USC's Five-Game Report Card (Part I)

Photo by Tim Lutes
USCFootballFan

Heading into USC's "bye-week" let's take a look at how Southern Cal has done so far.

Quarterback: B-

If you remove Matt Barkley’sinjury and Aaron Corp'ssubsequent performance against Washington from the equation, then I would probably give the USC quarterbacks a B+; however, Matt Barkley did suffer an injury and Corp did have a big letdown against the Huskies.

This is not an indictment of Corp by any means, but rather an illustration of what is expected at the quarterback position for an elite school such as Southern Cal. Needless to say, Barkley has the talent and poise to be a premium quarterback and has exhibited extended flashes of brillance during his four starts. That being said, while Barkley is going through a baptism-by-fire period as a true-freshman, he needs to develop the consistency with the offense so that the offensive production we see in the first quarter of most games is extended for the entire game.

The last two games in particular (Cal and Washington State) have illuminated this glaring deficiency for the Trojans as the offense seemingly stalls after a fast start to the game. Fortunately for the Trojans, the bye-week could not come at a better time. Matt Barkley, who was not one hundred percent the last two games, will get time to not only get back to full strength, but also to continue to develop a rapport with the rest of his offense. If everything continues to develop for USC’s offense, Matt Barkley and Co. should come out of the gates quickly in the Trojans’ game against Notre Dame on the17^th of October.

Photo by Tim Lutes
USCFootballFan

Backfield: A-

There is a lot to love in terms of what is in the USC backfield. And what I mean by a lot to love is that there are so many talented players fighting for reps that it is almost dizzying to think about. With a smorgasbord assortment that includes Allen Bradford,C.J. Gable, Joe McKnight, Stafon Johnson and, for at least one game, Marc Tyler at the Trojans disposal, there is no shortage of premium talent at the position.

The injury to Stafon Johnson hurts in more ways than one. Johnson was impeccable as a goal-line threat and also brought a consistency that has yet to be achieved by the other USC tailbacks.

While the injury to Johnson is tragic, the Trojans have the necessary personnel to shift gears and get right back to it. Factor in the play of Stanley Havili, who has become an impressive run-catch threat at the fullback position, and the Trojans backfield is a nightmare for opposing coaches, who are trying to develop a defensive game plan.

The game against Cal was the first game post-Stafon Johnson and, if that game was any indication, Joe McKnight and Allen Bradford will be assuming most of the responsibilities of the injured Johnson. The main knock on McKnight, besides staying healthy, is that he occasionally gets a little lax withhis ball security. However, there is no denying that he is as dynamic as they come for running backs. If he gets it going against Notre Dame, there is a possibility we might witness a McKnight-gone-wild night in South Bend. If USC’s running game were better in the red zone, the running backs grade would have been an A.

Receiver: C+

No knock on the Trojans wideouts, as they are a talented bunch, but there has not been enough on-the-same-page production with true freshman Barkley to warrant a higher grade. Many point to the loss of Ronald Johnson, who broke his collarbone this fall, as the main reason why the Trojans' receivers have not been able to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. I would have to disagree. Anytime you have a quarterback, albeit an incredibly talented one, who is a true freshman like Matt Barkley, there are going to be some growing pains.

Damian Williams has been as consistent as they come for the Trojans' receivers; but, up until the past two games, he has not displayed that big-time play potential we have all expected. That being said, what a game Williams had against Cal. Not only has he established himself as an impressive weapon at wideout, but Williams is also now a major threat on punt returns. Williams' 66-yard touchdown return against Cal was just a glimpse of what we will see the rest of the season, which is a scary, scary thought.

Speaking of Ronald Johnson, it is likely that he will be back in action for the Notre Dame game. Johnson's speed has been missed and it will be interesting to see how his stretching of the defense opens up more opportunities for David Ausberry, Brice Butler and Williams. While filling in for Johnson, Ausberry and Butler have flashed signs of big-play potential. I for one am waiting for the light to turn on for Ausberry, who has the size and athleticism to be a force to be reckoned with in thePac-10.

Blake Ayles, Rhett Ellison and Anthony McCoy have all contributed at tight end for the Trojans. After an opening game case of the fumbles against San Jose State, McCoy has been a dependable weapon for Barkley at receiver. Both Ayles and McCoy are big targets at 6-foot-5, 255lbs and will continue to make their presence felt both in the receiving and blocking game for USC.

Photo by Tim Lutes
USCFootballFan

Offensive Line: A-

For a unit that returned its top eight starters, big things were expected of the USC offensive line. To date, the offensive line has yielded six sacks of the quarterback through the first five games.

The return of All-Pac-10 center,Kristofer O'Dowd, who was able to play in the Ohio State game after being knocked out during fall practice with a dislocated kneecap, has gone a long way to solidifying one of the best offensive lines the Pac-10 has to offer.

It is hard not to like what the Trojans have done on the offensive line. With an eclectic mix of athleticism and size, the coaching staff can do a lot of scheming with the personnel available at the offensive line positions. Besides providing adequate, and at times great, pocket protection, the Trojans' offensive line has been exceptional in run-blocking. A healthy Joe McKnight has had a resurgent season, averaging 7.1 yards-per-carry, but he is just part of the story. Allen Bradford has also been a recipient of some wide open lanes, churning out 183 yards for an average of 6.5 yards-per-carry.

While USC is in the mix as one of the best rushing offenses in the Pac-10, there is still room for improvement, something that even the linemen themselves admit. It has been a good start to the season for the offensive line and, IF everyone stays healthy through the remainder of the year, we can expect a continued outstanding performance.

Stay tuned for USC's five-game report card (Part II)

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