The Big Tease said:
Scott, I will give you 2 reasons why you wont beat Texas. Tatupu and Grootegoed.
Your linebackers are significantly worse this year. Not saying they are bad, but obviously has weakened your defense, hence the run defense giving up more than a yard per carry more this year. Still a good unit but not dominant by any means. The pass defense has also taken a hit from last year.
Groots and Tatupu were excellent. Groots just got cut in NFL but Tatupu is starting on Seahawks. But the 2 freshman and 1 sohomoroe (Rivers, Mauluga and Cushing) are the 3 most talented LB trio in the country and fastest LB unit in the country. All 3 might start this Sat. against Fresno St. for first time because of injuries. Only thing lacking is exerience but so far all 3 have played exceptionally well but Rivers has been the only starter all year. Vince Young cannot run around those 3 LB's I mentioned above. These 3 players were all 5-star recruits out of high school.
DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT go by stats when judging this USC D. USC defense only has played 2 games from start to finish. Every other game they been pulled early and reserves got in. 2nd, USC suffered ton of injuries and player changes throughout the year. #3 it was young D 1h of year and now much more experienced.
but there is no better defense in the country than the Buckeyes. And there is NO DEBATE as to who has the best trio of linebackers in the country.
I think I would take USC D packaged
with Pete Carroll as DC over Ohio St. D on Jan. 4th. Not joking. But I completely understand if you disagree. Remember, Ohio St. never plays on the road and don't go against better offenses than USC. So why do you assume Ohio St. has the better defense?
Didn't Ohio St. give up 456 yards to Michigan St.?
Didn't Ohio St. give up 578 yards to Minnesota?
Didn't Ohio St. give up 378 yards to Texas?
2/3 were home games for OSU!
USC D has played more nationaly ranked offenses than OSU and USC has played more ROAD games than OSU. 5 of USC first 7 games were on road against super high powered offenses (before their starting QB's got injured)
Most important stat is USC starting D has not played as many minutes as OSU starting D. That is a FACT! So stats are worthless to compare. USC starting D has only played 4 quarters twice all year and most of time barely played 3 quarters. Stats mean squat when you talk about USC. Especially ppg. USC given up ton of special teams pts that are assumed the starting D gave up.
All in all, I'll take USC D over Ohio St. on Jan. 4th if I had a choice. USC held ND under all their averages @ND with ND getting 2 weeks to prepare and ND offense having the ball for 38min. I don't think OSU could do the same. Most of ND stats came at end of 4th when USC D was spent.
I am just saying please do not think that your defense will go in there and be able to shut down Vince, because I know for a fact that he has got both the run and pass that should keep USC off balance.
I was told USC couldn't shut down OU offense. I was told Peterson would run for at least 100 yards and more like 200 yards. I was told OU had the best OL in CFB. OU in fact had NFL talent across the board on that team and experienced talent too! USC shut them down!
I'll let you in on a secret. After each and every BCS bowl game (Iowa, Michigan, and OU) USC defensive players said they new every play their opponent was running. Nothing new. This is how well coached and prepared USC is and the results can't be disputed. Texas has the most vanilla offense of any team USC plays ALL year. It is a high school offense. Carroll will have it schemed.
Remember, Carroll was the best in the business in the NFL as DC. He is now going up against Mack Brown's offense? GOOD LUCK TEXAS! USC without a doubt will be the fastest defense they have seen all year. That includes Ohio St. Take all the 40 times of USC players and OSU doesn't match up. Especially at DL and safety. Pac 10 teams are also faster than Big 10 teams. OSU defense might have been more experienced than USC, but USC plays Texas Jan. 4th and not Sept/Oct.
If I am Texas I be worried that OSU moved the ball on Texas D but kicked FG's. OSU offense or USC offense? USC scores TD's not FG's. USC is not conservative like OSU. OSU dropped a wide open TD pass @OSU. OSU still put up 22pts on Texas.
I don't get why people "hype" Ohio St. defense but always downplay USC defense because of stupid stats. I guess USC will have to prove the country wrong again! USC D was downplayed before Iowa, Michigan, and OU. Most of the arguments were stats, not physical, and weak Pac 10. :shrug:
Miami D vs USC O would be something special! :scared
