October 2006 Archives

Thomas Williams practiced exclusively at fullback today.
"We've moved him and we're going to go for it," Pete Carroll said. "We're going to find a spot for him. We're looking for a physical presence."
Mark Sanchez and Allen Bradford ran laps after fumbling an exchange. Bradford also ran after fumbling another time. Freshman tailback Stafon Johnson practiced with the scout team.

Fullback Stanley Havili is still hoping to return and will be examined by doctors tonight. His return might be vital since the fullback position continues to atrophy each week in the offense.
UPDATED: Looks like Havili will need to wait another week before practicing.

USC offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said it was decided before the Oregon State game to abandon the tailback rotation and go with junior Chauncey Washington.
``That was the thought. (Washington) had a great game against Arizona State and a great week of practice,'' Kiffin said. ``He ran really well, but the fumbles were a problem. If it continues to happen, he won't play.''

For all the comments before and after games about the lack of forced turnovers, it's interesting to note USC's recovered five fumbles this season. Last season at this stage the Trojans also recovered five fumbles.
Apparently, that aspect of forced turnovers is not as big a deal as originally thought.
There is a disparity in interceptions. USC intercepted five passes in its first seven games this season. Last year, it had 11. But remember the Trojans were often ahead by large margins in games, forcing teams to throw more last season.
Maybe the offense just score more points last season no matter where it was.

If you are like me, you are probably too young to remember former USC All-American Marlin McKeever. Here’s a glimpse of one of his greatest moments, the 1960 USC-UCLA game according to the book, ``USC Vs UCLA: The Best Little Rivalry in Town a Game-By-Game History of America's Greatest Football Rivalry.’’

USC employed sophomore defensive end Kyle Moore more (pardon the pun) against Oregon State as part of a traditional four-man pass rush. Perhaps an admission that the 3-4 defense (or whatever you want to call it with a fourth linebacker on the field) was not working as well as hoped?

For several weeks, we've stressed the theme, ``Is USC improving?'' in different posts. One example might be the offensive line, which committed several penalties, including false starts against Oregon State. In past years, it seemed like the noise from hostile crowds would cause penalties early in the season but then it would no longer become an issue.
``We really tried to stress that last week so it wasn't an issue,'' USC coach Pete Carroll said. ``I don't think it was any louder than the other places we've played this season. But it still jumped up.''

Here's the grades from the Oregon State game:

In typical form, USC coach Pete Carroll said he will not discuss the BCS situation with the Trojans any more than a few comments following the loss to Oregon State.
``I won’t spend any more time on it,’’ Carroll said. ``I haven’t even thought about it.’’
But the Pacific-10 Conference race is an acceptable talking point.
``We have to win every game,’’ Carroll said. ``That’s all. That’s the issue right now.’’

Pete Carroll said Sunday night that tailback Chauncey Washington's fumbles will be a talking point this week.
``We’ll be real hard on him,’’ Carroll said. ``We’ll address ball security. When you’re the lead back, you have to be the best at it.’’

BCS expert Jerry Palm said Cal and Notre Dame were hurt by USC's loss almost as much as the Trojans.
``They're national championship hopes rested on playing an undefeated USC, beating them and making a big jump in the polls,'' Palm said. ``It hurt both of them.''

Here's this week's ballot for the Associated Press Top 25 poll:

Is USC out of the national title picture? Probably not.
In the Trojans' favor, there were still five head-to-head matchups this season involving teams ranked in the top 10 this weekend (Ohio State-Michigan is an example). So there is a chance for fluidity in the rankings and USC's schedule will impress the computers.
Before worrying too much about that, however, more pressing matters are the fumbles, tipped passes, soft pass coverages and lack of playmakers that plague USC as it moves toward what was considered the tough part of its schedule.

Of all the stats thrown about regarding the Pete Carroll era, I consider this the most impressive: Carroll's lost just one game by more than 10 points (26-15 to Notre Dame in 2001) in six years.
Even down 33-10 to Oregon State, Carroll somehow avoided getting blown out for the first time in his career. Compare that to the legendary Joe Paterno, who already this season lost by 24 points (Notre Dame) and 22 points (Ohio State).
Or self-proclaimed legend Charlie Weis, who was beaten by 26 points by Michigan last month.

Oregon State's 33 points is the most the Beavers scored against USC since 1914 in the teams' first meeting.
John David Booty's 406 yards passing was the fifth-best performance in school history, just ahead of Matt Leinart’s 400 yards last year against Notre Dame. USC is 3-3 in games where the quarterbacks throw for more than 400 yards.
Steve Smith finished with 258 yards receiving, just two yards shy of the USC record of 260 set by R. Jay Soward against UCLA in 1996. Soward’s mark came in a double-overtime game.

It's a bit of an esoteric point, but after the game, USC coach Pete Carroll regretted going for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the 10-yard line trailing 33-10.
``If I kick a field goal, it’s a different game. I screwed that up,’’ Carroll said. ``That’s something I’ve got to correct. As I look back, I was impatient. But it was 33-10 at the time.’’
USC failed to score but it didn't really matter because Oregon State botched the punt and allowed the Trojans to score a touchdown a few minutes later.

``It was a 3-step drop, the same thing we got done with Steve (Smith) the play before. The guy was there and got his hand up.''

Everyone who favored the Pac-10 playing a full conference schedule without skipping opponents might regret it today. When the conference changed the schedules for this year, USC added its trip to Oregon State.

Linebacker Rey Maualuga did not play in the first half because he overslept and was late for a team meeting Friday morning.
UPDATED: ``He was late, I probably would do that with anybody,'' USC coach Pete Carroll said.

``We will always have a target on our back. It's very difficult and every week you have to go out and play beautiful football. If you don't, than you are giving the football away and that makes it very difficult. I am disapointed in the uncharacteristic play where we are not taking the ball off our opponents.''

Post your thoughts on today's game:

Here's a couple thoughts: Turnovers, tipped passes, special teams, playcalling, undisciplined, an opponent without its best tailback. A lot of problems throughout the season came home to roost today.
``How do you go a month without getting a turnover?'' USC coach Pete Carroll said. ``That's what it feels like.''

There's fog everywhere in Corvallis, but it's should just be overcast for the game. The sun is actually breaking through a bit before kickoff. It must be a big game because USC brought an 11-piece band.
USC won the toss for the seventh straight game this season.

Marlin McKeever, a 2-time All-American end at USC who then played 13 years in the NFL, died on Friday (Oct. 27) in Long Beach after suffering a head injury in a fall at his home. He was 66. Information for memorial services is pending.

USC's streak of sellouts could be in jeopardy. According to the Oregon State website, "Approximately 400 tickets remain in the $60 sections. There are 500 Club Level tickets at $385."

USC's last Pacific-10 Conference loss was at Cal, 34-31, in three overtimes in 2003. Since then after a bye, the Trojans beat Arizona, 45-0 (2003), Oregon State, 52-28 (2003), Colorado State, 49-0 (2004), Cal, 23-17 (2004), Notre Dame, 41-10 (2004), Arkansas, 70-17 (2005), UCLA, 66-19 (2005), and Nebraska, 28-10 (2006).

Here we go again. The first person who picks the correct score will receive a copy of Game Day: Southern California Football by Athlon Sports (valid email required on pick).

Although Marlin McKeever was a two-time All-American at USC and enjoyed a successful NFL career, notably with the Rams, there was an injustice when he was not inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
His twin brother, Mike, got in and Marlin was told that two players from the same school couldn't get in in the same year and he would get in the next year. That never happened and Marlin was severely disappointed.

``It’s just a tragic situation,’’ said USC coach Pete Carroll, who left the campus Thursday and went to the hospital where the former Trojans' All-American is in a coma. ``I’m just shocked by what happened. He was fit and working out a day ago. He’s in a coma and it doesn’t look like he’s coming out of it.
``We’ll sorely miss him.’’

USC linebacker Luthur Brown was cleared to play against Oregon State just four weeks after badly tearing his hamstring.
``The doctors said I shouldn’t even be walking right now,’’ Brown said Thursday.
Brown is available to play special teams against the Beavers and said he wants to play.[EP
``I just hope they put me in,’’ he said.
He was expected to be out six-to-eight weeks when he pulled his hamstring against Arizona on Sept. 23. Brown needed crutches to walk and could not bend his leg properly for a few days.

USC coach Pete Carroll noted tonight after practice that the Trojans ran the ball 215 times and passed 212 in the first six games.
``That's pretty good balance, I think,'' Carroll said. ``How about that?''
Naturally, we couldn't resist a joke, but I'm sure many of you will fill in your own punchlines.

USC is a dreadful 2-4 against the spread this season and the Trojans' games finished ``under'' in total points in five of six games. But that's better than Notre Dame, which is 1-5-1 against the spread.
Here's how some other teams match up:

USC legend Marlin McKeever is in intensive care at St. Mary's Hospital in Long Beach after suffering a fall at his home earlier this week. His condition is considered grave. McKeever, a defensive end-fullback, was an All-American in 1959-60 and his twin brother, Mike, was an All-American left guard in 1959.

North Carolina fired Coach John Bunting earlier this week, which is ironic because six years ago USC coach Pete Carroll tried to get the Tar Heels job that eventually went to Bunting.
Imagine the reaction in North Carolina if it was widely known that Carroll struck out in his attempts to interview for the job.
``They never called me back,’’ Carroll said. ``I never got a smell.’’

Quarterback Mark Sanchez practiced without back pain Wednesday and said he feels fine and will be available for the Oregon State game.
Defensive tackle Chris Barrett twisted his knee but Pete Carroll said he thought Barrett would be OK.
"It's just a little scare, we hope," Carroll said.

Virginia coach Al Groh is feeling the heat from Cavaliers fans with a 3-5 record but Groh said few coaches have job security.
"Unless you're Jim Tressel or Pete Carroll, everybody's seat is a little warm," Groh said.

We hear a local paper has spent several months working on a story trying to demonstrate quarterback Mark Sanchez received preferential treatment from USC during his legal troubles last spring compared to other football players.
USC's denied the charge. You might recall Sanchez was suspended from team workouts last summer until his legal situation was cleared up.

USC feels Oregon State is the best team its faced on special teams this season. Punt returner Sammie Stroughter averages 17.9 yards per return and scored two touchdowns this season.

Fullback Stanley Havili (broken leg) met with doctors Tuesday night and said he will undergo x-rays Friday and if the reports are positive, will be cleared to practice next week.
Meanwhile, tailback Stafon Johnson, who has participated in just one play on offense, said he won't consider transferring.
``I haven't thought about it,'' Johnson said.

Garrett Green moved back to quarterback Tuesday because Mark Sanchez feels lower back stiffness. Mike McDonald will be the backup if Sanchez was unable to play.

With the tight end position disappearing a bit, starter Fred Davis, who did not catch any passes in USC's last game, hopes a return to Corvallis, Ore., turns things around.
``You know it's a tradition, Dominique (Byrd) did good at Oregon State,'' Davis said.
Two years ago, Byrd made a famous one-handed catch in the Trojans' come-from-behind victory at Oregon State.

There's no doubt the now-vacant North Carolina job always appealed to former USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who enjoys mythic status in the Tar Heel State from his successful season as an assistant at North Carolina State.
Ironically, USC coach Pete Carroll aggressively pursued the North Carolina job before John Bunting was hired in 2000.
But do not assume Chow will leave the NFL. Even if Tennessee fired Jeff Fisher, we hear Fisher is considered the top candidate to replace Bill Parcells in Dallas after the season if Parcells retires.
And just to anticipate some possible comments, the Chow-Carroll relationship is over and the pair will not work together again.

Don't expect any Pac-10 coaches that already played USC and California to pick sides.
``Don't ask me who's better, them or Southern Cal,'' Washington State coach Bill Doba said. ``I think I would pay to watch that one.''

USC's rash of close victories might be viewed as the mark of a struggling team but Trojans coach Pete Carroll thinks the halfway point is merely where this year's team will start playing much better, like his then-youthful team three years ago.
``It is like the 2003 team because we didn't know what we were doing and we were young,'' Carroll said. ``That year, this is just where we got going.''

Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarrett practiced healthy together for the first time in several weeks and Pete Carroll said quarterback John David Booty's confidence shot up noticeably.
Kyle Williams, Thomas Williams and Oscar Lua all practiced and will play against Oregon State. Tailback Chauncey Washington missed practice to take a midterm but said he is doing fine academically and his grades are not an issue.

Since 1921, USC has lost to Oregon State only twice (in 1935 and 2000), in games which the Trojans actually scored any points.

After watching game films, USC coach Pete Carroll is impressed with Oregon State tailback Yvenson Bernard, who is second in the Pac-10 in rushing (106.6 ypg).
``He's a little guy but he's a special player,'' Carroll said.
However Bernard is nursing an ankle injury that forced him to leave the Arizona game last weekend.

According to nonpartisan polls, former USC wide receiver Lynn Swann trails Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell by 19 points in his bid to become governor of Pennsylvania.

The worst game of the season will kickoff at 4 p.m. and be shown on Fox Sports Net.

USC coach Pete Carroll is not concerned the Trojans dropped to No. 3 in the BCS rankings this week.
``I thought the week off was supposed to help us,'' Carroll joked. ``But I'm not worried about. I'm worried about winning the Pac-10. This just shows how close a lot of the teams are right now.''
If USC wins the rest of its regular-season games, it will finish in the top two and advance to the championship game.

USC coach Pete Carroll said Sunday night he expects wide receiver Steve Smith (ankle) and linebacker Oscar Lua (bone bruise) back at practice today.

Here's this week's ballot for the Associated Press Top 25 poll. Two teams barely missed the cut, Missouri and Hawaii.