USC Trojans Football: Power Rankings, Unit by Unit
As the Trojans enter spring practice for the 2011 season, questions abound.
Following an 8-5 2010 season which head coach Lane Kiffin deemed "unacceptable," USC will look to improve with a squad whose identity is still a work in progress.
Shackled with uncertainty due to the pending sanctions imposed by the NCAA in response to the Reggie Bush scandal and further exacerbated by injuries to key players, the Trojans prospects for the upcoming year are murky at best.
Who will step up and grab the opportunities that are present due to the factors mentioned above?
How can the incoming freshmen help alleviate depth issues?
Will changes in coaching philosophy, primarily on offense, help offer the Trojans their best chance at success?
These questions and others will need to be answered as we now look at the power rankings of the 2011 USC Trojans, unit-by-unit:
No. 9: Offensive Line
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Many of the units profiled in this slideshow have question marks attached to them, but none more so than the offensive line.
Debilitated by graduation, injuries and early defections to the NFL, the big uglies up front are so decimated that, entering spring practice, they only have six healthy bodies available.
Even when all hands are on deck and everyone is healthy, they will only have one lineman returning at his regular position, that being Matt Kalil.
The plan, subject to change of course, is to move Khalid Holmes to center and welcome new starters Kevin Graf (right tackle), John Martinez (right guard) and possibly incoming true freshman Cyrus Hobbi (left guard).
Speaking of incoming freshmen, big Aundrey Walker (6'6", 375 lbs) and Marcus Martin (6'5", 340 lbs) will both get long looks in the fall in addition to the aforementioned Hobbi.
Although the Trojans signed a couple of JC transfers as well (David Garness and Jeremy Galten), they will be looked at to provide depth for the most part.
Without a doubt, this is the most unsettled unit on the Trojans squad.
No. 8: Linebackers
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The Trojans defense last year was ineffective and inconsistent, and this was especially true of the linebackers unit.
Last year the middle linebacker spot was manned by both Devon Kennard and Chris Galippo, neither of whom were either consistent or effective.
Meanwhile, both an inside linebacker (Michael Morgan) and an outside linebacker (Malcolm Smith) have graduated, and while some Trojans fans might consider this a good thing, it creates much angst for the coaching staff as they look to find effective players to man the back four of the front seven.
But it also creates opportunity, and USC will look both to current Trojans as well as the incoming bumper crop of freshmen due to arrive in the fall.
What we think we know is that Devon Kennard will return to the middle and Chris Galippo will man the "will" or weak-side linebacker position.
Beyond that it is a crapshoot.
Shane Horton probably has the inside track for the strong-side linebacker slot, but he will be pushed by any number of hungry players including, Hayes Pullard, Dion Bailey, Marquis Simmons and Simione Vehikite just to name a few.
However, the future looks bright as this fall will see the welcome additions of Lamar Dawson, Tre Madden and Anthony Sarao, all talented youngsters in their own rights.
Look for two or more players to come out and seize the opportunity on a unit that is most definitely in flux.
No. 7: Defensive Line
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While it is true that there are many question marks in this unit, it should also be noted that they have the potential to be very, very good.
Of course, this assertion is predicated on the assumption that the Trojans' defensive line will return healthy—which is no sure thing.
Of immediate concern is who will replace nose guard Jurrell Casey, who declared early for the NFL Draft.
The most likely to assume his position is DaJohn Harris, who had some shining moments in 2010, but Christian Tupoa (returning from injury) and George Uko (redshirt freshman who was voted the scout team's defensive player of the year last year) will both push Harris for that starting position.
The defensive end positions have a chance to be very good, but again, this will depend on the health of Armond Armstead (possible heart condition), and Wes Horton and Nick Perry, who both battled injuries last year.
Backing them up and battling for playing time will be Kevin Greene and a talented bunch of incoming freshmen including Greg Townsend, Christian Heywood and possibly Delvon Simmons (should he sign with the Trojans after receiving his LOI release from North Carolina)
Meanwhile, look for Steve Dillon, Charles Burks and Davonte Wilson, all talented incoming freshmen, to redshirt in 2011.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 6: Special Teams
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With the exception of the kickoff and punt return teams, this unit can only go up.
Plagued by inconsistent punters and field-goal kickers in 2010, the Trojans welcome a new punter (Kris Albarado) and place kicker (Andre Heidari), both true freshmen, for 2011.
That is a good thing, as most Trojan fans will tell you.
And they may be right.
Heidari has consistently boomed kickoffs and 50-plus yard field goals in spring practice, and Albarado is considered one of the best incoming punters in the nation.
The Trojans also welcome incoming freshman long-snapper Peter McBride, who was good enough to be one of the starting Under Armour players responsible for this critical aspect of special teams.
Meanwhile, Robert Woods is one of the most electric kick returners in the college game, and USC will look to a variety of players, including Dillon Baxter, to return punts.
Though very young, this unit has the potential to be very good when all is said and done.
No. 5: Defensive Backfield
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This unit also has the potential to be very good, but it also has question marks and must welcome some new players.
Although TJ McDonald and Nickel Robey return and offer experience at their respective positions (safety and cornerback), there will be new players at the other safety and cornerback positions.
At cornerback, Anthony Brown, Torin Harris, TJ Bryant and Brian Bauchman will all vie for the starting slot opposite of Robey and all appear to be about even at this juncture. Watch out for Brown, though, who has really improved in the offseason.
At safety there is a logjam opposite McDonald, with Jawanzaa Starling (who opened 2010 as the starter), Marshall Jones, Tony Burnett, Drew McAllister (who is trying to come back from a hip injury) and Demetrius Wright all vying for playing time along with Patrick Hall, who was very highly regarded before injuries and attitude problems derailed him for the last couple of years.
Only time will tell how good this unit can be.
No. 4: Running Backs
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And the injuries keep coming...
Marc Tyler, the Trojan's leading candidate to return as the starting running back, injured a hamstring just minutes into USC's opening session of spring practice and his return is undetermined.
Dillon Baxter, the Youtube sensation from last year, remains a question mark, as maturity issues will need to be answered as he attempts to match his unlimited potential with performance on the field.
Perhaps the most intriguing prospect is redshirt freshman DJ Morgan, who is returning from a year of injury and who is wowing everyone already with his fantastic speed and shifty moves.
If Morgan can stay healthy, he will be heard from sooner rather than later.
The Trojans will also benefit from incoming freshmen Buck Allen and Amir Carlisle, both highly-touted running backs.
Meanwhile, there will have to be a replacement found for Stanley Havili, the Trojans departed valuable fullback.
Soma Vainuku, who looks very good so far, Hunter Simmons and possibly incoming freshman JR Tavai will have to step up dramatically to replace Havili.
No. 3: Tight Ends
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Although Blake Ayles transferred to Miami, he won't be missed much.
Instead, Rhett Ellison, a much more versatile and dependable tight end, will take his place and enter the 2011 season as the Trojans starter.
Backing him up will be a bevy of talented Trojans who came to USC as part of last year's recruiting class.
Leading the way will be Xavier Grimble, who has improved over the last year immensely.
Another talented receiver but one who might wind up on defense is Christian Thomas, whose versatility may find him as a defensive end when all is said and done.
Finally, Randall Telfair, a very talented but undersized tight end, will be given a long look. But he needs to bulk up to give the Trojans a blocking presence that is so important to the position.
No. 2: Quarterback
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If there was any one position on this team that was locked up, it would be that of quarterback, where Matt Barkley is as close to a sure bet as there is on this team.
Following two starting years in which Barkley just keeps showing why he was one of the most coveted prep quarterbacks in the nation, Barkley will look to keep improving as he matriculates his way to an inevitable starting position in the NFL.
Backing him up will be, barring any unforeseen injuries, Jesse Scroggins.
Scroggins, who is a redshirt freshman, had a marvelous career at Lakewood High School and he will be counted on to be ready should anything happen to Barkley.
Likely the biggest question to be answered is which 2010 prep quarterback, Cody Kessler or Max Wittek, or both, redshirts this year.
No. 1: Wide Receivers
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Without a doubt, the Trojans are suffering from an embarrassment of riches at the wide receiver position.
Despite the loss of Ronald Johnson, who has graduated, the Trojans are stacked at all receiver positions.
One starting position has been locked up by all-everything sophomore Robert Woods, who was named an All-American freshman at the position.
Woods may already be the best wide receiver in the nation this year.
The pressing question is: Who starts opposite Woods?
Kyle Prater, a 5-star recruit who redshirted last year due to injuries, was thought to be the leading candidate, but he has been slow to recover.
This leaves an opportunity for talented wideouts Brandon Carswell, De'Von Flournoy and the troubled Markeith Ambles to step up and claim playing time.
To muddy the issue of who starts opposite Woods is the fact that George Farmer Jr., Woods' former teammate at Serra High School and perhaps the most talented receiver in the country, and Victor Blackwell, an outstanding wide receiver form high school-powerhouse Mater Dei, are both scheduled to arrive in the fall.
Talk about a loaded unit...
Conclusion
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While there are indeed an abundance of questions to be answered about this year's version of the men of Troy, there is no doubt that they are a talented bunch.
However, that talent may not be spread evenly over the whole team and each unit.
It is this disparity, coupled with injuries, that has left some units in dire straits.
If the Trojans can somehow find some answers before the first game of the season, they may find their way back to their former glory, NCAA sanctions be damned.
If not, this could turn out to be another long year for Lane Kiffin, who has promised a significant improvement for the 2011 season.
The Trojans need to show some improvement this year to create hope for the 2012 season, when they will once again be bowl eligible.
How much improvement the Trojans make will largely depend on shoring up the offensive line and much of the defense.
If Kiffin can manage that, followers of the men of Troy should be very happy indeed.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
