BLACK HOLE WITH LEINART - AND POSSIBLY BUSH ALONG WITH A HOST OF OTHERS - LEAVING, USC GETS READY TO ASSESS ITS FUTURE.Byline: Scott Wolf Scott Richard Wolf (born June 4, 1968) is an American actor. Born in Boston, Massachusetts to Steven Wolf and Susan Enowitch, Wolf was raised in West Orange, New Jersey. He graduated in 1986 from West Orange High School. Staff Writer When USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. coach Pete Carroll Peter C. Carroll (born September 15, 1951, in San Francisco, California) is the current head coach of the University of Southern California Trojans football team, having held that position since 2001. agreed to a five-year contract extension last week, he said, ``I want to see how far we can take this.'' Some might argue he found out before serving a day of his new agreement, when USC lost to Texas in the Rose Bowl and fell short in its historic chance for a third straight national title. Without quarterback Matt Leinart Matthew Stephen Leinart (born May 11, 1983 in Santa Ana, California) is an American football quarterback (QB) for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He played college football for the University of Southern California Trojans, leading them to an AP national , tailback Reggie Bush Reginald "Reggie" Bush, birth name: Reginald Alfred Bush II (born March 2, 1985 in San Diego, California), nicknamed 'The Human Highlight Reel' and 'The President', alluding to President Bush, is an American football player who plays for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. , offensive tackle Winston Justice Winston Justice (born September 14, 1984) is an American football offensive lineman in the NFL who was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round (39th overall pick) of the 2006 NFL Draft. and possibly tailback LenDale White LenDale Anthony White (born December 20, 1984) is an American football running back who plays for the Tennessee Titans. He played for Norm Chow at USC, who is now the Titans' offensive coordinator. His head coach in Tennessee, Jeff Fisher, also played for the USC Trojans. , the Trojans suddenly look a lot more normal next season. ``Now the question is can you be dominant three out of four years?'' Carroll said, wondering if the Trojans can win a national championship next season. ``We've done this before. I ain't worried about it.'' Maybe not, but right now it's hard to say who could replace Leinart and Bush, or if it's even possible. If you listen to the hype, the Trojans lost two of the greatest quarterbacks and tailbacks in college history. As impressive as USC recruits these days, it's hard to imagine another Bush turning up, and even Bush required time to develop as a freshman, which means next year the Trojans might not be able to just win on sheer athletic ability. Who is going to break off 36- and 45-yard touchdown runs against Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame , like Bush did against the Irish this season? Those plays didn't get the attention of Leinart's fourth-and-9 pass to wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett Dwayne Jarrett (born September 11, 1986 in New Brunswick, New Jersey) is an American football wide receiver in the NFL for the Carolina Panthers. Early years Jarrett attended New Brunswick High School in New Brunswick, New Jersey. , but they were just as important and prevented the Irish from building momentum. No one on the current roster is even close to Bush's explosiveness and if White goes pro, tailback becomes a huge question mark. The Trojans go into next year with a committee of Hershel Dennis Hershel Dennis (born July 12, 1984) is an college football running back, currently a student athlete at the University of Southern California. His nickname since childhood is "Patch". , Desmond Reed, Chauncey Washington Chauncey Washington (born April 29, 1985) is a college football running back attending the University of Southern California (USC). High school career Washington had a heralded career as an athlete at South Torrance High School. and Michael Coleman Michael Coleman may mean:
Additionally, USC will bring in at least three recruits at tailback. Emmanuel Moody (Coppell, Texas Coppell is a city in Dallas County, Texas, a suburb and bedroom community of the DFW Metroplex. The population was 35,958 at the 2000 census. A small area in the far northern portion of the city extends into neighboring Denton County. ) committed Saturday, while Stafon Johnson (Dorsey High of Los Angeles) and Michael Goodson (Houston) are also expected to select USC. The quarterback situation is less muddled but still a question mark. Sophomore John David Booty John David Booty (born January 3, 1985, in Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.) is the starting quarterback of the University of Southern California (USC) football team. He is called "John David", and sometimes referred to as J.D., because his father's name is John. played in seven games this season, which is far more experience than Leinart got before he started. But will Booty beat out highly regarded freshman Mark Sanchez? Between the two, Sanchez owns the stronger arm, but Booty's been in the program three years. Carroll wants to choose a starter in spring practice, like he did with Leinart in 2003, so everyone knows who the No. 1 quarterback is before training camp. That presents a dilemma: Booty would be a safe choice, but Sanchez possesses more potential. There won't be any problems finding someone to throw to, because USC returns starting wide receivers Jarrett and Steve Smith, along with freshman Patrick Turner. The offensive line returns three starters (Ryan Kalil, Fred Matua, Sam Baker) although offensive tackle Winston Justice is expected to turn pro. It's still a pretty good offense, but not the greatest in history, like the 2005 version made a claim for. And it will require a punter. But who? Tom Malone graduated, and USC only has walk-on Taylor Odegard. No recruits impressed the coaches in the summer, and USC might sign a junior-college punter as a stop-gap measure. The role of freshman kicker Troy Van Blarcom also figures to increase. Carroll said Van Blarcom would have kicked a game-tying field goal against Texas in the closing seconds, even though the freshman did not attempt a field goal all season. But next year, the Trojans are going to need a long-range kicker. Going for it on fourth down inside the 30-yard line won't be as easy without Leinart and Bush. The lack of experience at tailback and quarterback puts the burden back on the defense, which will be considerably stronger next season. Linebacker will be the Trojans' top position, especially at the middle (Oscar Lua, Rey Maualuga) and strong side (Dallas Sartz, Thomas Williams, Brian Cushing) spots, where five starters return for two positions. It won't surprise anyone if Carroll finds a way to get as many of those players on the field as possible. Sartz could play safety, especially if junior Darnell Bing goes pro. That would enable Josh Pinkard to remain at cornerback, although he's expected to return to his natural safety spot. Terrell Thomas, Kevin Thomas and Cary Harris will be the top candidates at cornerback. The defensive line remains solid, losing only senior Frostee Rucker. Defensive ends Jeff Schweiger and Kyle Moore assume far bigger roles at defensive end and make the Trojans bigger and more athletic. Defensive end Lawrence Jackson, despite being nearly invisible against Texas, will be projected as an All- American candidate next season. But more than names and faces, next year's USC team also battles expectations. A 37-2 record the past three seasons means no one on the current roster knows what it means to lose three games in a single season. USC opens at Arkansas (where Coach Houston Nutt no doubt remembers the Trojans throwing play-action touchdown passes with a 63-17 lead) and the second game is against Alamo Alamo Eighteenth-century mission in San Antonio, Texas, site of a historic siege of a small group of Texans by a Mexican army (1836) during the Texas war for independence from Mexico. Bowl-winner Nebraska. Even Carroll acknowledged it's tougher to get back to the top than staying there. ``I like the burden, I haven't had a problem with the burden,'' Carroll said. ``Is it harder to stay there or get there? We'll find out now, but we didn't have a problem staying there.'' Scott Wolf, (818) 713-3607 scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 5 photos, box Photo: (1 -- 5 -- color) no caption (usc football players) Daily News Staff Photos Box: NOT/SO FAMILIAR FACES - Scott Wolf |
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