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I'm interested to hear what you have to say about the O-line and voids in the D.

How 'bout 'em | 03/25/08, 07:40 PM

The O-line looks worriesome.....only a few starters back and maybe that's why Pete will go with a mobile QB this year. The D will be good. If Josh Pinkard can stay healthy (CB) and Taylor Mays and Co in cover 2 situations, I don't think there will be any let-off. The O-line is an entirely different story. I am planning on going to the Spring game to check out the depth and progress of some of these new players.

LisaHorneOnSI.com | 03/25/08, 07:57 PM

You a Bulldawg fan, eh? How does it feel to be the preseason favorite? Heck, I have the dawgs as preseason number 1, with Gators nipping on your heels big time, if they can get their running game going, and their secondary to not give up the big plays. They're young, but talented. Love the dawgs' D this year, and Mark Richt should have won Coach of the Year...I like him.

LisaHorneOnSI.com | 03/25/08, 08:02 PM

Yeah, Richt's a great guy and I hope he never leaves Athens. Yeah, I bet the D will be fine with Carroll at the helm since he was a defensive guy to begin with.

I'm worried to be the preseason favorite b/c the bulldogs never perform to expectations like in 2004. Either they underachieve or overachieve every year. The dawgs have never been preseason #1 since the 80's, so we'll see how they take it. The Gators do look scary, but I think Tebow will remember all of the sacks he took at last year's cocktail party, and it will affect his play; Leak was never hit like that and it showed.

Keep up the good work.

How 'bout 'em | 03/25/08, 10:29 PM

And yes, better song girls are a must. Even if I dislike their cute little rose sweaters, they still look good.

How 'bout 'em | 03/25/08, 10:31 PM

Ok, Tebow has the world in his hands. He will win the Heisman again for sure, but your running back, Knoshon (spelling is probably off here) is darn good, and could be going to New York. Good to see the Bulldogs being the class of the SEC, and by that I mean, Richt has control of his team and not allowing them to get distracted off-the-field like Tennessee, for example. He's da man.

LisaHorneOnSI.com | 03/26/08, 11:53 AM

Lisa, you have a lot to learn about Trojan football, and about leadership at QB -- Seeing clips of Steve Young leading the 49ers to the Super Bowls is like watching the leadership of Mark Sanchez -- who scrambled for PLUS yardage per game, while Booty LOST over 10 yards per game, and, there wasn't much of a touch to emulate, with Booty throwing FOUR pics in the last half, to lose to Stanford, Don't be too horribly surprised that your favorite guy Tebow ends up behind Sanchez at the end of the season, after everyone sees the games that he racks up (he beat Notre Dame the worst in the history of the series).

jerry4usc | 03/27/08, 05:33 PM

jerry...sorry....don't think I need to learn a lot about Trojan football. Sanchez had a very slow start against Notre Dame. Granted, Booty lost yards while Sanchez gained yards in rushing, but this QB system isn't a spread where QB's are supposed to be rushing to gain a first down. You cannot compare Tebow to Sanchez- it's two entirely different offensive schemes.

This is a pro set offense, and Gators run a spread. Furthermore, Booty did throw 4 picks, but he had a broken finger. Sanchez did have a good day against ND, but it was also one of the worst teams fielded in ND history.

I like Sanchez, but I am trying to remain objective about the QB situation. Sanchez has faults...one of them throwing picks. Remember, he threw a pick to end the comeback at Autzen. He's not there yet.

Just because you disagree with my opinion doesn't mean you have to insinuate I don't know anything about football. I know a lot more than you think I do...and get paid to write about it. Fight On!

LisaHorneOnSI.com | 03/30/08, 08:54 PM

One more thing I forgot. I am glad to see you are passionate about Trojan football. If you would like to write some posts under this blog title, please let me know and I would be more than happy to have you under the authorized blogger section here. Just send me a fan mail and I will check the box. (assuming you are a member)

LisaHorneOnSI.com | 03/30/08, 09:00 PM

Lisa -- Let's keep things in context:
1. "Sanchez had a very slow start ..." Yeah, but he beat well-recruited, good players (some are looking good in the NFL draft previews), in a 38-0 SHUTOUT -- Joe Theismann gave him a hug and told him, "You were a great Quarterback" -- that's NOT a bad "very slow start". And -- many of those players from "one of the worst teams in ND history" will have a BOWL-eligible season this year. Bet on it.

2. NO SCHEME is designed to LOSE yards, like Booty did. The point is that Sanchez has field presence and CAN scramble and get rid of the ball when necessary, while having great ball handling and passing skills.

3. The Heisman VOTERS will HAVE TO compare Sanchez and Tebow at the end of the season, after SC's great season with Sanchez at the head of a National Championship team. Scheme or no scheme.

4. You're one of those enablers for JDBooty, the whiner, who couldn't figure it out, after his FIRST, or SECOND, or THIRD INTERCEPTION in the SECOND HALF -- he still thought he was at the level of Bret Favre, and should stay in -- or FOURTH INTERCEPTION, all of which cost SC its worst loss of the last century. He should have realized that he might not have been up to even his par/handicap, and not requested to stay in the game.

5. You're talking about the Oregon game -- Please remember:
a. Dennis Dixon had his typical great game. SC was struggling with O-Line injuries, etc.
b. Oregon was thinking that it was on its way to the National Championship.
c. My opinion of the game is that Sarkisian called a conservative game with Sanchez, not trying to get the full usage of his Parade Magazine MVP All-American credentials, and Oregon stacked against the conservative calls. Oregon was ahead two touchdowns with less than EIGHT minutes to go -- SC has the ball around its own 40, with 4th and 7. A PUNT is called -- please let me remind you that Sanchez did not call the punt, and that it is difficult, even for Sanchez, to score TWO, let alone ONE, touchdowns on a punting play!
d. SC's defense was able to get the ball back, but there was only about FIVE-plus minutes left to play.
e. Sanchez did move the team to score one touchdown, getting into winning range.
f. The defense again got the ball back, and Sanchez had a long field left to go -- he moved the team about 30-40 yards, and had much left than a minute left to try for the next touchdown.
g. Guess what! Oregon figured that there would be a pass play, and had enough defenders to have THREE covering Hazelton -- one of the defenders cut in front of him, and intercepted a well-thrown pass.

6. Sanchez is a great leader (clips of Steve Young leading the 49ers to Super Bowls remind me of Sanchez), like the lead dog on a dog team. But, when he was the second dog on the team, he got the same view for the whole trip (i.e., the view of JDB's butt). NOW, Sanchez is the lead dog, and can see the full terrain in front of him, and he'll pick a great trail, and lead the Trojans to a NC. FIGHT ON !!!

PS -- Sorry about your dreams about a quarterback controversy on the team, but, Mustain, who will also be a great QB, will have to stay in the traces just behind the lead dog, until he gets a chance to move up.

jerry4usc | 03/31/08, 04:48 PM

Just so you know, I was never sold on Booty. He had happy feet, telegraphed his passes, short armed them way too often and his deflection rate was too high. His best game was the first Michigan Rose Bowl. I think Sanchez has more pure, raw talent, but he's impatient. And forces things when he should throw them away. That is his only weakness, as far as I can see. That will disappear with maturity...hopefully.

You have me pegged all wrong. :p I don't want a controversy! I want a hands-down, best guy quarterback. I don't want a Olsen v Cowan debate. UGH.

I'm hoping to talk to PC at the Huddle scrimmage on the 19th. I'll try and get a good feel for the qb situation from him.

FIGHT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS...Damian Willimas looks like he will be ok from that sprain.

LisaHorneOnSI.com | 04/01/08, 12:06 AM

* Damian Williams

LisaHorneOnSI.com | 04/01/08, 12:10 AM

Lisa -- Thanks. Since there were no adverse comment on those other points, we agree on JDB, Sanchez, the Stanford loss, the Oregon game, Sarkisian's play calling (there was an online poll after the Oregon loss, and over 40% complained about Sarkisian's conservative play calling as the major cause for the team's problems). Maybe, Sarkisian will call plays that the team merits, which is head and shoulders above what he was used to at BYU. So, let's just sit back and let all of that super talent have some fun scrambling and getting a NC. PS -- A sprain ("a tearing of the soft tissue with bleeding", i.e., muscles/ligaments/tendons) takes a while to heal, but should be fully recovered by the season. FIGHT ON !!!

jerry4usc | 04/01/08, 03:03 PM

Lisa -- additional information on the loss to Stanford; a review of the statistics is startling, when you compare JDB's Stanford game loss, to the 38-0 Notre Dame game, where Sanchez had NO interceptions. The Stanford game speaks volumes about the (lack of) field leadership of JDB:
a. JDB threw 4 interceptions. He completed 60% of his passes.
b. JDB was sacked 4 times, for a total of 28 yards, by Stanford. (I love to see Sanchez scramble, and get rid of the ball well, if necessary.)
c. 4 drives ended in punts. (There were 8 penalties for 80 yards.)
d. There were two drives ended with Turnover on downs -- Chauncy couldn't score from one yard out, on 4th down (no Bush Push on Leinart here).
e. In addition, there was the blocked P.A.T., and a fumble.
f. In all, 11 drives (12, if you count the lost P.A.T.) stopped by Stanford(!) without a score!

I really will be watching this year's game at Stanford, and, for some odd reason, I just don't think that Stanford will do it two years in a row! FIGHT ON!

jerry4usc | 04/02/08, 03:50 PM