In the past two seasons, have you heard anyone ask for "the next Leinart?" Please tell me if you have, because I know I haven't. Matt Leinart stepped in for Carson Palmer, and finished of one of the best college careers a football player can have. After he left, we were left with the same uncertainty after Palmer's departure, but John David Booty and Mark Sanchez followed and did very well.

We haven't asked for the next Mike Williams or the next Steve Smith. Dwayne Jarrett and Damien Williams did their job that we haven't had to ask that. The next Lofa Tatupu? Well Rey Maualuga silenced the chant long before it can even get started.

USC has shown over the years that it can quickly reload and place superior talent in every position. So why do we continue to hear the chant asking for the next Reggie? All the Reggie Bush highlights on ESPN has helped Pete and staff recruit the top running back talents in the country. They recruited so many top RBs that the program earned the name Tailback U and have scared so many RB recruits the past couple years.
Here are the rankings from 2006 and 2007.


Scout.com (ranking) out of HS.

2006

Stafon Johnson (2)
Emmanuel Moody (11)
CJ Gable (ranked as 5 star Safety)

2007

Joe Mcknight (1)
Marc Tyler (2)
Broderick Green (12)


Broderick Green who I have mentioned to be the biggest loss for USC in transfers is now with Arkansas. Emmanuel Moody has found a different bench to warm up and Chauncey Washington is now working his way in the depth charts in the NFL. The once crowded tailback unit is quickly thinning out without a star emerging among the group. What's the problem? One would figure with all these top talents, USC would have a star that would be on SportsCenter Top 10 every weekend like Reggie. Were the recruits overrated coming out of high school? Are they just under performing? Is it the absence of Norm Chow? Is it Pete's fault?

Scouting reports aren't perfect and some kids just don't have the focus and discipline to perform at a high level in college as they did in high school against weaker competition. With all the top recruits we've had even if the scouting reports were wrong on one, they can't be wrong on all. Yes it is a case of under performing but there's a deeper reason as to why. I wouldn't put it on the absence of Norm Chow because Sark did a great job even though he made USC's offense a little more predictable and overly conservative. So does the blame fall on our beloved Pete Carroll? A little. Well maybe by a lot.

His insistence on running by committee has limited the backs from getting in rhythm. Lendale White and Reggie Bush were so effective because of the amount of carries they had in the game. At least one of them was always on the field. In 2005 Reggie and Lendale both averaged just over 15 carries per game and put up unbelievable numbers on the ground.

In 2008 Joe Mcknight carried the ball less than 10 times a game. Stafon had just over 11 carries per game while CJ Gable had less than 9 carries per game. Is there a big difference between 10 carries and 15 carries as far as getting in rhythm? I think so. In this case, there is a huge difference because the carries are spread out so much with all the backs involved in the game. One of these backs can get the ball in the 1st quarter and not see the field again until the 2nd quarter.

Of course can you really blame Pete? He has a troop of All American backs with All American egos that needs to be addressed and pleased. Clearly many have left with frustration and that was bound to happen. You just can't please everyone. Pete has to play everyone so he can at least please some.

So even though USC has reloaded with so much great talent to replace Reggie, I just don't see anyone excelling and having the same stardom as Reggie Bush. Call it the Reggie effect. Reggie Bush struck gold at USC so many followed. Reggie left with his riches, and all the followers who arrive to replace him have to share the remaining gold and glory. None of them will leave as rich as Reggie, because they have to share.

The show will go on and hopefully our star potential backs will develop and someone will come out of the pack as the leader and star they are all capable of becoming. If not, we'll just continue to look for "The Next Reggie"