TrojanWire - Oregon State http://www.trojanwire.com/football/oregon-state/index.php USC Football As It Happens Copyright 2010 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:30:44 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Pac-10 lunch links: Does USC have a QB competition? You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge.

]]> http://www.trojanwire.com/football/pac10-lunch-links-does-usc-have-a-qb-competition.php http://www.trojanwire.com/football/pac10-lunch-links-does-usc-have-a-qb-competition.php Washington State Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:30:44 -0800 USC football: 15 players to watch in spring (No. 2)

Thirteen down, two to go. The countdown of the 15 USC players to watch in spring practice is nearly complete.

For Nos. 3-15, see below. For No. 1, check back in a couple of hours.

NO. 2 — RB ALLEN BRADFORD

Profile: 5-11, 235, redshirt senior

2009 stats: 13 games, 115 carries, 668 yards, 5.8-yard avg., 8 TDs

Why he’s one to watch: USC fans finally might get what they have been clamoring for — Bradford in the lead-tailback role. I’m saying “might” for now because all positions are open to competition under the new coaching staff, and there are plenty of tailbacks eager to snatch carries. But Bradford is the heavy favorite, and with good reason.

Thanks to good health and playing time, Bradford had by far the best year of his career last season. He showed he could be both punisher and finisher, particularly against Oregon State, when he rumbled for a career-best 147 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.

That was Bradford’s only 100-yard performance, not altogether surprising considering he never had more than 17 carries. If Lane Kiffin uses Bradford the way he used Montario Hardesty at Tennessee, Bradford could have 10 100-yard games. But Hardesty didn’t have C.J. Gable, Marc Tyler and Curtis McNeal behind him. So the carry distribution is still to be determined.

What isn’t is Bradford’s other role on this team. When times were tough during the Pete Carroll-Kiffin limbo period, Bradford became one of the Trojans’ primary leaders. That he took that sort of initiative tells me he’s ready to step up and have a breakout season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH SCHEDULE

USC football: 15 players to watch in spring (No. 2) is a post from: USC

]]> http://www.trojanwire.com/football/usc-football-15-players-to-watch-in-spring-no-2.php http://www.trojanwire.com/football/usc-football-15-players-to-watch-in-spring-no-2.php Matt Kalil Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:10:26 -0800 Paea is a freak of nature OK, this just blew my mind.

I've previously written about the extraordinary raw strength of Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea.

Click the link above to see for yourself.

In the video, Paea bench presses 225 pounds 44 times.

44 times! Are you kidding me!

The NFL combine record is 45 repetitions, which is shared by three players, including former Arkansas offensive lineman Mitch Petrus this year.

I got $5 that says Paea gets 50 next spring.

Paea is the 2009 Morris Trophy winner, which is given annually to the most outstanding offensive or defensive lineman in the Pac-10.

And it's fair to say that he may be the strongest player in college football. ]]> http://www.trojanwire.com/football/paea-is-a-freak-of-nature.php http://www.trojanwire.com/football/paea-is-a-freak-of-nature.php NFL Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:10:08 -0800 Trojans Headed For One Last Trip to the Desert Southern California guard Mike Gerrity is fouled by Oregon State guard Josh Tarver in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

More photos » Alex Gallardo - AP

4 days ago: Southern California guard Mike Gerrity is fouled by Oregon State guard Josh Tarver in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Browse more photos »

28 games into the USC basketball season, the latest reports emerging from Galen Center unsurprisingly suggest that the current Trojans' bunch may be undergoing some sort of burnout effect. With a shortened roster and a general lack of depth, this concept shouldn't come as a big shock to most 'SC fans. From the Los Angeles Times:

USC is said to be running on fumes. The truth is, the Trojans would be lucky to have any fumes left.

With a shallow bench and a roster that includes several players racking up minutes after not playing much last season, it's evident the team is worn to the bone.

Coach Kevin O'Neill said that "tired shouldn't be an excuse," but he also admits that obstacles his players faced this year are a major factor in their current fatigue.

"The adversity and the constant having to overcome adversity takes a toll on guys who haven't had to play major minutes before," O'Neill said.

Senior guard Mike Gerrity had been going with the company line: that every player is tired at this point in the season. But he changed his tune Tuesday and said USC's recent losses against Oregon and Oregon State came from something else.

"We lost focus in both these past couple games," Gerrity said. "We had leads at halftime and we lost sight of what was getting us those leads."

In some ways, fatigue is a reasonable excuse for this team's recent troubles, but in the end, I'm not ready to go ahead and buy it. For one, the Trojans struggles have been on the offensive end - they shoot just 30.2% from beyond the arc and rank among the worst teams in all of Division 1 in terms of points per game. Most scouts will tell you that defense takes far more energy to play than offense so the idea that the team's offensive performance is lagging due to exhaustion is a little tough for me to understand at this point. 

Furthermore, the Trojans' effort hasn't entirely been consistent. Why does the fatigue only kick in for games against the conference's bottom feeders - Oregon, Oregon State, and  Washington State. It looked like the effort was certainly there against Washington in Seattle and Cal at Galen Center. Something doesn't match up exactly.

Surprisingly, O'Neill acknowledged the the team may be wearing down this week and that if may be negatively impacting the team's recent performance. From Scott Wolf's blog:

"Basically we are a little fried as a team," said O'Neill. "I don't know how we will react over these last two games being that we really have nothing to play for like the Pac-10 Tournament of anything like that.''    

Yet, even with the season winding down, USC has one final road trip left to Arizona on the horizon, where they will aim to finish the year on a positive note. It's going to be tough for these to get motivated to play in these games, considering that Cal has already won the Pac-10 regular season title and there is no Pac-10 tournament for 'SC. Yet, with three important seniors in Mike Gerrity, Marcus Johnson, and Dwight Lewis, on the roster, it would be nice to see them play well over the final stretch run. 

Additionally, the trip to the Valley of the Sun, will also mark Kevin O'Neill's return to Arizona, where he once coach for the Wildcats for one season back in 2008. Of course, O'Neill has been downplaying its significance:

"To me it's just another game against a quality team. I have great respect for Arizona and their tradition. I loved my time in Tucson, but it's just another game. It's unfortunately our last game of the year, but it's just another outing.''  

Nonetheless, this season is just about all wrapped up, and as a result, most of the Trojan faithful is already taking a quick glance at the future. And as it looks now, that future appears to be pretty bright. 

That is because, the Trojans recently got its first verbal commitment from the class of 2012 - 6'2" combo guard Larry Lewis of Arcadia High School in Phoenix, Arizona according to WeAreSC.com:

Lewis verbally committed to the Trojans on Tuesday night, after sitting down with his mother and AAU coach, Jeff De Laveaga.  The 6-2 guard had unofficially visited the Trojans several weeks ago and felt that experience, coupled with strong pushes from USC assistant coach Bob Cantu and head coach Kevin O'Neill, was enough to make him a Trojan.

"Larry wanted to get it done," De Laveaga said of the recruiting process, adding that Lewis chose USC for the location, the education and the chance to play as a freshman.  "He had a great time on his unofficial visit.  He said it was a great campus, with great facilities and he loved the staff."

Though Lewis currently stands at 6-2, he's projected to hit 6-4 by the time he's done growing, which may take several more years considering his age.  Lewis will graduate at 17 and won't turn 18 until he's enrolled at USC.

With Jio Fontant becoming eligible to play next December, along with the arrivals of Bryce Jones in 2010 and Gelaun Wheelwright in 2011, Kevin O'Neill looks to have a formidable backcourt for years to come.



]]> http://www.trojanwire.com/football/trojans-headed-for-one-last-trip-to-the-desert.php http://www.trojanwire.com/football/trojans-headed-for-one-last-trip-to-the-desert.php Galen Center Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:18:21 -0800 What to watch in the Pac-10 this spring
Arizona
Spring practice starts: March 5
Spring game: April 10

What to watch:

The new coordinators: The Wildcats lost two outstanding coordinators -- Sonny Dykes on offense and Mark Stoops on defense -- and decided to replace them with four guys. Tim Kish, promoted from linebackers coach, and Greg Brown, hired away from Colorado, will run the defense, while Bill Bedenbaugh and Seth Littrell, both promoted from within, will run the offense, with an assist from new quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo. These guys will need to develop a coaching rhythm this spring that will ensure things go smoothly in the fall.

The JC linebackers: The Wildcats must replace three starting linebackers, and JC transfers Derek Earls and Paul Vassallo weren't brought in to watch. If they step into starting spots, then guys like sophomore Jake Fischer, redshirt freshman Trevor Erno and redshirt freshman Cordarius Golston can fight over the third spot and add depth.

Foles 2.0: Quarterback Nick Foles was dynamic when he was on last year, but the shutout loss in the Holiday Bowl served as a reminder that he's not there yet. He's going to be surrounded by a lot of weapons at the skill positions, so he should be able to take another step forward this spring, even with the loss of Dykes.

Arizona State
Spring practice starts: March 30
Spring game: April 24

What to watch:

The QB battle: It's a wide-open battle between Michigan transfer Steven Threet and Brock Osweiler, though the new guy -- Threet -- is perhaps the most intriguing. Samson Szakacsy was supposed to join the battle, but his elbow problem is acting up again, coach Dennis Erickson said Thursday. The competition will be overseen by new offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, who's been handed an offense that has sputtered the past two seasons.

O-line issues (take 3): The Sun Devils' offensive line has struggled three years running, and it won't matter who starts at QB if the unit continues to get pushed around. First off, is health. Will Matt Hustad, Zach Schlink, Garth Gerhart, Mike Marcisz and Adam Tello be ready to battle the entire spring? If so, there should be good competition here, particularly with a couple of JC transfers looking to break through.

The secondary: The Sun Devils were very good against the pass last year, but three starters in the secondary need to be replaced. Both starting corners are gone -- though if Omar Bolden successfully returns from a knee injury he should step in on one side -- as well as strong safety Ryan McFoy. The good news is a number of guys saw action here last fall, so the rebuilt unit won't be completely green.

California
Spring practice starts: March 6
Spring game: N/A

What to watch:

Embattled Riley: When things go well, the quarterback often gets too much credit. When things go badly... well, you know. Senior Kevin Riley has started 22 games and has played well at times. But there's a reason he's in a quarterback competition for a third consecutive season. Will he be able to hold off a rising Beau Sweeney this spring?

Rebuilding the D: The Bears had questions on defense even before coordinator Bob Gregory unexpectedly bolted for Boise State. Five starters need to be replaced, including mainstays like end Tyson Alualu and cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson, both first-team All-Pac-10 performers. And with Gregory gone, a new -- likely more aggressive scheme -- now must be incorporated.

RB depth: Shane Vereen is the obvious starter after the departure of Jahvid Best, but Cal has, during the Tedford years, always used two backs. So who's the No. 2? Sophomore Covaughn DeBoskie was third on the team with 211 yards rushing last year, while promising freshman Dasarte Yarnway redshirted. One or the other will look to create separation.

Oregon
Spring practice starts: March 30
Spring game: May 1

What to watch:

The D-line: The Ducks lost perennially underrated end Will Tukuafu, tackle Blake Ferras and backup Simi Toeaina up front. Considering the plan is to run an eight-deep rotation, there will be plenty of opportunities for players like ends Terrell Turner and Taylor Hart and tackles Anthony Anderson, Zac Clark, Wade Keliikipi as well as 6-foot-7 JC transfer Isaac Remington to work their way into the rotation.

The passing game: The Ducks' passing game was inconsistent last year, though by season's end receiver Jeff Maehl was playing at a high level. Refining that part of the offense with quarterback Jeremiah Masoli would make the spread-option even more dangerous. The receiving corps is looking for playmakers, which means youngsters, such as redshirt freshman Diante Jackson, might break through.

Who steps in for Ed Dickson? Oregon only loses one starter on offense, but tight end Ed Dickson is a big one. David Paulson was a capable backup last year, and mercurial Malachi Lewis may be ready to step up. Expect JC transfer Brandon Williams to work his way into the mix.

Oregon State
Spring practice starts: March 29
Spring game: May 1

What to watch:

Katz steps in: Sean Canfield is off to the NFL, so the Beavers' biggest question this spring is crowning a new starting quarterback. Most observers feel the job is Ryan Katz's to lose, and the sophomore looks good throwing the rock around. Still, being a quarterback is about more than a good arm. If he falters, Virginia transfer Peter Lalich might offer an alternative.

Better defensive pressure: The Beavers run a high-pressure defensive scheme, so when the stat sheet says they only recorded 17 sacks in 2009, which ranked ninth in the conference and was 22 fewer than in 2008, you know something is wrong. The entire defensive line is back, so the hope is a year of seasoning, particularly for ends Gabe Miller, Matt LaGrone and Kevin Frahm will mean better production this fall.

The O-line grows up: The Beavers' offensive line returns four starters from a unit that got better as the year went on. Still, it yielded 29 sacks and the run game struggled at times -- Jacquizz Rodgers often had to make yards on his own. Talented left tackle Michael Philipp, who did a solid job as a true freshman starter, should be much improved. A second year playing together with underrated senior center Alex Linnenkohl also should help.

Stanford
Spring practice starts: March 1
Spring game: April 17

What to watch:

Replacing Toby: How do you replace Toby Gerhart and his 1,871 yards and 28 touchdowns? You do not. But the hope is sophomores Tyler Gaffney and Stepfan Taylor and senior Jeremy Stewart will provide a solid answer that keeps the Cardinal's power-running game churning. It helps to have four starters back from a good offensive line.

Rebuilding the D: If you toss in linebacker Clinton Snyder and end Erik Lorig, Stanford must replace six defensive starters from a unit that ranked near the bottom of the conference in 2009. The secondary is a particular concern after giving up 23 touchdown passes and a 63 percent completion rate. The hope is good recruiting from coach Jim Harbaugh will provide better athleticism in the back-half. Another issue: There was huge coaching turnover, particularly on defense during the offseason, so new coordinator Vic Fangio & Co. will be implementing new schemes and learning about what sort of talent they have to work with.

Luck steps up: This was Gerhart's team in 2009. Now it's Luck's. He might be the most talented QB in the conference. Heck, he might become a Heisman Trophy candidate before he's done. But life won't be as easy without defenses crowding the line of scrimmage because they are fretting about Gerhart. Luck will need to step up his game -- and leadership -- to meet the challenge.

UCLA
Spring practice starts: April 1
Spring game: April 24

What to watch:

Prince becomes king? The fact that offensive coordinator Norm Chow has been such an advocate for sophomore quarterback Kevin Prince should tell you something: He's got the ability. Prince flashed some skills during an injury-plagued 2009 season, and it's important to remember he was a redshirt freshman playing with an questionable supporting cast, particularly the O-line. Prince needs to improve his decision-making, and the passing game needs to develop a big-play capability that stretches defenses.

Front seven rebuilding: UCLA not only must replace six starters on defense, it must replace six guys everyone in the Pac-10 has heard of. And five of the lost starters come from the front seven, and the guys who were listed as backups on the 2009 depth chart won't necessarily inspire confidence. In other words, the Bruins will try to take a step forward in the conference with what figures to be an extremely green defense, particularly up front.

The running game? Know what would help Prince and a young defense? A better running game. The Bruins were significantly better in 2009 than in 2008, but that merely means one of the worst rushing attacks in the nation moved up to ninth in the conference. There's a logjam of options at running back -- with a couple of dynamic runners in the incoming recruiting class -- and the offensive line welcomes back a wealth of experience. It would mean a lot if the Bruins could boost their rushing total to around 150 yards per game (from 114.6 in 2009).

USC
Spring practice starts: April 31
Spring game: TBA

What to watch:

Welcome, Lane Kiffin: The Pete Carroll era is over. Enter Lane Kiffin & Co. In terms of scheme, things will be fairly consistent, seeing that Kiffin was formerly Carroll's offensive coordinator and Monte Kiffin was Carroll's defensive mentor. But there will be a period of adjustment. The guess is the hyper-intense Ed Orgeron might provide a bit of a shock to the D-linemen.

Barkley Year 2: Barkley won't have the president of his fan club -- Carroll -- around anymore. He's a true talent. Everyone knows that, even without Carroll's daily sonnets about his ability. But the numbers show he threw 14 interceptions in 12 games vs. 15 TD passes last year, so he's obviously not arrived. Kiffin runs the offense, so you can expect these two to work closely together. Barkley will have plenty of help on offense, but the talent won't be as good as it was in 2009, with six starters needing to be replaced, including his top two targets (receiver Damian Williams and tight end Anthony McCoy).

Secondary questions: All four starters from the defensive backfield are gone, including center fielder Taylor Mays. It helps that cornerback Shareece Wright, an academic casualty in 2009, will be back. He was a projected starter last fall. There's plenty of talent on hand, but last year's team proved that the Trojans don't always just plug-and-play.

Washington
Spring practice starts: March 30
Spring game: April 30

What to watch:

Unleashing Locker: The return of quarterback Jake Locker was the best news any Pac-10 team received this offseason. Locker's passing improved dramatically in just one year under coach Steve Sarkisian, so it's not unreasonable to expect him to be even better in 2010, particularly with nine starters back on offense and just about every skill player on the depth chart.

Replacing Te'o-Nesheim: Daniel Te'o-Nesheim was a four-year starter who blossomed into an All-Pac-10 performer despite almost no supporting cast. He led the Huskies with 11 sacks in 2009, which was 8.5 more than any other player. Also, opposite end Darrion Jones is gone, and the cast at the position is extremely young. Who's the next pass-rushing threat?

The Butler did it: Linebacker Donald Butler blossomed last year, earning second-team All-Pac-10 honors and leading the Huskies in tackles and tackles for loss (15.5). Toss in E.J. Savannah's failure to earn a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA, and the Huskies have some questions at linebacker. Mason Foster is a sure thing at one outside position, and Cort Dennison likely will fill a second gap, but there's an opportunity for a young player to fill void No. 3.

Washington State
Spring practice starts: March 25
Spring game: April 24

What to watch:

Tuel time: Coach Paul Wulff decided that freshman Jeff Tuel was the Cougars' quarterback of the future last year, so he opted to start him instead of going with a redshirt season. Tuel showed promise in six games, completing 59 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and five picks. Most of his supporting cast is back on offense, so the expectation is the Cougars' offense could take a significant step forward this fall.

O-line intrigue: Some of the Cougars starting on the offensive line last fall didn't look like Pac-10 players. Injuries and youth made the line a glaring area of weakness, even with veteran Kenny Alfred at center. Alfred is gone, but the expectations are that last year's youth will be saltier after taking their knocks. Plus, a couple of juco additions should be in the mix for starting jobs.

Growing up: There is hope in that 19 starters are back from a team that played a lot of underclassmen in 2009. That youth should mature in 2010. And solid recruiting classes the past two seasons should offer an infusion of young promise. ]]> http://www.trojanwire.com/football/what-to-watch-in-the-pac10-this-spring.php http://www.trojanwire.com/football/what-to-watch-in-the-pac10-this-spring.php Taylor Mays Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:28:59 -0800 A new front-runner leads the Pac-10 into spring
USC would renew its lease atop the conference annually, no matter who had bolted for NFL riches.

<!--photo1-->But this spring a different bird is chirping. It's a Duck, er, quacking.

After seven seasons of USC dominance, Oregon is the defending Pac-10 champion, and just about everyone has the Ducks pegged as the favorite to repeat.

Obviously, that means the Ducks have to prepare for the pressure of being a front-runner, right?

"We've never paid attention to any of that stuff -- the preseason rankings and everything like that means nothing to us," coach Chip Kelly said. "Our players can notice it. But our kids are smart kids. Because someone says you're supposed to be good doesn't mean a thing. All that stuff means nothing. We don't address it. We don't talk about it. We never talked about BCS rankings or Pac-10 championships until we won it. That's not a concern for us. It's about having a good spring practice and a good day in the weight room today."

So USC's "Win forever" under former coach Pete Carroll has become Kelly's "Win the day."

Of course, counting out the Trojans -- or really any team in the deep Pac-10 -- might be a mistake. Even Washington State, with 19 starters back, should be improved and more competitive.

Last spring, the Pac-10 welcomed back good talent at running back and on defense. Quarterback was a huge question mark. This year, eight starting quarterbacks return as well as an impressive cast of running backs, but a number of defenses take personnel hits.

So, just maybe, the days of high-flying, high-scoring games will return in the fall.

Kelly's Ducks certainly should be stout on offense. Ten starters, topped by quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and running back LaMichael James, are back from a unit that averaged 412 yards and a conference-high 36 points per game in 2009.

Of course, off-field events could change things a bit, so stayed tuned.

Masoli leads a group of outstanding returning quarterbacks, a list that includes Washington's Jake Locker, Arizona's Nick Foles and Stanford's Andrew Luck.

Other returning starters at the position have something to prove: California's Kevin Riley, USC's Matt Barkley, UCLA's Kevin Prince and Washington State's Jeff Tuel.

Oregon State lost quarterback Sean Canfield, who won first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2009, but 19 other starters are back. The chief question in the spring for the Beavers, who should again be in the thick of the Pac-10 race, is whether sophomore Ryan Katz quickly asserts himself as the starting quarterback or whether he gets challenged, particularly by Virginia transfer Peter Lalich.

Arizona State also is unsettled at quarterback, and the Sun Devils might feature the most wide-open competition between Michigan transfer Steven Threet and Brock Osweiler. Samson Szakacsy was supposed to be in the mix, but the elbow injury that has riddled him during his career has been acting up again, coach Dennis Erickson said Thursday.

Of course, Riley is hardly secure. He might face a challenge from sophomore Beau Sweeney.

Still, while the offensive firepower looks impressive, know that defense will be a huge issue this spring. Six teams lost at least five starters from that side of the ball: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Stanford, UCLA and USC.

As they say -- and Carroll's crews at USC proved -- defense wins championships.

But for the first time in a long time, the favored team heading into spring practices isn't the Trojans. ]]> http://www.trojanwire.com/football/a-new-frontrunner-leads-the-pac10-into-spring.php http://www.trojanwire.com/football/a-new-frontrunner-leads-the-pac10-into-spring.php NFL Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:26:45 -0800 Pac-10 spring breakout players
Most of these guys aren't "new," but they could make the next step up in their careers this spring.

Arizona
Juron Criner, WR, Jr: Criner (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) is already a familiar name to Wildcats fans. Heck, he led the team with nine touchdown receptions in 2009. The reason he makes this list is this: It would be a surprise if he's not first-team All-Pac-10 at season's end.

Arizona State
Aaron Pflugrad, WR, Jr: Hmm. Name seems familiar? Pflugrad is a transfer from Oregon, who left the Ducks after his father, Robin, was fired as receivers coach. He was expected to start for the Ducks in 2009, and he should be in the same position with the Sun Devils, who need help at receiver.

California
Ernest Owusu, DE, Jr: Owusu looked like a budding star early last season when he recorded two sacks and three tackles for a loss against Maryland, but that was about it for his production in 2009. Still, he combines good intelligence and speed with special power -- he's the Bears' strongest player -- and that could all come together as he fights to break into the starting lineup.

Oregon
Diante Jackson, WR, RFr: Many thought Jackson would offer immediate help to the Ducks' receiving corps as a true freshman, but, instead, he was a scout team star last year. The Ducks are looking for a dynamic, play-making presence at wideout and Jackson might be the guy.

Oregon State
The Unga brothers: The Beavers lost Keaton Kristick to graduation and Keith Pankey may miss 2010 with an Achilles injury, so there are opportunities at linebacker. These twin brothers -- Kevin "Feti" Unga and Devin "Uani" Unga -- could fight their way into the mix.

Stanford
Shayne Skov, LB, So: Skov started seven games last year as a true freshman and ended up third on the Cardinal with 62 tackles. The early returns are Skov will be first-team All-Pac-10 before he's done.

UCLA
Cory Harkey, TE, Jr: With the departure of Logan Paulsen and Ryan Moya, Harkey will finally get his chance to take center stage. He caught eight passes for 41 yards and a touchdown in 2009. His production will be many times that in 2010.

USC
T.J. McDonald, S, So: First off, the son of former USC legend Tim McDonald is listed at 205 pounds. Really? He looks bigger -- in a good way. And he's a hitter. He had seven tackles as a backup to strong safety Will Harris last year, but he could play either free or strong.

Washington
Talia Crichton, DE, So: Crichton was forced into action last year as a true freshman -- he started four games -- because the Huskies lacked depth on the defensive line. With the departure of both starting ends -- and the questionable status of Kalani Aldrich's knee -- Crichton is almost certain to ascend to a first-team spot. Here's a guess he's better prepared in 2010.

Washington State
Travis Long, DE, So: Back in the Cougars' glory days -- folks, it wasn't really that long ago, either -- they always had ends who were disruptive. Long led the Cougars with 6.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks as a true freshman in 2009. Those numbers will more than double in 2010. ]]> http://www.trojanwire.com/football/pac10-spring-breakout-players.php http://www.trojanwire.com/football/pac10-spring-breakout-players.php Washington State Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:17:12 -0800 Is the Pac-10 Looking to Add Colorado and Utah? Larry ScottPacific 10 commissioner Larry Scott is "very seriously" looking at expansion in the next 12 months, and as the Wiz wrote back in 2006, the two universities at the top the league's list are likely to be Colorado and Utah.

"Realistically, if we are going to consider this in the foreseeable future, it really is in the next 12 months,'' Scott said during a conference call Tuesday to discuss the hiring of Kevin Weiberg as deputy commish.

The reason for the urgency is that the Pac-10's existing TV deals expire in 2012. Scott would like to get expansion completed before finalizing new TV arrangements, which could include the creation of a Pac-10 network.

Adding two teams would allow the Pac-10 to split into two divisions and add a championship game in football.

Colorado and Utah would join the North Division, which would also include Washington, Washington State, Oregon and Oregon State.

The South Division would have California, Stanford, USC, UCLA, Arizona and Arizona State.

Such an arrangement would preserve rivalries and travel partnerships. It would also secure the Denver and Salt Lake City television markets. Outside of San Diego, Las Vegas and Albuquerque, the league would have representation in every major TV market in the West.

While Scott said no school has been approached about possibly joining the league and that the process is at an early stage, Colorado and Utah best fit the league's academic requirements.

Utah would get the nod over Brigham Young because it is a research institution with a medical school. BYU's religious linkage and refusal to play on Sundays would also be problematic.

Thanks to Image of Sport.



]]> http://www.trojanwire.com/football/is-the-pac10-looking-to-add-colorado-and-utah.php http://www.trojanwire.com/football/is-the-pac10-looking-to-add-colorado-and-utah.php Washington State Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:43:37 -0800 Pac-10 top 30 in 2009: Nos. 12-13
Click here for Nos. 14-30. Preseason rankings are here.

12. Taylor Mays, S, USC (1): While it's hard to quantify what Mays might have gained socially, intellectually and emotionally from returning for his senior year, it's fair to say he didn't gain much professionally. He likely fell from a top-10 NFL draft pick to perhaps a late first rounder, though you should count on Mays' stock recovering at the NFL combine. (You don't hear as much criticism of Mays among NFL scouts and coaches, by the way). Mays, a four-year starter, also didn't exactly have a terrible season. He earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors again and ranked second in the conference with 96 tackles, despite missing a game with a knee injury that seemed to bother him much of the season. He had one interception, four pass breakups and a number of ball-dislodging hits.

13. Ed Dickson, TE, Oregon: When Arizona's Rob Gronkowski went down with a season-ending back injury, Dickson became the conference's best tight end by default. Then, Dickson earned the perch by posting outstanding numbers, ranking second on the Ducks with 42 receptions for 551 yards and six touchdowns. It's likely he will be an early NFL draft pick.

14. Tyson Alualu, DE, California (26)
15. Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA (15)
16. Jahvid Best, RB, California (2)
17. Charles Brown, OT, USC (17)
18. Syd'Quan Thompson, CB, California (8)
19. Keaton Kristick, LB, Oregon State (28)
20. Nick Foles, QB, Arizona (NR)
21. Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, DE, Washington (23)
22. Mike Mohamed, LB, California (NR)
23. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford (NR)
24. Donald Butler, LB, Washington (NR)
25. Everson Griffen, DE, USC (30)
26. Ricky Elmore, DE, Arizona (NR)
27. Trevin Wade, CB, Arizona (NR)
28. Kenny Rowe, DE, Oregon (NR)
29. Earl Mitchell, DT, Arizona (NR)
30. Travis Goethel, LB Arizona State (NR) ]]> http://www.trojanwire.com/football/pac10-top-30-in-2009-nos-1213.php http://www.trojanwire.com/football/pac10-top-30-in-2009-nos-1213.php Taylor Mays Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:03:10 -0800 M. Basketball. USC Heads North To Face The Oregon Schools; Beavers First On Thursday The USC Trojans (12-7, 4-3) will face the Oregon State Beavers (8-11, 2-5) in Corvallis, Ore. on Jan. 28 at 5:30 p.m. The game will be televised live on FSN Northwest. The game will also be provided on a delayed basis on USCTrojans.com and will air live on USC radio flagship station ESPN Radio 710 AM with Pete Arbogast and Jim Hefner calling the action. USC is 10-3 in its last 13 games. USC won its last road game which was at UCLA on Jan. 16, snapping a nine-game road losing streak dating back to last season. USC last won consecutive road contests when it won four straight in the 2008 season (at: UCLA, OSU, ORE & UW). http://www.trojanwire.com/football/m-basketball-usc-heads-north-to-face-the-oregon-schools-beavers-first-on-thursday.php http://www.trojanwire.com/football/m-basketball-usc-heads-north-to-face-the-oregon-schools-beavers-first-on-thursday.php Oregon Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:49:07 -0800 Pac-10 games of the decade
And we made the executive decision not to make this a list of USC upset losses -- other than the biggest one of those.

10. Oregon 56, Arizona State 55 (2 OT), 2000: Many of you are drawing a blank, but the ones who saw this one are jumping out of their chairs and going, "Oh man. That one was nuts." Both teams scored 21 points in the fourth quarter. The teams combined for 1,228 yards, 663 of those for the Sun Devils. Ducks quarterback Joey Harrington threw six -- SIX! -- touchdown passes, including three in the fourth quarter, the last of which tied the score with 27 seconds left after the Sun Devils gave away a critical fumble. Arizona State freshman QB Jeff Krohn threw five TD passes, by the way. ASU lost the game when coach Bruce Snyder decided to fake the extra point and go for the two-point conversion in the second overtime. It failed, leaving fans in Tempe stunned.

9. Washington State 30, USC 27 (OT), 2002: Any of you Cougars fans able to muster the memory of kicker Drew Dunning's slide on his knees at Martin Stadium? Dunning sent the game into overtime with a 35-yard field goal and then made the game-winner from the same distance in a victory that was critical to the Cougars' run to the Rose Bowl. The game featured a brilliant quarterback duel between Carson Palmer and Jason Gesser -- Gesser passed for 315 yards, Palmer for 381 -- and a dominant performance from Cougars defensive tackle Rien Long, who went on to win the Outland Trophy. Between this game and the 2006 Rose Bowl, USC lost just once.

8. Oregon 44, Arizona 41 (2 OT), 2009: If Arizona had won this game, we now know the Wildcats would have played in their first Rose Bowl. The Wildcats led 24-14 early in the fourth quarter, but then the game went crazy. With red-clad Arizona fans encircling the field, Ducks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli tied the game in regulation with six seconds left with a touchdown pass to Ed Dickson. Masoli then won it in the second overtime with a 1-yard run. Masoli ran for three TDs and passed for three more.

7. Stanford 24, USC 23, 2007: Greatest upset in Pac-10 history? Maybe. Stanford was a 41-point underdog playing its backup quarterback at No. 2 USC, which had won 35 in a row at home. But Trojans quarterback John David Booty, who foolishly played -- and was allowed to play -- with an injured throwing hand, threw four interceptions, while Stanford's Tavita Pritchard led a clutch, game-winning drive, throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Mark Bradford on fourth-and-goal with 49 seconds remaining.

6. Oregon 37, Oregon State 33, 2009: It was the Civil War for the Roses, with the Ducks earning a berth in the Rose Bowl after slipping a game crew of Beavers. While the return of Ducks running back LeGarrette Blount was significant -- he scored a critical touchdown -- the game belonged to redshirt freshman running back LaMichael James, who scored three touchdowns and rushed for 166 yards, and quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who ran over Beavers safety Lance Mitchell to convert a fourth-and-3 play from the Beavers' 33 with 3:41 left as Oregon ran out the final six minutes with its final drive.

5. California 31, Oregon 24, 2007: Sixth-ranked California, featuring a stellar performance from receiver DeSean Jackson, outlasted No. 11 Oregon in a game between two teams that each would at one point rise to No. 2  during the season, though both ultimately crumbled. The game turned on a strange play as the Ducks were on the cusp of tying the score. With 22 seconds to go, Dennis Dixon found Cameron Colvin near the goal line, but Colvin fumbled trying to reach the ball into the end zone when he was hit by Marcus Ezeff. The loose ball went through the end zone and was ruled a touchback and possession for Cal.

4. Washington 33, Oregon State 30, 2000: It was the greatest game no one saw because of the late, West Coast kickoff at Husky Stadium. And at the time its magnitude wasn't clear.  The critical play of the back-and-forth affair happened when Washington defensive tackle Larry Tripplett caught Ken Simonton for a three-yard loss on second-and-1 from the Huskies 26-yard line with 42 seconds left. The Beavers panicked and mistakenly spiked the ball -- they had a time out left -- and then Ryan Cesca missed a 46-yard field goal to tie. It was the Beavers only loss of the season; they crushed Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. They would have played Oklahoma for the national title if they had prevailed. And the win helped the Huskies win the Rose Bowl tiebreaker.

3. USC 23, California 17, 2004: No. 7 California had a first-and-goal on top-ranked USC's 9-yard line with under two minutes left. At that point, Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers had completed 29 of 31 for 267 yards and a touchdown. But the Bears couldn't punch it in, with USC registering a sack and forcing three incompletions. It was the closest call of the season for the best team of the USC dynasty.

2. USC 34, Notre Dame 31, 2005: The infamous "Bush Push" game. No. 9 Notre Dame was about to knock off top-ranked rival USC and make Irish coach Charlie Weis a national sensation, but Matt Leinart led a drive for the ages in the waning moments as the Trojans prevailed, scoring the winning points when Leinart got a little extra help from Bush on his second effort on a quarterback sneak.

1. Texas 41, USC 38, 2006 Rose Bowl: Perhaps the great game in college football history, particularly considering that the stakes were a national title for two unbeaten teams and the field was packed with talent and future high draft choices. Vince Young almost single-handedly willed his team to the victory  -- he ran for 200 yards and passed for 267 more -- and denied the Trojans a third consecutive national title. USC walked away with a laundry list of "what ifs,"  but the ultimate result was a 34-game winning streak coming to an end. ]]> http://www.trojanwire.com/football/pac10-games-of-the-decade.php http://www.trojanwire.com/football/pac10-games-of-the-decade.php Texas Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:55:36 -0800 Pac-10 teams of the decade
Not sure how you get around that. From 2002 to 2008, the Trojans finished ranked in the nation's top four. During that span, no other conference team topped the Trojans in the national rankings.

One team not listed, however, merits special mention: Oregon in 2007.

That team was 8-1, ranked No. 2 in the BCS standings and appeared to be headed for a showdown with LSU for the national championship. Then quarterback Dennis Dixon blew out his knee at Arizona -- he'd actually hurt it the week before vs. Arizona State -- and the Ducks subsequently lost to the Wildcats, the first of three consecutive losses before a blowout victory over South Florida in the Sun Bowl.

More than a few people -- not just Ducks fans -- believe that team would have won the national title if Dixon had remained healthy.

Of course, if wishes were fishes then cows would fly.

10. USC, 2007: A toss-up between this squad and the Trojans 2006 team. The '07 team finished ranked third in the AP and second in the coaches poll, while '06 finished fourth in both. '07 lost to 41-point underdog Stanford and at Oregon, see above about the Ducks. '06 lost at Oregon State and at UCLA, a 13-9 defeat that cost it a spot in the national title game. That last detail iced it for '07.

9. USC, 2002: More than a few pundits watching Carson Palmer and company pound Iowa in the Orange Bowl opined that, by season's end, this might be the nation's best team in 2002. After a 3-2 start in Year Two of the Pete Carroll Era, the Trojans won eight in a row to finish 11-2 and ranked No. 4.

<!--photo1-->8. California, 2004: Sure, the Bears laid an egg vs. Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl -- quick Cal fans: how many receivers were missing due to injury? And what do you think of Mack Brown? -- but Aaron Rodgers and company put on quite a show. The only regular-season defeat came in a thriller at USC -- see below -- 23-17, when the Trojans held strong after the Bears had a first-and-goal from the 9-yard line with less than two minutes left.

7. Oregon State, 2000: If not for a crazy finish at Washington in a 33-30 defeat, the Beavers might have played Oklahoma for the national championship. They went on to blister Notre Dame 41-9 in the Fiesta Bowl and finished ranked fourth in the nation. Go back and look at the roster: Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, DeLawrence Grant, Dennis Weathersby, LeDarius Jackson, Ken Simonton, etc. This was hardly a scrappy, little team.

6. Washington, 2000: This crew of Huskies was hardly dominant but they just found a way to win week after week, led by quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo. The 11-1 season included a victory over Miami, which finished ranked No. 2, a loss at No. 7 Oregon, and a Rose Bowl win over Drew Brees and Purdue.

5. USC, 2008: This crew paired one of the best defenses in college football history with a quarterback who's playing in the AFC championship this weekend. Yes, it's fair to ask how the horsepucky this team didn't win the national championship. Oregon State fans care to explain?

4. Oregon, 2001: How strange was the Ducks 49-42 loss vs Stanford, their only defeat of the season? The normally staid AP said this in the game story, it was "a game that had everything but aliens landing on the Autzen Stadium turf." The Ducks led by 14 in the fourth quarter before a blocked punt and interception from Joey Harrington allowed the Cardinal to take the lead. While Oregon fans mostly remember getting BCSed out of the national title game by Nebraska, the Stanford game prevented them from playing Miami in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks blasted Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl and finished No. 2, still the program's best final ranking.

3. USC, 2003: A dominant team that lost only in triple-overtime at California. Only a BCS computer glitch forced the Trojans, ranked No. 1 in every poll, to share a portion of the national title with another squad.

2. USC, 2005: The offense was a thing of beauty -- 580 yards, 49 points per game --  but a young defense, which featured a true freshman and four sophomore starters, cost the Trojans in the thrilling BCS title loss to the University of Vince Young.

1. USC, 2004: Unbeaten, undisputed. Dominant. Best team of the decade in all of college football? Perhaps, though folks could make a strong argument for Miami in 2001. An extraordinary array of talent on both sides of the ball. And defense was the difference vs. 2005. It ranked sixth in the nation in total defense and third in scoring. The Trojans battered Oklahoma 55-19 for the national title. ]]> http://www.trojanwire.com/football/pac10-teams-of-the-decade.php http://www.trojanwire.com/football/pac10-teams-of-the-decade.php Texas Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:55:11 -0800 Top 10 Pac-10 players of the decade
Gulp.

The list of folks not on this list includes numerous consensus All-Americans, award winners and record-setting players. So feel free to disagree.

And, yes, NFL success sometimes functioned as a tiebreaker, which is why Reggie Williams, Mike Williams, Rien Long, Dave Ball, J.J. Arrington, Mike Hass, Derek Hagan and Joey Harrington, among others, are not on this list.

Every player on this list, other than Steven Jackson, was a consensus All-American.

10. Troy Polamalu, S, USC: Pete Carroll's first great defensive player, he was a two-time All-American. The 16th overall pick in the 2003 draft and five-time All-Pro is on track for a Hall of Fame NFL career.

Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesUSC quarterback Matt Leinhart led the Trojans to three national championship game appearances.


9. Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona: The four-year starter grabbed 15 career interceptions and won the the Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back in 2007. He was the 27th pick (San Diego) of the 2008 draft.

8. Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon: The 345-pounder was the best run stuffer the Pac-10 has seen of late. He blocked seven kicks at Oregon and piled up 17.5 tackles for a loss his final two seasons before becoming the No. 12 pick in the 2006 draft (Baltimore).

7. Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC: What separates Jarrett from the conference's other All-American receivers is simple: His 41 career touchdown receptions are nine more than any other player in Pac-10 history.

6. Steven Jackson, RB, Oregon State: Jackson's NFL career has proven that he was ridiculously underrated in college. He finished with 3,625 career rushing yards, which ranks 11th on the Pac-10 career list, and 46 career touchdowns.

5. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford: The 2009 Heisman Trophy runnerup finished with 3,522 career yards and 44 touchdowns.

4. Terrell Suggs, DE, Arizona State: In 2002, he set an NCAA record with 24 sacks and Pac-10 record with 31.5 tackles for a loss. He won the Lombardi Trophy as the nation's best defensive lineman and the Nagurski Award as the nation's best defensive player.

3. Reggie Bush, RB, USC: He won the 2005 Heisman Trophy after finishing fifth the year before. He led the nation with 222.3 all-purpose yards per game and set the Pac-10 record for total yards from scrimmage with 513 (294 rushing, 68 receiving, 151 return) against Fresno State. And every time he touched the ball, everyone held their breath.

2. Carson Palmer, QB, USC: He won the 2002 Heisman Trophy and his 11,818 career yards passing is No. 1 all-time in the Pac-10.

1. Matt Leinart, QB, USC: He won consecutive national championships and the 2004 Heisman Trophy. In 2005, he finished third in the Heisman voting and lost the national championship game to Texas. He owns the Pac-10 single-season (38) and career (99) records for touchdown passes. ]]> http://www.trojanwire.com/football/top-10-pac10-players-of-the-decade.php http://www.trojanwire.com/football/top-10-pac10-players-of-the-decade.php Texas Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:09:20 -0800 Looking back at the Pac-10 decade
In the middle, it was all about the Trojans, with USC winning a pair of national titles -- and playing for a third -- and at least sharing seven consecutive conference championships.

The Pac-10 decade featured a run of remarkable stability at the top amid significant change.

And, of course, that bastion of stability -- the USC Dynasty -- is now in the midst of its own seismic shift with the departure of Pete Carroll and the arrival of Lane Kiffin.

That 's a good place to start: the coaches.

No Pac-10 team has the same head coach it had in 2000. Only California, Oregon, Oregon State and USC had just two coaches during the decade, and, obviously, the Trojans are no longer part of that group.

Stanford and Washington both went through four coaches since 2000.

The Pac-10 won three Heisman Trophies this past decade: quarterback Carson Palmer, quarterback Matt Leinart and running back Reggie Bush. All played for USC. This past season, Stanford's Toby Gerhart finished as the runner-up to Alabama's Mark Ingram in the closest Heisman race in history.

While the decade was mostly owned by USC, it wasn't entirely. Four conference teams finished ranked in the final top five of the AP poll at least once: Washington, Oregon, Oregon State and USC. Washington State earned three consecutive top-10 rankings from 2001-2003. California finished ninth in 2004.

That the Huskies and Cougars are mentioned there also makes both program's precipitous slides from the national elite into the morass of ineptitude notable.

While the story of the decade in the conference is USC's rise, the No. 2 story might be the fall of Washington, which finished 11-1 and ranked No. 3 in 2000 under Rick Neuheisel but went 0-12 in 2008 under Tyrone Willingham and lost 15 in a row before beating Idaho in Game 2 of 2009.

That fall began with the top off-field story of the decade: The controversial firing of Neuheisel for participating in a high-stakes betting pool on the NCAA tournament, which ended up costing Washington $4.5 million when the school opted to settle a lawsuit for wrongful termination.

On the field, the Pac-10 changed the way it played offense.

Over the first half of the decade, it was mostly about passing and marquee quarterbacks: five of the Pac-10's top seven single-season passing yardage marks were set from 2002-2005.

The high-flying offenses peaked in 2002 when six quarterbacks threw for more than 3,300 yards.

The past two seasons, no conference quarterback passed for more than 3,300 yards. In fact, only three eclipsed the 3,000-yard mark the past two seasons combined.

Meanwhile, if California running back Shane Vereen had found 48 more yards this season, the Pac-10 would have produced six 1,000-yard rushers for a second consecutive year.

And yet, by the end of the 2009 season, the story in the Pac-10 was the bumper crop of young quarterbacks, eight of whom will be back in 2010.

But between Washington going to the Rose Bowl after the 2000 season and Oregon doing so following the 2009 campaign, it was mostly about USC, which fell short of a third consecutive national title after a nail-biting loss to Texas in the national title game following the 2005 season.

The Trojans finished ranked in the final top four of the AP poll from 2002 to 2008. They went 6-1 in BCS bowl games. They dominated college football as much as they dominated the Pac-10.

And yet, in the final year of the decade, they fell back into the pack -- and the "pac" moved up, with Oregon and Oregon State playing a Civil War for the Rose Bowl berth.

Will the next decade bring more parity? Or will USC regain its championship form? Or will another team rise to the fore?

We shall see. ]]> http://www.trojanwire.com/football/looking-back-at-the-pac10-decade.php http://www.trojanwire.com/football/looking-back-at-the-pac10-decade.php Texas Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:36:22 -0800 Trojan Depo: Kiffin Move Pays Recruiting Gold There's no doubt the Kiffin move was crazy. He didn't seem to be on anybody's short-list to fill the Carroll void. Hell, he didn't even appear on the radar. Oregon State's coach Mike Riley turned the job down without ever having to say a word. Jack Del Rio had three years left on his contract. And Jeff Fisher, well he was just too comfortable over in good ol' Tennessee. Lucky for USC, Kiffin didn't feel the same.


]]> http://www.trojanwire.com/football/trojan-depo-kiffin-move-pays-recruiting-gold.php http://www.trojanwire.com/football/trojan-depo-kiffin-move-pays-recruiting-gold.php Headlines Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:37:39 -0800