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Positional Breakdown: USC Receivers

A look now at the USC skill players. Like we did with Texas, after each player's main statistics, we'll have a rating for each receiver in categories we're labeling as "Hands" (sure-handedness), "Possession" (ability to be a possession receiver), "Explosiveness" (big play threat), and "Importance" (importance in the Rose Bowl). Each rating is on a 1 (worst) to 5 (best) scale.

Dwayne Jarrett: 81 catches, 1153 yards, 14.2 Average, 15 TD
Hands: 4
Possession: 4
Explosiveness: 4
Importance: 5

Jarrett is Leinart's Go-To Guy, and he's a receiver that can do everything. He has the size and hands to be a possession receiver and the big play ability to take you deep. One of the most intriguing matchups of the Rose Bowl will be underrated Texas CB Cedric Griffin trying to contain him. Jarrett reminds me of Mike Williams in a way. He's not the fastest guy around, but he's awfully good at using his big frame to be a lethal collegiate receiver. I think the USC receiver coaches know what they're doing.

Steve Smith: 57 catches, 928 yards, 16.3 Average, 5 TD
Hands: 4
Possession: 3
Explosiveness: 5
Importance: 4

Oklahoma is still having nightmares about this guy from last year's Orange Bowl. Smith was the recipient of three Leinart touchdown bombs in the title game rout. Smith is the guy that you can forget about when you're keying in on all of USC's other weapons. It's not an accident that their offense is as prolific as it is. It's easy to forget that Smith and Jarrett are just a junior and sophomore pair, respectively.

Dominique Byrd: 25 catches, 274 yards, 11.0 Average, 2 TD
Hands: 4
Possession: 3
Explosiveness: 2
Importance: 3

Leinart doesn't use his tight end much, but can you blame him? When you've got such explosive guys like Bush, Jarrett, and Smith to throw to, why nickel and dime your way down the field? If the Texas secondary is doing a good job on the wideouts, though, Byrd may need to play a larger role in the offense.

Reggie Bush: 31 catches, 383 yards, 12.3 Average, 2 TD
Hands: 4
Possession: 2
Explosiveness: 5
Importance: 4

Mr. Heisman doesn't just run the ball. While his kick returning skills get overblown a bit, he's a real threat as a receiver. Bush is at his best when he's got open field in front of him and he can do that Gale Sayers thing. Just another reason why this offense is so hard to slow down.

--PB--

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Peter's source
For those who don't realize how much work Peter and crew have to put in to these player ratings for USC, realize that for every position, Peter has to put his copy of EA Sports NCAA Fottball 2006 in to his PS2 and call up the USC roster.  RB #5 also has an awareness of 4, pass blocking of 3, and kicking acuracy of 1....With a kicking accuracy of 1, who are you people trying to argue that RB #5 is anything but a liability to special teams?

by Lincoln on Dec 14, 2005 5:06 PM CST reply actions  

Good analysis
Only things I would add:

Dominique Byrd could have a very big day.  He presents matchup problems because he has the speed of a WR but the body of a TE.  Covering him with a linebacker is a mismatch.  Oh, and he also has the best hands on the team (yes, even better than Jarrett).  See last year's one-handed grab against Oklahoma in the first quarter - those are routine for him.

That being said, you're spot on PB, in that Leinart hasn't needed to involve Byrd much in the offense this year.  But Byrd also was in Pete Carroll's doghouse at the start of the year because he threw a ball at a Hawaii player in the season opener.  His playing time has been reduced ever since.  

by TrojanMal on Dec 15, 2005 4:05 PM CST reply actions  

One more thing
Also, our fullback, David Kirtman, is a receiving threat out of the backfield.  When nothing else is working, he is a sure handed safety valve that has room to operate because opposing defenders are down the field and leave the underneath open.  In the ASU game, he had 7 catches for 97 yards (yes, that's 14 yards per catch).

by TrojanMal on Dec 15, 2005 4:11 PM CST reply actions  

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