SW, what do you think is the key to a victory on Sat? I think that if the "D" can take away the running game (Marlon Lucky), and make Keller throw all day, then the Trojans should have a pretty easy game. Fight On!

SW, what do you think is the key to a victory on Sat? I think that if the "D" can take away the run (Marlon Lucky), and make Keller throw all day, then the Trojans should have pretty easy game. Fight On!

SW, what do you think is the key to a victory on Sat? I think that if the "D" can take away the run (Marlon Lucky), and make Keller throw all day, then the Trojans should have pretty easy game. Fight On!

Hi Scott:

What is the latest regarding Brendan Beal? The buzz I hear is that he's leaning in favor of Florida because he's convinced that Pete Carroll will be coaching in the NFL next season.

Second, I hear that highly touted CB Patrick Johnson might be reconsidering his early commitment to Miami in favor of SC. If so, why is that and what are you hearing?

Thanks.

Scott - Do you think we have the defensive speed to stop Cal's offensive attack this year? On the offensive side, do you think our young key position talents will be sharp enough by the Cal game?

Thank god, NO MM candy for the usual suspects. I bet you children are disappointed, like I give a puck! The p is the only consonant that I can get close enough-the double barrel does the trick for me!
----------------------Blitz Keller>rattled!
USC by at least 2 TD's
Thank you

When you submit your weekly AP Top 25 poll, are you ranking the teams based on how they have done so far this season, or are you ranking them based on your projection of how the final Top 25 poll will look?

How much time do you spend each week in preparing the poll?

Do you start from scratch each week, or do you use the prior week's rankings as a starting point (I figure its the latter, but wanted to make clear).

I am curious as to your thought process. Thanks.

Any news about Hershel Dennis? Will he travel with the team to Nebraska this weekend? Play?

Thanks.

I hear "Mitch and Me" is going straight to DVD. Any truth to the rumor?

How is Chauncey doing back at practice now? Does he look 100%?

Scott,
What is the word on the defensive end position, were they pleased with Kyle Moore, or were they more impressed with Griffen. From what I saw Griffen did not grade out well and Moore looked decent against Idaho?

yeah thanks Scott

Are they planning on adressing the CB situation?

Now that Pinkard is gone for the year, and K. Thomas is already out, that leaves us with Harris, T2, S. Wright and I guess M.McCurtis. (Whatever happened to A. Rowe?)

3 CB's isn't much for a whole year...Will M. Jones switch? Or are they going to try to ride it out with 3 healthy bodies for the next 11 games? And if 1 (or 2) of them get hurt, then what?

Does that qualify as 2 questions? Sorry if it does.

Thanx!

Scotty, what is MM thinking about right now?

And what does he think about those thoughts?

And, how is he doing on disproving the theory of relativity, or is his new project translating the Bible a distraction?

Scott,
I really miss Chow. The offense no longer has that unpredictability factor. I know Chow had different personnel, but I don't think we would have lost those 2 games last year had Chow been w/us. What is Sarkisian's game plan? Do you expect his play calling to be more like Kiffin's or Chow's? Last year we were predictable and lacked creativity... I know the Idaho game is not an indicator because they had other goals, so we have yet to see his style. What are your thoughts about Sark?

How many Daily News web editors does it take to fix the photo caption that's been wrong all week on the USC page?

Will the Trojans stay in a hotel in Lincoln, or will they have to stay in Omaha to acess the amenities they are accustomed to?
(Maybe they'll even have to stay in Kansas City) What steps does USC take to ensure Locals to not taint the room service or make prank calls to the player rooms?

Were there any character questions when USC began to consider recruiting Rey?

Is the coaching staff concerned at all about the number of plays that it seems Rey is out of position as a middle linebacker? It seems that the past middle linebackers have played more pass coverage then Rey who seems to blitz on every pass play. Is his role at the middle linebacker position more like Troy Polamalu as a roving safety who just flies all over the field and less like Lofa Tatupu as a pass coverage middle linebacker?

Scott:

You did not answer this part of my question about Mitch Mustain last time, so I thought I would try again. In your opinion, from now having seen him extensively in practice, what kind of progression reads does Mustain make and is capable of? I have heard from various people who saw him at both Arkansas and in practice at SC that when it comes to progression reads, he may be the best QB that USC has ever had, and is even better in this regard than even Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. Since you get to see him every day, do you happen to agree or disagree with this point of view and why?

Thank you in advance.

Can you confirm or deny that Brian Cushing has engaged in the use of illegal steroids and narcotics since arriving at USC two years ago?

Would Steve Sarkisian only take a head coaching job on the West Coast? Let's say a job like Ole Miss (or the equivalent) opened up after this season, would he not consider that?

Hi Great Scott:

I didn't ask any questions last week so that you could rest up a little while pondering the upcoming lack of Roman Meal Bread--maybe you are planning on acquiring the rights to it, along with PC and others as backers.

A reader reported here on your blog this week that the Trojans received a verbal commit from Jeff Demps, a real speedster, but none of us are able to confirm--can you kindly confirm or deny----also, yesterday, Wednesday, we were supposed to hear a final word from the NCAA clearinghouse re Brian Price, the bruins' top recruit for 2007, and I am wondering if you heard anything at all on it, and finally, in your column about SC getting film for the Nebraska-Wake Forest game, it kinda read that we couldn't because we already had the film from the Nevada game. I am thinking that surely we have access to the tv film of the game, at least, or sent a scout, or something. If not, heh heh, tell PC that the Huskers have an all new defensive front four, I think, and that they appeared to be slow, poor tacklers, obviously inexperienced, and appear to be wide open to reverses by McKnight, Hazelton, Rojo, the speed of Washington, etc. and etc. Anyway, I am hoping you could clarify the film situation a little bit for us.

Please observe that I tried not to ask any direct questions at all there in the above, as I know we are limited to only one question each week {BTW, do the other readers above know this}, and, as I said, I kindly refrained from asking any at all last week, and I know from past, personal experience that you are a man of great compassion and mercy, a la PC was with Akers---no wonder Akers shook PCs' hand with such great vigor after the game!

All kidding aside, glad to see that you are feeling better, and the forums are on again--WE LIVE FOR THEM-
so very sincere thanx and appreciation from the bottom of my Cardinal and Gold heart!

Wolfie, so I hear Mustain has been lights-out in practice the past few weeks, especially this past week in preparation for Nebraska. Your detailed thoughts, please...

Scott- Of all the traditions USC has, one of them is odd to me. What's the deal with everybody kicking the flag-poles before crossing the street to the Coliseum? Couldn't they erect a small statue of a Bruin or a little leprechaun and we could all kick something a little more meaningful each week before heading into the Coliseum?

Hey Scott,
I don't know why you've not ansered this
question twice before, but maybe it's because
it's not a Mitch question. Well, here goes for
the third time: would you explain the "x", "y" and
"z" positons?

Scott, any thoughts on why recent Trojan receivers haven't had success in the NFL? Steve Smith is said to have had a good camp, but Jarrett didn't even suit up the first week. Is it something to do with the system which is something I heard on draft day? Thanks.

Scott:

I noticed after the Idaho game, while the players were boarding buses to return to campus, our hero Mitch Mustain instead was escorted back to campus on a golf cart by Coach Steve Sarkisian. Since you are still working on uncovering the culprit behind Pedalgate and Elevatorgate, these raises several questions:

1) Does the fact that our hero Mitch Mustain gets a personal golf cart ride back to campus not prove that he is being protected at all costs from danger? Is this one example of the round the clock bodyguard protection you were referring to last time?

2) Since all the other players have to be grouped together on a bus, while our hero Mitch Mustain is singled out to ride back in style, not provide further proof that he is, in fact, The Chosen One?

3) Is it a coincidence that Sanchez rides in the back of the bus while our hero Mitch Mustain is rushed away on a golf cart, thus preventing anything sinister from happening to our hero?

So does the golf cart incident not show the world that until Pedalgate's culprit (hmmm....) has been apprehended, our hero Mitch Mustain will be kept away from the perpetrator and sped away in safety to ensure nothing happens to our hero? Is this not how Elvis always left the building? Since our hero Mitch Mustain is alway one step ahead of danger and he now gets the personal golf cart treatment from a coach, can there be any more proof that he is, in fact, The Chosen One?

Fight On!

Why is Broderick Green so insistent on not red- shirting this year? I assume it's his eagerness to play at some point this year, but does it have more to do with his NFL ambitions?

Did you wish Pete Carroll "Happy Birthday" Wednesday?

Terian,

I answered your x y and z questions last time.

x = split end - he is a wide receiver who must line up on the line of scrimmage.

y = tight end - lines up next to the tackle, sometimes also split or flexed. For USC, often invisible yet often referred to as dangerous weapon.

z = flanker/slot receiver - lines up in the "backfield", that is at least one yard off the line of scrimmage, often goes in motion before the snap of the ball.

try google or football.com it's pretty easy information to find. I bet it's even at wikipedia.

Scott,

Does Sark script the first ten plays or so like the disciples of Walsh, does he try to get a feel for the game before he calls his plays, or does he take what the defense gives him?

Thanks.

How good a QB is Litch Lustain?

Who do you think will have the bigger national profile this year, Booty or OJ Mayo?

Honestly, can you go over some of the depth issues USC is having right now, like CB, OL, and who does USC have right now they will fill those spots? Im having a tough time keeping up with all the starters since injuries are killing us (just as they do every year).

Im not worried about Josh Pinkard, remember Antuan Simmons?

Scott-

I hear you're back on the USC basketball beat, so does that mean you'll be traveling to away games while football season is still in session? Will you have a separate basketball blog or will you include everything on this blog?

So, Scott, a few months ago I asked you if LA was big enough for both David Beckham and Mitch Mustain. Well, since the Beckham to LA move is now officially a bust, can we now say that LA is officially Mustainland????

What ever became of the "P" vs Pete Carroll? Can I presume that no news on this and PLENTY about Mitch Mustain means all is well again between those two?

Any estimated time for Damian Williams to be fully recovered and practicing again?

Scott,

Now that your blog is the Petros Papadakis preferred site for USC sports, can we expect the name to be formally changed to "Scott Wolf inside USC as endorsed by Petros Papadakis"?

Will you soon be providing your formal endorsement for the best Greek restaurant in the LA area?

Can you confirm that USC is recruiting Terrelle Pryor out of Pennsylvania?

I know Carroll hates defensive planning against a mobile quarterback, but do you think Carroll would be recepetive to having a "Vince-Young-like" QB?

With many players transferring in recent years (especially, former California HS "star" quarterbacks).....if a red-shirt sophmore, and a true sophmore transfer (Div. 1 to Div. 1), sit out the "penalty" year, are they both then juniors, for football eligibility? Couldn't help but notice, four of the five starting QB's from the UCLA-BYU & Utah games, and USC-Nebraska game, are D1 transfers (3 f/Cal HS's).

HI SCOTT:
THIS IS MY SECOND QUESTION, SO DON'T ANSWER IF YOU ARE BUSY, BUT IT'S A YES OR NO QUESTION.
IS IT ILLEGAL FOR A TEAM TO SWITCH JERSEY NUMBERS ON THEIR PLAYERS IN AN EFFORT TO FOOL THE OTHER TEAM?
I WOULD IMAGINE SO--BUT ROCKNE DID IT AGAINST US IN 1930 WITH GREAT SUCCESS.

ALSO PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME READER IS POSTING AS TIREBITER---THAT'S FINE WITH ME--GOOD POSTS--BUT THAT'S NOT ME AS I HAVE A NUMBER ONE AFTER MY NAME.

THANX SCOTT--EXCUSE ALL CAPS, PLEASE--MY EYES ARE BLURRY.