USC Trojans Football: 10 New Year's Resolutions for the Trojans

Earlier this week, I wrote a slideshow outlining my projected Trojan starting lineup for the 2012 season.

In that piece, I expressed the opinion that it was an easy assignment for me, because due to USC's success in the 2011 season, most of the starters have already been identified.

Where that article basically wrote itself, this one required that I work much harder.

Why? For the same reason that the first one was simple to pen.

The Trojans' accomplishments this past year—and their return to national prominence—meant that I had to delve much deeper in order to find meaningful resolutions for the upcoming season.

After all, it is much easier to find necessary changes when the team you are writing about struggles.

With the exception of the Arizona State game, that was not something that USC experienced in 2011.

So coming up with these 10 resolutions required a bit of creativity on my part.

Though I had to reach deep in some areas, I finally came up with those areas of focus that the men of Troy should entertain for 2012.

And here they are...

No. 10: Find a Position for Christian Thomas

Sometimes it's not easy to be a fabulous athlete.

Because when you are, your coaches start tinkering with your position in an effort to get you on the field. In doing so, sometimes you find yourself fiddling with learning new positions while mastering none.

Such is the case with Christian Thomas.

Thomas, who came to the Trojans as a 4-star (as rated by Scout.com) tight end, suddenly found himself working at the defensive end position. He was good there, but not good enough to see much playing time in 2010.

Then came 2011, and Thomas found himself injured and unable to play.

Now comes 2012, and a decision needs to be made about Christian Thomas.

Will he play defensive end or tight end? What about fullback?

With that position being unsettled for the upcoming season, the conjecture now has Thomas moving to the offensive backfield.

Tight end, defensive end or fullback?

Give the kid a break and settle on one.

No. 9: Groom a Replacment for Khaled Holmes

Because Lane Kiffin focuses on details and plans for tomorrow (and beyond), he and his staff well understand that this is center Khaled Holmes' last year.

After making the switch from guard to snapping the ball in 2011, Holmes has embraced his new role and plays it as well as anyone in the country. That means finding a new center for 2013 must start this year, because replacing Holmes will be a difficult task.

The likely heir apparent will be redshirt freshman Cody Temple. Coaches love the way he competes, and he knows the requirements of the job.

However, the position requires much more than just getting the ball to the quarterback, and it's those nuances that will demand both Temple's and his coaches' attention in the upcoming year.

Temple will need a backup as well, and since only senior Abe Markowitz has been identified as a center, that person will need to be groomed for 2013 too.

Offensive guard Gio Di Paolo might be a good fit since he played the position in high school, but this is just one of a number of decisions that will have to be made this season.

No. 8: Find a 2013 Replacement for Flanker Robert Woods

How do you replace one of the most prolific receivers in USC history?

Simple. You don't.

Still, it is an area that will need to be addressed in 2012 because the chances that Robert Woods returns for his senior season in 2013 are slim at best.

Woods, a 2011 All-American, is one of the best pass-catchers to have ever donned the cardinal and gold. Finding someone to deliver his production when he leaves will not be an easy task, but it is inevitably one the coaches will have to deal with.

The likely candidates will be Kyle Prater, a 6'5", 215-lb mismatch every time he steps on the field. However, Prater has been injury-prone since arriving at USC, so consistency will be the order of the day for Prater in 2012.

Or will it be George Farmer Jr., the Scout.com 5-star receiver who has since been moved to tailback, despite his reservations about making the switch?

Maybe it will be someone else—perhaps incoming freshman Darreus Rogers.

Regardless of who it is, it needs to be entertained in 2012.

No. 7: Let Matt Barkley Call Some of His Own Plays

The No. 7 New Year's resolution will be one that is easy to keep, because Lane Kiffin has already said he will let quarterback Matt Barkley call some of his own plays as a reward of sorts for Barkley returning to the Trojans in 2012.

Exactly how many plays he will call and when he does remain to be seen, but there is little doubt that Barkley is capable of excelling at his new responsibility.

Barkley is a student of the game, and he—and the Trojans—will thrive when he checks off to a better play when surveying the defense presented to him.

This will make the Trojans that much harder to defend against and increase opposing defensive coordinators' angst exponentially.

If there ever was a Trojan quarterback ready to take on this kind of responsibility, it is Barkley.

Go get 'em, Matt.

No. 6: Figure out Where George Farmer Jr. Will Play

Versatility is a many-splendored thing, and it is George Farmer's talent in that department which is creating some difficulty for him.

You see, Farmer wants to play his natural position, wide receiver, but his coach wants him to play tailback.

A conundrum to be sure.

That Farmer is so talented should be a cause for celebration, but wherever he plays, he needs to stay there and focus on that specific task.

Wide receiver or tailback?

You make the decision, coach, but do it soon and stick with it.

No. 5: Focus on Getting Aundrey Walker Ready to Start in 2012

In terms of the 2012 Trojan offensive line, at least two things are well known.

First, USC will need to replace left tackle Matt Kalil, who has gone on to riches in the NFL. Second, massive Aundrey Walker needs to see the field of play regularly in 2012.

Whether or not it is at that left tackle position that Kalil vacated remains to be seen, but Walker, nimble at 6'5", 340 lbs, seems a natural fit at some point in his Trojan career.

Maybe not in 2012, though.

Instead, conjecture has right tackle Kevin Graf moving to the same position on the left side and Walker taking Graf's old position.

Of course, who plays where will be answered in the spring and fall camps, but either way, Aundrey Walker needs to be part of the offensive line in some capacity.

It's up to the coaches to figure out exactly where.

No. 4: Develop a Quarterback for the Post-Barkley Era

Trojan fans need to understand the debt of gratitude they owe Matt Barkley.

Not only did the magnificent quarterback decide to cement his USC legend by coming back to lead the men of Troy to glory in 2012, he also made the transition in 2013 much more manageable at the position.

Regardless of whether it is Jesse Scroggins, Max Wittek or Cody Kessler who takes the reins from Barkley, that individual will be much better prepared to do so thanks to Matt's decision to come back this year.

Preparing that still-to-be-determined QB in order to identify him as the leader of the 2013 Trojans needs to happen next year. Hence why this task has been chosen as a resolution for 2012.

No time like the present to prepare for the future.

No. 3: Replenish the Defensive Line

OK, Ed Orgeron, time to work your magic.

USC's defensive line coach will have to be on his game to get the D-line to play as well as the 2011 version. With the departures of interior linemen Christian Tupou, DaJohn Harris and end Nick Perry, Orgeron's task will be difficult to be sure.

However, there is talent in the form of defensive tackles George Uko, J.R. Tavai and Greg Townsend Jr. and defensive ends Devon Kennard, Wes Horton and Kevin Greene, to name a few.

Still, developing a two-deep that ensures a good rotation will be a difficult task.

Getting that group to perform to the expectations of the 2011 unit will be even tougher, which is why replenishing the defensive line is a resolution for the new year.

No. 2: Protect This House!

After spending much of the prior decade dominating any team who had the misfortune to enter the Coliseum, the Trojans allowed far too much hospitality at their place in 2010.

That changed last year when their only home loss was in three overtimes to a very good Stanford team led by all-everything quarterback Andrew Luck.

That mindset will have to continue for USC in 2012 if it wants to entertain notions of vying for a BCS championship. With a favorable schedule next year, there is no reason why the Trojans can't run the table overall, but especially at home.

This New Year's resolution should be to make any trip to the Coliseum a nightmare for the opposing team that has the temerity to try it.

No. 1: Win the Pac-12 Crown

For all of the grandiose visions of a BCS national championship dancing in Trojan fans' heads, there is really only one thing that USC controls in 2012: winning its conference championship.

USC can't control the whims of those voting in the polls, but if it can win the Pac-12, it can make it very difficult for the powers that be to keep it out of the BCS championship game.

And let's face it—that is where the men of Troy want to wind up.

Win the conference and the Trojans stand a good chance of making it to the promised land in 2012. Lose it and they have no shot.

That is why winning the Pac-12 is the No. 1 New Year's resolution of 2012.

Conclusion

There they are: 10 New Year's resolutions for 2012.

The nice thing about this list is that nothing contained herein is beyond the Trojans' ability.

Some of the items in this list address needs for the present, while others concern the future, but all them will be necessary if USC is to continue the excellence begun in 2011.

If successful, the upcoming season will follow suit. If that is the case, Trojan fans may request the following New Year's resolution for 2013:

Defend your national championship!