(Photo by: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Byron Moore Jr., T.J. McDonald (son of former Trojan great Tim), Torin Harris and Patrick Hall are all top rated defensive backs or safeties who will be enrolled and available for fall practice. This group is outstanding.
While the defensive backfield will undergo major changes for 2010, the future is very bright for this group. Pete Carroll will have to focus on this unit as his most significant area of concern for 2010 but “concern” is a relative term when one considers the talent available.
Special Teams:
To some extent, the special teams will undergo significant changes in 2009, where both kicker David Buehler (The human touchback machine) and Greg Woidneck, last years punter must be replaced.
At kicker, Jordon Congdon, a senior, will be challenged by Joe Houston, a JC transfer and Jacob Harfman, another JC transfer, for the starting position. Both Houston and Harfman are the frontrunners, with Houston given a slight edge. Both Harfman and Houston will be back in 2010.
Matt Darr, a highly coveted punter/kicker, has given the Trojans a verbal commitment and will challenge at both positions in 2010. Darr is a very good athlete in the mold of David Buehler, something that Carroll loves in his kickers.
Billy O’Malley, a redshirt junior, and Boomer Roepke, a redshirt sophomore, will compete for the punting duties with Roepke the favorite going into the fall. However, Darr will be the favorite to claim the job in 2010 unless Roepke or O’Malley really shines in 2009.
Cooper Stephenson will be the long snapper, with Chris Pousson as his backup. Both will be back in 2010.
Return duties in 2009 will be shared by Stafon Johnson (gone after 2009), Ronald Johnson (may be gone after 2009) and Joe McKnight (if he stops fumbling and if he doesn’t leave after 2009), so the return game will be in flux for 2010.
Leave it to Pete Carroll and his staff to cultivate a very capable return game from the bevy of talent he will have available in 2010.
Summary:
With the exception of the defensive backfield, the 2010 defense will be loaded. Even in the defensive backfield, USC will have a ton of talent for Pete Carroll and his coaches to choose from.
Look for Pete Carroll to give his safety and cornerback reserves a ton of playing time to prepare them for 2010.
2010 could be a year, similar to 2008, where USC’s defense could lead the nation in a variety of categories and be one of the very best overall units in the nation.
Although the loss of key starters such as Taylor Mays will hurt, the pain will be brief and prognosis for a full recovery is excellent.
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