A whole quarter to go and I am almost as sick as when the Trojans lost the 2006 National Championship. It's not a secret. The Trojans under Carroll have struggled, more like failed, to ever stop dual-threat quarterbacks and the offenses they run. You name them, they've run all over us: Vince Young, Dennis Dixon, Lyle Moevao, now Jeremiah Masoli.
What Chip Kelly has been able to do in his first year as the head coach of Oregon is phenomenal. He's unleashed the true potential of the spread better than I have ever seen it done. I get dizzy just watching it. I can't imagine the guys down there trying to stop it.
I don't foresee the Duck's losing the rest of the way, but I don't see the Boise State Bronco's losing either.
That means the Duck's will most likely play in this years Rose Bowl. The Trojans? It's going to be some lame bowl game for the first time in Pete Carroll's career.
But it's okay for the Trojans. Matt Barkley is a phenom. His talent is scary. His potential is incredible.
We're going to hear the criticism against Pete tomorrow morning and until whenever. But this isn't anything new. In fact, the other connection between this season's USC defense and the one of the 2005-2006 D that lost the NC game is that they're nearly all rookies starting for the first time in their career. Excuse? No. It is what it is. It's hard to recruit and assemble an entire defense full of people that don't get confused when playing against such a ridiculously creative and exotic offense.
I've never personally been a fan of the spread. It hardly works in the NFL and doesn't allow most of the college players that play under it to succeed in pro football.
But Chip's not worried about the NFL. He's trying to win here, on Saturdays. And Chip, you may be on to something.
-Jon
4 comments:
Solid article and analysis. And I must say I am really sad that we won't be playing in the Rose Bowl. Damn. And Gonzo! That picture of Vince Young is making me ill. I feel really ill after this game, but seriously that picture might push me over the edge
I'm sorry Melanie... any Image of that game throws me over the edge too... but after tonight... I can almost accept that loss.
I am predicting Las Vegas Bowl between TCU and USC. TCU will definately not be in a BCS game but it should show that the Mountain West still has a long way to go to reach the top ten.
Ideally, it would definately have to be against an SEC so we can prove how over rated the conference is.
Arash! That would be sweet man. I'd love to see USC play an SEC team. SC still has a good shot at getting a bid for the BCS though!
-Jon
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