USC Season Preview

Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends, and in a mere 30 hours, college football will be back upon us with Ohio State and Marshall kicking the season off.  While we're all hoping the Herd can thunder past the Buckeyes, Terrell Pryor will be doing the only thundering on that field tomorrow.  So let's move on to the future AP national champion University of Southern California Trojans.  USC kicks of it's 13 game season at the University of Hawaii at 8:00pm (PST) on Thursday.  Let's discuss...

Offense
While USC could be returning 8 starters to an offense that ran on ebbs and flows last year, new coach Lane Kiffin has elected to shake things up a bit, starting heralded recruit yet unproven player Mark Tyler over senior Allen Bradford (see my previous post for my break down of this decision) and freshman Robert Woods over *repeat adjectives* senior David Ausberry.  Matt Barkley is back for his 2nd year under center and looks to double his touchdown total (okay, at least repeat and increase) while cutting his interceptions in half (seriously, though).  He does this behind a solid but relatively inexperienced offense line whose strength is in its leader- All-American Christopher O'Dowd. 

Let's get to the bottom line.  USC's strength obviously is not in it's depth (see 67 scholarship players, 10 or so of which are expected to red shirt in some capacity).  Their strength comes from varied levels of experience and diversity.  Tyron Smith and Matt Kalil are different types of offensive lineman.  They're fast, quick and nimble.  It takes a lot to get around them.  O'Dowd is as cerebral as they come.  I've taken classes with Khaled Holmes- dude is smart.  USC could field almost an entire offense just with the tight ends on the team, with not-so-arguably the most talented group in the country including the top 3 (yes, top three) tight end recruits in the country last year, with a range of specialties from bruising (Grimble) to pass catching (Ellison).  The same can be said for the wide receivers, where USC can get you with hands (Ro Jo), feet (Woods and Ambles) or routes (Butler).  The same can be said for the running backs, the almost comical position at USC over the past decade with the ridiculous amount of talent and depth.  As I mentioned before, Bradford would be a pre-season all-conference player in any other conference in country, yet he rides the pine behind Marc Tyler and ahead of 5th year senior CJ Gable, this not even mentioning the best spring practice performer from any school in Dillon Baxter.  Lastly, QB Matt Barkley was a heralded recruit that shined at times last year and should follow the trend of the sophomore jump, vastly improving after dropping lbs and adding quickness in the offseason.  The recipe is there physically and mentally, now it just all needs to come together

Denfense
The offense part was long, so we'll keep this a little shorter.  The defense will be measurably less experienced, but still oozing with ability.  There's not much debate that the D-line is one of the most talented in the country, even without potential All-American Christian Tupou out for the season.  The linebackers are the big question mark, if for no other reason than they are the heart of the defense, especially in a Tampa 2 set.  There is no reason this group shouldn't be one of the best linebacking groups in the country, and yet they aren't.  Moving Kennard to Middle Linebacker was an interesting choice.  Chris Galippo has had a rough go of it, but if you look at the guy, he is a middle linebacker, a play maker, and he is primed for a break through.  For this reason, I see USC playing a modified 3-4 in order to get all 4 of these backers on the field at the same time, utilizing the elephant position as they have in the past.  I see Kennard and Galippo playing the middle areas with Smith and Morgan on the outsides, possibly both working the elephant position.  This will be a sizeable modification to the Tampa 2, but one that will maximize the front 7's utility.  Lastly, the secondary, while completely new, looks solid.  We'll see how well the look test holds up facing a pass-happy Hawaii team in the opener.  They're really young, but there isn't much place to go but up.

Special Teams
Kicking is suspect, seems like it always has been.  If USC converts 50% of field goals, I'll be ecstatic.  Okay, that's a bit exaggerated.  But seriously, expect the Trojans to go for it on fourth down with a moderate frequency.

The return game, on the other hand, should be exciting.  Gable is a proven return man, so long as he holds onto the ball, although he's definitely no Fumblin' Joe Mcknight, thank goodness.  I'm excited to see what Woods brings to the table back there, a statement I would also make about him at wide receiver.  I'd also love to see Baxter back there a time or two to see what the kid can do, a statement I would also make about him at wide receiver.  Then there's RoJo returning punts.  Good to have the man back.  I will say, though, that I would prefer to put Gable or Woods or Ambles or Robbey or Baxter back there, not for the change of pace, but to avoid further injury risk as well as wear and tear.

Coaching
Four words: Going. To. Be. Awesome.  Coach Kiff has put together a phenomenal group of gentlemen that will do things the right way and have this team ready to play and compete week in and week out.  These abilities balk in comparison to the advantage these coaches give USC in recruiting.  The only real thing I'm worried about is the pre-game speech...

Overall
USC has all the components to be stellar, now they just have to put the pieces together.  This team has the potential to go 13-0, but it won't be easy.  The schedule lines up well for USC with UW, Cal, ASU, Oregon and ND all coming to the Coliseum this year.  The bye week before the Oregon game is HUGE, don't let that slip past you.  But early travels to Hawaii and Minnesota, although not the most challenging games in the world, are a tough way to start the season and lead to tougher wear and tear down the stretch, not to mention the reality of no bowl game setting in when the player's find are starting to make travel arrangements.  But the team looks focused and ready to take the whole system down.  I think an 11 win season should be expected, and 12-1 is entirely doable.  Then, watch out for next season...