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Updated: August 20, 11:07 AM ET USC should again be the Pac-10's best By Ted Miller Special to ESPN.com |
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USC Trojans
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Coach: Pete Carroll (17-8, 3rd season) 2002 overall record: 11-2 Conference record: 7-1 Returning starters Offense: 6 Defense: 6 Kicker/Punter: 2 2002 statistical leaders (* - returners) Rushing: Sultan McCullough (814 yds) Passing: Carson Palmer (3,942 yds) Receiving: Mike Williams* (1,265 yds) Tackles: Matt Grootegoed* (81) Sacks: Matt Grootegoed* (8) Interceptions: Jason Leach* (4) Outlook: Predicting a USC renaissance has been an annual occurrence. It's also been a great way to look foolish. But not this time (cross fingers now). A team losing its entire backfield -- including a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback -- as well as three of four starters in the secondary would appear to face an uphill battle in the Pac-10. But USC appears poised to reload, though the defense most likely will have to carry the day. Replacing Carson Palmer is the first order of business, and Matt Leinhart emerged from spring practices with a slight lead over Matt Cassell and Brandon Hance. Incoming freshman John David Booty, who skipped his final season of -- get this -- high school, also has been generating some buzz. Tailback Herchel Dennis saw limited action last year, and he figures to face strong challenges from a triumvirate of incoming prep All-Americans: Reggie Bush, Chauncey Washington and LenDale White. The offensive line returns four of five starters, including bookend tackles: super-sophomore Winston Justice and Jacob Rogers. An already strong crew of receivers, led by Mike Williams and Keary Colbert, also will get a boost from the Trojans top-rated recruiting class. The defensive line may be as good and deep as any crew in the country, particularly with tackle Shaun Cody returning from a knee injury. A new middle linebacker must be found, but Matt Grootegoed and Melvin Simmons are outstanding on the outside. Cornerback Marcell Allmond is the only returning starter in the secondary, but four players have significant experience. Freshman safety Darnell Bing, a 2002 signee who joined the team in the spring, could become a star while replacing All-American Troy Polamalu. The schedule will test the Trojans. It includes Auburn, BYU, Hawaii and Notre Dame and a stretch of four road games in five weeks. Key game: USC's visit to Auburn on Aug. 30 could become one of the key national games of the season. USC appears to be the class of the Pac-10; the Tigers are tops in the SEC, annually a perch for a national title contender. If the Trojans can win in the sweltering humidity of the Deep South to open the season, they will take that national title expectation for themselves. Keep an eye on: Grootegoed is undersized at 205 pounds, but his eight sacks and 16.5 tackles for a loss last year make him a key playmaker behind one of the nation's best defensive lines. It won't matter who plays quarterback if no one can score on the Trojans. It's a good year if: USC wins the conference and earns a Rose Bowl berth. If that happens, the rest of the Pac-10 should be quaking in their cleats because the Trojans could be even better in 2004. Ted Miller covers the Pac-10 for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
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