Football News and Notes

by Paragon SC on Nov 16, 2007 10:49 AM PST in USC Football Comment 5 comments

As we all know by now Oregon lost to Arizona last night putting a wrinkle in the Trojans plans to get to the Rose Bowl. Obviously, provided SC won out, it would have been easier for SC if Oregon won out. Now SC will still need to win out but now they will need a little help elsewhere...like from ucla. That part of the scenario will ride on the health of Dixon's knee and speculation has been all over the place from a knee sprain to an ACL injury.

Before the game, USC's best chance at the Rose Bowl was for Oregon to win out and advance to the Bowl Championship Series title game. But since the Ducks lost, USC needs Oregon to lose at least one more game. Because the Trojans lost to the Ducks, Oregon would win a tiebreaker. Before the game, USC's best chance at the Rose Bowl was for Oregon to win out and advance to the Bowl Championship Series title game. But since the Ducks lost, USC needs Oregon to lose at least one more game. Because the Trojans lost to the Ducks, Oregon would win a tiebreaker.

As much as I hate to say it I think that bruins have a better shot because they will be at home at the Rose Bowl and that can be a very tough place to play.

If you didn't see the Scott Wolf's video interview with Pete Carroll make sure you do, there is some funny stuff there. Regardless of Wolf writes about the program it is clear that Wolf and Carroll have a solid relationship.

One of the questions in that interview was in regards to the receiving corps; Mark Saxon of the OC Register has an interesting article on David Ausberry. I wouldn't say Ausberry has regressed by the certainly isn't where he was in training camp.

David Ausberry might have been the most dominant Trojans receiver in spring and fall camps. He caught as many superlatives from USC coaches as he did passes from USC quarterbacks.

So far, most of Ausberry's glory has come on the practice field.

He started and caught five passes in USC's season opener against Idaho, but he lost his starting job shortly thereafter and has caught no more than three balls in any game since.

"It's a little frustrating. It would be for anybody," Ausberry said. "I'm not going to sit here and cry about it. I'm going to go out there and make every opportunity count."

Ausberry said he needs to regain the mental edge that allowed him to occasionally dominate defensive backs in scrimmages and drills.

We pinned a lot of our hopes on Ausberry being able to use his size to convert plays. His inability to so has probably put more pressure on the other receivers to make plays and that just makes it a domino effect.

The last few games Everson Griffen has finally shown us all that we though he would be. There is no question that he is going to be a stud and once he got comfortable within the system.

The freshman defensive end from Avondale, Ariz., also cannot wait to play against his cousin, Sun Devils running back Keegan Herring.

"I get to talk a little mess to him," Griffen said Wednesday.

Griffen, 19, arrived at USC as one of the Trojans' most heralded recruits.

He got off to a rough start -- teammates had to restrain him from coming to blows with junior end Kyle Moore during a training camp practice -- and did not take advantage of his speed through the first half of the season.

But the 6-foot-3, 265-pound Griffen broke out with 3 1/2 sacks against Oregon State.

Now he is setting his sights on Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter. The Sun Devils have given up 43 sacks, second most in the nation.

It could be a Thanksgiving feast in more ways than one.

It is obvious that there is a lot riding on this game so SC really needs to focus and get it done next Thursday.

DC and I will have a Q&A with the great ASU Blog Pitchfork Nation early next week.

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Not to pick a nit

But your comment here: I wouldn't say Ausberry has regressed by the certainly isn't where he was in training camp implies that Ausberry is performing at a lower level than he did in training camp. Performing worse than you started is sort of the definition of regressing, isn't i?

I'm just saying.

Can you say Nut Bowl?

by SoCal Oski on Nov 16, 2007 2:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs