All right, let's move forward. USC time. Obviously one of our biggest rivals. Honestly, I don't know what to think of this USC team. Prior to the Arizona game I would have said we should win this by a touchdown or two. Immediately after I watched the Arizona game I thought, wait a minute they look like a different team. I re-watched that game over the weekend and found that Arizona played horrible defense in the first half in which they gave up 28pt. The bulk of that was two huge pass plays that got USC 14 pts before you had time to even think. Arz pass coverage was terrible and the QB had all day to pass. They also let the QB scramble for 39yds on one play(he is not a running QB) and had a couple of horrendous penalties that put them in bad spots when they're defense should have gotten them some 3 and outs. The Arz defense tightened up in the second half and only gave up 10 pts and USC went back to looking like they had in previous games. I'm betting we see more of the 2nd half USC team on Sat. IF and that's a BIG IF, we don't have any turnovers, we should win this one.
Biggest recruiting weekend of the year for the Irish, have had a week off to get bumps and bruises healed and refocused for the 2nd half of the season. I expect USC to show up geeked to the max with Ogeron leading them. They'll probably all rip off their shirts rather than unbutton them in getting dressed for the game. Marquis Lee will be back and that other WR looks uncoverable. So if their OL can give Kessler some protection I expect they will get some big plays on our DB's who so far this year haven't exactly covered themselves with glory. We saw a hint of a nascent pass rush in the ASU game with Shembo and Tuitt, need to dial up some more of that, Kessler is not a statue but he's not as mobile as the Kelly kid from ASU. I'm hoping that Atkinson who did some good things vs ASU will add to that and McDaniel will continue to be steady.....the kid I want to see have a breakout game is the Folston kid.
ND <t>Looks liked Day will be back in action on sat which is great news for the pass rush and Folston who had a hamstring pull should see action also. <br/> <br/> Nice side note that usually is to ND advantage over SC...the temp may be down to 37 during game time. Not what the so cal boys like much.</t>
I'm hoping that Taurean Folston has a big game. He looks the part of a RB with power/speed, now he just needs to do it consistently. That 36yd run he had against OU really was an outstanding run, unfortunately he tweaked his hammy and we've not really seen him since then. Kelly mentioned him in his press conference today and said he's healthy again. I like Amir as well and he was the talk of preseason camp, when we opened the season with him ripping off a 40yd run I thought oh boy this going to be great but he really hasn't done a lot since then. He does run hard when he's in there but physically he's a long way from Folston. Either way I hope we get the running game going early and take the pressure off of Rees having to carry the offense.
Ray Lewis gave USC a "motivational" speech to help them get "motivated" for the Notre Dame Game. :roll: Ray Lewis motivates USC
Article on Dan Fox from ISD. It's a free article Dan Fox Also a very nice piece on what's happened to Courtney Watson. Courtney Watson Where are you Now?
I just had a 90 minute lunch with Carlo Calabrese Sr here in Howell, NJ. I have tons of backroom intel and anecdotes for my Irish e-mail list. But I don't if you can handle the truth! 8) I may have to go the "subscription" route for some of this.
Godfather, I'm sure you mean "can't" handle the truth. Please forgive me for correcting you. I can assure you that you'll have no pushback from me. My time of chasing windmills is behind me. I am resolved to respect the opinions of all my friends, which opinions may or may not disagree with mine