NDinL.A.
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My friend in Heritage Hall texted me Sunday morning to tell me that USC's final scrimmage was open to all booster club members and USC and their guests...in other words they weren't turning anyone away, but because they're so scared of the NCAA they couldn't announce it to the public. So my I called up my USC buddy and we went over there. Now that "QB-Gate" is over, I thought I'd share a few thoughts for those interested:
* It was one's vs. 2's unfortunately.
* The women. NOT. EVEN. FUNNY. It was 80 degrees, so 9 out of 10 girls had on short shorts. I can't even describe to you how many 8's, 9's and even 10's were there. Ridiculous. Plenty of recruits on hand to witness that too.
* Robert Woods is sick. I know he was going against 2's but he's just a better player than anyone out there. Love that kid (not your typical USC player). Got huge separation on almost every route, and this is coming off an injury. And he and Barkley have a great connection. Will be tough to stop.
* Kiffin STILL refuses to throw down the seams. Everything was either fades to Woods, or screens, swing passes, flats, and hitches. It's crazy. We completely shut down the short passing game last year, but he still uses it a ton.
* Pass protection was excellent against some highly recruited (albeit young) DEs at the two's. Barkley was NEVER hurried. However, they COULD NOT run the ball at all against the 2nd team defense. It was really bad. Everything was bottled up. And then their starting RB (McNeal) hurt his knee again and left the game, so DJ Morgan (who was not going to play b/c of injury) came in did nothing, and neither did Dillon Baxter (3.1 ypc and a fumble). I will say that 2nd team offense actually ran better than the first team offense (but not great either).
* I'll give credit where it's due: USC's defense was flying to the ball and playing with a great deal of passion. Will they be good enough? Not sure, but they sure did look better.
* But their LB's are not very big. Their best LB Sunday was Hayes Pullard (remember him?), a redshirt freshman who to me looked like a safety. Great player, but he'll get eaten up by Watt on the 2nd level. Then on one play, Gallipo (who WILL get hurt again) tried to tackle and strip the back-up TE at the same time, only to get run over and completely miss the tackle. Gave me a big smile as it reminded of course of Big Robert Huuuuuughes.
* Barkley had 5 TDs (seriously, their back-up DBs are HORRIBLE - more on that later), but threw his obligatory pick. He FINALLY decided to throw up the middle on a 15 yd in-route, but he stared stared stared his receiver down and the safety jumped it and picked it off. Horrible read by a 3 year-starter. Lots of groans on that one.
* Amir Carlisle - I was excited to see him b/c of all the hype he was getting. I didn't know his #, but here's what I wrote on my notes: ("#41 = meh. Doesn't do much of anything that stands out at all. How is he getting so many reps???"). Didn't find out til later that it was him. Not saying he won't be good at all...just saying THIS year, I don't worry about him.
* Kyle Prater - Wow, that is a big boy. But man, what a disappointment. Not even close to starting. Doesn't get out of his breaks quick enough, doesn't attack the ball (one INT was his fault as the DB just wanted it more on a slant), not very fast but doesn't run with any physicality. He caught a bubble screen in traffic and wanted no part of it. Ran way too erect and basically tippy-toed with the ball for a second until he got tackled. Very disappointing to see a guy I thought would be a beast. Still young, but has a ways to go.
* George Farmer was hurt, but he's been passed by his less heralded h.s. teammate Marquis Lee. Not THAT dude was impressive. Athletic as hell, wants the ball, attacks the ball, gets after it, makes acrobatic catches, goes up the middle (on one slant he got popped by TJ MacDonald nasty, gathered himself, and the got right back up and played the next play. He's going to be a good one, and I think by the end of the year he'll be starting along side Woods, not Farmer.
* They better PRAY for no injuries, and pray hard. Their back-ups are AWFUL. Their back-ups on the o-line couldn't give the QBs two seconds to throw. It was sack after sack after sack. Horrible. Their back-up DBs are awful. None of their RBs stood out. After Lee, their back-up receivers weren't good (Butler, Farmer, Prater). Their back-up LBs are either too young or not very good. Their back-up QBs are true freshman (but talented no doubt), and SUCKED against the 1's. Yeah, they were running for their lives, but even when they had time they never threw past 10 yds. They got their numbers in the 2nd half against the scrubs. Hell, even their back-up punter and kicker were awful.
* Their freshman kicker squeaked in a 48 yarder (against no rush), and got some really high kickoffs consistently to the 5 (and well-laced too), so they'll be improved there. Also got in a sweet onside kick. Their special teams will be good (they spend a TON of practice time on it).
* Didn't see when Pomee got hurt. He is a BIG BOY...just imagine a Samoan-looking dude with tons of hair flowing out the back barreling down at you with bad intentions. Pomee caught a couple of passes and had one thing in mind...get straight up the field no matter who was in his way. Liked his game.
At halftime, my buddy left and so I sat in the shade near the top with some USC reporters. I struck up a conversation with a prominent one (I won't say who it is b/c that would be sh!tty), but most of you know that I wouldn't be making this up. Remember, these guys go to EVERY practice. His thoughts:
* He's been disappointed big time with Prater. Doesn't think he has 'it'.
* Said Amir has been stellar in camp, but not as great with pads on as the camp has progressed (the proverbial 'wall').
* He said they haven't been able to run the ball well since last year, and it's b/c Kiffin doesn't place a real emphasis on it. Says he talks about it all the time, but says he's more enamored with his 5 star receiving core. Said Sunday's showing was no surprise.
* Agreed with me that the back-ups aren't very good, and he blamed that on Carroll (when talking about that O-line and LBs especially). In his opinion Carroll knew he was going to the NFL years before, and just stopped putting an emphasis on recruiting. Basically said he didn't work as hard, thus the low numbers on the O-line and other places.
* Said Kessler had a better camp than Wittek, but Wittek was pushing him.
* Also swears that USC would have won if Barkley had played. Of course, I asked him if he enjoyed our freshman QB's 4 early Christmas gifts LOL.
To the 5 of you still reading...cheers! Just thought I'd share some thoughts on our most hated rival...
* It was one's vs. 2's unfortunately.
* The women. NOT. EVEN. FUNNY. It was 80 degrees, so 9 out of 10 girls had on short shorts. I can't even describe to you how many 8's, 9's and even 10's were there. Ridiculous. Plenty of recruits on hand to witness that too.
* Robert Woods is sick. I know he was going against 2's but he's just a better player than anyone out there. Love that kid (not your typical USC player). Got huge separation on almost every route, and this is coming off an injury. And he and Barkley have a great connection. Will be tough to stop.
* Kiffin STILL refuses to throw down the seams. Everything was either fades to Woods, or screens, swing passes, flats, and hitches. It's crazy. We completely shut down the short passing game last year, but he still uses it a ton.
* Pass protection was excellent against some highly recruited (albeit young) DEs at the two's. Barkley was NEVER hurried. However, they COULD NOT run the ball at all against the 2nd team defense. It was really bad. Everything was bottled up. And then their starting RB (McNeal) hurt his knee again and left the game, so DJ Morgan (who was not going to play b/c of injury) came in did nothing, and neither did Dillon Baxter (3.1 ypc and a fumble). I will say that 2nd team offense actually ran better than the first team offense (but not great either).
* I'll give credit where it's due: USC's defense was flying to the ball and playing with a great deal of passion. Will they be good enough? Not sure, but they sure did look better.
* But their LB's are not very big. Their best LB Sunday was Hayes Pullard (remember him?), a redshirt freshman who to me looked like a safety. Great player, but he'll get eaten up by Watt on the 2nd level. Then on one play, Gallipo (who WILL get hurt again) tried to tackle and strip the back-up TE at the same time, only to get run over and completely miss the tackle. Gave me a big smile as it reminded of course of Big Robert Huuuuuughes.
* Barkley had 5 TDs (seriously, their back-up DBs are HORRIBLE - more on that later), but threw his obligatory pick. He FINALLY decided to throw up the middle on a 15 yd in-route, but he stared stared stared his receiver down and the safety jumped it and picked it off. Horrible read by a 3 year-starter. Lots of groans on that one.
* Amir Carlisle - I was excited to see him b/c of all the hype he was getting. I didn't know his #, but here's what I wrote on my notes: ("#41 = meh. Doesn't do much of anything that stands out at all. How is he getting so many reps???"). Didn't find out til later that it was him. Not saying he won't be good at all...just saying THIS year, I don't worry about him.
* Kyle Prater - Wow, that is a big boy. But man, what a disappointment. Not even close to starting. Doesn't get out of his breaks quick enough, doesn't attack the ball (one INT was his fault as the DB just wanted it more on a slant), not very fast but doesn't run with any physicality. He caught a bubble screen in traffic and wanted no part of it. Ran way too erect and basically tippy-toed with the ball for a second until he got tackled. Very disappointing to see a guy I thought would be a beast. Still young, but has a ways to go.
* George Farmer was hurt, but he's been passed by his less heralded h.s. teammate Marquis Lee. Not THAT dude was impressive. Athletic as hell, wants the ball, attacks the ball, gets after it, makes acrobatic catches, goes up the middle (on one slant he got popped by TJ MacDonald nasty, gathered himself, and the got right back up and played the next play. He's going to be a good one, and I think by the end of the year he'll be starting along side Woods, not Farmer.
* They better PRAY for no injuries, and pray hard. Their back-ups are AWFUL. Their back-ups on the o-line couldn't give the QBs two seconds to throw. It was sack after sack after sack. Horrible. Their back-up DBs are awful. None of their RBs stood out. After Lee, their back-up receivers weren't good (Butler, Farmer, Prater). Their back-up LBs are either too young or not very good. Their back-up QBs are true freshman (but talented no doubt), and SUCKED against the 1's. Yeah, they were running for their lives, but even when they had time they never threw past 10 yds. They got their numbers in the 2nd half against the scrubs. Hell, even their back-up punter and kicker were awful.
* Their freshman kicker squeaked in a 48 yarder (against no rush), and got some really high kickoffs consistently to the 5 (and well-laced too), so they'll be improved there. Also got in a sweet onside kick. Their special teams will be good (they spend a TON of practice time on it).
* Didn't see when Pomee got hurt. He is a BIG BOY...just imagine a Samoan-looking dude with tons of hair flowing out the back barreling down at you with bad intentions. Pomee caught a couple of passes and had one thing in mind...get straight up the field no matter who was in his way. Liked his game.
At halftime, my buddy left and so I sat in the shade near the top with some USC reporters. I struck up a conversation with a prominent one (I won't say who it is b/c that would be sh!tty), but most of you know that I wouldn't be making this up. Remember, these guys go to EVERY practice. His thoughts:
* He's been disappointed big time with Prater. Doesn't think he has 'it'.
* Said Amir has been stellar in camp, but not as great with pads on as the camp has progressed (the proverbial 'wall').
* He said they haven't been able to run the ball well since last year, and it's b/c Kiffin doesn't place a real emphasis on it. Says he talks about it all the time, but says he's more enamored with his 5 star receiving core. Said Sunday's showing was no surprise.
* Agreed with me that the back-ups aren't very good, and he blamed that on Carroll (when talking about that O-line and LBs especially). In his opinion Carroll knew he was going to the NFL years before, and just stopped putting an emphasis on recruiting. Basically said he didn't work as hard, thus the low numbers on the O-line and other places.
* Said Kessler had a better camp than Wittek, but Wittek was pushing him.
* Also swears that USC would have won if Barkley had played. Of course, I asked him if he enjoyed our freshman QB's 4 early Christmas gifts LOL.
To the 5 of you still reading...cheers! Just thought I'd share some thoughts on our most hated rival...
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