SCliff Notes: Victor Blackwell Adds to Drama and More USC Football News

Can’t get enough of the USC Trojans? We’ve got your morning dose of all the best content from around the web concerning the men of Troy.

1st & 10:

Who Wants to Be a Headline?… Much like celebrity deaths seem to come in threes, USC controversies have insisted on coming in pairs lately. First it was Josh Shaw and Anthony Brown. Now it is Brian Baucham and Victor Blackwell.

Blackwell hasn’t been participating in practice lately. He is reportedly unhappy with the playing time he has receiving since catching three balls in the season opener and is reconsidering his future with the Trojans.

Blackwell’s complaints are for Steve Sarkisian and the staff to sort out. Unfortunately, this personal strike highlights that subject we’re all tired of talking about: depth.

Though he occupies a position with some of the best depth on the squad, he is one of just three upperclassmen in the unit. In a more general sense, if Blackwell were to leave the team the Trojans would see their scholarship numbers chipped away again without replenishment.

Of perhaps greater concern is the microscope which now focuses on the management and makeup of USC in 2014 as the Trojans storm their way towards the drama queen label.

Click here for more on Victor Blackwell.

In Other News…

• Sarkisian is feeling the pressure to deliver against Oregon State, as Michael Lev details. The head coach is sticking to talk of pursuing championships, but it starts with pursuing victories. (OC Register)
• Part of achieving those victories is belief and the Trojans are pushing that optimism this week. Jodee Sullivan looked at those feelings as USC players and coaches focus on turning things around. (Neon Tommy)
• Johnny Curren has some notes on USC’s Tuesday practice, including more indications that Adoree’ Jackson will see an increased role on defense and some positive news for Tre Madden who is making progress recovering from turf toe. (ESPN)
• Kyle Kensing has the story on the offensive “kryptonite” that is Jackson (when he’s playing on defense) and his partnership with fellow cornerback Chris Hawkins. (Bleacher Report)
• The quarterback Jackson and Hawkins will be tasked with stopping this weekend, Sean Mannion, is chasing Matt Barkley’s Pac-12 record for career passing yards. Just to make it tougher on Mannion, Kevin Gemmell pointed out the conference shorted Barkley 53 yard’s in his career mark. (ESPN)
• In Vegas, the bye week was enough time for the oddsmakers to forget about USC’s awful performance against Boston College. As Lindsey Thiry points out, the Trojans’ odd of winning the championship have been boosted back t0 25-1. (LA Times)
• In Corvallis, Brad Fuqua has some of Mike Riley’s thoughts on playing USC this year versus last year. (Corvallis Gazzette-Times)
• Jordan Moore took a moment to break down the performances of former Trojans in the NFL over the weekend. (RipsIt Blog)
• In legal news, Dan Weber broke down the latest on Todd McNair’s lawsuit against the NCAA. It’s a lengthy and technical article, but an important one for Trojan fans who care about learning more about the NCAA’s sanctions against USC. (USCFootball.com)
• Finally, a sad farewell to former Trojan standout Scott Ross, who died on Sunday at the age of 45. The All-American linebacker fought alongside Junior Seau in two Rose Bowl appearances and joins his former teammate in leaving us too soon. Fight On and Rest in Peace. (USC)

Stat of the Day:

Oregon State features 42 players from the state of California.

USC has a player on the roster hailing from China — punter Joey Krassenstein — but zero players from the state of Oregon.

Tweets of the Day: