Answer Monday! (Part 2)

More reader football questions on how to stop the spread offense and why USC hasn’t signed more defensive linemen.

Q: dtksr1 @dslextreme.com

In your opinion Scott, for the last 2/3 years in not signing more top D-linemen the fault of Lane Kiffin being viewed as a head coach they don’t want to play for? Or is it Coach Orgeron not the coach the players want coaching them? It has got to be one or the other.

A: Ed Orgeron used to be a master at signing plenty of defensive linemen and I think USC’s been caught flatfooted under the scholarship restrictions, especially last year, when it came to signing defensive linemen. This year, Orgeron said he would make sure he got plenty of defensive linemen and USC secured a lot of early commitments.

As you all know, then came a wave of decommitments. That was the result of the 7-6 season (Lane Kiffin). Can’t blame Orgeron for that. But he also needed to find some other players once it became apparent Eddie Vanderdoes, Kylie Fitts, Jason Hatcher and Torrodney Prevot were going elsewhere.

Some coaches might feel like they are recruiting with one hand tied behind their back with Kiffin struggling, but that’s something that is just part of the fabric of the football program. And it might not change for awhile.

Q: Vladimir Smackula

Vulfman, now zat zee Tvin Towers haff derstroyt Cantu’s chances at beink namt zee permanent coach, do you sink zee Trojinx haff a schance at hirink Mark Few??

AH! AH! AH! AH! just kiddink, Vulfman! AH! AH! AH! Vhat about Phil Jackson?? AH! AH! AH! (sorry Vulfman!) AH! AH! AH!

A:  It is pretty much accepted that Mark Few will not leave Gonzaga. Or if he does, it will be a better job than USC. He’s got it pretty good at Gonzaga right now and I can’t really imagine he would leave for USC.

Q: Ben Doverz

How does Kiffin think he can stop the spread offense with just THREE defensive coaches ?

A: I think Lane Kiffin thinks one thing: Clancy Pendergast will stop the spread. I’m intrigued by the fact Pendergast had a secondary coach at Cal last year but does not want one at USC. Sometimes, when you get fired, you decide to coach yourself instead of relying on others. It’s a reason Pete Carroll served as coach and defensive coordinator at USC.

I still USC would be better served with four defensive assistants instead of two offensive line coaches. But that’s the choice Kiffin made. So we’ll see how it goes.

7 thoughts on “Answer Monday! (Part 2)

  1. Good responses Scott… I agree something is amiss when the coaching staff seeing their top-level D-linemen sign elsewhere, don’t react and attempt to find & sign the players Boisie St. & others like them will find and do a credible job, including some JC players. This is going to cause depth problems and put enormous pressure on future freshmen signees.
    Kiffin better hope Pendergast has the moxie to handle the positioning calls during the game & develop the secondary. That’s asking a lot with the expectations of this program.

    • It’s a perfect storm of underperforming 4 and 5 star recruits from 2-3 years ago, lack of depth due to the sanctions and now no new recruits to replenish the d-line. Pendergast better be a miracle worker.

  2. Classic Count, that question was!

    a humiliating kick in trojies crotch wolf’s answer was, hmmm?

    herh herh herh!

    • Put your head back in the hole. Get the cheeks greased up, bruinrob is on his way up to the tree house….ouch!

  3. It seems like there’s been a mass exodus of readers on this blog. Same thing over at Jack the Wang’s ucla blog. Seems like the Daily News is sucking more than ever and they don’t give a crud what fans want.

    • I have noticed the same thing myself. I think here it has to do with Wolf’s vendetta against Kiffin. It has gotten to old. I have considered never coming back myself, not that I am a big loss, but I guess what I get sick of is negativism.

    • Sounds like they are on to something, you should follow them, since you’re a reactionary idiot…

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