How Is This USC Team Different?

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If you are wondering what makes this USC team different, check the receiving corps. The depth is better than it has been in years. Juju Smith (above) is game ready, George Farmer is healthy, Steven Mitchell looks recovered from his knee injury, Adoree Jackson appears likely to get spot duty, Victor Blackwell is back. And then there are true freshmen Rahshead Johnson and Ajene Harris, who probably will redshirt.

That is in addition to starters Nelson Agholor and Darreus Rogers. During sanctions, USC sometimes barely had 2-3 healthy receivers. No more.

“It’s surprising to see honestly,” quarterback Cody Kessler said. “Now we have numbers. I feel good that everyone can make plays and is comfortable playing.”

34 thoughts on “How Is This USC Team Different?”

  1. “Athlon’s projects USC to go 9-3 this season, citing the defense and Cody Kessler as team strengths while depth and playmakers at wide receiver are “obstacles to overcome.”

    I guess a lot has changed since July 31st when this was posted by Scottie.

  2. The real question is how is this team similar… No comparison without Kiffin at the helm, including the silly QB controversy which should not have been. You Trojans might disagree, but I see an improved offense, even sans Lee, who (let’s face it) didn’t make a huge impact last season. Will depend on health and maturity of those fab freshmen and the OL and DL line.

    • Where you been hiding, EnsenadaBruin?.. respectable input, BTW…. thank you for keeping this a civilized discussion…

      • He’s been eating enchiladas and obviously reading his pre-season football mags. In the end, it always comes down to both sides of the trenches for everybody. Weak there…you’ll inevitably have rough going against good teams.

        Beg to differ on one point however. Lee did make a huge impact despite his subpar year. Huge. His catch across the middle, while injured, enabled USC to beat Stanford. Without that late in the game 4th down clutch catch, the Trojans never kick the FG and lose a tough one to the Cardinal. That one catch was just giant and is a play I will always think about when Lee crosses my mind.

        • Great point…..what a difference a play can make, not just on a single game, but how an entire season is perceived……

        • For me Stinky B, whenever SUCC crosses my mind, I think of out of date code “Hot Box Burritos” and that particular sound of snapping ankles of SUCC linemen in the Mausoleum disaster – UCLA 35 – SUCC losers.

          • You’re so easy to please. One Coliseum victory and some injuries and that’s all you need. 46-30. You’ll never catch us. Not in a million years. Keep that foot in your mouth where it fits.

          • still won 12 of the last 15…..I would rather be 12-3 in the last 15 years than 3-12.

          • And you better win this year. If you don’t, it’ll all look like a mirage, just like that. Uneasy lies…

          • Well, for those of us who have faithfully attended every home game at the RB for the past 27 years, suffering through 12 years of humiliation at the hands of USC, yes actually, it does kinda feel that way.

          • And don’t forget that last win, 50-00000000000000000. GOD THAT NEVER GETS OLD. 50-0000000000000.

        • That’s a valid point. No disrespect intended. However, I expected a Heisman run, and that mid-season injury was a killer. But yes, you are right–that Stanford grab was epic.

          • I’ve always liked Lee, and I liked Robert Woods too. Seemed like very different guys. Lee had a lot of drops as a SR. Not really sure why. There’s always the Kiffin Factor, as in blame Kiffin for everything. But w/o Lee’s zipper catch against the Cardinal, there would be nobody to blame but Trojans for a hard fought at-home loss to Stanford. The Cardinal basically tried to give USC the game in the 4th. Lee saved the Trojans that day. Nothing less.

        • The starting DL could be great, but it quickly gets thin and inexperienced after that…..I’d be a little for confident if Bigelow was still healthy, but we should still be fine…

  3. As much as I love JuJu Smith, and I am optimistic about his contributions this year, do you honestly think that after day three of training camp that he is already “game ready”, Coach Wolf?

    • JuJu does have a college body. I’m a little worried about Adoree and hope he doesn’t get banged up playing with the bigger boys.

      • True about JuJu’s physical attributes……it’s more the playbook and the weekly grind that worries me…..I’d prefer Adoree stick with being on defense and be the hitter instead of the hittee…….

        • They are all learning a new playbook on both offense and defense..
          I think Sark will design specific plays for both of them on offense.

  4. The university draws the talent as all national players know if you snag a USC scholarship you’ll get more leeway by the NFL scouts – with Kiffin gone and the coaching chaos silenced since early December Sarkisian has recruited as best he can – he’s a great recruiter it remains to be seen just how good he is on this stage as a head coach because that is the difference maker – is this head coach at USC able to challenge in conference and on the national stage?

    I think he can and certainly hope he can – Stanford will be the first major test – followed by AZ St. – win those two and lookout.

    • Yes SUCCster’s, NFL HC’s just can’t forget the abilities of John David Booty, Sean Salisbury or that HoF inductee, the dancing queen himself, Matt “the Hack” Leinart.

      • You really ought to keep your mouth shut, every time you open it you expose your intelligence for what it is…zilch. A little bonomo love to your look alike wife.

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