uscrebel
08-22-2005, 09:55 AM
Went to the Coliseum yesterday to watch the open scrimmage. It was difficult to say what is real and what isn't because the A-team offense played the B-team defense and the A-team defense played the B-team offense, but here is the future of USC football in a couple of observations.
Leinhardt looked okay...a bit rusty...but okay. Booty, however, was awesome. He threw the ball so hard it dang near disappeared.
Reggie Bush touched the ball about six times and had two long touchdowns (60+ yards) one of which was called back for a holding penalty.
Every receiver caught at least one pass...Jarrett snatched one away from a DB (probably a freshman) and ran ten yards with the DB hanging onto him.
Again, remember it was the No.2 defense, but the OL was immovable. Once when Booty dropped back we timed him. He was in the pocket for 11 seconds before throwing and even then he was not in danger.
Defense is a bit different story. The DL is still awesome. The No. 2 Offense included Booty and Sanchez at QB as well as Herschel Dennis and Desmon Reed at tailback...both starters on any other D-One squad. Running against them was very difficult.
Pass rush was frightening. Sanchez, the freshman, looked like a deer in the headlights most of the afternoon. Booty got hit a couple of times, but threw no interceptions
LB's and CB's played very well, there is no apparent drop off from last year. The one weak link was the play of the Safeties. It was not real clear if they would be able to handle man coverage on deep routes. Both Booty and Sanchez were able to complete long passes.
I assume that whoever beats SC this year will do two ways. First, keep the ball away from the offense. If this offense gets the ball, they are going to score. Second, keep the defense on its heels and mix run and short pass with an occaisional long toss.
They look very, very good, but they ARE beatable.
Leinhardt looked okay...a bit rusty...but okay. Booty, however, was awesome. He threw the ball so hard it dang near disappeared.
Reggie Bush touched the ball about six times and had two long touchdowns (60+ yards) one of which was called back for a holding penalty.
Every receiver caught at least one pass...Jarrett snatched one away from a DB (probably a freshman) and ran ten yards with the DB hanging onto him.
Again, remember it was the No.2 defense, but the OL was immovable. Once when Booty dropped back we timed him. He was in the pocket for 11 seconds before throwing and even then he was not in danger.
Defense is a bit different story. The DL is still awesome. The No. 2 Offense included Booty and Sanchez at QB as well as Herschel Dennis and Desmon Reed at tailback...both starters on any other D-One squad. Running against them was very difficult.
Pass rush was frightening. Sanchez, the freshman, looked like a deer in the headlights most of the afternoon. Booty got hit a couple of times, but threw no interceptions
LB's and CB's played very well, there is no apparent drop off from last year. The one weak link was the play of the Safeties. It was not real clear if they would be able to handle man coverage on deep routes. Both Booty and Sanchez were able to complete long passes.
I assume that whoever beats SC this year will do two ways. First, keep the ball away from the offense. If this offense gets the ball, they are going to score. Second, keep the defense on its heels and mix run and short pass with an occaisional long toss.
They look very, very good, but they ARE beatable.