The People's Question
Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian was asked if it was legitimate to ask if Mark Sanchez should be considered at quarterback, even if John David Booty were healthy.
``I think it’s worth asking the question,'' he said. `I don’t know if it’s to be true. John David’s proven a lot. He had an unlucky second half. There was miscommunication on passing routes on the first interception in the second half and the second interception. If he struggled all week in practices, yeah there would be competition.''
It would be interesting to tap the USC coaching brain trust. We know that Sanchez took all the snaps in Monday's practice with the first team. Booty may be healthy enough to start vs. UA on Saturday. But one wonders if there is anyone leaning towards Sanchez starting. Now would be the time to make a switch to get Mark ready for roadies with Oregon, ASU, Cal ,etc. No games are gimmes anymore, but UA at home and @ ND would at least allow Sanchez to ease into action before the tougher road games. It may be an interesting week...
I have no doubt that the receivers are a large part of this problem. That does not mean Booty does not deserve some of the blame. Afterall he is a 5th year senior.
But anyone thinking that Mark Sanchez is the answer, is not thinking clearly. We still have the same receivers. If they are not running the correct routes, there is very little a QB can do.
I still think we are missing "speed" at the receiver position. Turner, Ausberry, Hazelton are all from the same mold. Give Ronald Johnson a shot. At least the defense would have something different on one side of the field to consider.
nwscfan hit the nail on the head...with no improvement from wr - or deep threat from that position, nor improvement from the o-line, dont expect Sanchez to perform well.
nwscfan hit the nail on the head...with no improvement from wr - or deep threat from that position, nor improvement from the o-line, dont expect Sanchez to perform well.
A QB who scrambles when a play breaks down and finds receivers improvising is an option we lack with JDB. I don't think anyone calling for Sanchez thinks he'll be the answer, only a hope for someone that may do what has been done by untested QBs (Tavita Pritchard), prove people wrong.
I'm with Trojan&Tonic on this one. One of the first things I told co-workers today was considering SC has UA @ home this week and a very weak ND in two weeks is the perfect time to get Mark Sanchez some good solid playing time in prep for the hard games later should Booty fail again.
Many people believe Sanchez is not the answer like nwscfan above stated but nwscfan is clearly wrong in one respect. Sanchez adds a whole dimension to the offense that Booty in a year and a half has never shown.
SANCHEZ CAN RUN!
He is ten times more mobile than stiff legged Booty.
49 seconds to go against Stanford. Ball on SC 40. 1st and 10 Booty gets sacked. Leinart would have found the open receiver.
Remember UCLA last year? Booty couldn't scramble to save his life. Leinart would have tucked it and ran.
I'm sorry people but in crunch time when its counted the most, Booty has failed. Something his predecesors in this decade never did.
Its a shame the coaches don't see it.
Lest we Chow devotees forget, Sanchez was the last QB hand picked by Chow.
Booty, when tested, has failed time and again.
It's time to let someone else get a chance.
I will say that I can only hope what PC has been saying is only to avoid the appearance that he's throwing JDB under the bus, and that unbeknownst to us, he's got Sanchez on the fast track.
The people have spoken! Carroll and his cronies should retire and leave the coaching to the commenters on this board, to coach in rotating committees of five with pure majority decision making. Committees rotate daily. Beginning tomorrow.
Facetious yet uninspiring, matthew.
matthew is just angry that he didn't get picked for the first committee. OK, what is up with Patrick Turner? He is distracted by something.
Guys I'm so disapointed in how our Trojans have played these last 2 weeks, I wish I could go suit up and play!
I, like countless other fans thought the team got the wake up call last week. This team,including the coaching staff seems to be living off of the past accomplishments of the other great SC teams!
I know Coach Carroll is in these guys ears telling them that every team no matter what their record is gunning for them every week! We are everybody's bowl game every week!
This 2007 team doesn't seem to get it especially the young receivers! I don't see any leadership from Turner. Just because you're all everything and come with accolades up the yin yang from highschool doesn't make you a top notch college player and the young guys need to know this! Everybodys so busy praising these guys and stroking their egos when they've done nothing on the field to warrant any praise.
A qb change at this point in the season is just what the doctor ordered! JDB is a 5th yr senior but he's not gettin it done! The same problems I saw with him last year, continue to plague him this season. JDB stares down receivers, can't extend a play if it breaks down, not very accurate on explosive plays downfield and he just doesn't look like he has the confidence of the team. To me the only reason he's playin is because he's been at SC for 5 years, he waited his turn and he's a senior! If we want to get to the national title game, we need to make that qb change now! Sanchez has a bigger arm than JDB and these next 2 weeks could be valuable in getting him in game experience before we get to the meat of the schedule! If we don't get explosive plays from the qb soon, teams are gonna continue to load up the box vs the run and make SC WRs and passing game beat them! Sanchez can also grow with this young group of receivers as he is only a sophomore. JDB has had ample opportunities and has proven he doesn't have what it takes when the game is on the line (i.e. ucla game last year). We shoulda went to and won last years national title game! JDB broken finger could be a blessing in disguise.
Here is a point NOT any of you talked about:
The OC, the WR's coach and the QB working together with the WR's and the QB's MS or JDB during practice so that they can correct the route running mistakes.
Thank you
Booty cannot throw the long ball. Every gain over twenty yards is the result of YAC to receivers who aren't exactly CAL starter fast. So while Booty downs doubles at the Le Deux bar after LOSING, the rest of what WE have said is the best etc. etc. etc. ever, knosh on triple doubles at MacDonalds just getting fatter. This "another day at the office" bunch of very lethargic guys on a team that strolls out of the huddle and then uses up the entire time clock before launching their plays, has been overrated by WE the people. There is some outstanding talent on this team but they ain't at the skill positions like running back, wide receiver, and quarterback. I saw Sanchez play two times in high school and I didn't see a guy worth giving a scholarship to without a genius like Norm Chow around to teach him the position but even Chow couldn't have supplied a rifle arm to a guy with a water pistol appendage.
Is this OverReaction U?
Wolf stirs the pot and like a fish going after a shiny lure so many of you jump...
Before you trash Booty, let's look at those interceptions... Ausberry once again quit on a route and so was not in position to catch the ball or keep the defender from catching... interception.
Stanley Havili misread a zone and ran the wrong route. Booty threw to the correct route, but no Havili.... interception.
Patrick Turner had two critical drops, one in the game start and one at the game end. Hard to get too mad at a guy who had nine catches in a row, but still...
The two mistakes by Booty that were costly... missing the wide open receiver in the end zone and throwing to Havili instead at the 5. Mis-throwing the screen over the middle, right into a defender's hands.
I love following this blog, not because Wolf is so insightful (sorry Scotty, you ain't Einstein) but because of the wild exchanges of overreactive discussions.
By Sunday, some posters on this blog were ready to not only dump Booty, but maybe Carroll also and why not stop there, let's cancel the season?
Look, I was excited about Sanchez also, but in practice and scrimmages he has not shown what we thought years ago we would see.
Maybe he will get a chance, depending upon how bad is Booty's finger.
I am going to start spending more time on NCAAStrategies.com, where the debate is more entertaining, WITHOUT Wolf writing stupid things just to get you guys to jump.
Booty is wearing diapers. If receivers ran the wrong routes, he should give them an earful and tell the coaches to get them outta there. It's not like they haven't made mistakes with their routes before. Booty may be a captain, but he's no leader. While Booty is not 100% physically, Sanchez should be given a shot. If he provides the spark, then under the bus with the diaper boy.
Until Mustain starts next year, Booty is the best we've got. I would support a change in QB if there is a better QB on the team, but Sanchez is nowhere close to Booty's league. Speaks volumes that even after Booty broke his finger and the coaches knew about it at halftime, they still wouldn't play Sanchez over Booty. Booty is all we've got this year until Mustain becomes eligible next year. Sanchez would be a disaster, so let's hope Booty is capable of playing, or we'll end up with a ton of losses at the hands of Sanchez.