Pet Topic
We frequently discuss the need for a special teams coach and I think this season even demonstrated the loss of Sam Anno, who handled the kickers the previous two seasons.
For starters, punter Greg Woidneck's average dropped from 37.9 yards to 36.6. Kicker David Buehler enjoyed a good season, especially on kickoffs, but he missed more field goals this season (8-12) than last season (16-19).
Again, these are subtle differences, not tremendous, but I think you could easily make the case Anno was missed. And to a greater extent, a full-time special teams coach would make a significant difference.
Who cares? If Caesar wants one, he will get one. You keep bringing it up...special teams didnt lose us the game in Corvallis, and it didn't lose us the game last year vs Stanford.
What special team are you on Scotty?
Well, USC did have a PAT blocked in the 24-23 Stanford loss. That certainly contributed to the loss. Who knows whether a special teams coach would have made a difference?
Out of curiosity - how many other teams in D1 (or whatever its called now) have an exclusive "special teams" only coach?
Don't forget: Special teams are why we won in Corvalis the one time we have one in the 2000's--Reggie's punt return in the fog...
We lost to Washington St because of missed FG (Carson)
We lost to Stanford because of missed XP (Booty)
We lost to Cal because of missed FG (Leinart)
I've said it before -- sometimes to the angry jeers of other readers -- but it's not just as simple as deciding you want a dedicated special teams coach.
The NCAA imposes a limit on the number of coaches you have hire. USC this past season (as always) was at its limit.
It's not that USC doesn't have a special teams coach. It doesn't have a DEDICATED special teams coach whose only job is special teams.
If you want a dedicated special teams coach, you're going to have to double up some other position groups.
Which position groups that currently have a dedicated coach would you double up to make room for a dedicated special teams coach?
We also lost to Stanford because 1) we couldn't score a TD on ist and goal in four tries (field goal anyone?) right before the half. 2) On our last possession with approximately 3 minutes to go on a 3rd and long play "they" let Booty throw his FOURTH interception which only gave the cardinal or trees or whatever their name is less than half a field to traverse. 3) Couldn't stop them on 3rd and 19. 4) Had a rookie covering their best receiver. I'm sure I left out some other pertinent reasons but these will do.
Wolf knows less about football than I do about brain surgery. If you want to read what a "real" beat reporter has to say, read the "real" newspaper across town.