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Another Trojans RB wants more carries

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USC tailback C.J. Gable is not going to cry about it. The sophomore from Sylmar said so repeatedly Tuesday while expressing frustration about the Trojans' tailback rotation. Junior Stafon Johnson leads the Trojans with 66 carries and Gable is second with 54. Sophomore Joe McKnight has 50 and redshirt freshman Broderick Green has 27. "Everybody's been able to get some shine," running backs coach Todd McNair said. "Nobody's been left in the cold." Gable, however, is the second Trojans tailback to publicly express frustration about his role in USC's talented but crowded backfield. After not carrying the ball once in the Trojans' loss to Oregon State on Sept. 25, junior Allen Bradford said he wanted to be a bigger part of the offense.

Los Angeles Times

C.J. Gable, AP C.J. Gable, AP
October 30, 2008  09:13 AM ET

Well when you have 10 RB's this would be a problem. I am not dumping on the Trojans but I would be very surprised if a handful of these guys do not transfer out at the end of the season looking for opportunities elsewhere.

October 30, 2008  09:43 AM ET

It would be tough for an 18 year old to give up the "LA life" (sun, beautiful girls, etc) but I agree that the ticket to the next level is playing time, not picking up splinters on the bench.

October 30, 2008  10:50 AM ET

Yet...they STILL recruit like crazy at that position! There must be a position that they are shallow at...with them having 5+ running backs and 4+ QB's. Wide out? Nope. Tight end??

It's just strange that they have so much depth...yet they have to abide by the team limit of (what is it...) 85 players?

October 30, 2008  11:43 AM ET

I just hope all the kids out there being recruited by USC are paying attention...why not go to a little bit smaller school (a la LaDanian Tomlinson at TCU, Matt Forte at Tulane, Marion Barber at Minnesota) and actually get ALOT of playing time to hone your skills....

October 30, 2008  11:47 AM ET

These kids should be more realistic. When you go to a school like USC that is 8 deep in their RB depth chart with very talented guys, everyone is not going to be able to play. Hopefully you will be able to shine in practice, and your coach will see that and put you in a game. If not, then tough stale cookies. Don't go to the media and gripe, and transfer if you think it'll be good for you. It's as simple as that.

October 30, 2008  11:48 AM ET

The recruits can only blame themselves. They all rush off to USC just because USC comes calling. Then they all wonder why they cant get any shine. If I was a recruit I wouldnt consider USC as a viable option for RB until they get rid of the committee rotation. Go somewhere where you can "shine" instead of trading in the LA life and a piece of pine for no playing time. If you wanna go pro go elsewhere.

October 30, 2008  11:49 AM ET
QUOTE(#4):

I just hope all the kids out there being recruited by USC are paying attention...why not go to a little bit smaller school (a la LaDanian Tomlinson at TCU, Matt Forte at Tulane, Marion Barber at Minnesota) and actually get ALOT of playing time to hone your skills....

true that

October 30, 2008  11:50 AM ET

Bradford and Gable should've switched positions to better their chances at playing on Sundays. Bradford is a better FB/LB and Gable would be a prototypical CB. Neither will play RB in the NFL.

October 30, 2008  11:51 AM ET

Another point. They all think they are just coming in and be the next Reggie Bush for one of the top programs. It aint happening then they want to transfer and lose a year of eligiblity so that NFL teams see even more less of them. Recruits need to realize this. Its getting old.

October 30, 2008  12:39 PM ET
QUOTE(#5):

These kids should be more realistic. When you go to a school like USC that is 8 deep in their RB depth chart with very talented guys, everyone is not going to be able to play. Hopefully you will be able to shine in practice, and your coach will see that and put you in a game. If not, then tough stale cookies. Don't go to the media and gripe, and transfer if you think it'll be good for you. It's as simple as that.

Agreed

October 30, 2008  12:44 PM ET

Where are all the people that were on Gable's jock-strap? The starting RB at SC is crying (or not?) to the media about his lack of carries. What an unselfish team player he is. Stafon has been getting dogged all this time but has kept his mouth shut. He knew he was better than the people playing in front of him and remained patient, knowing his time would come. Now, EVERYONE KNOWS, who should be getting the bulk of the carries. Plus, it's very, very evident that Stafon is a better blocker than some of you think. All I can say is, it's about time, now maybe SC will win the games they're supposed to.

October 30, 2008  12:51 PM ET

This is why USC loses. If you watch their offense, they don't play as team, they play like a bunch of individuals. It's like watching 20 Terrell Owens. That me-first attitude will eventually get you beat, and Southern Cal will likely lose one more game. Just goes to show you there are more important things than having 50 five-star recruits at your disposal.

October 30, 2008  01:10 PM ET

To be fair, USC has only lost 9 games in the last 7 seasons, so something must be going right over there.

October 30, 2008  01:16 PM ET

Nothing EVER good happens when you wear a trojan thin

October 30, 2008  01:37 PM ET
QUOTE(#13):

To be fair, USC has only lost 9 games in the last 7 seasons, so something must be going right over there.

Uh, talent, and lots of it.

October 30, 2008  01:55 PM ET

i didn't think that they were supposed to start this until they got in the nfl?

October 30, 2008  03:34 PM ET

ATTN High School All American RB's> When 12 of you all go to the same school and the school is not allowed to play 60 games a year...THERE WON'T BE 400 CARRIES FOR EACH OF YOU!!!!!!!!!! Pick one of the other 103 D1 football schools to go to and get 25-30 carries a game, it's really not that difficult a math problem to figure out there brainiacs

October 30, 2008  03:47 PM ET

Every recruit knows going into USC that the absolute best players will be competing for their position and the best will get playing time, regardless of age or experience, you've all got a shot. Emanuel Moody couldn't hack it and transferred to Florida. I think he's a starter there, but I have heard his name exactly ONE time this season, whereas at USC he was already rotating with the starter his freshman year in 2006 and being talked about regularly.

My personal opinion, and I'm glad you asked me, is that SC should stick with a real starting RB and let him play the position in rotation with their solid #2 guy. Rotating 4 or 6 guys really doesn't seem like a winning strategy unless it takes place in games where the deffensive Coordinator is scheming for your regular formations and then you throw a monkey wrench in the plan by running plays and players that aren't out there regularly.

October 30, 2008  04:06 PM ET

I agree with the majority of the posts, it's a double edge sword when you have the depth that USC and the other top tier teams have. Being a ND fan I'm jealous of the depth on some of these teams, but recruits have to make the decision. Do I want to play, or sit on the bench of a powerhouse?

 
October 30, 2008  04:17 PM ET

Moody was smart enough to see the writing on the wall. When you have nine or ten guys at RB you'll never see that much playing time. Look at Joe McKnight, he could start and be a stud at any other school in the nation. Having one RB start will never happen at USC, they have too many guys they need to rotate in and out.

Untill the recruits look past the beaches and babes, they keep flocking in. Soon enough they will transfer out and find a school without a stable of backs for playing time.

And by the way, you havent heard Moodys name because Jeff Demps, Chris Rainy and Percy Harvin are studs, Go Gators!!

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