2008: Ohio State @ Southern Cal
Sorry if there is already a thread, but I searched "USC" and "Southern Cal" and didn't see one. Anyways, what are you guys' thoughts on the game? They are very solid this year and it's at their place, but I definitely feel we have a very legit shot at this one. Here's why:
- They have an experienced D this year, but it is also littered with SRs that won't be there next year and JRs that could easily make the jump to the NFL.
SRs: DE Lawrence Jackson, DT Sedrick Ellis, LB Keith Rivers, CB Terrell Thomas.
JRs: DE Kyle Moore, DT Fili Moala, LBs Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga, CB Cary Harris, S Keivn Ellison.
- No Booty, and I am sure we all remember the last time we played a team (Texas) at their place (in Austin) the year after they lost a big time QB to the pros (Vince Young).
- No Fred Davis and they lose their 2 starting OT (Sam Baker-should be an early draft pick and Drew Radovich). Two other players who go go pro: WR Patrick Turner and OG Jeff Byers.
- Needless to say, they could lose A LOT and although they have recruited mightily well the past few years, so have we and, IMO, we control some matchups:
QB: Todd Boeckman vs. Mark Sanchez
Edge: Ohio State
If skills are even, experience alone Boeckman wins out. Sanchez was a stud in HS, but do his skills translate to the next level. He has been sitting for a while and probably knows the offense by now, but Todd, after going through a whole year playing under the system and spending 4 years learning it, I would give the edge to Boeckman here.
RB: Chris Wells, Brandon Saine & Maurice Wells vs. C.J. Gable, Joe McKnight & Stafon Johnson
Edge: slight Ohio State
Man child Chris Wells and speedfreaks Brandon Saine and Maurice Wells could make up the best backfield int he country by year's end and for it to carry over into next season would be icing. All three will be back without a doubt. IMO, Joe McKnight is the wildcard here, and possibly Brandon Green as well to be the bigback ala LenDale White. McKnight has been injured and hasn't been able to show much yet, but Stafon Johnson has shown well so far and Gable proved he's a good one all of last year. I think it all comes down too the proven Ohio State RBs vs. the talented stable of Southern Cal.
WR: Brian Robiskie, Brian Hartline & Ray Small vs. Patrick Turner, Vidal Hazelton & Ron Johnson
Edge: slight Southern Cal
No homerism here, as both teams have unbelievable depth, but I just am not sure Ohio State has the type of WRs that scare other teams. We will see what Turner does after the season, and if he goes pro he is then replaced by Sophomore WR David Ausberry in this grouping and would either make this a push call or maybe even advantage Ohio State. It should all depend on who steps up from the young guys on each team. Ronald Johnson is going to be a star at the college level, makr my words, but I think everybody already knew that.
TE/OL: Edge: push
Ohio State will probably have the advantage in experience, but both teams have solid guys to fill in for the departing SRs. Ohio State has the Block O coming in, but the Trojans have possibly the best young Center int he country in Kris O'Dowd and a great LG in Jeff Byers. Ohio State will have SR LT Alex Boone, SR RT/LG Steve Rehring, and JR RG Ben Person. Both teams use the TE in different ways, so it iskind of hard to compare the two, so I won't. We all know what we get out of Jake Ballard, who was given the top OL recognition by the staff the last 2 weeks for being such a tremendous blocker, and epitomizes what an Ohio State TE is. Southern Cal loses their top 2 TEs to graduation (Fred Davis and Dale Thompson), but do have a young Anthoy McCoy to step in. McCoy was a 4 star coming out of HS and already as a TD catch on the season.
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DE: Lawrence Wilson & Rob Rose/Cam Heyward vs. Kyle Moore & Eversen Griffen
DT: Doug Worthington & Todd Denlinger vs. Fili Moala & Averell Spicer
Edge: Ohio State
Assuming Ohio State takes a big hit in losing Vernon Gholston to the pros and Lawrence Wilson comes back healthy and ready to go, Ohio State could still have, much like the RB situation, the top DE combination in the country next year. Southern Cal will lose sack artist Lawrence Jackson, but Kyle Moore will have experience as a SR and Eversen Griffen is a specimen. Where I give Ohio State the slight edge is overall across the line, as the Bucks will return almost all of their DLmen. Tressel likes to rotate his DLmen a lot, giving each valuale experience and allowing them to get a feel for the game. Pete Carroll will be losing his two best to graduation.
LB: James Laurinaitis, Thad Gibson & Ross Homan/Marcus Freeman vs. Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuge & Kaluka Maiava
Edge: push
No doubt James Laurinaitis is an absolute "Animal" on the field, but so was Keith Rivers and he will not be back for USC, although Laurinaitis could also declare as a JR. Ohio State gains some speed with Gibson on the field, so the departure of Larry Grant should be felt as much even though he is a great player. Homan has shown signs of life this year, as well as making a very athletic player year in picking off a pass against Northwestern, and could push SR Marcus Freeman for his starting job. The reason I call this a push is with Brian Cushing and Rey Maulauga for Southern Cal. They are experienced at their positions and are a couple of sure tacklers as well. Both schools have depth, but the entrance of Maiava for Rivers could make USC fans a bit nervous, as he has not been credited for a tackle yet this year. The adv/disadv. here will depend a lot on who declares for the NFL and who doesn't.
CB: Chimdi Chekwa & Donald Washington vs. Cary Harris & Shareece Wright
SAF: Kurt Coleman & Anderson Russell vs. Taylor Mays & Kevin Ellison
Edge: Southern Cal
Don't get me wrong, I love our secondary, but I just think that Southern Cal could have the best in the country next year. USC's safties are big, really big, but so are Ohio State's corners when comapre to the average size across the board. USC's Mays and Ellison are both 6'2" 215+ and reserve Josh Pinkard, although out this year with an injury similar to OSU's Anderson Russell in 2006, will return and he has the same measureables. Ohio State has playmakers too, but the loss of Malcolm Jenkins hurts. Both squads have excellent, yong talent to take the place of their departing CBs (OSU: Jenkins- possible early draft entry, USC: Terrell Thomas) in Chimdi Chekwa for Ohio State and Shareece Wright for Southern Cal, and both of these guys are getting excellent, quality PT this year as well to get them ready. Ohio State also has reserve Soph DB Eugene Clifford who has the staff and fans excited about his future at the CB position and should be the Nickelback, or "Star" position, next year... and we all how much the staff like to run this defense.
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So, after review, that's:
Ohio State: QB, RB(slight), DL, overall experience
Souther Cal: WR(slight), DB, home game/fan support
Push: TE/OL, LB
I know it's early early, and a lot of this will depend on how each team's depth performs the rest of them, as well as who leaves early for the NFL. However, this is how I see it right now. Any questions or comments are more than welcomed. NOTE: the fan support edge went to USC for the simple fact it is at their place and, although Ohio State ALWAYS travels well, it's in Cali and they will have their students present.
Also, I must say that I do not know much about Southern Cal, just what i have read and the little I have seen them play, so any USC experts (wstripes, methomps, etc.) can chime in too.
