USC Morning Buzz: Players Enjoy No Distractions Under Clay Helton

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USC.CAMP.SNOW.CONEUSC holds its Salute to Troy dinner for fans on Friday night, a usually uneventful affair until Steve Sarkisian made it national news last year after he got drunk and acted inappropriately.

There are no worries of a repeat performance with Trojans coach Clay Helton this year. And that is a welcome relief for the players, who seek normalcy after several years of turmoil.

“I guess you could say that,” safety Chris Hawkins said Tuesday. “Coach Helton is a players’ coach. We love him.”

One of the things the players love most is Helton’s no-drama style.

“This team is different than any other team I’ve been on,” Hawkins said. “There’s something in the air. It’s just a feeling. We’ve always had leaders before but we walk with high spirits (now).

“We can bring USC back to where it should be.”

Every year USC players talk about a new-found together and go out and lose five-or-six games. But Hawkins does not need to worry about Helton embarrassing the program. Or showing up under the influence of alcohol.

Now Helton needs the players to return the favor and not embarrass him. Hawkins is one of the few full-time defensive starters from last season along with cornerbacks Adoree Jackson and Iman Marshall along with linebacker Cameron Smith.

The inexperience is a big reason there are doubts about the Trojans, who should contend for the Pac-12 South and Pac-12 titles. But few speak of USC as a team that can make the College Football Playoff.

For Hawkins, the first step toward recovery is an upset over Alabama in the season-opener next month.

“Absolutely, that’s a step in the right direction,” he said.

Defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast sounded more interested Tuesday is making baby steps.

“It’s hit or miss at all three levels (defensive line, linebacker, defensive back),” Pendergast said. “At times all three levels are hitting on all cylinders.”

Pendergast noted some players looked unsettled playing an empty Coliseum last week but were not as “wide-eyed” during Monday’s scrimmage in the stadium.

Imagine how jittery the inexperienced defense might be playing in AT&T Stadium against Alabama. Helton was so awestruck during a June visit he decided USC will practice inside the 80,000-seat palace the day before the Alabama to ease nerves. Alabama played two games in the stadium last season so jitters should not be an issue for the Crimson Tide.

By then the Trojans will at least have a starting quarterback. Helton said he would name a starter Sunday.

“You can see a light at the end of the tunnel,” junior quarterback Max Browne said. “You’ve got to take of business (the next few days).”

Browne bounced back Tuesday after struggling during Monday’s scrimmage when he threw two interceptions.

“(It was) probably my worst practice,” Browne said.

He performed much better Tuesday, which probably eased Helton’s mind. Helton admitted he was up at 3 a.m. Tuesday morning watching film of Browne and freshman Sam Darnold.

“I’m going over every practice and drill so we can make an educated decision,” he said.

If interceptions matter, Browne had four while Darnold has one. Other statistics will matter like completion percentages that USC has charted since the first practice.

The decision is significant because USC quarterbacks tend to keep the job once it is awarded. Even when Cody Kessler and Max Wittek alternated the first two games of 2013, Kessler kept the job once Lane Kiffin made his final decision.

For Browne, it would probably be devastating if he did not win the job. While he practiced at Howard Jones Field on Saturday, Jared Goff started for the Rams at the Coliseum. Browne was the No. 1-ranked quarterback in 2013 while Goff was No. 8.

Goff’s college career is over while Browne’s really has not even begun with no guarantees it will start in September.

Browne said he sent Goff a message a month ago when he saw a Rams fan wearing a Goff jersey.

“I’m excited for him,” Browne said. “I’m sure the city will rally around him. I’m still going to root for my (Seahawks) though.”

35 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Players Enjoy No Distractions Under Clay Helton”

  1. It must be great for the players to see that the adults are in charge. Too bad that Haden couldn’t figure that out. I am sure that Max hired Helton and made Haden fire Kiffin the Goat Boy.

    • But you still have Swanny who is St. Pat’s clone and part of the same Ol SC mindset.
      His signature move will be firing Helton to put his stamp on the program. If Helton doesn’t get at least 9 wins, he’s gone and the drama at SoCal will be back with all new coaches and systems. Good luck SoCal recruits, get ready for more down time.

      • meds,
        Helton will not be fired after this season. If he wins nine games and recruits very well, he will be back for a 3rd season let alone a second season. Just come to realize and accept that ugly will get its annul whupping in November and for a long time after that that.

        • True, if he wins 9 games, I agree but he has an A.D. with an itchy trigger finger that wants very badly to put his mark on SoCal football (again) by making a big-time hire.
          If Helton is that Big Time hire, he will be St.Pat’s first hire that wasn’t a total dump.
          You have great expectations for a team with 6 losses that has lost 3 of 4 (badly) to Mora.
          Keep following that yellow brick road and get your talking in before Sept. 3rd.

          • J Meth stupidity again. Who needs new coaches? USC slaughtered little ucla across-the-board in the Crosstown Cup – as usual. We own you in all the men’s major sports and the USC women cranked off on the lady little gutties big-time.

            Last seen by USC fans, Mora was bent over in the Coli picking sod off of Rosen’s honker. Now Mora’s bent over yet again, pleading with Mique to put on his little gutty uniform.

            Poor ucla. Last won a RB in ’86 and Mora’s already owned by newby Helton. Biz as usual for you PED Protector little gutties.

          • Well, Apparently you fired Kiffin & Orgeron after we beat them and had to fire Sark because he was a drunk, so, I would say you need new coaches. You are 1 of 4 against Mora, had 6 losses last season and still the mouth runs on and on and on.
            Amazing, really.

      • We apologize that our AD’S have won Heisman trophies and National Championships and are in charge of the sport department. Just kidding, I’d take that all day then having jack in the box faced Dan Guerrero. Don’t try to flip the switch on us. If UCLA doesn’t beat an A&M team who is under fire then you can start to play Russian rullet with Owns.

  2. If you keep it simple at USC you will win lots of football games, which is why Steve Sarkisian would have eventually been fired, regardless of his alcohol issues, because he’s just not a championship coach. Clay Helton had an opportunity of a lifetime fall right into his lap, so he has a chance to prove that he’s a real coach, and not the figure head, offensive coordinator role , that Lane Kiffen, and Sarkisian had him play.

  3. Here is an article about how there is little or no drama at USC this season, and still there is a dig about how frightened our team will be when it walks into a building with a TV bigger than a basketball court.
    Really?
    They will be just fine and I’m sure the reporter size nachos will be good too.

  4. It’s amazing what happens when you hire a competent adult to run things, instead of some pansy-a$$ frat boy who is always trying to show everyone how cute they can be. You can see the same comments up at UDub regarding Peterson when he took over for Sark. But hey, Sark gets SC.

  5. Really blogger? All you can come up with is a reference to last year’s news? Are things so positive at USC right now that you can’t think of anything to write about so you need to reach back a year to find something negative? Get over it. Move on.

  6. Translation: the Blogger is frustrated that there are no distractions under Clay Helton

  7. “We can bring USC back to where it should be….” this should the lyrics to Yesterday U’s new school song! the Cadre has a call into Lindsey Buckingham.

    HAWR-HAWR!!!!

    #StayTuned

  8. Cross our fingers or knock on wood, but so far we’ve been pretty much drama free under Helton’s first 10 months as head coach. This time the last two years we had the Josh Shaw balcony circus and Sark’s kegger at Salute to Troy. So far so good.

    • Drama free? Does St. Pat not count?

      I guess he has already made himself invisible!

      Helton seems like a nice guy and I agree he is light years ahead of his two predecessors just by not stepping on his own tongue.

      Hopefully he can break with tradition, recruit and play clean and still keep his job.

      • Pat may be somewhere on the Cayman Islands, I’m just glad he’s gone. Helton learned first hand from Sark and Kiffin on what not to do. He just has to allow his coaches to coach and not step on their toes.

  9. “We can bring USC back to where it should be.” ?

    Yes !

    Clay Helton is a total gift from above !!

    STABILITY MATTERS !!!

    When will recruits see this ?

    September 3 can (Will) change everything, USC 27 – Alabama 17, and recruits line up in droves…

    USC…BACK !

    Can’t wait

    FightOn

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