USC-UCLA State Report Card
Here's the crosstown rivalry report card.
RESULT: NO. 8 USC 24, UCLA 7.
RECORD: 10-2, 7-2.
WEEK 12 GPA: C+.
QUARTERBACK
John David Booty’s last home game illustrated his season. There were nice, accurate passes along with passes that were thrown poorly. At least he didn’t cry like Matt Leinart, who was worse in his last game.
C+
RUNNING BACKS
Nice to see the coaches spread the wealth for once, as Stafon Johnson got 15 carries while Joe McKnight and Chauncey Washington each got 13. McKnight ran strong and looks improved, except when he fumbled.
B
WIDE RECEIVERS
Dropped passes were a major issue and that also sums up a season without a go-to wide receiver. At least tight end Fred Davis willed his way to a touchdown and set a USC record for career receptions at his position.
C-
OFFENSIVE LINE
A concerted effort was made to be more physical against the Bruins’ smaller defense. It worked as the line kept the Trojans’ offense on the field for 38 minutes. Four UCLA turnovers didn’t hurt either.
B-
DEFENSIVE LINE
All defensive grades come with the disclaimer that UCLA provided the most inept offense since the Notre Dame game. However, the line did a nice job as the Bruins rushed for 12 net yards. Get ready for Illinois’ mobile quarterback, Juice Williams.
B+
LINEBACKERS
Thomas Williams forced a fumble and broke up a pass while Rey Maualuga made eight tackles and did not overpursue. Keith Rivers also forced a fumble despite playing with a sprained ankle that forced him to leave the game.
B-
DEFENSIVE BACKS
It’s the old dilemma. Does the inept passing attack with rusty Patrick Cowan penalize the pass defense? Of course it does. But Terrell Thomas did make his fourth interception on a horribly thrown ball.
C+
SPECIAL TEAMS
Joe McKnight’s fumble came at running back and not punt return, so that’s not an issue here. But David Buehler missed a 40-yard field and the punting was average. At least UCLA did not return a kickoff for a touchdown.
C
COACHING
This wasn’t one of the more impressive victories over UCLA in the Pete Carroll era. But it beat losing to Stanford. USC had too much talent for its opponent, so a gold star to Carroll for recruiting but there were no game-plan revelations out there.
C+
________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail!
\
As I stated on the bruin blog, offensively it was pretty poor for both teams, although stellar defenses were undoubtedly a factor in making both teams look pretty average. But it was fun getting about 250 yards on the ground. Still, it was not a game I liked a lot because it was only the bruins, and they're not good. Troy should have done better.
Bottom line, SC did not deserve to play in the national championship game, although they probably would have had had they beaten Oregon. But even a healthy Booty in Eugene that day would have been hard-pressed to beat Dixon. Recall, the Ducks kind of let up on offense when they got ahead by 14 points. That Dixon had the quickest first step I have ever seen in a football player.
I agree, for the most part, with your grades Scotty. But why-oh-why must you continue to pick on Matt Leinart at every opportunity. I remember his final game against FUCLA, and as I remember, he was high with his balls and wasn't particularly sharp. What was sharp about that game, however, was the 66 points he (and Reggie and company) hung on the Fighting Ursa Minors. I don't really care what kind of stats the quarterback rings up when he leads his team to well over "half a hundy".
I'm sorry that Matt rejected your advances, and I'm sorry you're not in his Fav 5's, but give it a rest already. I think its safe to say, that all of us have grown tired of hearing you and "Douche-Nozzle" Petros ripping our most successful quarterback of all-time. I request that this is the last time you even bring up his name, because clearly, you are incapable of doing so in a positive manner.
Thanks in advance for your cooperation!
Any win over FUCLA is an A+ in my book!
Where are 13-9, 100 title, reelbruin, etc. now? Oh yeah, looking for a new head coach.
FIGHT ON!!!
sureshot and mike:
When Sánchez takes over in 08 we'll get even with the MM club ambassador!
One more thing Matt Leinart was a first round draft choice. JDB is lucky if he goes in the third round, OK SW?
It seemed to me Booty hurt his throwing hand on the UCLA facemask play. I saw him checking his hand out, the next play was the handoff for the TD. After that he couldn't throw for sh*t.
How does the running game (linemen and running backs combined) get a B and B-. UCLA has one of the best defenses in the conference, and was clearly superior just a season ago. Overcoming all of that, working with three injured warriors playing through the pain and then putting over 2 bills on UCLA in a game that mattered should get you more than B. McKnight and his fumbling is getting tired though. If he can't handle the job, give him a black shirt and have him earn it like Stafon and Chauncey had to.
dog:
Great point and I saw that, too. He actually grabbed his right hand with his left and then you could see clearly his painful expression. The running game by McKnight, Johnson and Washington(228 yds combined) bailed out JDB and USC...
The only thing Sanchez will ever take over in the future is some prison team. He's finished at SC. Everyone close to the program knows Mustain will start in 2008.
Dog:
Great observation...I sat back in my seat at the game and at no point in time did I see Sanchez warming up. Injuries have plagued this team all season and I'm just starting to question their conditioning and proactive and reactive they are to injuries. As for Sanchez...people need to lay off the prison talk/or the negative off-field crap cause its getting old.
Disagree with you, TroJay21. There has to be accountability in life. If someone has done something that has brought shame to the university, it should not be glanced over. Sanchez is hardly a saint and that is quite well known. The arrest for sexual assault is simply just one of many off the field issues with Sanchez.
Agree with the above statement re: next year - Sanchez's days at USC are numbered. The coaches have no faith in him. None whatsoever.
insignia:
The law says you are innocent until proven guilty>fact, therefore lay-off Sánchez>old garbage. Your hypocritical sermon stinks. I am Catholic though NOT a practicing one and you sound like a hypocritical Catholic. Sánchez had his day in court. Why should he be held hostage to the court of public opinion? Are you perfect and immaculate? I really hope someone here knows you so we can dig some of your dirt and throw it back in your damn face. Be careful with what you wish for.
Finally the usual suspects/Sánchez haters are it again.
The saving grace is that PC is going into next season keeping the QB position as something earned not given...we all have our opinions, however I still read this blog and ask myself why everybody INCLUDING SW is on Mustain's jock. I followed that recruiting year, and I couldn't understand why Mustain ended up at Arkansas(he could of ended up anywhere, yet went to ARKANSAS of all places...which raises his ability to make a sound decision) now he's at SC...unfortunately, I can't help question why and how he ended up at SC(maybe Damian Williams had something to do with it since he followed him and his HC to Arkansas). We all know what went down there and what caused him to transfer...hell, it was one big sh*t show that belonged on some gossip column which worries me now that he's transferred to LA...gossip capital of the world. All I have to say is before we start anointing Mustain as our savior and chastising Sanchez as this criminal, just remember who's coming to OUR program with some baggage.
TroJay21:
I am the #1 Mark Sánchez fan. This is the ONLY blog where the MM supporters get attention thanks to SW the ambassador. This blog is so small that is why the five or six(at the most) usual suspects can survive. You don't see this MM support in other blogs.