Making A Move
Safety Kevin Ellison said he understood that doubts existed about him and freshman Taylor Mays.
``Taylor and I didn't have any experience, I would think the same thing,'' Ellison said.
But he doesn't think inexperience is an issue anymore.
``After one or two games, there are no more excuses,'' Ellison said.
Ellison is third on the team with 52 tackles while Mays is fifth with 48. Mays also leads the Trojans with three interceptions.
Too bad for Josh Pinkard.
He is out of the rotation now.
He will never regain his position.
Maybe he could switch back to DB or become a linebacker...such as Groots.
Safeties ahead of Pinkard:
-Ellison (smartest defensive player Pete Carroll has ever coached. Ahead of Lofa Tatupu, Troy Polamalu, Matt Grootegoed, Mike Patterson, Shaun Cody, Will Poole, Jason Leach, and BKU!)
-Mays
-Perez (since Pinkard will never be the same after ACL, like Desmond Reed)
-Vincent Joseph
-Alfred Rowe
-Marshall Jones
-Mozique McCurtis
-David Bueheler
The only safety Pinkard could beat out next year is Will Harris, who is damaged goods!
Ellison and Mays really have stepped up this year.
Does anyone know what happened to Antwine Perez? I believe he had a few minutes at the end of the Cal game but I don't think he's seen any other action.
Pete Carroll always says that he doesn't bother recruiting out of state unless the player is a pro prospect. I know Mays came out of (a Washinton) high school ranked higher but scout.com Perez' evaluation started out "Can you say Ronnie Lott?"
Ellison and Mays have played outstanding ball this year, but to say Pinkard has lost his job is just insane. Sure, there will be competition next spring for the starting role, and even if Josh does not regain his starter's role there is no doubt he will be used often on the Trojan Defense. He is one of the best athletes on the entire team, and thats saying A LOT!
Michael R.:
As a fellow latino I keep close track of Perez and Sanchez. I apologize if I left another latino out. With ALL due respect to everybody I hope this post is NOT misinterpreted. What I'm trying to say is that I'm proud of my heritage.
Antwine Perez is from New Jersey and I believe he went to a Catholic(?) school and reared by very strict parents stressing academics. Anyway he got injured(hamstring?) earlier slowing his progression and game tempo.
I will research further and post if I need to correct anything I have posted.
Thanks
Ellison and Mays have had a great year!
Pete has repeatedly said that Pinkard is the best athlete on the team. No way he is behind a converted kicker and guys who don't know the scheme yet. The only way he doesn't make it back on the field is if he can't fully recover. Taylor Mays is a man amongst boys though. That guy is HUGE!! I predict - taylor Mays will be the best safety in the country in 2 years (barring injury) he's a bigger faster Darnell Bing. This team is ridiculously loaded. Antwine Perez didn't even see the field this year and he was one of the top players coming out last year.
I was at the game on Saturday, and witnessed both Mays' and Ellison's exceptional play.
Witnessing Ellison's hit on MeSean from the tunnel side of the field was a thing of beauty, and brought back memories of the greatest safety, Ronnie Lott. Ellison was also responsible for a drive killing tackle of the elusive Marshawn Lynch on a screen pass that forced Cal to punt.
Taylor Mays' growth from a lost freshman to a major contributor spells great things for the future of the defense.
Hopefully Josh Pickard comes back full strength next year. It will be quite a competition to see who gets the 2 starting positions.
Anyway, on to the ND game. Fight On!!
A simple solution if Josh Pinkard comes back next year is to move Taylor Mays to linebacker, Sartz will graduate and at 6'4" 230 pounds or so he could be an outstanding linebacker.
El Capitan,
The only person who bring up race on this board is you!!!! And you are also the only one who cries about it!!!! I could care less what your heritage is and what you are proud of.
LBC Rob
I think the d-back positions have really come into their own since the O-State game, almost like somebody forgot to turn a switch on and suddenly they have realized they're allowed to make big plays.
FIGHT ON!!!
Rob:
Do you know the difference between heritage and racially sensitive comments? Obviously NOT and furthermore you are the only with a negative comment. Secondly you want to start a fire you have NO business setting-on, WHY? You are the only one trying to pickup pieces to start an argument. So, leave it alone-you are barking at the wrong tree.
PH55 was the one that made racially sensitive comment, NOT me. He said: "Rey Maualuga likes to beat on white frat boys". ARE my comments similar or like that? I let the bloggers here judge you. I made it a point that they do NOT belong here. If I say that I'm proud of Anthony Munoz the ONLY Hispanic former USC player in the NFL HOF according to you it gives you a reason to construe that as a racial comment.
Based on your comment you are back to the segregation days like in the early forties when black players were NOT allowed in baseball and football teams. Is that what you want? Your coment sounds just like that. You sound just like Richards from Seinfeld.