TrojanWire - Steve Sarkisian

What to watch in the Pac-10 this spring

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:28:59 -0800

Taking a look at what to watch for as teams head into spring practices, officially ringing the bell on preparations for the 2010 season.

Arizona
Spring practice starts: March 5
Spring game: April 10

What to watch:

The new coordinators: The Wildcats lost two outstanding coordinators -- Sonny Dykes on offense and Mark Stoops on defense -- and decided to replace them with four guys. Tim Kish, promoted from linebackers coach, and Greg Brown, hired away from Colorado, will run the defense, while Bill Bedenbaugh and Seth Littrell, both promoted from within, will run the offense, with an assist from new quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo. These guys will need to develop a coaching rhythm this spring that will ensure things go smoothly in the fall.

The JC linebackers: The Wildcats must replace three starting linebackers, and JC transfers Derek Earls and Paul Vassallo weren't brought in to watch. If they step into starting spots, then guys like sophomore Jake Fischer, redshirt freshman Trevor Erno and redshirt freshman Cordarius Golston can fight over the third spot and add depth.

Foles 2.0: Quarterback Nick Foles was dynamic when he was on last year, but the shutout loss in the Holiday Bowl served as a reminder that he's not there yet. He's going to be surrounded by a lot of weapons at the skill positions, so he should be able to take another step forward this spring, even with the loss of Dykes.

Arizona State
Spring practice starts: March 30
Spring game: April 24

What to watch:

The QB battle: It's a wide-open battle between Michigan transfer Steven Threet and Brock Osweiler, though the new guy -- Threet -- is perhaps the most intriguing. Samson Szakacsy was supposed to join the battle, but his elbow problem is acting up again, coach Dennis Erickson said Thursday. The competition will be overseen by new offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, who's been handed an offense that has sputtered the past two seasons.

O-line issues (take 3): The Sun Devils' offensive line has struggled three years running, and it won't matter who starts at QB if the unit continues to get pushed around. First off, is health. Will Matt Hustad, Zach Schlink, Garth Gerhart, Mike Marcisz and Adam Tello be ready to battle the entire spring? If so, there should be good competition here, particularly with a couple of JC transfers looking to break through.

The secondary: The Sun Devils were very good against the pass last year, but three starters in the secondary need to be replaced. Both starting corners are gone -- though if Omar Bolden successfully returns from a knee injury he should step in on one side -- as well as strong safety Ryan McFoy. The good news is a number of guys saw action here last fall, so the rebuilt unit won't be completely green.

California
Spring practice starts: March 6
Spring game: N/A

What to watch:

Embattled Riley: When things go well, the quarterback often gets too much credit. When things go badly... well, you know. Senior Kevin Riley has started 22 games and has played well at times. But there's a reason he's in a quarterback competition for a third consecutive season. Will he be able to hold off a rising Beau Sweeney this spring?

Rebuilding the D: The Bears had questions on defense even before coordinator Bob Gregory unexpectedly bolted for Boise State. Five starters need to be replaced, including mainstays like end Tyson Alualu and cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson, both first-team All-Pac-10 performers. And with Gregory gone, a new -- likely more aggressive scheme -- now must be incorporated.

RB depth: Shane Vereen is the obvious starter after the departure of Jahvid Best, but Cal has, during the Tedford years, always used two backs. So who's the No. 2? Sophomore Covaughn DeBoskie was third on the team with 211 yards rushing last year, while promising freshman Dasarte Yarnway redshirted. One or the other will look to create separation.

Oregon
Spring practice starts: March 30
Spring game: May 1

What to watch:

The D-line: The Ducks lost perennially underrated end Will Tukuafu, tackle Blake Ferras and backup Simi Toeaina up front. Considering the plan is to run an eight-deep rotation, there will be plenty of opportunities for players like ends Terrell Turner and Taylor Hart and tackles Anthony Anderson, Zac Clark, Wade Keliikipi as well as 6-foot-7 JC transfer Isaac Remington to work their way into the rotation.

The passing game: The Ducks' passing game was inconsistent last year, though by season's end receiver Jeff Maehl was playing at a high level. Refining that part of the offense with quarterback Jeremiah Masoli would make the spread-option even more dangerous. The receiving corps is looking for playmakers, which means youngsters, such as redshirt freshman Diante Jackson, might break through.

Who steps in for Ed Dickson? Oregon only loses one starter on offense, but tight end Ed Dickson is a big one. David Paulson was a capable backup last year, and mercurial Malachi Lewis may be ready to step up. Expect JC transfer Brandon Williams to work his way into the mix.

Oregon State
Spring practice starts: March 29
Spring game: May 1

What to watch:

Katz steps in: Sean Canfield is off to the NFL, so the Beavers' biggest question this spring is crowning a new starting quarterback. Most observers feel the job is Ryan Katz's to lose, and the sophomore looks good throwing the rock around. Still, being a quarterback is about more than a good arm. If he falters, Virginia transfer Peter Lalich might offer an alternative.

Better defensive pressure: The Beavers run a high-pressure defensive scheme, so when the stat sheet says they only recorded 17 sacks in 2009, which ranked ninth in the conference and was 22 fewer than in 2008, you know something is wrong. The entire defensive line is back, so the hope is a year of seasoning, particularly for ends Gabe Miller, Matt LaGrone and Kevin Frahm will mean better production this fall.

The O-line grows up: The Beavers' offensive line returns four starters from a unit that got better as the year went on. Still, it yielded 29 sacks and the run game struggled at times -- Jacquizz Rodgers often had to make yards on his own. Talented left tackle Michael Philipp, who did a solid job as a true freshman starter, should be much improved. A second year playing together with underrated senior center Alex Linnenkohl also should help.

Stanford
Spring practice starts: March 1
Spring game: April 17

What to watch:

Replacing Toby: How do you replace Toby Gerhart and his 1,871 yards and 28 touchdowns? You do not. But the hope is sophomores Tyler Gaffney and Stepfan Taylor and senior Jeremy Stewart will provide a solid answer that keeps the Cardinal's power-running game churning. It helps to have four starters back from a good offensive line.

Rebuilding the D: If you toss in linebacker Clinton Snyder and end Erik Lorig, Stanford must replace six defensive starters from a unit that ranked near the bottom of the conference in 2009. The secondary is a particular concern after giving up 23 touchdown passes and a 63 percent completion rate. The hope is good recruiting from coach Jim Harbaugh will provide better athleticism in the back-half. Another issue: There was huge coaching turnover, particularly on defense during the offseason, so new coordinator Vic Fangio & Co. will be implementing new schemes and learning about what sort of talent they have to work with.

Luck steps up: This was Gerhart's team in 2009. Now it's Luck's. He might be the most talented QB in the conference. Heck, he might become a Heisman Trophy candidate before he's done. But life won't be as easy without defenses crowding the line of scrimmage because they are fretting about Gerhart. Luck will need to step up his game -- and leadership -- to meet the challenge.

UCLA
Spring practice starts: April 1
Spring game: April 24

What to watch:

Prince becomes king? The fact that offensive coordinator Norm Chow has been such an advocate for sophomore quarterback Kevin Prince should tell you something: He's got the ability. Prince flashed some skills during an injury-plagued 2009 season, and it's important to remember he was a redshirt freshman playing with an questionable supporting cast, particularly the O-line. Prince needs to improve his decision-making, and the passing game needs to develop a big-play capability that stretches defenses.

Front seven rebuilding: UCLA not only must replace six starters on defense, it must replace six guys everyone in the Pac-10 has heard of. And five of the lost starters come from the front seven, and the guys who were listed as backups on the 2009 depth chart won't necessarily inspire confidence. In other words, the Bruins will try to take a step forward in the conference with what figures to be an extremely green defense, particularly up front.

The running game? Know what would help Prince and a young defense? A better running game. The Bruins were significantly better in 2009 than in 2008, but that merely means one of the worst rushing attacks in the nation moved up to ninth in the conference. There's a logjam of options at running back -- with a couple of dynamic runners in the incoming recruiting class -- and the offensive line welcomes back a wealth of experience. It would mean a lot if the Bruins could boost their rushing total to around 150 yards per game (from 114.6 in 2009).

USC
Spring practice starts: April 31
Spring game: TBA

What to watch:

Welcome, Lane Kiffin: The Pete Carroll era is over. Enter Lane Kiffin & Co. In terms of scheme, things will be fairly consistent, seeing that Kiffin was formerly Carroll's offensive coordinator and Monte Kiffin was Carroll's defensive mentor. But there will be a period of adjustment. The guess is the hyper-intense Ed Orgeron might provide a bit of a shock to the D-linemen.

Barkley Year 2: Barkley won't have the president of his fan club -- Carroll -- around anymore. He's a true talent. Everyone knows that, even without Carroll's daily sonnets about his ability. But the numbers show he threw 14 interceptions in 12 games vs. 15 TD passes last year, so he's obviously not arrived. Kiffin runs the offense, so you can expect these two to work closely together. Barkley will have plenty of help on offense, but the talent won't be as good as it was in 2009, with six starters needing to be replaced, including his top two targets (receiver Damian Williams and tight end Anthony McCoy).

Secondary questions: All four starters from the defensive backfield are gone, including center fielder Taylor Mays. It helps that cornerback Shareece Wright, an academic casualty in 2009, will be back. He was a projected starter last fall. There's plenty of talent on hand, but last year's team proved that the Trojans don't always just plug-and-play.

Washington
Spring practice starts: March 30
Spring game: April 30

What to watch:

Unleashing Locker: The return of quarterback Jake Locker was the best news any Pac-10 team received this offseason. Locker's passing improved dramatically in just one year under coach Steve Sarkisian, so it's not unreasonable to expect him to be even better in 2010, particularly with nine starters back on offense and just about every skill player on the depth chart.

Replacing Te'o-Nesheim: Daniel Te'o-Nesheim was a four-year starter who blossomed into an All-Pac-10 performer despite almost no supporting cast. He led the Huskies with 11 sacks in 2009, which was 8.5 more than any other player. Also, opposite end Darrion Jones is gone, and the cast at the position is extremely young. Who's the next pass-rushing threat?

The Butler did it: Linebacker Donald Butler blossomed last year, earning second-team All-Pac-10 honors and leading the Huskies in tackles and tackles for loss (15.5). Toss in E.J. Savannah's failure to earn a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA, and the Huskies have some questions at linebacker. Mason Foster is a sure thing at one outside position, and Cort Dennison likely will fill a second gap, but there's an opportunity for a young player to fill void No. 3.

Washington State
Spring practice starts: March 25
Spring game: April 24

What to watch:

Tuel time: Coach Paul Wulff decided that freshman Jeff Tuel was the Cougars' quarterback of the future last year, so he opted to start him instead of going with a redshirt season. Tuel showed promise in six games, completing 59 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and five picks. Most of his supporting cast is back on offense, so the expectation is the Cougars' offense could take a significant step forward this fall.

O-line intrigue: Some of the Cougars starting on the offensive line last fall didn't look like Pac-10 players. Injuries and youth made the line a glaring area of weakness, even with veteran Kenny Alfred at center. Alfred is gone, but the expectations are that last year's youth will be saltier after taking their knocks. Plus, a couple of juco additions should be in the mix for starting jobs.

Growing up: There is hope in that 19 starters are back from a team that played a lot of underclassmen in 2009. That youth should mature in 2010. And solid recruiting classes the past two seasons should offer an infusion of young promise.

Norm Chow Isn’t Returning to Troy; Let’s Move On

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:55:50 -0800

Ric Francis - ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Ed. Note - Joey and I collaborated this piece together...P

Norm Chow is not going to be the USC offensive coordinator next season. Relax, deal with it, and let’s move on. It’s time to start focusing on rounding out the rest of the staff instead of constantly thinking about what could have been with Chow calling the plays.

Still, in all honestly, it would have been nice to be able to poke a finger in the eye of some UCLA fans by stealing Chow, but in the grand scheme of things, it is not the end of the world for this program.

In retrospect, it is perfectly understandable as to why everyone was clamoring for Chow. His return to USC would have given Kiffin and the Trojans instant credibility in the living rooms of five-star recruits and in press rooms nationwide. It would have smoothed over some of the perception issues and calmed the worries of the many of us who remain tentatively nervous about this latest hire. But the deal never took place, and, that doesn’t necessarily mean the program is in bad shape. In fact, it could even be better in the long term.

There is no question that Chow is an icon in college football. He knows how to use personnel and he is a tremendous developer of quarterbacks. But you can say that his play calling has had some ups and downs. There are many who will continue to pine for the old days, but really, I think that people treat Chow's past history at USC like wine (it gets better with age).

In the meanwhile, it’s essential for us to take a step back and reflect. Do your accomplishments six years ago guarantee success now? When it’s all said and done, perception isn't reality, especially when in regards to Chow.

We have to be realistic. As great as it sounded to have the "band back together," it is a lot simpler that Chow did not return as well. That was a disaster waiting to happen. Chow has a huge ego. I am sure that he was not pleased to hear that Kiffin wanted to call the plays (although, it is rumored that Neuheisel pulled play calling duty from Chow at one point in the season). We all need to come to terms with the fact that Chow's better days are likely behind him. He has procured a lot of mileage on his good name, but his NFL stint with the Titans was a failure and the jury is still out on his current endeavor across town (it isn’t looking too promising). That doesn't diminish his accomplishments at all, but in recent years, he has not been overly impressive. His name creates more buzz and hype than his recent accomplishments. In Chow’s two seasons in Westwood, the Bruins have ranked over 80 nationally in total offense. Not exactly a group that has been garnering a wealth of offensive awards.

But nevertheless, Chow’s fingerprints are all over the program, even if he never calls another play for the Trojans.

Kiffin tutored under Chow after all. He was taught by the guru. Didn’t he learn something?

Of course he did. He does have his fair share of career accomplishments.

When Chow bolted for the NFL in 2005, how were John David Booty and Mark Sanchez both able to make it to the NFL? Isn't that the benchmark as to the success of a college quarterback? Sanchez was the fourth overall pick. Booty while going in the later rounds at least got a shot – most don’t. Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian developed both of those guys with Chow having very little if any input in either player’s development.

Go back and look at the 2006 BCS Title game against Texas. That night, ‘SC put up 38 point on the best defense in the country. That game was lost by a decimated defense and few bad calls - not the offense. The offense, short of two plays, had that game won. Lane Kiffin called that game; he was the offensive coordinator and the play caller. We can argue all we want about not having Bush in the game on 4th and 2, but ‘SC had successfully run that play all night so there was little to no reason for them to change anything dramatically. Both Kiffin and Chow had the disposal of Reggie Bush – arguably the most explosive player in college football up to that point. Bush bailed out Chow as much as he bailed out Kiffin.

As much as the next guy, Chow goes as the talent goes. The better it is the better he is. Chow doesn't turn scrap into metal. He needs talent for his schemes to work like anybody else. What separates him from other coordinators is his ability to maximize the talent available. It’s what good coaches do, but he like anyone, has his limits. At UCLA, with limited talent, we have yet to see the explosive Chow offense come to life. Sure, Neuheisel is a great recruiter, but he still has yet to live up to his name in reeling in talent. As a result, he and Chow have had their fair share of difficulties in instituting a prolific offense.

Kiffin isn’t perfect, but he brings a lot of positives. Aside from being a great recruiter he is an exceptional passing coordinator. Working with a fantastic talent, this should shine through.

But most importantly, Kiffin isn’t doing this by himself. The staff he put together even without Norm Chow is the definition of the dream team that UCLA was trying to replicate two years ago. Getting Chow would have been the cherry on top, but the staff is starting to look good nonetheless.

Despite the constant bellyaching from the mainstream press and the folks from across town, ‘SC will likely be better than most want to believe. Provided Kiffin can compete for the Pac-10 title off the bat, I think he will squelch the complaints that we are hearing today.

The Skinny: Notes and Info On The Kiffin Hire

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:52:23 -0800

*Sports Agent Gary Uberstine was extremely influential throughout this coaching search. Uberstine is the agent for Pete Carroll, Lane Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian and Ed Orgeron. He was also indirectly involved in the Jack Del Rio negotiations even though he doesn’t directly represent him. Once negotiations broke down with Del Rio Monday evening, Uberstine and his coaching clientele were USC’s fall back option.

Uberstine immediately went to work on both Kiffin and Sarkisian with the caveat from the powers that be at USC that a top tier staff be assembled around whoever gets the job. Kiffin was the logical choice due to the type of staff he could assemble and his tireless attitude regarding recruiting.

*Orgeron/Chow on board before Head Coach hired?: Over the weekend, Ed Orgeron pretty much knew he would be back at USC. Whoever was named the head coach was told that Orgeron would be on the staff.

The minute Pete Carroll resigned from USC, Norm Chow’s son (his agent) contacted USC and told them that Norm was interested in coming back. He really enjoyed the culture at USC and didn’t know if UCLA would be able to afford him now that the Tennessee Titans no longer have to pay the majority of his contract. USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett is a big fan of Chow and was always frustrated by the rift that developed between Carroll and Chow.

A strong mutual interest exists in having Chow back at USC. In fact, Norm Chow felt confident enough to tell UCLA Head Coach Rick Neuheisal this weekend that he would be moving on.

It is very plausible that USC already had handshake agreements with both Chow and Orgeron before the Kiffin announcement.

*More on Chow, Recruiting and Kiffin after the jump...

Some Brief Thoughts on Pete Carroll's Departure from USC

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:51:12 -0800

More photos » Damian Dovarganes - AP

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As we move forward I will probably do more in looking back on Pete Carroll's tenure at USC, but for now I just have some general thoughts as it all sinks in...

So, we turn the page on the Pete Carroll era at USC...

If you didn't see the presser you can watch it again here.

There will be many who write and dissect PC's tenure at Heritage Hall. Some will be positive, some will be negative. I just hope many will be fair. No coach does everything right and all the good ones have their share of controversy and when they are in charge at a nationally prominent program every little issue is magnified into a national conspiracy by those who would wish said program ill will.

Pete Carroll changed the atmosphere around the program. He embraced its traditions and made a few of his own along the way. His easy going style made it easy to get comfortable with the program again. He changed the culture as he embraced the fans and opened up practices.

He made it fun to enjoy USC football again!

I am not going to try and write a historical piece on Pete Carroll. Others are already doing that so I will leave it to the professionals.

For a change Dennis Dodd actually writes something decent...

Pete injected a personality we thought he never had into a rudderless program. Who knew that an out-of-work average former NFL coach from the University of Pacific had these kind of chops?

From the get go, he was recruiting. Not just players either. In 2005, Pat Ruel was happy with his NFL job with the New York Giants. Carroll convinced the veteran offensive line coach to come out and talk about a job. It took one lunch with Carroll in Manhattan Beach on a cloudless sunny day with the waves crashing in the background for Ruel to change jobs.

Carroll's coaching tree continues to grow. Steve Sarkisian is at Washington and has already been mentioned as a possible replacement. Kiffin took some of Carroll's exuberance with him to Tennessee. Carroll allowed them to run USC's offense while still in their early 30's. Both run their practices the same as Pete did at USC.

Players loved him. Recruits flocked to him. In one three-year period, 40 true freshmen saw the field for the Trojans. The downside was that a lot of those players developed quickly and went to the NFL after three years. The upside was that the cycle started all over again. Carroll sold that possibility to the next round of recruits.

Pete embraced the history, tradition, the hype, the hangers on. Even the media.

Open locker rooms, open practices, Win Forever. Game day at the Coliseum, sellouts, Tommy Trojan, the Song Girls. I walked off the field with Matt Leinart a night after he beat Notre Dame at home. The look in his eyes told me the kid knew his whole life was about to change.

Matt, you had no idea.

God, you not only wanted to cover it, you wanted to be part of it.

Everyone wanted to be a part of it!

SC wasn't this much fun since McKay left.

And just like that it is over...

It went by pretty fast!

I refuse to think and say "what if" as many have and will do about a number of moves that Pete Carroll made (or didn't make).

In for a dime in for a dollar...

You take the good with the bad...

I really couldn't be happier for Pete Carroll as he makes the move to Seattle.

SC has a bit of a rough road ahead but SC will be fine.

We will have to take our licks in the coming months but as we have seen with other programs who have had issues with the NCAA it isn't the end of the world. Oklahoma and Alabama come to mind. Whatever the punishment is will be real, it will kind of be like getting the flu, we'll feel crummy and slog through it but sooner or later it will pass. With the right staff and with the right attitude anything is possible.

Everything happens for a reason.

I refuse to be down or melancholy. It couldn't last forever, nor should it have.

I do not know what the future holds but I am confident that those pulling the strings will make the right moves to continue to keep this program nationally prominent.

It won't be easy as we are about to go through change. A new coach and staff mean new rules and a different way of doing things. That will good and bad. The expectations will be high but we need to be supportive and understand that it just won't continue like the way it was before.

There will be fits and starts. There will be stumbling blocks along the way but I have no doubt that SC will still be in the national discussion from a football perspective and not from a punishment perspective.

USC is bigger than just one coach no matter what he accomplished at during his time at USC.

So its a new beginning with a lot of unanswered questions...

And I am excited to see what the future holds!

FIGHT ON!

How will USC, Pac-10 go forward post-Carroll?

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:22:22 -0800

Pete Carroll is gone. Now what?

That's really a two-part question.

Matt Cashore-US PRESSWIREHow will the tide turn in the Pac-10 without USC coach Pete Carroll?

First, what does Carroll's departure to the Seattle Seahawks mean for USC? Second, what does it mean for the Pac-10?

The conventional thinking will be that USC is headed for a fall, and that means a great opportunity arises for the rest of the conference -- or perhaps one or two teams -- to step into the void.

Recall that before Carroll won or shared seven consecutive Pac-10 titles, the conference was as unpredictable as any in the nation: From 1993-2001, every conference team other than California won or at least share of the conference title. And Cal shared the title with USC in 2006.

That would seem the most plausible scenario for the conference going forward: Increased parity with no dominant team.

Things might have been turning that way even if Carroll had stuck around. The Trojans stumbled dramatically this year on both sides of the ball, suffering multiple blowout defeats for the first time in the Carroll Era. The roster has some holes heading into 2010, and Oregon is the obvious pick as the 2010 preseason favorite.

Oh, and there's also that dark cloud of potential NCAA sanctions hovering on the horizon.

Perhaps Carroll felt he needed to go when the going was still good.

Still, USC is still the preeminent traditional Pac-10 power. It owns more conference titles, national championship and Heisman Trophies than any other program by wide margins. There's no reason it should yield its spot on top without a fight.

The first step for USC to avoid tumbling into mediocrity -- see a 19-18 record from 1998-2000 under Paul Hackett -- is to hire the right coach.

That could be a big-splash guy or perhaps someone not so obvious, but his first challenge likely will be navigating the program through some sort of NCAA penalty.

The most obvious beneficiary of Carroll's departure and USC's present state of flux is UCLA and coach Rick Neuheisel, who has a prime opportunity to live up to an early boast about ending USC's LA football monopoly.

That starts with recruiting Southern California. Neuheisel already appears well on his way toward signing another highly rated recruiting class, but his cause could be significantly bolstered if he can poach a few touted guys from the Trojans strong class.

If USC doesn't make the right coaching hire, and NCAA sanctions make local prospects look elsewhere, then UCLA could become the first choice in the region. That would mean Rose Bowls again on the Bruins horizon.

Of course, coaches across the Pac-10 won't yield that fertile recruiting ground to UCLA, as they appeared to do with Carroll in recent years. In the late-80s and early-90s, when Washington was the conference's top team, Huskies coach Don James did an outstanding job of cherry-picking guys from USC's and UCLA's neighborhoods. No reason that can't happen again for one or a handful of teams.

The overall tide seemed to rise in the Pac-10 in 2009. Oregon and Oregon State played the Civil War for the Pac-10 title. Arizona and Stanford both beat USC and spent much of the year in the national rankings. Washington is clearly on the uptick with coach Steve Sarkisian, who has said he's rather stick with the Huskies than return to USC. Only Washington State figures to be a significant long-shot to earn a bowl berth in 2010.

Carroll is gone. Now what?

The interesting answer might be that, unlike the previous few seasons, we have no idea.

Sarkisian: USC hasn't called about coaching job

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:21:25 -0800

SEATTLE (AP) -- Washington coach Steve Sarkisian says he has not been contacted by Southern California, which is about to lose coach Pete Carroll to the NFL.

The Skinny: Updated List of Candidates

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:58:46 -0800

Two to mark off the list:

*Mike Riley: Decided to stay in his hometown and can thank USC for a contract extension taking him through the 2019 season. Oregon State is a great fit for him and he even acknowledges that leaving Oregon State the first time was the worst mistake of his coaching career.

*Jeff Fisher- Fisher loves USC and if the timing was different he might end up at Heritage Hall. However, he is due to make $16 million over the next two years which is quite a bit more than SC can afford. He is also very concerned about coaching with potential NCAA sanctions an not knowing the true direction of the University.

It could still happen as we have not heard him directly say he is not interested but a much better chance exists that he would be the coach 3 to 5 years from now if the new hire doesn’t work out.

Top Tier:
Jack Del Rio- A fairly successful NFL coach who was an All-American player at USC. He is extremely interested in the job and the Jacksonville Jaguars are interested in going in a new direction anyway. He has the same agent as Pete Carroll (Uberstein) and he might be able to work out a deal that saves Jacksonville a little money because they are planning on firing him anyway (15 million) while also working out something with USC.

He is a great defensive coach with a great reputation. He is fiery and would fit in well at the college level. He can be a little rough around the edges and doesn’t have any college coaching experience which scares the USC administration and trustees.

If he gets the job, he would need to be complimented by an Ed Orgeron type recruiter and an experienced college offensive coordinator. He would bring former USC running backs coach Kennedy Pola back to USC.

Jim Harbaugh- His swagger and arrogance at times worries some but that might also be perfect transition after Peter Carroll. He is a great X’s and O’s coach that can recruit nationally. He would also surround himself with a great coaching staff. The major problem here is that Harbaugh now has a significant buy-out at Stanford and he loves Palo Alto and has the job security he wouldn’t have at USC.

Herm Edwards- He has the pedigree that USC likes and would be a top notch recruiter. He is not known as a great X’s and O’s guys and has very limited college experience (2 years at San Jose State in the late 80’s). However, he would be able to put together a solid staff and is well liked in the football world. Would he have the burning desire to put in the time required to consistently be a top 5 team at USC?

*second tier coaching candidates after the jump

Barkley remains upbeat, says USC will be ready for Boston College

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:51:42 -0800

Disappointment? Distractions? Declining performance? Controversy and allegations? Criticism and even ridicule?

All are words or phrases one could associate with USC's football program at present. Yet none seems to touch Matt Barkley.

Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesUSC quarterback Matt Barkley is focused on Saturday's Emerald Bowl against Boston College.

Perhaps one big reason that coach Pete Carroll is such a fan of his quarterback is that the true freshman's sunny disposition matches his own, even during dreary times.

And these are dreary times for the Trojans.

After seven consecutive Pac-10 championships and BCS bowl berths, they dropped four conference games, finished tied for fifth in the standings and will play unranked Boston College in the Emerald Bowl on Saturday.

And USC didn't just get beat this year. It got blown out by Oregon and Stanford and seemed indifferent during a loss to Arizona in the season-finale.

Oh, and there's this little matter involving running back Joe McKnight and the alleged use of a 2006 Land Rover owned by a Santa Monica businessman who employs his girlfriend that might raise an eyebrow from the NCAA. And then there's three players ruled academically ineligible this week, including starting tight end Anthony McCoy and offensive tackle Tyron Smith.

Yet all one gets from Barkley is gee-whiz enthusiasm. That's probably a good thing, by the way.

"We're excited -- we can't wait for this game," he said. "We've had a great last two weeks of practice preparing for the bowl game. We're really stoked to get one last game in and to be able to finish the season strong."

Barkley's season devolved individually like the Trojans has a whole. He threw nine of his 12 interception over his last six games. He finished ranked seventh in the conference in passing efficiency and was mostly eclipsed in the Pac-10 quarterback pecking order by several other young starters, such as Stanford's Andrew Luck and Arizona's Nick Foles.

As to what triggered his and his team's slide, Barkley isn't specific.

"A lot of factors contributed -- a lot of little things that we don't have time to get into," he said. "But overall execution is what it came down to. All those things piled up and we weren't playing Trojan football like we know it."

Barkley hardly deserves the predominant blame. Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates struggled to find his rhythm in his first year replacing Washington coach Steve Sarkisian. Carroll also probably set the bar too high for Barkley by repeatedly calling him an "outlier" and casting him as a quarterbacking savant.

And, you know, the defense wasn't exactly the impenetrable wall that has been typical during Carroll's tenure.

Whatever the reasons -- and it's never just one thing, is it? -- USC's slide seemed to be greeted with glee across the college football landscape. It certainly inspired copious message board ripostes.

Barkley acknowledged that the Trojans are well-aware of the sniping of their critics.

So, is that motivation?

"Absolutely. Guys never like to hear how it's been a terrible season and how bad we've done," he said. "To be able to finish the season with a win will be huge. Not only to end this year but for next year's off-season and how we approach that. A win on Saturday will be huge to right those wrongs."

Barkley said sympathy -- not distraction -- was the reaction to recent off-field issues that will sideline two and probably three starters for Emerald Bowl.

"It's really terrible that they can't be with us," he said. "But we've been dealt a lot of adversity this year, so it's just another challenge for us in this last game. But it is really disappointing to know those guys can't play."

It seems many are expecting a flat and apathetic performance from the Trojans against Boston College. Barkley said that's not going to happen.

"We'll be up, definitely. We're so excited," he said. "We don't care if it's the Emerald Bowl. It's another game we get to play. And Boston College is a great team. They are going to put up a fight. We're not approaching this any differently than a Pac-10 championship game. We're excited to play one last time."

Pac-10 power rankings

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:40:42 -0800

The state of Oregon is the center of the college football universe. Or, at least, the Pac-10 universe.

So pack the Birkenstocks.

No. 1 and seven through 10 stay the same and USC again mans the middle -- still feels odd typing that -- but there was lots of movement in the top half.

By the way, welcome back Cal.

1. Oregon: The Ducks have won with flash. And they've won with grit. They'll need both to beat Oregon State on Dec. 3 and earn the program's first trip to the Rose Bowl since the 1994 season.

2. Oregon State: You again! The Beavers are like the Tortoise in Aesop's Fables. While the Hares hop about and make a lot of noise, the Tortoise just does its thing, slow, steady and relentless. The Beavers need only beat the Ducks to earn their first Rose Bowl berth since 1965.

3. California: In 2007, the Bears fell apart when they fell off their lofty perch. In 2009, the Bears showed character after their fall. An optimist might cogitate over that and conclude that this disappointing season could be a springboard to, perhaps, the "next step."

4. Stanford: Was "hubris" Stanford's undoing in the Big Game, as coach Jim Harbaugh worried about last week? A good way to feel better, Cardinal, is to take out frustrations on a limping Notre Dame team that -- oh my -- struggles against the run.

5. USC: By not playing, USC had a good week. With Stanford's loss, the Trojans now seem primed to earn a Holiday Bowl berth. That is, if they can beat UCLA and Arizona.

6. Arizona: This will be a season of what-might-have-beens for the Wildcats. Two losses due on unusual deflections. Another in double overtime. And toss in a fourth in which they used the wrong starting quarterback (at Iowa). I'm pretty hard-boiled about things, but watching stricken senior safety Cam Nelson fight to maintain his composure -- successfully, by the way -- during postgame interviews Saturday night stood as a reminder about how much these games mean to these guys. The Wildcats' resolve will be tested over the next two weeks on the road at Arizona State and at USC.

7. UCLA: After five consecutive conference losses, the Bruins have won three in a row and are now bowl eligible. Things are much happier in Westwood these days.

8. Arizona State: The loss at UCLA insured the Sun Devils will suffer consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1946-47. A win over rival Arizona on Saturday might partially salve those wounds. A loss will make for a loooong offseason.

9. Washington: The Huskies are coming off a bye. Want to know how to ruin many of the positives from Steve Sarkisian's first season? Lose the Apple Cup at home to woeful, injury-riddled Washington State.

10. Washington State: Want to know how to spin a miserable season forward in a positive way? Post an Apple Cup victory in Husky Stadium.

The Sark Virus Vaccine

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:25:19 -0800

Bumped...P

The Sark Virus

Dictionary: vac·cine (văk-sēn', văk'sēn'), n. A preparation of a weakened or killed pathogen, such as a bacterium or virus, or of a portion of the pathogen's structure that upon administration stimulates antibody production or cellular immunity against the pathogen but is incapable of causing severe infection.

Paragon commented below on Chip Kelly's visits with Jon Gruden and their likely collaboration on a scheme to defeat USC's Tampa 2 defense. While there is little doubt that Kelly learned much from Gruden, in football there is no substitute for practice followed by live experience and further practice to help you perfect your scheme. A perfect scheme can give a team "immunity" against an adversary.

When Steve Sarkisian and Nick Holt moved to the University of Washington they installed offensive and defensive systems virtually identical those at USC. Sark and Holt were able to create a scheme to defeat USC on Sept. 19th thanks to their intimate knowledge of every phase of USC's playbook. That game produced a wealth of information for all of USC's future opponents, but in addition a total of 6 of USC's adversaries have or will have had the opportunity to practice against USC by playing a "weakened pathogen" or vaccine known as the Sark Virus of Washington.The Sark Virus vaccine contains attenuated USC offensive and defensive structures (or antigens) that can produce strong or even absolute immunity against USC infection.

If only the CDC could be this efficient

The following table shows that Stanford, Notre Dame, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, and UCLA all get Sark Virus immunization this year before playing USC:

9/25/09	Washington at Stanford
10/03/09	Washington at Notre Dame
10/10/09	Arizona at Washington
10/17/09	Washington at Arizona State	USC at Notre Dame
10/24/09	Oregon at Washington*
10/31/09		USC at Oregon
11/07/09	Washington at UCLA	USC at Arizona State
11/14/09		Stanford at USC
11/28/09		UCLA at USC
12/05/09		Arizona at USC

*Oregon was vaccinated exactly one week before facing USC

Predictable Results?

The Oregon and Washington debacles show the extreme value of a perfectly crafted gameplan and live experience. In retrospect, this makes USC's victory at Notre Dame seem a little bit more remarkable.

Everyone has heard of "scheduling for success," but this years schedule, front loaded with tough road games and with opponents that are fully informed and extensively practiced against USC's methods is a schedule for misery. Difficult times may lay ahead against ASU, Stanford, Arizona and perhaps even lowly UCLA unless USC's coaches are able to develop new weapons or "antigens" that will defeat fully developed "antibodies."

What to watch in the Pac-10

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:53:17 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

A full slate of games -- nobody's sitting home this weekend eating Doritos.

1. It's going to be nasty fun in Husky Stadium: Oregon has beaten Washington five consecutive times. And by at least 20 points each time. What was once the most bitter rivalry in the Pac-10 has become a mismatch, which has been galling for the Huskies because, historically, they've dominated the Ducks and still lead the series 58-38-5. Yet this one figures to be more competitive than any of the recent games. Washington has rejuvenated itself under Steve Sarkisian, and that rejuvenation has include renewed energy in Husky Stadium. It should be pretty intense. Just like the old days.

2. Jacquizz Rodgers won't back down: The conventional wisdom is that USC is looking for a little revenge after Oregon State shocked the Trojans 27-21 last year in Corvallis. And the best way to get that revenge is to shut down Rodgers, who sliced and diced them for 186 yards. Folks on the Trojans' side whisper that they didn't know much about the diminutive then-true freshman in 2008. Now they do. And they will put a hurting on Rodgers. Not so fast on that, though. Rodgers has surged of late, and he's an ultra-competitive sort who will be eager accept the Trojans' challenge. Don't be surprised if Rodgers makes some plays against the rugged Trojans run defense.

3. UCLA's secondary will challenge Arizona QB Nick Foles: UCLA's secondary is much better than Stanford's secondary, so Arizona quarterback Nick Foles doesn't figure to find things as easy in the passing game against the Bruins as he did when he piled up 415 yards and three TDs vs. the Cardinal. While UCLA's run defense has sprung a leak -- or two -- of late, the pass defense ranks second in the conference, giving up just 169 yards per game. It's grabbed nine interceptions while surrendering just six TD passes.

4. Vontaze Burfict vs. Toby Gerhart: Burfict is Arizona State's hard-hitting true freshman linebacker. Gerhart is Stanford's 235-pound battering ram of a running back. Burfict looks as good as any young linebacker in the country, but he hasn't faced a back like Gerhart -- probably in his life. These two figure to have plenty of impressive collisions Saturday. So, who wins most of them?

5. Washington State should be motivated by 66-3: On Sept. 6 of last year, everyone found out how deeply down Washington State was when California delivered a stunning 66-3 beatdown in Martin Stadium. It was a humiliating home loss, the second game of the Paul Wulff era. The Cougars haven't suffered a whipping like that this year (though Oregon came close). They probably won't win at Cal on Saturday, but the Cougs should fight hard to earn the Bears' respect. They didn't get it last year.

6. Will Masoli or Locker rule the day? First things first: Will Jeremiah Masoli be 100 percent? The Oregon quarterback appears on track to start, but how much of a running threat he is depends on how close his knee injury is to fully healed. Before Masoli got hurt against Washington State, he was playing with the same dual-threat sharpness he showed late last season. Washington's Jake Locker, meanwhile, is only the most highly touted quarterback in the conference. At their best, both are spectacular playmakers. It will be interesting to see who makes more plays.

7. Does Barkley just keep getting better? USC's Matt Barkley seems to improve every week, and the true freshman already is a pretty good quarterback. While Oregon State's defense has improved of late, it still ranks ninth in the conference against the pass (275 yards per game). The Beavers have given up the most TD passes (11) in the conference and grabbed the fewest interceptions (3, curiously tied with USC). The Beavers are stronger against the run, so it makes sense that Barkley might put the ball into the air. Does he turn in another stellar performance, or does he finally reveal some freshman fallibility?

8. Stanford's defense needs to step up: Stanford's defense has given up 81 points and 1,016 yards in the past two games, which, not surprisingly, were both losses. However, Arizona State doesn't have the offensive weapons that Oregon State and Arizona do, and quarterback Danny Sullivan has struggled much of the season. The Cardinal probably won't be able to pile up points in bunches against the Sun Devils' stout defense, but they shouldn't have to if they muzzle ASU's struggling offense.

9. The Bruins are desperate: Arizona coach Mike Stoops described UCLA as "desperate," and it's true. The Bruins are riding a three-game losing streak, and it's hard to find the three wins necessary for bowl eligibility on the remaining schedule. That desperation should translate into an inspired effort at Arizona. The offense seems to be improving after a solid performance against California. Now, if the defense reverts to the way it played during the first three games, the Bruins should give the Wildcats all they can handle.

10. Jahvid Best should run wild: Washington State ranks last in the Pac-10 in run defense. It's surrendered 17 rushing touchdowns, seven more than any other Pac-10 team. This should be a great opportunity for Best, Cal's spectacular runner, to regain his mojo. While Best had a 93-yard TD run against UCLA, he's still been mostly muted of late -- he's dropped to third in the conference in rushing (102.7 yards per game) and might no longer be a sure-thing for first-team All-Pac-10. He rushed for 200 yards last year at Washington State, including an 86-yard TD. So it might be time for another spectacular game.

Got your back? A look at backup QBs in the Pac-10

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:01:11 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

The backup quarterback is just a bruised shoulder or broken jaw away from taking over the most critical position on the field -- just ask USC or UCLA.

There's already been plenty of quarterback movement in the conference -- injuries, depth chart changes, etc. -- so it seemed like a good time to see where the Pac-10 QB depth stands.

Ready to roll

Lyle Moevao, Oregon State: Heck, it's hard to even call Moevao a backup to Sean Canfield, who was Moevao's backup last year. Moevao owns an 11-4 record as a starter and is only on the bench because he's still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery.

Tavita Pritchard, Stanford: Pritchard is not going to play in the NFL, but he's a smart and experienced quarterback who started 19 games before being beaten out by talented redshirt freshman Andrew Luck. By the way, his first start was a win over USC.

Matt Scott, Arizona: He started the first three games this season but lost his job to Nick Foles after a poor performance at Iowa. Still, the sophomore has enough experience that if Foles went down the Wildcats wouldn't go into panic mode.

Marshall Lobbestael, Washington State: He started three games last year before a knee injury ended his season and two games this year before coach Paul Wulff opted to go with true freshman Jeff Tuel. He's battle tested, so if he's called upon again, it won't be like he's being fed to the wolves.

Nate Costa, Oregon: Before the 2008 season, Costa was the touted heir-apparent to Dennis Dixon. Then he blew out his knee -- for a second time. A healthy Costa is a nice backup plan for Jeremiah Masoli. And No. 3 Darron Thomas is no slouch -- he nearly led a comeback against Boise State in 2008.

Has the hype

Brock Osweiler, Arizona State: Folks around the Sun Devils program were so excited about the mature, 6-foot-8 Montana native that many thought he'd beat out senior Danny Sullivan for the starting job. The true freshman still might be a factor this season.

Mitch Mustain/Aaron Corp: Corp was the starter coming out of spring. Mustain practically disappeared until reemerging this week as Matt Barkley's potential backup. Both were prep All-Americans. Mustain was good enough to go 8-0 in the SEC at Arkansas, but offenses are more complex in the Pac-10.

Richard Brehaut, UCLA: The true freshman competed -- briefly -- for the starting job during spring practices and was listed as the backup until starter Kevin Prince went down with a broken jaw and coaches opted to go with the more experienced senior Kevin Craft. Brehaut was a top-100 prospect in 2008 and offensive coordinator Norm Chow was supposedly quite taken by his potential. When Prince returns, UCLA would change categories to "Ready to Roll," unless of course Craft implodes at Stanford on Saturday and falls back to No. 3.

Who knows?

Beau Sweeney, California: Sweeney, a redshirt freshman, recently eclipsed sophomore Brock Mansion on the depth chart. He's got great bloodlines. His father, Kevin, was a record-setting QB at Fresno State who had a cup of coffee in the NFL. His grandfather, Jim, was a highly respected college head coach, with tenures at Washington State and Fresno State. But Beau Sweeney hasn't seen any significant game action.

Ronnie Fouch, Washington: New Washington coach Steve Sarkisian went out of his way all through the preseason to praise Fouch, who struggled mightily when he came off the bench to replace an injured Jake Locker for the final eight games last year. He threw 13 picks with just four TDs and was sacked 123 times, plus or minus. But circumstances were awful last season, and Fouch got little support. It's hard to say what kind of player he would be if called upon this season.

The Chowista's came out in droves this week

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:51:45 -0800

It's that time of the month again for some in the press...

The time for them to pine for the past when USC doesn't live up to expectations. We hear it constantly from the insufferable Scott Wolf. We recently heard it from the insufferable Matt Hayes. And now Chris Dufresne has joined the chorus (circus?). It really is a spectacle to watch, a supposed impartial press he can seem to get over the fact that the two big egos in the room were never going to last.

This week Dufresne opens up the mailbag...it just so happens that all of the answered mail seemed to always want to discuss Norm Chow or Pete Carroll's deficiency with running the offense. Of course Dufresne led with the Chowista's to set the tone for effect.

My first response was Really? No Kidding?

There was no second response because I wasn't really shocked at all.

Here is a sample...

Question: Do you think Norm Chow was chuckling to himself at some point on Sunday? You know, we never see people wide open with regularity at USC since Norm departed. The art of the mismatch has left the building.

Patrick K. Gallagher

Long Beach

Answer: Norm isn't that kind of guy, but if it was me, I'd be Chuckles the Clown.

What's playing out in Los Angeles right now is fascinating. USC has not won a national title since Chow left the staff after the 2004 season, and we know why he left.

Pete Carroll had two young whiz kids on his staff, Steve Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin, who were getting antsy for larger roles as outside job offers were coming in.

So Carroll took Chow to lunch in the South Bay and said he wanted to promote him to assistant head coach.

Hey, that's terrific! Except, he was going to take away play-calling duties -- the thing Chow does best -- and make the kids co-coordinators.

Next thing you knew Norm was in Nashville.

For what it's worth, now back in town, Chow called a nice game Saturday as he nursed backup quarterback Kevin Craft to UCLA's victory against Kansas State.

Also, in the critical moments of this year's Tennessee game, Chow called a quarterback sneak for Kevin Prince on third down with UCLA holding a six-point lead pinned against its own end zone.

Rick Neuheisel overruled Chow and ordered the bootleg play that ended up getting Prince's jaw broken in two places.

Hindsight is always perfect, but Rick should have listened to Norm.

Q: USC's problems Saturday were symptoms of very poor hiring decisions by Pete Carroll that began after Chow was pushed out. . . . As it is, the most successful period of the Carroll legacy is the "Chow Era." Ironic, isn't it?

Steve Rodriguez

A: I don't know if it's ironic or interesting. I always get that mixed up.

These sorts of questions, of course, is what some of the USC fan base thinks...those who can let go of the past. Those who constantly dream of what if's. Those who think Norm Chow would have cured all the ills of USC's bad performances the last few years.

I don't claim to be a football expert but digging up the numbers on some of USC's past bed wettings point to some things that Chow could have had very little to do with...lets come back to that later.

Lets pick the one game that gives the fan base the most angst...the one game that would have cemented Pete Carroll's legacy forever...Texas. If USC wins that game Chow was as good as gone, Chow would have leveraged that into a head coaching job.. Sure the voices in the wilderness would have said that there was nothing more that Chow had to prove that the time was right for him to go to stake his own claim. IF everything else stayed the same there would still be in the some out in the wilderness claiming that PC had not won anything without Norm Chow.

We are where we are...

There are some that continue to whine and cry about Chow's departure claiming it all because of Sarkisian and Kiffin. Whatever...Chow has some mud on his shoes here too...like trying to woo Mark Sanchez away from USC when he thought he had the 'furd job locked up. Say what you want about Sark or Kiff running Chow out there isn't one specific reason that led to Chow leaving...it was a little bit of everything. People seem to forget (or miss) that BOTH Pete Carroll and Norm Chow have big egos so there is no guarantee that Chow would have lasted much longer than 2005.

This whole situation is symbiotic...Pete Carroll went out and got the talent and PC, Ed O and Chow (with others) worked together to get it firing on all cylinders. Chow has never done it on his own. He always needed someone to go out and get his players. He is not a recruiter. Nothing wrong with that but lets not make the man something more than he really is...

So lets look at those game I mentioned.

The MNC against Texas - USC scores 38 points and gains over 500 yards. If not for a patchwork defense that was put together with spit and toilet paper because of youth and injuries I am not seeing how much more Chow would have or could have done. Yes, there will be those that say that not having Bush in the game on 4th and 2 was a critical miscue but SC ran that play all night with success. Texas knew it was coming, SC knew Texas knew and the Texas defense held, case closed. We could dissect that until the end of time...

Against Oregon St. 2006 - USC scores 31 points and gains almost 500 yards...it was the 4 turnovers and a punt return for a TD that sunk USC that day...Not sure how Chow being in the booth changes that.

Against ucla 2006 - Last time I checked Norm Chow didn't coach the O line and that game saw Booty on his back a lot in that game. If the QB doesn't have any protection you might as well throw the play book in the trash.

Against Stanford 2007 - USC scores 23 points but gains over 450 yards. You could make the argument that SC could have made better use of its time in the redzone but 5 turnovers and the USC defense allowing a conversion on 4th and 20 is what killed them that fateful night.

Against Oregon St. 2008 - That was a complete defensive debacle in the first half. SC never recovered...I am not sure that Chow knows anything about defense in regards to coaching it.

As good as Chow is, I am not sure he would have addressed some or any of those issues listed above...I simply refuse to think that Norm Chow would have cured all of SC's ills in those games. I can understand and accept some of the criticism that has been heaped on Pete Carroll for letting his ego get in the way of how this team is perceived to be run. I can see where some will criticize some of his coaching moves as OJT for some who have come and gone from the staff but that is a different issue. The issue I am addressing is Norm Chow.

Everyone wants to point to the fact that Pete Carroll has won nothing since Norm Chow left...

I will take the flip side to that coin, what has Norm Chow won or accomplished since he left Pete Carroll and USC?

Not Much...

Until I actually see a crystal ball in the Morgan Center I am not convinced that ucla will ever be a national contender...I mean one MNC (split) in 50 years does not make you a national power house. I don't care who the HC or the OC is. There are already rumblings that Chow and Slick Rick are having some clashes...not surprising. When Chow took the job across town my 3-year old could have pointed out that sooner or later there would be tensions between the two. Slick Rick's ego is as big as Pete Carroll's...we already know Chow has a big ego.

Only time will tell...but I have moved on.

HIGHLIGHTS: Washington 2009

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:56:00 -0800

What a surprise! USC had another post-big game letdown entering Pac10 play.

Don't go into hibernation just yet; there are positives to be taken away from this game shown in the highlights.

Joe McKnight rushed for 100 yards on 11 carries, upping his current season total rush yards to 305. Could he be the first Trojan since Reggie Bush to rush for over 1000 yards in a season?

The offense struggled with the passing game, but there were some great runs by Stanley Havili, Stafon Johnson, and Allen Bradford.

USC's young defense did a great job containing Jake Locker and holding the Huskies to 16 points. If only the offense would have scored another touchdown or two. Sophomore Jurrell Casey and redshirt freshman Nick Perry set up camp in the Huskies' backfield.

A quick look at this week's games

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:49:37 -0800

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Lining up this week's action.

No. 3 USC (2-0) at Washington (1-1)

USC beat the Huskies 56-0 last year ... USC leads the all-time series 49-26-4 ... USC is riding a 12-game winning streak ... Washington ended a 15-game losing streak vs. Idaho last weekend ... Washington coach Steve Sarkisian spent seven years on the USC staff, while Huskies defensive coordinator Nick Holt also held the same post at USC before being hired by Sarkisian ... USC ranks 14th in the nation in scoring defense (9 points per game) ... Huskies quarterback Jake Locker is 14th in the nation in total offense (321.5 yards per game).

No. 8 California (2-0) at Minnesota (2-0)

California leads the all-time series 3-2, last beating the Golden Gophers 42-17 in 2006 ... Minnesota welcomes back 17 starters from a team that went 7-5 in 2008 ... Cal is riding a five-game winning streak, but the Bears have lost four in a row on the road ... Minnesota is showcasing a brand new stadium, and the Bears will be the first BCS conference foe to play there ... The Bears have yet to turn the ball over ... Cal leads the Pac-10 in sacks with 10 ... Gophers receiver Eric Decker ranks third in the nation with 296 receiving yards in two games ... Running back Jahvid Best ranks sixth in the nation with 140.5 ypg and is averaging 10.4 yards per carry ... Linebacker Mychal Kendricks leads the conference with 13 tackles per game.

No. 18 Utah (2-0) at Oregon (1-1)

Oregon leads the all-time series 17-8, but Utah won the last meeting 17-13 in 2003 ... Utah owns the nation's longest winning streak at 16 games ... Ducks linebacker Casey Matthews ranks second in the conference with 11 tackles per game ... Utah welcomes back 12 starters from last year's 13-0 team ... Oregon ranks last in the conference in rushing offense, passing offense, total offense and is ninth in scoring offense ... Utah has rushed for 242 yards per game ... Ducks DE Kenny Rowe leads the conference with 2.5 sacks.

No. 17 Cincinnati (2-0) at Oregon State (2-0)

They've met only once, with Cincinnati rolling 34-3 in 2007 ... Oregon State has won 26 consecutive nonconference home games dating back to 1996, and coach Mike Riley has never lost a nonconference home game ... The Beavers have not turned the ball over ... Cincinnati is fifth in the nation with 571 yards per game ... Quarterback Sean Canfield ranks 14th in the nation in passing efficiency. He has completed 79 percent of his passes so far ... Bearcats quarterback Tony Pike is fourth in the nation in passing efficiency. He's completed 77 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and one interception ... Jacquizz and James Rodgers have combined for 597 rushing/receiving yards and six touchdowns ... Cincinnati has only one returning starter on defense ... The Beavers have only one sack this year, while they have surrendered five. In 2008, they ranked second in the conference and fifth in the nation with 39 sacks, while they yielded only 21 sacks.

Arizona (2-0) at Iowa (2-0)

Arizona leads the all-time series 6-5 and last beat Iowa 35-11 in 1998 ... Wildcats running back Nic Grigsby is No. 2 in the nation in rushing with 162.5 yards per game ... The Hawkeyes welcome back 16 starters from last year's 9-4 team ... Both head coach Mike Stoops and defensive coordinator Mark Stoops played safety at Iowa and started their coaching careers with the Hawkeyes ... Arizona's four-game winning streak is its longest since 2000 ... Iowa has give up five sacks in its first two games ... The Wildcats rank first in the conference and fifth in the nation with 305.5 yards rushing per game.

Louisiana-Monroe (1-1) at Arizona State (1-0)

This is their first meeting ... Arizona State had a bye last weekend and now plays 11 consecutive Saturdays ... After dominating Idaho State in the opener, the Sun Devils rank first in the conference is rushing, passing, total and scoring defense ... Louisiana-Monroe beat Alabama 21-14 in 2007.

Kansas State (1-1) at UCLA (2-0)

This is there first meeting ... UCLA's win at Tennessee was the Bruins fourth consecutive victory vs. the SEC ... Kansas State welcomes back 14 starters from a team that went 5-7 last year ... Bruins QB Kevin Prince is out 3-4 weeks with a broken jaw ... The Wildcats lost at Louisiana-Lafayette last weekend ... Bruins safety Rahim Moore is No. 1 in the nation with five interceptions ... The Wildcats have recorded only one sack this season ... Bruins defensive tackle Brian Price leads the conference with five tackles for a loss ... The Wildcats have totaled 36 points against UMASS and ULL.

San Jose State (0-2) at Stanford (1-1)

Stanford leads the all-time series 48-14-1, last winning 23-10 in 2008 ... San Jose State lost to USC 56-3 and Utah 24-14 .... The Cardinal has not allowed a first-half touchdown in two games ... The Spartans rank last --120th -- in the nation in total defense ... Stanford's redshirt freshman quarterback Andrew Luck is fourth in the conference in pass efficiency ... Stanford ranks ninth in the Pac-10 in rush defense.

SMU (2-0) at Washington State (0-2)

This is their first meeting ... Washington State ranks last in the conference in total, scoring, rushing and passing defense as well as scoring offense ... SMU broke a 17-game Conference USA losing streak with a win at UAB last weekend ... Cougars punter Reid Forest leads the Pac-10 with a 47-yard average ... SMU, which is 2-0, welcomes back 16 starters from a team that went 1-11 last year ... The Cougars are second in the conference with just 38 penalty yards per game.