Lane Kiffin Playing Not To Lose

Perhaps that is the most disturbing aspect of last night’s game. A USC team playing not to lose instead of playing to win. If I was Lane Kiffin, I would probably roll some dice this season after going 7-6 last year. But he went into an offensive shell last night. It’s the NFL mentality of running out the clock and relying on your defense.

16 thoughts on “Lane Kiffin Playing Not To Lose

  1. 2 scared QB’s, a lame brain for a play caller, doesn’t bode well going forward. Now if Haden would get his nose out of the Scotch bottle and fire Lanie’s azz, things might look a little brighter

  2. USC’s keys for a successful 2013 season:

    1. Haden and Kiff meet and PH get’s to the bottom of what’s going on, inspires Kiff to right the boat.
    1a. Throw support 150% behind all coaching staff to ease their anxiety.
    2. Pick one QB. Wittek’s got the arm to make downfield plays.
    2a. Make deep throws downfield, especially on 3rd and long situations.
    3. Play an up tempo physical style of play on offense. Continue knocking heads and being aggressive on D.
    4. Dont overuse Tre M. and the run.
    5. Fans get 100% behind the team, through thick and thin, all day, everyday.
    5a. Fans increase noise level at the Coli and disrupt teams.
    6. Have an amazing pep talk before every game that gets players pumped. When they run out of tunnel, then want to take opponents heads off.
    7. Improve O Line play 180 degrees.
    8. Kiff stops being paranoid about other teams knowing his game plan for dumb things.
    9. Not be so predictable in calling every play.
    10. Fight ON to the fullest now and forever!!

    • Regarding #2 – did you watch the game? Have you watched Wittek play? Against the Irish (decent, but with a ton of bad throws)? Against the Rambling Wreck? Against the Rainbow Warriors? Against the Cougars? Dude is terrible. Kiffin is probably his biggest Achilles heel, but he’s shown nothing. 13 yards passing and a pick (plus one that was called back due to a quasi-dubious penalty). I’m not saying Kessler is the second coming, but if we’re relying on Wittek and his “strong arm”, we’re in major trouble!

      PS. Strong arms just get it to the bad guys quicker.

      • Yeah I watched the game. I know Wittek didn’t do much last night (neither did Kessler) but Im going based on past performances. He showed some nice throws against ND. Against GT…well, that’s another story. I just haven’t seen much of anything from Kessler and I admit I’m biased. This is all just frustrating and pathetic. but we have to keep plowing forward.

        • Wittek hasnt done anything his whole career. He had all the opportunity to do so when Barkley got hurt.. The guy throws more interceptions than TD’s!

  3. I’ve been saying this for awhile and I’ve been screaming it since the Hawaii game. It’s a good thing Scooter reads my blog entries. My God, I’ve never seen a person coach this much not to lose. It’s ridiculous. Why even play the receiver for mid range or deep balls when you can sit on the slant, quick out, or bubble screen. Of course the d-back was in position to pick both Kessler and Wittek on the pick six and the decisive interception at the end of the game. He knew Kiffin had less than half a ball (teste, not football) and nowhere near the ganas to throw deep. Heck, if I was a d-back about to face a Kiffin offense, I’d be licking my chops.

  4. When you cannot complete a forward pass and the bubble screens go for no gain all you have is Tre Madden and the defense! What else do you do? These QBs can’t complete a pass against a decent defense.

  5. As soon as I saw the Trojan Offensive Line against Hawaii I knew this was going to be a Long season. If you can’t control the line of scrimmage you will not succeed with any scheme .

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