USC VS PSU. A USC Fan's Perspective

[Upperrwestsidetrojan]

I come in peace.

I think both teams are a lot better than the beginning. psu is a pretty young team with a new qb and the team really started to gel during the second half of the season. franklin is a very good coach, who did an amazing job at a terrible program(vandy). he is underrated.

usc is a good team now too as they had a new head coach, a whole coaching staff, a whole new offensive and defensive system, a new qb etc. the players looked lost during the first half of the season. but besides the qb position, sc is overall a very veteran team. dl the and lb's are sophs and rs sophs but the rest of the team is pretty much 3rd to 5th years players. About 3/4 of the starters were national type recruits. almost all 4 and 5 stars. and if a 3 star is starting there is usually actually 4 star right behind him. on paper, in the last years, the only team that has recruited a hair better than usc is alabama. i did an analysis. but the game is not played on paper. and i think think Franklin a better coach than helton. i do like some of the assistant coaches at usc and our dc is top notch, but i like franklin a little more. usc has a great young qb, but mcsorley is very good as well. it is basically home game for sc. I originally felt sc would win because of that but now i have the game even. i think sc is a year away. 28-27 psu.

 

[AWS1022]

I come in peace.

I think both teams are a lot better than the beginning. psu is a pretty young team with a new qb and the team really started to gel during the second half of the season. franklin is a very good coach, who did an amazing job at a terrible program(vandy). he is underrated.

usc is a good team now too as they had a new head coach, a whole coaching staff, a whole new offensive and defensive system, a new qb etc. the players looked lost during the first half of the season. but besides the qb position, sc is overall a very veteran team. dl the and lb's are sophs and rs sophs but the rest of the team is pretty much 3rd to 5th years players. About 3/4 of the starters were national type recruits. almost all 4 and 5 stars. and if a 3 star is starting there is usually actually 4 star right behind him. on paper, in the last years, the only team that has recruited a hair better than usc is alabama. i did an analysis. but the game is not played on paper. and i think think Franklin a better coach than helton. i do like some of the assistant coaches at usc and our dc is top notch, but i like franklin a little more. usc has a great young qb, but mcsorley is very good as well. it is basically home game for sc. I originally felt sc would win because of that but now i have the game even. i think sc is a year away. 28-27 psu.

This could be a preview of one of the final four games next year.

 

[harjeff]

Thanks for your comments....I would add just as SC...PSU had 2 new coordinators this year as well as a new OL coach....ALL HUGE upgrades IMO, but did take some time to get into game flow, but once they did, WOW! Been a fun year. Looking forward to a good bowl matchup.

 

[Nitt1300]

I come in peace.

I think both teams are a lot better than the beginning. psu is a pretty young team with a new qb and the team really started to gel during the second half of the season. franklin is a very good coach, who did an amazing job at a terrible program(vandy). he is underrated.

usc is a good team now too as they had a new head coach, a whole coaching staff, a whole new offensive and defensive system, a new qb etc. the players looked lost during the first half of the season. but besides the qb position, sc is overall a very veteran team. dl the and lb's are sophs and rs sophs but the rest of the team is pretty much 3rd to 5th years players. About 3/4 of the starters were national type recruits. almost all 4 and 5 stars. and if a 3 star is starting there is usually actually 4 star right behind him. on paper, in the last years, the only team that has recruited a hair better than usc is alabama. i did an analysis. but the game is not played on paper. and i think think Franklin a better coach than helton. i do like some of the assistant coaches at usc and our dc is top notch, but i like franklin a little more. usc has a great young qb, but mcsorley is very good as well. it is basically home game for sc. I originally felt sc would win because of that but now i have the game even. i think sc is a year away. 28-27 psu.

thanks for your insight

I haven't seen much of USC this season, but I know there is a lot of talent there

 

[LionJim]

I come in peace.

I think both teams are a lot better than the beginning. psu is a pretty young team with a new qb and the team really started to gel during the second half of the season. franklin is a very good coach, who did an amazing job at a terrible program(vandy). he is underrated.

usc is a good team now too as they had a new head coach, a whole coaching staff, a whole new offensive and defensive system, a new qb etc. the players looked lost during the first half of the season. but besides the qb position, sc is overall a very veteran team. dl the and lb's are sophs and rs sophs but the rest of the team is pretty much 3rd to 5th years players. About 3/4 of the starters were national type recruits. almost all 4 and 5 stars. and if a 3 star is starting there is usually actually 4 star right behind him. on paper, in the last years, the only team that has recruited a hair better than usc is alabama. i did an analysis. but the game is not played on paper. and i think think Franklin a better coach than helton. i do like some of the assistant coaches at usc and our dc is top notch, but i like franklin a little more. usc has a great young qb, but mcsorley is very good as well. it is basically home game for sc. I originally felt sc would win because of that but now i have the game even. i think sc is a year away. 28-27 psu.

I'm disappointed that the old Rivals SC board is no more, as I spent quite a bit of time there. I was always made to feel welcome and could get some good football talk in with an absolute minimum of BS.

Thanks for taking the time.

 

[GregInPitt]

As you mentioned, USC is an older, physically more mature team. That is what I am most concerned about. PSU's OL and DL are plenty talented, but very young. The only top talent, physically mature team PSU played this year was Hairbaugh's team, but UM got every break that day and their coaches also called a flawless game. Pitt's OL was very talented, but our defense was missing a good number of starters (2 top L's and Cothran, a starting DT) and the DL was very young and inexperienced to start the year.

I don't see PSU winning unless our OL can get Barkley enough running room to get 100+ yards. Saquan doesn't need much room to get 100, but against some teams he has gotten stuffed, even teams that on paper did not have exceptional defensive talent but just chose to pack the box. The extra practices should help our OL progress further, and I'm looking forward to how a talented CJF team prepares for a big bowl game. PSU fans were spoiled for decades, as when Joe had equal talent and a month to prepare, it was usually money....

 

[Upperrwestsidetrojan]

Thanks for your comments....I would add just as SC...PSU had 2 new coordinators this year as well as a new OL coach....ALL HUGE upgrades IMO, but did take some time to get into game flow, but once they did, WOW! Been a fun year. Looking forward to a good bowl matchup.

that is why it is interesting. sometimes teams completely change as they go through the season. sometimes a teams will start out 5-0, have few injuries or problems and then go into the tank. texas a and m looked good early and then they looked like they wanted to fire sumlin towards the end of the year. and psu and usc played well down the stretch. usc has tons of future pros, but i do feel they may be a little overrated. no depth on the DL at all, but two of the 3 starters are very good. the pac 12 was not that great this year. and we beat up on most of the weaker teams. granted, we did beat them soundly and then beat a very good uw team, but i am not quite convinced. our qb play is outrageous. darnold like manziel in that he bails usc out every time they are in trouble. you cant really teach that. and then our dc really got a feel for the league and shut every team down. i think we would beat stanford and utah now and the team is lot better. but we are not at bama's level. the rose bowl is a pick em game to me..

 

[tboyer]

Both teams have young rosters. Both still recovering from sanctions (though PSU's were a lot more severe). And both grew a lot during the regular season and are now playing at a high level.

I can see why USC would be favored but the Lions are not going to be out of any game as long as they have Barkley and McSorley.

My worry about this game is that USC has better offensive skill players and speed than PSU has seen all year. They don't have a running back like Clement or Barkley but they have receivers, and a very good QB, and balance. It will be interesting to see how the USC OL matches up with PSU's D-front, but if they can pass protect, the USC receivers are going to be trouble just like PSU's receivers have been for Big Ten teams.

It's very important that PSU has a chance to get healthy. Maybe Mahon can play which could mean Bates can move back inside. If Barkley's 100 percent, and PSU can get some run-blocking, PSU will be very difficult to defend.

Keep in mind PSU has had to rely on bombs all year, but Moorhead's offense is really designed to run the ball. Maybe, with time to get healthy and the bowl practices, PSU can come into this game with more of a running game than they've had all year. That would be another really important ingredient to success next year.

It's really an ideal situation for a bowl game. A super high quality opponent -- very possibly a playoff team in 2017 -- will give PSU another measuring stick that they can use in the spring and preseason practices. But the game itself is basically an exhibition. As long as PSU plays well (and they will), whether they win or lose this game it will be a great experience for all these young players.

I am not confident PSU will win, but I am confident that PSU has much better team speed than they did last time they played USC in the Rose Bowl. The USC receivers are going to catch a lot of passes probably but they will not run wild like they did in 2009 when PSU's secondary just didn't have the athletes to keep up.

 

[Option Bob]

One concern I have is the USC secondary. I read that they are all over 6', 2 of them 6-2. They might be able to negate those "jump balls" that our WRs have been getting all year. Penn State's WRs are also taller than 6' (except Thompkins), but I imagine the USC guys are also 5-star athletes who can leap as high as the Lion receivers. I think PSU needs a solid running game to beat USC.

 

[LionJim]

It's really an ideal situation for a bowl game. A super high quality opponent -- very possibly a playoff team in 2017 -- will give PSU another measuring stick that they can use in the spring and preseason practices. But the game itself is basically an exhibition. As long as PSU plays well (and they will), whether they win or lose this game it will be a great experience for all these young

Good points. It's a good situation to be in.

About USC's overall speed, I think that OSU's is comparable, so it won't be as if we'll be unused to it.

 

[Upperrwestsidetrojan]

Both teams have young rosters. Both still recovering from sanctions (though PSU's were a lot more severe). And both grew a lot during the regular season and are now playing at a high level.

I can see why USC would be favored but the Lions are not going to be out of any game as long as they have Barkley and McSorley.

My worry about this game is that USC has better offensive skill players and speed than PSU has seen all year. They don't have a running back like Clement or Barkley but they have receivers, and a very good QB, and balance. It will be interesting to see how the USC OL matches up with PSU's D-front, but if they can pass protect, the USC receivers are going to be trouble just like PSU's receivers have been for Big Ten teams.

It's very important that PSU has a chance to get healthy. Maybe Mahon can play which could mean Bates can move back inside. If Barkley's 100 percent, and PSU can get some run-blocking, PSU will be very difficult to defend.

Keep in mind PSU has had to rely on bombs all year, but Moorhead's offense is really designed to run the ball. Maybe, with time to get healthy and the bowl practices, PSU can come into this game with more of a running game than they've had all year. That would be another really important ingredient to success next year.

It's really an ideal situation for a bowl game. A super high quality opponent -- very possibly a playoff team in 2017 -- will give PSU another measuring stick that they can use in the spring and preseason practices. But the game itself is basically an exhibition. As long as PSU plays well (and they will), whether they win or lose this game it will be a great experience for all these young players.

I am not confident PSU will win, but I am confident that PSU has much better team speed than they did last time they played USC in the Rose Bowl. The USC receivers are going to catch a lot of passes probably but they will not run wild like they did in 2009 when PSU's secondary just didn't have the athletes to keep up.

USC does not actually have that many playmakers on offense. Juju smith and Ron Jones are great. But there is a dropoff after that. Our qb runs will well too so that is a factor. For a big guy he cuts extremely well. More like a big wr. USC has a young te who is a very good pass catcher and the other te is solid blocker, but that is about it. Adoree Jackson does play some offense so you do have to spy him as he is as good as it gets. But it is not like the depth of the Carroll years. I actually like psu's overall receiving core better than usc's. And Barkley is a very good back too. The big thing about sc is that the team is really fast.

But usc does a have a tailback who can play. He will probably play in the nfl. Ronald Jones is a great player. Now that the offensive line has picked up the new system, they are blocking much better. Jones is an explosive back with good power as well. He was recruited by everyone. And he is very fast. I think he ran at 10.37 100 meters. Very talented player. Best rb since reggie bush in my humble opinion.

http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ronald_jones_ii_971841.html

http://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/3912550/ronald-jones-ii

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

I come in peace.

I think both teams are a lot better than the beginning. psu is a pretty young team with a new qb and the team really started to gel during the second half of the season. franklin is a very good coach, who did an amazing job at a terrible program(vandy). he is underrated.

usc is a good team now too as they had a new head coach, a whole coaching staff, a whole new offensive and defensive system, a new qb etc. the players looked lost during the first half of the season. but besides the qb position, sc is overall a very veteran team. dl the and lb's are sophs and rs sophs but the rest of the team is pretty much 3rd to 5th years players. About 3/4 of the starters were national type recruits. almost all 4 and 5 stars. and if a 3 star is starting there is usually actually 4 star right behind him. on paper, in the last years, the only team that has recruited a hair better than usc is alabama. i did an analysis. but the game is not played on paper. and i think think Franklin a better coach than helton. i do like some of the assistant coaches at usc and our dc is top notch, but i like franklin a little more. usc has a great young qb, but mcsorley is very good as well. it is basically home game for sc. I originally felt sc would win because of that but now i have the game even. i think sc is a year away. 28-27 psu.

I'd argue that PSU has already beat two teams that are both overall better teams than USC as well as possessing better higher Nationally Ranked Defenses across the board in every major Defensive Statistical Category - both daO$U and Wisconsin are better teams and better defenses than USC. USC's most impressive win this year is against Washington.....who themselves has precisely no real "impressive wins", unless of course you want to count Colorado who has not proved capable of beating teams any better than 3-loss Pac12 "also rans". Let's not forget, USC lost to a 4-loss Utah team who also lost to 4-8 Oregon and 5-7 Cal and should no more be in the "Selection Committee's Final Ranking" than the man on the moon should be there!

Based on their "resumes" and PSU already having beaten multiple teams better than SC, PSU should win this game regardless of the massive "location advantage" SC has (i.e., PSU fans travel extremely well and will be represented at Pasadena......conversely SC has a notoriously "fair weather" fan base that does not support them well in bowl games where the outcome means nothing).....IOW, SC's supposed "home-field advantage" in Pasadena, which is not their home stadium - it's UCLA's - has been greatly exaggerated especially given that PSU will likely travel West a week early so time differential is negated.

 

[Ranger Dan]

I originally felt sc would win because of that but now i have the game even. i think sc is a year away. 28-27 psu

Playing Penn State this year will likely be easier than in the future. The concensus seems to be that USC has underachieved and Penn State has overachieved. While USC has consistently had top end talent, and seems to just reload every year, Penn State is improving their recruiting over the last few years. All of the talented skill position players are coming back and the majority of the D is back. The only place where we are likely to lose starters after this year is on the O line, but we actually have more talented O linemen being redshirted this year. If we get the young guys to fill in where needed and limit our injuries next year, we should have the players to really see what the potential of Joe Moorhead's offence and Brent Pry's defense can do. We will have another year under Moorhead and Pry's coordination and will be better able to maximize the system and our talent.

 

[Upperrwestsidetrojan]

One concern I have is the USC secondary. I read that they are all over 6', 2 of them 6-2. They might be able to negate those "jump balls" that our WRs have been getting all year. Penn State's WRs are also taller than 6' (except Thompkins), but I imagine the USC guys are also 5-star athletes who can leap as high as the Lion receivers. I think PSU needs a solid running game to beat USC.

tell and mcquay are both 6'2. iman marshall is 6'1 and very strong. but he is not that fast at all. talented, but cannot turn hips like a top cb. adoree jackson is 5'10. all of them were 5 stars and tell was the top s out of ca a few years as a 4 star.

 

[dawgduice]

USC like everyone else will play the "Temple" defense (45 guys in the box) to stop Barkley. They will relay on their secondary playing STOP the PSU receivers. So, given the way McSorley (he has become a true playmaker) has been playing I do NOT see us having trouble scoring. Can we outscore them? I believe we will. 38 - 31
Of course I have not seen the USC secondary play, so there is that.

 

[Upperrwestsidetrojan]

I'd argue that PSU has already beat two teams that are both overall better teams than USC as well as possessing better higher Nationally Ranked Defenses across the board in every major Defensive Statistical Category - both daO$U and Wisconsin are better teams and better defenses than USC. USC's most impressive win this year is against Washington.....who themselves has precisely no real "impressive wins", unless of course you want to count Colorado who has not proved capable of beating teams any better than 3-loss Pac12 "also rans". Let's not forget, USC lost to a 4-loss Utah team who also lost to 4-8 Oregon and 5-7 Cal and should no more be in the "Selection Committee's Final Ranking" than the man on the moon should be there!

Based on their "resumes" and PSU already having beaten multiple teams better than SC, PSU should win this game regardless of the massive "location advantage" SC has (i.e., PSU fans travel extremely well and will be represented at Pasadena......conversely SC has a notoriously "fair weather" fan base that does not support them well in bowl games where the outcome means nothing).....IOW, SC's supposed "home-field advantage" in Pasadena, which is not their home stadium - it's UCLA's - has been greatly exaggerated especially given that PSU will likely travel West a week early so time differential is negated.

but why does vegas favor sc? it seems like you are acting like you will blow usc out? i do not think Wisconsin is better than usc. they do have a good defense, but a weak offense. i agree with some what you say, but sc has a lot more overall talent. but i do think sc is a year away so i think it will be a very close game.

 

[Upperrwestsidetrojan]

USC like everyone else will play the "Temple" defense (45 guys in the box) to stop Barkley. They will relay on their secondary playing STOP the PSU receivers. So, given the way McSorley (he has become a true playmaker) has been playing I do NOT see us having trouble scoring. Can we outscore them? I believe we will. 38 - 31
Of course I have not seen the USC secondary play, so there is that.

the sc secondary is the strength. at least 3 of 4 will play in the nfl.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

USC like everyone else will play the "Temple" defense (45 guys in the box) to stop Barkley. They will relay on their secondary playing STOP the PSU receivers. So, given the way McSorley (he has become a true playmaker) has been playing I do NOT see us having trouble scoring. Can we outscore them? I believe we will. 38 - 31
Of course I have not seen the USC secondary play, so there is that.

Agreed..... The one thing we do know about SC's defense and secondary is that it is not as good as Wisconsin's or daO$U's overall or in the Secondary. PSU found a way to beat both daO$U and Wisconsin who are both Top 5 Defenses against the run, pass and total using compound metrics. USC is more of a mid-40's type national defense giving up just under 400 yards per game in a weak Pac12 - they surrender about 135ish on the ground and 230ish via the air, but the completion %, as well as TDs surrendered versus INTs is really poor as compared to either Wisconsin or daO$U (SC's secondary has surrendered nearly twice as many TD Passes as they have INTs - pretty much the diametric opposite of Wisconsin who was #2 in the nation by a single INT, 21 I believe, and only gave up something like 12 TDs - again, I think SCs TDs to INTs was the diametric opposite while surrendering like 230 passing ypg to Wisconsin's 200 or so.....and gave up an appreciablly higher Completion % than Wisconsin as well).

So again, PSU has already played two defenses that are significantly better than SC's in the secondary especially if SC attempts to load the box with the extra Safety (i.e., uses a "1 High" or "no high" safety look against PSU) - those defenses being daO$U and Wisconsin......the latter occurring in the B1G CCG and Wisconsin's nation-leading secondary in many composite matrix "Pass Defense Efficiency Ratings" got toasted by PSU's RPO Offense due to Wisconsin putting their Safeties on an Island too often (i.e., PSU held the "1 High" Safety in place for a count or two using the RPO play-action which was enough to create a "fatal" mismatch in the secondary repeatedly as TM threw for 4 long TD passes and engineered a 31-3 offensive performance in the last 32 minutes of the game!!!).

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

but why does vegas favor sc? it seems like you are acting like you will blow usc out? i do not think Wisconsin is better than usc. they do have a good defense, but a weak offense. i agree with some what you say, but sc has a lot more overall talent. but i do think sc is a year away so i think it will be a very close game.

Really? USC's Secondary is ranked mid-40's in the nation giving up 225 ypg, a 57% Completion % and 20 TDs relative to only 11 INTs.....

Those stats are significantly INFERIOR across the board to a Wisconsin Secondary that PSU just roasted putting up 31 points (to Wisconsin's 3 points), including 4 long TD passes in the final 32 minutes of the B1G CCG. Wisconsin only surrendered 206 ypg (which was something like 185 prior to CCG roasting by PSU), a Completion % of 52% (which was high 40s prior to CCG roasting by PSU), 12 Passing TDs Surrendered (which was 8 prior to PSU CCG roasting of that secondary) and 21 INTs #2 in the country going into B1G CCG (and remained 21 INTs as Trace McSorley put up 4 TD passes, 384 passing yards and 0 INTs on 22 of 31 passes, 71% comp. pct.

Again, both Wisconsin's and daO$U's defenses are significantly better than SC's both overall and in the secondary......and PSU beat both of them.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

Playing Penn State this year will likely be easier than in the future. The concensus seems to be that USC has underachieved and Penn State has overachieved. While USC has consistently had top end talent, and seems to just reload every year, Penn State is improving their recruiting over the last few years. All of the talented skill position players are coming back and the majority of the D is back. The only place where we are likely to lose starters after this year is on the O line, but we actually have more talented O linemen being redshirted this year. If we get the young guys to fill in where needed and limit our injuries next year, we should have the players to really see what the potential of Joe Moorhead's offence and Brent Pry's defense can do. We will have another year under Moorhead and Pry's coordination and will be better able to maximize the system and our talent.

Oh please, give me a break - over the prior 3 seasons and 5 seasons to this year, USC recorded 14 and 22 losses (IOW, they have averaged 4.7 and 4.4 losses per year respectively over the prior 3 and 5 seasons preceding this year.....they're 9-3 this year to PSU's 11-2 while PSU was playing in a much more difficult conference this year!). Your "re-loading" nonsense regarding SC from 2012 through last year is a figment of your imagination.

 

[Upperrwestsidetrojan]

Really? USC's Secondary is ranked mid-40's in the nation giving up 225 ypg, a 57% Completion % and 20 TDs relative to only 11 INTs.....

Those stats are significantly INFERIOR across the board to a Wisconsin Secondary that PSU just roasted putting up 31 points (to Wisconsin's 3 points), including 4 long TD passes in the final 32 minutes of the B1G CCG. Wisconsin only surrendered 206 ypg (which was something like 185 prior to CCG roasting by PSU), a Completion % of 52% (which was high 40s prior to CCG roasting by PSU), 12 Passing TDs Surrendered (which was 8 prior to PSU CCG roasting of that secondary) and 21 INTs #2 in the country going into B1G CCG (and remained 21 INTs as Trace McSorley put up 4 TD passes, 384 passing yards and 0 INTs on 22 of 31 passes, 71% comp. pct.

Again, both Wisconsin's and daO$U's defenses are significantly better than SC's both overall and in the secondary......and PSU beat both of them.

offenses in the pac 12 are sophisticated. they are not that easy to stop. and usc played a lot of bend dont break in the second half of the season when the games were in hand. so they gave up a lot garbage time drives. but usc shut down most offenses in the second half of their season. go look at the box scores and you will see that sc was up pretty big on most teams. also, bama just poured it on when the game was out hand. sc totally gave up. might be similar to your mich game. i dont think mich is 40 points better than psu.

the usc seconday is very good. look at the points given up after the utah game. and in most of those games there were garbage scores late. teams would sometimes get and extra 100 yards when the game was out of hand and sc's second team was in. checkout garbage time scoring on sc again the second team. asu scored 14 in the 4th. az 7 in the 4th, cal 7 in the 4th, oregon 7 in the 4th, nd 6 in the 4th. my point is that many teams got behind and put some good yardage in the second half when the game was out out reach. usc was probably giving up like 17 real points a game since utah. and other than bama, no team has scored much on us at all. adoree jackson just won the thorpe and was a 5 star. iman marshall was the no 1 cb out of hs and another 5 star. leon mcquay is a 5 star out of fl. marvel tell was 4 st. so was john lockett, chris hawkins, ykili ross, and isaiah langley. jack jones was 5 star. the db's are very good this year at usc. I feel we are a little weak against the run. the dl is mostly sophs who are talented, but young. we do have a 25 year old senior who is very good. but no depth on the dl at all. no quality depth at lb either. tons of depth on offense. and lots of depth in the secondary. during the second half of the season our secondary has played well. our dc is very good. look at the scores and the numbers closely.

 

[RCS-PSU70]

I

As you mentioned, USC is an older, physically more mature team. That is what I am most concerned about. PSU's OL and DL are plenty talented, but very young. The only top talent, physically mature team PSU played this year was Hairbaugh's team, but UM got every break that day and their coaches also called a flawless game. Pitt's OL was very talented, but our defense was missing a good number of starters (2 top L's and Cothran, a starting DT) and the DL was very young and inexperienced to start the year.

I don't see PSU winning unless our OL can get Barkley enough running room to get 100+ yards. Saquan doesn't need much room to get 100, but against some teams he has gotten stuffed, even teams that on paper did not have exceptional defensive talent but just chose to pack the box. The extra practices should help our OL progress further, and I'm looking forward to how a talented CJF team prepares for a big bowl game. PSU fans were spoiled for decades, as when Joe had equal talent and a month to prepare, it was usually money....

I am sorry but there is no way Barkley gets 100 yards against SC's front seven. If we win, it is Wisconsin all over again. But throw away from Jackson. And our D has to play second half tough for four quarters.

 

[GregInPitt]

I


I am sorry but there is no way Barkley gets 100 yards against SC's front seven. If we win, it is Wisconsin all over again. But throw away from Jackson. And our D has to play second half tough for four quarters.

Why are you sorry? There's almost a month to speculate and we'll all have to just wait and see how the game is actually played....

 

[Ct. Lion]

Lots of pros and cons from two well informed fan bases but in the final analysis it is a toss up. These two teams, in an 8 team CFP, might well be the two finalists after all is said and done. Lets just both enjoy what will be an exciting game and thank our teams for such an exciting second half of the season. With the sanctions both teams have suffered recently we both know that things can be worse and now we know that things can be better so lets enjoy the Rose Bowl and savor the future.

 

[psu00]

I come in peace.

I think both teams are a lot better than the beginning. psu is a pretty young team with a new qb and the team really started to gel during the second half of the season. franklin is a very good coach, who did an amazing job at a terrible program(vandy). he is underrated.

usc is a good team now too as they had a new head coach, a whole coaching staff, a whole new offensive and defensive system, a new qb etc. the players looked lost during the first half of the season. but besides the qb position, sc is overall a very veteran team. dl the and lb's are sophs and rs sophs but the rest of the team is pretty much 3rd to 5th years players. About 3/4 of the starters were national type recruits. almost all 4 and 5 stars. and if a 3 star is starting there is usually actually 4 star right behind him. on paper, in the last years, the only team that has recruited a hair better than usc is alabama. i did an analysis. but the game is not played on paper. and i think think Franklin a better coach than helton. i do like some of the assistant coaches at usc and our dc is top notch, but i like franklin a little more. usc has a great young qb, but mcsorley is very good as well. it is basically home game for sc. I originally felt sc would win because of that but now i have the game even. i think sc is a year away. 28-27 psu.

Thanks for the insights on SC. I think this may be one of the closest Bowl games this year. It's just a great match up of 2 of the hottest teams in the game now.

I haven't seen enough of USC this year to have a good feel on the game. I do worry that it will be a USC home game and that the long time off here may make PSU rusty for the game.

 

[Nitt1300]

This game is a bit of an "FU" to the NCAA.

I Iike that

 

[LaJolla Lion]

I


I am sorry but there is no way Barkley gets 100 yards against SC's front seven. If we win, it is Wisconsin all over again. But throw away from Jackson. And our D has to play second half tough for four quarters.

That is so naive. Barkley can take any carry to the house at any given time. It's not a given he'll run for 100, but to say there is no way is absurd.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

That is so naive. Barkley can take any carry to the house at any given time. It's not a given he'll run for 100, but to say there is no way is absurd.

Ran for 84 and a 4.4 ypc average as well as caught the winning TD on the wheel-fly route he roasted TJ Watt on.... Just say'in and Wisconsin's defense = much better than USC's....

 

[LemonEars]

One concern I have is the USC secondary. I read that they are all over 6', 2 of them 6-2. They might be able to negate those "jump balls" that our WRs have been getting all year. Penn State's WRs are also taller than 6' (except Thompkins), but I imagine the USC guys are also 5-star athletes who can leap as high as the Lion receivers. I think PSU needs a solid running game to beat USC.

Good point, Bob. We beat Wisconsin by taking advantage of their smurf DBs. That won't be the case with SC.

 

[dawgduice]

That is so naive. Barkley can take any carry to the house at any given time. It's not a given he'll run for 100, but to say there is no way is absurd.

IF USC plays the EVERYONE in the box defense, Barkley will have a tough time. Then we pass over the top. Despite McSorley doing the time and time again teams still stack the box. Oh well, good luck with that

 

[mrtailgate]

All bias aside, this and the OSU-Clemson games are the only games I circled as must watch games. The one thing I do like is that PSU will not abandon the run. I know the Eagles don't mean anything to you but they give up on the run and become a one dimensional team that is infinitely easier to defend. Barkley may struggle but he keeps you honest and there is always the threat that any crack he might get results in him going to the house.

This game looks close and like every other game, turnovers and special teams might figure mightily into the outcome. I expect at least one gadget play from each team as well during the course of the game.

Thanks for stopping by. Some of the great early season games against USC were a real treat. Would be nice to see the Trojans and PSU do one or two of those again. Have a great holiday season and here is hoping to a great game. We will just have to accept though that we are rooting for different teams.

Always loved those USC cheerleaders. They always bring their A game.

 

[LionJim]

Always loved those USC cheerleaders. They always bring their A game.

+1.

 

[Upperrwestsidetrojan]

Good point, Bob. We beat Wisconsin by taking advantage of their smurf DBs. That won't be the case with SC.

USC's db's are all little different. Iman Marshall is a big/super strong physical corner who is not that fast. Has th hips of a safety. He has great instincts and sticks to players like glue, but has some trouble with faster players. He is great at bump and run and knocking player's off their routes. Very strong. He usually covers the bigger stronger, but slower receivers. Very competitive player. He used to get called for pi and holding a lot. because he won't let players get away from him even if he has to cheat to do it. But he holds a lot less lately. he has improved a ton. He is great tackler and can easily take down big backs. Adoree Jackson is small and usually plays against the opposing teams best wr. Also, a very competitive guy. He is much more effective in bump and run than in zone. Decent tackler tackler, but not strong at all. Very fast though. Can turn hips with anybody in the country. He even plays well on tall wr's as his leaping ability is off the charts. I think he ran like 10.33 or 10.38 100. Just missed the olympic team as a long jumper. But his play can be erratic at times. And he occasionally gets burned by jumping routes and going for int's. Leon Mcqauy is a tall lean safety. Very good tackler. Good in coverage, but not as a good as the corners. Very fast and has hips like corner. Marvell Tell is similar, but he must work on his one on one tackling. He is tall and fast and goes for the big hit. Better in coverage than mcquay, but more erratic as a tackler. Chris Hawkins is a well rounded player who is a field general. He is a very average player who kind of makes up for it with knowing how to read offenses perfectly. He made the all pac 12 team on work ethic. He is a pretty good player who lacks the physical prowess of the other guys. But a really hard worker.

 

[Upperrwestsidetrojan]

That is so naive. Barkley can take any carry to the house at any given time. It's not a given he'll run for 100, but to say there is no way is absurd.

It rare than backs take anything to the house for more than 40 or 50 yards. USC great team speed. But over the years stanford and other teams have pounded us up the middle for consistent 7 and 8 yard gains.

 

[Upperrwestsidetrojan]

IF USC plays the EVERYONE in the box defense, Barkley will have a tough time. Then we pass over the top. Despite McSorley doing the time and time again teams still stack the box. Oh well, good luck with that

usc does really really stack the box that much. they do not blitz that much either. but it is hard to pass over the top. we have good db's.

 

[LaJolla Lion]

It rare than backs take anything to the house for more than 40 or 50 yards. USC great team speed. But over the years stanford and other teams have pounded us up the middle for consistent 7 and 8 yard gains.

Barkley is a freak! He can break a long one against any team. It doesn't happen every week, but to say he can't get 100 is a joke. That is like me saying no way USC can stop him. Blanket statements are dumb.

 

[Upperrwestsidetrojan]

Barkley is a freak! He can break a long one against any team. It doesn't happen every week, but to say he can't get 100 is a joke. That is like me saying no way USC can stop him. Blanket statements are dumb.

the whole usc team is full of freak athletes. usc gets the best kids in a state with a 40m population. and they get guys from all over the country including from florida. last year they got a te from pa with like 45 offers.

 

[LaJolla Lion]

the whole usc team is full of freak athletes. usc gets the best kids in a state with a 40m population. and they get guys from all over the country including from florida. last year they got a te from pa with like 45 offers.

So you're going to be that annoying dumb fan. Congrats! We call you spyker on our pay site.

 

[Upperrwestsidetrojan]

So you're going to be that annoying dumb fan. Congrats!

what did i say that was dumb? why the insult? I am saying that psu can beat usc, but they probably wont outrun usc. usc is a very fast team. sometimes teams have run the ball well against usc. but they dont get very many long runs. and i was saying that there are a number of guys at sc that can easily run with barkley. that is a fact.

see below. sc has a lot guys at this speed and faster. and Barkley is bigger now so probably not quite this fast. but yes, he is fast for a big strong back. our rb back, ronald jones, has run a 10.37 100m. so usc is used to seeing speed.

Penn State hopes that incoming freshman running back SaQuon Barkley can bring another element of speed to its backfield when he arrives this summer, and he showed off his wheels on the track on Monday afternoon. The former four-star prospect clocked a school-record 10.74-second effort in the 100-meter dash in a double dual-meet win.

 

[LaJolla Lion]

what did i say that was dumb? why the insult? I am saying that psu can beat usc, but they probably wont outrun usc. usc is a very fast team. sometimes teams have run the ball well against usc. but they dont get very many long runs. and i was saying that there are a number of guys at sc that can easily run with barkley. that is a fact.

see below. sc has a lot guys at this speed and faster. and Barkley is bigger now so probably not quite this fast. but yes, he is fast for a big strong back. our rb back, ronald jones, has run a 10.37 100m. so usc is used to seeing speed.

Penn State hopes that incoming freshman running back SaQuon Barkley can bring another element of speed to its backfield when he arrives this summer, and he showed off his wheels on the track on Monday afternoon. The former four-star prospect clocked a school-record 10.74-second effort in the 100-meter dash in a double dual-meet win.

You have to be very young. Every USC player is incredible. 45 offers... wow. From Florida too. Amazing!