I generally agree with that except for a couple of points:

1) I would give Sanchez a D, but since it was his first game and we're being generous, I'll go along with the C-. A savior, he certainly will never be.

2) I would give a higher grade to the running backs, perhaps a C/C+, because of Joe McKnight. Without the running game, the Trojans would have lost.

Overall, good job on the grades, Scott.

Can't really complain about any of those grades! USC really looked like garbage (again) until the 4th Quarter. McKnight finally showed a flash of what he "might" be able to do...and despite all of the criticism on this Blog...Sanchez showed some athleticism and heart in the 4th Quarter that everyone I was sitting around at the Coliseum appreciated.

Listen, SC has lost so many players this year to injury that this is just not the same team that started the season ranked No. 1. I really don’t know how you protect a new back-up QB or run the football when you lose 4 of your 5 starting O-Line (including Baker...whose absence was very noticeable when he went out). Certain players need to step up and others need to get healthy REALLY fast...or this is going to be a long season. I still think USC is going to win at least 9 or 10 games...but they are not going to look pretty doing it!

Wolf - take your grades and shove'm up your %4##. Nothing like a 5'9" overweight bald guy to judge others. Those kids worked their butts off and earned a tough win on heart. Good job to all those guys filling in for injured players and winning a tough game.

I can't disagree with the grades either Scott, our Trojans look terrible. Yeah we won but what is going on with this defense? This is the same defense that was touted as one of the top units in the country and the supposed strength of the team but they've dominated one team, Nebraska. Coach Holt and Coach Carroll need to let these guys go and just let it rip! Im not saying blitz on every play but the majority of the packages should be blitzes. D-line is not getting consistent pressure on qbs and that is putting pressure on our banged up secondary.

The offense is gonna have to grind games out until we get healthy again on the O-line. The WRs are inconsistent and Coach Carroll needs to stick with Stafon Johnson as the starting RB while Washington and McKnight provide him with relief!

Im a realist and right now USC looks very vulnerable to at least 2 more losses. If we don't get healthy by the time we have to go up to Oregon this season may become a disappointing one!

Where's Emmanual Moody when you want him?
Has Havili gotten into such a doghouse that fullback is once again being forgotten? You can use a two running back offense, plus end-arounds if the situation allows for it.
We may get two more wins, just on the law of averages, but have many losses on the horizon unless major changes are made.

Who would ever think Special Teams would be a "strength" for USC with a C+....

Does anyone think PC's plan was to sandbag until the Oregon game and then they got bit by Stanford. By sandbag I mean try hard to win but hold back formations,stunts, and plays until the so-called toughrer games? Without the injuries USC would undoubtedly be 6-0 without really showing much.

Richard Simmons grades seem pretty decent. I think alot of people are fogetting we're one small play away from being the #1 ranked team in the nation. If Booty doesn't melt down vs. Stanford. USC is sitting at No. 1 this morning. Crazy as it may sound. I loved the moxy Sanchez showed on Saturday and hope it carries over to ND and the rest of the year for the team. I thought the coaching staff did an excellent job of winning on Saturday considering the Offense is so banged up. I thought they should have had a similar game plan vs. Stanford. Don't make any turnovers, play for some field position and let the defense win the game for you.

A few thoughts:

#1: SC won by 7 points, not 4. Apparently math was not your major (not sure journalism was either however)

#2: I liked the pressure PC got on Tuitama near the end of the game. Why doesn't he blitz more often???

#3: Sanchez made one terrible, horrible, horrendous throw in the Zona game (near the end of the first half) Other than that, I really liked what I saw from him. The scramble/throw for a first down near his own end-zone was very non-Booty-esque and the the scramble to the 3 yard line on 3rd and long that set up the final field goal was absolutely brilliant. I was going nuts watching that play because he showed real desire to win the game. I think Sanchez is one of those guys who's going to give you some great plays and a few bonehead plays. You just have to live with the bad ones to get the good ones. PC was right when he called him a gunslinger.

If we could only solve the injury problem, this team could be pretty good after-all.

FIGHT ON!

I remember a certain team from Columbus that won quite a rew "ugly" games that ended up winning a national title a few years ago.

Oddly enough, they kept moving up in the polls when they won ugly and a certain USC team that was winning big did not get the votes that year (or the next--even though they were #1 - no bcs title game). And now that same team from Columbus is winning big versus nobodies and USC is winning ugly and falling in the polls.

The DL played better than a C+. They were not going to get a lot of sacks against a 3-step drop. There were several pressures and the Wildcats could not run against them.

Respect:

You're thinking of the year prior to SC being #1. The year OSU won the title, Miami was the undisputed #1 team in the nation. SC played Iowa in the Orange Bowl that year (WSU won the Pac-10 by beating SC when Palamalu went down to injury). That was Carson's last year on the team, SC's first BCS bowl, and the springboard to what we've experienced the past four years.

a few* ugly games...

No, that's the year I am thinking of where Carson and the team had the talent to win the title, but the stumble at Kansas St and the missed PAT and FG against WSU cost us our chance. We then went on to win the Orange Bowl over a vastly over-rated Iowa team. The Next Year, with Leinart, we again stumbled early against Cal (another kicking problem!) and then ran the table and did not get voted into the title game despite being #1 in all polls except the computers--LSU jumped us because of their SEC title game.

I think I was a little unclear on my wording but my point is simply this: Why when OSU wins ugly do they maintain their place in the polls even move up and when SC does so, they move down. And when SC is rolling the teams it should they do not move up the polls as OSU and OKlahoma have this year?

LSU lost their FIRST road test and they don't drop. FL has 2 losses, and they are still ranked above undefeated teams. If SC can hold on and win "ugly" guys will start to get healthy and then what? Will we be the lowest ranked one-loss team of all time playing the lowest ranked two-loss team (Michigan) in the Rose Bowl?

Lou Holtz says he wouldn't be afraid to play USC right now, why not? Is it because the Trojans are not good or is it because the cupboard is fast becoming empty? I think the next two weeks will be very telling. Can the youngsters go into ND Stadium and hush the crowd and can we then go into Autzen and do the same thing.

I see a couple of things happening.
1)the return of Stafon Johnson and Brian Cushing will be HUGE.
2)Sanchez's game can only get better...
3)PT is PT, Vidal Hazelton's game has picked up--he will be the next Trojan receiver to step up.
4)Joe McKnight...

I look forward to the rest of the season. Maybe I am blinded by Cardinal and Gold colored glasses, but I refuse to let my confidence in the ability of these young men to get the job done.

I understand, Stanford, Arizona and Washington should not be able to play with these guys, but some of the youngsters playing right know have not had the reps yet...I believe that they will only get better.

And honestly, UCLA is the only undefeated team in the PAC 10? Seriously?

C'mon Derrick. No way Wolf is 5'9"

Re: Carroll's comment -

I think these are the kinds of games he really likes to play and win...difficult battles that are fought along the lines. Of course, I'm sure that Carroll and the rest of us would prefer that we play these kinds of games against Michigan and Cal, not Arizona and Washington. Hopefully whoever becomes the premier back this week can put up 200+ on mom jeans, and then all can be well again. Right?

This game was tough to watch. There is just a different feel to this team, and now the crowd at the Coliseum is very fickle. I've never heard it get so quiet so often as I did this Saturday.

I agree completely with Sureshot and CPepper with regard to Sanchez. He made a few mistakes, but the energy he brought to the team, and even the fans, has been lacking for a long time.

I just can't believe all the players I've had to watch hobble off, or get carried off of the field this season.

Without guys getting healed up quickly, I can't see USC going into Cal, Oregon, and maybe even ASU and leaving with a W. Wow it pains me to say that.

Ask Stanford how you protect a back-up quarterback with an awful offensive line! Ooops, forgot that they were playing the Trojans!

Then, Stanford loses to TCU this week!

It was amazing after the Stanford loss that the NCAA started making some strides in the Reggie Bush extra benefits case. One or two more losses and they'll announce the sanctions this year!

ASU is unbeaten. If McKnight makes those two runs vs. Stanford, USC would be, too. Some people don't seem to realize that CFB is a team sport...from HC to the punter. Booty is a good QB, and if everyone else does their job, he does'nt make some of those turnovers. I saw at least twenty tipped passes this week-end...by all sized throwers. And, of the ten "super-star" RB's, the Trojans had to start the season, there are three, tired-looking, seniors, who have sixteen years of experience between them, and McKnight. I point this out not as excuses, but as optimism for the future, as players get healthy. Keep the faith.

Who's Derrick? ... Sarkisian's father? ... actually Mike Gundy?

With 20-20 hindsight, Moody looks borderline retarded for transferring/quitting this year with the spate of injuries.

I could see his POV at the time though. How many games did Lendale and Reggie actually miss even when banged up?

Hey Scott,

Peel off your “quick to criticize” glasses for a minute and let’s look at the real reason for the confused “out of sync” play exhibited by USC recently.

I think you need to grade Pete Carroll & the coaching staff with a large grading curve due to the tremendous amount of injuries that have decimated USC this year.

Injuries are part of the game, but this is different 27! players are injured or out for the season. Chemistry & continuity are part of football as well & USC has been shuffling the deck with players all season, due to injuries.

Our coaches have not complained, they simply move ahead with the troops they have.

Here’s a quick snap shot of USC’s Titanic injury list:

Jody Adewale groin injury / has not played
Sam Baker groin injury & hamstring / missed 3 quarters of AZ game
John David Booty Broke middle finger of passing hand / Did not play vs AZ
Luthur Brown Slowed down due to back problems /played vs. AZ
Jeff Byers banged up but playing
Brian Cushing Out since the Idaho game 1st game of the season
C.J. Gable Out for the season / groin surgery
Chris Galippo Out for the season / back surgery
Broderick Green Out for the season thus far / might red shirt
Kevin Ellison Broke nose vs Arizona playing hurt
Clay Harris Sprained shoulder
Zack Heberer Sprained shoulder missed 3 quarters of AZ game
Stafon Johnson Sprained left foot missed Stanford & AZ game
Vincent Joseph Neck sprain injury out since beginning of Nebraska game
Alatini Malu Strained a hamstring against Washington playing sore
Clay Matthews Broke his left thumb vs Nebraska {Playing Hurt}
Rey Maualuga Hip Pointer or worse missed most of AZ game thus far
Kristofer O'Dowd Injured Knee vs Washington missed Stanford & AZ thus far
Travon Patterson Right foot surgery out for the season
Josh Pinkard Out for the season /torn ACL in his left knee.
Chilo Rachal Injured Knee vs Washington missed Stanford & AZ thus far
Drew Radovich Playing hurt with back injury
Malcolm Smith Out with hip injury missed Stanford & Az game
Matt Spanos Playing with torn triceps & gash on his snap hand
Kevin Thomas Surgery on a sprained left shoulder out for season
Chauncey Washington Shoulder sprain missed first two games of season
Shareece Wright Hamstring strain missed Stanford & AZ game

Cut the team some slack here!

Fight On! RB

RB - Nice post. It is crazy when you see all of the names of the injured players like that.

Where are the grades for some of the other groups on the field?

Such as:

Marching Band - Still trying to convince us that one song from a summer blockbuster movie which was a ripoff of a tv cartoon and action figures, and another song from a sequel to some random video game are interesting and appeal to anyone in the stadium. C

Spirit Leaders - They mean well. They don't cause anything to happen that doesn't happen naturally due to the 3rd down stadium sound effects. Yet they still jump up and down and actually think they made people stand up and cheer. They no longer have the old "Go Trojans" signs, replacing the signs with much smaller versions where less than 10% of the sign is filled by the actual words. The words on the signs are so small that you can't read them in row 50 or higher without good glasses. See any other team's cheer squad including the signs that were used by Arizona for an example of what size the signs and text should be. One spirit leader was holding up a sign during the cheer with the text "Louder" as if the cheer is "Go Louder" not "Go Trojans". They killed one of the oldest traditions at USC without soliciting any student feedback or warning that the program was in trouble. F-