USC on spin cycle with Barkley?

A story on Bleacher Report suggests USC is making excuses for the decision to start freshman Matt Barkley at quarterback. On the USC RipsIt blog, Barkley's camp stats were shown as compared to past USC starters' regular-season stats.


Matt Barkley ('09 Fall Camp): 301-for-486 • 61.9% • 8 interceptions
Mark Sanchez (2008 season): 241-for-366 • 65.8% • 10 interceptions
John David Booty ('07 season): 215-for-340 • 63.2% • 10 interceptions
John David Booty ('06 season): 269-for-436 • 61.7% • 9 interceptions
Matt Leinart (2005 season): 283-for-431 • 65.7% • 8 interceptions
Matt Leinart (2004 season): 269-for-412 • 65.3% • 6 interceptions *Heisman Trophy winner
Matt Leinart (2003 season): 255-for-402 • 63.4% • 9 interceptions
Carson Palmer (2002 season): 309-for-489 • 63.2% • 10 interceptions


The comparision does seem skewed as neither Aaron Corp's nor Mitch Mustain's fall camp stats is listed. Corp threw just one interception before being hurt and Mustain was 10 of 16 in a scrimmage Aug. 16.

Earlier in the week, Pete Carroll had this to say to Scott Wolf:
"No, I don't have any tolerance at all for interceptions. Some were a concern that he threw and some not. We put in a new play on one interception. It just depends.
"We have to manage him so we don't put him in those situations. He'll see some great coverages."