SPOTLIGHT: Allen Bradford

One of the top recruits of Pete Carrol's #1 rated 2006 recruiting class, Allen Bradford, was poised to become another great USC linebacker or possibly safety. I won't even go into all the award and hype that surrounded this guy.However, with the slew of injuries that plagued USC during 2006, Bradford was needed to step up wherever Pete Carroll needed him. And that spot happened to be the fullback/tailback spot and on special teams. After scoring a touchdown in the first game against Arkansas, Bradford went on to rush for 42 yards on 13 carries (3.2 avg.) with a TD and caught 3 passes for 33 yards (11.0 avg.) with a TD. While having a slow freshman year in many opinions, Bradford appeared in all but one game in 2006 and showed his true team character by playing where the team needed him. Whether it was catching passes out of the backfield, blocking for Booty, or blowing up defenders while in the fullback spot or on special teams, Bradford has shown that he is a player to be reckoned with over the next 3 years. He has been described as "a fucking beast" by his teammates and coaches. And I think I speak for everyone when I say that only death can keep this guy off the field this season.

Kevin Love = Not So Classy

Many fucla fans love to talk exaggerate lie about how classy their players and recruits are. Well it turns out they were right about incoming freshmen Kevin Love. Love is one of the classiest guys on the court, that is if you call violently kicking an opposing player and almost getting kicked out the game classy. That's right, turns out lover boy isn't the clean cut player that bruin fans get off to.

"...another storyline was Kevin Love trying to stomp on an opponent and nearly getting kicked out of the game."

This must be a bruin example of how the "National Player of the Year" demonstrates exemplary personal character on and off the court.

Here's a warning to all the fucla students...

If you see this guy at your local Denny's

Run!

2003 Trojan Defense vs. 2007 Trojan Defense

How will this years defense compare to the great Trojan Defense of 2003? In 2003 the Trojan defense held opponents to 1.8 yards per carry and 6.3 yards per reception. They forced 35 fumbles and had 9 interceptions. They also held opponents to under 19 points a game and under 39% on third down conversions.

2003

Kenechi Udeze
Shaun Cody
Mike Patterson
Omar Nazel
Matt Groodegoed
Lofa Tatupu
Will Poole
Darnell Bing

2007
Sedrick Ellis
Lawrence Jackson
Kyle Moore
Everson Griffen
Rey Maualuga
Keith Rivers
Brian Cushing
Kevin Ellison
Taylor Mays
Josh Pinkard
Terrell Thomas

USC Sports Talk Presents

The Third Coming

L.A. home to LA natives Part II

So the pattern continues. Tourney Tim adds another Louisiana native to his roster. However this player isn't just your average Louisiana native. Floyd secured a verbal commitment from Percy "Romeo" Miller, son of Percy Miller aka Master P. Master P is a platinum recording artist, actor, thriving businessman and a local icon in the City of New Orleans.



USC is starting to look very comfortable to 2008's top prospect, Greg Monroe, who is also from the state of Louisiana.

Here's a short bio on Master P for all the uneducated cunt muscles in Westwood who will undoubtedly hate on Romeo's commitment.

Tourney Tim Strikes Gold Platinum

Last Friday Tim Floyd landed verbal commitments from three of the nations best juniors; Demar Derozan, Angelo Johnson, and platinum recording artist/point guard Percy "Romeo" Miller. Demar Derozan and Angelo Johnson are both ranked amongst the nation's top 100 juniors according to Rivals.com, ranking 55 and 79 respectively. Derozan, a future lottery pick, is an amazing athlete with tremendous talent. Derozan and Romeo spent last summer together playing for the same AAU basketball team, the P. Miller Ballers, coached by Romeo's father, Percy "Master P" Miller.



Romeo, primarily known for his music, Nickelodeon television show, and movies, states that basketball is his first love and that basketball is in his blood. With the drive and determination that has landed him success in the entertainment industry, I believe Romeo has the potential to be a great point guard.

Floyd now has verbal commitments from 3 point guards in the 2008 class. Where does this leave Brandon Jennings? Jennings decided earlier this month that he was going to consider his options and take official visits to UConn and Arizona. Do these recent commitments hurt Floyd's chances of retaining Jennings' commitment? Not necessarily. Jennings actually played alongside Derozan and Romeo for the P. Miller Ballers before switching to the SoCal All-Stars. We will keep you updated on Jennings' commitment.

Nick Young to declare for NBA Draft

What was once considered inevitable became reality Friday, as Matthew Kredell reported that "Noodles" Nick Young will announce his decision to go pro on campus early next week. The junior swing man has not yet hired an agent, but will reportedly sign with one soon, terminating his collegiate eligibility. Young, arguably the team's best and most consistent player, carried the team on his back this year after a tumultuous off-season, which saw the team lose its starting backcourt to death (Ryan Francis) and academics (Gabe Pruitt). Young was a steady force in their absence, while freshmen Taj Gibson, Daniel Hackett, and Dwight Lewis became acclimated with Division I hoops and Pruitt sat out the fall semester. Young averaged a team high 17.5 points per game in helping them reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002. Though it hurts to see him go, he has undoubtedly set a strong foundation for the future of this program. All of us here at USC Sports Talk wish Nick nothing but the best and now await word on Gabe Pruitt. Fight On!

2007 NFL Mock Draft

We are only 15 days away from the NFL Draft, and as the resident draft guru, I can tell you that I'm about as excited as the real Mel Kiper Jr. himself. This is one of the most uncertain drafts in recent memory. There seems to be a lot of indecision at the top of the draft, which may lead to a flurry of trades on draft day. Teams who covet certain players may feel more inclined to trade up, for fear that the teams ahead of them will take their prize.

Most people think that the Raiders are all but ready to select LSU QB JaMarcus Russell with the top overall pick. Though Russell will be an upgrade at the QB position, I highly doubt that he can help them win in the short term. Oakland has a playoff caliber defense, and are an efficient QB away from making a strong playoff push. I don't think they can afford to wait a few years for Russell to develop.

Before Peyton Manning won it last season, you have to go all the way back to Troy Aikman in 1989, as being the last QB selected #1 overall to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory. There have been 9 QB's taken 1st overall since then. Drew Bledsoe joins Manning as the only other to have even played in a Super Bowl. More on the Raiders projected pick below, but first let me tell you which two things are the only guarantees on draft day:

(a) The Bucs will take Calvin Johnson at #4 if he's available
(b) The Cardinals will take OT Joe Thomas at #5 if he is still available

With that being said, the keys to this year's draft are held by Oakland and Detroit. This post includes my projections for picks 1-16 of the 1st Round. Next week I'll have an updated, full 1st Round, and then I'll post a final mock covering rounds 1 and 2 on the eve of the draft. Hopefully the Raiders will have signed their pick by then, like Mario Williams and Houston last year.

1. OAKLAND QB JaMarcus Russell, LSU
The Raiders are still debating whether they want Russell or stud WR Calvin Johnson. Unless they acquire a veteran QB, the pick is Russell.

2. DETROIT OT Joe Thomas, Wisconsin
The Lions need to protect the passer. They should get plenty of calls on draft day from teams wanting to move up.

3. CLEVELAND RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
The Browns need a player who can help them win now. RB's tend to make the biggest impact as rookies.

4. TAMPA BAY WR Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech
The Bucs may not be able to sit at #4 and wait for Johnson. They'll be holding their breath when the commissioner reads off Oakland's pick.

5. ARIZONA DT Amobi Okoye, Louisville
The Cards will also be crossing their fingers hoping that Thomas is still on the board, if not they'll draft the 19 year old phenom.

6. WASHINGTON DE Gaines Adams, Clemson
The Redskins need to improve their pass rush, but they may still trade this pick to Chicago for LB Lance Briggs.

7. MINNESOTA QB Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
The Vikings took a QB in the 2nd round last year, but cannot pass on a player like Quinn after cutting Brad Johnson in the off-season.

8. ATLANTA FS LaRon Landry, LSU
The Falcons will consider OT Levi Brown or DE Jamaal Anderson too, but they'll go with the player with the best value and pick Landry.

9. MIAMI OT Levi Brown, Penn State
The Dolphins can go in any direction with this pick. They'll start bye putting together a stable offensive line.

10. HOUSTON OT Joe Staley, Central Michigan
The Texans need a LT, but don't have a 2nd round pick, which means that they may have to reach for Staley or trade down.

11. SAN FRANCISCO DT Alan Branch, Michigan
The 49ers have holes at WR and along the defensive front, but they can find a WR in the 2nd round.

12. BUFFALO LB Patrick Willis, Ole Miss
The Bills need help at MLB, CB, and RB. Willis can start immediately and is my early pick for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

13. ST. LOUIS DE Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas
The Rams took CB Tye Hill last year, and must continue to build the defense. They will take the best available defensive lineman.

14. CAROLINA TE Greg Olsen, Miami (Fl)
The Panthers took RB DeAngelo Williams last year, and will add another offensive weapon, a TE that can stretch the field.

15. PITTSBURGH LB Lawrence Timmons, Florida State
The Steelers are transitioning from the 3-4 defense to a Tampa 2 scheme. Timmons has the ability play outside in either scheme.

16. GREEN BAY RB Marshawn Lynch, California
The Packers need a RB, plain and simple. They also need a big WR and a playmaker at TE, but they can address those in later rounds.

Tarbabe to become Trojan?

According to TrojanNYC, Trojan recruit Demar Derozan is nearing a decision about where he will play his college ball, with USC topping his list. This is my favorite recruit from the 2008 class. Derozan has been compared to players like Gerald Green and Josh Smith for his athletic ability. Derozan can sky and deservingly wears the number 23. Looks like Floyd is building another top class. Allow us at USC Sports Talk to introduce you to Demar Derozan....

UFC: A New Breed

Taking a break from USC for a second, we turn our attention elsewhere. I came across this fairly recent article and it got me thinking. While soccer is expanding here in the US as was brought to our attention by RG3, no sport is growing faster than the UFC. Owned by Nevada's Zuffa LLC, Ultimate Fighting is an MMA (mixed martial arts) organization marketing different fighting styles with fighters from around the world. So now the question begs…who has the upper hand? Boxing, wrestling, or the UFC?

According to this article, I have to say UFC because boxing just isn’t nailing the pay-per-view buys that it used to. I mean, De-La Hoya in 2006 got close to 900,000 buys, but no event in 2006 ever cracked 1 million buys. With the over-reliance on Oscar De La Hoya and the lack of a true primetime heavyweight, boxing is in trouble. WWE has sort of oversaturated the market with its many pay-per-view events. However, it does maintain the advantage of having a huge international audience. On the other hand, UFC has a small international audience and bulging domestic audience. But that is slowly starting to change, especially on April 21^st when the UFC goes to England to showcase its brand new fighter, Mirko Cro Cop. This is a huge fight internationally and one that I won’t miss. With Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz 2 passing 1 million pay-per-view buys in December 2006, the UFC is proving why its here to stay. Its gaining a whole new audience of young adults and teens who are addicted to its mind-blowing value and possibly stealing viewers from boxing as well as wrestling. The stars Andrei Arlovski, Chuck Liddell, and the ever popular Randy Couture are reasons why this sport has only one way to go. Up. UFC 70 takes place April 21st from Manchester, England- available on Pay-Per-View. suggest you check it out. [Update: UFC 70 will be free on SPIKE TV for U.S. residents]

Ronald Johnson Highlights

Here's why RoJo is an IMPACT Freshman

Mike Williams on the Block

According to Lions Insider, Lions head coach Rod Marinelli was looking to give former USC WR Mike Williams the opportunity to prove his dedication to football, losing weight, and staying in shape. This was all before Williams missed the first organized team activity. Rumors about Williams being cut or traded have already begun to circulate. This is unfortunate for Williams, however it may give him the opportunity to shine somewhere else in a different system.



This guy dominated games at SC, and I see no reason why he cant be a force in the NFL. Williams doesn't have any off the field issues (he's not makin it rain at strip clubs) so whichever team lands him will be getting a big, tough, and talented young receiver with excellent hands.

Best Wishes Mike

Fight On!

L.A. home to LA natives

Tim Floyd has done an excellent job recruiting talented players out of the state of Louisiana. Every year since Tourney Tim has been at SC he has brought in a Louisiana native; Ryan Francis, Dwight Lewis, Leonard Washington and Marcus Simmons. Trojan basketball fans can only hope that this pattern continues in 2008 with the recruitment of Greg Monroe, the #1 rated high school basketball player. Floyd will have to compete with Duke and LSU for Monroe's commitment.

We will keep you updated on the recruitment of Monroe throughout the offseason.
Here's what we have to look forward to...

http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/monroe_greg00.html

Adam Pacman Jones Suspended for the 2007 NFL Season.

Adam “Pacman” Jones was suspended today for the 2007 NFL season by commissioner Roger Goodell for his alleged involvement in a strip club altercation back in February. Goodell released a statement where he condemned Pacman’s actions. The suspension also stated that Jones will not receive pay during the suspension. While many people may agree with Commissioner Goodell, I for one am disgusted by the ruling.

Jones is alleged to have been involved in an altercation with an exotic stripper at the Minxx Gentlemen’s Club and Lounge over the NBA All-Star Game weekend. In a visual effect, Jones was onstage showering over 40 strippers with $81,000 in one-dollar bills. Jones threw the money in the air in an effort to “make it rain.” During Pacman’s “rain dance,” the strippers proceded to pick up the money as directed by the nightclub owners. Pacman was upset at the loss of his money and grabbed one of the strippers by the hair and slammed her face onto the stage floor. There was an ensuing scuffle between Pacman’s entourage and the strip club bouncers and shots were fired outside the club that left two guards, as well as a woman injured. One of the guards was left in critical condition and paralyzed from the waist down. Pacman claims that didn’t know the shooter yet the club owner claims Pacman did. No charges have been filed but Jones was suspended anyways.

Jones has a history of altercations with the law dating back to his college days. Among his credentials are assault, felony vandalism, disorderly conduct, public intoxication as well as a misdemeanor citation for allegedly spitting in the face of a female student from Tennessee State University.

While Pacman Jones has had his share of run-ins with the law, he has been able to maintain a high level of competiveness on the football field, playing defensive back for the Tennessee Titans. Pacman is also a kick return specialist with 3 punt return touchdowns last season. Besides being a solid player, his actions at Minxx that fateful night (pre-stripper-headbashing), are a testament to this guy’s ability to party. While many hip-hop songs speak of making it rain and what not, I don’t think anyone in the history of the world has ever “made it rain” as good as Adam Pacman Jones. The guy had $81,000 in dollar bills and showered 40 strippers… Pacman deserves props just for being able to throw that much cash into the air. I bet it was a thing of beauty.

Jones’ suspension proves the harsh policies of the NFL or No Fun League. In recent years, the league has cracked down on touchdown celebrations and the rights of players to express themselves. Gone are the days where players can “moon” fans, take a cheerleader’s poms poms and dance or any form of group celebrations. I’m surprised the league didn’t penalize the Giants for their “Ballin!” celebrations that have become a phenomenon. Add “making it rain” to the list of banned actions by the NFL. What is this world coming to? A man can no longer go to a stripclub and spend his hard-earned money any which way he wants. This is a direct violation of our rights as free citizens. Making it rain should not be frowned upon. Unfortunately, Goodell is taking the fun out of the league that wants to maintain it’s clean reputation. Players cannot be held accountable for the actions of their entourage or of random allegations. My condolences go out to the guard who was paralyzed, but also to Adam Pacman Jones. I’m hoping for an appeal and a suspension reduction. If people can’t make it rain at a club, then the terrorists have already won…

Awful-0 Enters 2007 NBA Draft

Junior guard Arron Afflalo has declared for the 2007 NBA Draft, thus ending his career at fucla. Awful-0, as we like to call him here at USC Sports Talk, declared for the 2006 NBA Draft after his sophomore season. He later withdrew his name and decided to return to school for one more year. NCAA basketball players can only "test the waters" of the NBA draft once, and are not allowed to return to school after declaring a second time.

What this means is that fucla will not be as strong next year. The return of Awful-0 would have given them a better chance to return to the Final Four, but now they will have to compete without their leader. The downside is that we won't be able to heckle him next year after his second straight disappearing act in the semi-final game. We won't be able to give him one of these dejected images...


We'll just have to settle on tormenting Shipp, Roll, Mata, Love, and the rest of those rejects.

Fight On!

NBA Scouts aren't the only ones keeping an eye on Mayo

Homosexual High school basketball player and UCLA commit Kevin Love is very open and comfortable with his sexuality. Here he is seen at the Nike Hoop Summit admiring fellow Pac-10 commit OJ Mayo.

IMPACT Freshmen

After a thorough review of the Trojan Huddle Recap I have selected a few incoming freshmen that should have a huge impact on next season. Here are my top three...

1. Jordan Campbell, LB/FB 5'11" 260lbs- Campbell spent his entire football career playing linebacker, however due to the great depth at the linebacker position, PC recruited Campbell as a fullback. Campbell spent his senior season on both sides of the ball attempting to learn his new position. The fullback position on the Trojan depth chart is as thin as fucla's football championship records. Stanely Havili is the only scholarship fullback on the roster. Havili has looked very impressive throughout the spring and had a great game at the Trojan Huddle. However, with the luck USC had at keeping fullbacks healthy last season it is important that PC add depth to the position. With the departure of Brandon Hancock and Ryan Powdrell and the continued rehab of big back Michael Coleman, Jordan Campbell will be a welcomed addition in the fall. I've seen Campbell at a few spring practices and he looks like a very solid football player. Once Jordan learns the offense look for him to get a lot of reps as Havili's backup.
2. Everson Griffen, DE 6'4" 266lbs- Griffen is a monster. His size and athletic ability is unmatched by any recruit that PC has ever brought in. Griffen played defensive end and running back in high school. I have never seen a player of his size with the ability to overpower and outrun every player on the football field. With LoJack holding down one DE spot there's only one spot up for grabs. Currently, Kyle Moore has been working his tail off trying to prove to the coaching staff that he is deserving of that spot. He has had a good spring and looked very impressive on Saturday. Griffen will definitely push Moore for the starting job, making for one of the best position battles of the fall.
3. Ronald Johnson, WR 6'0" 180lbs- The receivers have looked pretty good this spring, however at times they have looked inconsistent. Patrick Turner has been the only consistent performer throughout the spring. Ausberry, Hazelton, and Patterson are all very talented receivers and I am expecting great things from the three of them. However, with Jamere Holland out with another shoulder injury, I'm not sure we have a speedster that can go out deep and spread the field. RoJo will be a great addition to the receiving corp and should push the other receivers. I don't expect RoJo to crack the starting lineup but I do expect him to get some significant playing time next season.

* Other possible IMPACT freshmen: Kristopher O'Dowd and Joe Mcknight

Brandon Jennings... Verbal Commit?

According to GOAZCATZ.com the race for point guard Brandon Jennings' commitment is up for grabs. Jennings, a 6'0" 175lb junior from Oak Hill Academy VA, gave a verbal commitment to the Trojans last fall. Jennings' commitment was considered to be pretty solid. He transferred to Oak Hill Academy from Dominguez High School and stated that he was looking forward to playing college ball in California in front of his family. Jennings also spent last summer playing AAU basketball with the SoCal All-Stars alongside current Trojan guard Daniel Hackett and Trojan commit Malik Story. With Jennings' verbal commitment he became the immediate heir apparent to the vacancy at point guard that is expected to be left with OJ Mayo's departure to the NBA. Jennings has NBA talent is already projected to be a top pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.



There are three schools in the running for Jennings' commitment: USC, Arizona, and UConn. It will be up to Tim Floyd to win back the commitment of this prized recruit. Floyd will also be busy recruiting other top players in the 2008 class including the #1 overall prospect Greg Monroe and (my personal favorite) Demar Derozan from Compton High School. Luckily for Floyd he will have help recruiting Jennings. Trojan commit Malik Story has decided to transfer to Oak Hill Academy next year and will be playing alongside Jennings. Hopefully his recruiting is as good as his outside shooting.

Hershel Dennis: Beast

Hershel Dennis, a tailback for USC, has looked great in spring practices and in the annual Trojan Huddle spring game. Dennis is recovering from two severe knee injuries that, unfortunately, have kept him off the field the last two seasons. Dennis has applied for a 6th year of eligibility due to these extreme circumstances. USC is still awaiting word from the NCAA on this matter. All of us here at USC Sports Talk are hoping the NCAA comes to their senses and grants Hershel that extra year.

Dennis is a 2002 graduate of Long Beach Poly High School. He comes from the same graduating class that produced other Trojan stars such as Darnell Bing and Winston Justice. Dennis split carries his freshman year at USC with upperclassmen Justin Fargas and Sultan McCullough. He saw playing time in all 13 games that season and was the starter the year after for the Trojans. Dennis was the team’s 2nd leading rusher in 2003, playing in front of freshman tailbacks and current NFL players, Reggie Bush and Lendale White. Before we had Thunder and Lightening in the USC backfield, we had Hershel Dennis. This guy is a beast. Dennis rushed for 661 rushing yards in 2003. USC has had enough talent to use a running back by committee approach and Dennis paved the way for Bush and White to develop their game their freshman year. These guys had quite a mentor. Dennis has a great combination of speed and power. He can bounce to the outside to turn the corner or he can simply lower his shoulder and run through people. Dennis doesn’t just run over people, he trucks them.


Hershel Dennis has endured some setbacks in his career but he just keeps coming back. While other players would easily fold at injuries (see Dallas “Shoulder Sprain” Sartz), Dennis has recovered from two season ending knee injuries. He had an impressive showing at Saturday’s Trojan Huddle amassing two touchdowns, one on a 2 yard run and another on a 43 yard screen pass that he took to the house. I wasn’t there in person but I’ve heard that the longer touchdown by Dennis got all the fans in attendance wet.

USC desperately needed someone of Hershel’s caliber last season. There were far too many times when the running game looked stagnant and the running backs simply weren’t cutting it. This was a combination of our young backfield and Lane Kiffin’s “genius” playcalling. Thankfully that guy is no longer in the booth. I highly doubt USC would have looked so incompetent against UCLA’s defense in that defeat this last December had Dennis been in the lineup. Hershel would have run right through the Bruin’s defense and we would be admiring another BCS championship trophy at Heritage Hall.
Dennis has proven that he can still perform at a high level this Spring. Hopefully Dennis can continue his progress and return to form. We hope to see #34 back on the field breaking big runs and running wild over the Pac-10 defenses.

Trojan Huddle Recap

In a game that was at times sloppy, the Trojans put on a good show and found out some things about its team. In my last two posts, previewing the offense and defense, I highlighted a player from each unit that I feel needs to step up this spring. Most of the players who were expected to step up, did, including a few surprises, namely Hershel Dennis, who is awaiting a decision by the NCAA to grant him a sixth year of eligibility. The new crop of WR's looked great, including sophomore Travon Patterson, who was featured on Sunday's edition of the LA Times. Senior LB Thomas Williams also was impressive as he filled in for the injured Brian Cushing. The following is my review from yesterday's scrimmage.



OFFENSE

The running game, with the four freshman running backs out nursing injuries, was led by the three seniors: Dennis (pictured above), last year's leading rusher Chauncey Washington, and Desmond Reed, who appears to be back to form, prior to the devastating knee injury he suffered in the tall grass of Notre Dame Stadium in October of 2005. Dennis looked simply amazing and reminded me why he started over Trojan greats Reggie Bush and LenDale in 2003. He showed the explosiveness we all remember on his first carry, making a defender miss in the backfield and taking it 22 yards to set up a first and goal situation for the offense. Dennis later capped off the drive with a powerful inside run from two yards out for the touchdown. On a later play, Hersh caught a middle screen from QB Mark Sanchez and raced around the left side of the defense and turned up the jets as he hit the sideline, outrunning Rey Maualuga and others for a crowd pleasing 43 yard TD catch. Desmond Reed showed quickness and a burst out of his cuts that we have not seen from him since that gruesome knee injury. However, he looked somewhat hesitant and tentative when the hole wasn't there. Reed displayed good hands and ran great routes out of the backfield and should be a good third down back for the Trojans this fall. Reed also may have staked his claim to assume punt returner duties after taking back a punt 74 yards for a TD. Though he didn't produce a big play like Dennis or Reed, Chauncey Washington was the best runner of the day. He broke into the secondary on several of his runs, showing toughness and aggressiveness on all his carries.


The passing game looked shaky at times, with the QB's throwing a combined 5 INTs, but they got some encouraging results from the young WR's. Booty looked sharp for the most part. He was intercepted by Keith Rivers on his first drive, but then reeled of 14 consecutive completions to finish 15 for 17 with 2 TDs and 2 INTs. The other INT came on a broken play where Booty's attempted screen pass was tipped by a defensive lineman to another defensive lineman for the pick. Sanchez, who finshed 11 for 23, had an inconsistent day, throwing 2 beautiful touchdown passes, but he also threw 2 INTs, and had several poorly thrown passes and a fumbled snap. The WR's shined, making big plays, albeit, against a short-handed secondary. Patrick Turner and Vidal Hazleton ran with the first team offense, and each recorded a touchdown.

Hazleton, high-stepped his way into the endzone on his TD catch, prompting Coach Carroll to tell the officials to flag him for unsportsmanlike conduct. Carroll was visibly perturbed by Hazleton's celebration, as USC was forced to kick the extra point 15 yards further than normal. David Ausberry seemed to struggle a bit versus bump and run coverage, but made several impressive grabs. He seems fit to play the Mike Williams/Dwayne Jarrett role in our offense and I'm pleased with his development.

As I mentioned above, Patterson seemed to have the best day, getting behind the defense twice on scoring passes from Sanchez and Michael McDonald, and returning a punt for a TD. But TE Fred Davis and FB Stanley Havili also had nice showings. Havili proved why the coaching staff values the fullback position so much. He was moved around alot too, motioning up to the line of scrimmage as a wing, and even being split out wide in an empty backfield set. He showed excellent hands, and ran well after the catch.

The offensive line played well too. The defense wasn't allowed to sack or even hit the QB, but rarely did the guys under center face pressure in the pocket. The line has to be credited too for the impressive showing from our running backs. The only injury scare from the scrimmage was Matt Spanos, who started the game at center. Scott Wolf reports that Spanos suffered a high ankle sprain and could be out for quite some time. The starting offensive line featured LT Sam Baker, LG Jeff Byers, Spanos, RG Chilo Rachal, and RT Drew Radovich. Jeff Byers moved over to center when Spanos went down and Tiny Malu came in at LG, so it'll be interesting to see how the line looks in the last week of spring practices as the team heads into the fall.

DEFENSE

There wasn't much to critique about the defense. They played well when you consider the injuries. The offense only produced one big play and two semi-big plays on the day, the big one was that fantastic catch and run by Dennis off the screen pass. The two not-so-big plays were Travon Patterson's 33 yard TD catch where he just ran past a helpless backup defender, and Vidal Hazleton's 34 yard TD reception following a missed tackle by FS Taylor Mays.

Mays was a non-factor on defense, missing more tackles than he should, including the one that led to the TD, but he did have the hit of the day. Early in the game, Booty rolled to his right and dumped it to FB Stanley Havili, who was then trucked by Mays for a 3 yard loss. CB's Cary Harris and Shareece right started the game and showed some decent coverage skills. They also were more than willing to come up to support the run, notching several open field tackles of Chauncey, Hersh, and Reed.

The linebackers played well, showing off their power and speed, but the standout was Thomas Williams. He proved to be more than capable of playing the strong side (SAM) linebacker position currently held by the injured Brian Cushing. If Cushing is slow to recover from his hamstring injury, or is unable to adapt to his new role after playing close to the line of scrimmage last season, Thomas should fill in nicely. Rivers and Maualuga played well against the run and the pass, and backup LB Kaluka Maiava had an interception.



The defensive line was solid. USC knows what it is getting out of Lawrence Jackson and Sedrick Ellis, but others made some nice plays as well. Alex Parson intercepted Booty's attempted screen pass, and Kyle Moore showed outstanding athletic ability by intercepting a Mark Sanchez pass intended for one of the backs on a wheel route. Moore displayed quickness and hustle and may have gone a long way to securing the starting DE position opposite of Lawrence Jackson.

All in all, it was a productive scrimmage, as both offenses moved the ball well under Booty and Sanchez. There was only one reported injury (M. Spanos), which is always important, and the players went out and competed. I can't wait when the team is full squad in the full with the arrival of the 2007 recruiting class, and the rehab of our injured player. Stay tuned for more news throughout the off-season.

Fight On!

Trojan Huddle Preview: Defense

Tomorrow's scrimmage should provide a good basis of evaluation for the offensive players, but it will be difficult to analyze the defense with the numerous injuries on that side of the ball. Defensive players that were hurt before or during spring practices include 6 defensive backs, a linebacker, and a D Lineman. They include but are not limited to: CB Kevin Thomas, CB Terrell Thomas, CB Cary Harris, S Josh Pinkard, S Will Harris, S Kevin Ellison, LB Brian Cushing, DT Chris Barrett, and many others


That's quite a number of injuries, especially in the secondary, so the defense will be shorthanded. The following preview of the defensive units will be what I'm expecting to see in the scrimmage and how the positions project into the start of fall camp.

Defensive Line

After a year running a 3-4 defensive front, with Brian Cushing playing the extra linebacker at the "elephant" position, the Trojans are switching back to the more conventional 4-3 front. The lack of a pass rush last year may have been attributed to having Lawrence Jackson as our only pass rush specialist on the field. The sub-par numbers from Jackson didn't mean that he was playing terribly, he had a pretty solid season, but it did influence his decision to come back for his senior season. Junior Kyle Moore is expected to start at end opposite Jackson in the fall, but he needs to show the coaches that he can be a terror in the backfield. Not only does he need to gain confidence and become one of the leaders, he also must get a head start on highly touted fresman Everson Griffen, who will be staking his claim to the starting job in the fall. Junior Gerald Washington, a converted tight end, and senior Alex Morrow will provide depth.


The Trojans are strong at defensive tackle as they welcome back one of the nation's premier players, nose tackle Sedrick Ellis. It's not by mistake that the Trojan defense struggled a bit last year in the few games that Ellis missed due to injury. He will anchor the line along with junior Fili Moala, who should start next to Ellis. Senior Chris Barret, sophomore Alex Parsons, and freshman Derek Simmons will work to back up Fili, while sophomore Averell Spicer and junior Lawrence Miles will spot Ellis at NT. I'm looking for Fili Moala to emerge out of the group as someone who can exploit the constant double teams that Ellis and Jackson will be receiving this season.


Linebackers

The biggest change that was brought by switching back to the 4-3 front will be that of Brian Cushing, as he will now move off the line of scrimmage to the strong side linebacker position (SAM). He will now have more room to roam and make plays instead of battling offensive linemen down in the trenches like he did last season. It will be an adjustment for Cushing, but hasn't been able to practice since injuring his hamstring early in the spring. Senior Keith Rivers enters his 3rd year starting on the weak side, and the hard-hitting junior Rey Maualuga takes over full-time in the middle after sharing time with senior captain Oscar Lua last year. Rey now becomes the unquestioned leader in the defensive huddle, and all players will respect him. Coaches everywhere are aware that they must know where #58 is at all times, including USC LB's Coach Ken Norton, Jr. Senior Thomas Williams, an electrifying hitter, is the top backup. He is smart and versatile, and can play all 3 LB positions equally well. Junior Kaluka Maiava and sophomore Luthur Brown will backup Rivers and Maualuga, respectively. This is one of the deepest and most talented LB corps in the country and should serve as the backbone of this defense. The only question mark will be how quickly Cushing adapts to his new role, because we know Rey and Keith just flat out make plays.


Defensive Backs

To say that the defensive backs have been banged up this spring would be an understatement. Projected starters at CB Terrell Thomas and Cary Harris, as well as one of their top backups Kevin Thomas have been out. Safeties Kevin Ellison and Josh Pinkard have also missed all of them spring as they rehab and get ready for the upcoming season. The only healthy starter in the secondary this spring has been FS Taylor Mays, who took over for Pinkard last season when he injured his knee in the opener at Arkansas. The one positive thing is that the guys like CB Shareece Wright, who are further down on the depth chart, have gotten quality reps, which has bolstered the overall talent and depth in the secondary. Mozique McCurtis is another tough and savvy player, much like LB Thomas Williams, who is versatile and can play many roles in the secondary. The biggest myth will be the availability of Josh Pinkard. Carroll often referred to him as the best and most valuable player on defense going into last season. Pinkard, who was inserted at CB when the defense was struggling in 2005, and played really well, is probably the smartest and most instinctive player on the team. But with the emergence of Mays at FS, and the improved play at CB, where will he fit in this season. Of course he must first get healthy.


Hope you liked the offensive and defensive preview of Saturday's spring game. I'll provide a complete post game wrap up on Sunday with my thoughts, as well as a few quotes and reactions from players and coaches.

Fight On!

Trojan Huddle Preview: Offense

The Coliseum will host the Trojan Huddle tomorrow, Saturday, April 7th. This is USC's annual spring football scrimmage game, and it will help the coaching staff evaluate several players battling for several key position spots, though several players are injured and may not play. Here is breakdown of each offensive unit and what I'll looking for tomorrow. I'll post the defensive preview a little bit later on today.

The Running Game

The offense needs a running back that will separate himself from the rest of the pack. With C.J. Gable, Allen Bradford, Emmanuel Moody, and Stafon Johnson banged up, it looks like Chauncey Washington has the inside track at cracking the top of the depth chart heading into fall camp. Don't forget about Hershel Dennis, who is waiting on the NCAA to grant him a 6th year of eligibility. Dennis is confident that he will gain a 6th year, so long as he graduates this May and completes his degree in sociology. We seem to be set at FB with Stanley Havili, who's looked great all spring, but he is also battling the injury bug so we'll see if he's able to go tomorrow. Michael Coleman is likely to move to fullback, increasing the depth behind Havili. The running backs need a big day because they know that 3 talented freshmen will be arriving in the fall.


The Passing Game

John David Booty needs to find a rhythm with his new WR's as they continue to break in to the demands of Division I football. Only Fred Davis and Patrick Turner have any real game experience catching balls from Booty, and they are certain to be his go to guys this season. The coaching staff needs someone to step up and take the #2 and #3 WR spots. Vidal Hazleton, David Ausberry (pictured below), Travon Patterson, and Jamere Holland have all been battling it out this spring as Turner's complimentary WR. Carroll has already pulled Hazleton aside to offer him a little pep talk urging him to make the most of his opportunity. I'm looking forward to a big day from this guy though...


Quarterback

Booty is back at QB, as he'll be leading the offense with a year of playing experience now under his belt. He will be entering his 5th season at 'SC and should know the playbook inside and out, so I'm not worried about him at all. However, this will be a big day for back up QB Mark Sanchez. Scott Wolf reported that Mitch Mustain will be attending tomorrow's scrimmage, so it'll be a big opportunity to showcase his skill and supplant himself as the heir apparent to Booty.

Offensive Line

The O-Line's biggest challenge heading into next season will be to find a center to replace last year's unquestioned team leader, Ryan Kalil. This spring the reps at center have been taken by the likes of Nick Howell, Matt Spanos, and even Jeff Byers (an all-american at Center in high school). The staff is trying to find a cohesive group and have not ruled out more changes. Last year's starting guard, Drew Radovich is now taking snaps at Right Tackle, with Byers filling in at Drew's Left Guard spot. Don't forget highly touted incoming freshman lineman Kristofer O'Dowd will join the squad this fall. He is versatile enough to play either center or guard. One thing that is certain is that LT Sam Baker will anchor the line and protect Booty's blind side. He is without a doubt the best linemen on the team and one of the best in the nation. Chilo Rachal is the returning starter at RG, and appears to have firm hold on that spot, and Radovich is currently the leader at RT, but may also stay at his old LG position. If Byers returns to his old form he will start at either LG or C, leaving Spanos, Howell, and O'Dowd competing for the final spot...


Should be an interesting game, hopefully our guys will showcase their skills and battle for those open spots. The preview of the defense will be up shortly.

Fight On!

Kevin Love- "Can score on the rebound"

That's the most accurate scouting report I've ever seen...

Why smoking crack and writing don't mix

This afternoon, I came across this fresh, warm hoard of bullshit. I don't know which sounds more retarded:
1) UCLA being ranked in the Preseason Football Top-10
2) UCLA being predicted to beat USC. At the Coliseum. In December. By 20. To Win the Pac-10.

Your everyday senior writer Dennis Dodd, and I stress senior, because typically seniors have proven themselves legitimate and usually write provocative work. This jackass basically breathes shit gas and then mentions how the "UCLA minister of Propaganda" breathes even more shit gas. I urge you to read with caution. And I am pretty sure Pete Carroll has a copy of UCLA's spring guide and will keep it in mind when UCLA comes into the Lion's Den on December 1st.

Tourney Tim to Return to the Big Dance in 08

The national media is starting to give Tourney Tim and the USC basketball team some well deserved pre-pre-season hype. Sports Illustrated's Luke Winn selected USC as one of the top 10 contenders for the 2008 crown, this assuming that Nick Young declares for the NBA Draft.

8. USC The national spotlight will follow super-recruit O.J. Mayo to Troy, where the Trojans are already loaded. He'll join Daniel Hackett and Gabe Pruitt in a three-headed backcourt, and as long as the chemistry clicks -- and it doesn't become the O.J.-only show -- USC will be a force.

Click Here to Read the Entire Article

Roundball Classic Practice

The quality isn't that great, but good enough to see some Mayo highlights.

Why Soccer Will Never Catch On in the U.S.

A tragedy occurred this week... Cuahtemoc Blanco, a forward for Club America and the Mexican National Team (and also my favorite soccer player) signed a contract to play for the Chicago Fire of the MLS. The contract will have Blanco playing for club through 2009. Blanco plays for my favorite soccer team, Club America of the Mexican Soccer Federation. He has been one of my favorite players for years now and it's a shame to see him leave to another team.

Some of you might have heard of another high profile player to sign a contract to play for an MLS team recently. David Beckham will play with the Los Angeles Galaxy in July after his contract with Real Madrid expires this summer. Beckham is more well-known than Blanco but both are good players that should boost their teams. Beckham's signing sparked national media attention for about a good 2 days. It was all over ESPN and it was even discussed on the ESPN programs Around the Horn and PTI. Blanco's signing received much more subdued media coverage for obvious reasons. The news was broken during the same time as the start of the MLB season as well as Florida's crowning as repeat NCAA Basketball Champions. Also, most of the U.S. was probably asking themselves, "Who or what the fuck is Cuahtemoc Blanco?"

Both of these signings would have been the top stories of the week in any other country. I'm not just talking about sports news either. I mean front page headlines type of stuff. There would have been front page headlines in national newspapers, dozens of related articles scattered around the news as well as public excitement for these signings. Maybe Blanco's signing wouldn't be as celebrated, but Beckham's signing would have given the entire nation a giant chubby.

This is the state of soccer here in the U.S. No one really gives a rat's ass about what happens in soccer. For one thing, a lot of people don't follow soccer and the media considers soccer an afterthought, just ask Jim Rome, a professed "hater" of soccer. While millions of kids play youth soccer and will continue their love of the game, soccer doesn't become a headline unless it's a World Cup year. The World Cup is about the only time soccer is shown or given extensive coverage on the major networks. Sure, ESPN2 shows the Champions League but you usually have to subscribe to a premium cable or satellite package to get full soccer coverage from around the world.

The reasons why soccer will never catch on in mainstream America is because we focus on every other sport. Football, basketball and baseball are the heavyweights. Those sports have the best American athletes. They offer the most lucrative marketing and profit shares here in the U.S. and they have become a part of our very lives (just ask any contributer of this blog). Soccer will remain an afterthought in the U.S. until the media gives it the same attention. Media coverage, coupled with a massive advertising and player signings will make soccer a little more bearable for the average American fan. The U.S. will remain a stranger to the "beautiful game" until the best athletes are picking up the sport and Major League Soccer stops making their stadiums sound like a giant shopping center... i.e. Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Home Depot Center and my favorite, Pizza Hut Park. While other countries have rich soccer stadium tradition such as the Estadio Azteca in Mexico, the Maracana in Brazil or Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge in England, we have Pizza Hut Park.... holy fuck.

I think David Beckham and Cuahtemoc Blanco's signings are a step forward in making the MLS into less of a joke. I doubt they will be able to make soccer into the phenomenon it is in other countries though. The league needs more than two soccer figures to give it a pulse. A league expansion, more lucrative contracts and the need for better American soccer players will start the ball rolling on making the MLS into a competitive soccer league and the legitimacy of U.S. soccer. Just imagine how sick the U.S. National Team would be if athletes such as Reggie Bush, Ed Reed, LeBron James and Maurice Green played soccer... and they were coached by Bill Parcells... with Pete Carroll as assistant....

O.J. Mayo drops 27 points in Roundball Classic

O.J. led the way for the East squad Tuesday night as they fell 144-123 to the West in the Roundball Classic All-Star Game. Mayo, who was named MVP for the East team, bounced back nicely from a highly criticized performance in last week's McDonald's All-American game. He shot 11-18 from the field including 5-10 from behind the arc in the game, which was held at Chicago's United Center. According to draftexpress.com O.J. dominated in both workouts just like he did at the McDonald's practices. Mayo has now competed in the NCAA's allotted two all-star games a player can take part in before he enrolls for his freshman season. That means the next time we'll see this guy play will be in a Trojans uniform. Can't wait for next season. Fight On!!

Who will be the 2007 NBA Draft's Early Entries?

Although the college basketball season just came to an end yesterday, it is never too early to look ahead to the next season. USC has two juniors in Nick Young and Gabe Pruitt that are both likely to "test the waters" in order get a feel for their stock. We will find out soon on which players across the country will declare for the 2007 NBA Draft, but remember players can withdraw from the draft up to a week before so long as they have not hired an agent. Florida and Ohio State will probably be hit pretty hard, and it's always interesting to see what happens in the Pac-10. So far Nick Young and Spencer Hawes seem to be the only locks for the 1st Round according to many experts, including yours truly, but Gabe Pruitt, Aaron Afflalo (Awful-0), and Arizona's Marcus Williams have a chance to play themselves into the 1st Round in the coming weeks. All of these Pac-10 guys might return to their respective schools next season so we'll just have to wait and see, but 'SC fans can expect to lose Nick Young. Here's how nbadraft.net projects the 1st Round of the draft.

1. Memphis Grizzlies, Greg Oden 7-0 250 C Ohio St. Fr.

2. Boston Celtics, Kevin Durant 6-10 220 SF Texas Fr.

3. Milwaukee Bucks, Brandan Wright 6-10 210 PF UNC Fr.

4. *Phoenix Suns, Al Horford 6-9 245 PF Florida Jr.
* Phoenix receives a first round pick from Atlanta (Joe Johnson trade 081905) The Suns will receive Atlanta's own first round pick no later than the 2008 NBA Draft. Protected through No. 3 in 2007 and has no protection in 2008.

5. Charlotte Bobcats, Yi Jianlian 7-0 230 PF China 1984

6. Philadelphia 76ers, Joakim Noah 6-11 230 PF Florida Jr.

7. Portland Trail Blazers, Jeff Green 6-8 235 SF Georgetown Jr.

8. Seattle Supersonics, Corey Brewer 6-8 185 SF Florida Jr.

9. Sacramento Kings, Roy Hibbert 7-2 278 C Georgetown Jr.

10. *Chicago Bulls, Hasheem Thabeet 7-3 265 C UConn Fr.
* Chicago has the right to swap first round picks in 2007 with New York Knicks (Eddy Curry trade 100405)

11. Minnesota Timberwolves, Spencer Hawes 6-11 250 C Wash. Fr.

12. *Atlanta Hawks, Mike Conley 6-1 180 PG Ohio St. Fr.
* Atlanta receives Indiana's 2007 first-round pick. (Al Harrington trade 082206) (Top 10 protected in 2007, top 8 in 2008, top 5 in 2009, and unprotected in 2010).

13. New Orleans Hornets, Al Thornton 6-8 220 SF/PF Florida St. Sr.

14. Golden State Warriors, Nick Young 6-6 200 SG USC Jr.

15. *Detroit Pistons, Derrick Byars 6-7 225 SG/SF Vand. Sr.
* Detroit receives a 2007 Orlando (top 5 protected) first-round pick. (Darko Milicic trade 021506)

16. New Jersey Nets, Marco Belinelli 6-6 200 SG Italy 1986

17. LA Clippers, Thaddeus Young 6-8 217 SF GT Fr.

18. *Philadelphia 76ers, Rudy Fernandez 6-6 172 SG Spain 1985
* Philadelphia acquires Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two first-round draft picks Denver in exchange for Allen Iverson and Ivan McFarlin.

19. Miami Heat, Marc Gasol 7-0 270 C Spain 1985

20. LA Lakers, Acie Law 6-3 195 PG Texas A&M Sr.

21. Washington Wizards, Marcus Williams 6-7 207 SG Arizona So.

22. *Charlotte Bobcats, Nicolas Batum 6-8 210 SG France 1988
* Charlotte receive a future conditional Toronto first-round pick (lottery protected thru 2008). (Pavlovic trade 062204) via Cleveland receives a future Toronto first round pick (Lamond Murray trade 092502)

23. *New York Knicks, Josh McRoberts 6-10 240 PF Duke So.
* Chicago has the right to swap first round picks in 2007 with New York Knicks (Eddy Curry trade 100405)

24. *Phoenix Suns, Tiago Splitter 6-11 240 PF Brazil 1985
* Phoenix receives a first-round pick from Boston. (Rajon Rondo trade 062806) via Boston receives a 2007 Cleveland (top 10 protected) first-round pick. (Jiri Welsh trade 022405)

25. Houston Rockets, Arron Afflalo 6-5 215 SG UCLA Jr.

26. Detroit Pistons, Aaron Gray 7-1 280 C Pittsburgh Sr.

27. Utah Jazz, Morris Almond 6-6 214 SG Rice Sr.

28. San Antonio Spurs, Alando Tucker 6-5 210 SF Wisconsin Sr.

29. Phoenix Suns, Jason Smith 7-0 240 PF Colorado St. Jr.

30. *Philadelphia 76ers, Kyle Visser 6-11 250 C Wake Forest Sr.
* Philadelphia acquires Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two first-round draft picks Denver in exchange for Allen Iverson and Ivan McFarlin. via Denver receives a first-round pick from Golden State. (Nikoloz Tskitishvili trade 022405) via Golden State receives a (protected) 2007 Dallas first-round pick. (Erick Dampier trade 082404)

I'll revisit this topic once the nba draft early entrants are finalized.

Fight On!!

New Banner Proposal

Good work coach Howland.... Keep hanging new banners

Championship Game Preview

Unfortunately for sports fans out there, we will have a repeat of the BCS Championship Game matchup between Florida and Ohio St. in this year's basketball championship game. This is an awful matchup. I say this because Florida and Ohio St. are some of my most hated schools. I've disliked Florida athletics since Stever Spurrier was roaming the sidelines with his shitty visor and I've never liked the Buckeye stickers Ohio St. puts on their helmets. The feelings of disgust naturally filtered down to their basketball programs as well. I mean how can anyone root for a team that had a guy like Matt Walsh?

The game might be good if Greg Oden can play more than 20 minutes in the game. This guy picks up fouls faster than Aaron Awful-0 did in Saturday's Final Four game. I don't like Oden. I just can't root for a 30 year old man playing against a bunch of kids. It's just not fair. This guy looks older than LeBron.

I really don't know who to root for. Probably the only things I like about these schools are their mascots. Albert Gator and Brutus Buckeye are some of the funniest looking mascots out there. I guess the only thing I'm hoping for are injuries to the teams' key players. Instead of rooting for Florida or Ohio St., I'll root for torn ACL's. Enjoy the game.

The Face of UCLA basketball

A picture says a thousands words. Some words or phrases that come to mind when seeing this image of Michael Roll in the locker room are, "overrated," "shooting bricks," and "dusty championship banners." Better luck next year kids. Just hope you don't meet Florida again.