Stephen Oh & Jonathan Lee
AccuScore Analysts

The University of Southern California football team held its annual scrimmage this past week and answered any question marks that may have still been looming, if any.

The starters, masked as the Crimson team, showed why they are ranked number 1 in every conceivable poll winning easily 35-10.

“The kids really responded tonight.  We got charged up in the locker room before the game and really played exceptional tonight,” said Trojan Head Coach Pete Carroll.

Carroll was especially impressed with starting Quarterback John David Booty’s performance who, according to Carroll, has thrown over 400 passes through the offseason without a single interception.

“John David Booty was stellar.  He was hitting his spots.  He was crisp, really on point today.”

“I think we look really good.  We are clicking on all cylinders right now and are ready for our first game against Idaho.  We are right where we want to be.”

Where Carroll is concerned is in the running game.  As hard as that is to believe.  With 10 tailbacks entering fall camp, USC is down to just 4 following a rash of injuries including incumbent starter, Chauncey Washington, bruising his shoulder in the scrimmage.

Freshman Broderick Green did not participate because the NCAA Clearinghouse has not certified him.

Marc Tyler, who broke his leg last season at Westlake Village Oaks Christian High, has not practiced and will probably redshirt. Freshman phenom Joe McKnight has not practiced for a week because of a stretched knee ligament.

To add to the mix, sixth-year senior Hershel Dennis has not practiced because of knee soreness and sophomore C.J. Gable did not play Wednesday because of lingering groin soreness.

Those situations, coupled with Emmanuel Moody's transfer, leaves sophomores Stafon Johnson and Allen Bradford and senior Desmond Reed as the Trojans only healthy and available tailbacks with the Sept. 1 opener against Idaho looming.

"Everybody wasted all that ink on how many tailbacks we have because we don't -- it's not like that," Carroll said. "Unfortunately, we're pretty thin right now. . . . We'll find somebody to play come game time."

One man’s misfortune could lead to another man’s rise at “tailback U.”

“Stafon Johnson really showed a lot when he was in there.  I really like our chances despite our depth with Stafon in the game.”

Johnson had runs of 67 yards on his first carry and scored from one yard out on the next play. He also scored on a 14-yard run and finished with 89 yards in four carries.

What was on everyone’s mind, as much as they’d like to deny it, was the recent articles regarding conference strength.  Most notably, the Southeastern Conference versus the Pac-10.

“It doesn’t mean too much, we just concentrate on what we have to do on the field and let that work itself out,” said Wide Receiver Patrick Turner.

“We don’t get to make the schedules, we don’t choose our opponents, we just play ball and let the experts handle that,” said Booty.

Regardless of where the Trojans stand on the topic, its safe to say that after this year’s Crimson and White scrimmage, the only team that stands in the way of another title berth is themselves.

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UofAWildcat said:

Represent the U of A. Great piece

August 29, 2007

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