Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
See who thinks the Irish have a chance.
Notre Dame really needs to find a way to beat USC. The national title hopes are gone, but this could be key in determining the direction of the program. Win, and everything will seem fine, at least for one night. Lose, and even more questions will be raised.
Here are the prognostications from some college football experts:
.@Tim_Prangley noted how the 2003 #USC team built on what the 2002 team did. 2023 can build on the 2022 team’s foundation.
There is a definite parallel to be drawn between USC football eras, 20 years apart. The 2002 USC Trojans brought the program back to national prominence after several years in the wildnerness under a failed head coach, Paul Hackett. The 2022 Trojans brought the program back to the big leagues after the Clay Helton reign of error.
In 2003, the Trojans built on what the 2002 team accomplished under a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Carson Palmer, who thrived against Notre Dame and made a late-season statement in Los Angeles versus the Fighting Irish.
In 2023, the Trojans have a chance to build on the 2022 team’s successes. The 2022 Trojans were led by a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Caleb Williams, who flourished against Notre Dame and played an elite game in Los Angeles against the Irish in front of a large national television audience.
The obvious difference: Caleb Williams is coming back for 2023, whereas Carson Palmer was off to the NFL in 2003. Nevertheless, the comparisons between 2002 and 2022 USC are considerable. We will see if 2023 can build on 2022 the way the 2003 team built on the foundation laid by the 2002 team under Pete Carroll.
You can listen to Tim Prangley make this comparison as part of the most recent edition of Trojan Conquest Live at The Voice of College Football. Catch the new edition of Trojan Conquest Live this upcoming Sunday, just after 9 p.m. Eastern and 6 p.m. Pacific. You’ll get a preview of the Week Zero game for USC versus San Jose State:
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You know the one…and you probably know the take.
Chad Johnson, a Cincinnati Bengals legend and new inductee into the team’s Ring of Honor, isn’t a stranger to making bold claims.
But one of the head-turning things he said recently is something most Bengals fans probably agree with, if not think themselves.
Speaking with reporters after the announcement of his selection to the Ring of Honor, Johnson pointed to his biggest regret and/or disappointment of his career.
“If Carson stays upright … we would have a Lombardi, we would have a Lombardi Trophy,” Johnson said, according to CLNS Media’s Mike Petraglia.
Johnson is, of course, referring to the infamous low hit on Carson Palmer by Kimo von Oelhoffen on the Bengals’ second offensive snap of the 2005 wild-card playoff game against Pittsburgh. The Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl over the Seahawks.
Fans have debated this one for 18 years. But it’s not a shocker that this one reigns supreme for Johnson as the low point of his otherwise amazing career.
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Many of Murray’s stats compare favorably with Kurt Warner and Carson Palmer, two of the best QBs in franchise history.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has been a lightning rod for criticism since he entered the league. While he has sustained MVP-level play over stretches of two different seasons, some are hellbent on saying he is a bad quarterback.
Statistically, he compares comparably and favorably with two of the Cardinals’ greatest quarterbacks in franchise history — Kurt Warner and Carson Palmer.
Let’s take a look at some of those numbers.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
USA TODAY Sports sits down with former Arizona Cardinals QB Carson Palmer.
How does Carson Palmer describe the Cardinals’ 2022 season?
“A mess.”
He would know. Palmer spent the final five seasons of his 15-year career with the Cardinals. When he first arrived in Arizona, the team was dealing with several problems then too.
Palmer recently sat down with USA Today Sports’ Mackenzie Salmon and offered a glimmer of hope to Cardinals fans who aren’t feeling confident about their team right now.
The three-time Pro Bowler and Cardinals Ring of Honor enshrinee points to his tenure in Arizona as proof that this team can turn things around quickly.
Palmer recalled how the team quickly improved after he arrived. He enjoyed a great deal of success with the organization, including the 2015 season, in which the now-43-year-old former first-overall selection led Arizona to a 13-3 record.
The former quarterback and his kids are big fans of the team, and he keeps his “fingers crossed” that the Cards can reverse its fortunes.
Within the interview, Palmer identifies a key to a resurgence in the Valley of the Sun.
Listen to what Palmer thinks is integral for the Cards’ future success, and to more from the 2002 Heisman Trophy winner in the video above.
It’s no surprise that Carson Palmer favors #Bengals QB Joe Burrow over #Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, but his arguments don’t hold water. | from @EdEastonJr
The spring months in the NFL offseason are typically filled with mock drafts and unavoidable hot takes from experts, commentators, and former players.
Former NFL QB Carson Palmer is the latest to receive criticism for a hot take put out into the airwaves. The retired QB played 15 seasons in the NFL, with the first seven as the quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals. Palmer earned three Pro Bowl selections during his career, spending time with the Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals after Cincinnati.
Palmer recently sat down with his brother, former NFL QB Jordan Palmer, on “The QB Room” podcast to give his opinion on the evolution of the quarterback position. He specifically offered up some thoughts about Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes.
“I think Joe is the best quarterback in the league,” said Palmer. “I know Patrick (Mahomes) is phenomenal, but I just think Joe’s more consistent. He’s more consistent. He’s more accountable to run the system and the play that’s called and not feel like, ‘Well, he didn’t win last time and get open for me, so I’m gonna do it with my feet,’ and then before you know it, you’re sacked for a four-yard loss because you tried to make two or three guys miss. Joe is just. talk about not having a weakness. (He’s) mentally strong, physically tough, accurate, can throw it far enough, fast enough. (He) gets the ball out quick, and then he can actually do a lot with his legs.”
There’s no bother comparing resumes here because Mahomes has Burrow beat. The analytics community has taken exception to Palmer’s comments. They’ve specifically pointed out that the comments about playing within the system and taking unnecessary sacks simply don’t hold water.
NFL avg time to throw is 2.66 seconds
on quick throws 2.3 sec or less where the QB is clearly executing the play & not "doing it with his feet"
in 2022:
Mahomes: +0.30 EPA/att (#2)
Burrow: +0.12 EPA/att (#17)in 2021:
Mahomes: +0.29 EPA/att (#3)
Burrow: +0.17 EPA/att (#10) https://t.co/nkJp1sKtun— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 10, 2023
Carson Palmer commenting on Mahomes taking sacks and putting his team in bad position is great.
Pressure to Sack % for both QBs since 2020 (min. 100 pressures faced)
Mahomes — 10.4% (1st)
Burrow — 23.7% (50th)
Carry on.
— Zachary Krueger (@ZK_FFB) April 10, 2023
It’s fine if Palmer likes the way Burrow plays over Mahomes, but there was probably a better way to present his case.
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Some discussion about the Burrow-Mahomes debate started by Carson Palmer.
Former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer turned some heads recently when he went on a podcast and said current Bengals star Joe Burrow is the best quarterback in the league.
Palmer went as far as saying Burrow is better than Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes, which earned some major reactions.
That includes the analysts on “Good Morning Football” debating Palmer’s comments.
“I think it’s personal for Carson Palmer,” Peter Schrager said. “I think Carson Palmer has real scar tissue from the Cincinnati experience and on the way out had no kind words to say about the organization…I think he respects the hell out of what Joe Burrow’s done in turning this Bengals franchise…and that might be clouding his judgment just a tad. Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the NFL.”
As we said when Palmer’s comments first went out, it’s more notable that it is merely these two quarterbacks in the discussion at all right now. That speaks to Burrow’s emergence and likely staying power at the very top of the league.
Still, when comparing resumes, nobody can fault Schrager or anybody else for disagreeing with Palmer’s take.
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The Joe Burrow vs. Patrick Mahomes debate just got some more juice.
Former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer just added a little more juice to the rivalry between the Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs.
Appearing on “The QB Room” with Jordan Palmer, Carson said Burrow is the best quarterback in the league and that one key thing separates the two players in his mind.
“I think Joe is the best quarterback in the league,” Palmer said. “I know Patrick is phenomenal, but I just think Joe’s more consistent. He’s more consistent. He’s more accountable to run the system and the play that’s called and not feel like, “Well, he didn’t win last time and get open for me, so I’m gonna do it with my feet,” and then before you know it, you’re sacked for a four-yard loss because you tried to make two or three guys miss. Joe is just… talk about not having a weakness. Mentally strong, physically tough, accurate, can throw it far enough, fast enough, gets the ball out quick, and then he can actually do a lot with his legs.”
Notably, Jordan has been a pivotal point in Burrow’s training since the pre-draft process before the Bengals made him the No. 1 overall pick.
While this latest entry in the discourse between two of the league’s top passers won’t sway many, it’s pretty telling that it is often Burrow and Mahomes alone in that conversation for the top two spots these days.
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Carson Palmer has huge praise for Joe Burrow.
Former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer says Joe Burrow is the NFL’s best quarterback.
Speaking with Jim Rome, Palmer cited one thing that has been consistent about Burrow’s game that makes him the best in the league:
“I think what makes him the best quarterback in the league right now is his poise…there’s two or three that are once in a lifetime. Patrick Mahomes is one of them. But Joe doesn’t walk into a room and ooh and ahh you like Herbert does or a Josh Allen does. … “He was magical in the pocket. He would always seem to keep his eyes downfield, not look at the rush and find the soft spot in the pocket to deliver the ball accurately down the field.”
Palmer did cite Burrow’s athleticism that helps him make plays as a runner as part of this too. But most of it was about the poise, going from the bad offensive line he overcame to get to the Super Bowl to this year’s improved line, which allowed him to adapt to the offense and what defenses were doing at a near-MVP level.
While Palmer hasn’t been the most popular figure with Bengals fans over the years, it’s hard not to like this praise for Burrow, especially coming from the guy whose brother helped develop some of these traits that make Burrow who he is today.
Carson Palmer on why he thinks Joe Burrow is the best QB in the league right now. pic.twitter.com/fBjrz4ebin
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) February 9, 2023
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Carson Palmer was a joy to watch. His spectacular career for #USC culminated with a #Heisman Trophy victory.
With Caleb Williams being a near-lock to win the 2022 Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, it is worth noting the USC Heisman winner whose season most closely parallels Williams’ journey: Carson Palmer.
If you think about it, the 2022 and 2002 USC seasons have a lot in common. We noted this in our November coverage of the Trojans.
You could see this coming, too: As soon as USC beat Arizona on Oct. 29, the Trojans knew they would stay home for the full month of November. If they won every game in Los Angeles, they would play for the Pac-12 title.
Caleb Williams would be a Heisman finalist with a chance to win the award.
USC did win every game it played in Los Angeles. Caleb Williams played brilliantly against Notre Dame in prime time on national television. USC went to a big bowl game. The Trojans restored the program after years of drift.
Carson Palmer, in Pete Carroll’s restorative 2002 season which launched the USC dynasty, smoked the Fighting Irish in L.A. in prime time to seal his Heisman 20 years ago.
Palmer in 2002. Caleb in 2022. The parallels are there.
Let’s look back at Carson Palmer’s USC Heisman story and his Trojan career:
