College football is less than forty-eight hours away from starting!! I am unbelievably pumped for what should be another epic season!
It was with great interested that I read about USC coach Pete Carroll naming true freshman phenom Matt Barkley to the starting QB position for the Trojans home opener against San Jose State. Sure, it came from left-field, but with anointed starter (and back-up for much of last year to Mark Sanchez) Aaron Corp down with a fractured bone in his foot, it seems like an idea that could pay MASSIVE dividends for USC.
Word from USC spring ball was that Barkley was every bit as impressive as the much-ballyhooed Mitch Mustain, who transferred over from Arkansas a couple of seasons back. The difference is that Barkley has a few more years ahead of him in the USC system as opposed to Mustain, who is entering his junior year. And besides, SC are opening against San Jose State. It's not exactly a powerhouse game, which makes this the perfect time for Pete Carroll to try something different.
That said, Carroll may reconsider and reevaluate his position after the first game, before the Trojans travel to Columbus, Ohio for a very exciting Week Two match-up with Terelle Pryor and the Ohio State Buckeyes. On the other hand, there aren't many better baptisms of fire than Columbus on a Saturday night for a young QB. Though, Coach Carroll will likely remember how his own defense hounded Terrell Pryor mercilessly in his first starting game when OSU and USC met in Los Angeles a year ago.
One thing we must all remember here is that Pete Carroll is never going to compromise his play book for the sake of bringing in a kid. That means that Barkley knows his stuff. He'll be fine and will only get better with age and experience. It could be a QB dynasty.
A little about Matt Barkley...
Barkley graduated from the same high school, Mater Dei, as Matt Leinart. That high school as produced two Heisman Trophy winners. Stand-out Hawaii gunslinger Colt Brennan went there, too, and he's not short on talent! There's some good lineage for you. Barkley will be the first true freshman QB to start for USC in the Pete Carroll era. Respected QB coach Steve Clarkson described Barkley as a cross between Joe Montana and Tom Brady. Just imagine that combo for a second!! Furthermore, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper has big wraps on Barkley. Kiper reckons he will be a #! NFL Draft Pick in three years time. Say what you will about these draft experts, but Kiper knows his stuff. You figure that Pete Carroll does, too.
USC vs. San Jose State. I'm excited. I bet Matt Barkley is, too.
P.S. Lou Holtz, who thinks Florida will play Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Game at the Rose Bowl in early January, is kidding himself. Okay, maybe he's got one half of the match-up correct. But Notre Dame? C'mon, Lou!! Take that Fighting Irish hat off for a second!
No comments:
Post a Comment