I'm not the only one asking the question

by Paragon SC on Apr 11, 2008 12:14 PM PDT in USC Football Comment 3 comments

Seems like others are wondering if the competition is really open.

Q: Is it really a competition?

A: Mustain thinks so: "Until someone tells me differently." But Sanchez, starting out No. 1 with his three years in the USC system, would like to keep it the way it is. Most observers think Sanchez is right. Mustain, and Corp even more, can't catch him unless Sanchez implodes.

Q: How "open" is the competition?

A: It's hard to say. Thus far, USC Coach Pete Carroll and assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian have focused almost exclusively on experience in the system. Daily performance and head-to-head horse race comparisons aren't much discussed.

Look, I'm not looking to throw gas on the fire but it is a legitimate question. If the competition is open then let it play out, if it isn't don't play charades with it that way we can focus on other things.

At this point I don't care who is running the offense as long as they are effective. It just seems like a waste of time to make it look like an open competition when we all know it isn't. Yes, Mustain needs to get some reps "just in case", but at this point unless something catastrophic happens to Sanchez and then it wouldn't matter anyway.

OK, end of rant...

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I'm missing something

I don't understand how saying the guy who has more experience in the system has the upper hand is the same thing as saying the competition isn't open. Isn't that just stating the obvious?

To me the competition isn't open if USC announces the day before Spring practice begins "QB X is our QB for next year - case closed." Also, from the reports I've read on Wolf's blog, every day of practice that's happened thusfar Mustain and Sanchez have either ended up basically equal or Sanchez has done better.

I'd be more caught up in the potential drama of the situation if Mitch was playing his heart out in practice and clearly head and shoulders above Sanchez but it didn't seem like he was getting a fair shake because of seniority. I don't see that happening unless there are other reports out there contradicting Wolf's daily.

by Defender90 on Apr 11, 2008 11:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Well...

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but to me if they aren't getting equal snaps in spring ball then to me the decision is made and the competition is not open. Again thats just me, i'm cool if you don't agree.

I have less of an issue of Sanchez's ability to run the offense efficiently than I do with his decision making process. He is a gunslinger that sometimes forces the play and we saw just how bad it could be in the Oregon Game.

by Paragon SC on Apr 12, 2008 6:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs