About That 4th And 20
One USC coach said the Trojans did not call a soft coverage on that crucial play, but the secondary relaxed because of the circumstances.
``We weren't trying to stay off the receivers, but we got passive mentally,'' he said. ``We should have called something tighter in retrospect.''
You're kidding me!
What on earth happened in the first 58 minutes of that game that would have given players/coaches/fans a reason to be passive mentally on that play?????
I can't even believe I just read that. Lethargy has crept into every aspect of the program at this point and they need to flush it out. I want to see some serious ganas out there on Saturday. Please, Trojans, show the world REAL SC football. Play with desire and energy. If you do that, you'll get the full support of fans no matter what.
Seriously! You got a 4th and 20 against a BACKUP QB with the game in the balance. Does that situation ever warrant playcalling that does not involve - "6 guys pin their ears back and go for the QB's head and the other 5 just cover deep"? That is the perfect situation to pressure the QB, blitz, blitz, blitz, send the house, don't give the WRs or QB time to make a 20 yd play!
Ellison hit the WR right as he caught the ball. If Ellison was playing any closer, he would have been flagged for a PI penalty. Frankly, it did not seem like soft coverage to me; rather, a great throw and catch.
Ellison might have hit him right before he caught it, but why was he that far behind him 20 yards downfield? Just like WR should not run routes that are shorter than the first down, DBs should play so far behind that WRs only have to catch a pass to make a first down.
Im not blaming Ellison, I dont know if that was his man or what, but once those WRs got close to the first down marker, someone should have been in front of them or at least close enough to get a hand in there. Tackling alone isn't going to get it done (unless maybe you are Taylor Mays).
A great example of what I am talking about - blitzing, pressuring the QB so he can't make a 20 yd play is the first play USC had after Stanford took the lead. They blitzed and got to Booty, game over. Stanford outcoached and outplayed USC down the road.
Also, can someone explain to me the timeout USC called? I know USC wanted to get a look at the Stanford setup, BUT why didnt we save that TO in case they made the TD? Of course, they were going to go to Evan Moore, everyone knew that, DONT WASTE A TO OVER IT! We actually might have had a chance to get down and kick a FG if we still had a TO left.
First of all, there should have been a blitz package with at least 4 rushing the passer. Second of all, Terrell Thomas let that receiver glide down the field untouched when he should have at least engaged him if not collisioned him. The backers did not get deep enough or out to the hash. Ellison is a safety. We were playing 2 deep. He HAS to stay on his hash and not let anyone behind him. He made a play that stopped a touchdown.
Other than that I'm with you boys. 4 and 20 used to mean a blitz from somewhere...anywhere. Anymore, the defense is playing not to give up big plays.
04Trojan:
You need to read my posts. All three timeouts were wasted. The one while we were on offense, the ridiculous review, and the defensive stand time out. All three should have been saved for offense.
Normally, the LBs provide the underneath coverage. Clearly, there was no LB in front of the WR on the 4th and 20. I recall an earlier post who suggested that Rey-Rey did not drop back deep enough. Not sure if that is true or not.
If the safties play too close to the line of scrimmage (or even settle at the first down line), then they are prone to getting burned deep for the TD ... and everyone would complain that they shouldn't have gambled, and kept everything in front of them.
Well, if they were trying not to give up a big play, I don't know what a 20 yd catch for a first down is. That wasn't a big play, that was a HUGE play.
I don't care that Ellison saved a TD, it would have been better if he didn't.
Agreed, USC has a habit of wasting TOs (e.g. 2005 Rose Bowl - Texas' two pt conversion).
I think Rey-Rey was deep enough, just in wrong spot because the guy looked like he caught it 5 yds to his right (from memory, not sure exactly). I would not have been worried about getting beat deep, there wasn't a lot of space to get beat deep. And USC is too fast to get beat deep often. I just wish we played to win, not played to lose which was exactly what that playcalling was.
The playcalling in general has been suspect. Im not one to harp since so many people have hated the playcalling, even back when Chow was here, but calling a deep pass when we need 3 yds or less just doesn't make sense.
Yeah, that last timeout (especially) was garbage. Brought me right back to the Rose Bowl vs. Texas when PC called the timeout on the two point conversion. Love PC as a defensive guru and recruiter, but his clock management leaves something to be desired.
I don't know if any of you read Bill Simmons from ESPN, but he (Patriot fan) makes fun of PC all the time. Normally I get offended and pissed off when I read his attacks on PC, but certain aspects of PC's coaching probably warrant that criticism. Clock (and timeout) management is one such aspect.