National Championship

[BigWhiteJake]

I thought the other thread was getting kind of heated and off topic so I just made this one to talk about the game itself. Barring a good upset, it should be USC v Texas and I assume you can all log on to espn and get the numbers so I just thought I would put some unti comparisons on for thought...

Texas O-Line vs USC D-Line
Texas averages over 310 lbs to USC's 275. This is really the strong point of the Longhorn offense, anchored by J. Scott and J. Blalock at the tackle positions. Lawrence Jackson and Frostee Rucker are good ends, but with the tackles being undersized they will likely see double teams.
Advantage: Texas

Texas D-Line vs USC 0-Line
This is a relatively small O-line but with four returning starters its certainly a good one. Wright, Okam, and Dibbles are likely the best DT corps in the country and should get penetration with the small center and gaurds for USC. Robison and Crowder should again benefit from the double teams needed to gaurd Wright (one of three Lombardi finalists).
Advantage: Texas

VY and WR vs USC DB
Young and Leinart are the two best QB's in the country, there are no two ways about it. Justin Wyatt and Darnell Bing are certainly the anchors of this defensive backfield, however, trouble could come from the 5'10 Wyatt at LCB seeing as how that should line him up on 6'5 219lb Limas Sweed.
Advantage: Even

Leinart/Jarrett/Smith vs UT DB
Once again, ESPN is calling Texas' defensive backfield one of the best in the nation. They stopped Ted Ginn and Antonio Holmes dead in their tracks, holding Ginn to 9 yds of total offense. Jarrett and Smith, however, are looking to be the first ever tandum of 1000 yard receivers on a team. Leinart will be pressured by the UT D-line, and judging by how this defense has stopped other passing teams dead in their tracks, it could be a long day for Leinart. Jarrett will likely be covered man by Cedric Griffin.
Advantage: Even

White/Bush v Texas LB
White and Bush could be the first ever pair of 1000 yard rushers on the same team, and hold a clear advantage hear. However, Aaron Harris (a Butkus finalist) is a great tackler, and there is speed to burn all over the Texas defense.
Advantage: USC

VY/SY/Charles/Taylor/Tank v USC LB
Dallas Sartz leads USC's corps, however this is where I see the kink in the Trojan armor, or tear if you prefer :) . I don't see a linebacker here able to play an effective spy on VY which could amount to extra work for Bing and hurt the pass protection.
Advantage: Texas

Special Teams:
Kickers are fairly even, nothing big enough to be a factor. Bush is a great return man Taylor has a higher average return. Likewise, Ross has ran two back for TD's and Mack's unit is literally famous for blocking kicks.
Advantage: Even

Coaching:
Take your pick, they have both been called soft, and now that Carroll is without the brain of Norm Chow, admit it, you are not as impressed as you once were by this team. I personally think this is 2 of the top 5 coaches in college football however and thus call this...
Advantage: Even

Home Field Advantage: USC

Final Score...
Texas 42
USC 28

[BigArab]

Now take of the Orange tinted glasses and look at that all again.

[BigWhiteJake]

what part? the o-line for texas and the d line for texas have both been called the best in the country...USC does not have a linebacker capable of gaurding VY, hell AJ Hawk is the only guy whos done it all season, and he only did it 3/4 of the game...you cannot possibly think USC has a better defense than Ohio State, can you? what part of that do you not see as correct or bias toward texas? please im dying to hear this

[jtk1519]

It all sounds right to me except for how VY and the WRs stack up against the SUC secondary. There is no question that the secondary is far and away the weakness of that team. They are athletic and fast, but they are easily exploited because they tend to get out of place easily. What makes their job even more difficult against Texas is the fact that they now have to defend a dimension they aren’t used to seeing.

That secondary has an added job having to up against Vince... a style of QB they haven’t seen. Any opposing defense has to respect Vince and his ability to run. Vince is most lethal, not on designed QB draws, but on those passing plays were he stays in the pocket and then rolls out like he is going to run. This forces the safeties to come up in run support. At this point, Vince can take off, but more often then not, he fakes the run and pulls back at the last second. The DBs are already committed to stopping the run which means you have at least one receiver running around wide open. We have seen do this time and time again. Any talent SUC has back there doesn’t matter of you players aren’t in place to make the play. A lot of teams try and counter this with a zone defense, but most abandon it at some point because the WRs have shown the ability to find the soft spot and Vince will exploit it. I think most of the catches David Thomas has made this year come from when he settles in the soft spot of the zone.

SUC fans like to say Texas has never seen an offense like SUC has... that is only partial true. SUC and Blow U last year are almost identical except for the fact that SUC is more talented. They do things much the same way and with the same style. Blow U liked to spread you out a bit more, but SUC will throw better athletes at you. In the end, they would ride the backs of their stellar RBs behind a great O-line and then beat you deep with a very good passing game.

You also have to remember that while the Texas players haven’t seen SUC before... their DC has. Remember, Chizik was at Auburn when they played SUC in '03 and '02. Chizik's defenses back then held SUC to 23 points in '03 and 24 in '02. Chizik is well aware of what SUC does and how they do it. He'll have his kids prepared.

What is undeniable though is that SUC has not seen a defense OR offense like Texas has. Don't even try and tell me they have seen an offense like Texas' because no such offense even exists outside of Austin. The closest they have come was Virginia Tech last year and they don't come close to comparing with Texas. SUC plays in the Pac 10... a conference that is quite famous for their lack of defense... this year is no exception. SUC has the best defense in the Pac 10 and that is quite sad.

[BigArab]

That score is way out of proportion. There is no way in hell that Texas will be able to stop USCs offense. Sure, Aaron Harris, Larry Dibbles, Michael Huff, and Rod Wright are good, but come on...Stop Reggie Bush (who accounted for 500 yards of offense last week), Lendale White, Dwayne Jarret, Steve Smith, Matt Leinart, Bush, Bush, Bush, and Bush. And lets face it...as always, UTs receiving corps is garbage. Say what you will, but those guys never seem to get it done. The last time they could do anything, they had the greatest receiver in UT history and didn't even pass to him!

Bottom line, while the USC defense gives up a lot of yards and points, they make plays when its necessary. VY is going to make a crapload of mistakes because thats what VY does. You can't make mistakes against this team. They will make you pay for it.

Hey, I'm a UT fan...I graduated from there. I'd love to see them win, but I can't say that they will. I would take that score you guessed and reverse it.

[BigArab]

It all sounds right to me except for how VY and the WRs stack up against the SUC secondary. There is no question that the secondary is far and away the weakness of that team. They are athletic and fast, but they are easily exploited because they tend to get out of place easily. What makes their job even more difficult against Texas is the fact that they now have to defend a dimension they aren’t used to seeing.

That secondary has an added job having to up against Vince... a style of QB they haven’t seen. Any opposing defense has to respect Vince and his ability to run. Vince is most lethal, not on designed QB draws, but on those passing plays were he stays in the pocket and then rolls out like he is going to run. This forces the safeties to come up in run support. At this point, Vince can take off, but more often then not, he fakes the run and pulls back at the last second. The DBs are already committed to stopping the run which means you have at least one receiver running around wide open. We have seen do this time and time again. Any talent SUC has back there doesn’t matter of you players aren’t in place to make the play. A lot of teams try and counter this with a zone defense, but most abandon it at some point because the WRs have shown the ability to find the soft spot and Vince will exploit it. I think most of the catches David Thomas has made this year come from when he settles in the soft spot of the zone.

SUC fans like to say Texas has never seen an offense like SUC has... that is only partial true. SUC and Blow U last year are almost identical except for the fact that SUC is more talented. They do things much the same way and with the same style. Blow U liked to spread you out a bit more, but SUC will throw better athletes at you. In the end, they would ride the backs of their stellar RBs behind a great O-line and then beat you deep with a very good passing game.

You also have to remember that while the Texas players haven’t seen SUC before... their DC has. Remember, Chizik was at Auburn when they played SUC in '03 and '02. Chizik's defenses back then held SUC to 23 points in '03 and 24 in '02. Chizik is well aware of what SUC does and how they do it. He'll have his kids prepared.

What is undeniable though is that SUC has not seen a defense OR offense like Texas has. Don't even try and tell me they have seen an offense like Texas' because no such offense even exists outside of Austin. The closest they have come was Virginia Tech last year and they don't come close to comparing with Texas. SUC plays in the Pac 10... a conference that is quite famous for their lack of defense... this year is no exception. SUC has the best defense in the Pac 10 and that is quite sad.

I love your childish renaming of good football programs.

[wide-e-wide]

I love your childish renaming of good football programs.


Anything is better than T.U. yuck!yuck! You see 'at boy...we juss turned 'nem letters 'round...and showed 'dem sips dinnd'nt we?
That's a good'n...now where'd my sheep go?

[jtk1519]

And lets face it...as always, UTs receiving corps is garbage. Say what you will, but those guys never seem to get it done. The last time they could do anything, they had the greatest receiver in UT history and didn't even pass to him!

No UT fan in their right mind could say that. That is the most idiotic rubbish that one could say. Texas has the 3rd most efficient passing game in the nation... Do you think a passing game can do that with crappy receivers? Their second leading receiver is leading the nation in yards per catch. There are 9 different receivers with TD catches. The WRs have turned into one of the strengths of this team. I can't believe anybody would try and trash that group after the way they struggled last year.

And no, they didn’t get the ball to Roy. They didn’t because they couldn’t. Everyone knew (including Roy) that Vince was the future, but everyone also knew that Vince was very raw and would have to develop his passing skills the hard way. Roy was well aware of this when he decided to come back for his senior year. Roy is the ideal team player and Vince is doing what he is doing now thanks in large part because of what Roy did.

If you're gonna say something or trash a group of players, at least make some sense. To try and go after the WRs this year is nothing short of ridiculous.

[stevefoxsc]

That score is way out of proportion. There is no way in hell that Texas will be able to stop USCs offense. Sure, Aaron Harris, Larry Dibbles, Michael Huff, and Rod Wright are good, but come on...Stop Reggie Bush (who accounted for 500 yards of offense last week), Lendale White, Dwayne Jarret, Steve Smith, Matt Leinart, Bush, Bush, Bush, and Bush. And lets face it...as always, UTs receiving corps is garbage. Say what you will, but those guys never seem to get it done. The last time they could do anything, they had the greatest receiver in UT history and didn't even pass to him!

Bottom line, while the USC defense gives up a lot of yards and points, they make plays when its necessary. VY is going to make a crapload of mistakes because thats what VY does. You can't make mistakes against this team. They will make you pay for it.

Hey, I'm a UT fan...I graduated from there. I'd love to see them win, but I can't say that they will. I would take that score you guessed and reverse it.

shut up and stop takin that sa-town crack you said earlyer you were a A&M fan and degrading the long horn's and states VY is not better than reggie which every one know's he is.......

[BigWhiteJake]

jtk, is it the secondary or the linebackers that make usc so bad on defense? i wonder, i might have to say a mixture of just overall lack of talent and experience at all positions, i say bottom line, the defense just isnt very good.

PS Arab, that defense really showed up in the clutch against ND? the D never steps up and makes plays...its always reggie bush saving USC's @$$ from certain doom. ND and ohio st should play, so we will get to see who is better, and so should UT and sc.

the truth is if USC had not been ranked #1 at the start of the year, and unbias voters ranked the teams, Texas would have been #1 ever since their whipping of Tech, Colorado, and Oklahoma in consecutive weeks.

[BigArab]

Find where I said I was an A&M fan. I look at things completely objectively when it comes to college football. All I said was that Reggie McNeal was the more complete QB. Fact of the matter was that last year, OU was comparable to UT this year in everything (passing efficiency, rushing, defense) and still got demolished. I'm looking at it objectively. I want a win, but I'm definitely not going to be putting any money on this game. I projected OU to win last year. I even went as far to say that Peterson was going to put up ridiculous yards on that porous defense. I ate my words. It wasn't even close. They shut down Peterson. Matt Leinart picked apart a pretty scary defensive backfield. I'm sorry I'm striking a nerve with people who think that UT, Vince Young, Jamaal Charles, and Ramonce Taylor are All-World. Every single game I watch, I see major and new screw-ups that will cost them any chances. Vince has gotten much better. I can't wait to see him next year. But, for right now, he still makes way too many mistakes and still plays inconsistently. As I have stated in posts past. He'll deliver a perfect touch pass right into the hands of a receiver, and then the very next play, he'll drill a ball into a triple covered receiver when the O-line has given him all day to find the guy. This game with A&M will be the litmus test. Is he going to play mistake free football (a REQUIREMENT to hang with USC)?

You can say I'm not a UT fan, but I know better than you. I'm just looking at it objectively. Hate me. It's okay.

[BigWhiteJake]

what screw ups did you see in the 62-0 romping of baylor or the 66-14 romping of Kansas. Both of those teams had solid defenses, as a matter of fact Kansas was the #1 rushing defense in the country. Baylor held Tech well under their season average, and even had then shut out at half time...Vince made mental errors earlier in the season, but right now he is bar none the best quarterback in college football. Its funny how when Leinart throws a pick its not a "mental mistake" or "screw up", but if Vince doesnt score a touchdown someone will go well damn did he forget where the end zone was?

[BigArab]

what screw ups did you see in the 62-0 romping of baylor or the 66-14 romping of Kansas. Both of those teams had solid defenses, as a matter of fact Kansas was the #1 rushing defense in the country. Baylor held Tech well under their season average, and even had then shut out at half time...Vince made mental errors earlier in the season, but right now he is bar none the best quarterback in college football. Its funny how when Leinart throws a pick its not a "mental mistake" or "screw up", but if Vince doesnt score a touchdown someone will go well damn did he forget where the end zone was?

Number One defense? Is this the same number one defense that lost to OU?

Sorry, sometimes stats just don't show how good a team is. Kansas is really improved, but they won't be able to hang with the big boys for the next several years. And Baylor is Baylor is Baylor. I'm surprised the score wasn't bigger.

[BigWhiteJake]

Number One defense? Is this the same number one defense that lost to OU?

Sorry, sometimes stats just don't show how good a team is. Kansas is really improved, but they won't be able to hang with the big boys for the next several years. And Baylor is Baylor is Baylor. I'm surprised the score wasn't bigger.

you will notice it says number one rushing defense, and yeah they shut down ad

[BigArab]

you will notice it says number one rushing defense, and yeah they shut down ad

...Injured AD.

Selvin Young has been a letdown. Why? Because he is injured all the time. Don't think I'm defending OU. I hoisted a fist in cheer when UT got the monkey off their back, but come on...AD has been in pretty bad shape all year.

[BigWhiteJake]

he wasnt injured when he played Kansas, he was when he played UT, not Kansas. never the less, kansas had a potent rushing defense and UT just ran over them, USC's rush D isnt even ranked top 25

[TexasRed6x]

USC vs Texas for the National Championship ought to be a hell of a game. I have watched the Texas offense just nearly shred every defense that they have faced apart, but USC's offense is almost identical to Texas but they just have a little more pop to their offense with Reggie Bush, Matt Leinhart, and Lendale White and all I can say is that this will be a close one so i'll say USC 51 Texas 48 USC on top.

[Shoot2thrill]

USC vs Texas for the National Championship ought to be a hell of a game. I have watched the Texas offense just nearly shred every defense that they have faced apart, but USC's offense is almost identical to Texas but they just have a little more pop to their offense with Reggie Bush, Matt Leinhart, and Lendale White and all I can say is that this will be a close one so i'll say USC 51 Texas 48 USC on top.

My first post in the college forum as I always post in the high school forum. I also follow college ball like you guys. I agree with your outcome TexasRed6x but I am not sure that either team hits half a hundred as they both have good Ds. I also want to be wrong. Being a native Texan and California hater, I want the burnt orange to prevail BIG TIME. I just think that USC has too many options on offense and they know how to play with it all on the line. Reggie Bush is ready for the NFL today!

I would feel better about UTs chances if the Aggies hadn't run all over them on Friday. They (the Ds weaknesses) were really exposed in that game. Go Horns!!

[Texasfrog]

...Injured AD.

Selvin Young has been a letdown. Why? Because he is injured all the time. Don't think I'm defending OU. I hoisted a fist in cheer when UT got the monkey off their back, but come on...AD has been in pretty bad shape all year.

USC had to fight to beat Fresno St (at home). Reggie Bush had a super day (500 yds) against a sub-par Frenso St defense and USC held on for the lives (again at home) against Fresno St.

PS. I did see where that mighty Fresno St team just lost to the super great Nevada team.

[Texasfrog]

My first post in the college forum as I always post in the high school forum. I also follow college ball like you guys. I agree with your outcome TexasRed6x but I am not sure that either team hits half a hundred as they both have good Ds. I also want to be wrong. Being a native Texan and California hater, I want the burnt orange to prevail BIG TIME. I just think that USC has too many options on offense and they know how to play with it all on the line. Reggie Bush is ready for the NFL today!

I would feel better about UTs chances if the Aggies hadn't run all over them on Friday. They (the Ds weaknesses) were really exposed in that game. Go Horns!!

USC doesnt run the option...

[Shoot2thrill]

USC doesnt run the option...

Don't even begin to compare the Aggie offense with USC.

[Texasfrog]

Don't even begin to compare the Aggie offense with USC.

RE-READ what I wrote.. I'm nowhere even remotely comparing the two offensives. In fact I'm writing how they are vastly 100% different.

Aggy is an Option based offense that tries to attack by doing alot of mis-direction and having a QB that can "RUN."

USC is a pass/run offense that tries to just beat you with toss sweeps and blast running plays and short passing attack off of play-action.

When I see the USC offense running the option successfully it would bother me as a Texas fan. They dont do that type of offense. In fact the type of offense USC runs... Texas has had alot of success stopping it.

PS. Learn football.

Why do you think teams like Rice, Air Force , Navy and several other lower tier teams run the option. It's the best offense to run if you feel like you have lesser talent because you can control the clock and ground out the game. A&M did a Hell of a job running the "OPTION" against Texas. The sad fact is A&M also has the "Talent" to run it.

Like I said before... when I see USC running the "OPTION" successfully I'll get worried.

[Shoot2thrill]

RE-READ what I wrote.. I'm nowhere even remotely comparing the two offensives. In fact I'm writing how they are vastly 100% different.

Aggy is an Option based offense that tries to attack by doing alot of mis-direction and having a QB that can "RUN."

USC is a pass/run offense that tries to just beat you with toss sweeps and blast running plays and short passing attack off of play-action.

When I see the USC offense running the option successfully it would bother me as a Texas fan. They dont do that type of offense. In fact the type of offense USC runs... Texas has had alot of success stopping it.

PS. Learn football.

Why do you think teams like Rice, Air Force , Navy and several other lower tier teams run the option. It's the best offense to run if you feel like you have lesser talent because you can control the clock and ground out the game. A&M did a Hell of a job running the "OPTION" against Texas. The sad fact is A&M also has the "Talent" to run it.

Like I said before... when I see USC running the "OPTION" successfully I'll get worried.

I am not sure that you know any more about college ball than you do Texas high school ball. Aren't you the guy that GUARANTEED that Tyler Lee would smash Cincy Colerain back in August? Re-read my ORIGINAL post Mr. know-it-all want to be. I want TEXAS to win. I think USC will win. I would LOVE to be wrong. I believe that USC has both the better D (slight edge) and the better O (slightly larger edge). I am entitled to my opinion even if I doesn't agree with yours.

[Texasfrog]

I am not sure that you know any more about college ball than you do Texas high school ball. Aren't you the guy that GUARANTEED that Tyler Lee would smash Cincy Colerain back in August? Re-read my ORIGINAL post Mr. know-it-all want to be. I want TEXAS to win. I think USC will win. I would LOVE to be wrong. I believe that USC has both the better D (slight edge) and the better O (slightly larger edge). I am entitled to my opinion even if I doesn't agree with yours.

Nobody said I was a "Mr Know it all" there "shoot to miss" the target.

Also.. I dont think I ever GUARANTEED that Tyler Lee would beat Colerain. Please go back and show me where I GUARANTEED it. I said that Tyler Lee should give them a good game but High school teams traveling great distances.. the traveling teams 90% of the time loses (in High school).

Also.. nobody knew that Tyler Lee would have such a down year this year. I still stand by what I've always stated there "shoottomiss". That Texas has alot greater depth with High school teams and elite high school teams then Ohio can phantom. That is and has always been what I've stated. Texas has 15 elite high school teams to about Ohio 4 or 5.

Second.... I dont care what you want or who you want it from. I'm not sitting here saying that USC wont move the ball at all on Texas. That would be totally stupid. But, people saying that USC has found a weakness in Texas is funny. The last time I looked at USC they dont run the option offense anywhere near as "GOOD AS TX A&M." In fact USC doesnt run the option.

So... yes. Texas A&M offense is a HELL of alot better then USC offense if we're talking about the "Option offense."

PS. I've probably forgotten more about football then you ever learned .. High school or college.

[Shoot2thrill]

Nobody said I was a "Mr Know it all" there "shoot to miss" the target....... I've probably forgotten more about football then you ever learned .. High school or college.


LMAO....I highly doubt that froggy. It's time like these that I miss Concha. At least he made sense. :eek: