[washingtonismoney]

What's the old cliche? Once is chance, twice is a coincidence, three times a trend story? We're at twice: Devon Kennard, when healthy a starter at DE, has torn his pectoral muscle weightlifting and is likely out for the season. (http://es.pn/O3yxp6)

There are also many rumors that Robert Wood's ankle--which was injured all of 2011--has never quite healed and continues to hobble him. Botched surgery? I suppose so.

Never like to hear about really good players' injury attrition, but here we are.

[washingtonismoney]

What's the old cliche? Once is chance, twice is a coincidence, three times a trend story? We're at twice: Devon Kennard, when healthy a starter at DE, has torn his pectoral muscle weightlifting and is likely out for the season. (http://es.pn/O3yxp6)

There are also many rumors that Robert Wood's ankle--which was injured all of 2011--has never quite healed and continues to hobble him. Botched surgery? I suppose so.

Never like to hear about really good players' injury attrition, but here we are.

[fullmetal]

Once is your imagination, twice is coincidence, and three times is enemy action--if I remember my Tom Clancy spy novels correctly.

Anecdotally, I've mainly heard of torn pecs with respect to steroid use, where the muscles involved had strengthened beyond the strength of the associated connective tendons attaching it to the bone...

[fullmetal]

Once is your imagination, twice is coincidence, and three times is enemy action--if I remember my Tom Clancy spy novels correctly.

Anecdotally, I've mainly heard of torn pecs with respect to steroid use, where the muscles involved had strengthened beyond the strength of the associated connective tendons attaching it to the bone...

[oman]

I thought it was:  Fool me once, shame on — shame on you.  Fool me — you can't get fooled again.

At least I know we say in in Texas.  Probably in Tennessee.

[oman]

I thought it was:  Fool me once, shame on — shame on you.  Fool me — you can't get fooled again.

At least I know we say in in Texas.  Probably in Tennessee.

[OutsiderFan]

Well, I tore a pec muscle several years ago lifting weights and I have never taken steroids.

Devon Kennard is an example of how being a 5 star recruit doesn't guarantee anything.  He has never lived up to his promise, though he was probably going to provide enough pass rush for USC to make a run at a championship of some sort.  The reality is USC doesn't have the depth to overcome losses like Kennard.  They lost Nick Perry to the NFL draft a year early as well.  Kennard was going to replace Perry.  Now they don't have either guy.

We all know how having an elite pass rusher is essential to winning football.  After losing Perry and Kennard, I have to question if USC is going to have the pass rush it needs to be as good as it will need to be on defense.  Stanford has no such issues with Chase Thomas and Trent Murphy, though it remains to be seen what Stanford has behind those two.

[OutsiderFan]

Well, I tore a pec muscle several years ago lifting weights and I have never taken steroids.

Devon Kennard is an example of how being a 5 star recruit doesn't guarantee anything.  He has never lived up to his promise, though he was probably going to provide enough pass rush for USC to make a run at a championship of some sort.  The reality is USC doesn't have the depth to overcome losses like Kennard.  They lost Nick Perry to the NFL draft a year early as well.  Kennard was going to replace Perry.  Now they don't have either guy.

We all know how having an elite pass rusher is essential to winning football.  After losing Perry and Kennard, I have to question if USC is going to have the pass rush it needs to be as good as it will need to be on defense.  Stanford has no such issues with Chase Thomas and Trent Murphy, though it remains to be seen what Stanford has behind those two.

[washingtonismoney]

Now they don't have either guy.

We all know how having an elite pass rusher is essential to winning football.  After losing Perry and Kennard, I have to question if the University of South Central is going to have the pass rush it needs to be as good as it will need to be on defense.  Stanford has no such issues with Chase Thomas and Trent Murphy, though it remains to be seen what Stanford has behind those two.

Yeah, if there's an obvious hole with Southern Cal, it's that they really have zero experienced, good defensive linemen. A large component of our difficulty with the Trojans the past two years has been their defensive line going crazy, so any losses to their line will benefit us disproportionately.

As to our pass rush--can't forget Ben Gardner. There's the health of Shayne Skov to consider. Going three or four deep is pretty good for pass rushers, and if Kevin Anderson lives up to the spring session hype, we'll have another... And lost in the offensive linemen incoming freshmen hype are the interesting possibilities of Aziz Shittu and Noor Davis. We finished eleventh overall in the country in sacks last year, and only really lost Matt Masifilo. With some of the factors listed above, improvement in the pass rush seems like a tantalizing possibility.

[washingtonismoney]

Now they don't have either guy.

We all know how having an elite pass rusher is essential to winning football.  After losing Perry and Kennard, I have to question if the University of South Central is going to have the pass rush it needs to be as good as it will need to be on defense.  Stanford has no such issues with Chase Thomas and Trent Murphy, though it remains to be seen what Stanford has behind those two.

Yeah, if there's an obvious hole with Southern Cal, it's that they really have zero experienced, good defensive linemen. A large component of our difficulty with the Trojans the past two years has been their defensive line going crazy, so any losses to their line will benefit us disproportionately.

As to our pass rush--can't forget Ben Gardner. There's the health of Shayne Skov to consider. Going three or four deep is pretty good for pass rushers, and if Kevin Anderson lives up to the spring session hype, we'll have another... And lost in the offensive linemen incoming freshmen hype are the interesting possibilities of Aziz Shittu and Noor Davis. We finished eleventh overall in the country in sacks last year, and only really lost Matt Masifilo. With some of the factors listed above, improvement in the pass rush seems like a tantalizing possibility.

[tfeldstein]

This really i a dreadful start for SC because their run (if they get past September 15th) will be a race against attrition. They are very green on the o-line and have no depth at RB, o-line or linebacker. Losing Kennard is a brobdingnagian blow.

[tfeldstein]

This really i a dreadful start for SC because their run (if they get past September 15th) will be a race against attrition. They are very green on the o-line and have no depth at RB, o-line or linebacker. Losing Kennard is a brobdingnagian blow.

[washingtonismoney]

They are very green on the o-line...

Aren't they returning four starters? Maybe their depth doesn't inspire confidence, but their frontline guys surely do. But your broader point is correct, of course.

[washingtonismoney]

They are very green on the o-line...

Aren't they returning four starters? Maybe their depth doesn't inspire confidence, but their frontline guys surely do. But your broader point is correct, of course.

[readarmy1976]

That's a big break for Stanford. I expect we will beat USC this year in Palo Alto.

[readarmy1976]

That's a big break for Stanford. I expect we will beat USC this year in Palo Alto.

[StannyBoy]

their depth at DE isn't terrible. Greg Townsend Jr. could be good, Kevin Greene from Oakland could be a good backup. Freshman Leanard Williams was highly rated and so was JuCo transfer Morgan Breslin. And they still have Wes Horton starting. SC can't expect to have future first round picks at every position. And their LB depth isn't terrible either. I think Kiffin is much more worried about RB and their O-line.

[StannyBoy]

their depth at DE isn't terrible. Greg Townsend Jr. could be good, Kevin Greene from Oakland could be a good backup. Freshman Leanard Williams was highly rated and so was JuCo transfer Morgan Breslin. And they still have Wes Horton starting. SC can't expect to have future first round picks at every position. And their LB depth isn't terrible either. I think Kiffin is much more worried about RB and their O-line.

[OutsiderFan]

Kevin Greene is not the answer.  A friend of mine saw him play in high school when Cal. was recruiting his teammate Desarte Yarnway and hadn't yet offered Greene, to see if they were missing something.  He told me Greene was a total non-factor and was thrilled Cal. didn't offer him.  As talented as Townsend Jr. may be, you don't win championships with True Frosh DEs.  Don't know about Breslin, but JC DEs rarely turn into great players, ever the 5 star JCs.

[OutsiderFan]

Kevin Greene is not the answer.  A friend of mine saw him play in high school when Cal. was recruiting his teammate Desarte Yarnway and hadn't yet offered Greene, to see if they were missing something.  He told me Greene was a total non-factor and was thrilled Cal. didn't offer him.  As talented as Townsend Jr. may be, you don't win championships with True Frosh DEs.  Don't know about Breslin, but JC DEs rarely turn into great players, ever the 5 star JCs.

[StannyBoy]

Townsend Jr isn't a true frosh; he redshirted last year. With him starting next to Horton and Greene, Williams, Breslin, Burks as the back-ups I'd take that over most of the other DE groups in the pac-12. Also I would think Christian Thomas could move back to DE since SC is extremely deep at TE.

[StannyBoy]

Townsend Jr isn't a true frosh; he redshirted last year. With him starting next to Horton and Greene, Williams, Breslin, Burks as the back-ups I'd take that over most of the other DE groups in the pac-12. Also I would think Christian Thomas could move back to DE since SC is extremely deep at TE.

[tfeldstein]

If you have converted corner backs and true freshman in your two deep, that is terrible.

[tfeldstein]

If you have converted corner backs and true freshman in your two deep, that is terrible.

[Redrum]

if that's the case, God help us if he heals up.  Marquise Lee was no slouch either.  We'd better ring Barkley's bell early and often.

[Redrum]

if that's the case, God help us if he heals up.  Marquise Lee was no slouch either.  We'd better ring Barkley's bell early and often.

[washingtonismoney]

if that's the case, God help us if he heals up.  Marquise Lee was no slouch either.  We'd better ring Draco Malfoy's bell early and often.

This is what SC fans/Lane Kiffin have been claiming. Nevertheless, that Woods is still being described as injured/hobbled is not exactly a good sign.

Speaking of SC claims, apparently Lane Kiffin has claimed Marqise Lee could become the greatest Trojan wideout...ever.

[washingtonismoney]

if that's the case, God help us if he heals up.  Marquise Lee was no slouch either.  We'd better ring Draco Malfoy's bell early and often.

This is what SC fans/Lane Kiffin have been claiming. Nevertheless, that Woods is still being described as injured/hobbled is not exactly a good sign.

Speaking of SC claims, apparently Lane Kiffin has claimed Marqise Lee could become the greatest Trojan wideout...ever.

[tfeldstein]

Put me in the camp that Lee is better than Woods. Is Wood's low ypc a function of Kiffin's goofy horizontal scheme, an indictment on Barkeley or a function of Wood's ankle?

[tfeldstein]

Put me in the camp that Lee is better than Woods. Is Wood's low ypc a function of Kiffin's goofy horizontal scheme, an indictment on Barkeley or a function of Wood's ankle?

[slide]

BOB -- not sure if Kiffin's scheme is not predicated on his oline not being able to pass protect all that well.

[slide]

BOB -- not sure if Kiffin's scheme is not predicated on his oline not being able to pass protect all that well.

[pcgoode]

I remember Kirk Herbstreit commenting during the Trojan's win vs Oregon in 2011 something to the effect that USC's d-line performance was the kryptonite that was keeping the Duck's offense in check for a good chunk of the game. They seemed to have a decent game agaist us as well in 2011. So now that they don't have Nick Perry or Kennard, makes you wonder how far they can go this season.

[pcgoode]

I remember Kirk Herbstreit commenting during the Trojan's win vs Oregon in 2011 something to the effect that USC's d-line performance was the kryptonite that was keeping the Duck's offense in check for a good chunk of the game. They seemed to have a decent game agaist us as well in 2011. So now that they don't have Nick Perry or Kennard, makes you wonder how far they can go this season.

[washingtonismoney]

I remember Kirk Herbstreit commenting during the Trojan's win vs Oregon in 2011 something to the effect that the University of South Central's d-line performance was the kryptonite that was keeping the Duck's offense in check for a good chunk of the game. They seemed to have a decent game agaist us as well in 2011. So now that they don't have Nick Perry or Kennard, makes you wonder how far they can go this season.

That's exactly it. To beat Oregon, it's a necessity to have a top-tier defensive line. We had enough in our game for a quarter, but not enough depth. I suspect that's the reason the coaches went crazy recruiting defensive linemen in 2011 and 2012. Even with Kaumatule being shifted to TE, we've recruited 3 NT and 5 DE. And with Randy Hart coaching them up, I feel pretty confident about the prospects for our line.

[washingtonismoney]

I remember Kirk Herbstreit commenting during the Trojan's win vs Oregon in 2011 something to the effect that the University of South Central's d-line performance was the kryptonite that was keeping the Duck's offense in check for a good chunk of the game. They seemed to have a decent game agaist us as well in 2011. So now that they don't have Nick Perry or Kennard, makes you wonder how far they can go this season.

That's exactly it. To beat Oregon, it's a necessity to have a top-tier defensive line. We had enough in our game for a quarter, but not enough depth. I suspect that's the reason the coaches went crazy recruiting defensive linemen in 2011 and 2012. Even with Kaumatule being shifted to TE, we've recruited 3 NT and 5 DE. And with Randy Hart coaching them up, I feel pretty confident about the prospects for our line.

[tfeldstein]

I just don't see how USC has the depth and the beef on the d-line to win 14 games this season. Will be interesting.

[tfeldstein]

I just don't see how USC has the depth and the beef on the d-line to win 14 games this season. Will be interesting.

[washingtonismoney]

To go back to Woods--I think it's a function of the system. Kiffin's system uses him as an outlet for those quick passes which increases his catch count but reduces his per-catch average. But his big plays are near the tops of the conference: 6th in receiving plays over 20 yards, 7th in receiving plays over 30 yards, 3rd in receiving plays for 40.

[washingtonismoney]

To go back to Woods--I think it's a function of the system. Kiffin's system uses him as an outlet for those quick passes which increases his catch count but reduces his per-catch average. But his big plays are near the tops of the conference: 6th in receiving plays over 20 yards, 7th in receiving plays over 30 yards, 3rd in receiving plays for 40.