Ohio State. Though struggling with a bone bruise, Barkley completed three passes for 35 yards on a 14-play, 86-yard drive that ended with a game-winning TD run by Johnson and a conversion pass to Joe McKnight that made the final difference, 18-15.

That performance in a high-profile game served notice that this is no ordinary freshman at the controls.

"He really has something you're looking for," USC coach Pete Carroll said of Barkley. "The stuff that has really jumped out lately is that he anticipates so well, in throwing the football. He waits until guys get open. He understands the principles of guys getting open in the zone and man (defensive schemes). He throws the ball early.

"That's a tremendous asset, being able to get the ball to guys. It's an instinct he has."

"The one thing (Barkley) does very well is he knows who his playmakers are and he gets the ball in their hands," Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis said. "That is a good tact for a young quarterback to understand."

ESPN's Tood McSHay breaks down the QB's

CJ Gable injured his knee in practice yesterday but he will be available for the ND game.

ESPN debates USC vs. Notre Dame From ted Millers Blog...

USC Football

McKnight proves he's no ordinary Joe
A great article on Joe McKnight!

Taylor Mays: Far and Beyond The Top Player in College Football " Behind the Box Score
Nice article on Taylor Mays

'Always Compete' reveals Pete Carroll's prankster side - CFB News
Here is a nice early look at the upcoming book on Pete Carroll

Pete Carroll on the Radio in SD
I haven't had a chance to listen to this yet

ESPN’s Reilly on the Neuheisel, Carroll relationship - UCLA - OCRegister.com
Another brief take

USC Basketball

Doug Haller : A conversation with USC's Kevin O'Neill
Nice interview of KO

Pac-10

Pac-10 football: Separating reality from spin | College Sports Hotline
A very observant piece from John Wilner

Former Player News

Myers and Hartman Interview Rey Maualuga
I haven't listened to this either but will later today...let me your thoughts.

Justice Shines
Some Wiston Justice news

Getting to know . . . Fili Moala - The Indianapolis Star

Patrick Turner Shinin' in camp - Phin Phanatic

All Sanchez all the time

Mark Sanchez Q&A: 'It's been a blast so far' - Sporting News
Mark is going to win the starting job...just wait

Jets coach Rex Ryan signals Sanchez-Clemens decision will be quick
Rex Ryan would like to name his starting quarterback by the third preseason game.

Mark Sanchez impressive in Jets scrimmage - BostonHerald.com
Mark Sanchez was very pleased with his performance in the Jets’ intrasquad scrimmage Thursday night.

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.

Taj Gibson’s response was far and away the best: “Maturity, heart and courage.”

It was such a “Wizard of Oz” thing to say, I had to ask Gibson where he came up with it. Alas, Gibson didn’t credit the Wiz, but assistant coaches Rudy Hackett, Dwayne Polee and Phil Johnson.

(That shouldn’t discourage Tim Floyd from splicing the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion into the Cal scouting tape. Phil Jackson totally would do it!)

Here were Daniel Hackett and Floyd’s answers:

Hackett: “This conference is wide open. Once you’re at Staples (Center), it’s a neutral court. Anything can happen. Whichever team plays the best basketball in three days is going to have a shot. If we practice hard and come in focused, we’ve got a shot.”

Floyd: “You have to do all the little things. You have to get easy baskets off of inbounds plays, in transition, on the offensive board and at the foul line. You’ve got to make your free throws. You’ve got to do little things on the other end. You’ve got to help on screens, you’ve got to get back defensively, you’ve got to rebound it at a high level on the defensive board and stay out of foul trouble. I think all those things are critical.”

Related link:

• USC needs Lewis to rediscover the ‘Dwight stuff’

More from the USC blog:

• NFL draft: How Rey Maualuga can rebound
• USC basketball: ‘Academic issues’ threaten key big man
• NFL draft: Did Taylor Mays do the right thing?
• NFL draft: David Buehler is No. 1
• USC football: 1978 champs take on ALS
• USC basketball: 5 reasons for postseason hope
• USC basketball: Gibson selected Pac-10’s defensive POY
• USC basketball: 10 reasons why DeRozan should say no to the NBA
• USC basketball: Is DeMar DeRozan ‘one-and-done’?
• NFL draft: Is Fili Moala overrated?
• USC basketball: Remembering Ryan Francis

Talked to someone with scouting connections who gave me the following assessments of the USC contingent at the Senior Bowl practices:

LB Brian Cushing: “He’s the same hard-playing guy we’ve seen the last four years. He’s just a beast. He’s a little bit tight, but scouts love him. He has everything.”

LB Clay Matthews: “He has been solid. The interviews are where he’s going to make the most money. He showed he can play in space as a linebacker. He’s probably a mid-second-round pick.”

LB Rey Maualuga: “All those ‘SC boys came in sculpted and cut; he came in a little sloppy. But he’s big, powerful and strong. He has been a little inconsistent. He seems to be picking his spots.”

DT Fili Moala: “I think he’s helped himself a little bit with his quickness. He’s done a nice job. He just plays tall. He might end up as a five-technique (3-4 defensive end).”

DE Kyle Moore: “He’s a little better than expected as an edge guy. But once he gets stalled, he gets stuck in the line and can’t get off. I still don’t like his inconsistency. He could be a five-technique, but I don’t know if he’s strong enough.”

WR Patrick Turner: “Disappointing. He’s big, he looks good, but he’s not fast or physical. A lot of people already have written him off. People know what he is. He had such a strong supporting cast at ‘SC. And he has no special-teams value.”

More from the USC blog:

• USC football: Sanchez, Trojans D at it again
• USC basketball: Dwight Lewis ‘doubtful’ for UW
• USC football: Pete Carroll on the road again
• USC basketball: The point of it all
• USC football: Flaw in the 2009 schedule
• USC basketball: Playing time for Jordan Cameron?
• USC football: With healthy shoulder, O’Dowd should be bolder
• USC football: Cutler endorses Bates in ‘09
• USC football: Cutler connection captivates Corp
• USC football: Seven degrees of separation

OFFENSE

QB Mark Sanchez, JR., USC
RB: Jacquizz Rodgers, Fr., Oregon Sate
RB: Jahvid Best, So., California
TE: Rob Gronkowski, SO., Arizona
WR: Mike Thomas, Sr., Arizona
WR: Sammie Stroughter, Sr., Oregon State
OL: Alex Mack, Sr., California
OL: Max Unger, Sr., Oregon
OL: Andy Levitre, Sr., Oregon State
OL: Eben Britton, Jr., Arizona
OL: Kristofer O'Dowd, So., USC

K Kai Forbath, So., UCLA
KR: James Rodgers, So., Oregon State
PR: Jairus Byrd, Jr., Oregon

DEFENSE

DE Nick Reed, Sr., Oregon
DE: Victor Butler, Sr., Oregon State
DT: Brian Price, So., UCLA
DT: Fili Moala, Sr., USC
LB: Rye Maualuga, Sr., USC
LB: Brian Cushing, Sr., USC
LB: Zack Follett, Sr., California
CB: Alterraun Verner, Jr., UCLA
CB: Syd'Quan Thompson, Jr., California
S: Taylor Mays, Jr., USC
S: Troy Nolan, Sr., Arizona State

P: Aaron Perez, Sr., UCLA

** Tailback Joe McKnight, on the mend from turf toe, mostly worked on the side doing lunges and squats. He said he’ll play Saturday, but offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said McKnight playing would be a “bonus.”

** Fullback Stanley Havili returned to practice after missing time because of a sprained left ankle.

** Defensive tackle Fili Moala rolled his right ankle toward the end of practice but was walking without ice or a limp afterward.

Related links:

• Sarkisian’s advice for Sanchez (re: NFL)
• McKnight not in plans for Arizona

That was the consensus among the players and coaches I spoke to for a profile on Griffen in advance of Thursday night’s game against Oregon State

To give you an indication of what his fellow Trojans think of him, here’s veteran defensive tackle Fili Moala’s take:

“Everson is a guy who has a lot of talent. Extremely athletic. Extremely fast. And as strong as an ox. He has all the attributes of a great pass rusher, a great defensive end. He’s smart, and he works hard when he wants to.

“He’s young right now in the system. He’s still at times kind of figuring things out. But … he has everything to play at the next level.

“The potential for this guy is endless. He really does some amazing things. You see flashes like, ‘Man, this guy could be great.’ “

So here it is, an all-Virginia five-question pop quiz between myself and DT Fili Moala.

1. Question: What do you know about Virginia?

Fili Moala: It’s a very prestigious school. A lot of big names have come out of there, senators and all types of people like that. They have history.

My answer: Allen Iverson was born in Hampton.

The correct answer: Twelve senators have graduated from Virginia, as well as other historical people. Iverson was also born there.

Point goes to: Me. We talkin’ ‘bout birthplace, man.

2. Question: Which Trojan might have a breakout game?

FM: I’d have to say Clay Matthews. He’s just so explosive. He’s a smart football player. He’s a good utility guy. He plays linebacker, defensive end. He plays all around the field and is a great pass rusher.

My answer: I was going to say kicker David Buehler but I noticed he’s shaved his Mohawk. I’m too sad to answer this one.

Point goes to: Moala. His answer came out of nowhere.

(more…)