Huskies Football

Looking ahead: USC TROJANS

USC TROJANS AT WASHINGTON HUSKIES

When: 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29
Where: Husky Stadium
TV: ABC or ESPN or ESPN2

2006 RECAP: Despite shocking Pac-10 losses to Oregon State and UCLA – and a close call at home against the Huskies (28-22) – the Trojans still finished the season by crushing the Michigan Wolverines in the Rose Bowl. Four the fifth consecutive season, USC made it to a BCS bowl game, finished in the Associated Press's top four and won the Pac-10 crown.

And that was the season the Trojans were supposed to be vulnerable. Gone were the offensive superstars like Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush. This wasn't the untouchable offensive juggernaut of the year previous, but USC still led the conference in with 263.8 passing yards per game and 30 passing touchdowns as John David Booty emerged as yet another star. The redshirt junior earned First Team All-Pac 10 while leading the league in passing average per game (257.5 ypg), touchdowns (29), passing efficiency (144.0) and total offense (253.4 ypg).

The defense also blossomed into the Pac-10's best allowing just 19 touchdowns and 195.8 yards per game as six Trojans landed on the all-conference first or second teams.

2007 OUTLOOK: Guess what? The Trojans should be even better this season. The defense is already being touted as one of the best ever with 10 returning starters from the '06 team. (Three others also saw some starting action.)

The linebacking corps is just sick. Brian Cushing, Rey Maulauga and Keith Rivers? You've got to be kidding me.

Scout.com's Brian Matthews watched the Trojans' spring practice and marvels: "If there is a better group of a linebackers in the nation, I've yet to see them. This current group of linebackers at SC is scary good, and I don't see them letting down any of the mile long expectations placed upon them by seemingly everyone," he wrote.

Don't think just because the middle of the field will be abuzz with activity that the other facets of the defense aren't stacked, as well.

The line boasts All-American tackle Sedrick Ellis, who may have been a first-round draft pick had he left after his junior season.

Terrell Thomas and Cary Harris are back on the corners and Seattle product Taylor Mays and Kevin Ellison man the safety spots. Mays, who prepped at O'Dea, earned the Pac-10's co-Freshman of the Year honor.

There is just so much depth, too, at all the positions – including the country's top recruits (LB Chris Gallipo, LB Malcolm Smith, DE Everson Griffen, DE Michael Reardon).

Offensively, Booty has another year of experience under his belt, even if his ultra-talented receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith are now in the NFL.

And the tailback corps will benefit from tons of top-notch internal competition. If all the freshmen report, the Trojans will have nine tailbacks on the roster, including super recruits Joe McKnight and Marc Tyler.

PEEK AT PERSONNEL: Think that replacing USC's most productive wideout combo in history will be a colossal challenge? Think again.

Junior Patrick Turner (29 rec, 272 yds, 9.4 avg, 2 TD in 2006) is a star in the making. Sophomores Travon Patterson and Vidal Hazelton saw limited action last season and have plenty of upside, but redshirt Jamere Holland is ready to explode – if he can stay healthy. The speedster won the California 100 and 200-meter titles in '05 and also ran the first leg of the sprint relays at the NCAA Championships for USC. But Holland had to sit out last year with a broken collarbone and has injured a hamstring this summer. If he stays injury-free, though, watch out. Of course, USC also has two prep All-Americans in the fold, too, in Brandon Carswell and Ronald Johnson.

WHAT THE HUSKIES CAN EXPECT: I'm wondering when was the last time the Huskies got shut out at home… Nov. 6, 1976. Cal beat UW 7-0 in Don James' second year.

Seriously, it is entirely too early to make a brash prediction like that, but the Huskies are going to have to do something they haven't done much of since I started covering the team upon Tyrone Willingham's hire. What is that, you ask?

To play beyond their talent, out of their minds, completely mistake-free and ultimately inspired.

That would be something to see.