Football Questions - Oregon Edition

Time to frame the discussion. Here's what Pete Carroll had to say about playing the Ducks (above), and here are the questions I'll be asking during the game ...

• Unstoppable force or immovable object? The best offense in the Pac-10 is about to take on the best defense in the Pac-10. This is why everybody is tuning in. Both sides seem relatively healthy, so there will be no excuses. They say that offense wins games and defense wins championships. Both will be on the line.
• Is Mark Sanchez the real deal? After Notre Dame, USC's green quarterback sounded sure that he can handle the crowd in Autzen. News flash: 80,000 depressed Irish aren't anything compared with 50,000 jacked-up Ducks. He may have been brash, but if he can live up to his rapidly growing hype, he'll be the BMOC (please, no Big Mexican On Campus jokes). If he can't, there's some kid named Booty anxious to step in.
• Will the offensive line jell? When O'Dowd and Rachal went down on the same play against Washington, you could see things fall apart. With six players returning to the unit for this game, they'll be a lot healthier -- but can they work together when the crowd drowns out their ability to communicate?
• Washington, Johnson, or McKnight? These three won the battle of attrition to make up USC's tailback rotation, so now it's a matter of which will step up. Maybe the more accurate question is how long until Johnson and McKnight eclipse Washington?
• Where's the Cush? Rose Bowl MVP Brian Cushing got back in the swing of things last week after missing half the season with ankle problems. Now that he's healthy and raring to go, look for him to be an impact player against a team averaging 550 yards per game.
• Can the wide receivers hang on? We know Vidal Hazelton is an escape artist. We know Patrick Turner is tall. But can these guys catch the ball when it counts and the pressure is on? Can anybody beside Fred Davis just hold onto the dang ball?

Comments

[Travis Bickle]

Looks like Harbaugh was probably right. Piss poor season causes coach to move on. Yep. Scurry, scurry, scurry. SC really has embarrassed the Pac Ten. Shame on you.

[Rodney D.]

LA doesn't need the Trojans anyway. I always new they didn't deserve to be rated in the top 25. They should concentrate on golf or wrestling. LA doesnt need the Trojans...what is a Trojan anyway? God they're awful.

[cardinal and fool's gold]

Perfect Storm; how the winds can change direction;
in flying we call it a "wind shear."
Go back and read the blog comments the Monday following the Nebraska game. Primary definition of USC: University of Spoiled Children.