Scott Wolf inside USC

Quite a week around here. Pete Carroll told me the last official night of camp that it had been quiet and that was after Emmanuel Moody and Jamere Holland left the program. Good thing nothing newsworthy happened although all of these events distracted me from the true cause of completing ``Mitch and Me.''
The window for asking questions was smaller but we'll have another chance over the weekend. Now on to the answers!

Mitch Mustain is a pro-style quarterback with good mobility. He is not as nimble as Aaron Corp but Corp’s a lot better than average when it comes to foot speed. Mustain’s got good all-around talent and that’s why USC likes him so much.

Mark Sanchez wants to make a valiant try to return next week but it doesn’t look good at the moment. That could mean a big opportunity for Mike McDonald, although I could see John David Booty playing at least three quarters against Idaho.

Garrett Green appears to actually have a chance to play this season. Why? Because the wide receiver position is so uncertain at the moment. Other than Patrick Turner, it’s hard to say who will get the most playing time. David Ausberry and Vidal Hazelton are neck-and-neck, Brandon Carswell frequently surprises, Ronald Johnson is highly touted and Travon Patterson is due back next week.
But no one owns anything, so Green could sneak in there.

There could be additional scholarships available for this year, however, until Jamere Holland officially signs papers releasing USC from his scholarship, he remains on scholarship.

My top 25 appears last week on this blog.

Mitch Mustain could theoretically attend nonconference road games if USC chose to bring him. A few years ago, Brandon Hance went to some road games, but in the Pac-10 he paid his own way and sat in the pressbox with the coaches.

With the Idaho game approaching, I expect players to get rested over the weekend who might have minor injuries and also maybe see some miss Monday or Tuesday’s practice. This is not Virginia Tech or Auburn, so USC could sit out most of its starters from practice and still be fine.

USC basketball is currently being overhyped thanks to last year’s Sweet 16 run. There are a lot of young players either playing their first season or expected to contribute a lot more than last year. The Pac-10 will be difficult with most teams better. Expect the Trojans to take their lumps in the nonconference. And even in the Pac-10, things could be brutal at times.
That said, once they get to the tournament, they could make a run with some luck and a favorable draw.

I haven’t focused on academic probation issues right now because I’ve been working on clearinghouse and summer school situations

Will I be at Salute to Troy? Yes, I will have my own booth where I will sign pre-order copies of ``Mitch and Me.’’

I address Chauncey Washington’s status in today’s paper and blog.

I believe Brian Cushing will return next season and Rey Maualuga will not.

I continue to investigate Pedalgate but I am also looking into Thumbgate, the mysterious circumstances behind Mark Sanchez fracturing his thumb. Sanchez still does not which player broke his thumb on the play Sanchez threw an incomplete pass. Could it be a Mustain ally? Or is Mike McDonald behind this? What about freshman Aaron Corp? Folks, it's going to require a lot more investigative skills.

Broderick Green is bigger than Allen Bradford but in the early scrimmages showed the ability to break a run. I’d say he might be a stronger runner but that Bradford is a better blocker and receiver.

Hershel Dennis will probably play at some point but the top concern is protecting his injury-ravaged knee. Stafon Johnson is poised to play a significant role if he continues his impressive scrimmage performances and the coaching staff does not become wedded to the idea of playing last year’s mainstays. He has good speed and takes a hit well. He just needs to be focused and avoid mistakes like the fumbled punt return in Wednesday's scrimmage.

After two scrimmages, Mitch Mustain seems polished and full of poise. He does not force passes and is good at looking for the open receiver without locking on to one WR. I see an interesting two-way battle in the spring and I’d like to see Aaron Corp get thrown into the mix too based on his scrimmage performances.

Joe McKnight seems unlikely to be ready for Idaho although USC insists he will be. When I say that, I take into consideration that he has not practiced this week and is going to be rusty. But I won’t be surprised if he plays. That never surprises me around here.

I’ve written quite a few articles about Rey Maualuga, including last season when I detailed an incident at a fraternity house. They are all available on the dailynews.com website.

Steve Sarkisian could leave USC if he were offered a head job, especially at a West Coast school. He wants to be a college head coach and leaving USC would help his chances to return one day as the boss.
Pat Ruel is always a hot commodity in the NFL and gets calls from teams in the offseason, so he might depart.

Antwine Perez transferred because he knew he would not play ahead of Taylor Mays, Kevin Ellison or Josh Pinkard. Although he was hurt at USC, he did not have the pure athletic ability of those three players.

The offensive line looks nearly settled with Sam Baker, Jeff Byers, Matt Spanos and Chilo Rachal the starters. Charles Brown probably starts at the final tackle spot, but as I predicted, Drew Radovich is now making a push as he returned from his back injury.

Fresno State was an entirely different team than Idaho and capable of beating any team in the country. This won’t be the case Sept. 1.

After Turner, Ausberry and Hazelton, there's Ronald Johnson, Brandon Carswell and perhaps Travon Patterson if he returns soon along with the late-charging Garrett Green and Brad Walker.

One guy who reminds me of Stafon Johnson is Ricky Ervins. They both have slashing styles and don’t go down on the first hit.

Reggie Bush lateraled the ball to Brad Walker because he had done the play in high school and thought Walker would score a TD in a memorable never-forgotten fashion if he made that play. Unfortunately, for Bush, the play was remembered forever but for different reasons.

Recruiting is going answer F.) None of the above.
That would be because is going ``as expected.''
Why? Because after losing a couple local prospects to UCLA, USC's recruiting has rebounded nationally by being a little bit better than expected. So if you even it out, it's right about where people expect it to be. In the end, I suspect recruiting to be in the top five nationally but I wonder who the super-prospect Joe McKnight or Everson Griffen will be in this class. And does USC need a Darrell Scott now with recent transfers and injuries.

I have seen and heard that Mustain reads defenses well since training camp opened. His poise might be the best facet of his game.
Good to see we're back to 70 percent Mustain questions.

Comments

Ricky Irvins???

Scott...I am old enough to remember Ricky Ervins..Stafon is about 100x better..

thanx for the info on the LB's!

oooh...my groing is starting to hurt too...

Posted by: USC1966 | August 24, 2007 05:24 AM

Thanks for the always great answers, Scott. You never disappoint. Interesting stuff about Mustain there. That's probably the most detailed you have gotten about his playing style to date.

Posted by: USCBUAD92 | August 24, 2007 06:19 AM

Thank you. Keep up the good work.

Posted by: breezy | August 24, 2007 06:41 AM

Thanks for the info Scott! So...L. Brown/C. Galippo will be the MLB next year?

One thing...Ricky Irvins! I am old enough to remember Ricky Ervins, Scott, and Johnson is like 10x better...:o))

Posted by: USC1966 | August 24, 2007 06:50 AM

Good Morning Great Scott:

How are you this morning?

Sincere thanks for taking my question and answering it.

I knew that no matter how I phrased it, you were going to answer that it was going"about as expected." I tried leaving that answer out as a possibility--but, in my heart of hearts, I knew that that was not going to work either--I have the satisfaction of knowing that I gave it my best shot, however.

I greatly appreciated the WHY part of your answer, however. I knew that the early loss of 3-5 guys to the dirty bruins was bad, and that getting Butler and Campbell was good, but was glad to hear that the pick-up of those two, and, hopefully Beal and maybe 2-4 more from out-of-state bring things back to even.

I haven't given up hope yet that we still have a good chance of getting one or more of those bruins to de-commit. I wonder if the SC staff will try and bring up Eric Scott to the parents of the recruits--I guess all is fair in love, war and recruiting! Sure seems that way anyway--how many times did we send that Lincoln Town Car for Price? Last I heard, he was the only bruin still left to qualify--anyone here know if he ever did yet?

Re Stafons' running style, I have to say it reminds me of Morley Drury--"The Noblest Trojan Of Them All"

Thanks again, Scott, tremendous job on the forum--and thanks for keeping them going too!

Posted by: TIREBITER1 | August 24, 2007 07:02 AM

Thanks Scott.

Posted by: Trojan RAB | August 24, 2007 08:20 AM

Great stuff this week Scott...I can’t wait to get my autographed copy of Mitch and Me tonight!

Will Mustain be sitting next to you at the booth?

Posted by: JJH4USC | August 24, 2007 09:48 AM

Perhaps a quick review of Ricky Ervins career would be helpful to this discussion item:

Professional:
Ricky Ervins was drafted in 1991 out of the University of Southern California by the Washington Redskins. He went on to play five years in the NFL; four years with the Washington Redskins and one year with the San Francisco 49ers. During his rookie year, he led all NFC rookies in rushing with 680 yards. Ricky's best game came when Coach Gibbs decided to put Ricky in the third quarter to give the team a "spark". He not only gave the team a spark, he exploded on the scene amassing 133 yards on 13 carries, with 2 touchdowns. Ricky had the best yards per carry among all NFC rushers, at 4.7 yards. He is one of the six Redskins to gain over 100 yards in a playoff game. Ricky capped his rookie year off by becoming the leading rusher in Super Bowl XXVI with 72 yards on 13 carries, a game in which the Redskins won. Ricky received several honors during his rookie year. The PFWA All-Rookie, Football Digest All-Rookie, Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie, Football News All-Rookie, College & Pro Football Newsweekly All-Rookie, Quarterback Club's Rookie of the Year, and Washington Redskins Rookie of the Year.

College:
An ankle injury in the 4th game of the year at Ohio State as a senior, ended any hopes of Ricky duplicating his outstanding junior campaign when he led the Pac-10 in rushing with 1,395 yards (the most at USC since Marcus Allen), and a team-high 10 touchdowns. Ricky was also the team's second leading receiver with 39 catches (the most ever by a Trojan running back). He capped off his outstanding junior season as the Rose Bowl MVP with 126 yards and one touchdown in the Trojan win over Michigan. Ricky also participated in track and field at USC.

High School:
Ricky participated in baseball, track, and football during his high school years. He grew up in southern California, under one of the most competitive football and track programs in the state at John Muir High School in Pasadena, California.

Posted by: Trojangles | August 24, 2007 09:57 AM

Very good information on America's Quarterback, Mitch Mustain. Count me in as one of the people who will buy a first edition of "Mitch & Me." He will make a great Heisman Trophy winner, right here in Manhattan, in 2009, the second year that he is the starting quarterback of the USC Trojans.

Mustain in 2008!

Posted by: TrojanSAEinNYC | August 24, 2007 09:58 AM

Oh, and thanks Scott for the Green update (“Garrett Green appears to actually have a chance to play this season.")! Along with Chauncey and Stafon...this is another great story this season.

I was worried after reading Door Prize’s nasty response on the Open Forum (probably because Green is not ½ or more Latino)...I thought Green wasn’t going to play. But it is nice to see that when players work hard, their play dictates the outcome on the field (I stole that last line). Green has played three separate positions based upon what the coaches have asked him to do for the team...and has really seemed to excel as a receiver. Hopefully he does the most with whatever opportunity he gets this year on the field.

Posted by: JJH4USC | August 24, 2007 11:39 AM

TrojanSAEqueerForMustainNYC, maybe Mitch will be good enough to give you a reach-around while he's humping you during Heisman weekend, being that he's the polite and well-mannered boy you've indicated.

Posted by: mitch_mustain | August 24, 2007 12:42 PM

Idiot from NY and moron4nothing keep flunting their chango style...

Posted by: Door Prize | August 24, 2007 12:45 PM

Is “flunting” a new word that you created...or is this just another example of you not spelling an English word correctly?... “Again it is pathetic...”...(those are your words).

Funny how you jump on me for using an “a” instead of an “o” and then you criticize BeverlyHillsBoys for using poor grammar...but then you don’t hold yourself to the same standards...kind of hypocritical, don't you think?

Posted by: JJH4USC | August 24, 2007 01:28 PM

Hate to say this, but I miss the old days of Ruins coming on this board and starting arguments. At least we didn't fight amongst ourselves...

Uh, sorry - forgot about the Mustain/Sanchez stuff that's at least eight months away from actually meaning something.

Posted by: Geoff | August 24, 2007 01:41 PM

Emanuel Moody's final two are:
Florida & North Carolina .....what happened Scotty your sources let you down AGAIN!

Posted by: urangajr2 | August 24, 2007 01:48 PM

Good point Geoff, at least bRuins talk about football and are funny at times.

Posted by: JJH4USC | August 24, 2007 02:10 PM

chango4nothing=1/4waste:
Go ahead keep flaunting your chango bool$#*T. BTW must of instead of must have is far worse than misspelling flaunting. Hey mariquita I am man enough to correct myself, OK double standard b*tch. Dance like a chango, flaunt like a chango you are a damn chango pend*jo.
Hey 1/4 4 nothing is your 1/4 waste from the milkman?

Posted by: Door Prize | August 24, 2007 06:48 PM

Scott, thank you for the work you put into the Q&A. I know it takes a lot of time, but your readers appreciate it.

Posted by: Woodward | August 25, 2007 04:50 AM

Door Prize...another very, insightful post...as usual (although I have to admit that I don’t understand half of what you are saying b/c I don’t speak crazy talk).

PS - Why flaunt chango bool$#*T when I can flunt it?

Posted by: JJH4USC | August 25, 2007 12:55 PM

chango4nothing:
You're right you rather speak and flaunt like a moronic chango...

Posted by: Door Prize | August 25, 2007 09:31 PM

I know you wrote an incomplete sentence (so I can’t be 100% certain)... but I think you probably should have gone with "you would rather speak and flaunt" instead of “you rather speak.” - chango4nothing

Posted by: JJH4USC | August 27, 2007 06:07 PM

I wrote a complete sentence fully describing the moronic chango4nothing you are...
Walks like chango flaunts like a chango he is a damn chango...
Chango chango chan...

Posted by: Door Prize | August 27, 2007 06:36 PM

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