The Blog of Tommy Trojan

Week Three Rankings

2006-09-20T23:58:00.000-07:00

Got some time to update the rankings so here we go...only ten though.

1. Ohio State
Biggest win of the year (Texas) and best offense in the nation (and one of the top 10 defenses surprisingly). Two possible Heismans doesn't hurt either.

2. USC
Best team in '06 (don't bother arguing) that reloaded with three consecutive #1 recruiting classes. A strong win over Nebraska while not even playing their best ball. DJ also showed why he is the #1 wideout in the nation. Is Booty not the most attractive dark horse Heisman choice - 6TDs-0INTs!

3. Auburn
Is probably 2nd in a lot of other rankings. Escaped against LSU with its undefeated hopes still alive, but barely. Kenny Irons' Heisman season is still alive and if Auburn goes all the way, Irons has to get it.

4. LSU
Sure they lost, but who cares. They should have beat the #3 team. They have a legit defense and a decent enough offense that it should win tough games if JaMarcus Russell can hit some more open receivers.

5. Michigan
They weren't too impressive in the first two games, but were EXTREMELY impressive in the third. I was never on ND's bandwagon (I thought they had a questionable defense and weak running game), but ND was a solid team and Michigan went into their home and kicked their ass. Their matchup against Ohio St. should be great, until kickoff at least.

6. West Virginia
I am just not convinced they are that good, but they have played well and have an easy, easy schedule, which should guarantee this team a trip to the BCS and perhaps the national championship. Slaton is leading Heisman candidate as of this moment, but I don't think WV will get enough credit to get him the award.

7. Texas
Still a good team with a pretty easy schedule. All their success will be based on the performance of their young QB. The longhorns will probably also take down the Red River Shootout this year.

8. Florida
Just got by a spotty Tennessee team, which is sometimes really good and sometimes really bad. Florida could take the SEC, but its unlikely, I just don't think Chris Leak has it in him to win it all.

9. Oregon
I hate to put them here, especially because they haven't won any games in a convincing fashion. They had to get lucky against both Fresno State and Oklahoma and could easily be 1-2. Jonathan Stewart is a beast, WILL be a Heisman before he leaves (you see the campaign Oregon brought out for Harrington a couple years ago?).

10. Notre Dame
ND isn't bad, but they're not great, expect them to drop outta the top 10-15 if their defense doesn't get its act together. Brady Quinn is also throwing away an easy Heisman with 3 INTs vs. Michigan.

Early Week 3 Reflections

2006-09-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

I missed updating last week, but if USC is off, then usually I will be too.

Week 2 did not have too many crazy upsets. I thought Ohio St. did exactly what they were expected to, which was beat Texas. Ohio St. continued it this week by whooping on Cincinnati.

In today's news, Miami is now the new Nebraska...and by that I mean, former dominating team that is no longer in the top 25, facing future questions regarding the abilities of the coaching staff and likley to have a two year lull before returning to any resemblance of prominence. Seriously. Miami couldn't keep up with Louisville, who I truly believe is not a BCS-caliber team. However, this win over Miami will probably be used to vault Louisville higher and higher into the BCS spotlight. Miami is not a solid team and their future doesn't seem to be much brighter.

Brady Quinn fell a bunch spots in the Heisman race, in fact he might need a parachute he fell so far. Michigan has not been very dominating so far this year, yet they looked absolutely great today. He will have to be MUCH better to pull it out (and for ND to win). Luckily he is on the most popular and historic team in football history, which gives him more leeway in making mistakes.

So how far is ND going to fall now? First they fall after barely beating GA Tech, then they go to #2 because they destroyed a decent Penn State team. I can't wait to see how much the ND-exaggeration factor pulls ND down.

I think Kenny Irons stays atop my Heisman ballot. His team won a hard fought game against a very good team, especially defensively, and he had a decent game. If Auburn wins out, which I believe this Auburn team can, he is going to get the award, no two ways about it. Top player on potentially the top team. ND losing and Quinn throwing 3 INTs helps everyone else in the race a lot. Steve Slaton is likely Irons' other biggest obstacle - just wait for Auburn QB Brian Cox to "Tonya Harding" Steve Slaton and this thing is over.

On another Heisman note, Jonathan Stewart is good. Just thought I'd let you know in case you missed him. Don't worry, you will hear a lot about him and very soon because....he good, damn good.

I cannot believe Cal scheduled Portland State. Geez. I don't get teams that schedule these games. I just cannot respect that, it's not even close, especially for Cal. If it was Stanford, then ok, because they suck. But Cal is supposed to be a top 20 team, they shouldn't be playing teams that aren't even in the top 100. By the way, did Cal beat Portland St? Well, you never know with Cal.

Anyways, USC is coming up, FIGHT ON!

Week One Rankings

2006-09-05T00:55:00.000-07:00

A whole lot of business going on this week, so here is my week one rankings:

1. OSU
Played a weak first week opponent, but still the top team to beat. We will see if they or Texas is for real after this week.

2. USC
One of the few teams to play a real team in the first week. Played them in the other team's backyard and kicked the crap out of them. Schedule also favors USC which is one reason to rank them so high. I'm happy about the week off before Nebraska.

3. West Virginia
The Mountaineers had a great first week and play in a weak conference so they get the three spot here. Lousiville losing RB Michael Bush for the year also helps a lot.

4. Auburn
I didn't originally think they should be ranked so high, but after watching them take Wazzou apart...RB Kenny Irons looked great and could easily walk away with the Heisman this year.

5. Notre Dame
Didn't look great against GA Tech. QB Brady Quinn didn't have any TDs, but got the win, which at this point is the most important thing. I think if the ND offense can't improve, they will not win as many games as people think, the Yellowjackets are exactly the toughest defense around.

6. Texas
I didn't think Texas would be as good as people think, but they did what they had to do, which is destroy North Texas in the opener. I think it was a good way to introduce QB Colt McCoy, but the upcoming game against OSU is the real way to measure how good he really is. I think OSU takes it because of the veteran QB at OSU and the inexperience at QB for Texas. However, Texas should not drop out of the top 10.

7. FSU
Florida State, even though I can't stand them, looked good in the Orange Bowl tonight. Playing a pretty decent Canes team, FSU played good defense and had just enough offense. If QB Drew Weatherford can keep improving, this team will be a scary team. Don't forget this team took a very solid Penn State the distance last year. I would also like to note that FSU RB Lorenzo Booker was going to come to USC before committing to FSU - I really don't think we missed out too much...

8. Tennessee
Nobody thought the Vols would bring it this year, but they looked very legit against Cal - a very, very suspect team if there ever was one. Cal could show up as a national title contender and then play the next week the way they did at Rocky Top. And I believe the Cal that USC will play is going to be much different than the one Tennessee played. The Vols had the Bears on the run the entire game and Cal made WR Robert Meachum (sp ck) look like Jerry Rice. I'm interested to see how the Vols do once they start conference play.

9. Michigan
The Wolverines are always in the BCS picture. QB Chad Henne and RB Michael Hart are also a potent 1-2 punch. But the Big Blue tend to stumble so don't be surprised to see a solid Iowa team in the top 10 with some solid wins.

10. Oregon/LSU
Both teams did well, won and are still basically under the radar. They are not getting as much heat as some other teams which could help them avoid getting every team's best shot the way USC or Notre Dame or OSU might. Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart and LSU QB JaMarcus Russell are dark horse candidates on my Heisman list. I really like Stewart and would have liked him to come to USC (but he HAD to choose the Ducks) and be the next great USC RB.

Big Losers of Week One:

1. Colorado
How do you lose to I-AA Montana St.?

2. Louisville
Got the win, but lose your #1 RB Michael Bush...FOR THE SEASON! Could be the one thing to win the Heisman for QB Brian Brohm.

3. Oklahoma
Got exposed by an alright UAB team. RB Adrian Peterson did alright, but QB Paul Thompson is going to need a lot of help. I even think Colorado could take them.

4. Cal
I think I said all I needed to up top. Although I would say that bringing an inexperienced QB into a place like Rocky Top is a tough obstacle to overcome. But they should still drop big-time, maybe to the 20-23 area.

USC v. Ar-Kansas

2006-09-05T00:41:00.000-07:00

Leinart who? (Offense)

Ok, so I don't think anyone is going to forget Ole Matty Leinart that quick buuuut...John David Booty really made a good attempt at it. Playing in hostile territory against a team that even the "great" Lou Holtz believed would upset USC, Booty had a great first start. 250+ yards passing, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions. Last part was as important as the 3 TDs. Booty proved he could run the offense and distribute the ball. Although, I would have liked to see the running game do a little bit better, but nevertheless, the offense looked very strong in the second half. The first half was a bit scary because we couldn't get the ball in the endzone very well.

Big Number - 5 (Defense)

I'm not talking about Reggie Bush, the most famous #5 to pass through Herritage Hall. No, five is for the number of takeaways. Fumble Felix Jones, the backup RB for Arkansas, did a good job of bumping our giveaway-takeaway ratio with 3 fumbles, especially big ones on their own side of the field. USC continued its history under Coach Pete Carroll of being ballhawks and making big plays of getting the ball on defense. Winning games, especially in tough places, has a lot to do with who protects the ball - one thing USC did great and Arkansas didn't. All the linebackers at USC looked great and were all over the field. I think a lot of teams are going to have a hell of a time strategizing to beat this defense.

Pinkard Out

I'm not sure of anything right now, but maybe someone else can offer some information on how safety Josh Pinkard is doing after getting injured in the Arkansas game. Pinkard is a big part of the USC defense and would be a big loss if he misses the rest of the season...

I'm really interested to hear what other people thought of the game?

I'm Back!

2006-09-05T00:40:00.000-07:00

Thomas Trojan has returned to USC and is back with a mean streak! It was a big opening weekend of college football so let's get to work...

Dark Days Ahead...

2006-05-12T10:06:00.000-07:00

These are some unusually dark days for Troy right now, something many young Trojans fans have not been used to. I won't go into detail about any of the scandals still rocking USC, instead I will direct you to a place that still seems to put out good news about the Trojans, at least for recruiting.

http://trojansfootball.blogspot.com/

"When It Rains It Pours"

2006-04-28T13:06:00.000-07:00

That's what I've been hearing a lot lately from Trojan fans regarding the recent scandals involving Reggie Bush and Mark Sanchez. I haven't taken the time to write about it here because I have been commenting mostly on other blogs. I will take these scandals one at a time.

Reggie Bush & Co.'s Home

It goes without saying that I hope all the scandals that hit USC are false, but I have to say that I believe that this recent one involving Bush and his family is true. I don't think any less of Reggie Bush, but it does hurt his incredibly positive image that this news has come out. The one thing about this that I cannot stand is that people believe the university and the athletic department should be on top of these issues and know all about them. That idea is plain ridiculous! USC (and all major schools) can barely keep these players in line, which is difficult given that these are still young men. How can they be expected to know what each and every family is doing or make sure they are complying with NCAA rules (which are somewhat ridiculous in and of themselves)? USC cannot possible be expected to take ANY responsibility for things like this other than to make sure everyone knows the rules (which I have heard that USC did let Bush and his family know all the NCAA rules).

Mark Sanchez Arrested

This news is especially devestating to Trojan fans because while Bush is one of the greats to wear Cardinal and Gold, Bush is gone and Sanchez is the future. With Booty's inability to stay healthy, USC could very likely have to turn to Sanchez to run the offense in the upcoming season. But that was all last week's news. Now, Sanchez is arrested, jailed and accused of sexual assault. We can all only hope that this whole thing is untrue, not even taking into consideration the consequences for the team. Sanchez is described as an intelligent and good-natured person, which makes believing these charges very hard. However, it doesn't mean that they are not. One interesting thing I have heard from a lot of people is, if you can't trust a guy like Mark Sanchez, who can you trust? I guess no one, unfortunately.

Interesting Article

2006-04-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

Apparently, Pete Carroll is tinkering with the defense and might put in a 3-4 defense. I think that would be a great idea because not only would the defense be more suited to the strengths of the players (USC has mulitple talented LBs), but also because it would allow the defense to do a lot of different things that many college defenses are not doing right now. Nevertheless, read the article, it will be very interesting to see what happens.

Read Here

Draft Talk

2006-04-20T20:53:00.000-07:00

Since spring practice is over and the draft is less than 10 days away, I thought I would give my thoughts on what a few NFL teams should do this draft season.

Well, first I think a few teams could/should make a move on Reggie Bush. I think the Texans want him but they also need a lot of talent at a lot of places so they should definitely be looking to deal. I still think they made a mistake in not trading the 1st pick for John Abraham and the 4th pick (OT D'Brickshaw Ferguson) from the Jets.

The Niners have a ton of picks, including two first rounders, so they have some things to work with. Do they move up to Reggie? They could. RB is not an immediate need for this team compared to other positions. The Niners need a lot of help on defense and along the offensive line and at WR. The Niners should really make a move to take Ferguson, which would mean moving up to at least the 4th pick most likely, possibly even the 2nd pick if the Saints want him there. I don't think the Niners can really afford to take TE Vernon Davis becuase they need some many other things than an athletic TE (which there are actually others in the draft as well, especially Georgia TE Leonard Pope, the dude is 6'7" and can run and catch!).

More to come later....

Catching Up on Trojan News

2006-04-12T23:35:00.000-07:00

The biggest piece of news (and there has been a lot of news lately) out of USC country is that Herschel Dennis is out for the year, again. Dennis is going to apply for a medical redshirt year and hopes to be back next year. However, by then, USC should already have a number of proficient running backs vying for playing time. Desmond Reed is also injured and there have been rumors that Reed could be out the rest of the year. All of this adds up to quite a bit of playing time for some of the running backs at USC that haven't had much as well as the incoming freshmen wanting to be the next Charles White, Ricky Bell or Reggie Bush.

USC's Pro-Day - April 2nd

2006-04-03T11:46:00.000-07:00

Well USC's Pro-Day has come and gone. It was probably the most anticipated pro day this year in college football. The most interesting and concerning thing that I have heard is that LenDale White did not do any running, which is strange because he is a running back. There were already worries about White's attitude and choosing not to run would certainly make me concerned if I was an NFL GM. White also only lifted 225 lbs a unimpressive 15 times. On the other hand, Reggie Bush put up that weight a very impressive 24 times. Bush also ran the 40 in a reported 4.33 time.

Spring Practice Thoughts

2006-03-30T00:46:00.000-08:00

USC has had an interesting spring practice so far and here are some of my thoughts on it:

Booty Battling Back Pains - The biggest story out of SC, it is an unfortunate injury to Matt Leinart's presumed successor that could possibly lead to a QB controversy at Troy. Some people have speculated that this could also impact the recruitment of QB Jimmy Clausen. As I've said before, I think if Clausen is worried about having to compete and possibly (likely) sit at USC, he is never going to be a Trojan. Mark Sanchez is going to start at USC, this year or two years from now.

Empty Backfield - The Trojans have no concrete idea of who is starting in the backfield for Tailback U. Injures have kept many of the RBs at SC from practicing and it will be a while before any of the freshmen recruits will be able to carry the ball in a Trojan uni. What's even more interesting about this is the fact that WR Whitney Lewis has moved to RB during spring practice. Lewis was a top-5 prospect when he came to USC, even more touted than the eventual Heisman Reggie Bush. Let's hope that Lewis can find his way back to being a superstar on the football field.

Young Pushing the Old - USC has had the great luck of having multiple top recruiting classes over the past couple years. This, of course, has led to increased competition at many positions. Other than at the QB spot, the most notable has been at LB where Rey Maualuga has been pushing Oscar Lua for the starting job. One only had to watch a few of the games last year to see the impact Maualuga can make on the field...literally.

Most Heralded Position on the Most Heralded Team?

2006-03-28T12:07:00.000-08:00

My last post got me thinking about the most recognized and historic position on the most recognized and historic team. I know many college football fans out there would have their own opinions on this so I decided to put it out there:

Running Back at USC (Tailback U - although QB at USC is becoming a highly-coveted position after having two of the past four Heismans)
Quarterback at Notre Dame (Hornung, Montana, Mirer, etc., etc.)
Linebacker at Penn State (Linebacker U)
Defensive Back at Florida State (heck, I felt like I needed to add something)
Other

If anyone had any other thoughts on highly-valuable positions at other schools, I'm welcome to any opinions. It should be obvious what I would choose.

Could Booty's Injury Affect Recruiting?

2006-03-27T16:53:00.000-08:00

This is the theory set forth by Mike Farrell of The Sporting News. Basically, with Sanchez taking over under center (and staying there during the season), any incoming QB next year would have to sit behind Sanchez for 4 years (Sanchez is a reshirt freshman this year). So if you're say, #1 recruit - QB Jimmy Clausen, do you go to USC where you will likely sit the majority of your career or do you go to Notre Dame where the starting QB is leaving and the most heralded spot on the most heralded team is wide open?

This is another interesting side story to John David Booty's injury, but I think it's flawed because Clausen would likely sit behind Sanchez even if Booty wasn't injured. My take is, if Clausen doesn't want to sit, learn and take him time, USC isn't the place for him.

Read More:
http://scfootball.blogspot.com/2006/03/weis-could-have-big-recruiting-victory.html

Booty Out for Six Weeks?

2006-03-24T11:13:00.000-08:00

It is being reported that USC QB John David Booty has been having back pains/spasms and could potentially miss the rest of spring practice. I think this can possibly have some really negative long-term effects on the Trojans. Coming into spring practice, the best thing that USC could hope for is for Booty to win the starting QB spot outright making Mark Sanchez the back-up. (The Tennessee Volunteers and Coach Phil Fulmer can tell you how well QB controversies work out.) However, now that Booty could possibly miss as much as six weeks and Sanchez being talented enough to make his own case for being the starter, the Trojans could enter the summer/fall practices even more in doubt about who should be starting at QB. The last thing the Trojan Dynasty needs right now is a QB controversy - stability and success at the QB position has been the cornerstone of USC's run the last four seasons.

Read More:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-uscfb24mar24,1,4746418.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-coll-usc

Vince Young Draft Stock Dropping?

2006-03-23T11:23:00.000-08:00

According to ESPN.com, Vince Young's 40-time was 4.58 during Texas' pro day, which is slower than some expected. ESPN's Chris Mortenson also reported that Young's throws were not nearly as tough as the ones thrown by Vanderbilt QB Jay Cutler during his pro day. Add this to Young's subpar Wonderlic score (which I don't put much faith in) and it gives one the impression that Vince Young is not exactly having a great pre-draft season. However, some scouts and coaches thought that Young put on an impressive workout overall. I think that if Young isn't picked by the Titans at #3, he will likely drop to the Raiders at #7 (if that early due to the Raiders recently signing QB Aaron Brooks).

Mock Draft

2006-03-20T10:48:00.000-08:00

Here is my latest mock draft:

1. RB Reggie Bush to the Texans
2. DE Mario Williams to the Saints
3. QB Matt Leinart to the Titans
4. OT D'Brickshaw Ferguson to the Jets
5. LB AJ Hawk to the Packers
6. CB/S Michael Huff to the Niners
7. QB Vince Young to the Raiders
8. DT Haloti Ngata to the Bills
9. CB Jimmy Williams to the Lions
10. QB Jay Cutler to the Cardinals

I think in this scenario, the team that loses out the most is the Niners and the player that loses the most is TE Vernon Davis who falls out of top-10 money. I think Vince Young also loses due to his fall from #3 to #7. The Niners lose the most because they basically have a high draft pick when the players they want most are gone (in this case, DE Mario Williams or LB AJ Hawk). Huff is still a good player who should give the team significant help in the defensive backfield, however, Williams or Hawk would have been nearly instant impact players. I think the Lions also lose because they cannot take Cutler due to all their free agent signings at QB and they lose out on the DB they want (Huff). I think the Raiders and the Cardinals are big winners because the Raiders get their QB of the future (they hope) and the Cardinals have their choice of a young franchise QB in Cutler or a terrific TE in Vernon Davis. Either way, they get to make their own pick instead of the pick being made for them.

More Big NFL Moves...

2006-03-14T12:49:00.000-08:00

I told you that what happens in the NFL Draft will be largely affected by what happens with the free agency market and for many teams, their focus in the first round is going to drastically change. The two big moves of Tuesday were former Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper being traded to the Dolphins for a 2nd round pick and former Chargers QB Drew Brees signing with the Saints. I think the Dolphins made the best move if Culpepper can return to his previous form. However, this post is about the Draft so I will get back on topic.

Draft Implications:

#1: Nothing changes for the Texans, USC RB Reggie Bush is still there man.

#2: I think the Saints will work hard to trade down. I think the Jets might make a move here since they still need a solid, reliable QB, which USC QB Matt Leinart is. But if a deal cannot get done, I think the Saints take DE Mario Williams here.

#3: The Titans love the fact that the Saints picked up Brees because it increases the likelyhood that the Titans will have their pick of Leinart or Texas QB Vince Young. I think the Titans take Leinart for two big reasons - he has worked with Titans Offensive Coordinator Norm Chow at USC and he is a much more reliable, polished pocket QB where Young has lots of upside, but an equal amount of downside.

Recent NFL Moves

2006-03-13T12:56:00.000-08:00

The biggest news over the weekend was Arizona Cardinals picking up former Colts RB Edgerrin James. I think this move seals the fact that USC RB LenDale White will not go in the top-10 as ESPN Draft Guru Mel Kiper Jr. stated in his most recent mock draft. Now that the Cardinals have a elite RB, they will no longer need to address the position with the 10th overall pick. I think they will now choose to focus on the defense, however, a sneaky pick by Arizona might be to take Maryland TE Vernon Davis if he is still on the board. That would give the Cardinals more than enough targets (Davis along with WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin) for QB Kurt Warner to throw to.

Other notable news was the Ravens signing RB Mike Anderson as well as keeping RB Jamal Lewis. I think this also puts to rest any talk of LenDale White going to the Ravens at #13 (Maybe this post should be renamed Recent NFL Moves that Screw LenDale White!?!). Anyways, I think this reopens the door to talks about White going to the Vikings with the 17th overall pick. However, if the Vikings prefer Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams (which is entirely possible), White might even drop further, perhaps as low as #30 to the Indianapolis Colts. Of course, this is based upon a lot of "if's".

Culpepper to the Raiders?

2006-03-10T15:15:00.000-08:00

In the past few days, Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper has made his desire to be traded or released from the Vikings public. The Vikings have decided to comply with Culpepper's wishes - good move. The last thing the Vikings need on their hands is a disgruntled team leader holding the ball on half the plays, especially when the team has such pressing needs elsewhere and a back-up QB clearly qualified to take over. The big question now is, Who gets Culpepper? Well, the two teams that have been talked about are the Raiders and the Dolphins, both teams are in serious need of a starting QB.

I really don't know where I stand on this. The Raiders would have a serious, veteran QB in Culpepper, who can definitely get the ball to WR Randy Moss and Joey Porter, but on the other hand, the Raiders would be giving up on a young QB who could lead the team years from now. However, I think if I had to pick, I think I would make the deal. Players like Moss and Porter are not getting younger so the Raiders need to put someone under center that can get them the ball.

I think if the deal includes trading picks with the Vikings, that will open some interesting draft stories. Who do the Vikings take at #7? Who do the Raiders take at 17?

Interesting Draft Comments

2006-03-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

Todd McShay of Scouts Inc. did an internet chat on ESPN today. Here of some of the things he said that I found interesting.

"At the combine, NFL teams were concerned with why he didn't have answers as to why he didn't play as well as a senior as when he was a junior. There's a real concern he'll get to the NFL, start cashing checks and never play to his potential."
- Speaking of Va Tech CB Jimmie Williams

I am really interested to see how Williams does because he has great size (6'2", 215) to deal with the new and tall wideouts coming out of college now (not to mention speed - 4.4). I mean, how is a 5'10" CB going to cover 6'5" WR Dwayne Jarrett? It's just not going to happen, so when a guy like Williams comes around, it's special. It's just too bad it seems like people think he will let it all go to waste. Maybe falling to late in the first round would help motivate a clearly talented player like Williams.

"The big reason is that when you start comparing him to all the other players working out at the Senior Bowl and at the combine, that athletically and physically, he just doesn't look to be an elite prospect. When you drop in the game film and start studying him in that regard, you get a whole different analysis, he's tough and instinctive. I think some people overhyped Ryans some during the season, not taking into account that he has just adequate size and 4.7-type speed."
- Speaking of Alabama LB DeMeco Ryans

Ryans began this year's draft process as a top LB prospect, but has recently began to drop as things take shape and more is learned about these players. I think it is really interesting that teams still continue to place such incredible emphasis on the physical attributes of players. Yes, I made a big deal about Jimmie Williams' size earlier, but that is not without regard to his talent as well. Size is nothing without talent, but talent can be something without size. Just look at Seattle LB Lofa Tatupu. Nobody thought he was a 2nd round talent, many because he lacked the size and speed, but as everyone knows, he turned out to be a cornerstone of that defense that made it all the way to the Super Bowl.

"At 6-1, 200 pounds with toughness, athleticism, instincts and tackling skills, he can play free safety, strong safety, outside corner and slot cover corner for the team that drafts him early on."
- Speaking of Texas CB/S Michael Huff

Two things here - first, I love versatility. In the NFL, players are going down left and right and whenver you have an incredibly talented player that can be moved around and play another position at that same high level, you are a lucky coach, GM or owner. Second, I think it is interesting that McShay mentions toughness in regards to Huff because it is believed by some that Texas players are known for being "soft." And that's not bitter USC talk either.

Best of the Non-Conference Games in 2006

2006-03-02T13:31:00.000-08:00

I saw this in a Fox Sports column and I thought I would give my top-10 non-conference games (excluding the typical match-ups we see every year, such as USC/Notre Dame, Florida/Florida State) of next year. I tried to be relatively neutral because in reality, I'm looking forward to all the USC games much more. But anyways, here it is:

1. Ohio State at Texas, Sept. 9

Is there any question that this is going to be one of the best games, conference or non-conference, of next year, if not the best? Both teams will be in the hunt for the national championship right out of the gate, but I think Ohio State, like Texas last year, is going to pull out a win on the road and keep the momentum going all the way to the Fiesta Bowl. Of course, so much of this hinges on Texas' QB situation and the ability of OSU to replace some of their best players on defense. But this is also why I think teams like OSU or Notre Dame will win the national championship, they don't have to replace their successful QB, like Texas, USC, Penn State, etc. I think it is one of the most important parts to the national championship formula in college football - have a solid, reliable leader under center.

2. Penn State at Notre Dame, Sept. 9

I am really looking forward to seeing this game because both teams are traditional football powerhouses, have high-powered offenses (also depending on how PSU's ability to replace QB Michael Robinson) and will be very hyped in the beginning of the season. I think this will be a very high scoring game with tons of excitement and great plays on offense. I think Notre Dame takes this game by at least 10 with the difference being their veteran leadership, especially with QB Brady Quinn, and the lack of it for PSU, especially QB Anthony Morelli.

3. Nebraska at USC, Sept. 16

Being a Trojan, this is one of the games I am looking forward to most this season. Again, like with PSU and Notre Dame, both teams are traditional football powerhouses. Nebraska is supposed to be on the way back up after a series of poor seasons and USC will once again have to prove it can lose a Heisman QB. This time, however, USC will also have to replace a Heisman RB as well (and two if you ask most Trojan fans). I have to put this game in the win column for USC for two reasons: it's at home and USC is very good at home, and USC has simply too much talent and is too deep for Nebraska to compete with. I think the game will be relatively close for two and a half quarters before USC gets going and rolls over the Cornhuskers by more than two TDs.

4. Cal at Tennessee, Sept. 2

This could be a fantastic game or this game could be a complete dud so I'm going to take an optimistic approach and put them at #4. Both teams should have better seasons than last year, especially the Volunteers, and I am really interested to see how Cal plays in the tough Knoxville environment. If Cal can find a QB to make the passing game respectable, that is going to be a potent offense with WR DeSean Jackson and RBs Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett. I think Cal will play strong the whole game and keep it close, but I think Tennessee will surprise a lot of people and have a big win at home to open the season.

5. Miami at Louisville, Sept. 16

This game has a lot of appeal because again, both teams are legitimate title contenders. Miami because the ACC is weak this year and Louisville because the Big East is weak every year. Miami better have more success than they did last year if Larry Coker wants to keep his job for any extended amount of time and that could happen with his QB having another year under his belt. However, replacing WR Sinorice Moss and WR/KR/PR/DB Devin Hester might make it tough. Louisville will make it a game, it's at home and they have better talent at QB and RB, and I think they can take this game from Miami, but it will be close.

6. Oklahoma at Oregon, Sept. 16

This sure sounds familiar. Last year's bowl game match-up between Oklahoma and Oregon turned out to be a great game coming down to the wire with Oklahoma winning after intercepting Oregon during a late drive. I don't think this game is going to be as exciting as last year, but I think the result will be the same. Oklahoma RB Adrian Peterson is too good and Oregon is going to sorely miss NT Haloti Ngata in the middle of their defensive line. If Oklahoma QB Rhett Bomar can improve on his late success last season, Oklahoma has a chance to be the team in the Big-12.

7. UCLA at Notre Dame, Oct. 21

I'm just looking forward to UCLA getting killed by the Irish. UCLA is going to have a rough year with QB Drew Olson, RB Maurice Drew and TE Mercedes Lewis. Unless Notre Dame falls completely asleep during this game, they should roll over the Bruins.

8. USC at Arkansas, Sept. 2

USC in an SEC environment? I only wish I could be there to watch USC blow out the Razorbacks. This should be a great game for Trojans fans to open the season with (last year, USC scored 70 points at home against Arkansas). The only thing that could make this year better than last year would be for the USC defense to pound and intercept the incoming freshman, Arkansas QB Mitch Mustain, all night long.

9. Colorado at Georgia, Sept. 23

It will be very interesting to see how Dan Hawkins does in Colorado, especially given his unique success at the smaller Boise State. Georgia is expected to have a down year, no QB DJ Shockley, no TE Leonard Pope, but having the game "between the hedges" should do a lot for the Bulldogs. Georgia should win this game with relative ease in the second half.

10. ASU at Colorado, Sept. 16

Another big game for Dan Hawkins, I was tempted to put this game ahead of the Colorado/Georgia game, but the fact that the other game is in Athens puts it over this one - the SEC football environment is flat out fantastic. I am looking forward to this game because it will be interesting to see how ASU comes out early in the season against a decent opponent. ASU has underachieved the past couple years and they can't afford to lose early with the Pac-10 being much more competitive this year.

Great Take of USC Recruiting

2006-02-27T15:38:00.000-08:00

Here is a great recap of USC recruiting this year. I have to agree with most of his takes, but I hope that one of the freshmen RB recruits can step up and take over RB duties because I think the time has passed for Herschel Dennis.

Read more here:
http://trojansfootball.blogspot.com/2006/02/trojan-update-225.html

Enough Already With The Wonderlic!

2006-02-27T15:16:00.000-08:00

Can we please stop talking and hearing about Vince Young's poor Wonderlic test score! Is it a surprise to anyone that he didn't score well or that maybe he isn't intelligent? Come on, when are great athletes usually smart? It would actually be more of a surprise if he scored in the 30's, that would be news...

Texans trading Reggie Bush?!?!

2006-02-27T10:17:00.000-08:00

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2346349

Unlike last year with QB Alex Smith, this year has the talent, with the likes of RB Reggie Bush and QB Matt Leinart, to make the first pick in the draft tradable. And it seems like the Texans might be planning to do just that. I think this is always the smart thing to do for teams that need more talent in more areas. I still maintain that OT D'Brickshaw Ferguson would be better for most of the teams with top 10 picks than Bush - it all is based upon what you know what your getting and even though I love Reggie, who knows how he will do in the pros. However, if Reggie is all that people make him out to be, he will be one the best ever (and he was at USC).

As for the Texans trading the first pick, I will say what I've said before, the Raiders should talk to both the Saints and the Texans and see which one will give them the best deal and take it. Either Bush or Leinart would go a long way to improving that team, but I think Leinart is more needed because someone has to be able to move that offense with WRs Randy Moss and Joey Porter. But I would love to see either Matt or Reggie in the silver and black.

IT'S OFFICIAL!

2006-02-23T15:00:00.000-08:00

Good News for USC. It's official, WR Vidal Hazelton is going to be a TROJAN! It will be great to have another game-changing player at WR for USC, especially knowing that next year, the Trojans will be without WRs Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith. Welcome to Troy Vidal!

http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?cid=516622

Mock Drafts

2006-02-23T12:40:00.000-08:00

I love mock drafts because, well because I love anything that talks about football, especially college football. And mock drafts are all about college football players. I spent a good half of every Saturday from Fall through Winter watching college football so I like to believe I know a little something about these players going pro. With the NFL Draft quickly approaching, it is coming time for every pundit to start putting together a mock draft. Of course, these are expected to change as the draft draws near and teams make moves and players help/hinder their draft prospects.

One of the first mock drafts that I have seen is the one on Yahoo Sports. It starts out with the typical 1-2-3 that almost everyone thinks will happen (Bush-Leinart-Young) so I will just move on to some of the more interesting picks made in the Yahoo Sports Mock Draft:

#4: OT D'Brickshaw Ferguson (Virgina) to Jets

I totally agree with this pick. I don't know if the Jets will be smart enough to pass on QB Jay Cutler (Vanderbilt), but they should. Ferguson is the real deal and showed it during the Senior Bowl when he dominated some of the best DEs there. The Jets really can't afford to miss getting a franchise LT that will protect their QB's blindside for years to come. Plus, Cutler could be a complete bomb where Ferguson is pretty much the biggest guarantee pick in the draft.

#7: TE Vernon Davis (Maryland) to 49ers

I'm not a 49er fan so I would love the 49ers to take Davis here. Yes, Davis is an incredible athlete, especially for a TE, however, the fact is the 49ers need help on defense, along the offensive line and at WR. I really don't think they need to be going after a TE, even if it is Vernon Davis. Plus, if the 49ers could use a athletic TE, Dominique Byrd (USC) has a good chance of still being around early in the 2nd round for the 49ers. They need to find a way to drop back, pick up extra draft picks and make use of them, somewhat similar to what the Bengals have been doing the past two years. I also think if the 49ers don't move down, Mike Nolan, who is a defensive-minded head coach, will go for one of the better defensive players available - CB/S Michael Huff (Texas), DE Tambi Hali (Penn State) or LB Chad Greenway (Iowa), instead of Davis.

#13: RB LenDale White (USC) to Ravens

The Ravens are probably going to keep Jamal Lewis as well as the talented back-up Chester Taylor. So why would they take another RB? Yes, White could be their back of the future, but I think the Ravens should address current needs before building depth at the RB position. The Ravens offense is horrendous, and has been for a long while. QB Kyle Boller is one straw from breaking the camel's back and becoming a total bust. However, he also hasn't had much to work with at the WR position either (But he still stinks no matter what). The Ravens have WR Derrick Mason but not much more than that. I think WR Santonio Holmes (Ohio State) would be a good pick here, especially because he is the best WR coming out in a class that lacks talent and depth. Another thing I thought interesting was that this Mock Draft had LenDale White going before Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams, who is widely considered the 2nd ranked RB in the draft.

#32 SS Darnell Bing (USC) to Steelers

I would love the Steelers to pick up another great Trojan safety, but I just don't think this pick would really help. Bing would also have to move over and play more of a FS position instead of his usual SS because of former USC SS Troy Polamalu. I think the Steelers are going to have a weakness at WR if they lose Antwan Randle El. I think WR Maurice Stovall (Notre Dame) would be an interesting pick here, especially because of his great size. Stovall had a great last year with the Irish and should definitely get a look from the Steelers here.

One thing I loved about the Yahoo Sports Mock Draft was that they have SEVEN Trojans going in the 1st round. I don't honestly believe this will happen, but its nice to think about......

My take on the Raiders: I really think they need to move up and take one of the top 2 QBs in the draft. I would welcome either QB Matt Leinart (USC) or QB Vince Young (Texas) in Oakland, but they need someone who can throw the ball to WR Randy Moss and QB Kerry Collins is not the man and neither are the other two guys behind him. This is a big issue with me and I hope the Raiders don't wait in 6 or 7 position and take QB Jay Cutler. It is time the Raiders went out and found themselves their future QB to build around instead of playing card-carrying members of the AARP - Gannon, Collins. This draft has two high-quality QBs available and the Raiders need to go get one of them.

Odd Thoughts

2006-02-20T18:37:00.000-08:00

Here are some odd things in the world of college football that I have been thinking about?

1. Where the hell is Vidal Hazelton going? USC, Penn State, an unknown third team? I don't even really care where he goes now, I just wanna know where. Has anyone heard anything?

2. Miami and Oklahoma playing each other in 2007 and 2009. This is great, I love big match-ups and it is great for college football to get these kinds of games outside of the bowls. Other than USC-Notre Dame, the best non-bowl game was obviously Texas-Ohio State. Hopefully, other teams will take notice and start to schedule these types of tough games. I always said I would rather watch USC lose in a great game against another great team than to watch USC storm over teams like San Jose State. But that's just me.

3. What teams are going to come out of nowhere and surprise all the "experts" by making into the top 25, 15 or even BCS? In a weak Big-12 conference, can Nebraska put enough together to get into the conference championship and beat a team like Oklahoma? Can Clemson do the same thing in the ACC, which is so spotty right now any team can take it down? What about Auburn? They play in a tough conference (and in the tougher division), but is it possible they might be the unlikely team in to unseat LSU and go into the SEC championship game against Florida (where anything can happen)? I love to think about this because it is basically the same thinking behind picking upsets in March Madness. You want to go with the easy pick, say the #4 over the #13, but you know, YOU JUST KNOW, that some #13 team is going to beat a #4 team, so who do you pick? Sure, teams like LSU are the easy picks, but you just know some team like Nebraska, Clemson or Auburn is going to beat some better teams and make a run. You just don't know who it's going to be.

Tommy Trojan's Pre-season Top 10

2006-02-16T09:21:00.000-08:00

Again, I know it's waaaay to early to be picking favorites but I'm still going to do it. Here is my rankings going into next year:

1. Ohio State (Big 10) - Great offense, tons of talent at the skill positions (QB Troy Smith, WR Ted Ginn, RB Antonio Pittman) and if they can find some players to fill in on defense (losing LBs AJ Hawk and Bobby Carpenter), which is very likely, they will be the best team next year. Texas will be an early obstacle, but once they get through them, it should be a relatively simple road into the Fiesta Bowl. Michigan has some talented players, but I just don't think they can take down OSU.

2. USC (Pac-10) - I know some people think this is a homer pick, but I think Booty (QB) is the real deal just like Leinart was when he first came in to replace Carson Palmer. I also think with all the talent coming in at RB, someone is going to step up and do well in that offense. The defense is going to be much improved (LB Dallas Sartz and CB Terrell Thomas return; DE Lawerence Jackson and LB Keith Rivers another year bigger, stronger, faster, smarter, etc.) and the schedule just isn't tough enough (ND at home) to keep the Trojans from continuing to dominate. And I would hate to forget about two guys named Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith...they're pretty good too.

3. Notre Dame (NBC) - It is never an easy road for the Irish, but they also get a lot of extra respect from voters when it comes to the polls. The schedule is usually pretty tough (at USC is going to be a tough one and whoever wins will probably be in the Fiesta with OSU) and QB Brady Quinn has lost two of his biggest targets - WR Maurice Stovall and TE Anthony Fasano. The defense has been weak for the past couple years and will continue to be their biggest problem, but they will score a lot of points between Quinn, RB Darius Walker and that WR with the crazy last name - I just like calling him "The Shark".

4. LSU (SEC) - They have solid players all-around and good coaching, their biggest problem is they play in the toughest conference in college football. I think seeing an SEC team in the national championship is going to become a rare and special thing if the conference continues to be as tough as it has been. Saying that, LSU didn't help itself by scheduling Fresno State. I didn't like the decision for USC and I don't like it for LSU - it's a no-win situation (kinda like Cal scheduling Div. I-A killer UC Davis). LSU's other problem is going to be at QB. I've put JaMarcus Russell on my darkhorse list for the Heisman because he has everything he needs to win it, the question is, can he do it? If the answer is no, look for LSU to fall out of the championship race quickly.

5. West Virginia (Big East) - I cannot believe Pat Forde at ESPN.com thinks the Mountaineers are #1 going into next season. Yes, they played an great game against a solid Georgia team in last year's Sugar Bowl. I think the reason everyone was so impressed by the outcome was the incredibly low expectations people had for WVU. RB Steve Slaton looked legit tearing through a respectable Georgia defense and QB Pat White has a lot of talent and might even make a run at the Heisman before he is done. I also have to say that Rich Rodriguez is definitely an up and comer in the college coaching ranks. The one thing I cannot stand about WVU is that they don't play a tough schedule. People knock the Pac-10, but the Big East is a complete joke of a BCS conference and West Virginia should have to play more legit teams to be called a top tier team.

6. Florida (SEC) - If LSU isn't going to the BCS, Florida almost definitely should be. Experienced and talented QB Chris Leak and WR Andre Caldwell lead Urban Meyer's spread offense in a surprisingly weak SEC East. Tennessee and Georgia are both expected to have down years so Florida has a great chance to be the SEC East Champ and be within one win of going to a BCS bowl game. Meyer also didn't hurt his chances by recruiting a top-5 class this year; I have to believe a few of them will be able to contribute right away.

7. Miami (ACC) - I had to pick an ACC team for the top-10 and the dart hit Miami. But seriously, Miami is always solid, unless they are playing in the Peach Bowl. Miami will be better than FSU and Va Tech, which are Miami's major challenges in the ACC, but I think Miami will be able to sneak away with victories this year. It will be tough to beat both though, especially with Kyle Wright at QB and Ron Zook, I mean, Larry Coker coaching. Losing WR Sinorice Rice and ATH Devin Hester isn't going to help either.

8. Oklahoma (Big 12) - This is based purely on the belief that QB Rhett Bomar is going to be A LOT better than he was last season. Oklahoma has one of the best RB in college football today and if Bomar can improve and make the defense respect OU's passing game, Peterson should put up some great numbers, which should translate into a lot of wins. Oklahoma should also benefit from the fact that Texas should have a down year without that QB who shall not be named and that the rest of the conference is not exactly stacked with great teams.

9. Cal (Pac-10) - I really think they can break into the top-10 this year, mainly because of WR DeSean Jackson, RB Marshawn Lynch and QB Nate Longshore. Cal wasn't a bad team last year and they didn't even have a decent QB. I think Cal is seriously underestimated and they will return to the respectability they earned a couple years ago. They shouldn't have a tough schedule, USC will be their big test this season, and have a legitmate chance of have only 2 losses. But it sure wasn't smart scheduling UC Davis - again, it's a no-win situation for Cal and Davis is a team that plays to the level of its opponent which makes them very scary to better teams.

10. Iowa (Big 10) - I know the popular pick is Penn State for second best in the Big 10, but I really think it is going to be Iowa. Penn State has got great wideouts, especially Derrick Williams, but they have to drop off a little after losing QB Michael Robinson and DE Tambi Hali. An experienced QB in Drew Tate and a solid RB in Albert Young make Iowa much more dangerous offensively than Penn State. Tate is a tough, gritty QB who can make plays in crunch time. I know Iowa lost a lot on defense, especially LB Chad Greenway, but I think they are a team that is so institutionally-good (I just made that up) on defense that it won't be a huge problem.

Interesting Teams to Watch

Ole Miss (SEC) - Ever since Ed Obregon (former USC assistant head coach/defensive line coach) took over for the Rebels, I've rooted for this team to do well. I think this year is going to be when Ole Miss takes a big step forward; new QB Brent Schaffer is coming in and they recruited one of the top defensive prospects. They are in a tough conference, especially being in the SEC West, with LSU, Auburn and Alabama to deal with. But I will keep an eye on them, I wouldn't be surprised to see some games go their way and have them crack the top-25 this year or the next.

Louisville (Big East) - I think this team has the tools to crack the top-10 (QB Brian Brohm and RB Michael Bush lead a talented team), but I just cannot stand to put another Big East team in there. If West Virginia doesn't make it in, Louisville most likely will. But rest assured, both of them won't be in the top-10. The Big East is a glorified mid-major and should not have a BCS spot let alone two teams in the top-10. That's waaaay too much respect. It's a tough choice but I will take QB Pat White and RB Steve Slaton over QB Brian Brohm and RB Michael Bush.

Auburn (SEC) - Even though Auburn went undefeated when USC won the national championship (forever staining USC's championship), I still have enjoyed watching this team play. I mean, who can't appreciate a team with two mascots - the War Eagle and the Tiger. QB Brandon Cox and RB Kenny Irons will be the major players for Auburn and how well these two do will be the major indicators on the success of Auburn. Nevertheless, Auburn always manages to be a force in the SEC and should make a lot of games interesting.

Teams That Should Do Worse Than Expected

Texas, Michigan and Arizona State all fit into this category for me. Texas is going to have to face the reality that they are not that good without Vince Young. They barely won the national championship and they wouldn't have been anywhere near that game without Young. He single-handedly won more games then I can remember - Kansas, Michigan, USC, etc. Michigan has never lived up to expectations and I don't see them doing it this year. Penn State, Iowa and of course, Ohio State are all better than Michigan and Michigan is barely better than Michigan State, Wisconsin and Purdue. Arizona State was supposed to be a top team last year but after blowing a half-time lead against USC, ASU went into the tank and never recovered. I think it will be unlikely that ASU manages to beat out Cal or Oregon for the second spot in the Pac-10 behind USC.

2006 Heisman Favorites

2006-02-15T13:27:00.000-08:00

Sure it's really early to be picking out Heismans for next year, but what the hell, recruiting is pretty much over (What the hell is up with Vidal Hazelton? Come on already!) and the NFL Draft is still over a month away. If LenDale had stayed at SC, I would have put him at the top of the list, but what can I say, we'll miss him. So without further ado, here is my take on next year's Heisman candidates:

1. Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame

My pick - cannot beat a Notre Dame QB who puts up crazy numbers for the most recognized college football team ever - just ask Paul Hornung. Notre Dame has a chance to go undefeated with most of the offense returning as well as adding some talent with Weis' first top-5 recruiting class. Even if Notre Dame loses two, I still think Quinn will have a great chance to win the award. He was soooo smart to come back (but then again, those Notre Dame guys are supposed to be right?), he will get a very nice trophy and membership in one of the most elite fraternities in the land as well as a HUGE signing bonus as a top 5 NFL draft pick.

2. Troy Smith, QB, Ohio State

I know a lot of people think Ted Ginn is the player on that team, and I think Ginn is incredibly talented, but the fact remains that the Heisman has basically become a QB award. So unless Ginn starts throwing passes for the Buckeyes....Smith will the candidate from OSU. He will head a great offense in a weak conference and will also have one of the best chances to make his Heisman case when OSU head to Texas to take on the defending national champs.

3. Chris Leak, QB, Florida

I've been big on this guy since the US Army High School All-American game. He has a pretty live arm and can move better than most QBs. He has had an up and down college career going through the Ron Zook years and might just be ready to step into the spotlight as one of the best players in college football. Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer didn't do so bad w/ Leak in his first year and Leak had moments where he looked very good. One last thought on Leak: Norm Chow coached Carson Palmer for two years (and not a very stellar first year either) in which Palmer had to learn a brand new system after three years of floating around under Paul Hackett. I think it is entirely possible to change Chow, Palmer and Hackett with Meyer, Leak and Zook. If Leak wins the Heisman, don't say I didn't tell you so.

4. Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma

A really solid RB, he has a great combination of size and speed, the only problem is he plays on the Oklahoma offense, which last time I looked was basically just him. USC really showed how one-dimensional Oklahoma is and every team since has basically approached them with one thought in mind: Stop Adrian Peterson. If a back is that good, they certainly belong in the discussion. I don't think he will win because he is on a team that won't be a serious title contender, however, he is sure to be a candidate based on the fact that he has great name recognition and will likely put up solid numbers should he stay healthy.

5. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville

This guy was touted as one of the best QBs coming out of high school when he came out a couple years ago. He has experienced some success at Louisville, but he will have to put up an almost perfect season to get into the Heisman race (and I'm talking Texas Tech-type numbers) and Louisville will have to go undefeated. I know he had a high passer rating last year and Louisville has one of the most potent offenses in the nation, but when it comes down to it, Brian Brohm plays teams like South Florida, not exactly cream of the college football crop.

Darkhorse Candidates:

1. Chad Henne, QB, Michigan

With a healthy Mike Hart at RB, Henne will have some of the pressure of running the offense taken off his shoulders, which is definitely a good thing considering how well Henne did when Hart was hurt. This pick really should go to Hart who is the heart of that offense, but again, if Michigan wins, I think Henne will get the majority of the praise.

2. John David Booty, QB, USC

Got to put at least one Trojan on this list. I think Booty has a great chance to be a Heisman candidate considering the two All-American quality wideouts he has to throw to and a pretty solid offensive line (even with the departures of three starters) and some good RB prospects coming in. But Booty will also have a lot of pressure to succeed from all angles, especially from Mark Sanchez who is guaranteed to be trying to unseat Booty as starting QB. USC schedule is also not too tough this year, especially having Notre Dame come to LA.

3. JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU

I don't know what's with this guy. I thought when he came to LSU that he was going to be a great player. He is big, can throw the ball a mile and he can move when he needs to. He also makes great plays under pressure (Oregon State, Arizona State, etc). Problem is, he doesn't when he's not. I think LSU should constantly run its offense like its down by six in the two minute drill. Russell would dominate. The fact that LSU is basically the best team in the best conference doesn't hurt either so Russell will have his chances to make his case for the Heisman, that is, if he is still the starter when the season starts. Russell is already facing pressure from younger QBs at LSU trying to take his job.

4. Drew Tate, QB, Iowa

Like Troy Smith, Tate is playing QB on a good team in a bad conference. The problem for Tate is that he is not well-known like Quinn or Smith and his team is mainly known for its defense. However, Tate is a solid QB who can make plays in tough situations and will have a solid RB behind him to take pressure off the passing game.

Honorable Mention:

Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC

Gotta throw Dwayne Jarrett's name in here. He is going to go down as one of the greatest WR in USC History and should be in all conversations concerning the best player in college football today. He should have a junior season to remember and will give fans some insight into what kind of season Mike Williams would have had if he had not decided to try and go pro.

Kenny Irons, RB, Auburn

I love all Auburn backs. I was high on Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown, even before their undefeated season. I think Kenny Irons is going to be considered another great Auburn back by the time he is done and might even have a chance to slip into the Heisman in a perfect storm situation. If Auburn makes it through the SEC West and wins the SEC Championship with Irons running for 1,500+ yards and 15 touchdowns, he going to NYC. Whether he beats out Quinn is another thing. Any QB who is on a top-10 team and has good stats beats a great back (minus the Reggie Bush factor).

Sidenote: I would also keep an eye on Cal's QB Nate Longshore. He is supposed to be solid but just hasn't had the time to showcase his talent (Sac State took him out in the first game last season).

An Extremely Belated Post on Recruiting

2006-02-09T14:51:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, I have no been able to post on the biggest day in the recruiting calendar - Signing Day! USC pulled off some nice picks and also lost some. USC lost out on top DT Gerald McCoy, which could have helped shore up a thin defensive line. Nonetheless, USC has managed to take in another consensus top 5 class and even ranked #1 with some recruiting services.

The most notably thing that has happened since Signing Day is the absence of a legally binding letter of intent from WR Vidal Hazelton (Va.). As many may or may not have heard, Hazelton faxed his letter without his father's signature which made the letter invalid. Hazelton's father, Dexter, would not sign the letter until his son would come home to discussion where Vidal would go (Dexter was pushing for Penn State). Dexter apparently believed USC Coach Pete Carroll was not concerned enough with academics and how Vidal would approach school in Los Angeles. Some of the things Dexter says Carroll said seem very odd due to the fact that Carroll has managed to recruit many great players from across the country to USC and I doubt Carroll would be able to do this with an indifference to education; it just doesn't fit. (It goes without saying that a USC education is much better than an education at State College in Pennslyvannia) I haven't heard anything else on this issue, but Vidal has reportedly gone back home and should announce his plans any day now.

Senior Bowl At The Half

2006-01-28T14:20:00.000-08:00

HOW SC PLAYERS ARE DOING?
At halftime, Dominique Byrd is having a pretty good game. He had a solid block highlighted as well as a couple nice catches. Duece is looking good, at the very least, he has not done anything to draw negative attention to himself.

PLAYERS MOVING UP
Again, I think Dominique Byrd is doing a lot to help himself in this game just like he did this week. He is showing he can be an NFL-level TE. I think Brodie Croyle is having a good game so far as well as the TE out of Colorado. Sinorice Moss is also having a solid game with a very good touchdown catch for the first score of the game.

PLAYERS MOVING DOWN
Jay Cutler has to be the biggest name player who is really underperforming. He had 2 interceptions in the first half, clearly not the QB that everyone has been hyping this week (such as Chris Mortenson). Derek Hagan is another player who is not doing much to help himself. He has been noted as dropping catches this week and he seems to be doing the same in the game.

Senior Bowl - Go Duece and Dom

2006-01-28T10:24:00.000-08:00

Today is the Senior Bowl, USC players G Duece Lutui and TE Dominque Byrd are playing in the game today and should play well after a great week of Senior Bowl practices. Dominque has especially helped himself, which should be no surprise to anyone who has watched USC regularly because he usually performed at a very high level over the past two years.

It should be a great game to watch with all the other talent playing in the game as well. Vandy QB Jay Cutler, of course, will be incredibly scrutinized and it should be interesting to see how he does and if he can lift himself level with Leinart and Young. Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams is another player that should play great and he has a chance to separate himself from the rest of the pack of running backs (other than Reggie). I really wish Juniors could play in this game because I would love to see Reggie and LenDale play with a USC helmet on one more time. I am also interested to see how Notre Dame WR Maurice Stovall does and if he can move himself into the top echelon of WRs coming out, which shouldn't be too hard considering the lack of great talent coming out this year at that position.

Recruiting: Success Breeds Success

2006-01-27T15:49:00.000-08:00

Even as the college football season begins, coaches are already recruiting the talent for the seasons to follow, sometimes years in advance. Recruiting is called the lifeblood of college football and for good reason. If a coach fails to recruit solid players that fill voids in a team, it will not be long before that team begins to slip. (Fortunately, USC has not had that problem in recent years with the great recruiting of Pete Carroll.) This is only reinforced by the constant recruiting dominance by a relatively few schools, i.e. USC, Oklahoma, Florida, Michigan, etc. However, not all great college players are recruited by or choose powerhouse programs. The recruiting season is always exciting due to the constant uncertainty of where a prospect is going to go and who will end up with the best class. So here is a brief synopsis of how the recruiting season is going for SC so far:

The Trojans have picked up multiple standout backs, both defensive and running. Emmanuel Moody, CJ Gable and Stafon Johnson are all top running back prospects that should have a chance to contribute immediately due to the lack of depth (or talent) in the backfield. Defensive backs, Taylor Mays and Antwine Perez, should also be able to have a chance to contribute immediately for the same reason. USC has also picked up some verbals from WRs Vidal Hazelton, who is arguably the best WR prospect this year, and David Ausberry. Also on the defensive side of the ball, USC will strengthen its linebacker corps. with commitments from Allen Bradford and Josh Tatum. While USC has talented players filling in empty spots on the offensive and defensive line, they have not really recruited a lot of talent this year for those positions (OL Butch Lewis is an exception), which kinda worries me as I am a guy who preaches the importance of controlling the line of scrimmage. Nevertheless, USC is on its way to a #1 or #2 class with these players.

Note: Hazelton has been rumored to be on the fence with his verbal to USC and is considering switching to Penn State. Let's hope he makes the smart choice and goes where the sun always shines.

The Blog of Tommy Trojan

2006-01-27T15:19:00.000-08:00

I decided to jump in the deep end of the blogosphere and do my best to show some love for Troy. As a recent graduate of SC, I have been through the tough times (The Dark Ages aka The Paul Hackett Years) and the good times. I think that is why I can appreciate this Golden Age we Trojans are enjoying today. Not to slam the new Trojans joining our ranks but I really don't think they appreciate it as much or understand what it is like to have to root for the Trojans in bad times. Hopefully, they never will.

I think I chose a great time to start this blog since there is still a lot of college football talk going on. Even though I am a Trojan fan, I am going to be commenting on all things relevant to college football and even break out sometimes and talk about sports in general. I hope you all enjoy, except:

UCLA fans
Notre Dame fans
LSU fans
Texas fans
Oklahoma fans
Cal fans
Michigan fans

But most everyone else is welcome.