Jim Mora Talks Up Lane Kiffin

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Scott Wolf

It feels like the Dan Patrick show should be broadcast from USC with the seemingly constant focus on the Trojans. This morning, Patrick asked UCLA coach Jim Mora about Lane Kiffin.

“ I think he’s accepted responsibility,” Mora said. “I think that’s how you move on. He’s a friend of mine. His dad had a tremendous influence on my defensive philosophies. I got to work with him in New Orleans. I just wanted the guy to do well. I think he will if he’s given another shot.

“If there’s ever a situation where Lane was available and he was interested and there was a position available, he’s a guy anyone would want to consider.

“He’s a good football coach. He’s a really good play-caller. I’ve had to scheme up against him on defense, and when he’s got the quarterback he thinks can make it happen for him, he’s tough to defend, because he’s not predictable. He gives you wrinkles and he sets you up, and he’s a good play-caller.”

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Henry Bibby

People who know football, meaning they played and coached at a high level, say that Lane is a great offensive coach. People who know nothing about football, Paul Finebaum and Scott Wolf, continue to take low blow cheap shots at him. Fact.
- Trojan Hoarse
  
  And don’t underestimate Kiffin’s ability to recruit,,,,,,Wolf certainly does……
  - ThaiMex
    
    GOAT BOY was REPULSIVE….and you are a boring fool (“Henry” has lost it). Has NOTHING to do with Goat Boy, has everything to do with The University of South Central! Which current players came to SUCks ONLY because of Goat Boy? Recruits are currently reconsidering SCUm because that arrogant KNOW NOTHING is gone. BTW…You goof’s fail to see Scotty is presenting the FACTS not spreading gossip. Chucker is right…you knuckleheads love to bash Scotty and complain, yet you come back day after day (sometimes several times each day) to piss and moan. fit UN torgans!
    - Trojan Hoarse
      
      Glad to see you’re back…. I was a little worried that you may have been deported, what with the recent police raid of the street meat vendors in East LA……you and Bucket continue to bow to Wolfies shrine and rub his head for good luck……and Scotties “FACTS” are just recycled posts from other websites…… 3 days later…. you know it and WE know it…..Troll on!
      - Hey SUC’s
        
        ….y….a….w….n……zzzzzzz……
      - FIGHTONtoVICTORY
        
        Looks like you’ve run out of material once again
      - Trojan Hoarse
        
        The dude has narcolepsy ……
    - Jack B
      
      The only reason I ever come to this rehash dungeon is to get in the face of you Little Gutty trolls and to remind you of your pathetic history. Even though you’ve got your best team since the 90’s, you still won’t win the conference. Typical Gutties. Play in the Rose Bowl but can never get to the game.
      - Hey SUC’s
        
        Exit, chased by a Bruin.
      - Jack B
        
        Little Gutties can barely chase their own tail. When you gonna finally win the conference Little Gutty? That’s what I thought. No idea.
      - Trojan Hoarse
        
        And “backing” into a Pac-12 South Division “championship” doesn’t count……especially after a 50-0 drubbing…….
      - Cheap seats
        
        Arguing with a troll about USC football is like a fat dude in the gym telling you what to eat.
    - 1ThaiMexCleansMyToilets1
      
      So tired of singing nursery rhymes to Hey SUCLA. Why Scott Wolf enables this gathering of unemployed FUCLA misanthropes is baffling. The more you go out of your way to cackle on somebody else’s board, the more Scott’s best intentions are diluted. If you need to hold your big brother’s hand while you go punch the better guy in the nose, you are a coward and we all know how sad you really are. Got CLAP bRuins?
      - Trojan Hoarse
        
        These trolls “Ate CLAP” whenever possible……
      - Trojan Hoarse
        
        ¿Los baños están limpios?……ThaiMex trabaja bien.
      - 1ThaiMexCleansMyToilets1
        
        Si. El puede limpiar la mierda en mi bano mas mejor de todos los pandejos. Tienes la GONNOREA OCHO oSitos?
      - SaferInWestwood
        
        Mamon de seguro eres un cagado mejor conosido como un CEROTON, CEROTE!!
      - ProbationU
        
        No clap here….always wear a Trojan.
      - Hey SUC’s
        
        Toilet Bowl: the mealy mouth f*rts again. You need change your diet TB. Sell another shack today?
    - steveg
      
      You are repulsive. We can come back all we want, it’s a USC blog fool. You are the unwanted bagoshit on here.
  - ProbationU
    
    TH, I think his recruiting was starting to dry up. I don’t think Kiffin was a good head coach. I would liken him to our Steve Lavin in BB. Started out recruiting well but recruiting dried up when people realized he wasn’t a good coach. However, Wolf’s obsession with all things Kiffin seems a bit over the top, to put it mildly.
  - rusoviet
    
    Kiffin’s recruiting was sinking with de-commits – it was that fact that pushed Haden to cut him rather than have further hemorrhaging of the program.
    - Trojan Hoarse
      
      Agreed….. looks like his last good deed was bringing us Max Browne and Company……
  - gotroy22
    
    Recruit? Were you in a coma last February when our class vaporized?
    - Trojan Hoarse
      
      I managed to regain consciousness when Max Browne and Ty Isaac saved our bacon…….I’m not happy about losing the DL and secondary recruits, but that is now in the past…..
- Independent_George
  
  I don’t see lots of people who played football and coached at a high level calling him a great offensive mind. Pete Carroll isn’t. Urban Meyer isn’t. Mike Leach isn’t. Mike Riley isn’t. David Shaw isn’t. Steve Spurrier isn’t. Robert Woods isn’t. Matt Kalil isn’t. Fact.
  
  Got to wonder if Dan Patrick and or Mora and Kiffin share the same agency or agent or something. One thing they seem to be defending is Kiffin’s last name.
- Hey SUC’s
  
  Does that mean people who know BB, meaning they played and coached at a high level, are right when they say SUC BB is foul. SUC hopes Galen Ctr. will draw at least 10 percent of full attendance for SUC’s 2013-2014 home BB schedule.
- rusoviet
  
  What in 2012 1 – 5 last six games. This year a bang up 3-2 for 4 – 7 over the past 11 games? That is not what anyone would call a great offensive coach – he was outscored and also failed to win against tough opponents. Wish him no harm but he was given three good/great opportunities as a HC and failed.
- Saul Goodman
  
  You sure a lot of that isn’t due to deference to his dad (who is clearly liked and respected by almost all within football circles)?
- Ben Factor
  
  I find your comment to be inaccurate. How many times were Kiffin’s choices criticized by ex-coaches? Many. Period.
  
  I agree that his biggest failing was NOT his play calling. However, it was clear over the last several year that he did not confuse defenses, or experiment with ways to work around the legitimate problems he faced because of the sanctions. Regarding the offense, the man was too inflexible, did not face problems head on, was too hierarchical, and was not a collaborative leader of a coaching team.
  
  That doesn’t make him evil. And at this point, he’s not a suitable topic for a USC blog.
- gotroy22
  
  Thanks Layla.
rusoviet

I heard it too – good interview and Mora is a quick study on what to say and how to say it. He did state that the perception of UCLA by outsiders was that it was soft but that when he arrived he found it was not the case. I did find it amusing when asked who his program should use as a model no mention made of any Pac-12 team (in particular Troy) but AL

I sense a UCLA victory Saturday @ Palo Alto.
- Hey SUC’s
  
  A preceptive prediction.
  - 1ThaiMexCleansMyToilets1
    
    A perceptive mis-spelling, high school drop out. Tienes la GONNOREA OCHO, oSito?
    - Hey SUC’s
      
      Yawn.
    - Hey SUC’s
      
      Thanks spelling lesson Toilet Bowl. You might review English syntax. Slurp some more Ripple.
    - Hey SUC’s
      
      Spanish must come in real handy if you peddle shacks in Fontana for a living. The fruits of a SUC education sink like lead in water in the IE doesn’t it Toilet Bowl. Have another swig of Ripple.
- ProbationU
  
  Alabama is currently the gold standard in College Football. Pretty hard to argue that. In the PAC-12 it is Oregon and Stanford. There may be a different argument to be made historically, but currently those would be the programs to emulate.
  - Hey SUC’s
    
    Umeister, Stanford lost 27 – 21 at Utah last week. An inadvertent mistake, I’m sure. Stanford is now the iron pyrite standard.
    - ProbationU
      
      One loss does not change what Stanford has done over the last few years. Hopefully my Bruins will beat them on Saturday to continue our climb, but we still have a ways to go.
- Trojan Hoarse
  
  And it doesn’t hurt that Stanfords place kicker, Jordan Williamson, is hurt and out of this weekends contest…..I like this comment/injury report from Cardinal coach David Shaw who said after Wednesday night’s practice that Williamson “tweaked” one of his legs……..Hmmmmmmm….
- EncinitasBruin
  
  Yes, sharp interview. I do think Mora’s being modest stating that the toughness factor was already at UCLA. I think he brought a new level of intensity and work ethic with him (no more “over the wall” nonsense during spring practice, etc.). Stanford is the most important game for UCLA since the infamous loss to Miami in ’98.
  - Trojan Hoarse
    
    Yup….Edgerrin James scored for Miami from one yard out with 50 seconds left …..and that game was rescheduled from September to December due to threats of a hurricane…….
  - TrojanFamily
    
    You hit the nail right on the head there. UCLA under Dorrell and Neuheisel had coached soft (and there was no expectation from either coach that they could compete with the top teams in the conference, Oregon or, at the time, USC). Mora came in with an all-business attitude and kicked some butt by reinforcing the work ethic, and it paid immediate dividends. Anyone who watched scouting reports knew UCLA was loaded with talent–Neuheisel knew how to recruit. He just couldn’t coach them up. I don’t know how Mora will recruit yet but you know he can coach up talent.
    
    And with Kiffin, the problem was that he didnt trust his entire roster and was such a sarcastic and pessimistic SOB. College coaches need to remember that this is still a game for 18-22 year olds, not a job like in the NFL. Even after wins, Kiffin would focus on the negatives. It wore down the confidence of the team. Couple that with perhaps the worst game management (both game calling and most atrociously clock management) I have ever seen at this level of football, and you have the toxic combination of lack of self confidence AND a lack of confidence in the coach. That will make talented guys play much worse–and lose at ASU like they did.
    
    Kiffin MIGHT be a good college coordinator (although I wasn’t all that enamored with Sark and Kiffin once Chow left), but I don’t think Mora is doing anything here except being magnanimous. There’s no need for Mora to pile on here–and since his next stop is the NFL (maybe 2 years, maybe 5, maybe 10, but he’s in the same position as Carroll was at USC–he will go back to the pros for the right chance) he might look to hire Kiffin on his staff. I can’t imagine he’d hire Kiffin at UCLA–I have to admit I’d love to see it just because I dislike Kiffin so much now I want him in powder puff blue. But I don’t see the benefit Mora would get from Kiffin on his staff.
    
    Orgeron will be more successful just because they got rid of the toxic substance that was Kiffin. I dont think he’s the right guy for the job (although I think he goes 5-3 or maybe 4-4 in his 8 games and positions himself for a solid, lower tier BCS conference job).
    - EncinitasBruin
      
      I literally laughed out loud at your “powder puff blue” comment. I actually think if Kiffin had remained at Tennessee and brought their program down (instead of SC’s), Mora would be eye-balling him for an coaching position right now. But you are right, NO WAY Mora considers him for a Bruin position. And I hope Mora stays as long as Carroll did at SC!
    - Trojan Hoarse
      
      For the benefit of Hey SUC’s and Bucket, please allow me to indulge:
      
      mag·nan·i·mous
      
      adjective
      
      very generous or forgiving, esp. toward a rival or someone less powerful than oneself.
  - gotroy22
    
    Until the next week in Eugene.
    - EncinitasBruin
      
      That’s very true. I actually think we can get the win in Palo Alto. In Eugene? Miracle time.
- TrojanFamily
  
  I would have predicted a UCLA victory in Palo Alto before Stanford lost to Utah. Two losses in a row kills Stanford’s season. If they do lose, then Wolf will need to officially retract his “Shaw is the best coach in the Pac-12” claim. But I think Utah snuck up on Stanford and I don’t think two teams in a row pull that off.
  - Trojan Hoarse
    
    I had almost forgot about that “Shaw is the best coach in the Pac-12” claim by Wolf…….talk about the kiss of death…..and remember Scotties hiring “strategy”…. shoot high, then settle…… hoo-boy…… what a Putz……..
  - ThaiMex
    
    Yea right….Just like when UTAH sneaks up against SCUm in a couple of weeks and gives the an old fashioned beating! Don’t underestimate that UTAH team. They are going to deliver a few more “surprise” victories before the end of the season.
    fit UN Torgans!
Henry Bibby

It feels like the Dan Patrick show is doing Scott Wolf’s job for him.
ProbationU

Wolf hates Kiffin so much, I can’t believe he didn’t try to link him to the dry ice bombings at LAX since he was fired at the airport by Pat Haden. C’mon Wolf, didn’t somebody tweet about this?

Don’t really know if Mora believes this or not, but he knows the right way to handle things with a little bit of class. Never burn bridges as you might end up working together at some point.
- Trojan Hoarse
  
  Right on, P.U………
  - Hey SUC’s
    
    ….R….i….g….h….t….o….n….?….V…e….r….y….
    q….u…a….i….n….t……………..
- rusoviet
  
  Amen – just ask that arson crusader Joe McDonnell where his career is due to the ‘on the air’ put downs and contempt he threw at so many professional coaches, managers, players and peers in his industry.
Independent_George

Jeez, do Dan Patrick and Lane Kiffin and Jim Mora share the same agent or agency?

Being a good offensive play caller and a good head coach seem to be two different things.

The telling quote was “when he’s got the quarterback he thinks can make it happen for him.” That is the mentailty of a play caller, a video gamer, not a coach. Mike Martz was a devistating play caller when Kurt Warner was slinging the ball, Orlando Pace was protecting his blindside, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce were running crossing patterns and Marshall Faulk was creating damage out of the backfield. Replace those names with Jay Cutler holding on the ball too long, JaMarcus Webb as left tackle playing matador with his blocks, Earl Bennett and Devin Hester unable to get separation, and Mart Forte injured from the beatings taken at the LoS, and you know what Mike Martz is? Unemployed and out of football.

Kiffin is Mike Martz or Josh McDaniels or Todd Haley, oversized egos and overconfident play callers who are effective with a very specific and narrow talent set but completely lost with equally athletic but differently talented players. Haley has a QB who has been to multiple Super Bowls but Pittsburgh offense is suddenly terrible. Josh McDaniels owes his entire NFL existance to Belichick and Tom Brady, and, like Kiffin, is someone who owes his entire football existence to a last name and powerful benefactors, but doesn’t realize it, the proverbial “born on third base and thought he hit a triple.”

Yet Charger coach Mike McCoy won with Russell Wilson and is winning with Phillip Rivers, two talented QB’s with compleltley different skill sets. Jim Harbaugh won with Oliver Luck and Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick, all three have different skill sets. John Fox won and is winning with Jake Delhomme, Tim Tebow and Peyton Manning. Bill Parcells won with Phil Simms, Jeff Hoestetler, Vinny Testaverde, Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo.

Good coaches have templates for the talent they need, but make adjustment for skill sets. Bad coaches do not. Lane Kiffin is essential a “gamer”, not a coach. Anyone who hires Lane Kiffin as a head coach is a fool.
- Hey SUC’s
  
  As I suspected, the Goat did suck, and will continue too. Thanks for the confirmation.
- Saul Goodman
  
  I think you are giving Kiffin way too much credit as a play caller. 4th and 1 with an empty backfield is all I need to know about Kiffin’s play calling
  - James Butler
    
    That’s the truth. I still remember the Longhorn’s Huff saying how he attack the Line of scrimmage with Bush on the sidelines.
    - Independent_George
      
      That is true. Once Bush was off the field, Huff was free to crash the LoS. If Bush had lined up in the slot, an LB or the FS would have had to account for him.
      
      And Wolf, in one of his few bouts of reporting, asked Kiffin if he would have done anything different. Kiffin said he could not think of anything.
      
      No one, who doesn’t have an agenda or isn’t blowing smoke, believes Kiffin is a great play caller.
- Ben Factor
  
  Your distinction is well taken. Form must follow function, and offensive strategy must follow available resources, along with how the defense is countering what you attempt. Kiffin couldn’t grasp that and make changes, strategically or tactically.
EncinitasBruin

As anyone with business leadership experience knows, the most critical move a manager makes is placing the right person in the right position. You can place a highly talented individual in a job not suited to their talents, and they will either fail or be miserable (or both). Kiffin will find his place–being the head coach at one of the nation’s highest profile football programs was not it. Kiffin as a member of Mora’s staff–that could be quite interesting, actually.
- Saul Goodman
  
  You always seem pretty reasonable. For that reason, I will say that I don’t wish that on you guys.
- Independent_George
  
  Maybe Mora senses that Mazzone will have a head coaching gig next year and that Hundley will go pro and that his next QB will be a more traditional pro-style QB. Kiffin is available. It would be amusing. Bruins Nation would freak out.
  - EncinitasBruin
    
    Actually, just for a chance to see the look on the faces of the Hitler Youth at Bruins Nation, I’d love for Mora to say he’s hiring Kiffin next April 1, only to sing “April Fools!” on 4/2.
    - TrojanFamily
      
      I was thinking of going as Kiffin for Halloween. I’d have a laminated menu, a clueless look on my face, and a goofy visor (but with a beanie and a propellor under it). Maybe I’ll find some powder puff blue shirt to wear under it as go as “UCLA’s next coach.” The UCLA fans who live across the Hall from me would be scared silly!
      - ProbationU
        
        We’d take Kiffin as long as you took SC Law Graduate, Rick Neuheisel. That could set football back another 20 years in LA
      - Trojan Hoarse
        
        Would we have to take Neuheisel’s son, too?…….we already have a holder for field goals…….
      - ProbationU
        
        Jerry’s actually looked okay at QB in limited mop up duty….the key words being limited and mop up. For a guy that wasn’t highly recruited he looked better than Wittek, but that’s not a real high bar. Package deal wouldn’t be that bad for you. We have a good QB redshirting.
- steveg
  
  It would give some trolls on here heart attacks.
EncinitasBruin

Okay, you guys always wonder why UCLA folks spend a a lot of time on this blog, compared to their own? Valid question. Here’s my take:

1. Wolf says outrageous, incendiary things. Wang doesn’t. Say what you want about SW, but the guy knows how to scream “fire” in a movie theater.

2. Battered Bruin Syndrome – UCLA has been getting the crap kicked out of them for so long by the Trojans, that many of these Bruin posters feel justified to pile on during a RARE period of struggle for SC football.

3. It’s interesting to converse with USC fans during a tumultuous season, an let’s face it, their was A LOT of great material for Bruin fans to use with LK at the helm.

4. I talk to my SC friends and family all the time about the rivalry. It’s very unique–none like it in the nation (intra-city and all that). ND is arguably SC’s biggest rival, but the cross-town rivalry is special in its features of proximity, intensity, and uniqueness.
- Trojan Hoarse
  
  “This is my friend Mr. Wang . . . no offense!” – Caddyshack
Fred Sampson

I can’t stop laughing !!!!! Jim Stop it !!!! your killing me ! LMAO !!!

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Jim Mora Talks Up Lane Kiffin