Sports Radio Interviews

Pete Carroll: There Are Not Too Many Guys Like Matt Barkley

SRI continues to work in new writers. This post is courtesy of Chris Fedor of WKNR in Cleveland.

During the offseason, USC Head Coach Pete Carroll had one of the more difficult tasks that a college football head coach could encounter. Carroll had to try and replace his starting quarterback from a year ago and still maintain National Championship aspirations at his football program. Mark Sanchez departed following his junior season at USC, was a top-5 pick in the NFL draft and is now the starting quarterback for the New York Jets. His departure left Pete Carroll with three underclassmen, all with limited experience at the quarterback position. There was an open competition in the offseason to replace Sanchez and Matt Barkley emerged as the winner, making him the first ever true freshman to start under center for the Trojans. Barkley made his debut against San Jose State this past Saturday and looked impressive completing 15 of 19 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown. This weekend he will make his first ever start on the road as the Trojans travel to Columbus to take on Ohio State.

Pete Carroll joined XX Sports Radio in San Diego with Scott and BR to talk about Matt Barkley’s first start for the Trojans, traveling to Ohio State on Saturday, and his decision to start a true freshman at quarterback.

On whether playing on the road is a big deal for a first-year quarterback:

“I think it’s a right of passage. You’ve got to go into difficult settings and experience it. The Santa Ana Bowl doesn’t match-up to the Horseshoe. He’s got to get on the road there and see what it’s like. For Matt Barkley, I think he’s going to be alright with it. Hopefully we can play well around him so he isn’t the focal point of the game.”

On whether or not he was surprised that Barkley’s debut went so well:

“Not surprised as much as thankful that we played well and he could get off to a good start and didn’t have to deal with a shoddy first outing. But everything he’s done has been so remarkably on course that I’m not surprised. The things we asked him to do in the game were things that he’s good at and has shown that he has command of. I was just thankful that it worked out that way and now we have to go on the road for the first time. He has all these first time things that he has to get through that everyone makes a bid deal about. I guess it’s a big deal, but I don’t think Matt’s bothered by it. He’s having fun playing football.”

On whether or not he is surprised that a kid can go directly from high school and immediately become a starting quarterback as a freshman in college:

“I think it is a surprise and it’s unusual. Look at it in the next level too how often rookies have tried to make in the NFL and they don’t make it. We remember some stories about the few guys that have, but most of the guys can’t get it done. The transition is just too great and they struggle and the team isn’t quite as supportive as they need around them and so they have a really hard time. I think it’s very unusual and I think we’re fortunate. We have a very unique kid that’s pulling this off here. I don’t think there’s very many guys like him.”

On the talent that Barkley gets to play with:

“That’s obviously part of it. We have only played one game so we don’t know where we are, but he does have experience up front. He’s got guys that have played in a lot of huge games that really like him and that are kind of taking him under their wing and they’re making it easier for him. There couldn’t be a better situation than that. The receivers, the running backs and the tight ends have all played a lot of football. They’re very comfortable and now that he feels that and they give that to him it’s helping him move along quickly too.”

Listen to Pete Carroll on XX Sports Radio in San Diego with Scott & BR

Tags: Matt Barkley, Ohio State Buckeyes, Pete Carroll, USC, USC Football