07-23-2006, 04:04 PM
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#11
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2023 National Champions
OVR: 43
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: OS Midwest Office
Posts: 42,510
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Re: USC Trojans (NCAA Football 07)
Rebuilding Troy
2006 will decide if the Trojan Empire will strike back
LOS ANGELES, CA - It was supposed to be their destiny. The crowning point. The culmination of their reign. It was supposed to bring their dynasty full circle, ensuring their place in college football immortality forever.
It was...not to be.
Instead, it turned out to be the crowning of immortality for another. Vince Young's dramatic touchdown with 19 seconds left in the Rose Bowl stunned the college football world, delivering a national title to the University of Texas and ending USC's 34 game winning streak in one of the greatest games in history.
For SC, it was the bitterest of pills to swallow. So many things could've gone their way that didn't: What if Reggie Bush held onto the ball instead of lateralling? What if the referees had caught Vince Young's knee on the ground? What if Ryan Ting hadn't dropped an interception on one of Texas's late drives? What if Darnell Bing didn't get called for a facemask late? What if LenDale White - who had carved Texas up all night - had gotten the first down on 4th and 2? And what if USC's defense made one final stand on that fateful 4th and 5?
The answer to the last two questions is easy - SC would've won the Rose Bowl.
But alas, they didn't. And now the legacy of USC is in question, headed into 2006.
Defensive standouts Frostee Rucker and Darnell Bing are gone. Star Offensive Linemen Taitusi Latui, Fred Matua and Winston Justice are gone.
But the most painful loss is the loss of perhaps the greatest backfield the game has ever seen. LenDale White and his 52 career rushing touchdowns are gone. Matt Leinart - the 2004 Heisman winner, thrower of 99 touchdowns and owner of a 37-2 career record - is gone. And the electrifying 2005 Heisman Trophy Winner, Reggie Bush, is also gone, leaving a year early for the NFL.
How does a team that just had a 34-game winning streak snapped recover from losing two Heisman Trophy winners and a bruising touchdown machine?
It's not easy, but it is simple: Recruit the best to remain the best.
Southern Cal has won the "Recruiting National Title" for three straight years, and this year is the biggest test of all that recruiting prowness. Anyone in the know knows that the number of stars next to a recruit's name is meaningless; it's what the coaching staff does with that talent that determines success. And given Pete Carroll's track record for the past few years, SC is in good shape.
Stepping in to attempt to fill the massive hole Matt Leinart leaves at QB is the biggest story of SC's spring practices. Fighting for the starting job are two super-recruited signal callers, John David Booty and Mark Sanchez. Coach Pete Carroll has not given any indication as to who has the edge right now, but many believe Booty has the upper hand simply due to having more experience. Others feel Sanchez already has the job won.
No matter who starts at QB, he will have a massive amount of talent to throw to. Dwayne Jarrett burst onto the scene in 2004, making fans forget about the loss of Mike Williams. Last season he was a consensus All-American, and a Biletnikoff Award finalist. On the other side, the reliable and fast Steve Smith is back for his senior year after catching 60 passes for 957 yards and 5 TDs last year. Chris McFoy will see time in the slot, but it looks like sophomore Patrick Turner - the #1 receiver of the 2005 class and built in that same Williams/Jarrett mold - will start in the slot. This year SC landed the #2 receiver after a controversial recruiting battle with Penn State. But in the end, Vidal Hazelton chose Troy, and should contribute. At Tight End, Dominique Byrd is gone, but Fred Davis - who was the #3 WR in 2004 - is primed for a breakout season.
Bush and White are gone and can never be truly replaced, but the cupboard is hardly empty. Despite losing Hershel Dennis to another devastating knee injury, Tailback U has plenty to step in. No one has secured the #1 job, but Chauncey Washington, Desmond Reed, Michael Coleman, and freshmen Stafon Johnson, C.J. Gable and Emmanuel Moody will all contend. One has to assume that with all the young talent, one of the freshmen may end up transferring. Also, not to be overlooked is FB Brandon Hancock, who has excellent hands out of the backfield.
Despite losing the three best players on their offensive line, USC has an excellent tradition of big, destructive guys up front, and this year should be no different. Sam Baker, Jeff Byers and Ryan Khalil all have starting experience.
The defense - the one question mark for SC last year - was exposed badly last year vs. Texas, as Vince Young did whatever he pleased whenever he chose. The bumps the defense took in that game should pay off big this year, despite the loss of Darnell Bing in the secondary. DE Lawrence Jackson had 10 sacks last year as a sophomore and could be looking for All-American honors this year. Other than him, there are no Kenechi Udezes, Shaun Codys or Mike Pattersons on the line, but they're adaquate enough.
Skipping ahead to the secondary, it's a youthful group. CBs Terrell Thomas and Cary Harris are only sophomores, so they still have a lot to learn. Josh Pinkard can play some CB, but is currently slated to start at Free Safety, with Ryan Ting at Strong Safety.
But the true strength of the SC defense is the immense depth at Linebacker, where 8 players seem primed for playing time. Coach Carroll has said that the current starters are Dallas Sartz, Oscar Lua, and Keith Rivers, but with great talents like Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuga and Kaluka Maiava, nothing can be set in stone.
Mario Danelo is back doing the field goal kicking, but Tom "The Bomb" Malone is gone, replaced by Taylor Odegard. Reggie Bush obviously isn't taking breaths away with kick and punt returns anymore; those duties seem to be Steve Smith's.
Up Next: The 2006 USC Trojans
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