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Can you guys have Ivan’s opinion on why our linemen were outphysicaled and tossed around like rag dolls? Have they made changes to their strength and conditioning routines to address this or is it business as usual.

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He's listed as 2018 in his profile but I believe he didn't sign and he's a 2019 player now. I'll check up on him to see what's happening.

juice is not good for you. Ask any diabetic, too much Sugar.

John doing work against a tough Canadian team, but full disclosure the womens curling competition especially the "Russian" team have been must watch tv for me...

USC lost both of its starters on the defensive line and is left with a myriad of younger options to take their place. When USC is in nickel and using two down linemen, who would you start on the defensive line? When USC is in a 3-4, who would be your three down linemen?

Here are my picks:

Caleb Tremblay and Brandon Pili in the nickel.

Tremblay, Pili and Marlon Tuipulotu in the 3-4.

IMO, you have to assume that Tremblay is going to be one starter. He's a JuCo guy. Pili has work to do. He's very raw, which we saw last year, but is a high-end athlete who I think will eventually mature into a star on the defensive line. Tuipulotu is my third pick. USC doesn't have a lot of options and I think he's probably the next best one. I am concerned about the fact that he's coming off of back surgery and we don't know how ready he'll be for spring. But I'm not convinced that any of the other younger defensive linemen are any more ready than he'll be, so he's my pick for No. 3.

As for the older defensive linemen, I like Christian Rector better at Porter Gustin's rush end spot. I don't think he's big enough to be on the inside in this defense but perhaps he could excel as a defensive end in a 3-4. I'm not sold on Malik Dorton on the interior either.

Remember when we were going to sign a boatload of top prospects from Augustus Hawkins HS? Boy, that fell apart faster than a Trump conspiracy theory:

DB Greg Johnson ('17) - Lone USC player or commit
WR Jody Lewis ('17) - Removed from team
WR Jalen Hall ('18) - USC-lock until USC lost interest. Signed with Oregon
DB Marcus Johnson ('18) - Long-time commit forced out for better options. Listed as undecided
S Aashari Croswell ('18) - See Hall. Signed with ASU
WR Eric Fuller ('18) - Offered, but never really pursued. Went from 4-star to 2-star. Undecided
LB De'Gabriel Floyd ('19) - One-time commit, now undecided

For those keeping score at home, that's 7 offers, 4 commits, 2 heavy leans, 2 enrollees, and 1 current player or commit

https://n.rivals.com/news/passing-down-inland-empire-recruiting-news

Thanks to Adam Gorney for this!

The game: Nowhere near the pulse pounder that the Oregon game was but close until mid second half with USC stretching a 3 point lead to winning by 13. OSU had 2 very good players in coaches son Tinkle , and Eubanks who accounted for half of their points, 60% of their rebs and both blocks. Both teams scored heavily in the paint. The refs sort of stayed out of this one, The defense came together and held OSU to its second lowest point total in a game this season. The Oregon sweep (4 games) in a season was last accomplished in 2008. Again, about 1/2 of a full arena.

The heroes. As Jonah Mathews was the shooting star vs. Oregon, he went for 0 points but Elijah Stewart had the hot hand going 9-10 with 5-5 in 3 pointers vs. 0-9 for everyone else on 3's wearing the home unis. Metu blocked 3 and stole 1 to go along with 14 points, 7 rebs, with 6-7 FTs. McLaughlin had 11 assists and has that lob pass above the rim down to perfection. The FT which nearly killed USC last game hit 81% this time, 9 points better than OSU.

The Missing Boatwright factor. First off the team used only 3 other players besides the starters. The bench got only 9 points , 7 of those by Usher who played a half game. Racocevic started at center, Metu slid to Power forward, and 3 guards started. In a way that helped Metu who sometimes slid from the outside in for those lob passes. The position change may also have helped Metu with making fouls (1). But the 3 point shot of Bennie was missed. This time Stewart to the rescue but the lack of Boatwright's 3 point shooting could hurt in the future.

Where USC is now The Trojans were ranked #44 RPI below AZ (16) and ASU (29 -due to pre-season wins). UCLA is #47, UW=50, Utah= 52. USC is considered a #11-12 seed. They need to win the upcoming Utah and UCLA games to cement their position. BTW yesterday in the top 25, 4 teams won, 9 teams lost. So I think like one announcer said that 40 teams could make the top 4, and likely 10 of those could win it all. That scares me a bit since inherent biases makes close determinations shift come March madness.

USC averaged 4.77 yards per carry and allowed 4.35 yards per rush attempt on defense. That difference, +0.42, is its smallest since 2014 and the 4.35 average is the third highest for a USC defense since 1991.

1. When was the last time the Trojans allowed more than 4.35 yards per carry?
2. When was the last time USC allowed more yards per carry than it averaged itself?

Hints: Your favorite defensive coordinator is involved in one of these. And perhaps your least favorite in the other.

Sources tell us offensive linemen Nathan Smith and Cole Smith are considering medical retirements, offensive lineman Roy Hemsley is leaving the team, and wide receiver Jalen Greene is planning to transfer. Sources have also indicated defensive back Jamel Cook intends to transfer, though he had communicated to a teammate recently he is staying at USC for now.

We'll update you when we learn more.

Let's see who everyone picks at the next trojan to have a big break out year.

My pick is: Taylor Katoa LB
He was busting in the lineup as a true freshmen last
year before he got hurt. I think he is going to be a 'player.

I know the days have been set. Does anyone have the times these practices will take place?

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That's come serious cheddar..

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Murf Baldwin is back at it with video, analysis and a recruiting update on a Class of 2019 Georgia prospect who plans to visit USC in the coming weeks.

Four-star CB Kenyatta Watson 'undoubtedly interested' in USC

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Swann confirmed in this article that Melton was suspended because a family friend took a plane ticket and hotel from a would be agent.

That seems crazy to me. Melton lost a whole season because a family friend took a plane ticket and hotel room? Presumably Melton had no knowledge of it. How can Cash Newton be allowed to play for a national championship when his father was out soliciting $100K for Newton's services, but Melton loses a whole season because of a plane ticket and a hotel room?

That is so bogus. The NCAA truly whipped us.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...tional-neglect-usc-trojans-basketball-program

USC Men’s Basketball Release Feb. 16, 2018

BOATWRIGHT TO MISS REST OF SEASON WITH A LEFT KNEE INJURY -

TheJuniorIsUSC’sSecond-LeadingScorerAndRebounder-

LOS ANGELES – USC junior forward Bennie Boatwright will miss the rest of the 2018 season after suffering a left patella injury during Thursday’s (Feb. 15) Trojan victory over Oregon. He will be sidelined several months and surgery is not expected.

“It’s just a shame when injuries happen to such hard workers and outstanding young men like Bennie,” said USC head coach Andy Enfield. “Bennie has been such a valuable part of our program and he was having another very good year, being a factor on offense and defense. As we enter our stretch drive this season, we’ll miss having him, but we’ll be there to support him in his recovery every step of the way.”

Boatwright was averaging 13.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 2018, both second among the Trojans. The three-year starter is averaging 13.0 points per game in his career and is 22 points away from 1,000 career points scored.

Boatwright missed 17 of USC’s first 22 games last season, first while recovering from a summer labrum injury and then after spraining a ligament in his left knee at San Diego.

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Putting aside the nature of situation, what do you guys think about the impact on the position?

I think the guys who will benefit most are Josh Imatorbhebhe and Randal Grimes. They're both players that I don't think would've had much of an impact at USC with Lewis on the roster, but who I now think could fill a lot of Lewis' role (although I think Lewis was definitely more talented than either). They still may get passed over by Devon Williams, but the outlook's a lot rosier than it was before this. We still have too many WRs to satisfy the need for them all to get PT and catches though (Young and Sidney especially).