Why USC Is the Number One Team in the Nation

The No. 1 team in the nation is...Southern California!  Here's their write up...

OFFENSE

USC's remarkable run of great quarterbacks has always been stellar.  With that in mind, once-heralded junior Mark Sanchez has waited his turn to grab the reins of Pete Carroll's Trojan Horse, and that's no simple task.

Sanchez's smarts, athleticism, and pinpoint accuracy will help him in the Pac-10, which has many good secondaries.  Sanchez only has three starts under his belt and will have to execute well to build confidence.

The second game of the season for Southern Cal will be a mouth-watering confrontation, as they will play No. 2 Ohio State on Sep. 13.

Two things will be on the line: National Championship hankerings and Mark Sanchez's starting job.  If Coach Carroll sees fit, he could easily confiscate Mark's starting position and put in Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain.  He has a big body and picks apart defenses with aplomb.

The receivers have talent returning and arriving.  Vidal Hazelton's hands sometimes seem to have sticky glue on them, and Patrick Turner's are just as infallible.  Freshmen Brice Butler and D.J. Shoemate both run a 4.50 on their 40-yard dashes and have good size at over 6'1".

The offensive line has taken a step (or four) back, losing four starters, but in turn acquired frosh Matt Kalil, an elephantine brick wall who obliterates any defender trying to get by.  His brother Ryan was an All-American at USC.

The RB corps lost virtually nothing when Emmanuel Moody left, considering they are still four or five deep.  Three returnees averaged 6.6 yards per carry last season.

Joe McKnight impressed coaches in the spring, but Stafon Johnson still looks to be a lock, as he has the most experience.  The third of the backing musketeers is C.J. Gable, a speedy and reliable RB.

DEFENSE

Pete Carroll is known for conducting his defenses to plus ultra status, and this year is no exception.  The secondary is stacked with role players like Josh Pinkard, Cary Harris, and Shareece Wright, who are all reliable upperclassmen.

The cynosure will be Taylor Mays, whose name should be Tailor Made, because he is for football.  Mays is a ball hawk who has a body resembling a linebacker and quickness like a humming bullet.

The linebacking unit certainly isn't shabby either, with two potential All-Americans in Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing.  Rey is the team's returning leader in tackles (79 and 41 solo) and sacks (six).  Cushing has been the last MVP of the last two Rose Bowls, and it's his kismet to play in the NFL.

Both are seniors who play with sapience, especially Maualuga, whose Samoan temperament leaves opponents blanching.

Sophomore Everson Griffin is the best prospect on the defensive line as an imposing force.  If he spent any more time in the opposing team's backfields, he'd have to pay rent!

This defense will lead the team to greatness!

BREAKDOWN

If USC can pass the very difficult Ohio State test, they WILL play for the BCS national championship.