Discuss The Game

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You could coach Sam Darnold and look like a winner. That’s how good he was tonight. And I’m aware of the two interceptions. But he completely outplayed Jake Browning in a hostile atmosphere. And overcame all those false starts and a nothingburger of a running game. Hey Darnold saved Clay Helton’s job!

Memo to Helton: How does a team with Sam Darnold, Adoree Jackson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, etc. start off 1-3?

238 thoughts on “Discuss The Game”

    • They wouldnt lose 3 … Petersen should fire his OC ! Try rolling from pressure once
      Darnold is tough but now teams will blitz him

    • This is how Scott would respond approximately: Peterson would’ve been able to know that he had a great QB in place before the Alabama game. Think about, he could’ve have been 9-1 and defeating his former self tonight…

      Why this blog is so amusing to me is that I know SW judged a long time ago that his angle was always going to be the cynical route on every game because it will generate a reaction from the large loyal fan base. I love that this was such a well-played, balanced, and well COACHED game, and all Scott could do was go back to the first three games.

      • True words written there.
        SW is just shtick. Not a real writer.
        Jim Murray now he was a real writer.
        Faith, family, football.
        Won tonight.

    • And special teams – anybody could’ve coached them too I guess. I don’t know why most coaches just don’t go out and get dynamic QBs more often. Wouldn’t have to work so hard…

  4. Washington is a FRAUD! .. Fight On Baby!!!! ✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌

  5. A phenomenal defense and The Anointed One at QB! What a game and what a win! We are SC!!!

  8. A quality win by a well prepared and motivated team. Good coaching and excellent play. The O line all need to be bitch slapped until they cry. Defense was incredible, lucky at times, but did their jobs

  9. We want Fred…come on. You jump on here all the time to hammer Helton. Nobody and I mean nobody can say Helton was not the right hire.

      • Agreed–but progress is being made. First big test since the 1 & 3 start—-everybody passed.

    • Great win, but there were a lot of lucky drops by a lot of wide open W receivers. If by some miracle SC makes the P-12 Championship game, and they won’t, the rematch could look completely different.

        • It was a top to bottom ,start to finish complete game win.The first quarter the crowd was so loud on TV, I mute it for a few minutes.The way the defense played was finished off ,forcing a Safety.Few,if any of us saw them scoring 13!! This all in a sold out fan crazy environment.With the exception of maybe Saban, is there another college coach as of this evening that would have won 26/13?

      • Here’s freds comment..

        the huskies are unproven. They played teams with losing records

        They are overrated

  11. I’m spoiled now and there is no more losing for a loooong time. We’ve seen this kind of beginning before and whether or not we get to the Rose Bowl this year, we’re back as a player in college football.

  12. I started to write a rebuttal –but instead I am just going to cut to the chase. SW, professionally you are a petty, petty little writer.

    • Personally, I may well have misjudged Helton’s full upside.

      You would think that Scott could at least state that.

      Silly of SW to even suggest that it was not merely Darnold. In the first half, you could see that Browning was unnerved. And that wasn’t just Adoree, although his INT definitely cranked up Browning’s anxiety. A team of USC players and coaches beat a very sound team, with proven coaching, and on the road, and in the cold.

      To just dismiss that is beyond petty.

      • Very much agree Ben. There were so many interesting adjustments and well-coached moments in this game. SW has ostensibly stuck to this “Darnold solves all, and teams are bad” beat no matter what. If they lose to either ND or UCLA he will probably use that as evidence of his “theory”. Junkyard sportswriting.

  16. Aside from a couple blown coverages, and Adoree slipping, the secondary played lights out. Washington has a really good #2 receiver in Dante Pettis and I don’t think he caught a ball tonight. Biggie came up… BIG

    • Grabby was good for once .. Ajax got his ankles broken on TD but Huskies too many home run attempts
      Darnold good ! saved Gomer

  17. I am happy to see the continued improvement. CH is making a strong case for a second year. Let’s hope the momentum carries into next week.

  19. Great win! Great game plan with the players well prepared. I never thought I would say this in 2016, but fantastic job Coach Helton and staff. I guess our blind squirrel (Pat Haden) found his acorn.

    Fight On and let’s hang 50 on the Bruins!

    • The same Peterson who was 8-6 and 9-4 (I think) the last two seasons but SW was calling for CH’s head for a slow start in his first season.

    • I am giving full credit to CH for tonight’s win & the teams improvement. But CP is still a proven HC and should not be dismissed so quickly.

      • I’m not dismissing CP. just the opposite. It just shows that even good coaches need time to develop. CP had a few mediocre seasons and really turned the corner this year. CH deserves the same opportunity but certain people wanted him gone after 4 games of his first true season. Ridiculous.

  21. I don’t think this vindicates Pat Haden like the prone to hyperbole Fox announcer said. Still think Helton was a hasty and lazy hire, but he and his entire coaching staff have really improved and have the team motivated and playing great. Tee Martin called a great game and BKU has his boys playing relentlessly. Great win! Beat the Bruins! Fight on baby!

    • But frankly, I’m not so sure that Haden was behind the hire.

      Plus, swinging back and forth between extreme praise/over-optimism and irate criticism/doom seems kind of foolish. Helton is not yet the worthy, anointed successor to PC’s success, let’s face it.

      Nonetheless, I myself may well have misjudged Helton’s upside. I knew that Pendergast was pretty good, and was truly surprised when Sark let him go, for an unknown, IMO. I was optimistic about BKU, because he has strong, recent NFL cred and had overcome cancer.

      The offensive coaching is certainly looking better, and even a “conservative” coach like Harvey Hyde has said for awhile that USC’s “type of offense” needs an athletic QB who can run, and throw on the run. Hyde still calls for more planned QB runs (but slide!) to take full advantage of finally having an athletic QB. It’s not merely Sam Darnold, it’s adopting the QB style best suited to this offense, and perhaps, based on Nick Saban’s recent choice, to CFB in 2016.

      For today, WELL DONE, all coaches and all players! And yes, the QB is the first among equals, so appreciative props to SD.

  22. You’re a joke, wolf. Darnold is incredible, but to not give credit to Helton/Clancy/tee is absolutely ridiculous

    • Again, it’s Scottie’s brand. He’s got to be the cynical whiner who can’t (publicly) appreciate the complete game played and coached tonight by the Trojans. We were at the game, and that defensive line push was insane tonight. It was such a trip quieting that crowd in the second half. Love the way this season as developed. Proud of Helton and his assistants.

    • I think that Wolf sits back and laughs like a Hyena about all the people he is ticking off with his negative comments. Like I said, it’s all an act.

  23. D-Line has really developed well. And Pendergast did not go into Prevent – showed a lot of confidence. Nwosu and Gustin set the edges well, and Tui and Green were great at being disruptive up front. Really impressed!

  25. A great college quarterback can make a coach look good…..ask Oregon Ducks. Darnold not great yet, but give him time. Huskies Oline got pummeled by Trojan Dline. Browning looked like a high school qb. Their only td was when Adoree slipped & fell down. On to Pasadena to play the gutty Bruins. Fight On.

    • I was singing the same tune a couple weeks ago, but now I’m convinced Darnold is GREAT. The way he slings and distributes the ball is unbelievable. JuJu has pretty much been erased the past couple of weeks, and he just finds another target. Whether it be Burnett, Rodgers, or Imathorbebe, the other pass catchers are coming up big.

      • I’ll give you this, becoming the team leader overnight after starting the season on the bench IS incredible. All credit to Sam. This team has amazing athletes, they needed a leader on the field & now they have one. Coaching had held them back the first 4 games. Six wins in a row also impressive.

  27. Washington’s schedule of non conference slugs and a slew of injuries throughout Pac tilted the wins their way.. Utah played them well.. USC had plenty of game film to put together a great plan! Still think Washington’s 9-0 is a FRAUD! ✌

  28. Proud of my Trojans tonight! They have it all working now, got to give the boys and Helton (and staff) credit. Still need some help (not likely to come from Arizona tonight) but let’s beat UCLA and Notre Dame and see what happens! Fight On!

    • Brent, I am willing to admit that Helton has won me over for the time being. He’s safe with me. He’s earned the right to be our coach. The future is another story, but he’s really showed me he can get the kids to play tough.

      • Lucky drops? How about Ju Ju and Imortobebe dropping 2 passes that end the game.
        SC played great D and the reality is they end to possibly the toughest road environment and didn’t blink…that is 100% credit to Helton and staff. Believe people we are headed to a tremendous ride the next few years.

        • Are you talking to me? I didn’t say anything about that. I said both teams made drops. Petite dropped a TD, Adoree fell. I said both teams made mistakes so it was fair.

          • Not you Sam, someone above you who said SC benefited from lucky drops as though no SC WR or TE dropped any passes. We don’t always agree Sam, you’re good people.

          • I thought you were talking to someone else. But I was having like 2 conversations going so I didn’t know for sure. We’re good buddy.

    • I cannot imagine the future with Wolf on this blog, can we take a popular vote before I break into tears?

    • Agreed. I’ve been such a big fan of Helton the man – he stands for what’s great about college football. To see him turn the season around has been a true pleasure. I’m sure the recruiting wheels are turning tonight. GameDay, nationally televised game. Who wouldn’t want to be part of this team, play with Sam for another year or two (or three???) The foundation is being laid, my friends…

  37. Great win tonight! Defense was awesome and Darnold played with poise and confidence. Can’t wait to finish off the UGLY and ND. Fight On!

  39. Amazing night tonight. USC showed they are BACK!! Then #2, #3. and #4 in the nation all go down. See what the Cubs started?

  40. Snarky Scott, Put on your reporter hat and find out who hired Helton? Pathetic Pat or Mad Max?

  41. It’s odd that everyone is focusing on Darnold. He’s undoubtedly very talented but made mistakes. He has the tools to be a great QB but he’s not quite there yet. Some bad decisions throwing into multiple coverage, which is typical of a playmaker type QB.

    The defense won this game. They did a spectacular job of pursuit and containment of that fast offense. When the game started, I thought Washington was too fast for USC. But that dispelled right away. Browning looked very pedestrian today–and prior to today, he was a legitimate Hesiman candidate. This W is on the defense, which was as good as it’s been in years.

    • Shutting down WA to 13 points and 17 net yards rushing is an incredible defensive effort. Great job by Clancy Pendergast and his guys.

    • Darnold kept plays alive. He showed HEART with that TD he ran for. Too bad Mama was penalized. Darnold played like a veteran. Defense played lights out, but Darnold was great also

    • USC’s defense made Briwning look pedestrian. When USC slowed down a scoring machine, that is when they knew they could beat Washington. Sc made it their game by slowing Washington down. That is forcing their will in their opponent, that is called dominating

      • That was actually my point. Browning is quite talented but he faced pressure. He was a legitimate Housman contender (though Not going to win–that is going to the QB at Louisville). At least two of the sacks were coverage sacks. The secondary came up huge.

    • Defense indeed was outstanding. UW is a good, but not great team, and was ranked way too high at #4. Darnold did make a couple of ill-advised throws, but on the other hand, how many QBs out there are worth more points per game than Darnold? I give him plus 17 per game for the Trojans.

  43. THANK YOU USC!!! You single-handedly flat-out denied the fuskies their second nat-nat-natty!!!!

      • I’m right here!. What a joke, somehow the Ref’s saw only U-Dub infractions. bozo u got every penalty call except Mama’s obvious hand to the face penalty.

        And the Washington offence and QB just SUCC’d.

        There’s no doubt bozo u won the game, but how U-Duh went 9 – 0 is beyond me.

        • Joke?
          Get real.
          Not what I’d call your best material.
          We stopped their offense and held them to 13 points.
          ON THE ROAD.

          FIGHT THE FU** ON✌

          • Owns…..
            Stop it.
            You are 4-6 and will most likely be sitting home while others play in a bowl. We just beat the #4 team and undefeated Washington Husky’s.
            We’re on a 6 game winning streak.
            Have some pride!

        • I’ve been reading your posts. You really know very little about football. I’d guess you are new to the game. You are amusing though. Sort of like watching a child throw a tantrum.

  45. Fantastic win for Clay Helton, and he’s finally starting to show me something to hang my hat on

  46. Running game had 117 yards. Washington had 17 yards rushing. Washington has run the ball well this season. Give credit to the defense. One interception was due to a player falling. Washington had a problem with the field

  48. Also, despite the bonehead false starts, the O-Line played really well tonight. They are the unit most disrupted by loud crowd noise and I thought they performed very good, especially in pass coverage. On the other side of the ball, really fun to watch Tui line up over the center and just blow him up play after play. Really hope this team gets a chance to play for the P12 championship. I’m a WSU fan next week, and then a CU fan.

  49. Helton is playing into being a head coach. Needs to go undefeated and win in the post season

  51. The kid is GOING to have a bad game at some point. Please stop blowing so much smoke up his bum like he is infallible.

  53. I was wondering how SW was going to find the black cloud in the silver lining of this huge win. Either bitterness or just out to stir the pot. Either way, get over it. Great team effort. Players and coaches came up big and have without question grown as a team this season. Fight on!!!

    • WOW! I missed the game tonight. My daughter got married. Holding Washington to 13 points is very impressive with Pendergast getting some credit. The way scott wrote on his post, you would have thought Darnold played both on offense and defense. I will definitely watch the rerun of that game. If SC can avoid a lapse the next two games, this will be big on recruiting and SC will be able to start cherry picking their players.
      Fight On!

  55. Still rubbing my eyes and wondering, “who are these Trojans?!” I can’t remember watching a big game like that where SC showed such awesome ability to win… years, I think.

    I never thought crow could taste this good…

    FIGHT ON!

  56. Darnold reminds me of Kenny Stabler, a gun slinger who draws up plays while the play is going on. He just improvises on the play

  57. SW, you are ridiculous! Yes, Darnold is awesome, however it was a team win. Helton and staff put them in a position to win with a great game plan. Give the coach some credit!

  58. A big part of Sam Darnold’s game is the fact that he’s physically, Tough! Dude is a Stud

  61. Gotta give props to Coach Helton and his staff. He proved me wrong by getting the team ready to play a hard four quarters of football in a hostile environment. Great win. Take care of UCLA and FIGHT ON!

  63. SW, you are wasting our time tonight. IT’S THE PENDERGAST DEFENSE THAT CRUSHED THE HUSKIES, thou Abject Fool.

  64. I wanted to scream every time they pulled RoJo out and put Davis in, but we got away with it. As for the false starts, credit Washington for making it loud, but the coaches should have known this was coming.
    Finally it is clear the defense won the night. They were so good even Helton trusted them with a gutsy play near the end of game. Go for it on 4th and 1… who knew?

    • I guess here is as good as any place to sneak in the fact that one of our touchdowns shouldn’t have counted. Although a case could be made that we would scored on the next play- the ball was clearly down outside of the end zone.
      Look for Washington to cry foul tomorrow.

  66. I can accept the interceptions because he knows that he will make up for them and he has done that tonight and in the past

  67. Clemson had to throw the ball 70 times and didn’t get a first down by running the ball in a loss, but Danny Kannell and Joey Galloway have them in the top 4 still. Am I missing something? They were exposed today.

    • I guess Stevie T, who could not start at Utah, according to wolf, deserves some credit for the D-line play.

    • 17 yards is amazing. i thought they did a great job stopping Oregon’s running attack, but tonight they took to another level. Looking forward to a great ending against UCLA and Notre Dame.

  69. Great victory after a long time. Begs a question why wasn’t darnold the starter from the beginning. I get it Browne has payed his dues, but it’s not even close how much better darnold is as a,college qb than browne. He just has the it.

  70. Typical Wolfy. Can’t bring himself to say anything positive about Helton since he already wants him fired and is convinced Darnold plays both offense and defense and blocks kicks too.

    Last time I checked, football is the ultimate team game with 22 specialized positions excluding special teams. One person can’t win 6 in a row all by themselves but Wolfy seems to think they can.

  71. Amazing job by the defense for a while now. They have been up to the challenge against everyone. Wish we had the Stanford and Utah games back… Alabama is a totally different beast.

  73. Do not let this man, Clancy Pendergast, leave USC after this season. Lock him up with a worthy contract. He’s done such an amazing job with the defense. Great defensive players will be lining up to come to USC..just watch.

  74. What a sad sack of a reporter. Darnold is looking like Heisman material. Helton out coached Peterson. And all Wolf can do is level another childish dig.

  75. Shocker in Seattle! We not only won, we dominated

    1) The large margin of victory

    2) Mental toughness of USC players

    3) Numerous penalties still couldn’t stop us

    4) Darnold is a true Heisman candidate

    5) Helton and staff out-coached Petersen

    6) Remarkably improved defense. Terrific Pendergast plan

    7) Adoree is one of the GREATEST Trojans ever

    8) Total team win. Team is very unselfish and confident

    9) Team is having so much fun out there

    10) USC somehow beat a very good team even though we had a paltry running game

    11) Don’t mess with Troy. It is coming together.

  76. I give Helton a lot of credit for this win. He also managed the clock and time outs very well.

  77. Corso shouldn’t have crossed us! So we made him pay and blew up his amazing streak of 15 straight correct predictions, 10 wins, 5 losses.

    Subtleties of the game. Tonight USC was truly the streak breaker in more ways than one.

  78. Helton has made adjustments with his staff. The D looks awesome. What would YOU do as a coach SW?

  80. uh-oh…did chris Peterson GET OUT COACHED, by the likes of…a guy of unknown quality ??? he out coached a coach that out coached the Stanford coach and , well you get my point; and being unable to acknowledge this, who would we give the credit? not that any of my favorites that might be the reason for their success…. glad I am big enough to admit I may have misjudged, but I live 3,000 miles away ,never see a practice…

  82. After review, the game stand as called!!

    The USC defense has come a very long way. The pass pressure took Browning out of his game and created the two pics of AJAX. The play of every guy was at their best, even little Jack Jones played beyond what anyone thought. Lots of heros out there. There was a huge marked improvement of the RB’s pass blocking, and it still is amazing to me to see how hard and accurate Darnold can throw off balance. This was a team win, all three facets of the game. O line still needs to be bitch slapped for their stupidity.

  83. That’s like saying Jake Browning saved Chris Peterson’s job. Never mind UDub only scored 13 freaking points.

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