Rose Bowl vs. Recruiting
OK, it's been almost three months, but here's a lingering question from the Rose Bowl.
USC's undoubtedly compiled the nation's top recruiting classes the past four years (or at least top three) but if that's the case, it's interesting to consider who was on the field on some of the most important plays of the game.
Perhaps the most memorable offensive play was Reggie Bush’s lateral to a walk-on (wide receiver Brad Walker). Apparently Chris McFoy, Steve Smith, Dwayne Jarrett and Patrick Turner were not enough?
During Texas' game-winning drive, USC's defense featured twin brothers Ryan and Brandon Ting in the secondary. None of this is a slight of those players, who consistently work as hard (or harder) than anyone in practice.
But it shows that even with all those No. 1 classes, where were the so-called blue-chip players during those critical moments? Were they simply not utilized, hurt or just beaten out by their lesser-known teammates?
P.S. – Does anyone remember Texas using walk-ons on any critical plays?
Scott,
Keep up the good work.
weren't there an awful lot of injuries, especially in the defensive backfield? i think that is an obvious answer.
also, as to the scrub receiver that bush attempted to lateral to, that was hardly a designed play. who foresaw the need for blue chipper there!
Scott, you're killing me man! Just give us the info with all these unanswered questions and blind items (e.g. which formers USC assistant gave a non conf. team inside info etc etc).
Why were those said players (ting Bros., walker) on the field? I was sitting in the stands wondering why the Ting's were in there too!
And did pete sent Jethro packing? Were there hard feelings?
If you keep this up, I swear I'll get my annual and post your Senior year picture!
I can't wait to see you and Mojack go at it soon.
I've wondered about that, too. Before the failed lateral I had never heard of Brad Walker. Why was in playing in the BCS title game? John Walker, a former walk-on, was also playing on the last Texas drive. I couldn't believe that with the stockpile of talent SC has acquired since Cody's recruiting class the Tings and former walk-ons were playing in the most imprtant game of the season.
scott, i have never heard of pete being asked or pete volunteering why #15 (frosh corner - name escapes me)or other defensive second stringers were on the field so much during the game, let alone the last drive by texas.
was wyatt or pinckard hurt? did they quit? were they being punished?
i am a voracious reader of all trojan football content and cannot remember any journalists questioning pete on this subject. did you? if so, what did he say? since there is such a vacuum of info on the subject, i assume you cannot print the response.
Scott: It was obvious that due to the unusual amount of injuries, SC had to play people they had no intention of playing (last year). However, there were too many top players standing on the sidelines at critical moments. I also think Bush believes he made a huge mistake on the aforementioned play. By the way, good luck with your blog.
Typical garbage from you, Scott.
First off, the Ting twins are NOT walk-ons. They are Asian, which may translate to "walk-on" in your world, but not in the real one.
Second, as to --
"where were the so-called blue-chip players during those critical moments?"
-- a quick glance at the DB recruits left on the roster as of last season reveals 12 names:
Darnell Bing
Scott Ware
Justin Wyatt
Terrell Thomas
John Walker
Josh Pinkard
Ryan Ting
Kevin Ellison
Brandon Ting
Will Harris
Kevin Thomas
Cary Harris
Of those ten, Terrell Thomas, Kevin Ellison and Will Harris were injured, and John Walker had been injured.
Kevin Thomas and Josh Pinkard were on the field, along with Bing, Wyatt and Ware.
So, that basically leaves Cary Harris as the lone "blue chip recruit" -- a true freshman -- that "walk-ons" Ryan and Brandon Ting were playing over.
HAVING COACHED, I'D ASSUME WALKER AND OTHERS LIKE HIM (HARD WORKERS, TEAM PLAYERS), WAS JUST IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME. AS A COACH YOU DO DEEP DOWN INSIDE HAVE A COMMITTMENT TO PLAY KIDS. BECAUSE OF THEIR HARD WORK DURING PRACTICE, AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SACRICE THEIR PRIDE TO BE THE LIVE TACKLING BAGS, FRESH MEAT, OR WHATEVER FEASIBLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF THE TEAM. THERE COMES A TIME WHEN THE COACH HAS TO PAYBACK TO THE UNSUNG PLAYERS. SADLY, BUSH MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE, HIS FAULT ALONE. IF WALKER WOULD HAVE BEEN AWARE OR WARNED IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT. HE WAS PROBABLY JUST HAPPY TO BE OUT THERE, STUFF HAPPENS. AS TO THE TINGS, THEY WERE ON THE DEPTH CHART, THEY ARE A PART OF THE TEAM. DUE TO INJURIES, IT WAS THEIR TIME. THEY WERE EXPOSED TO PRIME TIME FOOTBALL. THEY PLAYED TO THEIR SKILL LEVEL. THEY GAVE WHAT THEY COULD, WHAT ELSE CAN A COACH AS FOR.
Um, Scott? John Walker , Kevin Ellison, Terrell Thomas were all injured, right?
And Reggie's lateral was hardly scripted.
I like that PC plays walk-ons that earn their way into PT. Would really suck if that weren't true for Texas.
Scott, you hit the nail on the head on this one......
Quite frankly, because of injuries and defections, SC simply lost to a better team in the Rose Bowl. Don't get me wrong, SC's offense was the best in the nation (and arguably the best ever) but the defense was not BCS championship game worthy, let alone Fresno State worthy. SC's average D last season was a result of SC having play the Ting's, Collin Ashton, and lacking any quality depth along the defensive line. What you failed to mention is why SC was forced to into these situations. Here's a simple explanation for each position:
DB - SC had to use the Ting's in nickel situations for three reasons. First, injuries. SC lost starting DBs Terrell Thomas and Kevin Ellison during the season. Second, SC lost a third starter before the season started when Eric Wright was kicked off the team. Finally, the inability of the freshman to adapt to the scheme. Despite SC's recent success with playing freshman, SC was only able to get one freshman DB on the field (the aforementioned Ellison) last season. And that freshman had graduated high school early and was at SC during last Spring's camp. Carroll's scheme for defensive backs is very advanced. At SC, it is probably harder for a freshamn to learn to play DB than to play any other position. Under Carroll, SC has had freshman play TB (Bush, White), WR (Turner, Williams, Jarrett), OL (Justice, Byers), DL (Cody, Patterson), and LB (Cushing, Maualuga) but SC has not had any freshman play DB unless they graduated early and played spring ball (Ellison) or had a redshirt year to learn the system (Bing). Thus, Carroll was forced to use experienced players like the Ting's in the nickel package and it hurt SC (especially that interception one of the Ting's dropped late in the Rose Bowl that would have ended the game).
Please note, I do not mean to blame last season on the Ting's. From what I have seen they are great kids who are "team first" players. But I cannot ignore the fact that they were not talented enough to compete on a National Title level.
LB - Last season opponents continually converted third and longs against SC's nickel package which included the aforemention Ting's and LB Collin Ashton. For those of you who don't know, Collin Ashton was a walk-on. SC had to use Ashton in the nickle package b/c Lua cannot cover the pass, and freshman Maualuga had not learned the system. This season, Maualuga should have a firm grasp of the SC nickel scheme and should solidify SC's nickel package. But last season ASU, notre dame, Fresno State and Texas converted almost all of their 3rd and long's while Ashton was in there.
DL - The pre-season defection of Manual Wright was not a seaon killer, but it clearly hurt SC in the Rose Bowl. Remember when Manual Wright chased down Aaron Rogers during the goal line stand in the 04 Cal game? Do you think Manual (an NFL playing DT) would have maybe sacked Vince Young once or twice during the Rose Bowl? How about a stop during that last Texas drive? Without Wright, SC lacked QUALITY depth at DT behind Ellis last season. Ramsey was solid but Moala is not BCS caliber (as evident by the fact that Moala has been beaten out by Barrett at DT this spring). Carroll recruiting efforts at DT produced Ellis and Wright, but Wright left early and the other top DT recruit either did not qualify (Ashley) or was originally recruited to play DE and had to spend the whole season bulking-up to play DT (Spicer). I'm confident Carroll fine DT recruiting will start to show this season with the maturation of DT's Spicer and Barrett and the influx of some new DT talent in Ashley and Lewis. Last season, however, Ellis was the only top-notch DT worthy of an appearance on the field of a BCS National Championship Game.
One final thought, before the Rose Bowl, those picking SC to win, stressed the fact that SC's scheme would top Texas. I think the outcome proved that talent beats scheme. Harvard has a great scheme, but I bet you Oregon State would beat them by 50 on a neutral site (please do not mention UC Davis over Stanford). SC might have had the better scheme (especially on offense) but SC's talent on D did not match Texas' offensive talent, especially SC's nickel D (which included the Ting's, Collin Ashton, and was without Manual Wright) which was on the field during Texas' last two drives in the game...... I have no explination as to why Walker was on the field at all during the Rose Bowl, but it was not his fault that Reggie Bush tried to pitch him the ball near the goal line.
The Ting twins were rated 3-star recruits by Rivals.com and the 81st and 82nd ranked players in California.
That's very different from walk-on status, as most recruiting classes at even prestige programs feature a bunch of 2-3 stars.
Texas had one former walk-on, Marcus Griffin, log significant time on the field with his twin brother Michael Griffin.
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