Nation agrees with me; my Trojans are overrated!
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:29 pmNation's love affair with Trojans now appears to have hit the rocks
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/w ... l?eref=cfg
Some excerpts...
"While USC's defense remains the most dominant in the country, allowing just 8.3 points per game, its offense has been disappointing, scoring just 17 points in wins over Arizona and Cal. Quarterback Mark Sanchez, while boasting a 26-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio, has averaged less than 200 yards passing his past six games. Highly touted tailback Joe McKnight, beset by injuries and academic issues, has not scored a touchdown since the first game of the season. And the Trojans have racked up 83 penalties, more than all but six teams nationally.
USC's coaches have relied on conservative game plans. They ran the ball on 43-of-61 plays last week against Stanford, a game that remained tied nearly into the fourth quarter. It's a luxury they can afford with such a stout defense. "I love the way we're playing and we're not going to change that," said Carroll, whose team still ranks 14th nationally in total offense (451 yards per game).
Yet their recent performances have failed to stave off the critics.
Plaschke, changing his tune from earlier in the season, wrote after the Cal game: "[The Trojans] wasted a memorable defense with a forgettable [offensive] attack that now has little chance of even sneaking them into the national title game."
"Half-champs, that's what, more and more, accurately describes the Trojans," wrote Orange County Register columnist Jeff Miller.
Even the letters-to-the-editor section of the L.A. Times has turned into a referendum on Carroll's team. "Telegram to Pete Carroll," wrote Craig Tepper of Santa Monica, Calif. "Me. Longtime SC football fan. ... You. Not top five team this year. Stop whining."
BTW It is pretty obvious that the LA Newspapers don't support hometown team when they suck!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/w ... l?eref=cfg
Some excerpts...
"While USC's defense remains the most dominant in the country, allowing just 8.3 points per game, its offense has been disappointing, scoring just 17 points in wins over Arizona and Cal. Quarterback Mark Sanchez, while boasting a 26-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio, has averaged less than 200 yards passing his past six games. Highly touted tailback Joe McKnight, beset by injuries and academic issues, has not scored a touchdown since the first game of the season. And the Trojans have racked up 83 penalties, more than all but six teams nationally.
USC's coaches have relied on conservative game plans. They ran the ball on 43-of-61 plays last week against Stanford, a game that remained tied nearly into the fourth quarter. It's a luxury they can afford with such a stout defense. "I love the way we're playing and we're not going to change that," said Carroll, whose team still ranks 14th nationally in total offense (451 yards per game).
Yet their recent performances have failed to stave off the critics.
Plaschke, changing his tune from earlier in the season, wrote after the Cal game: "[The Trojans] wasted a memorable defense with a forgettable [offensive] attack that now has little chance of even sneaking them into the national title game."
"Half-champs, that's what, more and more, accurately describes the Trojans," wrote Orange County Register columnist Jeff Miller.
Even the letters-to-the-editor section of the L.A. Times has turned into a referendum on Carroll's team. "Telegram to Pete Carroll," wrote Craig Tepper of Santa Monica, Calif. "Me. Longtime SC football fan. ... You. Not top five team this year. Stop whining."
BTW It is pretty obvious that the LA Newspapers don't support hometown team when they suck!
