About The Lack Of Turnovers
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.
Very interesting, Mr. Wolf, and a nice example of challenging the conventional wisdom, something we don't often see in the press.
But isn't the issue turnover margin, not turnovers forced? USC didn't force any turnovers against Oregon State, it's true, but it probably would have won the game anyway if it hadn't committed four turnovers itself. So the other half of the analysis is: how do turnovers committed by the 2006 Trojans stack up against recent seasons?
The fumble recoveries however were all in the Arkansas game.....we've gotten no turnovers to my recollection in recent games..
Losing sucks. But I am very encouraged at how USC came back from that deficit. They did the same thing last year, but relied on superstars to pull it off. We are watching the development of a great team.
do we have to whuup on mich. again.... in the rose bowl; or will it be ohio st.... in glendale???
what's it going to be gentlemen of troy???
Scott, what has happened to Troy VanBlarcomb (sp?) Didn't he have a groin problem? Is that why we're not seeing any kick-offs into the end zone? Run backs were a problem last two weeks. Big difference when you can count on the opponent starting on the 20
Funny how Coach Carroll was commenting on this very thing on Monday. Hmm...did you get this from him or did you provide this for him. It's no coincidence this has become a factoid for the week...give credit where credit's due! Or did you attend the MMQB?
To figure out why there haven't been more picks this year, look no further than the team leader in sacks -- Dallas Sartz, with three.
Wild Bunch II led the way to 55 sacks and 42 turnovers in '03; Cody and Patterson to 55 and 38 in '04; Lawrence Jackson and Frostee Rucker (and that big-play ability of the offense) to 32 and 38 in '05; whoever Holt sends to 15 sacks and 10 turnovers so far this year.
Keep playing Moore and more of a real 4-3 (six sacks last week, nine the previous six weeks), and I think we'll see more pressure on the passer, followed by more interceptions/quarterback fumbles.
Good point by Brian, by the way.
The Trojans turned the ball over 17 times all of last year, 19 the year before that, and 22 in '03; this year, they've turned it over 11 times.
For the season, they're -1 in turnover margin. But that's -7 in Pac-10 play (five picks and six fumbles, to only two INTs and two FRs).
Problems making interceptions? Difficulty on defense?
Maybe Josh Pinkard shouldn't have been on that punt team in the fourth quarter of that ridiculous game at Arkansas.
I agree good post by Brian.
How about how many turnovers USC has committed? I am sure it is alot higher than last year.
Also most of the turnovers were in the Arkansas game, as noted by Goliath.
It's not totally their fault other teams know that USC really tries to strip the ball and have prepared their players now. They need to find other things such as a pass rush and/or INT's and good secondary. Haven't seen any of those things this year though...
Interesting that Booty has thrown as many picks as Leinart did at the same point in last season.
(But oh yeah. Booty sucks. I forgot the theme of this blog)
We definitely miss Pinkard back there. We also miss intimidation, a la Darnell Bing and Scott Ware. I especially remember Bing's strip in the ND game last year, and Ware's hit on Fasano over the middle. Fasano may still be looking for his teeth in the long grass at Notre Dame Stadium... Hits like that can change the momentum of a game in a heartbeat.
In response to Steve; If not the BCS Championship I'd like to play the Longhorns in one of the other BCS Bowl Games. I'm not sure if that's possible.
If not, then Michigan in the Rose Bowl. I was stuck sitting in their alumni section the last time they were in town and was ready to get heckled wearing my Cardinal and Gold. But as a whole they were a class act.
And I'd be able to go to the game.