From ESPN.

Enjoy...

Pete Carroll met with Mark Sanchez yesterday to discuss his options to either turn pro or stay at USC.

[... ]the USC quarterback met separately with new offensive coordinator John Morton and with Coach Pete Carroll.

It was only the start of what could be a tough stretch of days as Sanchez seriously contemplates the question Palmer and Leinart faced after their junior seasons: Should he return to USC for a final season of eligibility or turn pro?

It's really hard to know which way this goes. Sanchez could use a little more experience and show us that the mid-season lack-luster play that we saw was more  about the coaches keeping a tight on leash on his abilities than it was about his abilities being less than advertised.

If Sanchez bolts he will likely carry a clipboard for a year, maybe two, just like Carson Palmer did and that worked out pretty good. he could stay another year like Leinart did, increase his stock more (barring injury or a poor performance next season), and become an even higher draft pick. The problem there is that he will surely go to some bottom feeder team and get thrust into the mix very early and as we saw with Leinart that isn't always a good thing.

Its just like playing chess, you need to think 3-4 moves ahead.

The money issue is moot because there won't be any rookie salary cap in the NFL until 2011 so its really more about the long term goal of having a solid career in the NFL. The thing I would really like to know is what the NFL evaluation said. With Stafford announcing this afternoon and with Bradford probably coming out regardless of tomorrow night's results Sanchez would be in the perfect spot to get drafted by a pretty good team that may have a QB that he can learn from instead of getting thrust into the fire right out of the gate.

Here is what one scout said...

NFL team scouts, given anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the topic, said Sanchez enhanced his draft stock with his stellar play against the Nittany Lions.

"He was on the big stage and he performed," one scout said. "Many of the general managers and coaches saw that game, and that will be the performance they remember."

Even so, the scout said Sanchez would be better served to stay at USC for another season, estimating he would be a late first-round pick were he to leave school early.

"He needs more seasoning at the position, but the skill set is there," said the evaluator, who would rank him as the third- or fourth-best quarterback if he were to come out now. "He's not NFL-ready, but he has NFL tools."

Another scout agreed, saying the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Sanchez would benefit from another year to grow stronger and a chance to show that the Rose Bowl was not a fluke.

"That was a breakout game for him, but now I'd like to see him do that repeatedly in the season," he said.

In the end I think he stays, but I think the time to go is now.

I will of course be disappointed if Sanchez goes. I think he needs the extra experience because he is only a one year starter. I realize I am in the minority here, but Sanchez can hone those skills on an NFL practice squad just like Cassell did and he's done fine for himself this season.

I really would like him to stay and take the offense next year to new heights, but I really don't see the benefit of staying. If Sanchez goes SC will be in a real tough spot next year. It would be a true rebuilding year as they will be replacing most of the defense (regardless of the talent on the roster) and they would then have a new starting QB to run a really talented offense but the familiarity would not be there like it is with Sanchez.

At this point it really is hard figure how it will all turn out. If he stays, Great! If he doesn't SC will have its work cut out for them.

WIth the offensive coaching side of the ball pretty much set all eyes turn to the defense.

It's always hard to determine why guys leave and while we wish those who move on the best but SC still has a program to run so former coaches and players quickly fade in the rear view mirror.

The Question becomes who will be the defensive coordinator now that Holt has left for UW? Its obvious that whomever gets the DC job they will be working under Pete Carroll as he will call the shots. The two obvious names are Norton and Seto but a third name was thrown into the mix...

From Wolf.

Carroll also is believed to be interested in former Washington defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, a close friend of his.

"I'm really trying to get this done," Carroll said. "I'm considering everything. There's three ways it can go."

I don't know a lot about Donatell but by judging some of the comments I've read on SBN's UW Blog UW Dawg Pound, they weren't exactly complimentary. Of course with as bad as Washington was last season nobody should get any compliments. Donatell had his supporters but I can totally understand why Sarkisian cleaned house. UW needs a complete culture change. Just like ND or ucla, a strong UW in the Pac-10 only helps USC.

My attitude is a simple one...Pete Carroll has shown that he is more than capable at making decisions that affect this program positively so whichever direction he choose to go is fine with me. He knows what he needs and he knows what he wants. Seeing that Carroll has the final say in how the defense is run I am really not worried. We have some big shoes to fill next season but we also have a lot of talent that has seen some playing time so its not like the cupboard is bare.

Wolf also mentioned that there has been discussion about Jethro Franklin returning to SC to coach the D-line. My attitude is the same here as well...if Carroll thinks it benefits the program then it's fine with me. I've read a few message board postings that discussed Franklin's departure from SC and his work ethic but to me that's just noise, if Pete Carroll wants him back then there probably isn't much to those comments.

If Carroll goes the Seto or Norton route I think we will be fine because Pete still runs the show and it can only be a learning opportunity for either coach and it puts an impressive bullet point on ones CV, so whichever direction he goes I'm really not worried.

No real surprise here, as this is more of a formality.

From The OCR:

Carl Smith is returning to USC as quarterbacks coach, and he will call plays from the sideline, Trojans coach Pete Carroll announced.

Smith, who also will have the title of assistant coach/offense, will help new offensive coordinator John Morton formulate the game plan.

Morton will install the game plan, run the offensive meetings and work games from the press box.

This really isn't a big deal to me. Smith knows the system, Morton knows the system so they really shouldn't miss a step.

I will be more interested in where the Defensive Coordinator search ends up.

Good interview.

I am also working on some stuff from Cowherd last week

UPDATES BELOW

I caught this on Saturday.

USC's Holt negotiating with UW?

Steve Sarkisian is doing a good job of keeping his search for a defensive coordinator under wraps, but I have it on relatively good information USC defensive coordinator Nick Holt is back in the conversation -- and may actually be negotiating a contract with the University of Washington.

Sarkisian initially asked the former Idaho coach to join him prior to the Rose Bowl and, around Dec. 19, Holt declined the offer. But I'm hearing Holt has apparently changed his mind.

That being said, I have neither talked with Sarkisian, nor received official confirmation.

I was a little surprised at seeing that considering it had been discussed that Holt wasn't interested at the time Sarkisian asked him and at the time I thought it would be a lateral/down move.

Wolf then followed up with this piece.

There was a mention in a Seattle paper today that Nick Holt might remain a candidate at Washington for the defensive coordinator's job. But I spoke to Holt and he said nothing's happened since he initially declined the position nearly a month ago.

I thought this was credible because it appears that Wolf went right to Holt about it and it appears that Holt was not interested.

Well, it appears that he is interested in the job after all.

USC defensive coordinator Nick Holt will fly to Seattle today to discuss accepting the same job at Washington.

New Washington coach Steve Sarkisian was cautiously optimistic Sunday he could land his former USC colleague.

"We're talking. It's not done. Hopefully we'll know one way or the other pretty soon," Sarkisian said. "I don't know if it's something that can get done. I hate to be premature."

Holt's interest in the job meant he lied Saturday when he said he was not interested in the Washington job.

"That was like three weeks ago, I don't know why it's still coming up," Holt said Saturday.

Holt did not return a phone call Sunday.

Sarkisian said he only recently spoke to Holt again about taking the job. Holt originally turned him down immediately after Sarkisian announced he would leave USC for Washington on Dec. 6.

"It was a mutual thing," Sarkisian said. "I'm just trying to hire the best guy I can hire."

I guess I can see why he would want to have more control but this is going to be a tough rebuiding process. I am not toally thrilled because this leaves us down one and now possibly two coaches as the recruiting season really heats up. I am not sure he will take it but I am interested in what made Holt all of sudden change his mind.

This will be interesting to see how it unfolds.

Update #1 -  Multiple outlets are now reporting that UW will hold a press conference  at 3pm PST to announce their new Defensive Coordinator. No name given but I think it's safe to assume that Holt will be joining Sark at UW.

Update #2 - Molly Yanity over at the Seattle P.I. Husky Blog says Sarkisian will introduce Nick Holt as UW's new DC.

Holt to be introduced this afternoon

Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian will introduce Nick Holt as the team's defensive coordinator in a news conference at 3 p.m. today. A source with knowledge of the hire said that the former USC coordinators -- Sarkisian and Holt -- officially came to terms late last night.

The news conference will be streamed live at GoHuskies.com.

Update #3 - The press conference for 3PM has been postponed until tomorrow at 12:30pm PST. Yanity says it's official though.

News conference postponed; but it's official

An athletic department spokesman just told reporters today's news conference has been "postponed" due to unforeseen circumstances, but they confirmed the hiring of USC defensive coordinator Nick Holt to the same position here.

The news conference has been rescheduled for Tuesday at 12:30.

Is there something going on behind the scenes? Hard to know.

Its not that they lost but how they lost...

I have never claimed to be a basketball expert. It simply isn’t one of my interests and I did not plan to really get into hoops until the football season was over but after what I saw this evening I may not get into it at all. This was terrible loss to Oregon St. not just because we lost but how we lost. Why in gods name did USC allow OSU to shoot that three at the end of the game? Why is anyone defending the basket? They should have been defending the perimeter or fouled making OSU get to them line not giving up the open shot for 3 at the top of the key…that’s coaching and that’s all on Tim Floyd.

I missed most of the 1st half but in the 2nd half it looked like SC was starting to focus but it was also clear that they were having trouble with the 1-3-1 zone that OSU was throwing at them. SC was up 15 in the 2nd half and then OSU started to slowly chip away using a lot of pick and roll that SC looked like they were just standing still and looked completely out of focus. Once again, turnovers killed us. SC had 10 turnovers in the first half alone and it didn’t get much better in the second half with Daniel Hackett committing two costly turnovers late in the game, one a 10 second violation.  I love Hackett, he is great on defense and has a tremendous amount of energy, but it was very clear that he has not grabbled the title of THE leader on this team this year nor is he a true point guard. I realize that I may be getting late to the party here but this team is not progressing as they should have at this point in the season.

Dwight Lewis was absolutely cold out there tonight and he should have been pulled in favor of Marcus Johnson. Lewis looked disinterested and it’s not like plays a lot of defense anyway so why not make the switch? Lewis either didn’t take the shot when he should have or he took the shot he shouldn’t have. He isn’t bringing anything to the table for us right now. Hackett and Lewis combined to miss 10 free throws and committed 11 turnovers, that is just terrible.

SC seemed afraid to attack the zone; it was like they were intimidated. If you aren’t going to attack the zone then you need shoot effective from the outside and with SC being one the worst teams in shooting in the Pac-10 that didn’t happen either. Is it just me or does it look like this team panics when they get double-teamed or trapped on the perimeter? And when the do penetrate not protecting he ball form a costly steal seems to happen more often than not.

For a team to be supposedly one of the better defensive teams in the Pac-10 they got schooled in the paint. OSU ran that pick and roll all night and SC didn’t know how to defend it, especially Lewis. I have a hard time believing that SC will be competitive next week against ucla with what I saw tonight. There needs to be a lot of improvement and fast if SC expects to even sniff an invitation to the big dance.

That’s pretty much all I have for now on this loss…

Feel free to unload as you see fit.

Apologies for missing the thread on Friday against Oregon. I completely forgot...you know celebrating the Rose Bowl and all.

After a very solid win in Eugene USC heads over to Corvallis to take on the Beavers. The most important thing to watch for today is a let down after that big win and Tim Floyd is keenly aware of it.

Everyone knows that Oregon State is the speed bump along the Pacific 10 Conference road. The Beavers have lost 21 consecutive conference games, including a 69-46 pasting by UCLA on Friday. They are bad with a capital B.

Such are the perceptions of the Beavers, and many of them are true. For example, Howard's only victory this season was against Craig Robinson's team. So, of course, the Trojans walk into Gill Coliseum today to collect the only road "gimme" on their schedule.

SC has had a bit of a problem going flat in the second half so they need to keep the momentum going for the whole game.

Yes, the Beavers are seen as the doormat in that Pac-10 but they should be treated like any other team...seriously.

The game is on TV here in NYC so I will be on thread sporadically, I am still settling in here at home after being away.

Leave your comments here.

FIGHT ON!