Deep Thought
At least two college coaches mentioned to me that one problem for USC is the defensive alignment, which often has safety Taylor Mays line up 18 yards off the line of scrimmage. That provides little help for middle linebacker Chris Galippo on running plays when dealing with an explosive tailback.
And it becomes an even bigger issue when the defensive ends move up field in an undisciplined manner.
Taylor Mays lacks the opportunity to make plays outside of the tackle 15 yards down field. He is USC's best player yet he lines up 20 yards from the line of scrimmage and is rarely given the opporunity to make a big play. Mays has been great in his 4 years here but he's been underutilized for a while now.
these unnamed "coaches" don't know what they are talking about.
Everson "little-person-muscle-man-pose" Griffin undisciplined? that’s crazy talk.
and Mays should line up 18yds back, all the better to launch his cheap shots on defenseless players who are tied up by someone else. is Taylor "late hit" Mays the new Fata-luga??
Having watched several games live, I've always thought it odd Mays is set up sooooooo far back. Looks almost like he's in prevent mode the whole game.
Line him up closer, blitz him once in awhile. Get him move involved! Waste of a unique talent if you ask me.
It's never an easy answer. This was a total breakdown by the defense.
Interesting take. The bend but don't break defensive philosophy has been broken. And, it isn't like Mays is getting picks or pass deflects playing that far back anyway. Move Taylor's $%&*^%# ass into the box!
I think Mays is overrated. He's got great physical talent, he should have gone to the NFL when his stock was sky high. He's an idiot for staying, he should have done what Mark Sanchez did, not listen to Pete Carroll and go pro.
Look what staying 1 more year did for Rey, dropped him into the 2nd round. He lost a LOT of money!!!
In the 2008 draft Rey would have been a 1st round pick.
mays is just like oregon's former safety patrick chung - big hitters
but neither seems to do anything about defending passes BEFORE the receiver catches the ball
college defense is all about executing a scheme: and you cant make it work just because you recruit 5 star guys - they have to play well together
also: i thought gallipo was supposed to be good?
if i was caroll, i would move mays to middle linebacker and put in a good pass defender at safety
Come to think of it, I don't remember Mays blitzing at all this year. How is that possible??? That's just a very dumb decision. A guy like Mays should be right up there very close to the line of scrimmage. I can see someone like Drew McAllister playing centerfield but not a guy like Mays. He's being under utilized. This is one of these reasons why Pete Carroll isn't the football god that so many believe he is. It's so easy to see! Put Mays closer to the line!!!
He did line up close to the line against Oregon St., and blitzed slightly over running the QB. This was when OSU was inside their own 15 going towards the Perisytle end of the stadium.