USC

USC football: Scouting Matt Barkley

Michael Lev, staff writer — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:20:32 +0000

The most impressive play USC-bound Matt Barkley made Friday night came after he fumbled.

The decorated Mater Dei High quarterback dropped to pass, and Long Beach Jordan safety Taniela Maka blindsided him. The ball came loose, Jordan’s Reno Fuiamono picked it up and only his own blockers stood between him and the end zone.

Barkley easily could have given up on the play. Instead, he ran more than 50 yards alongside the Jordan convoy and threw his body into four Panthers, including Fuiamono, knocking them down like bowling pins.

The tackle turned out to be a critical one: Mater Dei held Jordan to a field-goal attempt, which the Panthers missed. Soon after, the Monarchs had a 7-0 lead en route to a 35-15 victory in the first round of the playoffs.

Barkley did not post impressive numbers on this crisp fall night at Santa Ana Stadium - 6 of 14 for 142 yards and a touchdown - but he contributed in subtle, important ways.

Besides the touchdown-saving block, Barkley made mostly the right decisions at the line of scrimmage, where, unlike most high school quarterbacks (heck, even some NFL ones), he has the authority to change plays and direct runs left or right.

On his very first pass attempt of the night, Barkley read blitz, called an audible, split his backs into a pro set and launched a back-footed pass down the right sideline to Ario Winston for a 25-yard gain.

Barkley let the running game do most of the work after that, as Mater Dei’s offensive line consistently opened massive running lanes for senior tailback Jaron Hytche. Barkley was content to let the game play out the way, mainly because it was working.

“At times we were good,” he said. “There was some miscommunication on some of the passing plays. But I was getting all the right checks for our running game. It was on fire. They were wearing down Jordan, pounding the ball. Whatever way wins.”

Barkley attributed some less-than-accurate passes to open receivers to errors in communication. Almost every incompletion was overthrown, a sign that the rifle-armed senior needs to work on his touch. Some regular Mater Dei observers in the press box theorized that Barkley has been pressing, in part because he has been chasing Todd Marinovich’s Orange County record for career passing yards.

Barkley surpassed Marinovich on a 64-yard touchdown pass - one that Barkley threw about 5 yards. After faking a quick out to the right, Barkley dumped a middle screen to junior Jordan Allen, who darted up the left hash before cutting hard to his right for the score. The stadium P.A. guy, apparently under orders, did not announce that Barkley had broken the record until after the game.

That it happened on a simple screen pass was an ironic twist, considering Barkley’s downfield passing prowess. Still, it gave him more yards than Marinovich, as well other O.C.-to-USC luminaries such as Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez.

Not that individual glory matters much to their successor.

“It’s nice. It’s cool. I’ll take it for what it is right now,” Barkley said. “But I think, still, that one goal is the championship, which hasn’t happened. So ultimately that’s what I want.”

Related link:

Barkley debunks decommitment rumor

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USC football: Matt Barkley debunks decommitment rumor

Michael Lev, staff writer — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:54:52 +0000

Mater Dei High quarterback Matt Barkley shot down an Internet rumor that he is having second thoughts about coming to USC.

“I’m 100 percent going there,” Barkley said Friday night after leading Mater Dei to a 35-15 victory over Long Beach Jordan in the first round of the playoffs.

Barkley, considered the No. 1 prospect in the nation in the class of 2009, said he will begin taking classes at USC next semester, giving him the opportunity to participate in spring football.

Click here for my scouting report on Barkley’s performance against Jordan.

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West Coast Bias: Jimmy Clausen Heisman Watch*

SCOTT M. REID, OCREGISTER.COM — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:00:40 +0000

The weekly update on the adventures of Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame quarterback and golden boy of the Golden Dome, on his march to the Heisman.

Player, school	Cmp.	Att.	Yds.	TD	Int.
Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame	15	18	110	0	2
Sam Bradford, Oklahoma	DNP
Max Hall, Brigham Young	28	37	354	2	1
Chase Daniel, Missouri	32	40	328	2	1
Colt McCoy, Texas	24	34	255	2	0
Graham Harrell, Texas Tech	DNP
Tim Tebow, Florida	13	20	173	2	0

DNP: Did not play

*Did you know Jimmy’s coach is a genius?

MORE WEST COAST BIAS

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Also on the UCLA BLOG

USC-UCLA: A Christmas Carroll

DAVID BEAN, OCREGISTER.COM — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:30:48 +0000

CLICK HERE: Christmas treat from Rick and Pete … and one of the Weis men

Pac-10 poll: Renaming the Apple Cup

Michael Lev, staff writer — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:45:51 +0000

Many games will impact the BCS title race and USC’s postseason outlook Saturday.

Washington vs. Washington State is not one of them.

Yet one can’t help but have a morbid curiosity about a game between teams that are a combined 1-20 and 0-15 in the Pac-10.

They’re so bad that many pundits have insisted this year’s annual UW-WSU game not be called the Apple Cup.

My colleague Adam Rose of All Things Trojan came up with the hilarious alternative of Kumquat Cup, my personal favorite in the following poll:

*********************

What should the 2008 Apple Cup be called?

USC football: Much at stake Saturday

Michael Lev, staff writer — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:45:03 +0000

USC has Saturday off, in a manner of speaking.

The Trojans won’t actually play a football game, but we should have a clearer view of their potential postseason after Saturday’s action has concluded.

Here are the five games that could impact USC the most — and which side the Trojans and their fans should be pulling for:

MICHIGAN AT NO. 10 OHIO STATE
USC’s rooting interest: Michigan.
Comment: Don’t know about you, but I’m over the whole Ohio State thing. I thought for a time that Buckeyes-Trojans would make for a great Rose Bowl — until I saw Ohio State lose to Penn State and realized Terrelle Pryor isn’t quite ready yet. Besides, they’ll meet again in September.

NO. 15 MICHIGAN STATE AT NO. 8 PENN STATE
USC’s rooting interest: Penn State.
Comment: As much as a couple of Spartans backers I know want the reverse to happen, Penn State winning makes for a much better Rose Bowl … against USC. I’m not sure anyone outside Corvallis (and maybe Happy Valley) wants to see Oregon State-Penn State II.

NO. 14 BYU AT NO. 7 UTAH
USC’s rooting interest: BYU.
Comment: Just on the outside chance an undefeated Utah team would bump USC out of the BCS bowl picture altogether. Although No. 6 USC is ahead of Utah in the BCS standings, the Utes have a sizable lead in the computer rankings. And Pete Carroll didn’t exactly stir up positive BCS karma earlier this season.

NO. 21 OREGON STATE AT ARIZONA
USC’s rooting interest: Arizona.
Comment: Although some would prefer that USC play in a bowl other than the Rose against a high-profile Big 12 or SEC opponent, you want to at least ensure the Rose Bowl bid in case something goes haywire — such as three Big 12 teams and Utah making BCS bowls, sending ‘SC to San Diego for the Holiday Bowl.

NO. 2 TEXAS TECH AT NO. 5 OKLAHOMA
USC’s rooting interest: Oklahoma.
Comment: Not as easy a call as you’d think. If Oklahoma were to lose, the Sooners would have two losses and the Trojans most likely would surpass them. Would Texas Tech fall that far with one loss, and a quality one at that? There are no guarantees — although the Red Raiders deserve to drop based on their cupcake-filled non-conference schedule.

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USC football: A good bye for the Trojans

Michael Lev, staff writer — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:03:45 +0000

This particular bye week comes at a very good time for USC.

Not only does it set up the two-week finale against rivals Notre Dame and UCLA, but it gives the Trojans a chance to re-energize after playing on seven consecutive Saturdays.

“This late in the year, it seems like it’s a godsend for you to have a chance to get your legs back,” USC coach Pete Carroll said Thursday after the team’s final practice before taking the weekend off.

“I’m counting on these guys feeling great going into the week. We should feel strong. We should be healed as much as possible.”

USC had two byes and a Thursday game in the first month of the season. The Trojans defeated Ohio State after the first bye but lost to Oregon State after the second, coming out flat and failing to overcome a 21-0 deficit.

While the players take the next two days off before reconvening Sunday for a team meeting, the coaches will take recruiting trips, with a focus on underclassmen. They also will keep an eye on Saturday’s college slate, which includes at least two games - Texas Tech at Oklahoma and Oregon State at Arizona — that significantly could affect USC in the BCS and Pac-10 standings. Notre Dame plays host to Syracuse.

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USC football: Jurrell Casey stands out

Michael Lev, staff writer — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:42:30 +0000

The bye week gave USC’s younger players a chance to show their wares to the coaches. Coach Pete Carroll singled out freshman nose tackle Jurrell Casey as the standout of the bunch.

“He really had a big week. The guys couldn’t block him. Every day he was a factor,” Carroll said. “He didn’t always go against the ones. But he pretty much dominated against the second group and third group. He looks like he’s going to be a really good player.”

Casey has been part of the Trojans’ rotation at nose tackle this season. He has nine tackles, including one for a loss. He has made his biggest gains in the weight room, where he has lost weight and gotten stronger.

“The guys in strength and conditioning are really fired up; he’s really getting strong quickly,” Carroll said. “He’s had a really good year, and he kind of topped it off this week.”

Other underclassmen Carroll mentioned were offensive linemen Khaled Holmes and Matt Kalil, running back Curtis McNeal and Jordan Cameron, a wide receiver who has been filling in at tight end because of injuries at that position.

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USC football: Pre-Notre Dame injury updates

Michael Lev, staff writer — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:06:40 +0000

USC had one final practice before taking the next two days off. The team will reconvene Sunday for meetings and begin prepping for Notre Dame on Monday. Here’s the latest on the injury front:

** Defensive end Clay Matthews (ear infection) and safety Kevin Ellison (knee) again did not practice. Both are expected to return next week. Ellison is a little iffy in that he hasn’t practiced since injuring his knee before the Washington game.

** Backup tackle Tyron Smith wore a protective boot on his right foot after turning his ankle Wednesday.

** Zack Heberer took reps at left guard in place of Jeff Byers, who took most of the week off because of a sore shoulder. Heberer began the season as the starting right guard before suffering a turf toe injury and losing his job to Alex Parsons.

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USC football: Carroll comments on NFL possibilities

Michael Lev, staff writer — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:08:32 +0000

USC coach Pete Carroll appeared on Fox Sports Radio this morning, and one of the topics was whether he’d consider returning to the NFL.

Here’s the exchange between host James Washington and Carroll:

Washington: “You can go down as a legendary coach at the college level, but (are there) any desires when you’re sitting around at the table in the offseason saying, “I wonder if I can do that at the NFL level, and just dominate like how (I’ve) done at the college level?’ ”

Carroll: “I think I’m very fortunate that I had a lot of years in the NFL and had a blast. And I still love the NFL. I think it’s a great league. It’s a great level of competition and all. But we just found home here. It just seems to fit well, and we’ve had a great time here at ‘SC. Been very lucky to be at this school at this time.

“I’m having the time of my life, as content as you can get. And hopefully we’ll just be able to stay here and keep this thing rolling as long as we can.”

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