USC Trojans Will Return to Power This Year

As the USC Trojans continue to wash away the disappointment of the 2010 season, they find comfort in the optimistic signs coming out of the ongoing fall camp.

With a full complement of players in 2011, a new aura of confidence is emanating from both the coaches and players—and fans of the men of Troy are beginning to take notice.

Already the normally understated Lane Kiffin has said he has noticed a big difference between the 2010 Trojans and this year's edition.

Bigger, faster and more athletic, Kiffin's preliminary endorsement of this year's team is a welcome sign for fans.

And although USC is not getting much love from national pundits, there is good reason, beyond Kiffin's comforting words, to think that the Trojans will return to power this year.

This slideshow will look at the reasons for those high hopes.

No. 8: No More Uncertainty Regarding the NCAA's Punishment

Though it sounds counterintuitive, for the Trojans in 2011 there is a certain serenity that comes with knowing their NCAA punishment fate, even if it didn't go the way the Trojans (or their fans) thought it should.

For the better part of a year, USC and its fans speculated on their appeal of the unfair and unjust sanctions college football's governing body handed them for so-called "transgressions" related to the Reggie Bush scandal.

Though they denied it, players and coaches had been waiting for the shoe to drop and the NCAA to finally make a ruling on the aforementioned appeal and when they did, everyone could at least move on.

For the fans, the bitterness still lingers; but for USC, it was time to move on.

And now, despite that disappointment, the Trojan football team, from Pat Haden all the way down to the water boy, can focus on what they know will occur and not what they hope will happen.

Though everyone connected with the program is resigned to the fact there will be no bowl game in 2011 for the Trojans, that emotion will be replaced with motivation.

No. 7: Better Preparation (Tackling in Camp)

Last year the Trojans defense was uncharacteristically bad and Lane Kiffin knows why.

Because of a lack of healthy and able bodies, the Trojans were not allowed to tackle in last year's camps.

Expecting football teams to be good without practicing tackling is kind of like asking pastry chefs to hone their craft without an oven.

It just doesn't happen.

Now, in 2011, with a full complement of players (more on that later) the Trojans are finding the nuances of playing defense a little more accommodating by allowing their players to get after it by hitting people.

So even though the Trojans offense may not appreciate it, the defense is reaping the rewards of practicing the game the way it is supposed to be played.

And the Trojans defense will be better in the upcoming year because of it.

No. 6: The Trojans Will Be Playing with a Full Roster

As stated in the last slide, the 2010 Trojans often found themselves wanting for able bodies to fill uniforms.

And those lack of players didn't just affect practice, but also the games.

Too often last year USC melted down in the fourth quarter of close games, which can be directly attributed to a depleted roster.

Now the Trojans are close to having a full set of players; those games where they wore out in the second half should be a thing of the past.

Only time will tell how successful USC will be in 2011, but if they stumble, it won't be because they are lacking players.

No. 5: This Is the 2nd Year in Kiffin's System

Although Lane Kiffin cut his coaching teeth under the man he replaced, there were (and are) differences in the systems run by Pete Carroll and him.

And it goes beyond whatever differences there are in coaching philosophies.

Terminology changes, the way practices are run—these are only a couple of things that must be considered when one coach replaces another.

And then there is the change of coaches themselves.

It would be difficult to find two coaches who are more polar opposite than Lane Kiffin and Pete Carroll.

Whereas Carroll was effervescent, Kiffin is reserved. Like night and day.

So there must be a "getting to know each other" period, as is the case when any relationship is starting out.

That happened last year.

Now it is year two of the Kiffin regime and everyone concerned can see the changes from last year to now.

In this case, familiarity does not breed contempt and the level of understanding has resulted in increased expectations.

This will play a huge part in why the Trojans return to power in 2011.

No. 4: The Defense Will Be Improved

Okay, smart Alec, I know what you're thinking: "Of course the defense will be better."

Because it can't get any worse.

While that may be true, it certainly doesn't account for the dramatic difference noted in the "D" so far in 2011.

And it is no coincidence that both the second year in Monte Kiffin's scheme and the addition of tackling in practice has played a big role in that improvement.

Most likely is that the defensive line and secondary will carry the Trojans defense in 2011, which means that the linebackers remain a concern.

But if that unit can hold its own this season, USC will be much improved.

And the defense will be a large reason why.

No. 3: The Trojans' Skill Players Will Lead the Way

Yes, the Trojans have some holes to fill on both sides of the ball.

The offensive line will be a concern until they prove (or disprove) otherwise and the linebackers are an unknown quantity.

Elsewhere, there are decisions to be made to get the best 11 out there for both the offense and the defense.

No doubt about it.

But what isn't in question is that quarterback Matt Barkley will have a ton of offensive skill players at his disposal.

Beyond superstar-in-the-waiting wide receiver Robert Woods, Barkley has Brandon Carswell, Brice Butler, DeVon Flournoy, Kyle Prater and a bevy of talented tight ends to throw to.

That doesn't take into account three excellent true freshmen in George Farmer Jr., Marqise Lee and Victor Blackwell, each of whom has the talent to insert themselves into the rotation.

Running backs? We've got you covered.

Curtis McNeal has taken a slight lead for the starting spot, but Dillon Baxter is hot on his heels and D.J. Morgan isn't too far behind.

Meanwhile, true freshman Amir Carlisle has been the surprise of the fall camp and Javorious (Buck) Allen will be heard from if he ever makes it on campus (he has been finishing summer school).

A veritable embarrassment of riches.

And a major reason why the Trojans return to power in 2011.

No. 2: Matt Barkley

The Pac-12 has a ton of talented signal callers and no one, save for possibly Stanford's Andrew Luck, is better than the Trojans' Matt Barkley.

Going into his junior campaign, Barkley has been the starter since stepping foot on campus.

Blessed with all of the tools of a great quarterback, Barkley has improved each year and is now poised for a breakout season in 2011.

Of course, even great quarterbacks need time to operate and much will depend on the play of the offensive line to give him the ability to operate through effective protection.

If the O-line does well, Barkley should lead an incredibly effective offense and perhaps even thrust himself into the Heisman trophy conversation.

And in doing so, Barkley will become another reason why the Trojans return to greatness in 2011.

No. 1: Motivation Will Be the Guiding Force That Returns the Trojans to Power

"8-5."

For some programs that record would be cause for celebration.

But for USC, 8-5 sticks like a large craw down their sensitive throats.

To make matters worse, every publication of note has dismissed the Trojans as a mere afterthought in the landscape of college football.

Saying that they have nothing to play for, publications like The Sporting News, have the Trojans as the last team in their top 25.

At least they are acknowledged by that magazine. Others, such as ESPN's Mark Schlabach, leave them off altogether.

Having nothing to play for due to the NCAA's sanctions, the so-called "experts" consider USC, at best, a run team when it comes to gridiron excellence.

That's fine by the Trojans.

To their way of thinking, it will make it all the sweeter when they defy those low expectations and force their way back into the realm of college football's elite.

So, motivation is a primary factor for why the Trojans return to power this year?

Damn right it is.

Conclusion

If the Trojans return to the lofty pinnacle they resided at not so long ago, there will be far more than just eight reasons why they did so.

It will take a concerted effort by everyone connected to the program and even then everything will have to go just right.

For Lane Kiffin, a return to power for USC is more than just a lofty ideal, it's a promise.

For Coach Kiffin to keep that promise in 2011, he will have to keep everyone's eye on the prize and pulling in the same direction.

However, for fans of the program, the Trojans being ready for a return to the top five this year should not be expected.

What fans do expect, however, is that the process of returning to that glory includes significant improvement from last year's debacle.

If they can do that, if improvement is evident, then the return to "power" will be met with patience from Trojan fans.

After all, you can wait until 2012 to get that national championship can't you, Trojan fans?