USC Morning Buzz: Coaching And Recruiting Are Different


Does Trey Wingo really not know recruiting and coaching are different? Steve Sarkisian had a unique stat: He coached six of the top 44 players drafted. He did not recruit Leonard Williams and Nelson Agholor. Mr. Lane Kiffin did. But Wingo must have forgotten if the above tweet is correct.

42 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Coaching And Recruiting Are Different

    • It’s getting ugly for Brett. Undrafted Free Agent maybe? Reminds me of Tony Rice back in the day.

    • The difference between Kessler and Hundley is Kessler has worked hard to improve on his weaknesses, while Hundley has not. Being athletic can carry you only so far.

      • The difference between Kessler and hundley is that hundley has the ideal size, and is a better athlete. But Kessler, doesn’t make mistakes. Personally I would rather have Kessler. I think use is going to miss him when he graduates.

        • Hundley’s athleticism gives him an advantage in college but less so in the NFL. There are plenty of successful NFL QBs that are either shorter or slower than Kessler. But it will be interesting to see where Kessler gets drafted compared to Hundley.

        • Kessler has a better arm but can’t elude a strong rush. That could hurt us when we play top ten teams this season. In college I’d rather have a mobile quarterback. Hopefully Darnold from San Clemente will be that guy.

  1. It’s not everyday that I agree with Scott wolf. But yes, sark is a much better recruiter, than coach. He connects with the high school kids very well. They think he is the “coolest guy in the world.” That is why he is able to recruit so well. But in the world of college football, coaching is very important. And sarkisian, is definitely a below average coach. The difference between Pete Carroll, and Steve Sarkisian is that Carroll could both coach, and recruit. He was a better coach than recruiter in my opinion. He had the ability to out-think people. That is why he has had so much success with the Seahawks. Sarkisian can only recruit. And that is why usc won’t be winning any national titles under Steve Sarkisian.

    • Having said all of this I still think sarkisian is a much better coach than lane kiffin, or Ed Orgeron. Those two guys were born to be assistant coaches. I don’t understand why so many people wanted Ed Orgeron as head coach. To be the head coach at usc, you have to be able to spell u-s-c.

    • While I don’t disagree with you, I am holding off judgment of Sark as a coach until he has a full allotment of players to work with. I don’t believe Sark made coaching mistakes last year, but made the decisions he did in order to mask the team limitations due to sanctions. True those decisions didn’t always work out. But maybe the losses might have been worse had Sark not tried to hide the limitations with a “don’t lose” strategy in the second half.

      We saw a glimpse of Sark’s coaching on offense last year and with a better OL, some shifty receivers and a three-year starter at QB we should see the high-tempo offense overpower the opposition this year.

      There’s still plenty of room on the Sark bandwagon (can I get a chortle Chuckie?) and we’ll save you a spot.

      • So I guess Sark never had a full allotment of players at Washington. I don’t hear Husky fans whining about Sark’s decision to bolt to Klown U.

        The Boston Massacre is the perfect example of Sark’s coaching abilities.

        • It’s not that we haven’t heard everything you have to say before, it’s just that we have heard everything you have before. You seem to know more about USC football than most USC fans. Give you that much. Might as well be a USC fan and have fun. Being a hater is so unbecomming.

        • And Rah Rah 4 SC says we have to wait 4 more years to figure out that Sark should be an assistant coach in charge of recruiting..

      • The Rachel Maddow of Inside USC doesn’t “believe Sark make coaching mistakes last year.” Dr. Rachel Maddow thinks the prevent defense at the end of the ASU game last year where our defenders stood there flat-footed was a brilliant diagnosis!

        • It’s called the “I got it” flatfoot defense.

          I know there are rah-rah Kownster’s that claim the “I got it” defense failed due to SUCC sanctions. LOL.

      • I agree with you – way too early to judge, let’s see what he does over next 4 years then make a decision on his coaching ability at SC

    • Great analysis based on almost no information to back it up except bringing a ZERO AND TEN UW football team to NINE AND THREE which obviously contradicts your whole thesis – where did you attend college?

      • Jake locker was a huge difference between the 2008, and 2009 huskies. He got injured early in the 2008 season. One thing I do always see is sarkisian getting out-coached in games. Jim mora straight up out-coached sark back in last years game. It’s not hard to out-coach someone who is down by 3 touchdowns in the second half, and keeps running the ball and killing the clock. What was sark thinking? Did you even go to college? Are you one of those usc legacies who parents got them through usc. “Pay a fee, get a C.”

        • How can you say he got “outcoached” when it wasn’t a fracking even playing field??? You, sir, are a mignorant, mental midget – and yes, I am a legacy, and no I did not “pay for a C” – I earned it! (Mostly As and Bs, but yes some Cs, and Ws)

          • A mental midget funny! After last years ucla game, basically everyone was saying he got out-coached. Shane Foley, who knows usc football more than anyone, said he got out-coached. You haven’t stood up for your buddy in regards to him run in the ball so many times in the second half of the ucla game. I remember, the Trojans were more than 5 yards away from a first down, a couple of times, and they handed the ball off. At the same time the clock is ticking, and usc’s chances of coming back evaporated. What Is your defense of that? Where I was everyone was like “what the hell.” Maybe I am not the one who is the “mental midget.” Maybe daddy paid enough to get you some a’s. Your replies are straight up stupid!

          • I’ve met Shane Foley, and know he is currently in real estate and he’s not a football coach, and neither are you – so, you are saying the play calling was in no way influenced by the number of scholly players? Ha, that’s just silly – let’s talk about it three years from now when Sark gets a couple pac12 championship titles and a couple shots at a natty – have a nice day 🙂

          • Ok let’s talk about it in 3 years. But I just don’t understand why you call someone a “mental midget” when your replies are just stupid. Have a nice day!

          • Pete Carroll is a one in a million type of motivator but I actually think Sark will do just fine – lots of championship bouts to look forward to

          • I hope you are right but he must grow as a coach and learn from his mistakes or it won’t be happening.

          • Sorry that I called you that – and I understand that Sark is not Pete Carroll, I’m just of the opinion that he’s going to kick a bunch of tail and I plan to celebrate with them – just as he did many times last season and with UW when he didnt have a roster full of stars

          • Being the head coach of a division 1 college football team is not an easy job. Steve sarkisian is a very successful person. Usc could do a lot worse than sarkisian. However, I do not think he is a national champion coach. I think usc will be competitive, as long as he is the coach. But that run that usc had under Pete Carroll, that isn’t happening under sark. Pete Carroll is a special coach, and that played a huge reason for that run of success. Sorry for the mudslinging, and I do look forward to September. I LOVE COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

          • Also, take a look at Alabama – 4 arrests following last season! That would be unacceptable at SC, and it shows the character of the team which starts from the top

          • You have a short memory RahRah4SC . When Pete was coach we had lots of discipline problems from Rey to Frostee but it didn’t keep us from winning.

          • If you don’t have the players why would you try to out-muscle the other team, Rah Rah 4SC? Outclassed teams throw the ball and do trick plays and reverses to neutralize a superior defense.

          • More excuses from brainless rah rahs. If the deck was stacked , why did Sark run the ball off tackle into the teeth of the defense on 4th and 2 on the ruin 5 yard line in the 1st quarter down 14-7 instead of taking the easy Hedari field goal? That’s bad coaching, RahRah 4 SC.

    • Pete also saw the importance of being HEAD COACH and having a genuine offensive coordinator. Sark prefers to do both, and does an injustice to his HC job as well as OC duties. Give one or the other up, please.

      • Agree! When you are calling the plays, you lose track of all the other responsibilities of the head coach.

  2. Steve Sarkisian reminds me of former USC coach Ted Tollner, because Tollner was a great recruiter, but lacked leadership skills. Larry Smith took Tollners rosters to two consecutive Rose Bowls, but because Smith himself was a lousy recruiter, he was fired when Tollners talent graduated. I’m hoping Sarkisain eventually finds his way in the leadership department, or he will be shown the door, sooner then later. NOTE to Sarkisian: Don’t ever call the Athletic Director to the sidelines to help you dispute a call, because you look like you have no control, and lack leadership. Can anybody imagine Nick Saban or Urban Meyer doing something like that ?

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