Pete Carroll and Matt Barkley are joined at the hip
by Paragon SC on Dec 3, 2009 6:00 AM PST
in USC Football
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PrintLost in all the hoopla of the win against ucla is the continued scrutiny of the play of Matt Barkley.
Anyone who thought that Barkley would perform like Mark Sanchez did last year has their head in the clouds. Of course nobody thought that way as it is not surprising that Barkley struggled this season. He had some memorable performances but he had some stinkers too.
So, as the season comes to the end it is natural that there will be a closer look at his overall body of work.
Barkley, the first true freshman to start at quarterback for USC under Carroll, goes into Saturday's regular-season finale against Arizona with 12 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in 10 games.
"Compared to how many touchdowns I've thrown and how many attempts I have, it's not acceptable," Barkley said Tuesday of the interceptions. "I've struggled here or there, but I think I've made great strides in different areas."
Barkley was still enjoying the afterglow of the Trojans' 28-7 victory over UCLA, a game he punctuated with a controversial 48-yard touchdown pass to receiver Damian Williams in the final minute.
"That's what is fresh in my mind," Barkley said. "Winning like that and in that fashion just made it for me."
Barkley's season has included several highlights, including an impressive fourth-quarter drive at Ohio State and victories at California and Notre Dame.
But Barkley also struggled during much of the second half of the season.
"I don't really know if it met expectations or not," Barkley said. "At the same time there are a lot of things I learned from this year that I know will be helpful in my career."
The bigger question is what are the expectations and who sets them. You could point to a few things on offense other than Barkley's performance that contributed to a less than impressive offensive showing through out the season. I don't really see any point in rehashing it, we all know what those issues are.
But the one thing that has been brought up time and again has been Pete's Carroll's overt support of Barkley no matter what the situation or outcome. Some see it as favoritism, others see it as protecting Barkley. At this point in the season I am not really sure that it matters but the press has been beating this drum for weeks now...
After a season’s worth of often over-the-top plaudits thrown Barkley’s way, we finally asked Carroll why he has been so overly protective of the freshman.
Carroll’s response? In sum, he knew Barkley would take shots from all angles and didn’t see any reason to pile on. Carroll instead chose to build Barkley up, even if that raised expectations to unrealistic levels.
"I can understand an opinion from the outside that … that puts pressure on him. He doesn’t care about that," Carroll said. "This guy is way beyond this stuff.
"I just said the truth as I knew it. I think he’s going to be a fantastic quarterback. I think he’s going to be extraordinarily successful. This year will pay him back in tremendous dividends in the future.
"Whether you guys buy that, that’s the way I feel about it. I feel really strongly about it."
Carroll remained in max-protect mode Tuesday. He absolved Barkley of blame for the Oregon and Stanford losses, dropping all the responsibility on the run defense. When reminded that Barkley threw three interceptions against the Cardinal, Carroll remained defiant.
Not surprising really...why blow the kids confidence? It is clear that Pete Carroll did not have the required confidence in either Corp or Mustain so he went all in on Barkley and that meant he was going to protect him all costs.
And Pete Carroll does not deny it and he justifies it...
Even though he has praised him profusely, USC coach Pete Carroll conceded Tuesday that he never expected freshman Matt Barkley to play at the same level as previous Trojans quarterbacks under his watch.
[...]
"I would have told you, if you’d have asked me, that there’s no way we could have expect he’d be 36 and 8 or something like that, the great numbers that our guys have put up over the years. We wouldn’t have given him a chance to do that. And we haven’t given him a chance to throw the ball that much.
"The overexposure of a first-year guy would cause you to see the numbers in reverse. It’s so hard to do what he’s doing. But I think he’s battled through it. I think he’s done remarkably well. And I think he’s had a very successful first season. It’s shocked all of us that he’s been able to play and contribute as he has. It’s been a thrill to watch him, and you know the upside for the future is going to be tremendous."
I don't really have a problem with it. I have said it many times before...as long as we win I could care less who is at the helm. If Barkley is that guy then I am fine with it. Only Carroll really knows and no amount of criticism from me, Wolf, Klein, Simers, Plaschke, Lev or Maya are going to change it.That is what the coaches get paid for. They have a lot more information at their finger tips all of us combined.
There hasn't been enough balance in the analysis of what else affected this team this season. Injuries, experience, players departing for the NFL and coaches in new roles all played a hand in this difficult season. Couple that with insanely high expectations and it is easy to see how many of us were frustrated. My only real complaint is Pete Carroll's apparent micromanaging of too many things...I felt that it did cloud the message that needed to be passed down to the individual units and I also think that hiring inexperienced assistants played a role too.
Throw it all together and you can see why some are looking for someone or something to blame. Pete Carroll's overt support of Barkley is an easy target.
It is hard not to be impressed with Barkley flashes of poise. It is also easy to get frustrated when he makes mistakes...it is the nature of the fans. I see the same thing here in NYC in regards to Mark Sanchez. Regardless of past results future expectations are always high...especially with USC football.
With one more game to go, before bowl season starts, against a pretty good Arizona defense Carroll and Barkley have a chance to silence their critics...or embolden them.
We find out on Saturday...
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Thats it I say hang them all at the gallows, they didn't win the MNC or get to the Rose Bowl.
I say Guillotine, YAH THATS THE TICKET Muttley.
28---7 2nd & 11 Barkley to Williams, so please Bru-Babes call time out again.
by so.cal.native1952 on Dec 3, 2009 6:08 AM PST reply actions
I still think Barkley has "IT"
…images/sounds of the Ohio State game still fresh in my mind. Next year, I think we’ll open it up for him to contend for a Heisman. That kind of poise is unreal, to the point where I don’t mind the mistakes he’s made. This was a rebuilding season all around, and all things considered, 9-3 (hopefully) with a freshman QB, new coordinators, and most of the defense gone in the first 3-4 rounds of the NFL (especially rounds 1-2) is pretty good, and acceptable. I like that Barkley feels his play has been unacceptable, and considering how confident/cocky the guy seems, it doesn’t for a moment strike you as a sign of lost confidence, just a true assessment of your play and an awareness of expectations you have for yourself. I truly believe he’ll be a Heisman candidate next year, and our team will be in the running for the NCS because of it.
Fight On Trojans!
"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."
"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."
-Kobe Bryant
A mantra for all athletes.
Buck stops with PC
Don’t worry about the horse being blind – just load the wagon?
coaches should never play favorites, it splits the team into factions and undermines a coaches Cred.
i have great respect for Pete and what he has done. but teams should get better as the season goes along and that isn’t happening. injuries, inexperience or whatever
its not good but it can be fixed.
Corp or Mustain would have had as good or even a better season if the coaches would have shown them the same level of loyalty, support and confidence as they did Barkley.
Corp waited his turn and when he got injured just as his predecessor did (sanchez) he wasn’t given the same treatment.
PC should show the same level of caring about his players that he shows in his social and charity work.
That means, Man-up and admit you made a mistake recruiting Corp, then help him transfer to a school where he can get a real chance to play.
CJ Gable is a good back, he started a few seasons ago didn’t he? maybe he pouted and/ or mouthed off after that fumble against UCLA. But old (older) men should be able to see that for what it is, a mistake of youth, talking or acting before engaging the brain. one mistake and he’s out?
Agree x 2!
Let’s look at the recent history of st year starters:
- 2003: Matt Leinart 38 TD and 9 INT (redshirt soph)
- 2006: John David Booty 29 TD and 9 INT (redshirt jr)
- 2008: Mark Sanchez 34 TD and 10 INT (redshirt jr)
- 2009: Matt Barkley 12 TD and 11 INT* (true frosh)
Some will say that it is not fair to compare MB7 to Leinart, JDB, or Sanchez. I say, BS, this is USC and every QB should have lofty expectations (as they all have lofty credentials). As we can see, PLAYING EXPERIENCE is not all that important. Our last 3 first year starters kicked butt. What they did have was more maturity and multiple years in the program than MB7.
Based on precedence, it appears that PC screwed the pooch by not getting and staying behind one of his mature, multi-years in the program guys – Corp, redshirt soph, or Mustain, redshirt jr. Corp and Mustain have the profile that fits what has worked in the past.
PC gambled the season on MB7 and lost. I dont’ blame MB7. I blame PC for taking such a huge risk with 10 offensive starters returning. This should not have been a rebuilding year.
PC can only remedy this mistake in my book if MB7 leads USC to multiple natl titles during his tenure. Then the investment will have been worth it. Otherwise, we should have stuck with Mustain or Corp and might have made a BCS Bowl this season. True, Corp had and blew his chance. But, how much of that was PC’s fault?
When did PC become a QB guru? Oh yeah, never.
I think I posted somewhere at the beginning of the year
That the best record of any team with a True FR QB1 in the past five years was 10-3. What’s USC likely to end up at? 10-3.
You guys are going to be just fine with Barkley at QB. Reminds me a lot of Matt Stafford – Stafford was known as a bit of an interception machine as well, and yet Barkley’s numbers are significantly better than Stafford’s were his freshman year.
Likely to end up 10-3?
You must not have endured the entire fU¢LA game. I don’t blame you. Zona won’t, but should, be favored to beat us.
Nah we will beat zona and Barkley will have his best game 4 TDs 303 yards
28---7 2nd & 11 Barkley to Williams, so please Bru-Babes call time out again.
by so.cal.native1952 on Dec 3, 2009 2:36 PM PST reply actions
How many years is Matt Barkley good for?
Say he IS in the running for the Heisman next year, or the following? Does he bail on college ball from sophomore to junior years? Ok, say he stays for his junior year, does he complete his eligibility and come back for the next? Now that we’re on the subject, does he even bat an eyelash at the Heisman and just leave the program for the pros when “he thinks he’s ready”? I don’t know the answer to any of these questions, but it seems to me Coach Carroll IS CURRENTLY rectifying a massive mistake that he made a few years ago.
Playing John David Booty in place of Mark Sanchez. And so it’s my contention that Coach Carroll realized his mistake when he watched in horror- Mark Sanchez declare for the NFL draft last January. Can you imagine what type of football we would have played had Mark been starting instead of JDB those years? (the year we lost to Ucla and the next when we were shocked by Stanford at home)
Coach bailed on Mark when he was accused of that incident that was never brought forth with formal charges against him. That was a pretty sketchy situation for Mark Sanchez and his family- as well as for all of us Trojan faithful. And then Mark had to “sit” and wait until JDB graduated before he finally got his chance. And, as the way it played out- yes, Mark had a hand in the loss to Oregon State- thereby relegating us to the Rose Bowl against Penn St. But, what a Rose Bowl that was! It was there for everyone to see, that Mark was quite a special player. Coach was seeing crystal trophies for the team after THAT Rose Bowl. And he sure as hell didn’t want Mark to declare.
Could you blame him? Mark loves USC, the team and all the coaches- but at the same time, he saw firsthand through experience some of the shallowness and hollow-talk that comes spurting out from top-down in ‘SC football. He witnessed CJ’s benching, Allen B-rad’s fight for getting on the field, and the amount of emphasis our recruiting went to, to obtain Matt Barkley. Mark Sanchez cashed out at the apex of his celebrity, and by making his Rose Bowl performance the highlight of his college career, he parlayed that into a top-draft position. (he never looked back)
Coach went ballistic at Mark declaring for the draft;. But he didn’t have anyone else to blame but himself. He nurtured and groomed Mark to be at his best when he was declared the starting Trojan QB, but he also kept him at arm’s length and never really took him in like he did JDB, Leinart, and Palmer. Was Sanchez risky? Hell yeah- as a player and a student. Was Coach just being prudent and a “good coach”? Yes on that too! But, in a player/coach relationship like that- when push comes to shove, the player will always follow the money and his own dreams. Coach didn’t “have Mark’s ear” like he had his previous starting QB’s.
He’s not gonna make that mistake with Barkley. He’ll ride Matt until Matt delivers him a BCS National Championship crystal football trophy. He’ll ride him to another one if Matt comes back to play for him. By playing “favorites” with Matt, Coach is trying to ensure a loyal, dedicated player. One who’ll stay on until his senior year, get those championships and awards, and hopefully teach any and all up-and-comers in our program- recruits we don’t quite know right now, to learn football “the Trojan way”.
Trouble is Coach, what IS the Trojan way? I used to think I knew, you know- “compete”, “win forever”, getting better by learning from past mistakes, trust in “the system”???? Those kinda things. I’m not so sure anymore.
I love Coach. But I’ll never have a man-crush on any of our players.
"As for being a Raiders fan, I wouldn't wish that fucking shit on anybody." [the venerable OTS at Roll Bama Roll}
well
Barkley is good for three years guaranteed. Only juniors and redshirt sophomores can declare for the draft. Barkley did not redshirt and thus is guaranteed to be a three year starter. So I think you need to consider that in your analysis. As for whether he stays for his senior year, if Barkley delivers on his potential and becomes the pro prospect we think he is, he can, will, and should declare after three years as a starter.
There is one big question mark
How much will Barkley improve over the course of his career. Booty didn’t improve at all. I hope Barkley gets better over the next three seasons, because Oregon and Oregon State are young. Stanford is going to have Andrew Luck for 2 more seasons, and Arizona is on the rise.
Well you got to take into consideration that, they haven't open up the offense until last TD against Ruins
28---7 2nd & 11 Barkley to Williams, so please Bru-Babes call time out again.
by so.cal.native1952 on Dec 4, 2009 12:36 PM PST reply actions
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