USC Football Reaches Crossroads
USC has talent, but seems to lack an identity and leadership. They need to find it before next season.
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Head Coach Pete Carroll of the USC Trojans reacts after a touchdown to the Stanford Cardinal to trail 42-21 during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 14, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pete Carroll
USC football is having a bad year. That is not news, and the embarrassing loss to Stanford Saturday was the period on that sentence. Maybe the exclamation point. But good programs have off years, the real question becomes:
Is USC football in decline?
What is troubling about what has happened to the Trojans the second half of the season is a seeming loss of identity. A loss of leadership. Particularly on the defensive side of the ball — in the last four games they have given up an average of 30 points and 452 yards per game. Defense is where Pete Carroll made his name, it is where USC’s BCS runs were built, but this year it is the weak link. It wouldn’t matter if USC could bring back Mark Sanchez or Carson Palmer with a few weeks of eligibility, if the defense is giving up 48 points, it will be very hard for USC to win.
USC lost nine starters off its defense last year (plus quarterback Sanchez and two coordinators). There was bound to be a little regression. But this big step back the last few weeks hints at larger problems. Ones that if continued to allow to grow could turn USC into the Florida State or Miami teams of recent years — plenty of talent but without an identity or direction.
USC needs to find those things and it needs to come from the players as much as the coaches. It starts with Matt Barkley but other guys need to step up.
USC’s road in the Pac-10 is not going to get easier. Stanford will have quarterback Andrew Luck and the entire offensive line back (fortunately for Cardinal opponents Toby Gerhart likely will not be back, he can go pro in baseball or football). Oregon is finding its footing as a program, Arizona is coming around under the other Stoops brother. Even UCLA is getting more talented, even if it is not showing on the field lately.
USC still has as much or more talent than anyone else in the Pac-10, heck as much as anyone in the nation. It just needs a direction, some focus, some leadership. USC has a couple more games this year to find it, because next year will be a big test of where the program is headed at a crossroads.
