In Senior Bowl practice, USC Linebackers are consistently raising their stock. Rey Maualuga manhandled Clemson’s RB James Davis in one-on-one drills, but it is Brian Cushing who is turning heads. Showing great understanding, instincts, and an excellent ability in blitzing from the outside, Cushing is showing his versatility and ability to potentially adapt to a 3-4 system.

The race will supposedly be between backups Mitch Mustain and Aaron Corp. Mustain played some light minutes for the Trojans this season, often getting pulled after throwing an interception. Aaron Corp threw 4 pass attempts all year, in the first two games of the season, before moving down the depth chart below Mustain.

Mustain will be a senior, and therefore most deserving. However, his performance this season was less than stellar. Some 1st team practice experience, in addition to significant game time, could perhaps clean that up.

However, Mustain will still lack the experience that Sanchez stepped into 2008 with. Sanchez was 2-1 in the 2007 season, throwing over 100 pass attempts for 69 completions and nearly 700 yards. He had a passer rating of 123.22.

In comparison, Mustain threw 16 pass attempts for 157 yards, 2 touchdowns (one of which accounted for 59 of his yards), and 2 interceptions. This is hardly the gametime experience that USC would want from a Senior Starter. He will have to develop as the season progresses, which does not look good for hopes of an undefeated season.

Corp will be a sophomore this year, and thus spending gametime developing can be excused as preparation for the long run.

But if Pete Carroll is truly thinking ahead, he will put in the #1 High School Quarterback of the last two years, Matt Barkley. As ESPN.com’s Ted Miller notes in his blog, Carroll generally chooses experience over talent, even if that experience is only in practice. Mustain could win over Barkley simply by knowing the system better.

Barkley has an advantage, though. Not only is he the most talented high school quarterback in recent years, with prototypical size and a rocket arm. He is also a true pocket quarterback.

Throw all that talent aside, and you still have the fact that Barkley is already on the University Park Campus. Yes, Matt Barkley graduated early from high school, and is on campus. What wonders could Carroll work with an extra semester to teach Barkley the playbook, and get him started on conditioning?

That answer I will leave to the future, but the possibilities (USC’s first 4 year QB in a long time) are quite enticing…

For more, here is the source of my information: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft09/news/story?id=3833465 .

Also returning are draft eligible halfback CJ Gable and cornerback Josh Pinkard. Still no news on Mark Sanchez.

However, Mays’ return will definitely impact Sanchez’ decision. With Mays still on the team, the Trojans’ defense retains an All-American Safety on a defense that will definitely need his leadership, as he will be the only returning starter.

With Mays’ integral talent and leadership returning to the defensive side of the ball, Sanchez will hopefully jump at the chance to steer his offense towards a National Championship.

Where only one player (Mays) is returning on the defense, only one player (WR Patrick Turner) is leaving the offense. If Sanchez returns, the Cardinal and Gold offensive attack will flourish, and possibly reach the level of the Leinart-Bush days.

Sanchez is still expected to return, despite the national hype surrounding his Rose Bowl performance.

However, Taylor Mays was expected to leave, showing that anything is still possible.

Why now? Throughout the season, Sanchez has been attacked as a poor decision maker with average accuracy.

Of course, the media also attacked the Pac-10 as a weak conference with a weak schedule.

However, the critics were right throughout the regular season. Mark Sanchez does not have the greatest accuracy–not yet at least. One more year of experience and practice would make Sanchez a much better quarterback, and a solid first round draft choice.

If Sanchez decides to enter the draft, he would not be making the smartest decision. Playing all year with a knee brace, Sanchez was not able to show America what he is capable of.

He took off the knee brace for the Rose Bowl and improved dramatically. If Sanchez can stay healthy (and at USC) next year, expect a spectacular season as he guides an offense that will have lost only one player.

Also, Sanchez is one year away from his college degree. Sure, he will be a professional football player making millions of dollars. Yet when a player such as Emmitt Smith goes back to school during his professional career to earn a degree, the importance of education becomes obvious to even the best of athletes–or at least it should.

With another year of experience, a near-guaranteed better statistical season, and a college degree, Mark Sanchez would greatly benefit from staying for his senior year.

And if that doesn’t lure him, maybe a potential championship bid will.

• Pac-10 is 5-0 in bowl games. Looks like USC didn’t have such an easy in-conference schedule after all
• USC is 21 for their last 22 in out of conference play with their win over Penn State – Another top Big 12 team is about to lose a bowl game (Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss). A supposed BCS championship contender losing to a middle of the pack SEC team, after Oklahoma State lost to Oregon. The Big 12 is looking much weaker than the pundits thought.
• Although the Pac-10 has gone undefeated, I will admit that the SEC has performed admirably so far. I expect Florida to win, so I put the fate of the SEC in Alabama’s hands. If Alabama can manage to win, I will claim them the best conference in the country.
• In case you didn’t notice, USC creamed another top 10 team in a bowl game. The score was at one point 31-7. Critics, give these guys the championship bid that you claim they deserve after every Rose Bowl, only to take that claim back the next season.

Jacory Harris avoided throwing more than one interception to Cal’s vaunted pass defense, but a late game fumble–forced by Golden Bear senior Zach Follet– cost him an Emerald Bowl victory.

Jahvid Best didn’t help the Hurricane’s cause either, rushing for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Best saved the Golden Bears with his effort, as Cal looked outplayed by Miami for most of the game.  Miami will improve defensively over the next few years with their young squad, but yesterday’s Emerald Bowl was not their time.

After Cal’s exciting win, the Pac-10 is 2-0 in this bowl game season. If you watched the game, you noticed Jahvid Best’s explosiveness and speed. If you followed USC, you will remember that Jahvid Best ran for less than 40 yards in a 17-3 domination of Cal-Berkeley. Arizona was competitive against USC, and this was perceived as a weak game for the Trojans.

But then Arizona beats a ranked BYU, and USC’s schedule is not looking as weak as people thought it was.

The most important game for the “USC was cheated” club (of which I’m a member) is this tuesday, when the Pac-10 plays its first big conference matchup. Oregon plays Oklahoma State in what will become a very high scoring Holiday Bowl.

USC held Oregon’s strong offense in a 44-10 blowout early in the season. If Oregon beats Oklahoma State, look for rumblings from Los Angeles that their team was cheated from the BCS Championship once again.

Conference strength is nothing more than a false measuring stick. The best way to measure a team is by their out of conference schedule. The SEC has no tough out of conference schedule.

The Pac-10 gets penalized for splitting games against ranked out of conference opponents, or having close losses to those same opponents.

The SEC just lets their best team ride to the top of the national rankings with no real test outside of their incestuous selves.

This needs to end.

With that said, here is how the Pac-10 has fared so far during this bowl season (Big 12 and SEC are yet to play):

Cal 24, Miami 17 (Emerald Bowl)

Arizona 31 , BYU (16) 21  (Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl)

Overall Record: 2-0

vs. Top 25: 1-0

vs. SEC: Not Scheduled

vs. Big 12: 0-0

This offseason, Byers plans to gain 15 points and reach 305. With his athleticism and experience, Byers will surely be a major anchor in next year’s line. He was one of two offensive starters expected to leave after the Rose Bowl (along with Patrick Turner). Now, the O-line returns all its starters, and the offense only loses one wide receiver. With a year of starting experience under Mark Sanchez’s belt, and an O-line with plenty of chemistry, who knows what next year’s Trojans can accomplish?