Steve Sarkisian Brings USC’s Offense Into Focus

For the second consecutive day the Trojans abandoned mushy Howard Jones Field for the dry, natural turf confines of McAllister Field, home of the women’s soccer team.

The team practiced in half pads as usual for No Repeat Thursday, which was actually today, Monday, since the Rose Bowl is Thursday, New Years Day, and not Saturday.

As of this writing, there was still no definitive word on Stanley Havili, who again was absent from practice. Havili, one of the most versatile offensive weapons in Steve Sarkisian’s offense, was declared academically ineligible to practice last week, and the team is waiting to receive final status on his eligibility.

In my report yesterday, I wrote that Havili’s absence from the team would be a major blow to this Trojan offense, which depends on him for both run and pass blocking as well as his ability to scamper through defenses and make sure-handed receptions. He is the fourth-leading receiver on the team.

Although the loss of Havili could be detrimental, from what I have seen, Steve Sarkisian’s ability to adapt this offense to conditions could lessen Havili’s loss if not discount it altogether.

Therefore, I need to make a retraction.

After the victory over UCLA to end the regular season, I wrote that Pete Carroll should let his new offensive coordinator, John Morton, take over the offense for the Rose Bowl and let Sarkisian tend to his new duties as head coach of the Washington Huskies.

I figured that the Sarkisian hiring would be a distraction to the team and especially to Sarkisian, who would have to divide his time between recruiting and hiring a staff for Washington and game planning for the Trojans in the Rose Bowl.

Obviously, Pete Carroll didn’t agree with me or any of the other commentors who criticized his judgment.

Well, I was wrong, and Coach Carroll was right. And I will hold to that opinion regardless of the outcome on New Years Day in Pasadena.

As I looked over the practice field today, I didn’t see any other coach who was more focused and more intent than Sarkisian. While he was on the field and no doubt in the film room as well, Washington could have been some obscure crater on the far side of the moon.

The rapor between himself and Mark Sanchez is unreal. Sanchez, whose progress this season has been somewhat spotty, has really turned the advancement meter to the maximum over the past month under Sarkisian’s tutelage.

Sanchez looked completely comfortable running the offense in the 7-on-7 drills. His releases were lightning quick, his tempo fast, his passes crisp and pinpointed. He took quick three-step drops, turned and threw, and the passes were exactly where they had to be – where only his receivers could catch them.

And catch them they did. Patrick Turner, Ronald Johnson, Damian Williams, Travor Patterson, Anthony McCoy, David Ausberry, there was hardly a dropped pass among that talented group.

Like Sanchez’s passes, the receivers’ cuts were quick and crisp. Balls were flying all over the place, and sure hands were reaching up and snagging them out of the air.

The receivers also practiced sideline and corner routes, where they had to make grabs and come down with their feet in bounds. Turner and Williams looked as though they had been doing it for years.

It was apparent that Sarkisian and the new coordinator, John Morton, who coaches the wide receivers, were on the same page.

That just could be a page that the Nittany Lions might like to tear up and throw away.

Not only isn’t the Trojan offense distracted, it is in a place that it hasn’t been all season.

While the media is hyping the Trojan defense, and well it should, Sarkisian’s offense could just steal the show and come out as the star of the Rose Bowl.

If the speed, tempo and crispness from No Repeat Thursday carries over to this Thursday, the Nittany Lions defense will be in for a long day. Its longest of the season.

Penn State’s defensive backs had better be up to speed. A half-step too slow, and guys like Ronald Johnson and Joe McKnight are gone.

Speaking of the media, Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreet of ABC/ESPN were standing a few feet away from me and seemed to like what they saw on the field.

Damian Williams showed no signs of being hampered by his shoulder injury. Running backs Johnson, McKnight, C.J. Gable and Marc Tyler were making quick, crisp cuts at full speed.

Another coach that deserves mention is Pat Ruel, who really got after his offensive line to make sure they knew what he expected of them. I would quote him, but he used too many expletives. Suffice it to say, he has a definite way of getting his message across.

While I am on the subject of coaches, according to Ken Norton, UCLA’s Rick Neuheisal is up to his old tactics again. Norton accused the UCLA head coach of telling recruits that Norton would replace defensive coordinator, DeWayne Waler, should Walker decide to take a head coaching position.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Norton said Neuheisel’s tactic was comparable to recruiting practices that got Neuheisel in trouble during jobs he held previously at Colorado and Washington.

Neuheisel has denied contacting Norton.