Possible Scenario
If Josh Pinkard's knee injury is season-ending, freshman Taylor Mays becomes a starter.
But will that force the Trojans to move tailback Allen Bradford back to safety?
With Chauncey Washington healthy, the ``big back'' role can still be filled without Bradford and Pete Carroll, already worried about the depth at safety before Pinkard's injury, can address the problem with a position switch.
By the way, Pinkard led USC with six solo tackles against Arkansas.
What was he doing in game at that point? Playing starters late and running up scores are creatures of BCS poll. But with its schedule, USC does not need to do that.
Best wishes on Josh's speedy recovery... this kid is awesome, and SC secondary will be that much stronger with him IN. Mays is a stud, but he is a true freshmen, and it will take time for him to mature. Physically he is an animal, but experience wise, he is still a puppy.
Pete himself called Josh, "the best athlete on the team." I would think that means Josh is pretty important. So why the hell is he on the field, on punt coverage, with 4 mins left in a game that has already been won? No excuse for this. The decision to have Josh on the field at that time is a major league f*&k-up!!
That would seem like the logical decision especially with the growth of the remaining TBs and Chanucey's slow but gradual recovery. I also like the running of Powdrell as a backup big back. Bradforf probably moves back to the safety spot if Pinkard can't go.
Losing Pinkard would be a huge setback! For those Trojans still standing, I hope this win doesn't go to their heads. Nebraska will be a lot tougher to beat than Arkansas was. They have a very good passing game and a much better
defense.
Losing Pinkard hurts. USC will just move Bradford back to safety, move Stafon Johnson in to take his place.
This team will be ready for Nebraska (hopefully with a healthy Josh Pinkard). Pete Carroll and Company have proven they can win big games. Is Callahan ready to stop us and make a name for himself? We will find out.
IN PETE WE TRUST!!!
Don't be surprised if Stafon Johnson gets moved to Safety for depth. Bradford might have the most potential of any of the freshmen runners.
This is the danger of Pete's tendancy to always pour it on. I think he wanted to make a statement that there will be no drop-off this year at USC. Now it costs the Trojans their most talented player at a position with very little depth. It just boggles my mind when ego gets in the way of logic. Fight on!
Any logic to the theory that the special teams have been SC's weakest element overall and thus the decision to start fielding the better players into that unit resulted in JPink becoming vulnerable? Noted that the game was won, but PCs, always looking for a way to situationally practice was at hand and that is probably why the first teamers were on the field during that special teams play. Just a thought.
All I can think of is last year where we would lose one or two Defensive starters each game. Man, this one hurts big time