USC-Utah Report Card
Here are the grades for the USC-Utah game.
RESULT: USC 23, Utah 14
RECORD: 2-0
WEEK 1 GPA: C
QUARTERBACK
Matt Barkley still waiting to provide signature moment in tight games.
C+
RUNNING BACKS
Imagine where Trojans would be without Marc Tyler? Dillon Baxter still invisible.
B-
WIDE RECEIVERS
USC can't or won't find Plan B option behind Robert Woods yet.
C
OFFENSIVE LINE
Martin Coleman replaced Jeremy Galten at LG but results the same.
C-
DEFENSIVE LINE
Only one sack but remained best unit with line of scrimmage play.
B
LINEBACKERS
Hayes Pullard and Dion Bailey combined for 15 tackles.
B-
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Too many times receivers open but Jordan Wynn's arm couldn't reach them.
C-
SPECIAL TEAMS
Matt Kalil's forearm blocked field goal. But punting was atrocious.
C
COACHING
Offense sputtered. And a timeout following review of play is inexcusable.
D+
fair, fair.
Scott, you forgot the most important letter grade of all: W!
In fact, I give USC a W+ !
As far as a "Plan B" in the passing game, it looked like Kiffin was at least trying to find a reliable tight end throughout the game, with pass attempts to Grimble and Telfer. Rhett Ellison even got an attempt or two thrown his way, although he may have been lining up as a full back.
I have been a huge critic of Barkley, but in fairness to him it wasn't his playcalling in the second half, and especially in the 4th quarter, that was terrible. Tyler ran the ball on almost every down in the 3 posssessions of the 4th quarter. And I don't believe he ran for any first downs in the 4th quarter.
Wolf is a bitter bitter beat writer. What a chump...
I'll take a win any day, but ASU is coming up quick.
Quarterback: Few deep passes again. Needs to elevate his game at crucial times. 2-7 on 3rd down in the 4th quarter. 5 straight punts to end the game. Easily could have thrown a couple more ints with late, weak passes. Nearly had a pick six. C-
Running Backs: Given the layoff Tyler was great. But fumbles inside the red zone can't happen and Baxter/Ellison need to show up in the passing game for USC's offense to be effective. B-
Receivers/Tight Ends: Lee can't only have 2 receptions esp. due to the attention given to Woods plus his mental mistake nullified a big catch. Shows they have a ways to go still. Why isn't Prater or Farmer getting any playing time? Grimble showed up but then he fumbled (last week he dropped a big pass). Expect inconsistency here for a while. C
Offensive Line: Dominated a very good Utah front 7 for most of the game, but still inconsistent and never took over at the end of the game. Only have given up one sack this season. B-
Defensive Line: Dominated the run, but needed blitzers to really apply pressure, which exposed secondary too much. B+
Linebackers: Freshman Pullard and Bailey have been the biggest and most welcome surprises of the defense. Tackling well, flying to the ball, making key stops on a fake punt and a key sack from Pullard? A-
Secondary: Our three corners had 16 tackles between them. Not a good thing. Utah WR killed us and pass interference nearly cost the game. C-
Special Teams: Punting yielded zero returns, but it's looking like we do need a diff. punter for 'non-pooch punt' situations. 31.8 net punting average is not going to cut it. Punt and kick return was pedestrian until Woods got in for a decent punt return. But, we blocked a potential game-tying field goal and a true freshman hit a 48 yrd field goal on his first attempt. We never went for two. B
Special teams B, they prevented the game from going into OT and possibly losing the game the way the offense was sputtering around. Come on... give them extra credit.
Coaching? Again, you have to give them at least a C- because it was a win. A tight game loss with an equal opponent deserves a D.
Scott, you would not be a hit in a classroom environment with your emotion...
Emotion? The game almost went into overtime. Scott was generous. Kiffin deserved an F for coaching this talented team down to its undermanned opponent's level for two straight games.
Syracuse is a team who's neck we can step on. I firmly expect it! Also expect to see way more offense!
How foolish is it to give a group with a 100 rusher and a 100 yard passer a B- and a C, respectively?
And you give the special teams a C, despite the fact that the blocked kick WAS the play of the game? And made no reference to a 47 yard field goal? And the generally solid kick coverage? Did you only watch the punter?
Personally, I would give the team a solid B. They struggled at times, but a win (over a team with a nice recent BCS track record) and a lot of heart at the end shows they are improving. I'd give the defense a B+, noting a couple of collapses (following the 1st half INT and the poorly defended reverse) but making big plays, especially pressuring the QB. The offense needs to finish drives so they get a B-, but Tyler and Woods both get As. 100+ yards rushing and 100+ yards receiving deserve to be acknowledged.
I know this is a blog, so people have to come in with issues, but maybe you should learn to enjoy a win rather than complaining that it was a close game and not a blowout.