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Game Thread Ohio State 3, Southern Cal 35 (Sept. 13)

SouthernCal92;1151479; said:
:lift:



That's before the game! After, he's scheduled to particpate in the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. Only since he's Joe McKnight, he'll only need walk. :biggrin:

I saw McKnight's performance last year. He can actually "walk on water". :biggrin:

water-walk.jpg
 
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This Game: Buck Run Game vs USC D

It looks to me that tOSU has the more balenced team tho not necessarly the most talented team. It also appears that USC has a critical hole to fill at middle guard (D) and one guard spot (O). To balence this is the fact that USC is at home.

In analyzing the game I see three factors.
1-USC interior defense versus the tOSU running game.
2-The sophistication of the USC O in the second game of the season
3-The ability of the tOSU defense to stop a sophisticated USC offense.
Obviously factors like turnovers and lucky breaks will play an importent factor but they are unpredictable.

My current thinking about #1.
1-Just how good is Beanie and the Bucks offensive line? Can they win the game all by themselves?

The loss of Sed Ellis to the NFL leaves a gaping hole in the USC D-line. Losing another first rounder, end Laurence Jackson, didn't help much either. However, the Trojans still have a projected first rounder in Fili Mola and a freshman AA in Everson Griffin returning plus multiple backups that played last year.

Generally speaking, the USC D has not had trouble with screens, draws or wide runs. The outside linebackers and safeties are too fast and are very good hitters.

My thinking here is that the Trojans will ask Rey Malagua, MLB, to stop the interior run. Rey is an incredibly hard hitter. Beanie's size and speed won't bother Rey. However, Rey has shown to be vulnerable to misdirection plays, often overrunning the play.

My anaysis is that if Beanie and the O-line can use Rey's agressiveness against him they will be very successful but if they can't simply running to the hole or running wide will be relatively unsuccessful.

Your thoughts?
 
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I wonder who will get to cover McKnight on those little pass routes out of the back field or in the slot? Tough assignment. Moeller, maybe? A defensive back like O'Neal? We are gonna get a large dose of that I suspect.
 
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TomR1;1151509; said:
3-The ability of the tOSU defense to stop a sophisticated USC offense.

Do you really believe that the offense will be "sophisticated" in the second game of a first year starter at QB?

I like the chances of our experienced defense versus the inexperience of Sanchez, especially if USC attempts to run sophisticated plays that require him to make complicated reads.
 
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This Game: Sophisticated Offense

The issue #2 is CAN USC run a sophisticated offense the second game of the season, especially with a new quarterback and rebuilt offensive line.

Buckeye86 asks if I really believe they can.

It is the second game and after a bye week. That is a positive factor.

Each running back and each set of receivers has special skills and presents special problems. As good as JT is, he will have trouble scheming for all these different looks.

I expect a series of set plays that each skill group will practice in the two weeks leading up to the game. This will give the deep rotation of backs and receivers in the game and provide many different looks.

Unlike last year, it appears that the QB change and the development of the receivers provide USC with a true deep threat. In addition, Joe McKnight seems to "get it" as a Reggie Bush type threat.

So my guess, Buckeye86, is that USC will show a sophisticated attack based on different personnell sets but not a sophisticated attack with a single personnell. In later games, of course, the tendencies of a particular personnell set will be known and the D will be better able to counter the favorite play of a personnell set. However, in this game, tOSU will be looking at something it has not seen before from USC.

Regards
 
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I thought someone posted a USC depth chart earlier, but I can't seem to find it. Anyway, my understanding was that USC is very thin in the receiving corp, in terms of production. That leads me to believe that (and this is based largely on the few games I saw last year) that the vast majority of their offensive power comes out of the backfield. Is this the case? Was this simply a matter of JDB being injured and not really developing the kind of report (sp?) with the receivers that he needed?
 
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Tom, that's an awefully idealistic view of what the offense is going to be able to do. Basically you're saying we're going to see a whole variety of simple attacks that are going to somehow confuse an experienced defense. Just because there is a variety of skill sets that can be used doesn't really make a team's offense complex. In that regard, our offense is every bit as diverse as the Trojan's except we have a nice coating of experience in our variety.
 
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Schneider360-

Actually I am not optimistic and for exactly the reasons you suggest. I think the presonnell package approach is all the Trojans will be able to generate at that point of the season and I think it is no more sophisticated that tOSU's O.

Most USC sunshine pumpers will believe that USC will have a sophisticated offense because the personnell is there. I don't. Next year in Cbus, you will see a much better offense but this year I doubt it.

I think the USC offense will be akin to a shotmaker in pool-able to make great shots but not run the table. In pool, of course, a shotmaker never wins. However, in a football defensive battle they may.
 
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Spring Football Guide from the official USC site.

Of note:

Offense
*Sanchez had three starts last year (Arizona, Notre Dame, Oregon) and went 69-114 (60.5%) for 695 yards with 7 TDs and 5 Ints on the year (I like the five interceptions).

*Deep, young, talented pool of running backs. Someone who follows USC closely can try and explain how they think this jumble will work out if they feel like it.

*Both starting WRs return, but they accounted for less than half of the teams receptions in 2007. They will need to step up their production in 2008, especially since...

*Fred Davis is gone at TE, and the guys looking to replace him have a combined total of 5 career receptions.

*Only OG-C Jeff Byers returns as a starter on the offensive line. However, several returning players have starts under their belts, although not many. They are: OT Butch Lewis with 3 career starts, C Kris O'Dowd (remember him?) also with 3 career starts, OG Zach Heberer with 2 career starts, and OT Charles Brown with 1 career start.

Defense
*USC needs to replace two of the "best defensive lineman in school history" (sounds good to me) in Sedrick Ellis and Lawrence Jackson. The other two starters return, will be seniors, and are described as "steady".

*Linebacking corp in good hands with Maualuga and Cushing. Clearly will be a strength of the defense, along with...

*The defensive backfield looks to be another strength for the Trojans, which Carroll describes as "maybe the best since I've been at USC" (must be all those #1 guys Petey recruited). They do have to replace "lockdown" corner Terrell Thomas who had eight career interceptions.

*USC needs to find a new long snapper and holder. They are looking to improve special teams play from last year.


Lots more good stuff in that pdf file I linked if anyone wants to look at it.
 
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Ironcol-

The USC receivers couldn't get much separation and dropped many balls. Booty couldn't throw a long ball. The tight end, Fred Davis, was the go-to guy.

In general, USC throws to the backs quite often. One development in spring camp is that McKnight "gets it" as a receiver out of the backfield. I think we'l see lots of that and McKnight might break one. He's that shifty and fast. I don't, however, see USC sustaining drives that way. The tOSU D is too fast.
 
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