Answer Thursday! (Part 3)
In this segment, I mention something that hurt the program that was allowed to happen last season.
Q: Old School said:
Do you agree with these assessments?
1. Taylor Mays is playing hurt (only a shadow of his former self)
2. The loss of kicker David Buehler has been huge. Buehler put nearly every kickoff into, or out of, the end zone. Not so this season.
3. The loss of Greg Woidneck has been huge. The punting game has been a disgrace. Like kickoffs, punts help determine field position, extremely important during games.
4. Stafon Johnson - out. Allen Bradford - out. Marc Tyler - out. Who's the big back? Nobody.
5. Jim Harbaugh for Charlie Weiss. Think Stanford would make that trade?
A: I think most of these are fairly accurate. However, on No. 4, Allen Bradford's been available up until when he got hurt in the Stanford game. So let me know throw in assessment No. 6.
6. Why did USC allow tailback Broderick Green and wide receiver Vidal Hazelton to become disenchanted and transfer? Wouldn't USC use both liberally this season? Arrogance perhaps?
No. 6 - Hindsight. Who knew, I've got to know?
Come on man! Of course USC should have not let Broderick Green transfer to Arkansas to be close to his ailing Grandmother.
Are you saying that Hazelton should have gotten more playing time ahead of Patrick Turner,Damien Williams Ronald Johnson, David Ausberry, Anthony McCoy, Stanly Havili? Wasnt Hazelton's reason for transferring to Cincinati to be closer to his Grandfather battling cancer?
Bottom line is some players are going to want more playing time on the field and there is only one ball. Yeah, if he had stuck it outfor his final senior year he definately would have made a difference considering the magnitude of injuries.
Arrogance perhaps not!
Well, it didn't require a genius to figure out that losing Vidal was going to hurt. +50 receptions as a soph and this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymfbrjf7e5k
Vidal was a superstud. With our WR injuries this season, he would have helped immensely. He was literally run out of town for public comments that his father made regarding concern for his son's health.
Way to put yourselves above the team, coaches. Genius move to run Vidal off. Not!
Does anyone really think that SC wanted Broderick Green to leave? He saw the depth chart and did not think he would be given the chance to play.
Hazelton was larger inconsistent. It did not seem like he was given a fair shake by the coaches, but who really knows what the really story was? I think it is fair to say that both Damian and Rojo are better receivers than Hazelton.
My ugly ex-wife used to say miracles never cease. It might be a miracle that I agree with DFWT 100% once in my lifetime. The reason is that I am a huge Vidal Hazelton fan. I followed his recruiting very closely from his Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia, LOI drama and finally to USC. OOPS, excuse me VH transfered to Cinci>SAD...
+1 goes to SW.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymfbrjf7e5k
Funny that you used that particuliar play that has been flagged by the officials every time as it should for illegal pick: (In a pick play, two receivers run paths that cross each other. In doing so, one receiver "accidentally" blocks the person defending the other receiver. This leaves the other receiver wide open to catch a pass)
Emmanuel Moody.
Tom T, your first comment renders you a USC football neophyte. Yes, Vidal started and was better than all the guys you mentioned. He was ahead of RoJo on the depth chart. Not saying he would be better than Damian right now, but they might be equals.
Vidal will have a +1,000 yard season with Cinci next year. Just watch. The coaches arrogantly screwed the pooch on Vidal.
DFW, You are exactly right. In 2007 Vidal was #1. My memory is not that great but I think I remember he had a tendency to drop a ball here and there. Still, he could have possibly turned out to be one of the all time best receivers in USC history.
What happened in 08 was a mystery to me? Why didnt he get more playing time? Why did he want to transfer? Was it the injuries? Was it because of the friction between his dad and the coaches? Was it because he wasnt granted a medical redshirt? Was it because his Grandfather was ill? Thanks for clearing that up for me!
I also agree with you that Vidal will have 1000+ at Cincy next year.
And yes, I have been a proud USC neophyte fan since 1974
I appologize and will never question your knowledge of USC football because I am convinced now that you definately know it all!
Fight on!
The ex-girlfriend always seems more beautiful when you think of her years later than she really was. Do you not recall that Vidal had a nasty case of the alligator arms? He got knocked out in practice by Maualuga during practice and was never the same on the field. Maybe the change of scenery will do him good but he didn't exactly light it up on the field at SC
I thought it was Patrick Turner who got knocked out by Maualuga. USC could sure use Hazelton this year. He got hurt last year, wanted to redshirt, and the coaches said no. If his decision was based at all on a sick relative, then there is not much that USC could do to keep him here. The same is true for Broderick Green.
You guys not starting your best qb is what has really hurt the program.
Green has been getting better here at the U of A, but has had to be coached up. Many of us were shocked at how little he had developed while at USC. He now hits the hole harder, pass protects awesome, and runs lower.
When the season started he was still running straight up. Now he is able to use his strength and keep his legs churning and has become a good "big back" for us.
He is explosive inside 25 yards but doesn't have the speed to take it to the house very often from 45 on out.
USCM, my recollection is that Vidal got hurt in the UVA game. His father then complained to the coaches that his son was not looked at by a trainer until Tuesday (that was Labor Day weekend). I believe Vidal's Dad went public with his complaints about the medical treatment for his son. Then, when Vidal returned to health and was ready to play around game 7 of that season, he never saw the field again. Purportedly, Coach Morton argued with Sark and PC that Vidal should regain his starting spot, or at least see the field. But, PC and Sark didn't allow Vidal to play again as payback against his father's criticisms against the staff. So, Vidal transferred out of the doghouse. Mind you, his father's only criticisms were regarding medical treatment, nothing else. Peter Carroll screwed up on Vidal, big-time.