USC-UCLA Report Card
Here's the grades on the victory over UCLA.
RESULT: No. 5 USC 28, UCLA 7
RECORD: 11-1, 8-1
WEEK 12 GPA: B-
QUARTERBACK
Mark Sanchez survived a physical game but UCLA dropped some interceptions.
C+
RUNNING BACKS
Joe McKnight didn't fumble which in itself is a minor victory.
C
WIDE RECEIVERS
Damian Williams' injury forced the Trojans to look at other receivers.
B-
OFFENSIVE LINE
Did not allow a sack and avoided 2006 meltdown against UCLA.
B
DEFENSIVE LINE
Another game against an offense incapable of testing it.
A-
LINEBACKERS
Practices are tougher than anything seen at the Rose Bowl.
A-
SECONDARY
Barely avoided embarrassment of not picking off a Kevin Craft pass.
A-
SPECIAL TEAMS
Imagine if USC needed a field goal to win the game?
D
COACHING
No style points here for lackluster offense or beating Rick Neuheisel.
D+
3 Missed Field Goals, 4 Touchbacks...Decent punt game, a blocked punt...I'd say that is a C+/B- performance.
Of course you want the points from the field goals, but all of them were over 40 yards...it's not like DB missed 3 extra points.
A D performance would include blocked kicks, fumbled snaps, returns for TD's...I didn't see that on Saturday.
Scott your grading scale has changed week by week and year by year. I used to look forward to the analysis you would have in this feature of your beat coverage, but it has become muddled in bitterness.
USC did what it had to do, and they shortened the game. If they had put the ball all over the field, you would have called them out on that. UCLA has a good defense, SC still dominated and I believe had they wanted to, the Trojans could have put up 56 points without much effort. It appeared to me the gameplan was simple. Get in, get the win, and get out. Unfortunately, we had a couple of injuries, but we have time to heal and beat the Nittany Lions in the ROSE BOWL!!! (not the Sun Bowl, not the Holiday Bowl, not even the Gator Bowl, the Poinsettia, et al.) Get a Grip!!!
"I used to look forward to the analysis you would have in this feature of your beat coverage, but it has become muddled in bitterness."
BINGO! Scott is open about his hate for Matt Leinart, however, his writings seem to long to have Matt and Friends back. Wolf used to be a stud, then he went off the deep end, but I'll admit he's been getting better as of late and has become at least tolerable again. I have a feeling that will change when his "XYZ recruit is going to 'SC" comment comes out and it's dead wrong. (CJ Spiller anyone?) Or he tries to tabloid his way to a story in the off season (White failed drug test? Hmmmm)