Answer Tuesday, Part VI!

Q: Will USC sit Allen Bradford down and let him redshirt like they did to C.J. Gable last year to keep him with two years of eligilbity since there are no running back commintments for this year?

A: He is going to try to practice today but my experience is players with torn labrums experience difficulty playing through the pain and many require surgery. So if he redshirts, I think it would be legitimate.

Q: What are your thoughts on Cushing at middle linebacker. I thought that he looked great there... Much more instinctive than Maualuga. I think that Maualuga's size, speed and big hits get him a lot of national exposure, but Cushing is the superior player.

A: Cushing is probably a natural middle linebacker so it wasn't that big a deal to switch him over. He played pretty well against Oregon in his first start and I think he was less apt to overpursue. It's not hard to imagine him staying there this week if Maualuga is unable to play, although USC could return him to strongside linebacker and start Chris Galippo. That might happen because Arizona State runs a traditional offense compared to Oregon and it's not as difficult for the middle linebacker to read plays.

Q: You have constantly stated or implicated that McKnight is a threat to transfer at any time should his playing decrease in the least bit. Why do you think that Joe is such a concern to transfer and that is why Carroll inexplicably gives him so much playing time? I have not heard anything from McKnight, Carroll or anybody else besides you that would lead me to believe he has any inclination to split at the first sign of adversity.

A: There are a lot of things that happen within the program that you and no one else ever hears about, but are nevertheless concerns to the coaching staff. My reasons for saying this stem from the fact McKnight got homesick several times last year and his situation was closely monitored by the coaching staff. If they were worried, then it became a legitimate issue.This can happen to a lot of players, whether from Louisiana and New Jersey (remember Dwayne Jarrett). I do not think homesickness is as big a concern today as last year, but since he did not redshirt, he could easily transfer if he felt like it (unlike C.J. Gable).