Post-Rose Bowl Forum, Answers, Part I

Here’s the first batch of post-Rose Bowl answers, brought to you by whoever it is that allows USC to charge $100 for content that Virginia gives its fans free.

Q.) Scott, Can you introduce me to Emily Nerland? Thanks

A.) I’ll need to think about whether to pre-announce my next joint appearance with Emily.

Q.) Do pro scouts and pro agents view Maualuga as OLB or MLB at the next level?

A.) Scouts view Rey Maualuga as a MLB. He’s got the size and speed to play that spot, which is the toughest linebacker position to master.

Q.) Without saying “yes” or “no”, is there any chance that you would consider voting USC #1 in your final AP ballot?

A.) I’m currently looking at several teams as my No. 1 team and do no feel obligated to vote for the LSU-Ohio State winner. So that means I am considering everyone out there, including USC.

Q.) What is the betting line on Slick Rick Neuheisel plunging the Boys of Westwood into NCAA probation before his contract runs out?

A.) I don’t think Neuheisel would be foolish enough to put UCLA on probation. But I wonder how long it will be before a Pac-10 school complains that it believes a recruiting rule was violated.

Q.) With another 11-win season, don’t you need to retract your circa-Oregon post that the Carroll dynasty was over?

A.) No, I don’t. When I made that statement, I referred to the fact that USC would not go to the BCS title game. It’s been three years since USC won a national title. Two since it played for one. Rose Bowl victories are an outstanding accomplishment, but for a brief period, the program was judged on national titles. That’s the true Caesar dynasty.

Q.) Any news on the Coliseum lease? Sitting on those miserable Rose Bowl benches for four hours made me homesick for the old dump.

A.) There’s a meeting of the Coliseum Commission next week, so we’ll see if the next step takes place. I think we’re headed toward eventual resolution. It needs to happen by spring or USC will start getting itchy.

Q.) Does USC have a chance in your final ballot to surpass Ga and Missou?

A.) Of course.

Q.) Also: Is there any chance a rehabbed Coliseum could entice the Emerald Bowl to move to Los Angeles?

A.) I don’t know if the Emerald Bowl will be around by the time the Coliseum is refurbished.

Q.) Who would have been the better fantasy pick this past year, Reggie or LenDale?

A.) LenDale.

Q.) Does ABCESPN plan to keep that stupid thing where famous alumni introduce the starting lineups? That was nothing short of lame.

A.) I’m not sure, but I’ve heard Matt Leinart did it for the Rose Bowl, which surprises me because Will Ferrell’s college roommate was available.

Q.) What is the chance of Jeff Byers going pro?

A.) There’s no upside for Jeff Byers going pro. He just had a full year of experience without injury and needs one more to impress the NFL scouts. Also he can get his master’s degree.

Q.) 190 pound Joe McKnight is an “every-down back?”

A.) He is when he doesn’t fumble.

Q.) I have heard a rumor that Tim Floyd may leave USC for the LSU job (despite previous public statements that USC is his last job). Have you heard anything about this? Louisiana is his home state and my understanding is he was interested in the LSU job before coming to USC.

A.) This rumor’s been floating around for a couple years. Floyd’s home state is Mississippi, not Louisiana. However, the New Orleans area is what he considers home. He’s told me many times USC would be his last job and so far he’s always been upfront on this kind stuff (except when O.J. Mayo punched Daniel Hackett).

Q.) With the tailback logjam still in effect for next year (barring injury or transfer) do you see any potential position changes to get obviously talented players on the field more regularly?

A.) The problem with this question is nobody wants to blink and change spots. C.J. Gable is adamant he is a tailback, although he could play cornerback and wide receiver. Allen Bradford also wants his shot. Marc Tyler might be a LB candidate but he’s more valuable at RB. So right now, no position switches.

Q.) In the post Rose Bowl TV show, Petros and Rodney scoffed at the idea that there would be a QB controversy (other than in the media’s eye) next year since they both felt that Sanchez had the starting spot locked up. Your pal Petros went so far to say that he had heard that the SC coaching staff was shocked at how crude Mitch was when he arrived in September. He also said that he had no idea why they recruited Mustain, and in his mind Corp is the backup.

A.) I didn’t see the show, but there’s no way anyone has the quarterback spot locked up. Mark Sanchez is the frontrunner because of his experience. That means Mitch Mustain needs to be better to win the job. The coaching staff has been pleased with Mustain since he arrived. He just needs to get the system down. Aaron Corp is very talented, he just needs to increase his arm strength and get more muscular.

Q.) If Mitch Mustain was capable of learning an all-new offense every week, then how difficult could it be for him to learn the playbook over the course of several months? Besides, aren’t there new plays introduced for next season since opponents have seen the old plays?

A.) The scout team learns only a handful of plays so it’s not that hard to get it down. USC’s offense is more complex although it often looks like it runs about five plays. But to master the nuances takes time. Remember Carson Palmer needed a year and Matt Leinart got two years in the system before he played.

Q.) I was wondering if the Annenberg student in that Rose Bowl picture with you is the same one from the now-infamous John Cusack interview?

A.) No, no, no. I only hang around the brightest students.

Q.) Stanford was playing a back-up QB who had a total of one pass in his entire college career up to that point. So there was practically no footage of this QB for USC’s coaches to scout. As a result, the defense didn’t know what to do since the Stanford offense was an unknown entity, so all the preparation that week was simply guessing rather than basing it on past performances. End result – Stanford’s offense scored 25 points against the USC defense. I think that’s as good an explanation as any as to why Stanford beat USC. Your thoughts?

A.) The only problem I see here is Tavita Pritchard was 11 for 31 passing, so USC did a pretty good job until the fourth quarter. And one of those touchdowns was scored by Stanford’s defense. Mistakes were made on defense, but it was not because they never saw Pritchard. It was due more to bad fundamentals and/or some bad defensive formations, such as not jamming the receivers at the line of scrimmage on fourth-and-20.

Q.) What does Joe McNight need to do in off-season to take it to next level, and is he committed to doing that?

A.) He needs to mature mentally so he can learn all the plays and line up at either tailback or receiver like Reggie Bush. He had a month to prepare for the Rose Bowl, so he could become a dual threat. Next year, he needs to learn to do it in a week. Is he committed? Probably, but he needs to get more aggressive mentally to ensure he can take a big step forward next year.

Q.) Compare the running styles of Broderick Green and Marc Tyler from what you have seen in practice.

A.) Broderick Green is a power back but if the defense isn’t careful, he can go 20 or 30 yards on a run. Marc Tyler is a more conventional running back, who is strong enough to break tackles and can break long runs at the same time. Green fits the short-yardage mold or big-back role better while Tyler is a more conventional back, with better than average strength.

Q.) During the Rose Bowl telecast, the ABC broadcasters talked about how USC might be the best team in the country right now. They mentioned the several injuries (Booty, assorted running backs, offensive linemen, Pinkard) as probably the key reason why USC was not in the Championship Game this season. Do you think that is accurate? What is your take on that assessment?

A.) You can make that case with USC. But so can Georgia and then’s LSU and Ohio State. I think USC can stack up with anyone. But I would be less than forthright if I didn’t say I find myself holding my breath, even during the Rose Bowl, watching the offense. There were some near-fumbles, not to mention the interception (yes, I know who’s fault it was) and things that made the Trojans look like it would be a very tight game against a better opponent.

Q.) Do you see any MAJOR recruits committing to USC ( TJ Bryant, Telemaque, Harris,Perry etc ) ? Are there some under the radar guys out there? How many scholies does SC have to hand out and will they hand them all out?

Portsmouth FC??? I had you pegged as a West Ham supporter

A.) Omar Hunter, the Notre Dame decommit, was being wooed by USC for quite awhile. He was one of the unmentioned recruits I referred to early in the season about looking at USC despite his commitment. Jurrell Harris has family in Southern California and seems like one of the best hopes among remaining recruits. Telemaque is a Long Beach Poly guy, so he’ll come if USC wants him.

And Dean Ashton be damned, who can pass up a chance to wear the dark Portsmouth kit?