After one collegiate game SI.com writer Stewart Mandel set off a barrage of anger when he compared the Trojans freshman QB to All-time great Joe Montana. Things have gotten worse since USC stole a win last Saturday in Columbus.
LA Time's columnist Bill Plaschke wrote "the questions that had dogged the USC football program for several weeks were stunningly answered Saturday night with two words. Matt. Barkley."
Fanhouse's Jay Mariotti wrote "never have I seen a quarterback so young, in a game with Bowl Championship Series implications, carve out an epic 86-yard rally in an enemy setting." Others evoked images of a John Elway-esque drive.
This has been bugging me all week. Were they watching the same game I was?
I give USC lots of credit for the win. And yes, Barkley was taking snaps on the final drive but what did he really do?
Give the ball to tailback Joe McKnight. McKnight lead the Trojans down the field on that "epic" drive, circa Reggie Bush. Bush bailed out USC time-and-time again during his time in LA.
Barkley completed three throws on the final drive, though two of them were dump off passes. For the game the freshman was a pedestrian 15-of-31 passing for 195 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception (yawn).
Call me crazy, I just don't see the Montana or Elway comparisons. Barkley could develop into that type of player one day, but it's clear he's not there yet. I wouldn't even say he's as good as Mark Sanchez.
As for the game 18-15 victory, I'd say Barkley & Co. are lucky referees continue to conform to human nature, and err a lot.
3 comments:
You can't measure "poise" by watching someone call a play, hike the ball, and hand it to someone else to do all of the work. Why aren't we praising the offensive line or the running back who essentially won the game for USC? It's simple, really. Mr. QB was hyped up to be the second coming, and anything but an unequivocal failure on his part would earn him his undue praise. So that's precisely what happened. He didn't do particularly well, but he certainly didn't fail. That means he's a genius! What a drive. All of that hiking and handing off will tire a guy out. This year's college football media is completely out to lunch.
I think a more apt Montana comparison is what's his name at Notre Dame (Jimmy Clausen). You look at this season, and the 4th quarter has been his.
Burke, after Notre Dame's 6-6 record, you wanna re-do that comment? Clausen = Overrated. I just hope the Seahawks don't take him.
Post a Comment