Bowl Effect
There's been a lot of focus on quarterback Mark Sanchez's big Rose Bowl performance, but does anyone remember how awful USC's running game was against Penn State. If the Trojans are going to be BCS contenders next year, someone needs to show clear improvement next season because it didn't happen this season.
That running game will improve vastly since the O line will be better from the get-go and more experienced. The passing game will open up more based on more trust because of Sanchez' experience and the improved status of the receivers. So opening up and being more dangerous in the passing game obviously will help the running game!
I do remember the lackluster running game...it was the main reason why Penn State was able to make the final score look respectable. I'm nitpicking here, but the pass protection was great but the running holes were few and far between.
I don't think you can make judgements off of one game.
USC averaged almost 200 yards rushing a game (five a carry) last season, so how awful was its running game over the course of the year? And even if it was, score 38 points in beating the No. 8 team in the nation by a couple touchdowns, and why would clear improvement be necessary to be a BCS contender in 2009?
I'm guessing that SC took what Penn St gave them. Why keep running into a stacked d-line when the pass coverage wasn't very good?
Actually,
Johnson looked good, and the yardage is a little skewed because of the bad punt at the end
What are you guys talking about, Scott had to say something negative or controversial. SC will never be good in his eyes in less it is perfect, i.e., 200 yards rushing, 400 yards passing, 40+ points, +3 turnovers, 4 penalties for 25 yards and oh yeah, undefeated.
Where's the yellow brick road when you need it....
P.S. and the song girls are from Oregon
I recall that the O line was the big question at the beginning of the year and the D was the experienced group. Now that will be changed a bit next year, and our running game and overall offense should improve, including our QB who will have a year under his belt. Seems like we need to be concentrating on who will be stepping in for RayRay, Taylor Mays, et al., rather than the O line which will have the benefit of a year's experience and this Rose Bowl to give it confidence. I for one am looking forward to next year and hoping Sanchez, Gable, and all return. Somehow PC and company always seem to put together an amazing group. It will be exciting. PS, despite their experience and all, even our No. 1 D couldn't stop Quizz Rogers when it counted. No one's perfect. That's why college FB is so exciting, never know what will happen.
SC was a BCS contender THIS YEAR, even with their curent running game. Silly Wolf-bag. You make no sense. Silly, silly, fart-smelling Wolf-bag.