University Southern California Trojans
Trojan Offense Measuring Up Well
September 26, 2006 | Football
Will quarterback John David Booty, who underwent back surgery in the spring, be healthy and poised enough to lead a national title contender like Matt Leinart did?
Who will fill the cavernous void left in the backfield by departed running backs Reggie Bush and LenDale White?
The murmurs were similar to those heard in 2003, when the Trojans replaced another Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Carson Palmer, and went on to win the first of two national championships under coach Pete Carroll.
Through the first three games, this year's Trojans have outpaced the 2003 team in just about every offensive category.
The Trojan running backs, led by true freshman Emmanuel Moody, have rushed for more yards on average than the 2003 group that included Bush and White. The Trojans have averaged 178.7 yards on the ground this season, 59.4 more yards than the per-game average through the first three games of 2003.
When comparing their first three career starts, Booty, who spent three years watching Leinart from the sidelines, has outperformed the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner. Booty has passed for 716 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception in victories over Arkansas, Nebraska and Arizona. Leinart amassed 681 yards through the air with 6 touchdowns and three interceptions in his first three starts.
Booty has completed 66.4 percent of his passes, while Leinart had completed 60 percent in games against Auburn, BYU and Hawaii.
Under the leadership of Booty, the 2006 offense has a marked edge in one of the most telling statistics of a quarterback's worth: third down conversion. Booty and the Trojans have converted 60 percent of their third downs this season. Leinart and the '03 squad had only converted 29 percent.
"John's well-equipped to do this," Carroll said of his redshirt junior signal-caller. "He's managing it very well."
The statistics don't stop there. USC has punted nine times in 2006, seven fewer than they had in the opening three matchups of 2003. The current USC offense has scored five more red-zone touchdowns, has had a greater time of possession, and has allowed fewer quarterback sacks.
"Look at the comparisons," Carroll told reporters. "We're murdering those stats."
This year's Trojans have shown promise in an area that Carroll emphasizes - finishing. In what has become a trademark of the Trojans under Carroll, the 2006 offense has come out blazing in the second half, outscoring opponents 65-17. The 48-point advantage after halftime is 30 points greater than it was in the first three games of 2003.
The Trojans found themselves in a familiar situation this year, and as the expression goes, familiarity breeds success. The 2006 Trojans are poised to recreate the excitement of past teams and create their own unique place in USC football history.
