The hills of Los Angeles are ablaze and two USC starters are down and out — one for the entire season — but the Skinny's here to quell any fear and provide the low down on what this all means.

WR Johnson Injured: USC lost starting Wide Receiver Ronald Johnson to a broken clavicle putting him on the shelf for 6-8 weeks.

The Skinny: The wide receiver depth definitely takes a hit. However, as odd as this may sound, this could end up benefiting freshman QB Matt Barkley. David Ausberry moves into the #2 Wide Receiver position providing Barkley with a 6'5 target that is very easy to find. Ausberry has had his best fall camp since being a Trojan and has made big strides with Coach Bates now leading the offense. Over the past few seasons Ausberry did not mesh well with Sarkisian's often critical and negative style and Bates seems to have breathed new life into the potential difference maker. Usually, Ausberry would look great in the spring but get lost in fall camp. This year, he has continued his fine play through fall camp and if it translates into games it will give Barkley a big target he can lean on in tight situations. He has Mike Williams like qualities and we all know the impact he had on Carson Palmer's career.

Damian Williams will be the #1 option but don't be surprised to see David Ausberry lead the team in receptions.

The injury to Johnson will also give Freshman Da'von Flourney a chance to get on the field earlier than expected. He has been extremely impressive with his playmaking ability after catching the ball. Once he gets his arms around the playbook he will be tough to keep off the field. Brice Butler is the new #3 Wide Receiver beating out Travon patterson who will now have to battle with Flourney for the few plays delegated to the #4 WR. Jordan Cameron will be utilized in red zone and short yardage situations.

The wide receiver corps will be fine as long as they can stay away from another major injury.

Thoughts on missing big hitter Shareece Wright after the jump.

TrojanWire has crossed enemy lines and will be publishing a Cal grad's weekly betting analysis for USC football.

Dr. Bob will be helping TrojanWire make weekly picks at the BetUS Sportsbook.

You can get Dr. Bob's Best Bet of the Week by subscribing to his service. Watch the ESPN video after the jump to see how Dr. Bob actually applied the BUAD 310 lessons you slept through.

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USC and Florida were about even in my ratings at the end of last season and it's a shame that the two best teams didn't get to face each other in the National Championship game. The reason for the Trojans' exclusion was a late September loss at Oregon State by a 21-27 count in a game in which USC out-played the Beavers 6.1 yards per play to 5.0 yppl but were -2 in turnover margin. USC may be able to afford one loss this season given the enhanced strength of the Pac-10 this season and the tougher non-conference schedule (at Ohio State and visiting a ranked Notre Dame team). While the Trojans could make it to the National Championship game with one loss, they should be favored to win each and every week, including at Ohio State (although they may not be).

Yes, USC must replace 8 defensive starters that were selected in April's NFL draft, including 4 in the first 2 rounds, but the Trojans' secondary is going to be just as good and most of the replacements along the defensive front 7 are going to be headed to the NFL when they're done kicking ass for the Trojans. FS Taylor Mays returns to lead the unit after earning 1st Team All-American honors last season and replacing departed defensive backs Kevin Ellison and Cary Harris will not be difficult, as new starters Shareece Wright and Kevin Thomas are better NFL prospects than either Ellison or Harris (both 6th round draft picks). In fact, Thomas defended more passes (7 broken up and 3 interceptions) as a back up last season than either Ellison or Harris did as starters. The question on the defense is the front 7, which employs 6 new starters and has to replace 4 players drafted in the first 2 rounds. There is always talent waiting to fill the holes at USC, but the holes are pretty big this year and the lack of experience may be a minor problem early in the season (we'll find out on September 12th). I don't expect the USC defense to be historically good as it was in 2008 (allowed a miniscule 3.7 yards per play to a schedule of teams that would combine to average 5.7 yppl against an average stop unit), but the Trojans should still rank among the best defensive teams in the nation.

While the defense has to replace many stars, the offense only has to replace one. Quarterback Mark Sanchez had an excellent season as the starter and will now be starting for the New York Jets. It's tough to imagine sophomore Aaron Corp or freshman Matt Barkley being as efficient as Sanchez was last season, but the same was said of Matt Leinart when he had to replace Carson Palmer and of John David Booty when he followed Leinart. The only bad year for the USC pass attack was in 2007 when the receiving corps lacked talent and experience after Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarrett left campus, but the Trojans' pass attack has rated between +1.8 yards per pass play better than average and +2.8 yppp in the other 6 seasons since 2002 and the average new starter during that time had a rating of +2.3 yppp. The receiving corps is loaded with talent and experience heading into this season and WR Damian Williams is poised for an All-American season after nabbing 58 balls at 15.0 ypc and 9 scores as s sophomore last season. I expect the new USC quarterback to be about 2.3 yards per pass play better than average, which is down some from the +2.7 yppp rating of Sanchez last season. The rushing attack, meanwhile, should be even better than last season. The top 4 backs return to run behind the nation's best offensive line, which returns 5 starters (although C O'Dowd is questionable to start the season) and the Trojans could average over 6 yards per running play after averaging a stellar 5.6 yprp last season behind an inexperienced line that returned just 1 starter. Stafon Johnson, Joe McKnight, and company should enjoy running through the holes that this year's Trojans' offensive line should create. USC averaged 6.7 yards per play in 2008 (against teams that would allow 5.1 yppl to an average attack), and I think they could be even better this season.

USC's special teams were a mixed bag last season, as the punting (33.0 net average) and punt returns (opponents averaged 36.7 net) were bad while the kickoff team was the 2nd best in the nation (21.8 yard line average opponent field position after kick-offs) and the kick return unit was good (26.5 average return). The Trojans must replace the punter (no problem there) and kicker David Buehler but the kick and punt return specialists are back. The departure of P Woidneck is likely to be a positive, but Buehler did a great job on kickoffs (although a bit worse than average on field goals) and I doubt the Trojans can repeat their great kick-off coverage stats. However, I expect more out of the punt return team and the kick returns should continue to shine. USC should once again be good overall in special teams.

The Trojans rank as my #2 rated team behind Florida entering the 2009 season, but that rating is contingent on Corp or Barkley continuing the recent tradition of great USC quarterbacks. The first big test is at Ohio State on September 12th, but I think the Trojans will be better than the Buckeyes on both sides of the ball even if the new quarterback isn't quite ready to play at typical USC standards. The Pac-10 schedule presents tough tests at Cal and at Oregon and a non-conference road game against a Notre Dame team that for once may actually be pretty good (although still likely to lose by 10 to 14 points to the Trojans). It will be a tough task for USC to come away from those 4 challenging road games with 4 wins, but I'd favor the Trojans in each of those games. An 11-1 season and another BCS bowl win is the most likely outcome (unless that BCS bowl game is against Florida), as USC tends to slip up in one Pac-10 game every year.

The play happened during the second practice of training camp Sunday. Quarterback Aaron Corp scrambled left, then turned back and ran right. As Greene gave chase, Byers blindsided him with a clean, crunching block. Greene ended up on the turf as the rest of the Trojans hooted and hollered.

“Kevin Greene found out what Jeff Byers is all about,” USC coach Pete Carroll said.

Byers is known for his all-out hustle, which he frequently displayed last season despite being underweight after a summer illness limited his training.

Byers said he weighed 280 pounds “on a good day” last season. Now he’s at 297.

“My body feels good,” said Byers, who missed the 2005 and ‘06 seasons because of injuries. “I’m heavy. I’m just ready to go. I’ve still got to work hard, still got to really hone my skills. (But) I can actually come out and play the whole camp and feel good about myself.”

Byers is the senior leader of an offensive line that returns its top eight players and should be among the nation’s best. Greene got a little taste of it Sunday.

“Just playing football. Toughen the young guys up,” Byers said. “We practice full speed, pads or no pads. When we’re going full speed, I’m not thinking about whether I have pads on.”

More from the USC blog:

• USC football: WR recruits in the house
• USC football: 3 observations as training camp opens
• USC football: Joe McKnight comes out flying
• USC football: Buoyant Blakes Ayles back on the field
• USC football: Three defenders dinged
• USC football: Everson Griffen gets serious
• USC football: The ‘weird’ Corp-Barkley dynamic
• USC football: Brown, Hall awaiting academic clearance
• USC football: Signals won’t stop Matt Barkley
• USC football: Shareece Wright happy, healthy

Post from: USC

** Receivers Robert Woods and George Farmer of Serra High of Gardena chatted after practice with offensive coordinator John Morton. Woods, who is uncommitted, could end up being the top-rated wideout in the class of 2010. Farmer is a member of the class of 2011.

** Defensive end Nick Perry and safety T.J. McDonald missed practice after being hurt Saturday. Perry has a concussion, and USC coach Pete Carroll said it could be a “couple days” before Perry returns. McDonald (ankle) is day to day, Carroll said.

** Defensive end Malik Jackson returned after leaving early Saturday because of an illness. Jackson showed no ill effects, penetrating the backfield three times in a row during one sequence.

** Carroll said the status of senior linebacker Luthur Brown and freshman safety Patrick Hall should be cleared up by the middle of next week. Both aren’t practicing because of academics.

More from the USC blog:

• USC football: 3 observations as training camp opens
• USC football: Joe McKnight comes out flying
• USC football: Buoyant Blakes Ayles back on the field
• USC football: Three defenders dinged
• USC football: Everson Griffen gets serious
• USC football: The ‘weird’ Corp-Barkley dynamic
• USC football: Brown, Hall awaiting academic clearance
• USC football: Signals won’t stop Matt Barkley
• USC football: Shareece Wright happy, healthy
• USC football: Allen Bradford cleared to practice

Post from: USC

Follow the jump for the complete list.

Ever wonder what a coach might say about a quarterback competition the day before he announces a pecking order?

You're in luck!

USC coach Pete Carroll stopped by for a chat with the Pac-10 blog on Monday, the day before he announced on his Web site that Aaron Corp would emerge from spring practices No. 1 on the quarterback depth chart, ahead of true freshman Matt Barkley and Mitch Mustain.

	Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
	Pete Carroll boasts an 88-15 record since arriving at USC.

That bit of stolen thunder aside -- and the announcement was mostly a foregone conclusion -- it's never a bad time to talk with a coach who's 88-15 in eight years at USC and has finished ranked in the top four of the AP poll seven consecutive seasons.

After all, he's got a new book deal to benefit his charity, A Better LA, and a new Web site for kids.

And he's got a football team that likely will be favored to win its eighth consecutive Pac-10 championship and again compete for a national title.

Word on the street is you guys have an intense quarterback competition going on over there: Where does that stand?

Pete Carroll: Guys have really battled hard and done well. We're pleased with the play at the quarterback position. The competition is going to continue. We'll name a guy who's going to start the spring game for us and then the competition will just continue. We've got to call something here after a month of playing. We'll find out what happens when we get back to camp in the fall.

You've told me in the past you prefer to anoint a quarterback as early as possible to allow him to develop into a clear leader: How will that be a part of the decision in the fall?

PC: We'd like to do that [name a starter], but you've got to do the right thing and let the competition play itself out. What that means is, in the past when we named Matt Leinart over Matt Cassel, it meant that Leinart was going first and Cassel was battling him. The competition remained on. It will be the same situation. It's a very hard-fought, close competition and in fairness it's going to take longer to know exactly what we are going to do for the long haul.

It seems like running backs Curtis McNeal and Marc Tyler have asserted themselves this spring: Have they done enough to eclipse the established guys?

PC: I don't think there's any question Curtis McNeal has. Marc Tyler has been hurt most of the spring -- he's only had a couple of days when he's full speed. He's done well. But McNeal has taken advantage of the opportunity to be out there every day and he's really been effective.

<!--more--> You guys are pretty much rebuilding your front seven: How has that gone so far and who is having a great spring?

PC: Malcolm Smith, Chris Galippo and Mike Morgan, our linebackers have really jumped to the front and given us really good play. They've been out there every day battling. They give us good speed and athleticism and they've all played the last couple of years. Now they take over, they look like they are going to be really nice players for us. We're really excited about them. [Defensive end] Everson Griffen has had his best camp by far. Armond Armstead, we moved to strongside defensive end, has had a great camp too.

It seems like, on paper, this is your most experienced and talented secondary. How good is this secondary going to be?

PC: Led by Taylor Mays, such a solid guy playing in the middle back there, and Kevin Thomas had a great year at corner playing for us last year. Shareece Wright was a starter for us before he got hurt, and Josh Pinkard returns and he started at corner last year and is playing safety now and can play some corner for us. Also, [safety] Will Harris who's started a bunch of games is back. So it's as good a secondary as we've had since we've been here. We have really high expectations for these guys to be aggressive and really be a factor.

What does Rocky Seto, promoted this offseason to defensive coordinator, bring to the defense?

PC: He's been around since the outset of this program, so Rocky brings us great continuity and really in-depth direction of the littlest things that we are doing to the biggest things we are doing. He's been a big factor. He's had a great spring with these guys. I think we are as good as we've ever been at hawking the football, which is great. He has the most background of anyone I've been around in our specific stuff. He gives us great insights and great leadership there.

With Jeremy Bates and John Morton now running the offense: What have they changed this spring?

PC: Nothing has changed. Nothing's changed on defense really. We're just continuing to try to recapture the spirit of the offense and make sure we're utilizing our personnel well. The familiarity between Jeremy and the rest of the guys has been going along beautifully. When you're developing a quarterback, a lot of the focus goes to the quarterback position and Jeremy has done a good job of making sense of all that, so those guys have performed well. And we've also continue to do our installation like we have to do to keep this thing going. They've gotten along great. Jeremy has called all the plays in our scrimmages and our practices that isn't normal scripted stuff so he can work at it and practice at it, too. He's totally up to speed and has done a great job so far.

Running the Pac-10 blog, it seems like a rivalry has developed between the SEC and USC: Any chance we're going to get a matchup between the Trojans and an SEC power any time soon?

PC: I don't know. We've played a bunch of SEC schools over the years -- well, not a bunch -- we've played SEC schools and when we do we enjoy that matchup [USC went 4-0 in home-and-home series with Auburn and Arkansas, winning by a combined margin of 167-48]. There's nothing we can do about schedules that are already set. At the end of the year, if we are fortunate enough to play against those guys, we'd look forward to it.

Are you learning to live with the BCS process, or are you ready to lead a march on Washington to get the system changed?

PC: I don't have a better system for it. I advocate a playoff. Everybody in America wants a playoff -- in any sport, at any level, no matter where you are, to find out who the champions are. We want to do the same thing.

Heard about your new book deal that's going to benefit your non-profit, A Better LA, anything you want to get the word out about?

PC: We've been hard at it to help fight the violence and things that are going on in the streets here and make sure we're doing our part. We've been very active for a number of years and have worked hard to continue to generate funds for the foundation, so we do have a book thing we are working on to bring proceeds to "A Better LA" and to enhance our fundraising efforts as we go along.

Always one to push competition, Carroll has elevated backup quarterback Garrett Green to the number two spot on the depth chart, leaping over both Corp and Mustain.

** Seen at practice Monday: scouts from the Chicago Bears, New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, plus Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Flea, who is taking classes at USC.

Related links:

• Garrett Green nudges ahead of Corp, Mustain
• Shareece Wright out, Josh Pinkard in

Green began training camp as a receiver before serving as the third quarterback while Sanchez missed time because of a knee injury. Green since has surpassed Aaron Corp and Mitch Mustain, although Carroll stressed that the coaching staff has not “made a long-term commitment in any way.”

Green is ahead for now because he has a better grasp of the offense.

“He did really well in the scrimmages, and it was clear that he was ahead,” Carroll said. “I think he’ll have a better time of it communicating and helping the other guys play well.”

Related links:

• LBs Brown, Galippo won’t play at Oregon State
• Shareece Wright out, Josh Pinkard in

Starting cornerback Shareece Wright will miss “a number of weeks” because of a neck injury, Trojans coach Pete Carroll announced after practice Monday.

Tests revealed a hairline fracture in one of Wright’s vertebrae. He originally suffered the injury against Ohio State on Sept. 13 when he collided with a teammate.

Senior Josh Pinkard will start in Wright’s place opposite Cary Harris when USC visits Oregon State on Thursday. Pinkard started three games in 2005 at cornerback and the season opener in 2006 at free safety. He missed most of the past two seasons because of knee injuries.

Kevin Thomas, who moves up to the No. 3 cornerback spot, is also a former starter. Both he and Pinkard played extensively in the first two games.

“Luckily we have some depth this year at that position, so hopefully there’s no drop-off,” defensive coordinator Nick Holt said. “I feel comfortable with whoever’s in there.”

USC will miss Wright on its punt-coverage team. Carroll called Wright “a great gunner.” Receiver Ronald Johnson will get first crack at that spot, with Thomas also in the mix, against Oregon State’s Sammie Stroughter, who returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown when the teams met in 2006.

Wright participated in non-contract drills Sunday after sitting out the previous three practices but reported lingering soreness. Carroll said that if the injury is like other broken bones, it could take six weeks to heal.

Carroll said Wright would have played against Oregon State if healthy despite facing a felony charge of resisting a police officer in connection with a party that got out of hand earlier this month.

Freshman T.J. Bryant will serve as the fourth cornerback against the Beavers.

Related links:

• LBs Brown, Galippo won’t play at Oregon State
• Garrett Green nudges ahead of Corp, Mustain

*** EDITOR'S NOTE *** Congratulations to Mark who correctly guessed 14.

Shareece Wright lined up. Ready to explode.

The USC linebacking corps resembling the same awesome force brought by the fighter jets that buzzed the Coliseum before the game.

Amare Stoudemire was there. Thank god the 6'10" center/forward for the Phoenix Suns wasn't sitting/standing in front of us.