Starting Lineup
vs. Arizona (Dec 6, 2009)
Offense
LTCharles Brown#71
LGButch Lewis#68
CJeff Byers#53
RGButch Lewis#68
RTTyron Smith#70
TEAnthony McCoy#86
SERonald Johnson#8
FLDamian Williams#18
TBJoe McKnight#4
FBStanley Havili#31
QBMatt Barkley#7
Defense
LEArmond Armstead#94
DTJurrell Casey#91
NTChristian Tupou#44
REEverson Griffen#93
SLBDevon Kennard#42
MLBChris Galippo#54
WLBMalcolm Smith#6
CBJosh Pinkard#36
CBKevin Thomas#15
SSWill Harris#26
FSTaylor Mays#2
Special Teams
PRDamian Williams#18
KORRonald Johnson#8
KJordan Congdon#38
PJacob Harfman#48


The Schedule Blitz

2010 Game Schedule
9/2@ Hawaii
9/11vs. Virginia
9/18@ Minnesota
9/25@ Washington State
10/2vs. Washington
10/9@ Stanford
10/16vs. California
10/30vs. Oregon
11/6vs. Arizona State
11/13@ Arizona
11/20@ Oregon State
11/27vs. Notre Dame
12/4@ UCLA



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USC's Road to the National Championship: @ Oregon State
2008-09-25 05:34:10

Before we get to the 3rd installment in this article series, a few quick takes on some of the latest Trojan football news...

- Big blow to SC's secondary, starting CB Shareece Wright could miss up to 6 weeks with a fracture in his vertebrae. I expect Josh Pinkard will take this position by the throat, atleast until Shareece recovers.
- While Mark Sanchez's Heisman stock continues to soar, Garrett Green has seized control of the number two quarterback position over Mustain & Corp! He was fourth on the depth chart just last week. To me, this is further confirmation of Pete Carroll's committment to competition. It's the philosophy he's been using for years, and it's not just some coach recruiting rhetoric. Congrats, Garrett!
- I also got this courtesy of reader email:

"Despite a remaining schedule free of Top-25 competition, the chances of No. 1 USC completing an undefeated regular season are still relatively up in the air. According to BetOnline.com, the odds on the Trojans going 12-0 in 2008 are 7-to-2, despite the fact that their remaining schedule boasts a combined 17-18 record overall and just four teams with winning records."

USC's Road to the National Championship: @ Oregon State

Thursday marks the start of the Pac-10 season for the Trojans. They head up north to take on the Oregon State Beavers. The team that upset them back in '06 (33-31). It was a game that I'll remember for the last minute failed 2 pt conversation. Heart breaking is how I would describe it, but I'll save you the rest of the therapeutic mumbo jumbo. Suffice to say, I don't want to see it happen again. And though most experts would dub this as a rollover game for the Trojans, I see a few things that have me worrying about a possible '06 repeat.

At face value, the Beavers are 1-2. But I don't think that paints the right picture of what they've done or what they are capable of. Take a look at week 1 for example. A 36-28 loss to a Stanford team that was at the bottom of a lot of preseason Pac-10 lists. That game took it's game-clinching turn near the end of the 3rd quarter. Though they were only leading by 3 points, at 20-17, it was clear that Oregon State was dominating the game offensively. In fact, they finished with 11 more first downs and almost 200 yards more than Stanford on offense. However, a Stanford field goal tied it at 20. And just 2 plays later, Beaver quarterback Lyle Moevao fumbled into his own endzone for a safety. Stanford scored on that next drive. All of a sudden, a 3 point lead was gone, and Oregon State was down two scores on the road. Moevao proceeded to throw two interceptions not to soon after that, including one that was returned for a touchdown.

Yet, Moevao didn't give up, he got the game to 1 score, and WR Darrell Catchings was literally 6-inches short of what could have been a game-tying touchdown when he fumbled into the endzone for a touchback in the final seconds. It was a game that certainly had it's ups and downs for the junior quarterback Moevao, originally from Torrance, California. But he has an up side, and it's good. If the Beavs spread us out with 4 and 5 wide, I think Shareece's loss will be felt.

Oregon State's next game was against Penn State on the road, where they got thumped by a team that I think is probably the best in the Big-10 right now. Then, they came back and looked good against Hawaii at home, winning 45-7.

Sammie Stroughter, #19, is their go-to receiver. He averages over 12 yards/catch and so does senior WR, Shane Morales #13. The Rodgers brothers (James [older] and Jacquizz) are the faces of the Beaver backfield. I consider them "would be 4-star" tailbacks if not for their smallish size, at 5'7" a piece. The younger brother, Jacquizz, #1, is dangerous in space. Ideally, I think they'd love to get it to him on a screen. Those are the type of plays that work against the speedy, aggressive style of this USC defense. Combine that screen and run game with their quick passing attack, and the Trojans could quickly have a game on their hands.

On defense, the Beavers will have to get a home-field boost to keep up with our offensive attack. I don't see them matching up well in any regard. Particularly, I forsee them being overwhelmed by our athletic offensive line. All of that can be nullified through penalties, however, which SC has seen a lot of this season. They'll have to be careful this week, it's a hostile environment, and it was our graveyard in '06, when we also had national championship aspirations. One game at a time. I think Pete will have his crew ready Thursday night and come out of there with a win.

I'll be back with more on the game, my week 5 picks, and ofcourse, the Oregon State live blog.

FIGHT ON!

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