October 2007 Archives
Former USC wide receivers are having a long week. First Mike Williams gets cut and now Dwayne Jarrett draws the ire of Steve Smith (not the USC Steve Smith).
http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/2007/10/smith-has-messa.html
USC coach Pete Carroll said he spoke to Pac-10 supervisor of officials David Cutaia today about the fact Trojan opponents rank 10th in penalties the past four seasons.
``He had no explanation,'' Carroll said.
Cutaia was a referee before this season (remember he was suspended for a game after the infamous Oregon-Oklahoma game) so maybe he's one of the reasons USC opponents never got called for penalties.
John David Booty said his passes were not sailing like during last week's practices.
``It didn’t seem like it,'' Booty said. ``It had great spin and I was putting it on guys.''
Sam Baker will probably miss the game. Doctors advised him to sit a week but he wants to try to play.
Pete Carroll said Baker is unlikely to play.
Let's be clear, this is not an ``excuse'' for losing. It just never came up when USC won every game.
http://www.uscripsit.com/news/newspage.php?news_id=2069
How come the official web site does not do the ``explanations?'' By the way, Oregon did only get flagged for only one penalty, but two other Duck penalties were declined.
Does Oregon State gain anything from beating USC last year?
``Except for looking at last year’s game and seeing what both teams tried to do, besides that probably not much,'' Oregon State coach Mike Riley said.
Oregon State has not defeated USC at the Coliseum since 1960, a span of 20 straight games.
“Our kids don’t have to bear the burden of 40 years in the Coliseum. We are aware of the circumstances of our history, but we don’t dwell on it,'' Oregon State coach Mike Riley said.
Washington coach Ty Willingham recently made this comment reflecting back on the Huskies-USC game:
"How many of our starters, when we lined up against USC that night, would start for them?"
USC was picked first in the preseason Pac-10 poll. Oregon was sixth.
``I sort of smiled inwardly,'' Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said of his team's low ranking.
Assistant coach Todd McNair said he's had no problem with the performance of starting tailback Chauncey Washington this season. Washington averages 4.4 yards per carry but McNair said it’s a deceiving statistic.
``If you take out short-yard and goal-line runs, it’s about 5.6 yards,’’ McNair said. ``I’m happy with the way he’s running.’’
Remember when Pete Carroll challenged a reception with the outcome already decided against Notre Dame?
Carroll got a lot of stick from the crowd but we heard tonight the Pacific-10 Conference said Carroll's challenge was actually correct. The Big East crew in charge of replays watched the first two angles of the play, which were inconclusive.
By the time the replay crew saw a third angle, they decided the game was over anyways and did not inform the officials on the field of the reversal.
Quarterback Mark Sanchez said the past three games were invaluable, especially playing at Oregon despite the loss.
``It was the funnest time of my life,’’ Sanchez said. ``It blows my mind how much your outlook changes when you get to play. Next year I won’t be so emotional like I was against Arizona.’’
John David Booty took all the first-team reps and even survived a blow to his right hand.
"Some one came in and batted (the ball out),'' Booty said. "I was kind of glad I did get hit, to see it was OK."
Tuesday usually features the largest crowd of spectators but there might be 50 watching practice today.
Do two losses really kill people's interest that fast?
Here's Oregon State coach Mike Riley on the status of tailback Yvenson Bernard.
``Well, we certainly like to have him. We got some good news as far as the MRI. He’s got a sprained shoulder. It’s not dislocated, so it’s really going to be a day-to-day thing. It’s pretty darn sore, I’ll tell you that. I’m sure he will want to play. If we come to the point where he won’t reinjure it or where we are putting him at risk, then we will see about Thursday. Right now, I would say it’s just day-to-day and the news is pretty good from the reports that we go.”
Linebacker Kaluka Maiava is wearing a hard cast on his arm after suffering a possible broken wrist against Oregon. Maiava said X-rays were inconclusive and he will undergo another set next week.
But he will play against Oregon State with the cast.
How quickly have things changed?
"No one's afraid of the big bad wolf anymore,'' a USC coach said this week.
Offensive line coach Pat Ruel was candid about the run blocking Monday.
http://www.dailynews.com/usc/ci_7317032
A couple glaring things stand out on that fourth-and-1 play in the first quarter. Oregon’s defense shifted completely towards the side where the play went and no one was in front of the right guard, which meant a gaping hole existed.
USC believes Oregon got confused by the formation and accidentally shifted into the perfect spot to tackle Joe McKnight.
But offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said he regretted not calling a timeout before the play. Sarkisian said he saw Oregon’s defense shift from the sideline.
``When I look back at it, I should have called a timeout from the sideline,’’ Sarkisian said.
Ironically, the shift created a hole because no one lined up against the right guard, but Sarkisian said the play USC ran did not really allow for an audible.
"He looked really good," offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said. "The ball came out much better than the past two weeks."
Tackle Sam Baker's hamstring is torn but partially attached, and he is doubtful for the game. Baker said he wants to play.
Quarterback John David Booty practiced with the first team is on track to start.
Offensive guard Chilo Rachal was sick and did not practice.
The only opponent 100-yard rushing performances against USC in the 2006 and 2007 seasons have come in losses in the state of Oregon.
Oregon State's Clinton Polk gained 100 yards in last year's victory while Oregon's Jonathan Stewart gained 103 yards last weekend.
BCS guru Jerry Palm projects USC playing Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. That means Palm expects USC to win all of its remaining games.
Pete Carroll was asked about USC's last touchdown drive, when the Trojans quickly marched down the field.
``We went into no-huddle mode and so did Oregon,'' Carroll said. ``You can't just do it all the time. It depends on how the game and how it's going.''
USC's strength of schedule skyrocketed to No. 90 following the Oregon game, up 19 places from the week before, under the BCS formula used from 1999-2003.
Pete Carroll talked about how he regretted playing John David Booty in the second half against Stanford and also lamented the need for conservative playcalling with Mark Sanchez.
http://www.dailynews.com/usc/ci_7308582
USC ranks 96th in the nation with six interceptions and two of those were by defensive end Kyle Moore.
``We’re playing really good pass defense but not getting the ball,’’ USC coach Pete Carroll said. ``The only issue I can add is not hitting the quarterback enough. We still have 21 sacks. But this group has played the same the past two years (with few interceptions).''
Here's an interesting quote on the limited use of Stafon Johnson.
``He doesn’t feel 100 percent. I was disappointed he didn’t get involved more,'' USC coach Pete Carroll said. ``That happens when you rotate guys.''
And a revised look at the Stanford game when John David Booty broke his finger.
``We made a mistake with John, not knowing the situation. I wish I could have assessed that better at the time,'' Carroll said. ``Maybe we would have put Mark (Sanchez) in and played it closer to the vest.''
Sam Baker underwent an MRI today on his hip and sore hamstring but he is currently questionable. Linebacker Kaluka Maiava sprained his thumb and wide receiver Brad Walker sprained his ankle.
Some quick thoughts of Pete Carroll.
``It's different. We haven't been in this situation in a long time. It doesn't change anything. You don't do anything different. You coach like crazy.
``We were talking as a staff today about how many good defensive schemes there are in this conference and skill guys who can make plays. Everybody is getting everybody (in the Pac-10).''
The main focus for a couple weeks is whether John David Booty or Mark Sanchez should play quarterback.
But the bigger problem all season is the stubborn refusal to shake up the tailback rotation.
Does USC really deserve to be higher than 19th in the BCS rankings when it continues to settle for 4.4 yards per carry from the starting spot?
I put this question to Pete Carroll last Monday and he said he was happy with the current rotation for the rest of the season (some of you mistakenly thought this was because Stafon Johnson was hurt but the answer also applied to when Johnson is 100 percent).
I'm guessing most defensive coordinators who face USC are thrilled Joe McKnight was developed too slowly and Allen Bradford remained on the bench. All summer, we referred to the need to stretch defenses and it rarely happened from the tailback spot.
And that's the biggest reason USC sits 19th. It's a CD (coaches' decision).
Here's quote from defensive end Lawrence Jackson after the game.
``I’m pretty sure in the last five years, we didn’t do things well enough to win but came out with a victory,’’ defensive end Lawrence Jackson said. ``It’s not like that anymore.’’
Perhaps the most impressive stat in Pete Carroll's tenure continued Saturday. Even though USC lost, Carroll's still lost by double digits only one time in seven seasons (Notre Dame, 2001) and that was by 11 points.
Quarterback John David Booty on criticism he and Mark Sanchez face from unhappy fans.
``It’s a difficult job. A lot of people don’t understand it. The game’s hard,’’ Booty said. ``I don’t know what everyone wants Mark or myself to be. We hate to lose. He hates to lose.’’
Sam Baker reinjured his hamstring and said his hip also bothered him. He is unsure if he will play next week.
Here's where John David Booty and Mark Sanchez currenty stand in the stat dept:
Caesar: ``When you give teams the ball it's so hard to win, especially with a team that's as loaded as Oregon is. We couldn't really get anything going and defensively they were a lot better than I anticipated.''
Mike Bellotti on USC: ``They are as talented as any football team in the United States.''
Rey Maualuga: ``"It may be over but that's always a place for a new start. We start new on Monday when everybody comes to practice and we get things going with a chance for a new thing ... I might be wrong, but we'll
see. Things are going to change. ... Hopefully you'll see a smile on my face next time you talk to me."
Caesar was also upset over the holding call on Drew Radovich that erased Joe McKnight's touchdown run and felt it was a bad call.
Pete Carroll said he ran outside with Joe McKnight on the first series because he thought Oregon would jam the middle with its defense.
USC obviously did not have the faith to open the playbook with Mark Sanchez and John David Booty did not have enough control on his passes to play.
That's the dilemma the Trojans faced and without a go-to tailback, which further limited its offensive options.
USC might need to show some faith in Mark Sanchez and become less conservative in the second half.
Joe McKnight's lost more yards (31) than any tailback this season, which makes the 4th and 1 call curious at best.
It's sunny and 55 degrees, unless you're in the shade and then it feels about 45. The game is so big up here there are no cars on the roads outside Autzen Stadium.
It's not a late-arriving crowd.
USC coach Pete Carroll offered a glimpse of his true feelings toward Autzen Stadium, which he rarely admits before playing an opponent.
``It’s a fun place to win,’’ he said. ``I like winning up there.’’