Turnover Tuesday
USC’s defense was credited with 42 ``strip attempts’’ against Washington, which are times when players tried to strip the ball from a Husky player.
To give you an idea of how high that number is, teams usually average strip attempts in the 20’s or 30’s per game. And yet, USC did not force a single fumble against Washington.
``It was one of the bigger topics today,’’ linebacker Oscar Lua said about Monday’s team meeting.
``It’s hard to get the ball out and secure a tackle at the same time,’’ safety Taylor Mays added.
I know this is 100% against the PC philosophy, but I hate that stripping crap. Like Taylor Mays said, you can't strip someone and tackle them at the same time. Usually the first USC guy trys to strip the ball, which doesn't work, and the player runs for another 5 more yards before he is actually tackled. Not worth it for the 1 turnover they might get a game.
Cool tid-bit Wolfie, exposing a little known statistic that has been essential to past wins. Going back to the National Championship in the Orange Bowl. Forcing fumbles is definetely an SC trademark under Carroll. We need to see more of it.
Especially against Oregon & Cal...
PC's tactic to go for the strip instead of the sure tackle doesn't really do the team justice.. Too many yards gven up when the LB miss the tackle...
Scott,
I saw a recent stat where Pete Carroll's trojans were a PLUS 100 in turnover ratio over the last four years or something like that. I have NOT seen turnovers coming this season and IT shows on the SCORE BOARD.
The comment by Mays is very telling about some of the problems with defense. I think they are focusing too much on stripping the ball and not enough on tackling first.
The comment by Mays is very telling about some of the problems with defense. I think they are focusing too much on stripping the ball and not enough on tackling first.
I think the comment by Mays shows the inexperience of some members of this defense.
It also shows the stupidity of most of the commenters on this blog, which never ceases to amaze. "I hate this stripping crap ..." has to be the dumbest comment I've read all day, even worse than your typical John Redcorn vitriol.
Maybe an effect of not having an NFL team in L.A. is the complete lack of football knowledge by the average fan. Bruin fans and Trojan fans, especially the bandwagon fans, have to be the least knowledgeable fans of any major program.
Just about every tackle in the NFL other than solo tackles and desperation tackles downfield involve strips. If you can't tackle and go for the ball at the same time, you won't be long for the League.
Carroll recruits by promising to provide an NFL experience, and sells it be saying he help them prepare for the next level. Part of the experience is practicing and playing the way they do in the NFL. Whether players can, or whether the coaches are teaching them proper technique might be another issues, but to believe that Carroll should change core program values is beyond absurd.
Patrick you're right. Pete Carroll should have been coaching the defense differently then when they won those two national titles and the 03 Orange Bowl. Don't forget, we also caused Texas to fumble five times, they just got back all their fumbles. We get even one of those its now three national titles.
Taylor Mays says that because he is inexperience. Matt Grootegoed (?spelling) and Troy Polamalu didn't seem to have a problem with. Nor did Lofa Tatupu and he seemed to do ok last year with what he learned.
Just tackle baby! The turnovers will come especially against Oregon and CAL.
Dan Howell, UW's OLB (#34) had no problems tackling and stripping and probably chewing gum at the same time. In addition to 7 tackles and 2 passes broken up, he forced 2 Trojan fumbles.
Not bad for a 2-star prospect class of '04.
Talent isn't everything, right Mr. Mays (5-star prospect class of '06).
Shine, extremely well put. Roger, Will Derting is the only two star allowed to be name checked by a fan of a Pacific Northwest school.
Stripping the ball is what USC does. The stat talked about by the poster above was right. Coming into this season USC was +99 in turnover margin under PC. The next closest team in that 5 yr span was OU at +48. Anyone who criticizes USC's philosophy of forcing turnovers clearly doesn't get it at all. Oh and btw USC is one of the best tackling teams in CFB. Turnovers don't just come if you tackle well. It's not a fluke that USC has almost twice the turnover margin as the next best team.