Preseason Commentary for 2007
I don't know how many years in a row this is, but USC is once again...
#1 USC is in its own universe of talent. Once again, USC has all the talent to take their game all the way to the Sugar Bowl and the National Championship. What happens along the way is the reason we watch college football.
Why? The offense is led by John David Booty, who seems to be in a great rhythm now as the QB. His inaugural campaign produced 3,347 yards and 29 TDs (to 9 INTs), which was surprisingly not enough to garner the Heisman attention of his predecessor (Arizona Cardinals starter Matt Leinart), but it was enough to get some All-America consideration this year, especially after his brilliant performance (27/45 for 391 and 4 TDs) in the Rose Bowl against what many considered (prior to January) to be the second best team in the country. Three Linemen return for the offense, and they are road-graders. The real strength of Troy, however, is on the other side of the football. Their Defense is likely going to be the best D in the country this year. Starting with the line, DT Sedrick Ellis and DE Lawrence Jackson both return (and both could have made the leap to the NFL last year). Incoming freshman DE Everson Griffen may have been the best prep player in the country last year. Although unlikely, it could be interesting to see if he competes early for PT. The LBs are probably the best unit in the country. Rey Maualuga is a stud in the middle, and Brian Cushing is not the same outside backer he was when he got juked out of his jock by Vince Young in the 2006 Rose Bowl. He is mature, bigger, and very very fast. Keith Rivers looks equally unstoppable on the other side. The Trojans are so good in the secondary, they could start anybody in the two-deep. Overall, this is the most complete team coming into the season. How that translates is going to be fun to watch.
Why Not? Ummmm...inexperience at Receiver? Nah...the Trojans have yet to slip in talent at receiver this decade. Junior WR Patrick Turner, Sophomore Flanker Vidal Hazelton, and Senior Tight End Fred Davis should be just as dominating as their predecessors. Losing Ryan Kalil (a stalwart for four years at Center) will hurt the O-Line, but senior Matt Spanos should be sufficient. USC needs consistent running from their high-school All-American backfield. None of these 'Five-Star Recruits' has done much on the D-I level. Chauncey Washington led the group with 744 yards and 9 TDs, and CJ Gable looks to have the most upside (434 yards and 4 TDs). None of them have shown their inner Reggie Bush or LenDale White yet, but that's a pretty high bar. The only thing that might hurt USC is a big head. UCLA/Oregon State/InsertpatsyPac10schoolhere could catch USC off guard. And that's pretty much it. USC will have to beat itself. Nobody else looks as complete right now.
Instant Impact? It could be just about anybody they are bringing in. Once again, USC is bringing in a 'Who's Who' of prep talent. DE Everson Griffen and RB Joe McKnight top the list, but RB Marc Tyler, LB Chris Galippo, and WR Ron Johnson are easily among the best at their position, as well. Likely, the Trojans are too loaded for any of these guys to see significant time, but I'm going with Griffen.
#2 West Virginia has hands-down the best run game in the country. RB Steve Slaton and QB Pat White (both Juniors now) represent the best option-pitch duo since Tommie Frazier to Lawrence Philips (for those who don't remember, it was they that looked like smoke through a keyhole with the Florida Gators in the 1996 Orange Bowl). White has the ability to throw, as well, and the Mountaineers will count on his ability to link up with Senior Slot Darius Reynaud (39 for 520 yards and 2 TDs). West Virginia looks poised to run for the Big East, but in order to be in the running for the National Championship, they need much better D.
Why? The run is very tough to stop, even with so few passes thrown. White had 1,219 yards rushing and 18 TDs on the ground to go with his 1,655 yards passing at 118/179 with 13 TDs through the air. He is very efficient and dangerous. Slaton had 1,744 yards on 248 carries and 16 TDs, along with 27 catches for 360 yards and 2 TDs. Alone, the two of them should slice through everybody in the Big East sans Louisville. A real test for the West Virginia Offense will come against Mississippi State on 20 October. It is an SEC D that was
#3 LSU loses their top player (a certain big-armed QB named Jamarcus) to the NFL Draft. Yet, they replace the better athlete with what may turn out to be the better quarterback. One thing the Tigers never did with Russell was win a National Championship. The last time they did that, it was with a certain underappreciated QB named Matt Mauck. Matt Flynn may turn out to be the champion, after all. His performance against Miami in the 2005 Chick-fil-A bowl when Russell went down was the stuff of legend. The rest of the team looks poised.
Why? Yes, JaMarcus Russell made the porous Notre Dame secondary look stupid in this past Sugar Bowl. Yes, the LSU Offense made a big splash and launched it's QB to the #1 spot in the Draft. Yes, the offense was very, very good. More than anything, though, it was the D that stomped a mudhole in the Irish. This team begins and ends with its D, just like any proper SEC team.
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