What Losses?
USC lost two Heisman Trophy winners (Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush) plus one of the school's top 10 all-time rushers (LenDale White) but as the Trojans head toward summer, Coach Pete Carroll is really only concerned about the loss of Bush.
``We’ve lost the flash of Reggie, that’s it,’’ Carroll said. ``I love the quarterbacks (John David Booty, Mark Sanchez). The tight ends are good. We’ve got a big, strong running back. The question is what other element is there going to be on this team? And are we going to need it?’’
I'll go out on a limb now and say, yes, that extra element will be needed.
It was great having Reggie for two years, but his kind doesn't come around every year. It certainly was fun while it lasted, but realistically, it's not gonna happen again.....at least not in my lifetime.....
Yeah, but who cares what YOU think?
You stick to your job and keep reporting news and let everyone else decide on the other stuff, 'kay?
I agree that there is not a Reggie every year, but there are every few years. Keyshawn was just as exciting to watch. The trick will be to find a replacement soon who can keep the team's energy at the level needed to get back on top.
I think it is crazy to believe that Reggie is just a once in a generation talent. It may be important for Reggie to believe that and even other teams (from USC's POV) to believe that believe it but it is simply not true.
There are dozens of kids out there as we speak, who are as fast, with just as good hands and just as good moves. Obviously it takes great evaluation to distinguish those kids from the imposters. USC has done that better than any other school in the past five years. The fact that two 'SC backs were so dominant last year says a lot for the coaching, offensive schemes and blocking at 'SC. A real talent on the 'SC coaching staff and the most overlooked may be Running Backs Coach, Todd McNair. (Keep that under your hat before some other teams try to lure him away!)
The crop of ridiculously speedy, shifty kids will be there for the fall. It is just a matter of who and when (not if) a back will distinguish themselves as the next tremendous 'SC running back. Who's your vote?
We won the National Championship my freshman and sophomore years. My freshman year, I only got a moderate amount of touches. My sophomore year, I got more touches, but I didn't even do much damage in a handful of games, including the Orange Bowl.
Last year, my most dominant year, we didn't win the National Championship. Even though there's no me next year, we will spread the ball around and find a way to get it done, just like my freshman and sophomore years.
Get it? Coach Carroll does. That's why he's already one of the best college coaches of all time. And you're just Scott Wolf.
well obviously YOU care about what Scott thinks Ray since you came on here....now stick to your job and keep posting dumb opinions....hahahahahaha
I like when Scott reports things like that quote from Carroll. It's a nice tidbit that no one else gets or cares to get. I come here because Scott is a very good reporter when he doesn't actually inject his opinion on football, which is generally about as good as my mom's.
Do you have to like everything in the paper to read it?
Since when do we doubt Pete Carroll ??? His track record and evolution to dominance of the Trojan program is unprecedented; and he's stuck to the same basic philosophy - ComPETE; age doesn't matter, and ... TEAM!!! ... TEAM comes first, last, and always!
We had concerns after the 11-2 Orange Bowl victory ... QB, RB (remember, we lost 3 RB 'starters') and most notably, OL! But our D was stout and the players competed and developed QUICKLY ... and look what happened in '03 ... then, in '04 (the only concern was WR and DB - PC "made it happen") ... '05 - offensive DOMINATION ... questions on D ... then a plethora of injuries. We came up 1 play or 30 seconds short of history (12-1 is damn good considering the defensive circumstances - who the hell was Pete supposed to put in on D ? - 1/2 the starters (and all the ones with 'experience') were injured. Now, for '06, it's looking like '03 all over again - a stout D (all those returners w/ experience and HEALTH); with the same offensive questions - QB, RB, and OL (2 positions still up for grabs, 3 'locked down') - we know we're set at WR and TE is strong.
Finally, PC has far superior athletes NOW than he had in '03 - he continues to "do it better than it's ever been done".
2 Months until the 'pre-season' hype can really get started.
Fight On!
Its interesting with all this turmoil going on around SC to read a lot of blogs and stories on different sites that are basically predicting an SC downfall. I think those people will be surprised to find that this team will be very, very good this coming season. The defense WILL be airtight while the offense will struggle a little theres too many weapons at receiver and one or two of those running backs will be more than adequate this coming season. There is only one Reggie Bush but there is more than one way to win games and championships!
"Reggie", I agree with you (if that's really you)USC football has restored it's status as a national powerhouse because of one man -- Pete Carroll. The guy is amazing. Scientists should study him. Babies should be named after him. Now what the hell were you thinking when you tossed a lateral in the Rose Bowl?... And whom do you think is the best running back coming into SC this year? Hmmm? Anyone? We still love you brutha...
Hey Ray,
Isn't the point of a blog like this for people to express opinions? At least Scott does it under his real name, unlike you. His opinion might be as good as your mom's but he didn't live with you in a car. Hahahahahaha
I'm sure this blog gets more hits than some other blogs I know...and at least Scott doesn't "disable" his comments because they aren't working...another sign of a professional compared to a child....
one more thing Ray:
who do you think is going to win the upcoming UFC pay per view at Staples Center?...I hear it's a pretty big event...man, that would be a pretty cool company to work for if you know what I mean...
It's hard to compare USC this year to USC last year. That team had so many established offensive stars. One of the best if not the best offenses in college football history.
But USC 2006 doesn't have to play USC 2005. They are competing against the rest of college football in 2006. And who has more talent stockpiled than USC? Great talent doesn't mean you win all our games. USC needs guys to step up to their hype and will have to survive the inevitable injuries. And luck or circumstance is always a factor.
I agree with Wolf, at some point you are going to need someone to step up in the backfield and provide a big time impact in a key game.
But, in the end, I think Pete is right on target. His comments may seem cocky but to downplay the talent of this team or pull a Lou Holtz doom and gloom persona would be disingenuous. The bar is high and it should be.
If Coach Carroll is looking for a tail back, he doesn't need to look further then Allen Bradford of Colton High School.