We figured this would be one of those games where every Trojans fan in the Coliseum goes home with a puffed-out chest and cockiness, certain another national title is on the way.
We figured, considering Arizona State's weakened condition, this would end with the scoreboard reading 56 to 3 or 48 to 7. Maybe there would be four touchdown passes, maybe there would be 500 yards of offense and a defense that left footprints in Sun Devils chests.
Well, at least we were right about the defense.
The final score Saturday was 28-0; a nice win, to be sure, but one marred by a spotty, sloppy display on offense that hearkened back to last year's colossal upset at the hands of Stanford. It's not often when a head coach walks off the field after winning 28-0 and candidly admits, as Pete Carroll did, that "we could have easily been beaten today."
Remember when it was figured the Trojans of 2008 -- led by their gunslinger quarterback, their speedy fleet of running backs and Rey Maualuga -- would spend this season barnstorming to another national title?
It might happen, but not if the offense doesn't start playing like a Ferrari instead of a 12-year-old Toyota Celica.
"We simply were not very good offensively," said USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, a look of severe frustration on his face. "One snap we'd drop the ball, next snap we'd have a guy open and miss him. Then we'd miss a block and get sacked." He grimaced. "It wasn't pretty . . . we gotta get right, we just gotta get right."
It didn't start out so ugly. The first drive was a beauty that went 72 yards in eight plays and ended in a touchdown dive by bum-kneed but game quarterback Mark Sanchez. Then, suddenly, inexplicably, the Trojans left beauty in the rear-view mirror.
Trojans' second drive: Sanchez rifles a long pass to an open Ronald Johnson, who, if he makes the catch, probably scores. But the ball hits Johnson in the palms and drops to the grass like a rock. The drive soon stalls, USC punts, the fans groan.
Remember, this was Arizona State. Their quarterback, Rudy Carpenter, entered the game so badly hobbled by a bum ankle he might as well have played on one leg. His team? They are young, weak-kneed and had lost three straight heading into this game.
So it came as a great surprise when the Trojans allowed the Sun Devils to hang around for a good while. They finished the first half leading, 21-0, but it was an unsatisfying lead. The defense provided one of the touchdowns. The offense muddled along, damaging itself with blown assignments and boneheaded penalties.
