Answer Monday!
In this segment, a reader questions why I say Pete Carroll dropped the ball in recruiting the past few years.
Q: Ren Lopez said:
Could any redshirt years have been sacrificed to shore up depth this year? In your opinion, should any of these true freshman played given the depth issues?
A: Maybe Anthony Brown or Dion Bailey in the secondary because it was apparent the coaches had no faith in Demetrius Wright even after Jawanza Starling and T.J. McDonald were hurt. If D.J. Morgan were healthy from the outset, he would have helped too. But most of the other players were wise redshirt decisions. I'm sure if USC were not on probation, Kyle Prater would not have redshirted. But depth wasn't an issue at receiver.
Q: Yoda said:
a disaster, former trOJie Chow has been for Bruins.
downgraded from Jedi Master to Padewon, he has been.
little chance he returns to Bruins, i sense.
agree, do you?
A: I've heard he does not think he will return to UCLA next season.
Q: Sam Gilbert said:
Any idea what recruits Rick Neuheisel had at the game?
A: Running back Harvey Langi, the best player in Utah, was at the game. He has narrowed his choices to USC, UCLA, BYU, Utah and Oregon. Offensive guard Joshua Garnett (6-5, 285) from Puyallup High in Wash., also attended, but is a 2012 recruit.
Q: Edward said:
How can you continue to blame PETE CARROLL, and staff, for "leaving the cupboard bare" for the new coaching staff? For various reasons USC lost at (LB) Jones, Telfort, Campbell, Kavienga, Tatum, and JCAA Stanley; (DL) the Jackson brothers, Griffen, and Tupou; (OL) Henderson; (DB) Baucham,(early), McAllister, Hall, and Moore; (Skill) Shoemate, McKnight, Green, Vainuku, and Jeffery, over the the last few recruiting classes. They went hard after Te'o and Burfict, lost JCAA OT Cullen to Utah at the last minute. And who knows how many recruits didn't sign because of the pending sanctions, or after the axe fell. Without all these players, they still left them with a great group of athletes. Yes, depth was a problem.
A: I do not think there is any question recruiting tailed off the last few years of the Carroll era, and I especially blame his son, who was recruiting coordinator. The simple fact is there was no one to stand up to Pete Carroll when he needed to be reigned in regarding recruiting decisions. In the past, Ed Orgeron and Lane Kiffin performed that role.
Look at some of the names you list in your question: Campbell, Kavienga, Vainuku. Are those USC-caliber players?
And frankly, I think USC dropped the ball with Vontaze Burfict by allowing him to believe he might not qualify academically and to a lesser degree with Manti T'eo, by being overconfident he would simply choose USC because Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing were two of the best linebackers in the country.
Depth is one issue. Quality of recruits is another. That is where I really blame Carroll.
I can't blame Carroll on T'eo. That was a two-for-one with T'eo's cub scout buddy, and this is football, not basketball.
For once, SW is right on about Pete's kid. He's just like goo goo, riding daddy's coattails. Pathetic. I admit he got better, but was another David Robinson. Is he coaching now? No. Must be nice to be like goo goo.....a spoiled brat that doesn't have to make his own way in life.
BoscoH....I've got to differ with you on this. I'd gladly take his buddy to get Te'o. We've got other players who didn't pan out, and they didn't deliver a player like Te'o.
LOL @ Langi. He's slow and plays against zero competition in Utah.
NOBS, how was that ass rape on Saturday by Monopoly?
goo goo, does daddy know you're on the computer again? get back to your color book and leave us big boys alone.
Still sore from the raping eh NOBS? Monopoly really nailed you, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!
goo goo, you've been SCHOOLED......AGAIN. ROIYLMAO
You are hilarious for a first grader.