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What exactly does it mean to say newly converted safety Garrett Green ``can play the deep ball'' as one USC assistant said in today's Daily News when the Trojans already have three other freshman safeties (Taylor Mays, Antwine Perez, Alfred Rowe) and Mays clearly is making an impact.
I posed the question to a non-USC coach.
``They trust (Green) on deep passes to make plays. The other guys might be too aggresive or not disciplined enough right now.''

Comments
"They trust (Green) on deep passes to make plays. The other guys might be too aggresive or not disciplined enough right now"
That's what happens when you recruit athletes who are known for their physical play and not their instincts. You have to have instinctive players in the secondary like Troy Polamaly and not players like Darnell Bing who know nothing other than to deliver a big hit. It seems we have too many Darnel Bings and zero Troy Polamalus. Pete Carroll should recruit some intelligence even if the play doesn't have elite speed..
Posted by: CaLiFB | August 16, 2006 05:39 AM
"converted" have DAVID check you spelling scott
Posted by: steve | August 16, 2006 07:34 AM
I sincerely doubt that two of the top safety recruits in the country have poor enough coverage skills to be usurped by a 3rd/4th string quarterback.
Take this post with a grain of salt, considering that Mays just had a pretty nice interception the other day and observers have commented all week on the lack of long completions by the QBs.
Posted by: Paul | August 16, 2006 09:55 AM
Does USC have the only QB / K tandem at safety in the entire country? The great part about having a kicker that can play safety is the lick Buehler will deliver on some un-suspecting kick returner this season. I can see it now:
Kick Returner: "Just the kicker to beat and I'm home free".
Buehler: Come to daddy! Boom!!
Posted by: Tyler | August 16, 2006 10:45 AM
Is he staying at safety? If he is, who is the 3rd QB?
Posted by: Alpe | August 16, 2006 11:26 AM
Garrett Green was/is the #4 qb, he was probably gonna redshirt. Mike MacDonald is the #3. If Green moves, that leaves two scholarship QBs in the depth chart. However, Corp and Szakacsy will be in next year.
Posted by: Dan | August 16, 2006 03:07 PM
Bing sucked, really he did!
I think Jason Leach was a better safety than Bing, and I GUARANTEE Pinkard will be better than Bing! Bing has no instincts, something Pinkard, Tatupu, Mays, Rey Rey, Groots, etc. all have!
BING IS A BUST!! Thanx for the facemask on Dave Thomas (UT TE) in the Rose Bowl Darnell, it only helped me lose my bet!
Posted by: John Redcorn | August 16, 2006 03:20 PM
hey steve, go spell-check yourself
Posted by: DAVID | August 16, 2006 03:39 PM
You have got to be kiddin!! A 3rd rate QB can cover better than the 5-star safeties? What the hell are they doing over there?
Posted by: USC_89 | August 16, 2006 05:42 PM
"You have got to be kiddin!! A 3rd rate QB can cover better than the 5-star safeties? What the hell are they doing over there?"
Jeez 89, If your 3rd rate BS continues we're gonna have to just "86" yer backside right outta the bar. Green just happens to probably be one of he fastest and most athletic kids on the team, and is a state ranked high hurdler in addition to being an outstanding and championship winning young QB prospect. I also wonder how you come up with "3rd rate"? What a turd! A 3rd rate one at that!
Posted by: gillyking | August 16, 2006 07:32 PM
gilly on the money. check out speedy green's times in track and you'll do a double-take. the boy is quick.
Posted by: DAVID | August 17, 2006 09:06 AM
Green started as a QB and FS at Notre Dame H.S. in Sherman Oaks. Green started on Varsity for three years where ND had a record of 39-3
2003 = 12-2 CIF Championship
2004 = 14-0 CIF Championship
2005 = 13-1 CIF Runners Up
Green is no 3rd rate QB or FS.
He was only a hair slower than Rodney Glass (ASU), NDHS RB and Track star who beat USC Fr WR J. Holland in the state finals.
Coach Carroll told Garrett that he would be playing somewhere (Special Teams) and more than likely would not redshirt.
Don't underestimate Green's physicallity. Real smart kid too.
Posted by: MetalliCat | August 17, 2006 08:14 PM
Metallicat....great post, totally concur RE: Green as was mentioned above by gillyking. You might however check out the fact that Rod Glass (who opted to ASU) only beat out Holland in that one race, because Holland was injured at the time. Holland has come out on top of Glass in the past.
Two great speedster kids though. I had hoped that Glass would have accepted at SC but he chose the other option. Probably didn't want to have to compete with the likes of who SC has recruited at RB. Just a thought, obviously without backing.
Posted by: goliath | August 18, 2006 11:28 AM
You're right about glass/holland. It was only the last race. Glass did beat Hollands best time while Holland was injured, I believe Glass run a 10.32 100 meter.
Glass was offered by Michigan. He didn't want to deal with the weather.
I think competition definetely played a part with him choosing ASU over SC. Glass has a good shot at being a KR this year and is supposed to get some good PT at RB.
Posted by: MetalliCat | August 20, 2006 05:40 PM