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Nebraska Report Card

Here's the report card for the USC-Nebraska game:

RESULT: NO. 3 USC 28, NO. 23 NEBRASKA 10.
RECORD: 2-0.
WEEK 2 GPA: 2.9.

QUARTERBACK

John David Booty looked like Matt Leinart the way he kept finding Dwayne Jarrett open throughout the game. There was a third-quarter lapse (4-11, 30 yards) and the tipped passes are a worrisome sign.

B

RUNNING BACKS

A rotation is being established between Emmanuel Moody, Chauncey Washington and C.J. Gable. But Moody is currently the hot back in the eyes of the coaching staff.

C+

WIDE RECEIVERS

Dwayne Jarrett shook off the negative comments from offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin and regained his 2005 form with 11 catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns But Steve Smith and Chris McFoy also made critical catches.

A-

OFFENSIVE LINE

The anchor of the line, Ryan Kalil, did not feel well and it affected everyone else’s performance. Not as good as against Arkansas, but the line did an admirable job on the last drive when everyone – including Nebraska – knew the Trojans were going to run.

C+

DEFENSIVE LINE

There wasn’t much evidence Sedrick Ellis did not play as Fili Moala filled in at nose guard and helped shut down Nebraska’s running game with four tackles.

A-

LINEBACKERS

Rey Maualuga led everyone with 11 tackles but reserve Thomas Williams also made key contributions, once again demonstrating USC’s impressive depth.

A-

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Thanks to Nebraska coach Bill Callahan’s insistence on running, even Pete Carroll admitted the secondary did not get challenged.

C

SPECIAL TEAMS

The punt return team fell asleep on a fake and allowed a 31-yard return. It might be a byproduct of injuries forcing new players onto special teams.

C-

COACHING

Even an inconsistent game by USC standards means an 18-point victory over a top 25 team. Will the somewhat-weak Pacific-10 Conference provide any resistance in the next few weeks?

B+

Comments

Dude how the heck you can rate secondaries as 'C'. If you have gone school then you would know 'C' means they barely passed which contradicts the fact that they hardly played..

You are sick dude!!

Scott,

You are a tough grader. Why a B for Booty (3 TDs no interceptions) and an A- for the receivers. Shouldn't they have similar grades?

We've become too spoiled in the last few years. A lot of Trojan fans (and sports experts) get worried that USC is not going to crush every single team.

This is something that we need to get used to for this year. We won't just pour on the points.

However, with true freshman running backs and a new QB you can't ask for a better start. This team is strong and is destined for greatness. It will get better and better and better.

Thank God USC plays Oregon, Cal, UCLA, and Notre Dame at the end of the season. By that time SC will be at its full potential. The Trojans will wipe their rear ends with those teams.

Hey Scott the season just started wait until after the ASU game to see how the team is developing.

I hope our Oline plays well consistantly, we are not were we where last year.

All I hear is excuses, which is not good. Its not the players fault.

So, you vote SC #6 out of approximately 120 Division 1 schools and they're a C+/B- team?

Your grades are as ridiculous as your comments. Jarret shook off Kiffin's comments? Maybe he responded to them or Lane was right about his performance at Arkansas and Jarrett did need to work harder and it shows when he does.

I used to love this blog because it was a good source of information, but I'm growing tired of digging for insight and facts through all your unnamed alleged rumors and constant ripping of the program. You've pretty much turned this into just another message board and you're a troll moderator.

Time to see what www.latimes.com has to say.

Scott, explain how you can grade a football team without ever having played a down of real football. You should stick to your "USC is an embarrassment" articles...

I don't know if it comes under QB or WR, but that pass by Turner was an F! Very lucky no interception. That duck would have made Oregon flinch.

Well, once again, Scott, your forecast and predictions for this game were totally off course. I heard you predict on both 710 ESPN and 1540 The Ticket this week that USC would have their hands full and to expect Nebraska to pass the ball all over the field. WRONG!

USC won. And you were wrong. Nebraska lost.

Your grade, as usual, an "F", and no signs of improving. Time to drop the course and sign up for a new class. UCLA is looking for new students.

You're not gaining any credibility in your style, tactis, and schemes. Everybody has figured you out by now, Scott. Just as they figured out Papadakis.

Thanks to Nebraska coach Bill Callahan’s insistence on running, even Pete Carroll admitted the secondary did not get challenged.

If the DB's didn't get challenged, why do they deserve a C grade?

I too was concerned about Booty's passing in the third quarter.

I don't think the outcome of the game was in doubt, but thought some of those passes would have been intercepted by other teams.

Patrick's passing needs some fine tuning.

I believe in time the offensive chemistry will improve, and thus, Booty won't overthrow a wide open Steve Smith by 5 yards, and/or, time outs won't have to be called to make the next play selection, etc. But I didn't get the offensive game plan. I don't understand how a short pass offense to Jarrett is going to endure throughout the season. In fact I'm sure Arizonia's got it figured already, and thus, Booty will actually be intercepted 3 times, instead of, almost. Although the team is young and inexperienced, it's still ranked #3 in the country. So open up that balanced USC run /pass offense we're used to, with that daring confidence that takes it right down the throat of the opponants. Give the kids a chance to get it done. Cut them lose. Dare them to honor the tradition!

>>>Your grade, as usual, an "F", and no signs of improving. Time to drop the course and sign up for a new class. UCLA is looking for new students.<<

Time out Sparky, the fumes from the South Central crack dens are causing you trOJans to hallucinate. Unlike SC, you can't get into UCLA simply by borrowing $80k from the taxpayers and paying a fee to Steve Sample.

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Scott Wolf

Scott Wolf has covered USC for the Daily News since 1996. A USC graduate, he covered his first Trojan game in 1984 for the Daily Trojan. Scott is known as the "scourge of the Internet message boards," according to radio host Petros Papadakis. Despite this moniker, there's no truth to the rumor he takes pleasure in antagonizing the "Internet geeks."

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