No Problems

It just does not feel as if Washington has had the career we all wished for. Oregon State fumbles and inability to get first downs on 4th and 1 at UCLA last year. Inability to run vs Michigan (which gave Booty an opportunity to have a career game) in the Rose Bowl, and unspectacular performances all through 2007. Some of us thought he'd be a baby Lendale. Didn't happen.

Yeah man I agree with Todd, there's nothing I like better than getting up on my Sunday to read the post-game stats and seeing the USC RB avergaing 4.0 ypc..that really makes my weekend..with the occasional 3 fumble game like last year vs. OSU

It's not totally his fault the o-line couldn't block a team of WWII amputees

It's funny how far they have fallen..I can remember in 2005 sportscasters were saying USC could beat some pro teams...I bet this team would lose to the Oaks Christian second string. If you can stop a bubble screen and run up the middle USC ain't gonna score.

At least Michigan lost to the D-IAA champ APP st., we just lost to a bad D-IAA team (stanford)

1966, you really are a negative dude, but I have to agree with you on certain points. The first of which regards the bubble screens and runs up the middle.

It's true that USC plays sideline to sideline, it's just too bad they don't play goal-line to goal-line. They run east/west plays until they're blue in the face, but heaven forbid they go north/south.

Also, regarding Coach McNair's comments about subtracting goal-line and short yardage plays from his stats. I know I've said this before, but if my aunt had a pair she'd be my uncle. Washington's production has been disappointing at best. And besides, don't all RB stats include goal-line and short yardage runs? That'd be like saying, "if you take out all stats from when Joe McKnight's loses yardage or gets tackled for no gain, he'd average 20.3 yards per carry." Fans don't want to hear excuses. Fans want to see the best players (McKnight & Johnson) play.

Doesn't anyone remember when we averaged 140 pr game rushing??? 3X4 is a first down! Washington is doing his best and would have more effective all along with a healthy Johnson, better results from the receivers and more ingenuity with (and use of) Havili.

We know that the o-line, with the various injuries, hasnt been up to the task. Washington - and McKnight - have been hit a number of times in the backfield just after getting the handoff. Not much the rb's can do about that type of lack of blocking. Hopefully the o-line can get back the rhythm they had in the Nebraska game.

Mentioning the OFF Line we should call them the Awfullsensive line. I know these guys dont know their line calls as well as they should-Ive heard comments about that in the past that in practice some guys who have been around the program awhile still dont know the proper line calls....
Also could it be the strength and conditioning of the Off line>? With the exception of the Nebraska game, our line has been out-muscled and far less physical than our opposing def lines that have half the "talent" we have. I know Carlisle says hes not big on the bench and squat stuff, but what else do offensive linemen need>? Do they need to do yoga and pilates to increase their core strength? Half the problem in our inept running game (aside from the misuse of our RBs) is that our O-linemen are not getting the push and creating the gaps they ALways seemed to in the past. This has been a particular problem in our 2 losses....... I cant wait to see what happens against a much faster, better defense this weekend....

Yeah...Washington was GREAT against Oregon!!! He really was able to wear down that D!

I must admit, Washington is better at picking up 1 yard on crucial plays than any other back on the team...except he does it on 1st and 10, and not 4th and 1!!!

Johnson must still be hurt because there is no other logical explanation for why SC continues to start this bust! He is a senior...he came back...I get it...but he hasn't produced...and the only reason he came back is because he had no shot at getting drafted last year...and really hasn't help his stock this year...can you say hello CFL or NFL Europe?

There is no more NFL Europe.

The problem is that we do not stick to the running game, and we are not creative. After McKnight's "TD" we should have came right back with the same run. That drive was typical of our season. Great running play called back on penalty (mental bust) and get backed up, only to end up punting.

Sadly, it's happening at pivotal times in the game. I think the players are trying too hard to make things happen. They need to relax and play in the moment. Every play does not have to be a TD, but it does need to gain positive yards and put SC in a position to win. Late hits and Facemasks do not do that.

I have to admit, when I read this, the first thing I thought of was "But Washington doesn't get any yards at the goaline or short yardage situations." I don't think Todd McNair needs to be talking about Chauncey Washington and short yardage/goaline plays - the two haven't gone well together for the past two seasons.

The Trojans don't need to establish a running game to win...just "go with what is open".

"IF you take out short-yard and goal-line runs, it’s about 5.6 yards...."

IF a frogs had wings, it wouldn't bump its ass on the ground.

Seriously, I remember Washington from last year as a beast. He would hit the hole, carry 2-3 tacklers and be very difficult to bring down. This year, he hesitates at the hole (one wag calls him "tiny dancer"), and never hits full stride. Is it the O-Line or one too many hits? Both?

NFL Europe is gone already?…I never even knew you! Well then, I guess it is off to Canada for Washington.

Respectthegame is definitely right about McNight…it is like the coaching staff does not know what they want to do with this guy…he plays well in the first quarter(despite the hold on Spanos)…and then disappears to the bench until the 4th quarter. How is McNight ever supposed to get any sort of rhythm/feel for the game when he is constantly getting yanked?

I coach freshmen fb and one of my favorite things to do is run the lead (or iso) over and over and over and as soon as the safeties and the lb's start cheating in a little, it's the pitch to the outside (or toss or sweep). Now, I know I am "only a Frosh coach" but the game is the same only faster the higher up you go. My team has no speed and it seems to work for us. SC has World Class speed and we can't get first downs, let alone touchdowns. I don't get it. I really don't.

Fight on!

Todd needs to get back to hanging with me in the fancy hotels so he can creatively get the running backs back on track.

Watching games films are for teams that lose to Stanford and Oregon!

Or Notre Dame, Utah and Wazoo? Go pee up a rope.

To HS Dropout:

Thank you for pointing out the fallacy of needing to establish the run. If we go with what is open (and against Oregon it was the pass since they were stacking the box)we will be fine. Therefore the pass opens up the run and vice versa.

My point was at that juncture in the game, Oregon had not yet adjusted to the running game and McKnight had just rattled off a huge what looked like weakside Iso, but not sure, and we NEVER came back to it. Not once. It went to the house and we failed miserably by not going back to what worked, obviuosly except for the penalty.

Dropped balls and horrible penalties are killing this team when they do execute and even when they do not execute it is happening.

The Trojans have the potential to be very, very good, but do they have the mental toughness it takes to perform on a consistent basis? That remains to be seen, but the answer right now is NO.

Well' let's see.

What was LenDale White's average yard per carry including short yardage and goal line situations? I think it was better than 5.6 for his career.