2008 USC Football Preview: Storylines

Upon reading this title, I know what you’re probably thinking right now. “It’s not even July and this guy is already talking College Football, the Pac Ten, and the USC Trojans”

Well you may feel that it’s a little premature to start

hyping up

previewing USC football, there aren’t too many other sports topics to discuss during the long summer months. While we can all watch Euro Cup, the PGA Tour, Tennis, MLS, or Major League Baseball, these all pale in comparison to the pageantry that surrounds football and the excitement and fast-paced nature of basketball, which dominate the months of September to June.

Therefore, in order to provide even more in-depth and original writing here at SoCal Sports Hub, this year’s college football preview is going to be even more informative and interesting than in years past. That is why we have decided to start it in late June as opposed to early August. In this year’s forecast, both the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins will be analyzed extensively from the quarterbacks to the fifth string linebackers. The eight other Pac Ten teams will also be discussed, primarily in interviews with the team’s primary blogger. Eric Hyde of the College Football blog Saturday Sound Offs will also be contributing to the 2008 SoCal Sports Hub college football preview, as he will be scrutinizing San Diego State and the rest of the Mountain West Conference.

So before we go breaking down the teams’ rosters and their opponents, that will come later, I felt it is much more important to gain a key grasp on the major storylines that the surround the USC Trojans this year.

Success v. Failure
Despite two consecutive trips to the Rose Bowl in which they dominated both Michigan and Illinois, the past two seasons have been deemed to be major disappointments in Trojan land. While Pete Carroll and the Trojans might claim to be happy about playing in The Granddaddy of Them All, that’s simply just talk. Carroll has set the bar so high at USC that anything less than a seventh straight Pac Ten title and an appearance in the national title game will be deemed a failure.

Another Tough Schedule
Once again, Pete Carroll’s USC Trojans have another grueling non-conference slate with the season opener on the road in Charlottesville to face the Al Groh led Virginia Cavaliers. It’s important for the Trojans to come out with a statement against Virginia in order to build up some momentum for the two weeks off before a national title showdown in the Coliseum against highly ranked Ohio State. Following the game against the Buckeyes, the Trojans have another week off before the Pac Ten schedule kicks in with three tough road games (Oregon State, Washington State, and Arizona) in five weeks. After October 25th, the Trojans will only travel outside of Los Angeles once, to face Stanford. Oregon, Arizona State, California, and Notre Dame, all have to come to the Coliseum, where the Trojans have been extremely tough in recent years. If the Trojans can come out of September unscathed than they certainly have a great shot at landing a trip to Miami for the National Championship Game.

Mark Sanchez era
After winning a tough battle for the starting quarterback position against Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain last spring, it appears as if this is the Mark Sanchez’s team now. However, Sanchez is under a lot of pressure as he will succeed two Heisman Trophy winners in Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart and Rose Bowl MVP John David Booty. Luckily, Sanchez already has some experience, as he started three games last season in replacement of John David Booty and threw for 695 yards and seven touchdowns. His performance drew mixed reviews from the fans, but he certainly has the talent and tools to lead USC back to the national title game. Not to put any pressure on the kid.

The next Reggie Bush
Preseason magazines from Athlon to Phil Steele are all ready to anoint sophomore running back Joe McKnight as the next Reggie Bush. Whether he lives up to those expectations is unknown at this point, but he will certainly play a large role in the Trojan offense this season. In last year’s Rose Bowl against Illinois, McKnight ran ten times for 125 yards and a touchdown in addition to six catches for 45 yards. Expect more of these type of performances this year from McKnight, who is just one year removed from high school. He’s certainly like Bush in the fact that both players are game-changers who are threats to score a touchdown each time they touch the ball.

The Blind Side
As Michael Lewis has already stated, the left tackle position has become even more important in the ever changing game of football. This season the Trojans will be missing All-American left tackle Sam Baker, who graduated and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons. If the Trojans’ offense is to be successful in 2008 than they will need sophomore Butch Lewis, who started three games last season, to protect the blind side of Mark Sanchez. If the Lewis is unable to do so, it’ll reverberate throughout an offense that has not been the same since the departures of Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush.

 Draft Prospects Galore
Earlier this week, USC basketball star O.J. Mayo became the first Trojan to be selected in the top three of the NBA Draft. While a high basketball pick may be a novelty for USC, high draft picks in football are the norm in South Central. In last year’s NFL Draft, the Trojans had four first round selections and six total selections in the first two rounds. This year, they are expected to once again have several NFL first and second round draft picks. Linebacker Rey Maualuga has been called a modern-day Junior Seau and is currently projected as a top five pick.  At 6’3″ and 250 pounds, Maualuga is terrorizing tackler who is known for his big hits. Just ask Patrick Cowan of UCLA. Fellow linebacker Brian Cushing is also expected to be a top ten pick, despite already suffering through several injuries. If he can remain healthy, I see no reason as to why he wouldn’t be a top ten selection. Defensive tackle Fili Moala and saftey Taylor Mays are projected as first round picks as well.

The Turnover Margin
When the Trojans were winning national championships back in 2003 and 2004, no team in the country was better at creating an abundance of takeaways than were the USC Trojans. In 2003 the margin was +20, while in 2004 is was at +19. The 2005 season, in which they lost to Texas in the Rose Bowl, was actually their best season in terms of the turnover margin as it was at an astounding +21. However, in the past two seasons the Trojans have been quite average in the turnover department with a +4 margin in 2006 and a +2 margin in 2007. During key games last season against Stanford and Oregon, the Trojans were a combined minus-five in the turnover department, and this must improve dramatically if the Trojans are to begin playing in National Championship Games instead of visiting Pasadena for the millionth time.