As the USC quarterback, Matt Barkley is the centerpiece of most Trojan football discussions. He is covered in adulation at every success and thrown into the critics' cauldron for every misstep.
"I don't think there are any higher expectations than being the quarterback at USC," said QB coach Clay Helton.
Barkley's bar was set at Olympic heights. He was handed the torch as a true freshman and expected to step directly in line behind Mark Sanchez, John David Booty, Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer.
That foursome combined to win six BCS bowl games and two Heismans. Barkley's resume reads 17-7 as a starter with an Emerald Bowl victory.
While the comparisons are impossible to avoid, they are not on equal footing.
Barkley is preparing to enter his third season in the program. At this same stage, Sanchez, Booty and Leinart combined for zero career starts.
Palmer is the more accurate comparison. While he grew into a Heisman winner by his fifth season, Barkley's stats outshone the former #1 overall draft pick in his first two years.
Palmer completed 59% of his passes for 10 TDs to 9 INTs as a true freshman and sophomore and he broke his collarbone. Barkley is a 61% passer with 41 TDs to 26 INTs at this point.
So, how do you measure experience? Should Barkley be held to the standard of a USC quarterback with just two years in the system or a Trojan leader with 24 starts under his belt?
"It's a little bit of both," said Helton. "When you are two years in a system going into a third, obviously that helps whether you have had mental reps or actual game experience.
"By actually playing in the game, you get a feel for the speed, so you can make those anticipation throws. To come in as a true freshman quarterback and be thrown into the fire is a tremendous challenge and he will be better off in the latter part of his career because of it."
Of course, football is a team game. In his final season, Palmer came of age under Norm Chow as a decision-maker, but it helped that Mike Williams joined the party alongside Keary Colbert, Kareem Kelly and a stable of running backs.
Lane Kiffin identified USC's current offensive line as the biggest question mark on the team. Barkley's success may be dependent upon solidifying that unit.
If he does have time to throw, a veteran Barkley could finally leap over that expectations' bar and lead the Trojans back to glory.
"I don't think there are any higher expectations than being the quarterback at USC," said QB coach Clay Helton.Barkley's bar was set at Olympic heights. He was handed the torch as a true freshman and expected to step directly in line behind Mark Sanchez, John David Booty, Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer.
That foursome combined to win six BCS bowl games and two Heismans. Barkley's resume reads 17-7 as a starter with an Emerald Bowl victory.
While the comparisons are impossible to avoid, they are not on equal footing.
Barkley is preparing to enter his third season in the program. At this same stage, Sanchez, Booty and Leinart combined for zero career starts.
Palmer is the more accurate comparison. While he grew into a Heisman winner by his fifth season, Barkley's stats outshone the former #1 overall draft pick in his first two years.
Palmer completed 59% of his passes for 10 TDs to 9 INTs as a true freshman and sophomore and he broke his collarbone. Barkley is a 61% passer with 41 TDs to 26 INTs at this point. So, how do you measure experience? Should Barkley be held to the standard of a USC quarterback with just two years in the system or a Trojan leader with 24 starts under his belt?
"It's a little bit of both," said Helton. "When you are two years in a system going into a third, obviously that helps whether you have had mental reps or actual game experience.
"By actually playing in the game, you get a feel for the speed, so you can make those anticipation throws. To come in as a true freshman quarterback and be thrown into the fire is a tremendous challenge and he will be better off in the latter part of his career because of it."
Of course, football is a team game. In his final season, Palmer came of age under Norm Chow as a decision-maker, but it helped that Mike Williams joined the party alongside Keary Colbert, Kareem Kelly and a stable of running backs.
Lane Kiffin identified USC's current offensive line as the biggest question mark on the team. Barkley's success may be dependent upon solidifying that unit.
If he does have time to throw, a veteran Barkley could finally leap over that expectations' bar and lead the Trojans back to glory.
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