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Even after less than impressive senior seasons, Oscar Lua and Matt Cassel were both drafted by Pete Carroll's former pro team. Is this a coincidence or was he taking care of his former players who accepted their roles as non-starters without public complaints?

Ranking the QBs on your Euro scale, your latest grades were: Mark Sanchez €€€, Mitch Mustain €€€ and Aaron Corp €€. Did Leinart rate €€€€€?

Considering that the offense is going against the defense during practice or scrimages, isn't it hard to rate the team's performance? For every good play on one side of the ball it's a negative play for the other.

What is the possible justification that Mustain has not been allowed to compete for the QB spot, even after solid performances? Why would Sanchez be given a free pass based solely on having been in the system longer, even though he hasn't accomplished anything, both on and off the field, and has even been outplayed in the spring by Mustain? So why would Carroll claim that the spot is based on performance when that is clearly a lie? You need to get on top of this and make this a national issue, because this is a disgrace that will result in more SC losses since 2001, and goes against the propaganda out there that performance determines who starts.

SW, how are your camera skills? Does your blog allow for you to add photos? If so, does your budget allow you to add photos? And finally if yes to all of the previous, why don't you add photo's from Spring ball? Fight On!

There have been comments on the job the QBs are doing but have you heard comments from anyone "outside the program" on the job done coaching them? Three elite all-Americans and they all look mediocre? Corp (and Leinart) going outside the staff for help with mechanics. Booty never improving. Sounds like they really need a quarterback coach for different input, especially since they may have four all-Americans next year needing attention. Meanwhile, they have a tight ends coach and two and a half DB coaches (since Pete Carroll can help coach them). There may be more DB coaches than cornerbacks next year.

I'm confused a bit about the first-string vs. second-string defense caveat to the QBs' performance in last week's scrimmage. Presumably while Mustain was working out against the first team, Sanchez was facing the second team. So where were the long bomb touchdowns from Sanchez? If the caveat were valid, shouldn't they both have walloped the second-string? Shouldn't they both have posted big plays?

re: QB tutors - lots of elite QBs have them, I don't think thats anything new. Just like kids have hitting/pitching coaches outside of their regular teams.

Why some succeed and others don't professionally, thats another question. Leinart and Rothelsberger both use Steve Clarkson (Barkley/Clausen also use him).

Hi Scott:

I've been trying to track the shuffling on the OL this spring. Who appears to be competing for the backup to Byers right now?

In my opinion, the battle at tailback this year is a bigger story than how it was last year since now our stable of highly talented tailbacks are all healthy. With M. Tyler and B. Green back in to the fold, do you see them being able to take a significant amount of carries away from the active backs last year? Stafon and CJ were very efficient w/ the chances they had. JoeMac had moments. From what you've seen, do you think Tyler or Green have a chance cutting in line and possibly becoming a #2 back behind Stafon or Joe?

(Yeah, there's Bradford, but I honestly didn't see much from him last year.)

Scott:

Why has Steve Sarkisian changed his position so often on the criteria of choosing the next quarterback? First he said that Sanchez was the leader going in because of his knowledge of the playbook. Then two weeks ago, he said that it didn't matter how long someone has been at SC, citing the Matt Cassel/Matt Leinart situation in 2003. Last week, he said that Sanchez's three starts at SC meant nothing in regards to the competition and that it was an equal playing field, with neither Sanchez's starts nor Mustain's past starts at Arkansas being a factor in any way. Now, he says that experience in the system is all that matters. Does this not sound like Sarkisian is contradicting himself many times over?

Thanks in advance.

Scott, I'm curious as to how this year's Spring QB competition stacks up to the 2003 Spring competition in which Matt Leinart, Matt Cassel, and Brandon Hance battled it out. There didn't seem to be a clear winner at the end of Spring 2003 practices and yet, if I recall correctly, they named Leinart the starter. Specifically, how do the performances, understanding of the playbook, and coaches' opinions compare between years? For example, did Leinart and Cassel seem to perform better than Sanchez and Mustain, or are the two groups performing similarly?

If the coaches are truly interested in winning, then why don't they wait until the fall to name the quarterback, allowing all facets of a player's talents to be shown and allowing everyone equal opportunity to be on an even playing field? Right now, does it not seem that it is very unfair for Mitch Mustain to prove in only 15 short practices what he is capable of, especially since he is being restricted by what he can do by the coaches? Should 15 practices in the spring really determine who is to play an entire season, beginning in five months time?

What would you project as the starting lineup for next year's basketball team, assuming OJ Mayo leaves?

Scott, there are quite a few wide receivers competing for 2-3 positions, so how do you see the wide receiver positions playing out at this point in spring practice, with empahsis on who you think will be worked into the rotation and who you think might be left sitting on the bench when the season starts?

What would you project as the starting lineup for next year's basketball team, assuming OJ Mayo leaves?

Just what in the playbook is it that Sanchez knows that Mustain will not be able to learn by the fall? Only a limited number of plays are drawn for each week, so what's to say that Mustain will not be able to have those plays down during game week preparation?

So let's say that Sanchez plays like Sanchez usually plays and USC loses a couple of games early, with Sanchez continuing to have problems in other games, too -- does Pete Carroll then replace him with Mitch Mustain during the season, or will he stick to his tradition of keeping a quarterback in hell or high water, no matter whether the ship is sinking and the BCS hopes are fading?

You said that R. Carroll did not attend UCLA's Junior Day... Did any other 2009 USC commitments attend that you are aware of? THANKS>>>

Scott, how would you compare this years oline class against others in the Pete Carroll era?

I just remembered that USC recently announced the numbers on the coming year's crop of replica jerseys: 6 (Sanchez), 4 (McKnight) and 13 (Johnson).

How unbiased can the QB competition be really if SC has already ordered up a bunch of Sanchez jerseys? And if it truly is an open competition what did SC think would happen if the coaches chose Mustain? Iron transfer a bunch of 1's in front of the 6?

What is the worst behavior you ever saw ex-basketball coach Henry Bibby engage in on or off the court? Describe something positive Henry Bibby did on or off the court that might surprise people who think he is an unpleasant and petty person.

What are the odds on the following:

1-Rick Neuheisel recruiting violation puts UCLA football program on probation. (Neuheisel asked CIA to re-position spy satellite camera for live feed of USC practices at Howard Jones Field.)

2-UCLA goes on Pac-10 probation after conference officials discover Neuheisel ran a March Madness Betting Pool for the football office (and he won).

3-Forrest Gump reportedly is spotted sprinting across campus in Westwood and is offered a football scholarship to play tailback for the Bruins. (UCLA officials are embarrassed to find out that Gump was a fictional character played by actor Tom Hanks, who has lost a step in recent years, in addition to not making many good movies.)

4-Pete Carroll is asked by one of the Presidential candidates to run on the ticket for Vice President. (Carroll politely declines, since he already is the King of L.A.)

5-Unable to hire any more USC assistant coaches, UCLA offers Traveler a full ride for all his ponies if he promises to run around the Rose Bowl every time UCLA scores a touchdown. (Traveler turns this opportunity down due to fear of inactivity.)

6-UCLA sells out its ticket allocation to a bowl game.

7-USC has more players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft than UCLA. (Bruin fans claim this is because NBA scouts have no idea what they're doing, and even if they do, so what, UCLA is better no matter what.)

8-Norm Chow sees he has absolutely no talent to work with and retires before spring practice.

Ok,I'm coming over to the dark side regarding baseball. Except for the UCLA serious (and they are worse than we are), we are embarrasing. While not football or Bball, this isn't swimming either. Is there any movement toward a change from the "son in law"??? How bad does a proud program have to gets?

Scott:

Since it doesn't look like the band is going to do a reworking of an Elton John classic titled the "Mitch is Back". What will the band do for Mark Sanchez? A reworking of "Eres Tu"?1?! I would definitely get amped for that one!

HI WOLFIE:

Based on his practices and work habits, in addition to what we have seen on TV,or in person at the games, do you think JOE McKNIGHT has a very good chance to be another REGGIE BUSH before his career at SC is over?

As always, thanks in advance, and thanks, sincere thanks, for the forums.

Has the secret service been removed from the Mitch Mustain detail?

Do think the NCAA should consider implementing scheduling restrictions to ensure that a team does not ridiculously over-load their home schedule, and would you, as an AP voter, use the home/away game schedule as a factor in your rankings? Specifically, LSU's 8 home games with only 4 road games for the 2008 season...

Rather than posting yet another poll question asking your readers who they think is leading the QB race, or is playing better (that's all been done enough times by now; we're not getting anything new posting the same question over and over again), how about posting a question as to whether they think the QB "derby" has really been open and based on competition and talent, or has it been an indefensible sham?

Scott-

There have been numerous articles in the media these past few weeks, including national publications, bringing up Mark Sanchez's arrest for sexual assault, as well as his other off the field issues, just as there had been last season during the time when he played for the injured John David Booty, so do you think this issue will keep being brought up in the future by the media since it does not appear to be going away? Do you think it will continue to haunt him, both in the media and when he plays at away stadiums?

Fight on!

Why will Pete Carroll not wait until the fall to name the next starting quarterback and provide a more equal playing field for Mitch Mustain, which could, subsequently, even benefit the team? Is there a possibility that he will actually wait until the fall to name the quarterback or has the decision to prematurely name the starter in the spring already been made?

Hey Scott, what actually happened between the first scrimmage on Sunday and the next practice on Tuesday to completely change the equation in the QB race? Mitch Mustain was being praised following the scrimmage (even equaling value in Euros with Mark Sanchez on your rankings!) and was getting great praise all around; then by Tuesday, it was all irrelevant and actually ended up being for nothing, even though the scrimmage performance was being lauded all around as the best performance of the three QBs throughout the spring. So my question is, what happened between Sunday and Tuesday and what more could Sark and PC want from Mitch that he has not been able to deliver to them? It seems like whenever he has been asked to do something, Mitch has done it, never complained, and certainly no worse than Sanchez. What's the deal?

Norm Chow recently stated that regardless if it's Olsen or Cowan starting, UCLA will be "In the gun."

I'm not really a fan of it but why didn't Norm use the shotgun while at USC?
And if USC starts to use the shotgun can you try and start a trend using the expression "in the gun?"

Norm Chow recently stated that whether it's Olsen or Cowan starts, UCLA will "be in the gun."

I'm not really a fan of the shotgun but why didn't Norm use it at USC?
And if USC does start using the shotgun, can you start a trend of using the expression "in the gun?"

Scott,
It has been proven that Howland’s Basketball Gulag may win the Pac-10 but it can’t win a National Championship. Do you think the top So Cal recruits will continue flocking to UGLA to play his wrenching, suffocating, bureaucratically micromanaged, and ridiculously boring style of Gulag Ball –née Ben Ball?
p.s: Dohn keeps deleting this question.

how can you stand next to "sark" with how laughing out loud?

how can you stand next to "sark" with out laughing out loud?

scott I have no idea if my previous Q posted...hell I never know if any of them posts until I check 3 days later...

OK here's another...you have posted in previous years (although not so far this year) about the teams "chemistry". "there is 1 or 2 standouts" "it's a quiet team unlike last year" etc...what is the team's chemistry this year? And, how much chance do you see for arguments? Since our O-line is going to suck how much complaining are the RB's going to do? Do you see MM making derogatory comments ? Any finger pointing going to be going on after we lose to Ohio st. or the once yearly cupcake?

Scott, the family and I are traveling to L.A. next weekend and we thought we might check out the Trojan Huddle. It would be our first time, so in all seriousness can you provide any tips? Good place to sit? Best time to arrive? Any activities before/after scrimmage? Concessions or bring-your-own? Anything else we should know?

I'm confused. I just read that the Trojan Huddle isn't going to be televised because of concerns by PC that opponents could "scout" the team by watching the scrimmage, but that it is going to be "broadcast" on USCTrojans.com.

Does Pete really expect us to think that no one at OSU can work out how to subscribe to CSTV?

So when you used the word charade when talking about the QB race, what was the response?

So when you used the word charade when talking about the QB race, what was the response?

Hey Scott,

Totally random question - but if you had to list off the 5 fastest players on the football team (regardless of position), who would you say they were and what order would you put them in. Also, if you wouldn't mind - what would you guesstimate their 40-times as? Thanks!!

Hey Scott,

Totally random question - but if you had to list off the 5 fastest players on the football team (regardless of position), who would you say they were and what order would you put them in. Also, if you wouldn't mind - what would you guesstimate their 40-times as? Thanks!!

Stanley Havili failed to knock anyone's socks off lat year and made a few mistakes, which some say caused him to lose confidence.

Now that all the big backs seem to be ready to jump into the fold, does it seem likely that the door of opportunity has closed for Havili?

Scott:

With the announcement this week that our hero Mitch Mustain has decided to allow his "competition" to be under the impression that he is the starter during the spring and summer before he steps in to save the day for the Trojans in the fall, and the recent announcement that you now have an exclusive three movie deal with our hero Mitch Mustain, this raises some serious questions:

1) Can you confirm the rumors going around Hollywood that the sequel is called "Mitch and Me 2: The Electric Boogaloo"?

2) Will the bicycle that our hero Mitch Mustain rides in "Mitch and Me" have a reference in its design to the General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard, in honor of his Southern heritage?

3) Does the fact that our hero Mitch Mustain has allowed his "competition" to think he's a starter for the next few months not exhibit the great sign of a leader, that of generosity and compassion for the less fortunate?

4) When our hero Mitch Mustain decides to finally step in and save the day after the debacle that will be caused by his "competition," will expectations have hit an all-time high, with new folk songs have been written about our hero?

5) Will the Trojan Marching Band's new theme song be Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out For a Hero'?

Fight On!