USC Morning Buzz: The Silver Lining Alabama Scenario

One of USC’s coaches gave me a “find the positive scenario” for the season opener against Alabama. “We are better now defensively with the coaching changes. A quarterback emerges in spring practice. The offensive line finally improves with the coaching change. And maybe Alabama will need some time to transition to a new quarterback.”

Like I said, it was “find the positive scenario.”

70 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: The Silver Lining Alabama Scenario

  1. Well, you can look at life on a glass half empty or half full basis on anything, that’s your choice.

    The coaching dead weight is gone, kids seems ready to play Bama, no constant negative turmoil around the team, that the blogger pointed out on a daily basis, SC just offered a Vegas DL and he’s seemed pretty pleased by it ( 247 has him a strong SC lean ), so there is a lot to be positive about.

    • Sark was hardly “Coaching Deadweight” the guy was an offensive powerhouse who favored far better than Heltons 5-4 head coaching record. What our Trojans did to him was just wrong.

    • The problem with starting Darnold is Browne will certainly transfer and that leaves no backup QBs should Darnold fail or get injured.

      • So, let’s just assume Darnold proves to be the better QB in spring and fall camp. Do you start Browne regardless, just to keep him in the program?

        • If they are anywhere near close… then I say yes. After all, Darnold is not going to transfer. And next season’s success is not going to be determined by QB play, but by the OL and DL. Let’s not forget how good Browne was in high school and he has had three years to develop – I really don’t think Darnold will beat him out. Why not start Browne and if he fails, then bring Darnold in? If Browne can look good in those first four games then he deserves it. And if Browne looks real good all year then he likely pulls a Sanchez and jumps to the NFL and leaves the door open for Darnold in 2017.

          • Can’t argue with any of that. But the real problem for USC will be if Darnold just beats him out and it’s not real close. I personally have never seen Browne look good. But I saw Darnold in HS and he does something that Browne just can’t do at all – run. Personally, I wish our QB could run too because I’m tired of watching Trojan QBs stuck in the mud, posing no threat in that regard.

            If Browne were to decide to transfer because he couldn’t start, then I wouldn’t be too worried about the affect on the team. He’ll end up languishing someplace else. They always do.

            So I just say, play who’s the best right from the start. If Browne’s starting just because he’s older, and we lose some early games and then switch QBs, I don’t see how that experiment helps. He’d probably transfer anyway.

          • If Darnold beats out Browne and it’s not close then he should be starting, I just don’t think that will happen. But if that happens and Browne transfer right away and USC is making a run for the NC when Darnold gets injured and we have to put in Fink? Browne might be the last drop-back passer USC employs for awhile – the future is clear and even Sark saw it behind blood-shot eyes.

          • I really don’t think 6-loss USC will be in the running for a NC in 2016. I have very high hopes for the new unproven staff but if we win 10 games and a decent bowl, I’ll be thrilled.

      • I doan’t believe it. Helen may have something here. After all, Browne has been a loyal Bozo to just sit on the bench.

    • Are you talking about Haskell Garrett of Bishop Gorman? He just committed to Ohio State, but of course you know how that goes. (My daughter goes to Bishop Gorman now so I’ll be going to many of their games next year)

    • The score will likely get out of hand after the first quarter. But at the end of one we will still be in it.

    • USC was suppose to get hammered by Oklahoma in 2005. Did they? By the 3rd qtr USC players were hearing from the Oklahoma playet ee under estimated this team.. final score 55-19.. Have faith ..I do!

  2. It looks like “someone” has now hijacked Sam Bam’s identity and is having a conversation with himself on this blog….I think I’m going to take a break from all of this krap for a while…..

  3. The biggest positive is this team is going the whole off season hearing how they can’t compete with Bama. This will keep everybody focused on the prize. It worked for Denver.

  4. The positive is stop worrying about what alabama is going to do and concentrate on yourself. That’s what the players and coaches should be thinking. Don’t be suprised usc gets an identity that game.

  5. The real positive scenario is that El Lobo will have his choice of the loveliest young ladies from Southern California, Alabama AND Texas!

    Go for the trifecta, Lobo!

  6. I dont see us any better off than Alabama. New defensive coach, new QB , new head coach with lots of pressure under a new AD. Both teams have a lot of adjusting to do.

  7. Positive Scenario #1: Lane Kiffin is on the other sideline. Positive Scenario #2: Alabama can’t handle good passing teams.

  8. The Quarterback position has never played a big role in Alabama’s success, because they play inside out football. Which means they control both sides of the line of scrimmage, and have an effective running game. And the last I checked, Alabama usually gets the best of the best, offensive, and defensive lineman every year.

  9. USC has all the talent that they need to beat Bama. Talent isn’t the problem. Last year 247 Sports rated SC as the 2nd most talented team in the nation behind Alabama. SC didn’t lose much and Bama did. So SC has to be one of the most talented teams in the nation in 2016, certainly the most talented in the Pac-12. Should be no excuses this year. We should, at least, win the Pac-12.

  10. I wish it was that simple, whoever that coach was. But you have almost a completely new coaching staff including coordinators, not to mention getting the new replacements for the positions open up to the needed level of play, including the QB, and the national champion 3 of the last 4 years is your first game of the season?

  11. These phonies on here are going to bring this blog to an end. SW and the moderator need to get with Discus and make sure only one screen name can be used by one person. I quit reading the crap from the trolls long ago and it helped a lot. NEVER GET HUNG UP RESPONDING TO THEM.

    • No moderator worth his/her NaCl is going to jump thru hoops for every indiscriminate flag.

      Upon further reflection…WTF. Flag all the bast**ds! Whatever it takes to retain Mr. Steve’s mental health because, as he said, “it helped a lot”.
      Implement the classic 4 Fs…
      Find it, Finger it (middle), Flag it, Forget it!

      No need to thank me. I am here but to serve.

  12. Last season communication was a big issue by the time anybody realized it the coach was gone. Loyal assistants clung to their jobs while one man tried to right the ship. This didn’t work.
    This season assuming this problem is fixed, and it had better be, we have a chance in any game. I know Alabama is not the group of lumbering hulks they were the last time USC beat them, but USC isn’t the same either. I like our odds, but I ain’t betting the farm just yet.

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