Eyes on the Enemy: Joe McKnight
McKnight: Dreaming of NFL payday (via TrojanWire)With a trip to the Coliseum slowly approaching, we plan to take a quick look at a few of USC’s more notable players in an effort to increase your familiarity, get your blood boiling and increase your hatred of L.A.’s only professional football team.
In truth, we have great respect for Surfer Pete’s program although it’s hard to understand how USC could ever have a down period considering the recruiting advantages afforded a team with their geography, ladies and tradition.
Today, we take a quick look at Joe McKnight, the tailback who teams with C.J. Gable and Stafon Johnson to give the Trojans a lethal stable of running backs.
It’s impressive that Carroll was able to land McKnight considering his Louisiana pedigree coinciding with the emergence of LSU as an elite national powerhouse. Of course, the commitment wasn’t without the usual USC controversy as reports of McKnight basically saying he had a conference call with Carroll and Reggie Bush swirled on signing day. Eventually, McKnight decided he remembered the event incorrectly paving his way to LA and out of his Katrina ravaged hometown.
His freshman season at USC didn’t quite measure up to the hype but the legit TD threat as a runner, receiver and return specialist did tally a solid 5.7 yards per carry (94/540, 3TD), 23 catches (8.8 avg, 1TD) and returned 19 punts for 160 yards (8.42 avg).
McKnight blew up in the Rose Bowl running 10 times for 125 yards (1 TD) while grabbing 6 passes for 45 yards in the 49-17 thrashing of Illinois. That game was supposed to be his coming out party but he ran into some bad luck during fall camp.
The misadventures started when he was hit with a raging case of jock itch causing him to miss a practice then he had his right hand slammed in a door before hyperextending his elbow the following week causing him to miss additional time. Basically, don’t stand next to dude during a thunderstorm.
In the season opener, McKnight was used sparingly as the Trojans put a 52-7 spanking on a bad UVA squad. The Trojans did, however, showcase his dual threat skills running him 6 times for 60 yards in addition to 4 catches for 24 yards.
This youtube has been making the rounds so you might have already peeped it, but if not it’s worth a look as his rushing, receiving and return skills are on display. There’s little doubt OSU will need to slow down McKnight if they have designs on an upset.
McKnight is the one guy who scares the bejeezus out of me. He hasn’t quite lived up to the hype, but the talent is definitely there. The other RBs are solid, but I think McKnight is the x-factor. If we contain him, I think we pull out the victory. If he goes for 150 or more, we’re in trouble!
Just read this post….about SC kids getting blown up for tickets to the game this weekend from people they haven’t talked to for years.
“It’s crazy,” senior receiver Patrick Turner said. “You really can’t do anything unless one of the out-of-state freshmen doesn’t have anyone coming.”
Kyle Moore, a senior from Georgia, is still trying to find a ticket for a fifth family member.
“It’s tough, because everyone’s from California. And even if they’re from out of state, everyone’s family is coming to the Ohio State game,” Moore said
I think this is a bigger deal than what you think, these are young kids, where is my family sitting, where’s my girl at?? That’s a distraction.
Yeah, its an away game for us, but all we have to concentrate on is how hard we hit and how we finish our plays. We won’t have all the family distractions, etc to take care of. We just need to play our game, punish Dirty Sanchez with blitzes, and have out O-line blow it up. OH- bitches!!
Agree completely about McKnight. He’s a guy that could take a close game and turn the momentum on one play — more so than probably anyone else on that SC roster.
Yeah, and the thing about McKnight is that he could get half of those 150 on one play.
Oh, and that video is pretty fresh. “Hey Joe, where you going with those keys to a new house in your hands?”
I think I just found my favorite quote about Woody ever:
“The Michigan players loved Bo; Ohio State players were in awe of Woody.”
It will be huge for OSU to jam up the USC running game as much as possible Saturday. The problem with McKnight is he can turn around and be potent catching the ball as well.
I am more concerned with McKnight coming out of the back field and catching passes. OSU’s linebackers are too deep most of the time and getting the ball to #4 in space could be trouble.
McKnight has a 5.7 YPC in his career.
his eye black says ‘Pay Day’ — that seems awfully ‘bush-esque’.
hmmm.
The other eye said “I need $”, if I’m not mistaken.
You know, I rewatched the Ohio game and came away with the opinion that the coaches designed adversity into the game. They didn’t tell the o-line to suck, but they surely didn’t give the offense a whole lot of chances to be successful.
Good for them.
I voted for McKnight, because he changes directions and our guys don’t like that. It could easily be Mark Sanchez if we don’t get pressure.
Sup guys and good luck against USC this weekend! I’ve known Joe since high school and the part about him not living up to the hype is not true. If he was getting the carries beanie is, Joe would be mashen people!
Good luck
I hear you, Beav…I agree that if he didn’t live up to the hype it was due to lack of carries, not lack of ability.
ohio states overrated and well see it tom. night. especially without beanie cuz face it hes the team. mcknight is great but just like reggie and all these other guys. its hard to see the potential at running back get fulfilled because they share time with other r.b’s and recieving the ball also takes away from their carries as well. but ive known joe 4ever . . . me and beav played ball with him at john curtis since he was in 4th grade and we were in 6th. hes the real deal and you guys havent even seen him at safety. he played safety his freshman and junior year of high school with us and he dominated. hes just as good if not better at safety but hes a thret anywhere on the field. he can play kicker and teams would have to gameplan 4 him. heisman winner w/o a doubt once in the next 3 years.