Cushing Review

I think that I would call losing containment and getting out run by a quarterback on the only touch down given up by the first team D quite a big mistake Brian.

Rob Long Beach

Losing containment, that exactly what I saw. Basically, the Trojans have learned nothing from the VY show last January.

Yep, he did the same stuff vs. Mr. Young. Have no idea why they have him out there every play on D......

Wow! A 19 y.o 2 years from high school lost containment on one play. HORROR OF HORRORS!!!!!! Bench Cushing! Fire Carroll!

I come here for two reasons: for the only up-to-date reporting in L.A. and to read the most inane commenters on this here entire Internets-thingy. Considering what spew is spread on the Rivals and Scouts board, that says a lot.

I hate to agree with the over-excitable Nestor over at Bruinsreport.com, but maybe the majority Trojan fans are morons. Jay and Long Beach Rob certainly are.

Still, Scott, you really should consider disabling the comments function on this blog. You seem to only attract the trolliest of trolls.

Hey Rob and Jay,
You guys really weren't watching that play very closely at all. Brian Cushing was caught in no man's land on that play. The tight end was slipping off the line and Cushing had to make the choice between covering him and going after the qb, and he got no help from anyone. I guess that neither of you saw him cut around the corner on the prior play and tackle the back as he was trying to make a jump over the line. Tell me... was the 23 yard completion that brought Arkansas to the one yard line Cushing's fault too?? He wasn't on the field for that play but I'm sure you two will figure out how to blame that on Cushing as well. Brian Cushing is an amazing football talent with great size, speed, and instincts, and he will probably be an All-American before he leaves USC. I couldn't be happier he is a member of the team and the Trojan family.
Fight On!!
Tom in Modesto

Shine
These guys are entitled to their opinion, if you don't like it, don't come onto the board.
Criticizing players is part of how things are. ESPN does it, talk radio does it, and so do we.
Next time a player fumbles or Booty throws a pick and you say "why did you do that!" then you will no that you are a hypocrite, since you just criticized them.

Re Shine on Cushing....EXACTLY RIGHT! Maybe on other views, NOT FAR OFF!

I don't understand why PC & staff continue to keep cushing on the field. He is an average to sometimes good player. He does not live up to the hype, and quite frankly does not make the plays. just play rey!! If Lua can make it back on the field, rey could play DE.

TRM,
Shine was just expressing his opinion, like you said everyone is entitled to their opinion. so essentially your doing the same thing he did, criticize someone for their opinions. although i do think that rob and jay only wanted to flame because their team would trade anyone on that sorry defense for cushing. JasonF must know more about checkers than he do football. Cush was a true freshmen last year and this year he played a very good first game. whatever happened to letting a player mature, if we went by jason's policy junior seau wouldn't have never had the chance to be a great trojan. Rey is a LB and couldn't play DE if you, me, or him wanted to.

Freakin retards!
1. How many of you actually played football ?
2. How many of you actually played football AFTER High School ??
... Video Games and listening to John Madden don't count ...

It's one thing to criticize when you know what you're talking about - the game is not nearly as simple as what you think you see on tv or in the stands ...
Yes, our D sucked in the RB last year ... and yet ... it took a heroic effort - probably the greatest individual performance from the QB position I've ever seen or heard of in college football.
However, ... you do realize that D that took the field 9 months ago, was without approx. 7 of the starters it anticipated counting on ...
and yet, ... the game still could've and should've been won by the Trojans - who blew it offensively more so than defensively.
An accurate critique would be of Reggie's bonehead lateral ...

Now, fast forward to Sat night ... as stated earlier - yes, Cushing was in 'no man's land' ... trying to make a split-second decision - QB or TE ... he took the ever-so-slight hesitation to stick w/ the TE ... and it cost him the step to catch the QB ... again, with no help (as previously stated).

Hmmm ... 38-2 over the last 3 YEARS ... w/ both those losses being by 3pts ... AND, coupled with the effort it took the opponents to pull those victories off; in conjunction with the mistakes made by the Trojans in both those games ...
As PC said a couple years back - and it's stood the test of time ... "A team is going to have to bring their BEST effort - for 4 Quarters - if they're gonna have a shot at beating us" ...
DAMN! ...
I'll take that as fact!

Haven't seen anything like it, by any other program, this consistently ... in 4 DECADES
(and it was a different game/era/style in the '60's and '50's) ...

The problem isn't Cushing's lack of talent or experience. He will gain both.

But to be so arrogant to not realize he screwed up is not a good sign.

You guys have zero knowledge about Cushing. SIMply put he is DE sized and runs like a safety. He ran a 4.45 at 250 pounds this spring. He is finally healthy and he played very well last week. This guy is a beast and one of the reasons why USC defense might be considered the best in the country. They are certainly the fastest.

Hey Tom you have no idea what you’re talking about and you are right losing containment on one play is not the end of the world. Don't act like you know what his assignment is because you don't the ends only responsibility in that situation is to make sure that nobody gets out side of him in any defense. The responsibility of the tight end is the Sam LB but then again none of you even know what a Sam LB is. I agree with you that he will be alright in the future but your guy’s myopic perception that he is a very good player now is just stupid and Pat so are you. LCB Rob

Pete Carroll can't seem to stop talking about Cushing and they are testing a new D scheme specifically to bring BC into more plays, but wtf does Pete Carroll know about defense? Get over yourselves.

You all need to relax!! Yeah Cushing messed up on a play. OH WELL!!! Hes 19 yrs old!! relax the season is just getting started and our Defense is going to tear it up. Just wait and see. I agree a 100% with TrueTrojan. Just imagine how next years D will be... Sick!

In this particular instance the DE was faked out of position at a time when the game was still on the line. If he was blocked, pancaked, decleated he would have been playing football. And for all of those who have proved they don't understand the basic responsibility of the DE, whether he is 9 or 19 years old, let me spell it out for you.

C-0-N-T-A-I-N-M-E-N-T

hey jay,
do you watch football or do you just like to nick-pick. players make mistakes. I was watching the dolphins steelers game last night and a perennial pro-bowler jason taylor lost contain on more than one play. It happens... even to the best so get over it. teach your boys how to rush the qb while you at it.

Everybody!!!! Jay is right and so are most of you. The point here is that Brian said "I didn't make any big mistakes"!! And I think that we are all in agreement that he did on that play, and he tends to go after the ball when you play end your not always suppose to do that. And I think that we all believe that will be a great player but it is ok for us who think that he is not quite there yet to say so. LBC Rob

Kahlil,
Please hold that opinion(It happens to the best) as YOU travel from the East coast to watch the games. I will refrain from being critical ONLY to those non-Trojan fans. Therefore you have my apology.