Let's see what happens. Several tail backs are looking good. I'm sure PC will find a way to keep the 4-5 best ones in the rotation (probably CW, RoJo, Joe MK, CJ Gable, and Johnson). I wonder what'll happen to the other ones...

Did you see Stafon get knocked backwards and on his butt by little Jim Abbott in today's practice? The walk-on absolutely leveled him in the open field.... a great play

RE: keep the 4-5 best ones in the rotation (probably CW, RoJo, Joe MK, CJ Gable, and Johnson)

Since when was Ronald Johnson a tailback? I thought he was a receiver/db who will play WR. I may be wrong but I doubt it.
Fight On!

Damage control for damage done to recruiting.

You're right sureshot32,

RoJo is a receiver.

The 5 in the rotation are prob CW and Bradford as big backs, Gable and Moody as change of speed backs and, McKnight as the hybrid RB/WR.

Oh I didn't even see Reel Bruin's idiotic comment before.

Yes PC is in full damage control mode with SJ. The 3 - 5 stars USC has already has committed (Kalil, Shoemate and Smith) and 4.0 star average rating (the highest in CFB to Ohio St @ 3.9) for all 2008 recruits means that USC is in real trouble.

Reelbruins comment is not stupid.

This is a very long story...I am sure we all know it. SJ came in proclaiming himself the next Reggie, even giving away t shirts with pictures of himself on it on campus. PC told him "get the F out of here I don't want to see you until practice!"

BUT, he did a 180 and has since acted responsibly and been a team player and sat on the sidelines while USC burned his redshirt on a stupid game we already lost, pretty much would rather give the ball to Jody Adewale than him, a slap to the #1 rating RB in his class, and pretty much acted like he doesn't exist.

NOW, all of a sudden, he is getting reps...hmmm..and PC is singing his praises...aboutt he same time as "stafon may transfer" rumors get heavy...

Hate to say it, the kid has not been treated well by USC, overall. They better get him on the field this year. He is a superior talent and we are lucky to have him.

As far as the backs go...Bradford won't play that much he is a SNP as of right now..third down back. He has a ton of talent just no room for him right now...

CW will be the "big back" and CJ the starter and moody the "change of pace" although the coaches have figured out they can't count of moody. He is always hurt and still needs alot of reps..McKnight will play alot too in this role..don't count out Hershel Dennis he will get alot of carries. He has the most experience.

USC 1966 -

I don't understand how you can basically be calling out Stafon for being overly arrogant and then say "the kid has not been treated well by USC." Maybe PC was giving Stafon a much needed lesson that he has obviously learned from...This is why he is now getting reps. Kiffin is gone and the he took his infamous doghouse with him. It's time to give everyone a chance once again to fight for their spot on the roset. Stafon had this chance last year and didn't capitalize. Is PC supposed to shut the door on him again? Of course not...

Did Moody get hurt more than once?

"can't count on Moody", "Stafon had his chance", CW and Dennis will get lots of carries. What??? How could any knowledgeable football fan or coach, write-off two gifted, true freshmen, RB's, after one season? Obviously, Coach Carroll, and his staffs, would not. CW(6th.yr.) and Dennis(5th.) are still fighting for playing time. No damage control....It's called maturing, and EARNING your keep.

Sorry, vice-versa on the years competing for CW/Dennis.

Hate to call you out USC1966 but your statements are moronic.

You're looking at the wrong cause and effect. Stafon got in trouble on the playing field by not being as productive as the other RBs. He was not focused, not mentally ready and not as driven to succeed as the other RBs who passed him up. So he didn't play.

Maybe you're used to more coddling, but when a talented superstar is late for practice, misses meetings, and shows inconsistent effort on the field, it takes real balls to sit him down. Most schools (like UCLA) would enable him and give him a shot to play even though he had not earned it. That's what is different from Carroll's program: Stafon didn't earn the time and he wasn't going to get it by reputation alone.

Stafon is getting reps right now because he's healthy and HE'S EARNED THEM. As a result, he is a different player than last year and a superstar in the making because he's matching hustle and responsibility and determination to his God-given talent.

PC is commenting on that as both praise to reward Stafon for his turnaround and as a signal that Stafon is right in the thick of things this year.

Your comments are so cynical, so ridiculous that I was embarrassed for you when reading them. To side with ReelBruins whose original comments were moronic is sad.

Hey ReelBruins--looks like Brian Price isn't going to qualify. Tough luck, eh? Maybe Eric Scott should have been helping him put together his transcripts instead of driving friends around to rob houses with guns/drugs/money inside...

I have to agree with some of what USC1966 is saying. I think Stafon definitely deserved to be reprimanded for showboating if he handed out shirts of himself on Campus declaring himself the next Bush and for slacking off early on.

However I dont agree with Kiffin for the harsh punishment to keep the kid in the dog house. I honestly think most if not everyone here and on the football team would have transferred in his position. I believe some even made comments that he should transfer. With all the added Tailbacks coming in and all. I give Stafon credit for hanging tuff and getting his act together.

An underline story in relation to what RealBruin was saying about "damage control" may have some teeth to it. The past few months it came out in the press that USC was losing the recruiting battle to UCLA over Inner City recruits. UCLA picked up a couple of prize recruits from Crenshaw HS. I also heard that USCs recruiter got a cold reception at Dorsey HS (Stafons old HS) when he went their recently to look at another recruit. Dorsey has produced some top athletes in the past. Stafon was looked at as an Inner City legend from those I have talked to. For USC to put him in the Dog House I dont think went over well in the Inner City. Im not sure if I can go as far as RealBruin to call it damage control for us to all of a sudden give Stafon so much attention However you do have to lay the cards on the table.

I do wish Stafon all the best this season. He has hung in there and wanted to be a Trojan. Even dispite others saying he should transfer.

"FREE STAFON" let him play...

I believe Johnson had to mature to reestablish credibility with the coaches. This is not unprecedented. Look at the development of Fred Davis. Johnson appears to have met the challenge and is getting his opportunity. Damage control in recruiting is not a part of this story. Carroll is continuing to do well in recruiting. I doubt in the big picture Carroll is worried about who UCLA is recruiting. I believe his focus has always been what is best for USC .

Inner city is our backyard. We've got to protect our backyard. It is a sad day if SC loses the best inner city kids to the bRuin.

OK,

Firstly, USC1966 your comments make little sense. On the one hand you say Stafon was acting like a spoiled primadonna wen he arrived on campus and then on the other you say he was treated unfairly. Which was it? It can't be both. I was not aware of the t-shirt issue till I read your comments. If that's true then Stafon absolutely deserved to land in the doghouse. How about you prove something on the field before you try showing up your teammates. Putting your face on a t-shirt is exactly that. Trying to say you come before the team. Well done Pete.

Secondly, I wish everyone would stop with the "Kiffin's doghouse" references already. USC is Pete Carroll's team. If a player isn't playing it's not the OC's fault it's Pete's. If PC wants to see you in the game he'll see to it that you're on the field come game day. If Stafon was in anyone's doghouse last year it would have to be Pete's.