Fighton247 Board

USC in 2005 was better IMO. Mainly because of the proven RBs, but everyone else was really good too.

QB: Matt Leinart
RB: Reggie and Lendale
WR: Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith
TE: Byrd-man
OL: Ryan Kalil, Fred Matua, Deuce Lutui, Winston Justice, Sam Baker

I don't think you can say it's "not close," though obviously you can make the argument 2005 proved itself and 2012 is to be seen. Comparison position by position though...

QB: Matt Leinart to Matt Barkley... very different QB's, but very equal and Barkley obviously has the records... let's call it a draw for now
RB: Reggie and Lendale to McNeal and Redd... also very different RB's, but obviously you'd give it to Reggie and Lendale
WR: Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith to Robert Woods and Marqise Lee... I'll give that to Woods and Lee
TE: Byrd-man to Telfer and Grimble... I would think Telfer and Grimble will have higher combined #s than TE's from 2005, but let's call it a wash
OL: Ryan Kalil, Fred Matua, Deuce Lutui, Winston Justice, Sam Baker... 2005 wins

Conservatively 3-2 positionally 2005 win, but lots to be seen. Regardless, I don't think you can say it's "not close," but that's just my opinion. We will start to find out in about a month from now!

I was going to do the same breakdown in my above post. Thankfully you did it for me, lol.

The only thing I'd disagree with you on is the WRs. If Woods isn't almost completely healthy, I would go with 2005. Steve Smith was amazing, and Dwayne Jarrett is an altogether different type of WR when compared to Woods/Lee.

But if Woods is almost 100% healthy, I would definitely take the game-breaking ability of Woods/Lee.

Not even close. Leinart already won two NCs.

Mcneal and Redd are not even close to Reggie and Lendale's class.

Woods and Lee are slightly better wrs than Jarrett and Smith combo

The OL though isn't even close. 05 OL >>>> 12 OL.

USC pulled the starters by the third quarter in a bunch of games in '05.

No argument regarding Smith and Jarrett as being amazing receivers. My thoughts are if you are going to split hairs well, Smith and Jarrett never had the yard after catch that Woods and Lee have already shown.

I posted something on this a few months ago.

I favored the 05 team because of the BIG TIME advantage at RB and a solid adv at OL.

QBS - even
OL - 05
RBs - 05
WRs - 12
TEs - 12

Those #s were even, but 05 got the nod because of the HUGE adv at RB. That HUGE RB adv is gone. Now is just a regular adv.

Passing game:
2005
Leinart to Smith, Jarrett & Byrd was the best 2005 had to offer. A great attack!
Leinart #10 pick.
Smith 2nd rd
Jarrett 2nd rd
Byrd 3rd

2012
Barkley to Lee, Woods, Telfer, Grimble. A legendary attack.
Barkley top 3 pick (maybe #1)
Woods top 10 pick
Lee is a freak of nature and might be the #1 pick if not top 3.
Telfer and Grimble can be 1st round guys, 2nd round, and 3rd round worst case scenario.

The 2012 passing game has so much over the top talent that as great as Bush/White was behind that Oline, the overall 2012 is a PUSH vs the overall 2005 teams O.

winner

I cringed every time ESPiN called the '05 team "The Best Ever".

I just experienced a flashback-cringe when looking at this threads title.

I got downvoted for agreeing that in their day the 79 Trojans are probably unparalleled. Not that I care (anyone who has a perfect star rating, except RichSC, is a kissass) about the ratings - it's more the thought process that people go through to downvote/upvote certain things that irks me but I've gone from an 82 to a 79 in 1.5 days for noting that USC had too many commits if DR qualifies (we do), that a walk on will have to give up a scholarship or else a senior will be academically ineligible (it's true), and if DR qualifies like he says he will AND we take another DB commit in August we'll be not just 1, but 2, over the max incoming limit (we will). The "shoot the messenger" mentality just shows a real lack of critical thinking. And now we're downvoting people for saying one great TROJAN team might be a little better than another great TROJAN team? It's like your wife getting mad at you for saying you love her legs, but her eyes are your favorite.

Really frustrating when people don't THINK.

1972 USC:

TE charles Young - NFL 1st round 2x all pro
QB pat haden - NFL pro-bowl
WR Lynn swann- NFL hall of fame
RB anthony davis - heisman runner up * balloting done before his sensational ND performance and all balloting was done after the season was complete from that moment forward
FB sam cunningham - college FB hall of fame

Right with you.
The expectations are NC or bust. Anything less than 14-0 and a crystal football in Heritage Hall will be considered a colossal failure.
I hope these kids (and the coaching staff) truly play one play, one game at a time.
If we happen to slip up, we are going to have the entire CFB world jumping down our throats.
I cannot wait for the season to begin, but I also cannot wait for it to end.

Perfect summation.

Certainly it is close, and it could be that this actually ends up a better TEAM. I could see the chemistry and toughness of this team making it better than 2005. Having gone through the fire of sanctions, this TEAM may be very HARD.