USC's down 21-0 at halftime against Oregon State and I'm pretty much the unhappiest camper imaginable.
First, the Beavers' brothers - James and Jacquizz Rodgers - are good. Short, but darn good just the same (and perhaps good because they're such shortys).
That being said, they need to get told by the Trojans. They're not, but they need to be. And I do not mean with words, or with personal fouls made out of frustration after the play, as the Trojans have done. They need to use that frustration and anger when they're on the clock, by sacking the QB, by stuffing the sneaky Rodgers brothers, by making interceptions instead of tipping them into TDs. I'm frustrated, too, and I've yelled more than a few not-so-nice things at the tv this half, but I'm not going to get flagged for it. The SC players will, and those kinds of penalties will kill them every single time.
I'd love it if they channeled all those emotions into playing like the #1 defense in the country. The Beavers are on tonight, while the Trojans, frankly, look like crap. They're sloppy; they look like they don't have a clue what's going on (Hint: The short dude, the one you can't quite see, is going to run up the middle for a first down. That's pretty much all that's going on). When they finally figure it out, it's too late to do much about it, partly because Oregon State's speed is a notch above theirs right now, and partly because they just keep running into their own teammates.
The Trojans offense rarely got on the field in the first half, but when they did, they didn't look much better than the D. Mark Sanchez hasn't had time to blink back in the pocket, much less find a receiver or set his feet. I don't know what that powerful O-line is doing out there, but it sure isn't doing its job. In the games we've seen so far, Sanchez has been able to spark the offense, but tonight, he's struggling not to get sacked. He can't make any game-changing plays if the offense can't get on the field, or if the offensive line can't protect him a little better once he gets there.
And finally, Joe "Butterfingers" McKnight is a fast, talented player but he's not a rookie anymore and he needs to learn how to hold on to the football. Also, note to the Trojans: letting him take the direct snap is obviously NOT WORKING so please don't call that play anymore.
Taylor Walker
Hilary Rhoda
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