Discuss The Game

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What an awful game. USC could lose to 90 percent of teams in the country with this type of performnance. When is USC going to get better?

253 thoughts on “Discuss The Game”

  2. We beat the team we were supposed to annihilate. But the game again revealed a lot to clean up. I’m still worried about the next few games with all our issues and sloppiness. Fight on!!!

  3. You’re right Wolfy. Definitely a terrible game. Only problem is, math actually matters in sports. You can’t lose when you outscore opponents by 28 points.

  4. Uninspired, ,maybe. Awful, no. But o-line needs a lot of work before next Saturday.

  6. I hate to admit this but this just is not a very good team at all. Sam is trying but he just is not playing well either. Blame whatever or whoever you want but Sam does not look like the same quarterback from last year

    • Agree, but if you ask Sam if he likes the play calling, I guarantee you he’ll say heck no. There were times you can tell he saw what the defense was doing, but he’s not allowed to call an audible. TEs were targeted, but as usual Tee Martin went away from them. What is USC base defense called?? Way to go Jake, nice snap again. Fight On!!

      • I hate to say this, Rabb —-but I don’t think Sam IS unhappy with the play calling. And that scares me more than anything. Both Sam and Clay Helton were happy campers after the game —- both said everything was mostly fine. Only problem is it isn’t —-and they don’t see it.

  8. Meh…Overall, they looked like they’d rather have been doing something else today.

    Definitely not good enough to beat Utah or Notre Dame.

    8-4 looks probable.

  9. Matt Fink played well.. He looks more suited for Tee’s offense.. Sam needs another year, not NFL ready … Coaching staff needs to figure things out and fast.. Not a Top 10 team, in reality not worthy of being a Top 25..

    • Even if they somehow win the conference I don’t see them in the top 4 unless there is a real dial up in execution.

      • Exactly.. I’d say Clay and staff will officially be coaching for their jobs next year.. Awful play calling.. Sam sucks. Was impressed with Matt..

        • What bothers me most about Sam’s play this year is a lot of what’s wrong seems unforced —-it seems he’s just blowing plays on his own. And, even worse, he doesn’t seem at all upset with himself. He’s taken nonchalance to a whole new level.

          • True.. I’d say his draft stock has imploded.. If he goes pro, I hope Swann pulls the plug on this staff.. Changes are coming.. At this point I would allow Tee to explore other options at end of the season. Its a horrific 5-1 record..

          • Unless Sam said in his NFL interviews, “The 2017 season? I just blew it off! I can play a lot better!”, any NFL team would be crazy to take him. And, if he really said that, they’d be even crazier to take him.

          • It just looks like Sam is lost out there.. The offense played better when Matt came in the game … They blocked for Matt..

          • Man! I noticed that too! The O-line isn’t playing hard for Sam. What is THAT about?!!

          • Someone mentioned earlier this week something I’ve noticed too. You never see Sam go to a phone or his coaches, and he never seems to be with the rest of the offense.

          • It’s getting harder and harder not to notice that Sam doesn’t interact much with the rest of the offense. Is this by happenstance or by design?
            #EitherWayIt’sWeird

          • Usually when the qb comes out they’ll get on the phone, especially after a turnover or three and out then get with their units for a minute to discuss adjustments or the next series, but haven’t seen him do any of that.

          • In past seasons, there has always been at least one pan shot of the USC bench showing the starting receivers and a couple of lineman laughing with the starting quarterback after a score. Not his year. As a matter of fact, there is a LOT less emotion on this team after a score than you see in most parks or schoolyards.

          • To me it’s less the emotion and more just the interaction and holding each other accountable.

          • “Horrific 5-1 record” sounds surprisingly–accurate–as a description of the team. I hate to say it but it feels like a late season collapse is coming….

          • Tennessee would hire him. Geez I leave em on the tarmac in Utah or SB.. Those two games will implode the current staff.

          • I was using the tarmac scenario.. Tee is a good recruiter at best.. He is a horrible OC.. He is not utilizing this roster the way he should ..and whomever is coaching Sam, ruined him.

          • Jordan Palmer. Manning Academy. Elite 11. Among others. Sam looks lost on the field and satisfied on the sidelines, wtf?

          • I’m not necessarily against driving Tee to a nearby tarmac.
            #GreatEndingIn”Heat”

          • Here…I’ll say it: Darnold is not “in the game” at all this year. He seems oddly satisfied with his mediocre performance…as if biding time until the NFL draft. HORRIBLE turn of events.

          • Somebody HAD to say it, Traveler. It’s a terrible thought —–but we’ve all been thinking it.

          • I question the change in Sam after he took foot off petal after first drive in WMU game.Professionals all proclaimed him NFL ready last summer. That alarmed me big time. He became first QB in sometime declared by media one and done.

          • We’ve seen what Darnold can do when he’s internally motivated .I can’t say if he’s really motivated by college this year.By that I don’t see Helton at fault. I think he came in knowing, believed he has a big check waiting, and could just show up. I like Sam,yet I think best thing for everyone would be for his stock to plument. Have to prove himself again. He’d catch fire maybe then.

          • ….And Matt looked better on that one throw (for a first down) than he looked throughout fall practice—-maybe he’s growing into the position. But, remember, this was Oregon State.

          • Matt is capable back up,and is hungry. Sam needs to regain that hunger. That was a good move by Helton to pull Sam.Honestly many coaches would have kept Sam in.

          • I like Sam too —-but I’m beginning to wonder whether 2016 wasn’t just a wonderful one-of-a kind-thing.

          • Yeah, he, however, gets a ton of slack/leeway for resurrecting last year’s team and the Rose Bowl victory.

          • I don’t see the nonchalant thing. I think he’s trying to remain calm when he knows he’s off and he’s not gonna get any OL help all year. It’s just a fact he’s harassed most every time he drops back and doesn’t take care of the ball well. Now he’s not throwing accurately. Truth is, we all like Sam more than the coaches and I’m sticking with Sam. His receivers are improving but we couldn’t run even against the Beavers. It’s just who we are. I have to assume we just flat out lack OL talent, because no OL coach could be that bad.

          • Ha! Did you mean for that ‘assumption’ to read as funny as that? That was hilarious!

    • Trojan yards per rush before Fink came in was 3.2 yards per carry – against one of the absolute worst defenses

      • We can’t run and have some amazing backs. Even our QBs can run well. I can’t understand why our OL is so bad. It’s more than the injuries. Our front liners have only blocked well in one game – STAN. Bizarre. What’s your theory?

        • At a total loss, Jack. I’d say that they need a little competition and that Helton being loyal to players like Falah reminds me of him being loyal to Browne over Darnold. I don’t know the backups as well but some players stunk it up today-Falah being one of them.

          • None of our OLs can block. We just look soft and like we just want to “shield” people compared to some of the much tougher OLs I saw on TV today. Nothing’s improved about it, so I’ve come to just accept it and be grateful we are winning ugly. So be it.

            It should be a hugely interesting 2nd half of the season. I have no idea how it will play out but I think anyone can win the South and our loss to WSU looks pretty acceptable after they rammed ORE silly in Eugene. UW and WSU are the cream up there.

            I think either UTAH or USC will earn the right to play them for the title. Our OL will still probably sux then so I don’t see how we beat either. But CFB is crazy and today was a great example with both OU and MICH going down. You can never tell.

          • It was eye- opening how Wazzu handled the Quackers. Icould see Stanford, U- dub, and Wazzu beating each other up. I think the Apple Cup is in Pullman this year. It helps SC if Wazzu runs the table. Need to see the Stanford game again to see who on the Oline played well. The matador like Oline play is becoming increasingly concerning.

          • I wonder if we could beat STAN now? They look real tough again while we seem to have regressed. Crazy sport.

        • Jack, you are absolutely right. O-line performance is indeed deficient. 3.2 avg yards per carry prior to Fink entering the game today. I am assuming that even with injuries, our remaining personnel should dominate what is perhaps the worst defense in college football. So the remaining explanation seems to be coaching – week after week.

    • Yeah, pretty predictable that Sam’ll be back next season. No “Season of Sam” B.S. next year – he’ll just focus on what he needs to do. He’ll be in his happy place.

  10. Put this mostly on Darnold, he looked inconsistent at best. Very sloppy ball handling, poor throwing decisions. Otherwise lots of guys got touches. Nice run by Fink. Next two weeks will be a challenge for sure. I see at least one loss there.

    • Unless Helton is slyly holding mostly healed up players out of the lineup in order to get ready for Utah and Notre Dame, I don’t see how USC can keep Utah’s defense from creaming Sam or Notre Dame from scoring big.

      • Uhh…ND beat a really bad 1-5 North Carolina team today 33-10. What’s your point?

        • USC is struggling, Traveler. It doesn’t make me happy as a fan to say that—but it is what it is. Utah has a fantastic d-line going against one of our weakest o-lines in memory. We could get pretty beat up in that game. And, from there, we travel to South Bend. Do the math.

        • I was at the Notre Dame game today and just viewed replay of Trojan game. The Irish looked average at best. The Trojans looked like they held back on the playbook and looked to stay healthy. Utah and Norte Dame do not scare me at all.

          • Hope you’re right —but please don’t think for one second that the Notre Dame team you saw today is the one we’ll see in South Bend.
            They will have their hair on fire and death in their eyes on October 21st.

          • Maybe you shouldn’t think the SC team you saw today is the one we’ll see in South Bend. You have no idea whose “hair will be on fire” that day… and “death in their eyes”?! LOL….

          • Translation: We both want the visiting team to be the guys with fire coming out of their eyes and hair, yes?

      • Helton doesn’t have a sly bone in his body I don’t think. I really don’t. I’ll bet his wife agrees with me. Hah!

      • Forget about all these eternal optimists who think the next two games will be easily won because they won’t be. Especially in South Bend!

          • Isn’t it what we’re all hoping for? But trust me. Those Domers will be ready for us.

          • Last year Sam had one of the worst games of the year against them and we eeked one out. This year we owe them a couple for that POS who stomped on ACA Ware when he was down and unconscious, and Banner too. They’re going to be ready for the Domers. Might be ugly, but ready nonetheless.

          • Yes, I expect that game to be filled with some intense drama as well. Many games played in South Bend have been when the two teams were anywhere close to being evenly matched. Let me tell you,partner. My heart rate will be up there throughout that game! LOL!

          • My favorite moment;
            4th and nine and Jarrett catches it going down the sideline, thought to myself God just sucked the breath out of that stadium. Beautiful Silence!

          • I might have replayed and watched that clip probably 50 times. At the very least!

          • Just thought I’d mention that ND is really one dimensional and have less (@750 yds) passing than I can ever remember.

          • I was actually afraid to watch —I just heard the announcer yell, “Jarrett’s got it—he’s at the 45, the 40, the 35, etc.” So magical. The NCAA can try to say it didn’t count —-but we all know differently.

          • Don’t drink too much coffee or coke before or during the game, RT! Adrenaline is going to be going wild without it……

          • Good advice, MG. But you know what? I may need to meditate the whole week before the game. LOL!

          • I think a lot of people forget that last year’s Notre Dame score looks real different minus Adoree scoring from all over the field. Adoree broke Notre Dame’s back last year —-and I’m not sure who’s going to replace him.

          • Could be so many guys —but, personally, I’d like to see the Imatorbhebhe brothers do ’em in this year,

          • Truly a good thought and would be great to see. Today Vaughn’s, Sydney, Pittman, Imatorbhebhe, Falo, Kromenhoek all caught passes. Ugly win maybe, but getting the new guys involved is outstanding.

          • Grimes put on a good move when he made a reception. That guy looks like he should be out there more.

          • I noticed that too, very smooth. They burned his redshirt this game. Also really like the way Falo moves for a guy 6’6” and 245. The way he spun around on that catch and kept his momentum and feet under him, another keeper. Oh, and he blocks too.

          • He is going to be a heck of a tight end.
            Hope they use him more. He will create many mismatches, which will be good to see.

          • They tried to throw to him in the end zone last week but Darnold threw an awful pass that was almost pick six’d. I think he’s the next up after Imatorbhebhe goes.

          • I remember that play. They should of thrown a fade and let Falo use his height and go up for ball.

          • That too, I thought Falo had him posted up and all Sam needed to do was throw it up to Falo, instead he threw it lower and a little week to be honest. I’m hoping the talent is starting to come together on this team. They’re scrappers if nothing else.

          • Hope we weren’t just spreading it around to save our starters for Notre Dame. The guys you named are big assets to our team! They’re ready to make a contribution now!

          • That’s not what I meant to imply at all. If anything just the opposite, it’s to get the next opponents something extra to think about. We also had two players with their first td as Trojans today, Vaughn’s and Falo.

          • Got ya! I, too, hope we let it all out now! 7 different receivers and 4 different running backs and 3 tight ends coming on and off the field for 60 minutes!

          • I’m hoping. Sam is and will be the determining factor, not the coaches. If he’s into it, we will still win out. If he could only block for himself.

          • If we can keep em close we have a shot with this team. Nobody anywhere has more experience in close tough games than we do. That’s a talent.

    • We’ll lose in South Bend, if for no other reason than their home field advantage, unless something drastic happens.

      The ORE ST game was barely watchable. Darnold looks like a different person. OL still looks very bad. Receivers looking better.

      Just sitting back and enjoying the season overall. This SC team has some big limitations but it was cool to see our blind snapper in action again and Fink’s big run was a nice surprise. Kid’s got speed!

      • Saw him (Fink) in the Army AA Game, he looked quick against the best of the best too.

  11. Ask Oklahoma about being a 33 point favorite. Good team win. Had fun looking up to see who was playing as just about everyone on the team played. That is the biggest positive to take from this game. Everyone got PT and no one got hurt. Amen.

    • I honestly wish we were all as mentally healthy as you, Arturo. What a nicer world it would be.
      [But, truly, does Sam seem the same to you]?

      • I’ve been saying it for a while, and I guess I’ll say it again, Sam’s got to carry his end too. He throws some of his worst passes when he has no pressure and the receivers are wide open. That’s it on the coaches. This has been going on for several weeks.
        I’m not blaming him, but he has responsibilities too.

      • No. Michael, he doesn’t. Sam stepped into a race car that just needed the right driver. OK, that is too simple an analogy, but you get the point. New receivers and Oline and almost UNDEFEATED and still in the playoff hunt.
        BTW I teach Kindergarten so I have to be as positive as I can, my friend.

          • Bilingual Elementary Credential so I’ve taught them all, Pre-K through 5th. The biggest drawback to teaching Kinder is that you get dummer as the year progresses. I love my job. Thanks for the encouragement, “Rock”, aka Peter.

          • Thanks, MG. I am blessed to have a job where I can make a difference. Besides, I don’t have any other real talents. Ha, ha. I’m telling you, I need this blog to help keep me sharp with my writing skills. The little ones are cute and I can be pretty creative, but it isn’t rocket science and your spelling and vocabulary just suffer. I’m getting dummer just thinking about it.

          • You’re being modest, Arturo. I can’t remember one case I ever tried in court —-but I remember (and still love) every child I ever taught. I just couldn’t stick with it. You’re a better man than I am, And you’ll never regret the effort and the sacrifices you’re making. You’re doing something that matters—-instead of taking money from one ding dong’s pocket and putting it in another ding dong’s pocket.

          • Thanks again, MG. 17 years teaching and every day is an adventure. Have a super weekend, compadre.

  12. Play calling is still horrible, the offensive lineman still can’t fire off the ball, and the running game is hilarious. The Trojans are very lucky their opponent was Oregon State, because Utah, and Notre Dame are out for revenge

    • Every college team is out for revenge or dignity or something every week, against every opponent. Iowa State snapped a 27 game losing streak today against #3 OK on the road. Why do SC fans expect their team to be world beaters every week?!

    • I also do not like the play calling Fred. It is very inconsistent.
      The offensive line, even thou they are full of injuries, cannot run or pass block. It’s got to be an issue with the coaching. It find it hard to believe the players cannot be coached.
      The secondary is allowing to many opposing receivers to get past them. That was a rarity under Carroll. If it did happen, then that player sat down and was replaced. I know they’re a very young team, but it looks like a team still under sanctions. Well, at least the effects of it.
      This is how the rest of the season is going to look like. They may blow out a couple of teams, but they will be fighting for every victory here on out.

    • I like the 2nd unit O-line better than the first. Against their starters, Fink, and, before him, Toland had huge holes to run through. I think Falah played terribly today.

        • Did consider that. The O wasn’t on the field in the second half as much though. Their D was stopping the run before that. I noticed a difference, but you’re probably right about fatigue.

  13. USC looked awful. Not much different than any of their other games. No way to sugar coat this one. Pathetic.

    • It was, more or less, a mid-season scrimmage. Don’t wet your pants. I suspect 65-10 might not have really impressed you….

    • We win now and I’m happy. Don’t care anymore how we look or about margins.

      I’m sure a slap down is coming, but in the meantime, it’s great to be 5-1 with this bunch and we’re still a top 15 team!

      Fight On and beat the Utes at home. I’m betting we will somehow!

      • It kills me to see mediocrity and then they show a flash of brilliance on a drive, then end it with a field goal inside the 10. It sure seems this staff is maxed out, they have nothing left.

  14. This will be my last comment for a while on this blog. I can no longer deal with the blogger’s never ending criticalness and negativity. It’s become a little too toxic for my taste.

  15. I think the strategy was to put OR St. away in the first half and then minimize injuries in the second.

  16. I am just going to say it once more. Sam is too busy trying to fix his throwing motion to throw a good pass. We have been putting a lot of the blame on the receivers but truth be told his passes have become more erratic and hard to catch.
    I see the fumbles and interceptions as Sam over thinking the part he plays. The line hasn’t helped but I blame the fool who tried to fix that which wasn’t broken. The scary part is I don’t know if the damage can be undone.

    • To me, THAT…along with some pretty clueless play calling…will prove to be the undoing of this team in big games to come. Weird thing is, Darnold seems happy about this downturn on the sidelines…

    • Now wait a minute, Shi**y B pronounced the Piglet the Heisman Winner. And if you ask Shi**y B, he’ll tell you he’s never wrong.

  17. They did get better. I’m not sure how much better. But there was some improvement over last week.

      • Yeah, they won. So we were certainly better than last week(that is, if winning is good and losing is bad).

        • No, it’s like this: they lost on the road last (short) week against one of the better Pac-12 teams. This week they beat the worst team in the conference. Losing by a TD to a Top 15 team on the road is not necessarily worse than beating OSU at home. Perspective.

  19. The team can not afford to lose another game but they also can not afford to have more unnecessary injuries.

    Look as Arturo noted and I watched – OK lost @ Norman today to an un-ranked IA St. team. TCU barely defeated WV and Miami survived a scare from a really depleted former top 5 FL St.. LSU rose up, after losing to Troy St. at home last week, and defeated FL in Gainesville today.

    This season is a steeplechase full of trapdoors and pits.

    notre dame looked good today then again it was an opponent similar to OR ST – NC nonetheless they won @ NC.

    Darnold knows every throw is his throw – it has his signature on it (as Peyton Manning once said) – I know he wants to win. Many of the players were in tears a week ago last night driving from Pullman to Lewiston-ID to fly home.

    We won and we did it w.o. acting like PA St. did to that poor GA St. squad

  20. I wonder how OU is feeling right now? What is this Brazilian futbol? You have to look pretty winning? You take the win and run like a thief in the night.

  21. Well we got the Win, but not very polished lots of mistakes lots of work needs to be done on the DBs and O line . The Linebackers where not great. Sam still did not look good ..better but not good. Fink was a bright spot. Lots of cleaning up to do including the coaches GET READY FOR THE UTS. Fight On

  22. I am not worried about the North. Heck, I would love another shot at Wazzu on a neutral site with a full week of preparation. In fact, because we don’t play Zero, it helps us if the Cougs keep winning….

    • Amen bruddah! FL St. was the pre-season top 5 team in both rankings – where are they now? OK lost today @ home against an up start IA St.. In the 2nd half, MI is losing 3 – 14 against MI St. @ Ann Arbor.and OR is only down 3 against WA St. @ Eugene with 1sat half almost over

  25. I’ll bet we beat CU, whether we let the QB take a regular snap or not, but it’ll be an ugly win, like today.

    Face it, this is an ugly win team. We should be called the Big Uglies, and not because our OL is any good because it’s not.

    Hey, we won. CU is 0-2 in the Pac-12 and losing to doormat ARIZ 20-14 right before half. You sure you want to be like the Buffs?

    • Never said they wanted to be like Colorado, my point was, when your 4th and goal, get the hell out of the shotgun, because you’ll have more options to score

      • I was just giving you a hard time because your example turns out to be such a feeble team. I was really trying to emphasize that we are a win-ugly team. I don’t see that changing this season regardless of what we’re running.

        Also, plenty of teams do just fine scoring TDs out of the gun on 4th and goal. I saw several today.

        I have a lot of complaints about the USC offense and wish we would switch things up significantly and that includes getting a new OC and new OL coach. Clay and Tee aren’t listening to fan complaints, that’s for sure.

  27. They line up saying, “Try to stop us, here comes a run.”
    They can also run a play action and hit a tight end in the end zone too. But they line up the horses and not spread out.

  30. 38-10. Jake Olson plays, Fink scores, 14 wins in a row at the coli
    = awesome. O state was down 7-0 to Washington at half then turned it over in 2ND half and got blown just like today.Turnovers are part of game. Causing them, preventing your opponent from scoring when you turn it over. WOLF STFU until we get blown out you f-n idiot.

  32. I know a lot of people are ripping Sam right now. While there is some merit to the criticism, I don’t understand people ripping him for looking disinterested in the game. Last year, that same look was being described as moxy, being cool under pressure, and never being flustered therefore never changing his expression. Listen, he didn’t play well in this game, but remember the last minute against Texas and the last 5 minutes, except, the last play, against Wazzu- he’s still money. Not about to become a fair weather fan of Sam Darnold anytime soon.

    • Just making the point that it’s not just coaching. Players got to play. If they don’t it’s on them just like the coaches when the teams unprepared.
      I think he’s still one of the best QBs we’ve ever had, is he the best, don’t know yet. Is he perfect, heck no. Never expected him to be. Some here made him out to be Superman and he’s not. And it’s not fair to him to expect that from him, he’s just a kid. I’ll take him against the field though, all things considered.

      • You’re right, players have to play. I’d argue that the starters on the O line aren’t playing with character and cruelty. Someone mentioned that they haven’t played well except for Stanford, or against Stanford. I agree with this. It wasn’t a dig against you or anyone. I just don’t get or like the infighting amongst loyal fans especially when SW stirs the pot the way he does.

        • Everybody is an expert. Sometimes I don’t like it either, but as I said before there is much to be gleaned here from many of these posters. Scott, not so much.
          My intention isn’t to put down or insult our qb, but there are shortcomings. I still wouldn’t trade him for another from any school.

          • In my own head, I’m Vince Lombardi and John McKay all rolled in one. That’s how much of an expert I am. Only in my own head though.
            BTW All I come here for is the excellent insight that bloggers, such as yourself, provide.

          • To put it bluntly my friend, I’m just full of it. When we watch games most everyone sees or focuses on something different and they have different views on the same thing. To me, it’s what makes the world go round.

  36. I think this team might be a year away. Doesn’t mean that they won’t do big things still this year. I counted 63 Freshmen or Sophomores on the roster. Man, it’s Saturday night and my life is sad.

    • 15 Séniors but only Nwosu, Hawkins, Mitchell, Fatu, Falah, are major contributors with Lockett and Tucker redshirting and possibly playing some next year. Lopes is also a solid contributor.

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