The "increasingly disappointing Chauncey Washington"???

Where in the world do you come off with that, Wolf?

He tried to be a little too fancy in the first half, and the O-line wasn't getting him open. Much better in the second half.

He made one big misread on the failed touchdown, missing the seam that was just to his left of where he tried to dive in.

Chauncey is reliable. It is bad reporting to call him "increasingly disappointing" based on one half. Are you going to try for accurate reporting, or more of a talk show journalism?

Objectively, this is a good, not great, SC team. The defensive line and 'backers are probably of championship caliber, but the secondary is young and a year away. Speaking of a year away, so is the offense. The new running backs and receivers need further seasoning. The offensive line was very good, but not deep enough to sustain itself through injuries. Booty can be good although he needs a solid supporting cast to bring out his best. Unfortunately this is probably not that year. If Mustain is what he is advertised to be, 2008 could be the year of the Trojans.

That said, don't throw in the towel just yet on 2007. If Johnson can heal before the Oregon/Cal/ASU onslaught, the receivers and secondary can improve with some more games under their belt, SC returns some of the big boys on the offensive line, and Booty can emerge from his confidence-funk, this team has a fighting chance.

One the biggest problems I have with this team is that they lack aggressiveness. That's not the players fault, but rather the fault of the coaching staff. (who I respect immensely) The defense plays off, the offense does not attack, the coaches coach not to lose. It's baffling and inexcusable.

So Coach Sark says he needed to call a more conservative play... why? Booty actually had a man open across the middle, he just overthrew him by 10 feet. Which brings me to another pet peeve:
I keep hearing about how the Trojans don't throw the ball deep because it's not Booty's strength (translated: he can't do it) How is this possible. The ability to put a little arc under the ball and throw it deep is such an elementary skill for a QB that it's unbelievable he cannot do it. This is Division I football! This is the PAC-10! Go join the intramurals brother!
A QB not being able (capable) of throwing a deep ball is like a kicker who can't kick from the right hash, a receiver who can't catch the ball when running to his left, or a LB not being able to play the run. How can this even happen?? How does Kentucky, or Louisville, or Hawaii for pete's sake get QBs who can do all that,but SC can't? Perplexing, unbelievable, and ridiculous all in one.

And seriously, PC, go out and hire a special teams coach. Run, don't walk. Get one right now. Special teams are a part of the game, and they are a part of the game that has cost SC at least half of the 7 losses in the past 5 years. Attention to detail is seriously lacking from this team and they need it back.

"You have to establish the running game to establish throwing lanes," Sarkisian said. Absolutely! In the three recent losses, USC had 86 NYR vs. OSU; 55 vs. UCLA; and 95 vs. STAN. Would it be possible to move Washington up a yard, in the deep "I-set" they use? He is (Bradford, too) a outstanding back, but they don't seem to hit the hole as quick as Moody, Gable, or Dennis did/do. Or, would that screw up the OL assignments?

"Chauncey is reliable"...really?

Isn't that like saying Booty throws a great deep ball?