USC quarterback Aaron Corp is expected to return to practice next week after suffering an injury to his left knee.

Folks around Southern California will most likely equate Corp’s injury to the knee injury that kept Mark Sanchez out briefly last season.   Corp is expected to take back his starting spot and lead the Trojans when it takes on powerhouse San Jose State,  Sept. 5.

Yet, there are stark differences between this season and last:  Last season Sanchez was undoubtedly the best quarterback on the team.  Not only was he the most prepared, he was the most physically talented of the USC signal callers.  This year there is this guy, Matt Barkley, waiting to lead the Trojan offense.

I’ve already said  I think Barkley is by far the most talented quarterback on the roster. His arm strength and athleticism outdistance both Corp and Mitch “the next Matt Cassel” Mustain–and yes I realize Mustain played 8 college games, but this ain’t ArKansas anymore Toto, and the poor sap can only hope for a bout of swine flu to take out the other two.

As a Michigan fan–Yes, Trojans it’s true–this scenario reminds me of an eerily similar situation in 2004 when former De La Salle standout and Michigan’s supposed starting quarterback Matt Gutierrez hurt his shoulder.  Initial reports were that it was a minor setback, but the injury persisted and Gutierrez lost his job to freshman Chad Henne before eventually transferring to Idaho State.

I’m always one for ridiculous conspiracy theories–unless it has to do with the President not being born in America–and still contend that the extent of Gutierrez’s injury was enhanced, so they could get Henne into the starting lineup.  Freshman starting quarterbacks didn’t start at  Michigan.  You had to bide your time and at least split snaps with future Superbowl MVPs–ala Tom Brady-Drew Henson.

But I distinctly remember a news report about Henne’s father saying–and I’m paraphrasing here–’He didn’t go there to sit the bench.’  Now I understand that no big recruit thinks they are going to sit the bench, but when you are the better player at a program where younger means wait, there has to be a reason for you to play.  Hence, a bugaboo injury that thrusts a talented freshmen over the tradition bar and into the starting huddle.

It would not surprise me if Corp tries to come back and goes down again for another three weeks leaving Barkley to try his hand during that San Jose State game.  (Remember last season the Trojans started out on the road in what before the season looked like a could-be-dicey game at Virginia, not a powder puff team.)

After a Joe Flacco-type performance in game one, the question would be whether Barkley should start at Ohio State or whether they should split time with the “more experienced” Corp.  But, as happened with Henne, once the freshman gets a few games under his belt it would be nearly impossible to unseat him.  He’s just that good.

I don’t hate Corp.  I don’t even wish this injury to derail his career.  But in a Trojan-eat-Trojan world the best players should play.  In my untrained, uneducated, couldn’t wash Pete Carroll’s jock strap if I was a bathing in a pool of Tide detergent and biased opinion Barkley is the best quarterback on USC’s roster.

Carroll, like Lloyd Carr–106,201 people just puked at that comparison–would never say he wants to start a freshman.  He has to pander to future recruits to convince them that if they sit the bench a year or two they will have a chance–right Cassell?  He also wants to keep as much pressure off Barkley as possible.

But starting the freshman quarterback is the best move for the USC program both now and in the future.

There is no question that had Sanchez returned for his senior season the Trojans would be the favorite to meet Florida in the BCS championship.  He would have graduated and Barkley, not Corp, would have taken over.  There would have been no excuse not to.  Barkley would have had his season holding the clip board, know the offense and still have the superior physical gifts.

This season the Trojans would be better off to let the young mustang strut his stuff on the field.  All the quarterbacks are learning a “new” offense under Jeremy Bates/Johnnie Morton (he will always be Johnnie) so besides the “been around the block a few more times factor” Corp isn’t that much ahead of the game.  Also, with the stable of running backs USC would do well to run the freaking ball more this year anyway.  Tailoring a run-heavy plan for a freshman quarterback–even if it’s just a poor excuse for what it should be doing anyway–allows the Trojans to play to their strength and play their most talented quarterback.

Given his skill is anyone supposed to believe Barkley will sit the bench again next year?

There are a few things in life you don’t do:  You don’t bury talent on the bench.   You don’t check trip-queens twice.  And you don’t question Bruce Dickinson.

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Kevin Patra lives by the adage: Those who can’t do or teach, write.  Currently, he is a grad student at the University of Southern California studying Online Journalism, after spending four years at he University of Michigan obtaining a bachelors degree from the school of Language, Science & Fun.  Patra spent his childhood autumns raking leaves while listening to college football on the radio, and is surprised they haven’t upgraded from radio waves yet.

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