O-Line
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Here's a piece from ESPN’s Ted Miller on Allen Bradford's breakout game vs. on Oregon State. Bradford rushed for 147 yards on 15 carries (both career highs) and scored two touchdowns. Miller compares Joe McKnight and Bradford to LenDale and Reggie, Thunder and Lighting 2.0. Bradford doesn't agree though:
"Me and Joe will never be Reggie and LenDale," Bradford said. "All we can be is Joe and Allen, so that's what we're going to be."
Someone that does agree with Miller is Oregon coach Chip Kelly:
"With their stable of running backs, they've got thunder and lightning and hurricane, typhoon -- you name any storm, they've got it," Kelly said.
The USC ground game has unlimited potential. Can Joe and Allen be Thunder and Lighting 2.0? With the O-Line looking better and better each week, anything is possible. It would definitely be a treat to see Joe and Allen do their best Reggie and LenDale impersonation and go off on Halloween.
To read Ted Miller’s full article click here.
USC RB Bradford ready to thunder his arrival [espn]
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The summer is over and fall is officially upon us. That means football is in full swing. Teams have had a few weeks to figure out their identities. Now it’s time to find out which teams are for real and which teams are fakers.
The Trojans face another road test this week, the hated Notre Dame. Many questions will be answered after this game. Is Jimmy Clausen a Heisman candidate? Is this years Trojans defense better than last years? Will the USC offensive line eliminate mental mistakes and finally be the dominate force we have expected it to be all year? (I am not taking anything away from the O-Line they have performed superbly all year. They are the best in the country. The only thing holding them back this season has been penalties.) Did Notre Dame grow their grass out again to slow down the speed of the Trojans? (If they did they should be flagged 10 yards for unnecessary gayness.) Will Joe McKnight achieve greatness and take full advantage of the opportunity to be the main man in the Trojans back field? Does NBC have a camera lens wide enough to get a full body shot of Charlie Weis?
We will have to wait until Saturday afternoon to learn the answers. One thing is for sure, I despise everything about Notre Dame. I have extreme dislike for the school, their head coach and their fans. But the older I get, the nicer I get. A few years ago I would have taken this opportunity to bash Jimmy Clausen and call him every name in the book. I am past that stage in my life. I am more mature. I drink sparkling water now, I have many leather-bound books and my home smells of rich mahogany. I am sure Clausen is a good guy with a bad haircut. But, if you want to get extra fired up to root against Clausen, here is a picture of him disrespecting the Spirit of Troy, the greatest marching band in the history of the universe, before last years game. Shame on you Jimmy, shame on you.
(Did you know last year Clausen was 11-22 for 41 yards and 2 INTs vs. SC?)
Taylor Mays is back! He had a game changing interception against CAL and led the Trojans with 10 tackles. He chased down former Heisman candidate Jahvid Best from behind, preventing him from gaining a first down. That tackle proved Mays is the fastest man on the field. He looks like a D-Lineman playing free safety. I get excited just typing his name. Look for him to decapitate a few Notre Dame players on Saturday.
Also did you know that there is a reason you don't hear about Bird Flu or SARS anymore. The reason is Taylor Mays. Swine Flu your f*cking next. For more Taylor Mays facts click here.
More thoughts of the day after the jump…
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Before the season starts no one really knows anything about anything. There are no sure things in sports. Too many variables can change a season in an instant. The experts want you think they know what they are talking about, but they really don’t. That being said, I am going to attempt to give some non-expert “homer” analysis before every game. I present to you Freerdo thoughts of the day. Here is my first edition:
USC has the one of the best and deepest offensive lines in the nation. If they can give Barkely time to throw, he will succeed. It might be nice to see the O-Line platoon. Games are won and lost on the front lines, look for the Trojans to wear out San Jose State.
Stafon Johnson is the most underrated running back in college football.
Another guy we don’t give enough love to, Stanley Havili. No one runs a better wheel route.
Ever been sitting in a movie and had to go to the bathroom? I am a fan of holding it (I hear it makes your wang bigger). But if you can’t this is a great application for your iphone. Courtesy of the Palmer Brothers.
Over Under on how many beers I will nervously drink while watching the new Matt Barkley era begin tomorrow: 7.
Speaking of 7, I love that Barkley picked that as his number. I really want this kid to succeed. He seems like a good guy.
NFL scouts, I would like to introduce you to Chris Galippo, Malcom Smith and Mike Morgan. The tradition of bad ass linebackers at USC lives on.
More thought provoking analysis after the jump...
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You may watch this little Friday night walk-through tradition, and wonder how USC ever wins any games at all. But O-Line coach Pat Ruel does have 34 years of experience in both college and the NFL, and has molded such talents as Sam Baker and Ryan Kalil, so he must be doing something right. And with a bunch of hefty o-liners added in this month's recruiting class, this power-walking tradition is only going to get fatter.
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