One dilemma from this season heading into next year was Lane Kiffin’s relationship with the players. Kiffin usually spent most of his time with the skill players the past 3 years.
But this year, his relationship with Robert Woods was awful at best. Woods could not wait to leave and who could blame him? And Matt Barkley criticized Kiffin’s focus on Marqise Lee, which illustrated that relationship also frayed.
So if he didn’t get along with a wide receiver and quarterback, who is left? Certainly not the tight ends, because they were upset over their opportunities.
Somewhere during the season Kiffin lost the locker room, which last happened under Paul Hackett. And he needs to regain it, or his USC tenure is hopeless.