USC-Arizona State Report Card

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Here are the grades from last weekend’s game:

RESULT: No. 21 USC 38, Arizona State 17

RECORD: 7-3, 5-3

WEEK 10 GRADE: B

 

QUARTERBACK

 

Matt Barkley (46) only four interceptions from setting school record for career.

 

D+

 

RUNNING BACKS

 

Curtis McNeal finally got quality playing time and delivered with 163 yards.

 

A-

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

 

Is it impossible for Marqise Lee and Robert Woods to both flourish?

 

B

 

OFFENSIVE LINE

 

Rotating at left guard and left tackle eliminated fatigue issues.

 

B+

 

DEFENSIVE LINE

 

Arizona State provided confidence boost as unit registered 6.5 sacks.

 

A-

 

LINEBACKERS

 

Some vulnerable moments in pass coverages that UCLA might exploit.

 

C+

 

DEFENSIVE BACKS

 

Not even stunt of Marqise Lee at safety alleviated concerns rest of season.

 

B-

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

 

No jersey switches, no two-point conversions so it’s a good week.

 

B+

 

COACHING

 

Can the program have a week where the game is only issue?

 

C-

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  • Golden Trojan

    Who would have thought quarterback would be a weakness. Tighten your chin strap Matt, just beat the Bruins. I hate FUCLA!

  • Kay

    Nothing ever good to say Scott?

  • CheattheSystem

    Brett Farve threw more INT’s than anybody during his career. He also threw for more yards (until this year), threw more TD’s and had more fumbles lost, consecutive starts and several other records…That’s NFL. When a QB plays more than anyone else, those are the things that happen. I guess Farve sucks, too, huh, Wolfie?

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ben-Doverz/1423558008 Ben Doverz

      He won big games, McBakley doesn’t, end of discussion

    • Ben Factor

      I always wonder why no one checks their facts before attacking Scott Wolf, who actually has pretty good instincts about what is going on and what is going wrong?

      Matt Barkley has 349 pass attempts, of which 64.8% were completed, and 3.7% intercepted. Geno Smith has 400 pass attempts, of which 71.2% were completed and 0.83% intercepted. Matt Scott of Arizona has 386 attempts, 62.7% completed, 2.3% intercepted. Landry Jones, has 345 attempts, 65.5% completed, 2.0% intercepted.

      Here’s one more of interest: Brett Hundley of UCLA, a redshirt freshman, has 329 pass attempts, of which 69% were completed and 2.7% intercepted. That is 2 fewer attempts per game than Barkley, but just as many completions per game.

      So, who has better instincts about the problems with Barkley’s game, you or Scott?

      Matt Barkley is a very impressive, high-quality young man. None but the misanthropes one would wish a disappointing year on Matt Barkley. But that IS what is happening.

      Some of it is Lane Kiffin’s fault, for (1) not cleaning up penalties a lot earlier than he did, which put MB in difficult passing situations, (2) overall failure to made effective in-game adjustments, (3) excessive focus on one WR, (4) uncreative and predictable rushing strategies that were never especially effective; and (5) somewhat predictable overall strategies and play-calling.

      But Matt Barkley cannot fairly be deemed blameless in what has happened to him this year.