The Defense Rests

USC’s got a pretty experienced defense with Leonard Williams, Antwaun Woods, Hayes Pullard, Anthony Sarao, Su’a Cravens and Kevon Seymour. But the defense is ranked 84th in the nation today, allowing 412 yards per game.

This is surprising because USC’s played two teams (Fresno State, Boston College) that were not considered offensive juggernauts. And defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox enjoys a good reputation but he clearly was not getting his message across to the team because the players complained about communication problems.

Is it just the fact Wilcox has not coached the team more than a few games? Or something more? If you want a positive answer, do not consult a Washington fan.

34 thoughts on “The Defense Rests

  1. 3-games does not a season make– and it’s too small of a sample size to have much statistical significance.

    However, in the rugged Pac-12 giving up “only” 400 yards each week might be an achievement

    And we don’t give a hang what Washington says about Sark. What if we had listened to the all-knowing NFL about Carroll?

  2. If the offense hadn’t gone three and out almost every time the defense wouldn’t have been pushed around.
    Adjustments made this week will tell if the defense coach has the right stuff.

      • Some of that (at least) has to be the pressure of knowing that the wheels are coming off, and there’s little hope of improvement.

        This isn’t gloating: After the Texas game another Bruin fan pointed out that in more than two seasons of often non-existent protection, Hundley’s never publicly criticized his O-Line.

        That’s a credit to Brett and to Mora.

        I don’t think it would have happened under Orgeron, either.

        • PLEASE! Keep Mora, give him whatever he asks for and double it. PLEASE! Keep Mora. I want him around forever.

  3. ASU 31 UCLA 18 and loss #1 of 6 for the season is coming your way this Saturday. You beat three creampuffs by an average of 6 points and you think you can hang with us?

      • Starting to look that way.
        Wish they would confine their love-fest to Arizona. Wildcats…both teams suffer from over exposure to the sun…resulting in brain bake.

      • Have you noticed that when UCLA was going to play Texas, a lone “Longhorn fan” — Gunslinger, with only 17 posts — was here mocking the Bruins?

        And when USC faced the Cardinal, Stanford44 (with only 26 comments) was here doing the same?

        And now that the Bruins are facing ASU, a “sundevil” with only two posts is taking over their ignoble mission.

        They’re all the same person.

        How sad.

      • Two historically irrelevant programs should be allies. When’s the last time either one of those teams played in a Rose Bowl? Forget about when they actually won one. I think ASU was about 50 years ago, or was that Cal? I get my irrelevant Pac-12 schools mixed up sometimes.

    • 86, the UCLA/ASU game is THURSDAY, 9/25/2014. The trolls would hate for you to miss the game.

    • Speaking of 6 points, didn’t SUCC: the mighty FB team, leading 17 – 6 in the second Qtr. of the Boston Massacre, lose 37 – 31. Tsk, Tsk.

    • That crack you are smokin’ must be some stuff. We don’t play you this Saturday. We have a bye…as do the Bruins. They have a bye also. They shouldn’t call you Scumdevils…but rather dumbdevils. Lotsa luck in 2 weeks if you still don’t have your QB. UCLA should now dismantle you guys. Suggest you check out the difference between an SC site and one from UCLA. It will make consuming your foot more palatable.

      • Wow! What an intelligent guy you are. Now I want back that last $20 I gave you. Stay in school kid and work hard, make something of yourself. Leave a note.

        • Are you the real Mr. Bill?
          OH NO!!!!

          Leave a note.
          On 2nd thought…don’t.

          BTW, I am unable to return the $20 to you.
          The federales have it. It was counterfit.

    • I’ve smelled your DUMB Act before…Same dumb kind of errors…All “CAPS”…just like that blow hard fool last week who tried to get everyone to believe he was a STANFORD guy…After all of your DOPEY goof ups the past two weeks…(CLOWN LIKE)…the name change was a necessity.
      fit Un CLOWN U!

    • It has been brought to my attention that the jv bruins play ASU on Thursday, like the rest of LA I don’t follow UCLA very closely.

  4. Is Justin Wilcox one of those self proclaimed great defensive coordinators ? Or has he earned his stripes ? Because defense played much better under Clancy Pendergast after Lane Kiffin was fired .

    • Verdict is not in, Fred.

      Scott knows very well that it’s a new scheme altogether, that 2 DLs who have to play are new, Tavai is at a position with changed responsibilities, Sarao is now full-time, Dawson is out, Felix is a new starter, Pullard missed the first half, Bowman is a new starter, Hawkins is a new starter.

      I’m not saying that Wilcox taught them adequately last week, or made smooth corrections when there were problems. He didn’t.

      He has a more complex, multiple-look scheme than Pendergast’s, and he probably has to rethink that, given that the personnel is a mix of new and old, and the system is new to all of them.

      The next three conference games will reveal whether he coaches up to his reputation. We all hope so.

      • And he probably deserves a portion of the credit for the outstanding 2014 recruiting class, and by the looks of it, an outstanding 2015 recruiting class. Lot’s of blame to go around, I’ll even take a little for not being more “fired-up” last week. There is no doubt that these coaches are highly competitive guys, who take losing as hard or harder than we do. Since we have the superior talent, although young, it’s just a matter of time. I’m going to give everyone, except the Trolls, the full year – then evaluate things in March, after signing day. FIGHT ON! (Trolls – leave a note).

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