TrojanWire - Injuries

USC football: ‘The Juice’ is loose

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:08:17 -0800

Injuries and illness have hit especially hard at the tight end position, leading to a surprising personnel experiment.

With Rhett Ellison (leg) and Jimmy Miller (illness) out, and Blake Ayles (groin, back) limited, the coaching staff moved defensive tackle DaJohn Harris to tight end.

Harris, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound redshirt freshman, played tight end at Serra High of Gardena. He impressed in limited reps Tuesday.

” ‘The Juice’ is loose,” quarterback Mark Sanchez said of Harris, whose nickname is “Juicy.”

“He did well. Soft hands. And he’s moving a lot better than maybe people thought. I had faith in him the whole time, I want to put that on record.”

Harris knows only a handful of plays at this point. USC coach Pete Carroll isn’t sure if the move will be permanent but said Harris could help at tight end over the next few weeks, particularly as a blocker.

Ayles, who had trouble getting out of his stance at times Tuesday, remains hopeful of playing Saturday.

Related links:

Taj Gibson among those battling injuries

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 08:52:25 -0800

USC men's basketball has experienced perhaps the most offseason buzz in program history. Delivering on lofty expectations, however, might be a difficult task in the early going.

Injuries have plagued the Trojans during preseason workouts, with nearly half the team missing time because of various ailments.

Clausen Injury Gave Sharpley Job

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:26:07 -0800

Filed under: Notre Dame Football, USC Football, Pac 10, NCAA FB Injuries

Although Evan Sharpley had seemed to play his way into the starting job at Notre Dame a few weeks ago, it was only on Tuesday that Irish head coach Charlie Weis gave him the nod.

During his weekly news conference, Weis told reporters, ""I think Evan this week gives us the best chance of winning," implying that Sharpley had wrestled the job away from high school phenom Jimmy Clausen. However, it is what he did not say that is more telling.

According to Clausen's high school teammate and USC running back Marc Tyler, the reason Jimmy won't be playing has nothing to do with his sucktitude and the Irish's 1-6 record--Clausen is injured: ""I wish he were starting," Tyler said. "He said his hip bothered him."

So Saint Charlie foold the Domer Nation and the press! What a genius!!!

%Gallery-5194%

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

USC's Cushing Out for Three Weeks

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 11:56:00 -0800

Filed under: USC Football, Pac 10, NCAA FB Injuries

When USC linebacker Brian Cushing suffered an ankle sprain in the Trojans' season opener against Idaho, the junior was hopeful that he would make it back on the field within two weeks at Nebraska. He noted that there's a difference between simply walking and coming out and playing on the field, but managed to get a few plays in Lincoln.

The 2007 Rose Bowl Defensive MVP re-injured his ankle against Washington State, putting him back on the bench for most of last week's game. Now, Cushing seems to believe that his injury is worse than expected, and there are fears he may have cracked a bone in his ankle, leading one local paper to report that he could be out up to three weeks--returning only for USC's October 20th match-up in South Bend.

In Cushing's absence, Senior Linebacker Keith Rivers has been moved to the Strong Side position and backup Kaluka Maiava has been elevated to the first team.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

USC's Hancock will Forego Sixth Season

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 18:06:26 -0800

Filed under: USC Football, Pac 10, NCAA FB Injuries

The FanHouse: Although the NCAA cleared USC fullback Brandon Hancock for a medical redshirt sixth season, the communications major will forego his final year of eligibility. The blogger tells the Los Angeles Times, "The most recent evaluation on my knee was not... Read more

USC's Hancock Granted Sixth Season

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 15:52:19 -0800

Filed under: USC Football, Pac 10, NCAA FB Injuries

The Fanhouse: After suffering multiple season-ending setbacks, USC fullback Brandon Hancock was cleared by the NCAA for s sixth year of eligibility. The blogger broke the news to the San Gabriel Valley Trojan Club this week, stating, "Many of you have been asking... Read more

Maxwell Punditry: Vote #7

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 16:17:39 -0800

We took last week off -- sometimes you just have to indulge in a week away from the Punditry. So much Ballot Burn. But we're back, with Maxwell Pundit Vote Number Seven. Rawk:

1.) Adrian Peterson (Oklahoma)
Yes, we know -- he's done for the season, his career as a Sooner virtually certain to have concluded last Saturday. Consider this one final tribute to one of the best college backs we've ever seen, a guy whose career we're sad to see end early.

2.) Troy Smith (Ohio State)
Shocker, we know.

3.) Calvin Johnson (Georgia Tech)
Injuries to Manningham and Jarrett make him a virtual lock for the Biletnikoff and any other Top WR in the country honors.

Sedrick Ellis Busts a Knee

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 18:35:51 -0800

More of that shitty injury news today:

The Trojans early-season injury issues continued on Monday, as Sedrick Ellis left practice early after his knee locked up. Sedrick underwent arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday, and is expected to miss 'several weeks' -- which at the very least means the Trojans' home opener against Nebraska this Saturday, and their first two Pac-10 games, on the road against Arizona and Washington State.

Ellis will be replaced by Fili Moala, the 6'4" 300 pound sophomore from Buena Park, California. And at least one Trojan defender doesn't expect it to slow things up much:

"Nobody's that worried," linebacker Dallas Sartz said regarding the loss of Ellis. "I wouldn't see a dropoff."

We wish could be so optimistic -- but injuries to any starters suck. Here's hoping Sedrick makes a full recovery sooner than later.

Another Man Down -- Sedrick Ellis [The Fanhouse]