USC could make Snoop bust another (title) rhyme

By Andy Sloan

This is going to be quite an interesting season for USC. The Trojans are turning over a bunch of stars (Mark Sanchez, Clay Matthews, Rey Maualuga, and Brian Cushing), but they are still going to be a force to be reckoned with in college football. One reason: practice. The famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask and when) Carroll practices are going to be essential to USC performing at the top level this season. Perhaps most importantly, they will get the team in shape for its biggest nonconference matchup (and probably most important contest, period) of the year: a Sept. 12 battle against Ohio State at The Horseshoe in Columbus.

Says Chris Spielman of ESPN the Magazine: "The noncon game of the year, by far, is USC at Ohio State on Sept. 12. I know the Trojans have lost tons of talent. But they’ll be fine. Why? Pete Carroll’s practices. Seriously, I’ve never been on, around, or told about practices like he holds. Twice as many plays at twice the intensity as anywhere else. So these “rookies” you’ll hear about aren’t really rookies. They’ll be seasoned vets come September."

Another important factor for the success of the team this season is the revamped defense. Chris Galippo is replacing Matthews in the middle of the field, and his immediate understanding of the ‘SC schemes is vital to the Trojans having a fulfilling 2009 season. Thus, practice becomes all the more paramount to the USC men this year.

The X-Factor on defense is Everson Griffen. Taylor Mays wants to move closer to the line of scrimmage and make more plays, but he is better off in the backfield, where the Trojans need him. The pressure from Griffen is thus a cornerstone of USC’s team this year and is necessary if they want to win the BCS national championship, and defeat OSU in the process.

The offense will be tested at OSU, and the defense needs to create turnovers to help create field position and put the rest Corp/Barkley and the boys in a good position to score some points. This game is early enough in the season that such a formula (pressure from Griffen and the D-Line, turnovers created in the backfield by Mays), could lift USC to a national title berth this season at home in Pasadena, and a chance to win the crystal ball in front of its hometown fans.

Snoop Dogg, a lifelong ‘SC fan, would be thrilled by this. But, they will need to play as the collective group that Snoop referred to in order to get to the top.

Still, if history is said to repeat itself, then the Men of Troy will be hoisting the BCS National Championship trophy come January. Five years ago, the last time USC won a national title, Snoop kicked a rhyme similar to that of Tuesday night. Snoop emphasized the faith he has in USC stating confidently and with swaggalicious grace: “They’re gonna win!”
Fo’ shizzle, dizzle.