Two teams that average 50 points and well over 500 yards a game. USC with 35 straight wins, Texas with 19 wins. To top it off, neither team has played in four weeks, when they delivered “message” victories; Texas winning the Big 12 Championship game in a 70-3 romp over Colorado, while USC’s 66-19 blowout of rival UCLA could be best described as “Message Received”.
USC and Texas will square off Wednesday in the most hyped college football game in recent memory. This game is so good on paper; it actually made the BCS look good, which has to be The Law Of Unintended Consequences at work.
Let’s break down The Game.
USC at a Glance - It’s not just the 50 point average, nor the 560 years of total offense per game, it’s not even the 7.5 yards per play (the only team to do better was Army back during the war years when the competition was watered down). It’s the staggering balance. SC is 6th rushing and fourth in the nation in passing. Picking your poison is never been so lethal.
It starts with Matt Leinart, the 2004 Heisman trophy winner. He’s seen it all. And with a 37-1 record as a starter with two titles, we need a new word beyond confident. If you’re looking for proof, take another look at the fourth-and-the-season call vs. Notre Dame. Nine yards to go, and he audibles to the skinny post to All-American Dwayne Jarrett, 61 yards later, the Trojans were ready for the kill.
Other Focal Points: Reggie Bush –When Gale Sayers is comparing Reggie to himself, nothing else needs to be said. He provides a virtually impossible matchup out of the backfield or flanked out wide. This works especially well because of LenDale White, a 230 pound hammer who keeps defenses honest. The USC Offensive Line: If this is the best offense in the history of college football, what does it say about the offensive line that protects Leinart and opens holes for Bush? Letting Reggie Bush get to the second level before he makes his first juke is like giving Superman Kryptonite immunity.
Defense – The Trojan D is not what they were last year. Darnell Bing leads a head-knocking, but vulnerable secondary. It’s the people who aren’t there that you notice. They lost 6 starters over the course of the season to injury. The result is that a defense that was number one versus the rush last year, allowed 38 more yards per game on the ground (118) this year, and has 18 fewer sacks. USC fans were buoyed by the superb defensive performance against UCLA, shutting down a team averaging 40 points a game to 6 points in the first 55 minutes. Texas is another beast altogether.
Texas at a Glance – While USC has deservedly gotten much press for their offensive assault, Texas averaged more points per game at 50.9. They did it with great depth and an unparalled triggerman in Vince Young. Young is no Jason White. White, the 2003 Heisman winner (and the only non-USC player to win it since 2002) put up gaudy numbers in the OU offense, but was exposed in the title game as a very good college QB. He simply did not have enough arm strength to challenge the USC secondary, which choked off the intermediate routes and applied steady pressure. Don’t expect the same to happen Wednesday night. Young is a 6-5 230 pounder who can run by, around, and sometimes over a defender. When in the pocket, he can shake off the initial hit and get the ball downfield.
And make no mistake – it is Young who has the strongest arm on the field. It was Young, not Leinart who led the nation in passing efficiency, with 168.9. Oh, did I mention he ran for more than 700 yards as well? He is the key for everything UT does on offense.
Focal Points –All-American safety Michael Huff has great range, tough, and the type of guy who can slow down Reggie Bush when flanked out wide. Cedric Griffin is a tough, physical corner who can pressure Jarrett and not give him clean releases. The UT Offensive Line led by an All-American Jonathon Scott outweighs USC by 40lbs a man. They are more than capable of allowing a deep Texas RB corps led by Jamaal Charles and Ramonce Taylor to run downhill. UT averaged 280- yards a game on the ground, and USC has been vulnerable to the run this year.
How to Beat USC:
Pressure. Can a highly ranked Texas defense (which has allowed 14.6 points and a mere 280 yards per game) control the line of scrimmage against a dominant USC offensive line? Texas and possibly Alabama are the only teams that can make that claim. It will take physical play from Texas to keep USC from dominating the line of scrimmage, which is where All-American Rodrique Wright must play big along with his teammates. Leinart has had his games where he got off to a very slow start, but finished with a rush. USC can’t afford that. Texas is banking on it.
Bring The Power and Attack the Edges – Cornerback has been a weakness all year for USC, as USC is vulnerable to good passing games, and especially the fade routes. UT should be able to run the ball at least some of the time on USC. The road graters upfront will earn their scholarships here as Texas expects to run consistently on the undersized, but quicker USC front seven.
Turnovers – This game will turn on them. I personally believe that Texas can only win with some help provided by USC, and a big play on special teams. Of the two, Texas is more likely, but Reggie Bush is one of the most electric kick returners in the nation. USC has been vulnerable on special teams, but that was due in part to having a slew of defensive injuries that deprived them of special team performers.
How to Beat Texas:
Stay The Course: There is a tendency to think of USC as a pass-happy bunch, but in fact, they simply carve you up underneath when they aren’t pounding you into submission. Just when a weary defense braces itself, Leinart is throwing the bombs to Jarrett and Steve Smith. Leinart cannot afford a mediocre game such as his first half against UCLA.
Where’s Vince? – USC has never seen a Vince Young, but Pete Carroll has seen a Randall Cunningham, a Steve Young, and a Donovan McNabb. He knows how to teach containment without sacrificing aggressiveness. Vince Young will get some plays, the key is keeping those plays front being backbreakers.
Intangibles – USC is essentially playing a home game. UT won here last year with Young having the game of his life. And while USC has won 35 in a row, they have had several close calls. They are beatable, but humble.
I’ll give the edge to USC simply because they’ve been there before. Vince Young may be known for his looseness, but Mack Brown isn’t. As far as the best bulletin board material, it has not been provided by either team, but by ESPN with their, “Can USC beat the 1995 Huskers/2001 Miami/2000 St. Louis Rams”? series this past week. Nothing like anointing a team ahead of time to fire up the Other Side.
Summary: I believe that Vince Young will be the best quarterback on the field, but not by a wide margin. If you are looking for the playbook on beating USC, watch the Notre Dame game. Texas is certainly better equipped than the Irish to pull it off, and USC is vulnerable defensively. However, I think Pete Carroll has to be given a decisive edge over Mack Brown, especially with four weeks to prepare. Look for UT to play as physical a game as USC has ever seen. Reggie Bush will be mauled at every step. Someone for UT will emerge (Brown?) as a national star in this game.
But USC has too many damn weapons. And they know how to get it done in the clutch on the biggest stage of all.
Jay-Z? 99 Problems. (alas for me, a woman IS one. )
I took the average, of the above, and came up with 57. So detail 57 Things I Believe In. If you believe in, oh about 85% of what I believe, you will be empowered. Men will envy you, women will desire you, and I'll wonder if you have a mind of your own.
Read on:
1. I believe that Notre Dame being good is good for all of us who hate all things Notre Dame. Ditto for the Boston Celtics and Dallas Cowboys.
2. I believe that Ty Willingham got ####, but that Charlie Weis is a better coach.
2a. I believe that U-Dub will pull the upset at South Bend next year.
3. I believe that USC has the greatest offense in college football history. I think that I couldn't duplicate those numbers on my XBox. With the cheat codes.
4. I believe that David Stern is not good for the NBA anymore, but...
4a. I believe that the NBA Player's Association doesn't have a clue.
5. I believe that the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavs are the best thing to happen in the NBA in about 20 years.
6. I beleve that the NBA dress code is a good idea done for the wrong reasons.
7. I believe that Hip Hop is something I'll look back on fondly having grown up in it, but ...
8. ...I believe that elements of hip hop is the 21st century minstel show. I can't see a big difference in Steppin' Fetchit and Lil' John on some days. And it breaks my heart.
9. I believe that if the NBA really wanted to bring fans back, they'd widen and lengthen the court, and make damn sure that scoring stays up. If I want 78-69, I'll watch UConn and Duke.
10. I believe that Wilt Chamberlain would hand Shaq his head on the basketball court.
11. I believe that Marcus Camby is trying to channel Bill Russell. Lean, skilly, left-handed shot-blocker...
12. I believe that Shawn Livingston is the truth. Now please stay healthy kid.
13. I believe that Chris Webber has never deserved the beating he takes from critics, and isn't it funny how the Kings have played without him?
14. I believe that the Colts can go 16-0.
15. I believe that an AFC title game with Tony Dungy and Marvin Lewis on the sidelines will open the floodgates of black coaches.
16. I believe that no one knows that EVERY black head coach EVER hired has gotten his team in the playoffs within TWO years. Look it up.
16a. I believe that the above proves the adage that "You have to be twice as good get half as far" is still in full effect.
17. I believe that I am not the only man who finds intellect combined with humor incredibly sexy in a woman.
18. I believe that Michael Vick is the NFL's answer to Earl Monroe and Doctor J. Vick has officially brought street ball to the NFL, and won with it.
19. I believe that Brett Farve is the most overrated great QB in NFL history, but he has more Teflon than Ronnie Ray-Gun.
20. I believe that Steve Young is the most underrated QB ever, and that Troy Aikman isn't even the best Cowboy QB ever (see Staubach, Roger)...
21. I believe that Peyton Manning is a great QB, but enough already about how he changes plays at the line. Many a good QB can and has done it. They just don't make as big a show of it as he does.
22. I believe there should be no doubt about Warren Moon being in the Hall Of Fame, based off his NFL career.
23. I believe that Mike Martz is the worst clock manager since Cinderella, and doesn't respect the running game enough. But as an offensive mind, he belongs up there with Gillman, Coryell, and Walsh.
24. I now believe that Reggie Bush just MIGHT be the next Gale Sayers.
25. I believe that steroids have no place in sports, but that the current hysteria is pathetic. Call it RoidSteria.
26. I believe that there is no drug on earth that can make Barry Bonds hit .370
27. I believe that in 15 years - at most, there will be legal drugs with no side effects that will make The Clear and The Cream look like Pez.
28. I believe that Mark McGwire used. I also believe that people who cheered him in 1999 and boo him now are hyporcrites.
29. I believe that Boston Sports Fans are the most narcissitic in the country.
30. I believe that Roger Clemens is the greatest pitcher of my lifetime. Caveat: I never saw Sandy Koufax or Bob Gibson.
31. I believe that Barry can hit 800 homers, but Hank Aaron will still get his long-overdue love, beacuse Hank Aaron is the most underrated player ever.
32. I believe that I should have tried to marry the girl who could break down the NBA better than I could, while she was working on her PhD in microbiology - and cute. I blew it. But it was a great date.
33. I believe that at least two of my big bro's kids will make money in sports. But the third kid will always have my heart as long as I get to teach her how to hit a baseball. Hell, who am I kidding? She's already my spare daughter.
34. I believe that dating a single mom can be, if nothing else, a growth experience for a decent man.
(back to sports)
35. I believe that Serena and Venus Williams will win another five Grand Slam titles between them.
36. I believe that Serena will also be remembered for bringing bodacious, brick-house black women into the so-called mainstream of beauty.
37. I believe that Lindsay Davenport gets hosed because she isn't as fine as the Williams sisters, Sharapova, et al...
38. I believe that men's tennis would benefit when the rackets are regulated so that true finesse can return to the game.
39. I believe that James Rodney ("J.R.") Richard was the Herb Score of my lifetime. He would have been in the Hall of Fame except for the stroke.
40. I believe that there are plenty of white guys in the US who could play in the NBA or as an NFL running back, but they've gotten psyched out by the images they see.
41. I believe that the irony of the above - that stereotypes can affect white people the way they do people of color in other areas of society is instructional for us all.
42. I believe that the current beer commercials with Gene Simmons and Flavor Flav are hysterical.
42. I believe that Pete Rose should be in the Hall Of Fame. But he should not get a managing job again. At least it would stop him pimping his gear at Cooperstown every damn year.
43. I believe that if you, the fan, throw something at a player, or use racial slurs or make otherwise henious remarks, you and the player should be locked in a room alone. John Green locked in a room with Ron Artest on PPV would pretty much end #### behavior at games.
44. I believe I don't like being put in a position to have to defend Ron Artest.
45. I believe that Dennis Rodman should have been on the NBA Top 50 list.
45a. I believe that Rodman is one of the five greatest rebounders in the history of the NBA. And I can prove it with stats.
Speaking of stats:
46. I believe that "Moneyball" was one of the great sports books ever.
47. I believe that all Billy Beane, Paul DePodesta, et al did was replace the Old Boys Club, with a Young Guys Club.
48. I believe that I could have been a baseball GM before I turned 30.
49. I believe that I should be a regular on The Sports Reporters.
50. I believe that Ralph Wiley was one of the great writers ever, not just in sports.
51. I believe that sports talk radio is pretty pale...and that I need to do something about it.
52. I believe that Bill Walton is the modern day Howard Cosell. Hoooorrrrible, but true. And it's good for the fans.
53. I believe that TNT's show with Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson is the most fun since Monday Night Football had Cosell and Meridth in their prime.
54. I believe that "White Men Can't Jump" and "Diggstown" are two great sports movies that no one ever mentions.
55. I believe that Hillary Swank threw a more convincing left hook in "Million Dollar Baby" than Rocky Balboa.
55a. I believe that Eddie Murphy was right - "Rocky" got people hurt in real life.
56. I believe that Tiger "Ali" Woods will get his "Frazier".
57. I believe that Roger Federer is so good, we don't have a real context for him yet. Like Wilt in the early 1960s.
And finally...
I believe I'll win this blog-off, and I'll take a break, and do this again later.
Trojans and Longhorns. Royal and McKay. Akers and Robinson. Marcus Allen v Earl Campbell, James Street and Pat Haden, Johnny 'Lam' Jones and Lynn Swann.
Now it's Leinart and Vince Young's turn. Reggie Bush and Jamaal Charles. A stiff Longhorn defense against the best offense college football has ever seen.
Now we get a National Championship game so good, we can drop the "Mythical" for this year.
The BCS got lucky - yet again.
Now ask me if I care - this year.
Yes, I'll watch some of the other games, but they're all just a setup for The Big One. Perhaps it is all hype, but when your number 1 and 2 teams win their final games (a conference championship and blood feud rivalry game) by a combined score of 136-22 (and 13 of those 22 came against the 3rd string of USC), they are worthy of the hype.
G.H. Brooks (aka "Dr. Midnight" to his loyal fan base) is a 2-time Next Great Sportswriter (NGS) Finalist. One would think that bringing game like that would net me *something* - a cool icon to mark my site, some love from Fox Sports, cash, but noooo... :-)
I'm broadcasting live from New York City after a hiatus from the blogging scene, takes on life, sports, and whatever passing thoughts are shooting through my head. The good and bad ..passionate, logical, and on point.
It's a G Thing.... you can look me up at newjack1@eart hlink.net
)
