Roundtable: USC’s Recovery Plan
Since the noble Paul Dee sentenced the Trojans to hard labor a year ago, with a two-year bowl ban and the reduction of 30 scholarships, the Trojans have been put on the game’s back burner. The potential for Lane Kiffin’s squad to persevere through the sanctions is definitely there, but just how long will it take?
Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images via Zimbio
We sat down here at the blog to have our own take on just how long it will take for USC to recover from the sanctions. Here’s what we said, as part of yet another roundtable:
Ryne Hodkowski: USC has the potential to recover immediately. For that to happen, however, they need to be somewhat lucky. Their roster this year is just as talented and athletic as anyone’s in the Pac-12, and COULD be a top-10 team. I’d take Barkley over Derron Thomas of Oregon, and easily take the Receiving corps over the Ducks’. What separates the teams, for the time being, is the performance of Oregon’s defense, and their offensive line. I feel that since USC is now live tackling throughout camp, they can better on defense. Their offensive line needs to gel and stay healthy, but it shows promise with Holmes and Kalil. The Trojans absolutely need to stay healthy. While I think every starting position can be strong, it is unreasonable to think that only 22 people will play for them all year, let alone less than 30. Therefore, any injury can go a long way with the sanctions they are currently under. This is where the luck comes in. If they stay as healthy as any team, they should win the Pac12 South (in my mind, it’s a disappointment if they don’t this year). If injuries occur on the line or the defense, they may only win 7-8 games again. Next year can be special for the Trojans. Barkley, Holmes, Kalil, Perry, Horton, and McDonald are all Juniors. Many of them figure to be NFL draftees should they leave early, but they may want to return to accomplish something at USC that was taken away from them the last two years with the sanctions. They can easily be a preseason top 10 team next year, as they also have plenty of running backs and receivers back in addition to the names I listed.
Shiloh Winder: It’s tough for me to say how long USC will be recovering from their probation. They struggled last season (by USC standards) and looked thin on defense, but how much of that is because of the sanctions? I think losing the motivation of the post season has a tremendous effect on a team mentally, but as far as talent goes, how far has USC fallen? They’ve had scholarship reductions, but it’s hard for me to hear USC people complain of a lack of talent with a straight face. Phil Steele’s College Football Preview lists USC’s incoming recruiting class as having 11 Highly Touted players and 20 who were Very Highly touted, or considered to be in the top 25 at their position. Compare those numbers to USC’s main competition: Arizona State has three VHT recruits and eight HTs. UCLA has four VHTs and nine HTs. Utah has seven and 11. Safe to say, every other team in the Pac-12 would love to have USC’s “reduced” talent level. The fact is, only Oregon and Stanford are even close. No, USC’s problems have not been in lack of talent, but getting that talent to perform. That’s coaching, and USC has made some Major changes there. I won’t pass judgement on the current staff until the bowl ban is lifted, but the fact is, USC’s talent is underperforming. I know some players on the team and have been told by one upper-classman that “we don’t trust our coach yet”. I think USC’s ascent back to the top of the Pac-12 is more about recovering from their coaching change than recovering from sanctions. Once the bowl ban is lifted, there’s nothing standing in USC’s way to the Rose Bowl but themselves.
Nick Hamilton: I believe it will take about two years after this season, if they can continure to recruit well. However I don’t see Lane Kiffin being the coach long, he just isn’t a permanent fit for that program. In order continue at a high level, the coach has to be a top notch name, i.e. Jack Del Rio.
Michael Castillo: For me, it’s pretty simple. Next year will be the best chance Lane Kiffin has to be a winner at USC. Mind you that they’re a long way from getting there, but if Kiffin can keep the bevy of juniors in tact, it should be the most complete team since 2008, and most balanced on offense and defense since maybe 2004. It’s a big if however, and there’s plenty of kinks to be worked out, from Matt Barkley’s consistency, to the Kiffins ability to coordinate both the offense and the defense. Unless Kiffin shocks the world with a nearly perfect record this season, the 2012 season legitimately could be the make or break year for Kiffin, as Haden has already been on record saying that eight wins isn’t good enough. The sanctions haven’t really affected the team yet in terms of recruiting, as this year’s class was the largest in the country based on a loophole that allowed for spring-enrollees to be counted towards the Class of 2010, when cuts on scholarships were not in affect. So what’s that mean? Quite simply that this season could almost be a blessing in disguise for the Trojans, as they have ability to progress as a unit without the pressure of a Rose Bowl run. They’ve only furthered their grip in the city since getting the hammer from the NCAA, as the Rick Neuheisel-led Bruins haven’t made any headway in closing the gap between the teams, and every other Pac-12 South team is still unproven. Unless there’s a mass exodus of juniors after season, there really isn’t reason to believe the Trojans won’t be the favorites to with win the division next year, have a strong shot at the Rose Bowl, and a decent opportunity to contend for a crystal ball. But, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves just yet.
For up-to-the-minute buzz, follow us on Twitter and join our Facebook Fan Page.