USC Morning Buzz: Is Offense Carrying Its Weight In Big Games?

Did you know USC’s offense has scored only three more touchdowns in six games (18) as it did in two games against Fresno State and Colorado (15)?

Excerpt: “In the tougher games, the Trojans averaged three (touchdowns) per game. Is that enough? If USC had its 2008 defense that allowed 6.7 points per game, it would be more than enough. Former coach Pete Carroll admitted after defeating California, 17-3, that he used a conservative offensive game plan because he knew the defense would stop the Bears’ offense. But (Steve) Sarkisian does not have the luxury of that 2008 defense.”

Full story here

23 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Is Offense Carrying Its Weight In Big Games?

  1. This is a disturbing trend that has reared it’s ugly head more than once. For some reason Sark refuses to keep the pedal to metal when USC clearly has the momentum. I.E. SC had Boston College on the run early in the second quarter by throwing the ball all over the place. Then he decided to go ground and pound for the quarter and a half and you saw the result of that. Part of these struggles is the adjustments the opposition makes at halftime and Sark not recognizing this. Like I’ve stated before, Sark is Lane Kiffin with a better personality.

      • Why? Because I’m right. I’m not one of those sunshine pumpers who thinks everything in fine and dandy. SC is looking at a 7-5 season and that is completely unacceptable with the talent that they have.

        • That was my exact win-loss prediction prior to SUCC’s season opener. However, if SUCC loses to Wash. St.(highly likely) then a 6 – 6 or 5 – 7 record is a very distinct possibility.

    • Actually, Sark is not Kiffin 2.0.

      He can run a program. Just can’t run an elite program.

      To use an analogy Scott would understand, he is David Moyes with a better personality. Perfectly fine coach for a mid-level club Everton (Duke, Northwestern, Purdue), but give him the reigns to Man U, and watch him struggle.

  2. We are going to have to grit and bare the situation, because if Steve Sarkisian is anything like I think he is, he will be gone after two more season. I proudly predicted Lane Kiffins firing, and at the end of last season it was very clear that Florida’s Will Muschamp was way over his head and was a lousy Head Coach. But I got ripped for making that statement online by Gator fans, but now what ? Sometimes you can tell whether or not and individual is a championship type coach, and nothing about Sarkision says he is. Sakisians hire reminds me of the Paul Hackett hire, because USC hired both of them thinking they were going to get greatness. But they both maintained mediocre programs at their previous Schools, Go figure ? You are who you are, in my book.

  3. One question that was raised in the full article is whether USC should run the hurry up offense. If they were not in a hurry up mode USC might have been able to notice the ball was still live on Utah’s free gift touchdown. Instead USC ‘s offense was running to line up while the play was still live. There is no guarantee USC would have won the game if they had been playing slower, but it wouldn’t hurt to at least finish a play before lining up for the next.

    • Thought ou might enjoy the following excerpt from ‘drheisenberg’ over on weRSC
      “.We are a no huddle, stand and stupidly look at the sideline while Sark dicks around team. The plays are still coming off with only a few seconds left on the clock. It’s an ugly looking cluster F. It’s not a hurry up, what is it?”

      • I have to agree there really isn’t a hurry up unless things are working. If things go wrong on first down the whole offense lines up and then looks over to say “now what do we do?” I think this season was relegated to an experiment year. Thus far the experiment has yielded some interesting results. For instance Sark should manage the game and not the offense. Wilcox should manage a bus to the airport and not our defense. We have some really talented young players it is too bad they are losing a year of eligibility to this misconceived experiment.

  4. Offense is there for a while, then goes into hiding behind the wishful thinking that we can run at will, meanwhile we go 3 and out.

  5. We can all talk about how crappy a coach Sarkisian is. But, the real problem lies with USC President Nikias and USC Athletic Director, Pat Haden, burying there heads in the sand. Sarkisian was their choice, and they are too embarrassed to admit they F’d up on this one. How in the world did it take Hayden 3 to 4 months to “find” Sarkisian in a nationwide search, and it only took U. of Washington 3 days to recruit Chris Peterson and sign a deal with him ? Haden needs to go, NOW !

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