USC Morning Buzz: Oregon Loss Encapsulates Much Of Season

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JUJU.OREGON

Here is my analysis on the USC-Oregon game, which highlighted many things good and bad about this season.

“There was a lack of discipline, with penalties and missed assignments at the worst possible moments. There were the questionable coaching decisions that provided some ridiculous plays when no one appeared to cover Oregon’s receivers.

“But some of that was tempered by the potential of USC, especially when it fought back from a 24-point deficit only to falter in the fourth quarter.” Full story here

Maybe it is only fitting USC suffered its worst loss of the season but remains in control of its Pacific-12 South Division destiny thanks to UCLA’s 17-9 victory over Utah.

“That’s crazy,” USC offensive tackle Chad Wheeler said. “I never thought we’d be in that situation (after) losing a game.”

64 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Oregon Loss Encapsulates Much Of Season”

  1. Oregon’s receivers were so wide open it looked like they were just throwing the pigskin around after thanksgiving dinner. If UCLA only wins by 24, It’s because Jim Mora is a very nice man.

    • The Duck receivers worked their way open because we had no pressure on Adams. Wilcox has to come up with a scheme to pressure Rosen.

      • yep, rushing 3 guys won’t cut it. But wilcox never seems to figure that out, or if/when he does, it’s too little, too late.

        • Absolutely, and why Wilcox sticks with this 3 man rush defensive scheme is beyond belief. Even TV announcers are saying this during games. Wilcox needs to go!

      • If USC hasn’t come up with a scheme all season , I certainly don’t see them doing it next week. UCLA is going to be fired up just as much as the Trojans.

        • Wilcox has to know he is long gone, has nothing to lose and may start sending the backers and corners after rosen. Unless he is that dumb, which is a possiblility.

      • Agree. Of course, if you blitz you leave the defense open for Perkins’ runs,

        But I feel better about SC’s chances in this game with a freshman than I did with Hundley.

      • Totally agree, marv. If we can break into and disrupt UCLA’s backfield, the results will get better and better. Yes,there is always the possibility of getting burned —but guess what–that’s happening to us anyway. Lots of combinations of 4 or 5 man rush is the best way to go for this team next Saturday.

    • Most receivers have been open all season regardless of opponent or quarterback.
      It has been that way for about the past 5-6 years as no secondary coach can either coach or does not have the right players to coach.
      Adoree belongs on offense ONLY.
      The offense needs all the help it can find and a line that can protect.

  2. First, Clay Helton has done a pretty good job considering the circumstances in which he inherited. To me he is like the substitute teacher everyone likes. Some students will do their work and be productive and some will just go through the motions. This is why you see the performance that you do. USC will by teams like Arizona and Colorado, but quality teams like N.D. and Oregon, they struggle. Second, Helton has been dealt a really bad hand regarding the cast of the Not Ready For Prime Time Players, the assistant coaches. Four years ago when USC pounded UCLA 50-0, that was the embarrassment that UCLA needed to rid itself of the Terry Donahue coaching tree. As much as I hate saying this, this is what USC need as well in order to clean house with a new staff and get things back on track.

    • Helton has made a career hoping to be interim to HC, what is this the 3rd time he has done this … USC is too good for that little scheme.
      Good riddance , hope he had fun playing USC HC for awhile.

  3. Speaking of “crazy,” Mr. Wheeler, what was that about after you pancaked a defender with your helmet you still were not satisfied, and so you began pushing him in front of the refs.

    15 yard penalty, end of potential good drive. Helton chewed out Wheeler briefly, which is not Helton’s style, but c’mon, Wheeler, what gives?

    And so the weekend plays out like I thought it would, SUCLA winning and SC losing. I said the Oregon game would probably be meaningless, and it was.

    Still, it leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth, but all will be forgotten and forgiven with a win over SUCLA and its quarterback Posin’ Rosen, who when asked if SUCLA could beat SC, replied, “Absolutely!”–

    Welcome to the bigs, freshman, we shall see what you got

  4. I have to chuckle when I see these STUPID offense’s that constantly run out of a shotgun, and the quarterback claps his hands in lew of calling a cadence. There is no substitute for a qb lining up under center , and calling a play in the huddle . And what’s with all of the nonsense having assistants holding Q-cards up on the sidelines in order to call a play? Clay Helton should have eliminated that crap when he took over the team. That’s why offensive lineman were jumping off sides, because the crowd noise was preventing them from hearing the claps . The more I look at SC’S offensive, the more I think Steve Sarkisian was an idiot .

    • Chip Kelly can make that work … everyone else is a pretender. Remember when Goat Kiffin thought he would have a Oregon O by practicing in the morning LOL or Sarkisian though it would work by copying everything ( but coaching fundementals ).
      Thank god this Kiffin/Sark/Helton garbage is over , that offense is unwatchable.

  5. One of the ancient battle texts recommends “fighting as though there is nothing to lose—as though you were already dead.” That is the mindset this coaching staff must assume for the next 6 days (surely, they can see the writing on the wall). If there ever were a sound reason for sideways or 5 yard passes , it doesn’t exist anymore for this team and this coaching staff. Passes behind the first down marker aren’t our friends —they are wasted downs. They are exposing our players to bit hits for nothing.The point to every pass play has to be getting as close to the goal line as we can within the limits of Kessler’s arm strength. On defense, holding at the line of scrimmage to see what’s developing in UCLA’s backfield is not the way to go. Attack. Send 4 or 5.Take all the fun out of the game for Rosen. It’s so much less enjoyable when you’ve been sent to the turf three times in a row. We have the speed and talent to succeed if we shed the blinders, take off the brakes and bring a very big heaping of controlled mayhem into the coliseum next Saturday.

    • Any play we give Nosen time to throw, like more than 3 seconds, we’re in trouble and will get picked apart.

      But we’ve got a lot of weak spots on this team: OL, DL, LB, DB and let’s face it – CK is simply an average QB. With our porous, injured OL, he’s a mess, especially on crucial plays. I don’t really think USC is as talented as you do and I don’t think USC’s coaches can fix things in a week. We’ll probably have JuJu for about a quarter. He’ll just be limping around out there.

      It would be great if these woebegone coaches coached (and the players played) like you suggested, but I’m afraid this cake is baked. Our mediocre DLs did their best to attack Oregon and they just couldn’t get the job done when it mattered. They simply don’t close well – unless you and I were watching different games.

      I suspect USC will be very fired up and going for broke. But if Nosen has time to throw, forget it. USC’s DBs are often out of position, slow to read, confused and don’t make plays one-on-one. Little Adoree simply isn’t very good on D and big Iman would be better as a LB. He gets beat almost every series.

      To beat ucla, which is a very talented team with USC’s number in its back pocket, would be a major accomplishment for this rudderless, weak-minded group which hasn’t beaten a good team all year. The entire USC football program needs a complete makeover. Can’t wait until we find out who’s willing to take over the Trojans. Hope he is prepared to kick some A.

      • Jack,
        Nosen? Really?
        When you put together your list of attributes for a new head coach, don’t forget “racist” so you can more easily identify with him.
        Better head to the bunker now Jackboots, the best QB in LA is headed your way.

      • I once asked a very successful Los Angeles restaurateur what he looked for in hiring staff. Experience? Intelligence? Appearance? He told me it always came down to one thing —attitude. Nice line –but you need to examine the slush underneath. It’s better to have 5 stars (read, players with size and speed, a la JuJu) with great attitude than 3 stars with great attitude. With the mediocre coaching this team gets, the ONLY thing we have going for us is the occasional big play from one of our 5 star players. If you think about it, Jack, that is the only thing that keeps us from being embarrassed each and every week (as opposed to every four weeks). The un- coached athleticism of Sua, Juju, Adoree, etc—represents everything we have going for us. [All of which doesn’t mean you’re not right when you say we need somebody who can tell the difference between the 5 star who’s gonna play hard with a broken hand and a wrapped ankle and the one who’s gonna take himself out of the game].

        • Well said Michael, I have been saying this for the past 5 years. Neither Sark or Kiff coached “UP” a single player on the team ( maybe Kessler). So tired of fat, out of shape lineman who lack a mean streak, horribly out of position players who never seem clear on their assignments, terrible penalties, and consistent questionable play calling on both sides of the ball.
          Tough to be a positive SC fan when the same issues pop up seemingly every game.

          • Couldn’t agree more, Mr. H! I’ve heard coaches excusing second string players for not being in position on defense, not being able to snap the ball, not running their routes, etc. Total acceptance of mediocrity over and over again is not the way to run a successful corporation, classroom or team.

      • We don’t disagree, Jay. I just want them to KNOW they’re dead…and coach their last couple of games accordingly.

    • “On defense, holding at the line of scrimmage to see what’s developing in UCLA’s backfield is not the way to go. Attack. Send 4 or 5.Take all the fun out of the game for Rosen.”

      Do you really think that Rosen (and the team) won’t be ready for that? That worked earlier in the season as Rosen adjusted to being a true freshman quarterback who was getting to know his team in real game situations. As the season has progressed and teams have followed your blue print, Rosen has thrown quick passes or handed the ball to Perkins with the same result: shredded defenses. The kid has learned quick as holy heck and his team has adjusted accordingly. Rosen is becoming the full-fledged leader of HIS team. He’s peaking at the right time.

      Now, I’m always concerned after we play very physical teams like Stanford, BYU, and Utah. I hope that players on both teams are healthy next week for a great game.

      • I hear ya, grave soul. And I’m sure your guys are planning at this very minute how to attack a VERY aggressive, ULTRA risk taking defense—but, all in all, I still think it’s our best shot. It has to be. Our secondary can’t cover—best to shoot our wad trying to disrupt your backfield before the play gets off. Even when you plan for it, getting knocked around interferes with concentration.

        • Good point, and it’s not lost on me that Rosen, as poised as he has been overall, will still have freshman jitters going into the biggest game of his career thus far against a USC team that wants nothing more than to avenge three straight losses. If usc can disrupt him enough, it can make for a nightmarish situation. That said, if Rosen and our backfield have a good night and our D plays as well as they did against Utah, I believe it’s going to be a long night for you guys.

          • No matter what happens, no matter how much adversity they face, no matter how hot Rosen is, I can guarantee that USC will keep fighting……unless, in a seesaw battle, you guys take the lead with 4 minutes to go —then Helton & company won’t know what to do (but I can guarantee you’ll see more 2 and 3 yard completions than you’ve ever seen before as the clock runs out).

  6. Chins up Trojans, you have the second best football team and second best QB in Los Angeles. That’s not so bad. You should give thanks.

  7. People talk a lot about the Pac12 south but if you look at USC losses in conf they are all to Pac12 North teams-stanford, Wash, oregon. Ucla to Stanford and Wash St . Stanford, oregon and Wash St right now might be the cream of the crop in the pac12. I know peop,e will be excited if trojans make it to Pac12 title game, but either way this has been a very disappointing season. Even the win over Utah doesnt look as good as it once did.

    • No argument here. The Pac 12 north is clearly better overall than the Pac 12 south this year, especially when you are talking about Stanford and Oregon — the latter is playing better as the season goes on.

  8. usc did the Bruins a favor earlier this season by beating Utah (although, at the time, UCLA technically didn’t absolutely need that if they had won out) and now UCLA repaid the favor by beating Utah, which has kept the trojans in the race for the Pac 12 South title.
    Gentlemen, I wish the trojan players and coaching staff much health, focus, and readiness, just like I wish our Bruins players and staff the same. I want no excuses on either side of town — I want to see an epic game for the ages.

    May the best SoCal team beat Stanford (wishful thinking…I know).

    • Your sentiments do you proud, grave soul —-although it’s probably a little late to wish either team good health.

      • Very true. I don’t keep up as much on trojan injuries, but our team has been hammered and we’ve literally lost some of our most impactful players. Myles Jack’s explosiveness and speed is sorely lacking. I have a feeling Cody Kessler may rise to the occassion and I hope that we can disrupt and stifle him.

        • I respect you, grave soul –but rising to the occasion hasn’t exactly been Cody’s long suit.

  9. Want some penetrating insights into the Oregon et all fiasco?
    Check out the 22 minute podcast by Garry P and Darrel Rideaux over at WeRSC. Absolutely no punches pulled. Well worth the time expended. Title…’Sunday morning corner back podcast.’

    • So that’s where Garry Bleauz has been all day…I prefer listening to Coach Hyde on what used to be called Trojan Brunch on 710AM.

  10. Two years of non physical practices(compared to top teams)takes months to fix,not weeks ….Michigan did,Wash St. took a little longer,looks like Arkansas has…but they have ‘real’ intense head coaches,not pc media darlings…play every down or get on the bench coaches…

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