Booty connects with Patrick Turner at USC-Washington, 2006
Image by Rod Mar / The Seattle Times

The USC football team tops 2007 pre-season polls released by the majority of major media outlets. This is despite the fact that the Trojans lost their top receivers (ranked one, two and five in total yds) to the NFL. With Jarret, Smith and McFoy gone pro, USC is left nearly void of experienced wide-outs. This year Patrick Turner stands to prove why he’s #1.

It’s summer time once again. And once again USC ranks supreme by the sporting god fortune-tellers and media-psychics. That’s due in part to the return of a defensive line that just dominated Michigan in the Rose Bowl. It’s partly because of the strength of QB John David Booty, a front-runner for the 2007 Heisman. And, of course, it’s partly because of the win record of head coach “Big Balls” Pete Carroll (as he’s known around campus). But one factor seems missing from the pre-season equation: big offense.

Yes, USC is indisputably deep at tailback — 10 High School all Americans to be exact. But even with all the talent in the backfield, the Trojan ground game was unreliable last season. In fact, it was only Chauncey Washington that broke the 500 yard mark with 744 rushing. Fairly impressive for one man, but the overall stats are hardly representative of the deep talent the team boasts.

Last season when the Trojans were stuck between the clock and the scoreboard, the attack didn’t come from the ground; it nearly always came by air. Even in the cases of the team’s only losses (Oregon State and UCLA), John David Booty along with receivers Jarret and Smith nearly resurrected the Trojans with all out aerial assaults. With the loss of Jarret and Smith’s hands, so go Booty’s favorite landing strips.

Enter Patrick Turner. A five-star recruit in 2005, 6′-5″ Turner racked up 29 receptions for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns last season. Turner, along with TE Fred Davis (38 rec, 352 yds, 3 TD) are the Trojans only two tested receivers. There’s no doubt these two men will play a key role, if the Trojans are to have any hopes of a third national championship in five years. In fact when Jarrett was out of the Washington game nursing an injury, Turner picked up the slack netting 116 yards and 1 TD. But Turner’s and Davis’ combined stats of 624 yds and 5 touchdowns is a far cry from the lost 2,000+ receiving yards and 21 touchdowns that went with Smith and Jarrett. Yes, there’s the big talk of help from the next generation of receiving corps: Vidal Hazelton, David Ausberry, Travon Patterson. But these players are largely untested, and have a combined 4 receptions and 71 total yards.

Am I saying USC’s national championship is out of the picture: NO WAY. If any team can bounce back from a loss of big players, it’s the USC Trojans. If there’s a coach out there to develop new talent, it’s “Big Balls” Carroll. I’m just suggesting the road to victory might be bumpier than the mass media has predicted. The Trojan’s road schedule will be a tough one with games at Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon and Cal. There will be close games. There will be first-half deficits to overcome. Without a doubt, Booty will launch some rockets. The only question is – will there be a Trojan receiver at the other end to deliver?

Remember: A strong armed quarterback is just a guy with a pig-skin ball when he’s got no one to play catch with.

Team Stats – from ESPN.com