A Position Change

Can you say.....desperation?

I'll admit, I know nothing about the FB position, but I can't imagine that this is something that you can throw even the brightest player in there and just have him pick it up.. or can you?

Could somebody please explain why Stafon Johnson is getting no playing time? Is the plan to redshirt him, or has he just ticked somebody off or what? Next year with Tyler coming in he's going to have even more competition it would seem, what's happening with that big boy?

Thanks,

Kiffin needs to cut out his politics and let Stafon play. The downfall of the season and of Troy is Kiffin.

Per the Times, Thomas requested the change for the good of the team. That's refreshing! PC said one advantage was his knowledge of defenses and reading them being critical in the front FB position. Hope he can catch!

The FB is to the RB what the TE is to the WR.

So immediately I think he'll catch on quickly as far as blocking for those RB's. Whether he can hold on to the ball is another thing. That's why it's easier to convert a RB (Havili this year and Bam and Marcus before him)

What's the story on Stafon Johnson?

Running laps helps develop ball handling skills? I hope that they were running together, handing the ball back and forth the entire time. Perhaps they could run laps with the relay team on the Track squad. Or perhaps a coach could figure out that a player is likely to be embarrassed enough already at a fumble so that he doesn't need additional "punishment" and that what he really needs is more practice time. Time NOT spent running mindlessly in a circle.

FB is a position that is mostly about attitude. An "I can kick your butt all day" kind of attitude. I imagine most LB can pick it up because they probably played it in HS and on TB running plays they are usually leading through the hole or kicking out/hooking the end.

eftsoons:

What would you like the staff to do? If they do nothing, they get get complaints about no adjustments. Now they do make a move and they get blamed for being desperate. Nice.

To me it sounds like a good move. You can't plan on four fullbacks getting hurt and I think the move makes sense.

fullback is actually a position that is mostly about blocking. sometimes it is about running the ball, and sometimes it is about catching the ball.

if the position was really all about "attitude" maybe the coaching staff should be looking a little closer at john griffin, who clocked david buehler in the face for taking his chair during a running backs meeting.

Ok one last time...

Stafon Johnson, or "The Prince" as he calls himself on his myspace site, came into USC telling people that he was there to "Take over for Reggie" and was actually giving out t shirts with pictures of himself on it on campus. He didn't do much in practice, and pretty much had the attitude that he was already penciled in as the starting RB.

Needless to say none of this sat well with PC, who at one point told him to, "Get the Fu** out of my office I don't want to see you until practice" I have no idea what will happen to him. He has since screwed his head on straight and works very hard in practice but it seems like he has pissed off PC a little too much. Honestly, I think he will transfer somewhere else after a year or 2 of not playing.

Unless you are at practice everyday and see Stafon Johnson outplaying guys ahead of him; just shut up. I'm sure Coach Carroll isn't playing favorites like a junior high coach.

Patrick,

I don't doubt you at all. I remember the press conference when Stafon said "The Prince, will stay in Los Angeles" and thinking - dear God, what has the team gotten itself into.

I was just wondering if the PC office discussion was public knowledge or an inside source. I won't ask you who if it was confidential, I'm just wondering.

If someone has the real inside info, please let me know. I just wouldn't believe that Stafon would do all of that, and if he has done that is supprises me very much. He is not that type of person. I know that fame can change anyone, but believe me when I say this... HE IS NOT THAT TYPE OF PERSON. There are other influences out there. And I am not saying it isn't his fault, i'm just saying I know him and he is a great kid who was getting caught up in the fame and is being misled by others.