2008 USC Trojans Football


July 29, 2008 | Posted By Larry Cook

In seven years as USC head coach, Pete Carroll has led the Trojans to an incredible 76-14 record.  USC appears primed for another National Championship run this season, especially in a down Pac-10 conference.  With only four starters returning on offense, the Trojans will have to rely on a new quarterback and Carroll’s recruiting prowess to get the job done this year.  Let the team at Info Plays show you how far Carroll can take them with our 2008 USC Trojans football predictions below.

Offense:

Pete Carroll picked Mark Sanchez over Mitch Mustain in the spring to answer the lingering question of which guy was going to be the Trojans’ starting quarterback.  Sanchez got three starts last season due to an injury to John David Booty and it gave him a better grasp on the system.  No USC just has to figure out who Sanchez is going to hand the ball to, throw to, and who is going to block for him.  There are plenty of highly regarded recruits.  Stafon Johnson, Joe McKnight and C.J. Gable give USC a better trio on the backfield than a ear ago.  Broderick Green is a big back for goal-line situations.

McKnight was one of the most hyped freshman last year and showed why with a 206-yard outburst in their Rose Bowl victory over Illinois.  Vidal Hazelton, Patrick Turner and David Ausberry all started last season at receiver, but none dominated.  Arkansas transfer Damian Williams, and All-SEC freshman two years ago, and the speedy Ronald Johnson will each figure into the equation at wideout.  These are good problems to have knowing that the Trojans have plenty of depth.  Though the offense line will featured four new starters, guard Jeff Byers is a veteran that can help make the transition for these new guys a much easier one.

Defense:

The defense has just one question, but it’s a big one.  Who’s going to replace now-NFL player in nose tackle Sedrick Ellis?  The main candidates rest in Averell Spicer and Christian Topou.  This issue offers such a high magnitude that three-year starting defensive tackle Fili Moala might flip over to nose tackle, too.  Carroll wants and even quicker defense and he’s stuck linebacker Clay Mathews on the defensive line in passing situations to do so.  USC expects sophomore end Everson Griffen to live up to his hype as one of the nation’s top recruits in ‘07.

If the defensive line is a concern, the linebackers most certainly are not.  Have you ever heard of another team that can say they are starting two Rose Bowl MVP’s?  USC can say that this season with Brian Cushing winning the award in 2008 and Rey Maualuga winning in 2008.  The third starter is Kaluka Maiava who replaced first-round pick Keith Rivers towards the end of the season last year and did a nice job for the Trojans.  The secondary is one of the best units in the country, led by safeties Taylor Mays and Kevin Ellison.  There are plenty other secondary players with plenty of starting experience as well.

USC Football Predictions at Info Plays:  1st in the Pac-10

Pete Carroll has led the Trojans to 11 or more wins for six straight seasons, a feat never before heard of in college football.  As usual, USC is judged not by overall wins but by national championships.  It could all come together to lead to that, but Mark Sanchez must avoid interceptions and the Trojans cannot afford another “ Stanford Moment.”  Look for this championship defense to carry the load in ‘08 as the Trojans take down yet another Pac-10 title.

Pac-10 Wins Expected in ‘08:  at Oregon State, OREGON, ARIZONA STATE, at Washington State, at Arizona, WASHINGTON, CALIFORNIA, at Stanford

Potential Scares/Losses:  at UCLA

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