Editor's note: This is the seventh in a series of nine articles previewing Pac-10 football teams.
Despite losing the Pac-10's all-time leader in passing and total yards in Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer, the bar has still been set high for the USC Trojans in 2003.
After finishing 2002 with just two losses, USC has been picked by the Pac-10 media to win the conference this year.
The main weapons back for USC will be in its receiving core, with senior wide receiver Keary Colbert and sophomore Mike Williams, as well as senior tight end Alex Holmes leading the way.
The duo of 1000-yard receivers, a first for USC, is led by the experienced Colbert, who caught 71 passes last year for 1,029 yards.
Williams, the defending Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, won't be sneaking up on anyone this season. He owns NCAA freshman records for receiving yards (1,265) and touchdowns (14, shared with Florida's Jabar Gaffney in 2000).
Holmes' 29 catches last season were the most by a Trojan tight end since 1993.
Unfortunately for USC, getting the ball to Williams, Colbert and Holmes might become a problem as the quarterback position is still up for grabs.
Expected to battle for Palmer's replacement will be junior Matt Cassel and sophomore Matt Leinart, two quarterbacks that have completed a combined four passes in their college careers.
"We have some key elements of our team that we have to uncover and determine who the best players are," Carroll said.
The Trojans started this year with a bang by shutting out the Auburn Tigers on Saturday.
Leinart started the Auburn game and played well, but one bad game could put Cassel in the starting spot.
On the defensive side of the ball, it's another case of being strong at one position and vulnerable at another.
The defensive line is arguably one of the best in the nation and has been dubbed "The Wild Bunch 2." Both ends, senior Omar Nazel and junior Kenechi Udeze, are returning starters, and two juniors Mike Peterson and Shaun Cody finalize the middle.
Secondary concerns do plague the Trojans with only one starter, senior cornerback Marcell Allmond, returning in 2003. USC will hope to replace Troy Polamalu, a finalist for last season's Thorpe Award and first-round draft pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers, with freshman Darnell Bing, who was originally signed last year but was unable to qualify academically.
Reach the reporter at jeffrey.hoodzow@asu.edu.
