Outcoached? Yes

After the Hawaii defensive disaster, why, oh why, can we not learn to tackle and stuff some of those runs? Many fine plays in the backfield, broken up passes, etc., some things looked better but really, wrap those guys up already!!

At least Kiffin will acknowledge that things didn't go well. I don't recall Carroll ever saying something like this right after a loss, let alone a win.

JD

That's because we hardly ever lost during Pete's tenure. I don't recall too many stinkers like that against teams like Virginia.

I wondered last night how the Trojans would be playing if PC were still coach. One game does not make a season, but Hawaii and now this. We are not looking good.

Free_Thinker,

did you watch SC last season? They were outplayed by four Pac-10 teams, and Carroll never really explained any of these losses in terms of coaching failures, game planning or getting SC ready to play. I don't like excuses, but I at least want a sense that the coach knows what is going on and what is going wrong.

The defense is bad at the moment - but its the exact same defense that SC would have if Carroll had stayed and the NCAA had not come down on the school. Kiffin's defensive coaching staff is a step up from what Carroll had, so if that's any hint, if PC were still coach last night we'd be looking at a loss this morning.

JD

Hard to put a finger on one single issue.

Is it coaching? Coaching staff turnover is significant. We lost Sark in 09, Kiff a couple seasons earlier, Bates came. Now we have all new staff and system. PC took a lot of staff with him. Continuity in any organization is huge.

Is it personnel? We graduated a lot of talent and transfer losses due to probation are hard to ignore. No matter how we sugar coat that.

Disorganization is very troubling.

I wasn't at the game, but many said the team lacked any sense of who they were. The sideline was quiet; No excitement, joy or honer to be wearing the cardinal and gold.

Scott, is this team bored? Do you think they need a coach who can "rah rah" them and get them up for every game?

I agree they do seem to be a bit disorganized and out of sorts during the games.

This may be completely off the mark, but one of the biggest changes has been the way practices are being run. NCAA mandated closed practices without the hoards of onlookers and distractions, and no ongoing competition at the beginning of the week to keep spots.

We use to say that practice week was more intense than the actual game. I wonder now if its the other way around and the team has a bit of collective "stage fright" when they get on the field on game day.

This may not be it, but watching the team on TV, there does seem to be something missing.

All that may be true, and the Trojans sure didn't play like Trojans last night, but I think Mike London is a heck of a coach and Virginia was playing much better than I'd seen them play in a while. I'll bet they go at least .500 this year and scare a whole lot of ACC teams. It really is a good thing we've got an easy schedule to start the season because these coaches have their work cut out for them.

We need Norm Chow and Rick Neuweasle...heh heh heh