Wasn’t Clay Helton supposed to be a no-drama hire? There was a change at quarterback Monday just three games into the season even though I remember Helton saying he would wait at least a month with whoever won the job back in August.
The heat on Helton is red hot, however, so the change is understandable. My analysis here is on how slow Helton’s been to make changes this season. Then highly rated offensive tackle E.J. Price supposedly left the team.
Finally, there’s been a picture on twitter of USC defending an extra point against Stanford with only eight players on the field. Someone claimed at the game it happened three times. Why not?
No drama is one thing, but being almost totally clueless in coaching is quite another. Helton obviously is learning quickly that his job is way too overwhelming, and he’s basically coaching scared right now simply trying not to get fired. I remember him saying he would gladly embrace all the pressure that came with the job at his introduction last year, and he certain is getting it now! Now that Sam Darnold is the new starting QB, he might be the only guy who could save Gomer’s bacon for the time being.
Actually the schedule will have the largest impact. With games against #1 and #7 teams behind us, the schedule gets easier.
Yeah, but unfortunately, nothing seems to be getting any easier for our Gomer at this point. He’d be exceedingly fortunate to have Darnold help him starting this Friday.
Stanford isn’t that good, that was a winnable game.
Punt On !
I sure hope there is not a lot of pressure on Sam, he is still young and has a lot to learn. I didn’t like it when PC started Barkley as a freshman, I think it affected him badly. At least Sam has the redshirt year to mature into the system.
Note to Blogger: it has been over 4 weeks since Browne was named the starting QB so Helton was correct.
You are correct, but this shows a huge weakness in our HC. He never should have been hired.
Where’s the weakness – that he gave the 4-year player the first shot over the 1-year player or that he made the switch after 3 games?
You honestly think he’s a good HC? Really? Yo are smarter than that.
I’m smart enough to not judge based on 3 games with the most difficult schedule by far. I am not endorsing Helton, just not jumping on the Gomer band wagon.
I always thought we’d get a higher profile coach. It’s not just the three games. Look at last year. This year. The team is FLAT.
I don’t put any weight into last year’s games as there were many other factors (like the old assistant coaches). But you are right the team has been flat and that is very disturbing. They came out OK in the Alabama game but after getting punched in the gut they never seemed to recover. Maybe the benching of Browne will wake everyone else up.
But unlike others on this blog, I believe the players share some of the blame for their poor play.
The players should be held accountable, they are veterans, but just how many head coaches have some of these kids had ? Kiffin, Orgeron, Sark and now Helton, that’s a mess.
You are correct, the administration deserves the blame. But rah rahs always blame the student-athletes over the hired help.
You know what happens when you assume…
Helen, I got your back. Your comments are spot on. Helton doesn’t give the start to Browne, Browne’s career is over. Max got his shot and he couldn’t get it done in game situations. I might have given Max another half on Friday then pull him if he’s not productive. So Helton is being more proactive than I would have thought. Helton and this team are a work in progress. Let’s see how the season unfolds and we will have clarity in December. Hopefully Darnold can give the offense a spark. Hopefully the staff will light a fire under those guys who continue to make mistakes.
And this coming from the Drama Queen herself. Hahahaha. Blogger, if there was no drama you would provide it yourself. After all, you are known as the Drama Queen.
I don’t think many are surprised the team is 1 & 2, or that CH has struggleed with game management, or that TM has been inconsistent as a play caller. But I am shocked, and I believe many are , that the team has played so poorly, been so poorly prepared,& been so undisciplined. I thought if CH was going to bring anything to the team it would be a sense of calm, purpose, and maturity. But, boy, I sure seem to have been wrong. And as a fan I am sorely disappointed. This is not good for the program and means it will be even longer before the team I root for is ready for the national spotlight.
Well said, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Seems ludicrous that we are dealing with problems on all fronts- not just the stuff we anticipated being the primary issues. If this was the case, should have just kept the Kiffer- LOL
I see only a handful of guys performing poorly. Browne’s slow decision making, Talamaivao’s false starts, Tell missing coverage assignments, Banner missing blocks. Clean that up and they will do much better.
Helton was a fraud from the start. You can’t really blame him though. He didn’t hire himself. The problem is at the top.
It’s harsh to call Gomer a fraud. He’s always been himself (yuk, yuk) and doesn’t have giant personal problems like Sark and isn’t a full blown narcissist like the Kiffer.
He’s just out of his league and another on-the-job trainee who was picked by naive USC leaders who don’t have a clue about what great football coaches look like. Nikias and the BOT made Gomer our man. Now Gomer’s finding out he’s got bigger problems than he ever imagined, but we’ll be paying him for many years after he’s gone, so the joke’s once again on USC,
Tee is not on the sideline….who does the QB go to?
Uh oh, where’s Chuma going? LOL. Buh-bye.
Nice S sandwich for Max B. Hope Coach Helton takes a bite.
Max couldn’t cut it, he just isn’t that good
Like nobody saw that LAST Spring. That’s the point! CH is not a HC
Exactly, everyone saw it but the threat of Browne leaving earned him the job and that cannot happen. Gomer is not the person for the job, never was, and you can lay that at the feet of Haden
If Darnold does not work out, will Browne be reinserted into the game?
The Louisville quarterback looks like the best in the nation. And, oh yeah, he runs as well as throws. That is apparently what it takes to win consistently.
You’ve got a head coach who can’t attract top assistants for various reasons.
The same head coach punted to save face against Stanford instead of trying to win.
The OC scored an 11 on his Wunderlich test at the combine.
The school president could care less if football wins or not.
The current AD has no experience at the job.
The BOT hasn’t a clue.
I’d say this all spells disaster.
Punt On !
Remember back in the day when the only thing Wolf had to complain about were the theft of Mitch Mustain’s bike, the song girls and Art Bartner?
Chuma and Ross now too? Wonder who’s next?
I wonder what would happen if the USC athletic administration hired a football coach, that has an impressive resume, either as a head coach, or a highly sought after assistant…. Oh, and btw, has zero ties to Pete Carroll ? And believe it or not, that hasn’t happened in over 30 years !!!! When will the arrogant administration realize they are doing it the wrong way? UNBELIEVABLE.
You have to ask yourself, “Are USC’s elitist administrators deliberately sabotaging the football program to turn the university into an Ivy League school?” There’s no other logical explanation for the last 7 years.
I’ve heard that before, and I can’t blame people for thinking it, but I doubt it. But only because the football program is worth over $300 million annually to the School if it’s running on all cylinders.
I’d to see the team huddle up on offense, give themselves a mental reset after each play. Lets Darnold show some leadership vs 11 guys staring at the sideline for 20 seconds.