Some experience
USC lost four starters on its offensive line, but that's really not quite as dramatic as it sounds. Center Kris O'Dowd started the first three games as a true freshman until he injured his knee. Tackle Butch Lewis started in place of All-American Sam Baker and played respectable. Guard Zack Heberer started two games and tackle Charles Brown started one.
No question, there is a drop-off on the offensive line and at quarterback. Running backs and receivers should be improved, however. Of course, without adequate blocking the backs' rushing yards might not be better than last year. And the defense will be not be as good. Overall, I would take the 2007 team over the 2008, but that is not to say that '08 can be a very good year; there is talent there, just undeveloped.
Has any seen Scott lately? This clearly is NOT Scott blogging. Call the LAPD, campus police, FBI, CIA, NSA, TMB, Pete and Tim.... is he pinned under a barbell in the weight room??
Where is Scott??...who saw him last? This is not good.. check the LA Times storage rooms, he could be locked in with the old manual typewriters.
I don't agree that the O-line and QB is a drop-off. The O-line had a drop-off when O'Dowd got injured last year. And the nightmare of John David Booty is over!
BSMBT - very true, this post lacks Schmeagol's usually pomposity, certainly someone has hacked into his account and posted this bit of useful information.
Lawyer john is one of the best posters on here he's got some info guys...
I basically agree with him...the O-line is gonna be down. But remember, a line with sam baker, chilo, jeff byers, etc., is going to be hard to duplicate. They will be OK but definately not one of our best lines. O'Dowd is a monster already and Byers will make holes. B. Lewis is average, like LJ said he needs work. Same for Thomas Herring. I don't have much faith in charles brown or zack heberer or Nick Howell, to be honest. Charles brown is a converted TE who hasn't played much and heberer got pushed all over the place by Idaho and Stanford players. None were highly rated O-line prospects coming out of high school. From what I saw on www.wearesc.com before they banned me, they are going to move Lewis to RT so they don't have 2 weak players (heberer, brown) on the right side together.
And logically, if the O-line can't make holes, where is mcknight/tyler/CJ/Stafon et al going to run to?
I disagree with LJ about is the WR position. I don't think they will get better. Scott has posted how alot of them have already "maxed out" and I agree. PT has been here for 3 years and done squat. Obviously he will try a little harder this year since NFL combine is coming, but he is basically marking time until he goes pro. (Or else he would of done something by now.) Same for VH...he has enough talent to catch 100 passes a year but he's a loaf, also. He's 6'2 or 6'3, can fly, and had great hands in high school like lester Hayes with stickum. He's done squat, too. Same for Ausberry. Hell Ausberry was tanking it so bad last year they benched him. I saw him cost JDB 2 INT's because he didn't finish his routes, and when Booty threw to a spot..OOPS! No Ausberry but a Stanford DB was there.
I also wouldn't say the QB will drop off. I know it's logical to say that, but JDB, although a nice guy, is not a very good QB. His style of dropping back, standing there locking onto the primary WR and gunning it flat and straight at 110 mph just isn't going to cut it. That's he went in what, the 4th or 5th round or something? Sanchez will be an improvment, he has alot better touch on his passes, can throw the long ball (JDB can't hit the broad side of a barn over 20 yds) and has mobility
by JDB...!! Thanks for the batted passes and you can keep the UCLA choke..
beyond that LJ is right though..
The defensive line won't be anywhere near as good sans Sedrick Ellis, as well as Lawrence Jackson, to some extent, but the linebackers should be better -- another year of maturity for Rey, and, if healthy, Cushing; Kaluka Maiava turned around the Rose Bowl with his strip, and Luther Brown and Chris Galippo played in the spring like they could start for every team (save maybe Ohio State) on USC's schedule this fall -- and though thin, I think this shapes up as the best secondary of the Carroll Era.
Thanks for the praise RickyIrvins, although probably not warranted, and also a surprise inasmuch as I have criticized you in the past for criticizing our boys too heavily.
It still amazes me how so many SC fans do not appreciate John Booty. He was the Pac-10 quarterback of the year in 2007; he lost 4-games in his 2-year career; and the pros recognized him by selecting him as the, what, 6th or 7th quarterback in the entire nation. Sounds pretty good to me.
Sanchez will be hard-pressed to do as well, just as Booty was in an impossible situation following the great Matt Leinart.
Our "splits" will be better. Remember, these are young kids of 18-21, and an extra year of maturity is a big plus. Sanchez's ball is more catchable than Booty's, which will help out the corps. And recall how graduating Davis was no great shake when he arrived, and look how he developed.
The defense will be interesting because, as Matt so adeptly pointed out above, the line cannot be as strong, but the linebackers and secondary probably will be improved. So that equates to more opponent short yardage gains busting through our line, but the 'backers should negate any long runs. And the secondary might improve on last year's team insofar as yardage given up. So maybe the 2008 defense will be better than 2007.
This is part of what makes sports so much fun, the speculation.