All Hail Sam Darnold!

darnold-chartUSC QB Sam Darnold has the No. 1 quarterback rating in the nation according to ESPN. And it only took 3 games to figure out to start him.

68 thoughts on “All Hail Sam Darnold!

      • #2 WR spot has to step up. Spread the ball to the TE’S and things should fall into place.

        • I haven’t looked at the stats specifically for that but the TEs seem to be non-existent. Thought we had some good recruits?

          • They’ve been involved more lately. Imatorbhebhe has made some big plays the last two weeks and Petite was in the mix. We could definitely throw to them more.

          • There has been a vast improvement with regards to using the TEs. They are running the same stuff they have been, but you finally have a guy who can get the ball to them.

          • I like them as pass catchers, but I’m not sure how much we get from them at the line of scrimmage. Not that I think they’re bad, I just don’t know.

        • Sam, do you know if they’ve put Michael Pittman inside at all? I know he would back up Juju’s spot, but I wonder if they’ve tried him inside.

          • Pittman has to be in the rotation behind Juju and or Rogers. In my opinion. They’re all big.

          • Yeah, but some guys can slide inside and I haven’t seen anything that makes me think MP can’t do it.

            There’s no way Hill will make it to the 6th now. BTW

          • I would like to agree, but we have no clue where our production comes from after Juju. It’s anyone’s ball game. We have lots of talent at WR, but who will step up?

    • I agree. Let’s not turn Darnold into Moses. Darnold needs to just run the offense and let him use his creativity. But if SC is going to win, everyone is going to have to do their job. You can’t just put the success or failure of the team on Darnolds shoulders.

  1. Enough with the Helton bashing for starting Max Browne for the first three games. He made and kept his promise to a young man who dutifully waited his turn. That’s called being honorable, which is in short supply, and should be commended not ridiculed. Aside from doing the right thing for the sake of doing the right thing, it also preserves his integrity when he meets with recruits and they know he is a man of his word.

    • I agree. Some say Darnold was beating out Browne. I say it was pretty close. In that case, you go with the veteran, the guy who has waited his turn. I still think that Browne is a pretty good QB, although I think Darnold is definitely better. They should let Browne run the whole offense when he comes in and not just hand off.

    • You don’t promise anything to anyone, that’s just stupid and creates problems

  2. Here’s where being a “nice guy” and honoring the loyalty of players got in the way of making the best possible decision for the team by Gomer. And this is the area in which he needs to make himself be “less nice” when it comes to making decisions that are best for the team, instead of personal relationships. He needs to understand he’s in there to please the entire USC community and uphold its tradition and history, not just a few individuals.

    • Respectfully disagree. Even if you believe college football should be all and only about winning (which I don’t), we likely lose 2 or 3 of those games anyway. So here Coach Helton did what’s right without making any or much of a difference in the wins/losses. Really a win/win and a sign of deep thinking.

      • And let’s not forgot when you invoke Trojan history and tradition: “the qualities of the ideal Trojan: “FAITHFUL, SCHOLARLY, SKILLFUL, COURAGEOUS, AMBITIOUS.” Coach Helton upheld those traditions.

      • I find your logic dubious. We’re likely to lose 2 or 3 three games anyway? Well? We already did, and we’re likely to lose more in the season. So according to you, it really doesn’t matter how much we lose as long as we’ve got a coach who’s honorable and honest on his words? Since when SC football was about simply upholding ethics? Look, football is a sporting game, and the goal of any sporting games should be about winning. Never forget SC football is where it is today without all the blood, sweat and tears of those who put their everything on the line to win!

        • We must have watched a different game against Alabama. Big fan of Darnold but do you really think we win that game if he’s behind center? And what would it have done potentially to his psyche if had been the starter and got routed but a clearly superior team (potentially one of the best ever college teams) and Browne was brought in to replace him? Gotta think long term. Not dubious logic. Just not shortsighted.

          • Also, to clarify, I said we were likely to lose 2 or 3 of “those” games anyway. I think you misread part of my point.

          • Well, Darnold did not start in Alabama game, so don’t think you know the outcome. You just don’t. My guess is he probably would have played better than Browne did mainly because of his much superior mobility. But here’s a fact: I’m a USC fan, and you’re a Gomer fan. And that’s why we’ll never see eye-to-eye.

          • Understood. I appreciate the honest debate. But please make no mistake, I’m a USC fan as well. We share that. I just think Coach Helton is the right man for this job at this time and this program needs to rebuild not chase wins and continue the merry-go-round of mediocre coaches. Bring in Nick Saban and I will be the first to wish Coach Helton good luck. But another retread, no thanks.

          • Hey, don’t get me wrong. I do see great qualities in Helton. In fact, he seems to be the kind of guy I could get along rather well as a friend or an associate, and it actually pains me to be negative about him. But I just can’t see him as the kind of head coach that will put our program back in the national map. A part of me hopes I’m wrong about this because it’d be great to see the team continue to win. As they say, winning cures all. Let’s hope for the best!

          • Agree completely. I share those concerns and he has definitely made some missteps, particularly on game days. But like I said it’s not just about him but also who if not him.

          • You must realize he’s still learning. He has to since he had no prior head coaching experience. The best scenario would be Darnold’s magic somehow carrying the team until Helton learns enough, even though that’s asking a lot.

          • MSK, you are correct and Helton’s thoughtfulness in starting Brown led to an easy transition to Darnold. Also Darnold did play against Ala and looked worse than Brown. Helton is building for the long term not a single win.

          • Had we went with Darnold and Alabama stayed with Barnett, it may have been interesting

    • I think when you have a 5 star gatorade player of the year you need to give him a chance to see the field. It is not like Browne was a complete hack he’ll start at another program and could even play in the league.

      • Obviously, you’ve got much higher regard for Browne than I do. I don’t see him starting and succeeding in a major program. He’s way too slow to begin with. But hey, we’ll agree to disagree.

        • I don’t have much confidence in Browne either. It’s far from scientific but he just doesn’t look, move or carry himself like a big time athlete.

          • There is something we can agree after all. I’ve never thought Browne had what it takes. A decent QB at best with below average speed and mobility. Obviously, he hasn’t been coached up brilliantly since he came to SC as a blue chip recruit, which is another reason that makes me suspect the coaching abilities of Helton as he was the QB coach and OC during Browne’s college years.

  3. If USC is not really improving, because of the quality of the Pac12 and the teams SC has defeated, UA, ASU, and Colorado, then how can you accurately claim Darnold’s qb rating is legit?
    I believe Darnold is special and will be one hell of a qb for SC. I would not be surprised if he wins a heisman during his career at USC.
    Please wolf, think before you ramble on with these posts.
    I am not saying his is not legit.

  4. Anybody ever wonder how Matt Barkley is feeling as he watches Cody Kessler start in the NFL?

  5. Wow the NFL scouts must be s****ing bricks regarding draftable quarterbacks over the next couple of years. Aside from Darnold and Browning, I don’t see anyone on that list being able to run an NFL offense or having NFL level arm strength/accuracy.

  6. It is depressing and maddening to think that SC could/should be 6-1 if only Helton had accomplished two very BASIC responsibilities:

    1. Come into the season PREPARED. Know how to leverage the great talent available, and design a play book based on that.

    2. Show some balls, and put the best QB on the field GAME ONE.

    Here’s to a successful second half of the season. If the team continues to mature and gel, and if the coaches are worth anything, the only obstacle in our way is UW.

    • I believe we have some “planted staff” to offset all of the Helton bashing on this blog! I do agree with you!
      Get ready to be attacked in 3,2,1…..

    • We’ve gotta let that go now, Trav. I’m as frustrated as anyone about it because I didn’t have to wait for hindsight to see what he should’ve done. I’m sure Helton agrees, but he can’t now publicly say Max was the wrong choice unless he wants to throw him completely under the bus. He’s too nice and thoughtful a guy to do that and he has moved on from it. So should we.

  7. Can you imagine how much Sam Darnold would strive under stronger leadership, with a offense that’s much more organized? I think it’s horrible when a great talent is under the supervision of someone that doesn’t have the ability to develop it. USC has had too many players over the last few years, that the buffoon , idiot coaches didn’t know what to do with it, other then lining them up.

  8. Helton is like the character Lyle in the Internship….”Okay, it’s in Beta, we’ll Workshop It. First Time Manager, Lyle’s a First Time Manager”

  9. If things stay the same for Darnold until the end of the season, does Darnold win the Heisman? He has the best ratings, and if he beats the rest of the teams and throws a bunch of td’s and runs a few in, why not put his name on the ballot. He is the best qb in the nation per espn. Espn is the whore for sEc as well so that might add credence to Darnold being voted as the Heisman winner. One thing for sure, Rosen, I forget his first name and it does not matter, will not win this year or next. he is better at throwing interceptions than catches. If they had a category for the best interception qb, Rosen would win hands down.

  10. Heyooooo- Wolfie, you just have to put your little trademark smart alec remark in there…

    by the way, besides a few “name” players, that’s not exactly a murderer’s row of QB’s..

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