69 thoughts on “Did Clancy Pendergast See The Uncovered Utah Receiver?

  1. Clancy is NOT A BIG TIME D COORDINATER. He drinks too much cool aid. USC needs to get rid of him.

      • Actually, if you’re going to get picky about facts, it’s “Flavor Aid.”

        The figure of speech “drink the Kool-Aid” comes from the Jonestown mass murder-and-suicide (November 18, 1978) when 918 people died from cyanide poison taken by or forcibly administered to the commune’s members was placed in “Flavor Aid.”

        Much like idiots these days say “google it,” morons were too lazy to maintain facts making Kool Aid, humanity and truth the enduring victims.

    • I never thought he was anyone special either. I question why Helton was so high on him. Personally, I think CH hired CP because he knew Clancy wouldn’t challenge him for his HC position. McKay and Carroll had tons of successful assistants.

      • USC 27 Texas 17. USC 28 Utah 20. The USC Defense’s scores. Pay attention., Arturo, our offense gave the Horn’s and the Utes 7 points. Clancy was a profound DC for Coach O and is 13-1 for Coach Helton and his Staff. i’m sure you would agree with me, if the Pullman game was played on Saturday, USC beats the Cougs………

      • Arturo—I think you are only partly right on this one. I think Clay is (smartly) looking for a team of coaches (I’ll leave the offensive and defensive coordinators out of this for the moment) that he feels comfortable with (which is human nature). The thing is, as well as this team works together for the time being, eventually certain position groups are going to be seen as not receiving the best possible coaching by incoming players, and we’re not going to be able to recruit kids to play for such coaches. They’ll go where they’re getting the best coaching to prepare then for the NFL. (We have one of those kind of coaches for running backs —I can’t think of too many others —although the coach of the d-line is pretty damn good).

    • Clancy is doing fine. It’s hard to game plan when the offense keeps turning the ball over. If Sam can play mistake free ball at South Bend, the defense is gonna look real good.

        • I’m aware of that, marv. Oh boy, am I aware of it. Just like I’m aware of Penn State pouring it on us for a big stretch of the second half of the Rose Bowl.
          He’s not perfect —but he’s usually pretty darn good. I notice he’s even starting to develop a real rapport with his players —-a pleasant surprise since he’s so icy in interviews.

  2. He expected the results not the second guesses. Fact is even if he had seen him he wouldn’t have been able to do anything.

  3. Wolf – why not obsess on the spectacular plays the team made to overcome a 21-7 deficit and WIN the game? What’s wrong with you?

  4. Notice Darnold, hopin’ and prayin’ they don’t score, cause the loss will be on him. Though in all fairness that crazy dude Darnold would have made that throw! Can he clean up his ball control, Puleez!

    • GT, Our Sam Darnold is this nations Number One NCAA Quarterback. In all fairness, Sam is not a crazy dude, quite the opposite. Why don’t you put the Kool Aid down and watch him play football.

      • The Kool Aid you’re drinking is SD is the best QB. I’m saying he is raw talent and needs to fix his turn overs. He’s got to be a little crazy to play so wide open. He’s entertaining when he’s on maddening when he turns it over.

        • I agree. Sam is not presently the best quarterback in college football —-but, if he cleans up the turnovers, he COULD be. And, whatever happens from here, he’s darn good and his pluses outweigh his minuses.

          • Sam didn’t allow Utah to drive the field and then not account for a receiver in the end zone on the two point conversion. We are lucky the coaches didn’t blow this game for the players.

          • As someone said a few days ago, the players are truly an extension of this coaching staff —-sometimes lost, sometimes impossible to fathom, but sometimes a very pleasant surprise. On the other hand, there won’t be any room for an uneven coaching performance next Saturday. Everybody —from top to bottom —has to put on their big boy pants.
            #FightOn

    • GT, you must football IQ challenged. First Quarter fumbles were OC’s fault. Instead of exploiting UT as inferior team talent wise, Tee Martin had our offense run around their DL. He had Darnold run around like a wishbone QB. WTF!!! His stupid play calling has made Darnold to doubt himself. Having Tee Martin as OC is basically player mental abuse. If we don’t replace Tee Martin as OC, SC won’t do well against good teams.

      • Wow, amazing a QB holds the ball out in one hand repeatedly, makes a lousy hand off and throws an uncatchable backward pass and that’s on the OC? Yes, I am football stupid!

        • You have analyze the situation from the player’s perspective. When Darnold is in rhythm, he performs well, and the entire team is lifted. When he is not, mistakes happen. So it is the coach’s job to get Darnold in rhythm quickly every game. Watch Tee Martin’s post-game interviews. He often blames the players not executing. He should look in the mirror and ask: why player on the team not playing up to their talent? Utah has 40 players from California. I bet 80-90% of them wanted to come to SC, but were not talented enough to be recruited by us. In the first half of the game, you certainly would not have realized that we had better football players. And that is the ultimate gauge of the coaches.

      • This offense is a run-first offense. In order for this type of offense to be successful, the QB needs to be viewed, by the defense, as a legitimate threat to run the ball.

        Sam was only doing his job, more so, than the previous six games.

        Who’s really the one with the limited football IQ? ….just saying

        • The second half of the game against Utes showed that we are NOT a “run first” team. Our best player by far is Sam Darnold. He is the weapon that nobody can match. When he comes out, without Tee Martin’s shackle, and play his game, the entire team is lifted. When the passing game got traction, our running game started opening up. When you have a superior QB, you don’t have to be a “run first” or “pass first” team. You are QB first team. You let him determine the flow of the game. When Darnold is in rhythm. we are unstoppable.

          • You seem confused. I was talking about the philosophy behind this style/type of offense, not how it fits within the context of USC’s personnel. .

            There is numerous determining factors that dictate success on the offensive side of the ball. Placing the success of this team on Sam’s shoulders has been an enormous burden on him.

            Football is a team sport, more cream needs to rise to the top

            FIGHT ON!

    • Thought he did that the 2nd half. Seemed he was in great control then. I doubt anyone felt worse than SD over his first half of play. And yes, I was wanting Sam to sit and let Fink come in to open the passing game so the run would work.

  5. Don’t know, but Clancy probably hasn’t got over the open Steeler Receiver on 02/01/2009.

  6. The defense did fine. Coaches can’t control players falling down for no reason. The offense put them in that situation. Defense had their back.

    • Paul Muad’dib, the USC Defense did do just fine. USC’s Offense gave both Texas and Utah 7 points. Offensive final scores; USC 27 Texas 17, USC 28 Utah 20. Both convincing victories. IMO, USC defeats the Wash St Cougs if the Pullman game is played at any time on Saturday, instead of Friday night.

  7. I’ve been a supporter of Iman Marshall for a long time, but he needs to get it together right now down the stretch. His play has hurt us many times this season in big situations. Let’s go Biggie!

    • Biggie needs to turn around once in a while and see the ball. If he did that he may not get so many penalties. Kind of late in the game to build fundamentals, perhaps switch to safety, but then you have to be able to tackle.

      • Switch to safety looks like the smart move. But I’m also concerned with Ajene Harris so far this season. He’s not played like last year’s bright spot that he was.

        • Grabby has insisted on playing CB and because we have no one better in the eyes of the coaches, he remains at CB. But he’s never been able to cover well during his entire career at USC. He’s also an automatic PI call if the refs are looking, though he often gets a free pass.

          You think he’s gonna suddenly learn how to cover? He doesn’t have the physical skills to do the job well. I never saw him as good in coverage last year either and always thought he’d be better at safety.

          The problem for Grabby is we don’t have a problem at safety. We don’t need him there. The guys at safety now for USC are better than Grabby would be.

          Grabby’s a pretty decent hitter who would be a better LB than anything else. He can’t cover diddly squat and it’s not because he forgot how to cover. He could never do it in the first place, despite the public claims of he and his dad to the contrary.

          Fortunately, ND doesn’t pass well, so Grabby won’t be as exposed as he usually is. But anybody who can throw well should nail him to the cross as often as possible.

        • Biggie came in with a lot of hype as a shut down corner but he has always looked more like a safety to me.

          • I agree. I don’t think a change makes sense now with no strong candidates to replace him, maybe next season if a ready to go super freshman is brought in.

          • Jalen Ramsey was a “lockdown cb” for FSU but was moved to Safety and played like an All American from day 1. He was more agressive and stronger than biggie, but he could have success similar to Ramsey because he’s got the size, has awareness to play center field and make plays.

    • Much like they are starting to keep track of “targets” along with catches for WRs, I’d love to see PIs and “targets” along side of PDs for DBs.

      I know that that is tough. I think some of Uchenna’s PDs are batted balls at the LOS when he’s not actually covering anyone specifically. And, of course, there is holding by one CB while the pass is towards another DB.

      • The last time we played at ND Adoree and Iman got burned. We need a clean but aggressive effort from Biggie, Jack, Hawkins, and Tell. They will be tested no matter who the QB is. Too many PI’s on our side.

        • He’s been in pretty good position but hasn’t been finding or playing the ball well. He doesn’t have elite speed either. Maybe a little more zone defense?

          • That would mean our LBs would have to play in space more. IMO it’s mental right now with Biggie. You can see it in his eyes every time. He never looks confident. You never see him disagree.

          • Agreed, Sam. It would be great if our defensive backs coach was as much of a technician and motivator as our running backs coach. Biggie needs an ‘intervention’ right about NOW.

        • In 6 games, ND has thrown 170 passes and completed only 88. 14.6 completions/game this late in the season doesn’t exactly show confidence in the passing game by ND coaches.

          One must must also assume that the long pass isn’t really in the playbook for a weak passing game, so they won’t likely throw too many deep balls.

          I say push their game that way.

          ND has 980 passing yards and 1848 rushing so far this season. The run game is their bread and butter. Air Force has a more-dangerous passing attack.

          • Speaking of the long pass —- I’m sure everybody knows by now that, while he has a strong enough arm, Sam has less accuracy on the long ball than any Trojan quarterback in recent memory. Of course, part of that is he doesn’t have that extra half second to set up properly. He might be fine if had more than 2 seconds to chuck the football. Maybe we’ll get to find out someday SOON (are you listening O-line)?

  8. Did anyone else enjoy the black socks/black shoes combo yesterday? I sure did. I wonder what Chaz Beefcake thinks…

  9. Does it really matter now???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

  10. Although there have been many contenders up to this point, this may be Wolf’s most ridiculous post ever.

      • What happened to writers like that in L.A? Jim Murray or Even Scott Ostler. SW and Durslag went to SC. Would Durslag stoop so low to post troll questions? NO!

        • Mel Durslag was a WWII vet. At its’ height the old Herald-Examiner had the finest array of sports pundits in all the USA – even better than the NY Journal-American.

          Mel Durslag, Bud Furillo, Tom Singer, Larry Stewart, Doug Disney, Leo Noonan, Doug Krikorian and Alan Malamud – I forget the name of the guy that wrote about hunting and fishing – Hispanic is all I recall but what a group characters.

          • Oh ya baby! Those days I always looked forward in reading their articles. Bud Furillo, Doug Krikorian. Takes me back to time when I had this small orange transistor radio listening to Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett broadcasting the Dodgers. I would use used 8.5 x 11 sheets of paper and make my own scoring sheet and take score. Vin Scully was so good about that he would alway say” if your marking it on your scoring sheet that would be 6-4-3 double play”. Or if it was a strikeout he would say to mark at as K1 Or K2 depending on what kind of strike it was. All those guys where just good at what they did.

  11. What’s Clancy supposed to do – get publicly mad at USC’s D for winning the game in a sudden death situation? That’s a novel approach to the game.

  12. Wonder what would have happened in the 2006 Rose Bowl if we left a Receiver uncovered to get after the QB running toward the right corner of the End Zone on 4th and 5 with under a minute to play?

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