The Great Quarterback Debate
Against Oregon, Mark Sanchez looked like a quarterback starting just the third game of his career. He was.
The biggest crowd in Autzen history, 59,277 strong, seemed to shake him -- especially early on. It was clear that 80,000 in South Bend had not fully prepared him, despite his claims to the contrary.
Two interceptions and the first loss of his career are not stats he's proud to come home with.
Despite the downside, Sanchez was fun to watch. He scrambled. He made a shovel pass. He led a high-flying late touchdown drive, and almost did it twice. He was the anti-John David Booty.
And what about John David Booty? When polled this week, 54% of you said he should have started the game against Oregon. Pete Carroll disagreed, citing concerns with John David Booty's broken finger and resulting lack of touch on the ball.
This week, it seems likely that even more of you will want John David Booty back. It also seems likely that Carroll will agree this time.
Controversy is here for the foreseeable future. If John David Booty returns to the helm, people won't be satisfied unless he shows the same spirit and leadership that Sanchez has provided for the past three weeks. John David Booty is a good quarterback, but he's not a chameleon. He can't change his personality.
If Sanchez remains USC's signal caller, John David Booty will be breathing down his neck on every play. With each false step, the former Heisman candidate will be a more attractive choice to come in off the bench. Even if Sanchez performs well, there will be questions over how a senior team captain can lose his starting job due to an injury.
Don't think it'll end after bowl season.
Next year, John David Booty will graduate and leave USC with two outstanding options for quarterback, plus a dark-horse candidate. Sanchez, obviously, will return with more experience and proven leadership potential. He may have rough edges now, but he'll look a lot more polished in nine months.
Mitch Mustain is a name you haven't heard this season and won't -- unless you follow what happens in practice. You may, however, remember him from last year. As a true freshman, he went 8-0 as the starter for Arkansas. He earned the starting job thanks to USC. When the Trojans were decimating the Razorbacks in the first game of the season, Mustain was put in off the bench and led a successful drive against USC. He would go on to lead his team over 2nd-ranked Auburn and eventually take Arkansas to 11th in the polls.
After eight games, things got a little weird. Mustain was benched due to a lack of "experience." When the season ended, there was an imbroglio involving coaches, administration and parents at the University of Arkansas. Mustain decided to transfer to USC for greener pastures (or perhaps calmer seas). Ineligible to play a single down in a game this season, he has led the Trojans scout team. Day in and day out, he mimics the quarterbacks and plays that USC will face the following Saturday. Day in and day out, he demonstrates the talent that made him undefeated against the SEC and previously earned him national high school player of the year honors.
So Sanchez isn't exactly a lock.
With these two impressive resumes, Aaron Corp is likely to be the third-sting quarterback. A top recruit in last year's class, Aaron Corp is an extremely mobile kid. Emphasis on the word "kid." Though he's got height (a fan site lists him at 9'4", but we're pretty sure that's a few feet off), he doesn't have size -- yet. His lanky frame looks downright fragile out on the practice field.
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