FOOTBALL

USC Morning Buzz: Who Will Start Game 1?

I did a USC lineup where I projected who starts against Fresno State. I picked who I believe should start, not who I think Clay Helton will choose so there is likely to be some discrepancies.

OFFENSE

QB            10               Jack Sears

RB             30               Markese Stepp

WR           6                  Michael Pittman*

WR           8                  Amon-Ra St. Brown*

WR           21               Tyler Vaughns*

TE             83               Josh Falo

LT              73               Austin Jackson*

LG             75               Alijah Vera-Tucker

C               62               Brett Neilon

RG            72               Andrew Vorhees*

RT             —                 Drew Richmond

 

DEFENSE

DE             89               Christian Rector*

NT            78               Jay Tufele*

DT             51               Marlon Tuipulotu*

DE             99               Drake Jackson

LB             1                  Palaie Gaoteote

LB             56               Jordan Iosefa*

CB             4                  Olaijah Griffin

CB             6                  Isaac Taylor-Stuart

CB             9                  Greg Johnson

S                15               Talanoa Hufanga*

S                21               Isaiah Pola-Mao*

*started last season

49 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Who Will Start Game 1?”

  2. Pendergast likes to run the 3-4. I prefer a 5-2 or 4-3. The 3-4 allows to many gaps on the line. The dline can be doubled team with a fullback to clean up the hole. There is another 289 yard rushing yards against SC.

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    1. PT, I’ve been hearing that there is a lot more 4-3 being run this year to take the heat off the DBs. Watch and see. You should e happier. (Not sure it’ll be better, just different)

      Liked by 3 people

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      1. Still the same incompetent DC, 4-3, 5-2, 3-4, it’s all a shit show with Clancy in charge

        Like

      3. Yep—4-3. But does it matter, Pudly? I’m telling you right now that Clancy will not be able to stop Tedford’s (much weaker, totally rebuilt) 2019 offense. This is going to be a scoring contest….and USC will win it.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. What happened? You get banned at the other site again? Hahahahaha
        Always great reading your insight. Your personal history seems to get in the way of your analysis though, not that there’s anything wrong with it..

        Like

      7. Pudly —IF our d-line is phenomenal (and that remains to be seen) it WILL make life very bearable for fans and corners.

        Liked by 2 people

      8. It is a big if Michael. And in my eyes, our season really rides on these guys’ shoulders more than anything else.

        Liked by 2 people

      9. Pudly —We’re gonna get a chance this season to see if Helton’s prayers and basic decency have been rewarded —–cuz, if the football gods allow the d-line to stay healthy, there is more than enough talent there to really screw with opposing quarterbacks’ heads. I’ve always found that qb’s play differently after getting sacked so badly that they do two backwards flips before the whistle blows.

        Liked by 2 people

      10. A big push up the middle would certainly help get the QBs off their spots, and hitting them a couple times brings their eyes down to check the rush.
        It’s spring and we’re undefeated! Enjoy it while it lasts…ha!

        Liked by 2 people

      11. Pudly —yeah, all zeroes in the loss column……now, let’s go get some “W’s”……
        #TenOrElevenWouldBeNice…
        #AndWindUpKickingTexas’AssInAMajorBowlGame….

        Liked by 1 person

      12. Pudly,

        with a 4-3, you can run corner blitz and safety blitz easier making it a 5-3 or 6-3 with different coverages. Carroll ran a 4-3. If that was good enough for him, it should be good enough for today.

        Liked by 2 people

    2. 67 —“On paper.” Yes. And, for a change, on the “Motivation Scale”, too. USC will not be going through the motions on August 31st.
      And, as Dan Weber pointed out recently, our players know they are not ranked in ANYBODY’S top 25 and they know there is only one way to change that…… it involves kicking Fresno State’s ass.

      Liked by 3 people

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  4. I hope so. Our DLine should be our strongest unit. Drake has added more than expected. It would be nice to create pressure using just 4 up front and let the others run to the football or cover. Last few years it seems we guessed wrong on all of our blitzes and we gave up way too many easy big chunk plays.

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  5. So you lead off the game with nickel daring Fresno State to run & eat up clock & keep a D on the field even longer. Add that to Air Raid keeping D on the field longer.

    About the third game into the season, walk on WR will be the new back up corners.

    #BrilliantStrategyWolf

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    1. Perhaps. (But) One of the ways your offense gets taken off the field in a hurry is that it’s SCORED. Enough of those kind of quick possessions and, by the second half, lots of guys are getting to rest for the NEXT GAME.

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      1. MG, no team has ever won by letting the opposition control the clock….sorry bub. If you were the coach, I’d lay ALL my money on Tedford.
        Tremendous amount of talent on the board by Wolf but bad scheme. A touchdown pass & an interception both put your own D on the field. When you need to conserve Dbacks, that’s a bad scheme.
        That’s why wolf is not a coach.

        #YouCanWinTheFirstGame&TankTheSeason
        #NoShit

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Yes. Throwing interceptions hurt your chances.
        #I’mPassingThatOnToHarrell
        #[ForgiveMeForBeingSnarky]–
        #ItMustBeAttributableToMyBuildingNervesOverTheCalGame

        Liked by 1 person

    2. You guys win ONE game in a row and suddenly your the power of the conference. I’ll stick with our chances vs both Fresno and kal. Thank you. Hell, you can throw in the ruins too.

      Liked by 3 people

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      1. I like Cal75 so much that I’m actually gonna feel a bit sad for him on that NOVEMBER 16TH date he keeps posting…..
        #ButNotTHATSad

        Liked by 3 people

      4. P76,
        Now you’re gonna make me go into therapy.
        Everytime I remind my next door SC alum neighbor about losing TWO Heismans, he reminds me that’s TWO more than CAL has won.

        #Harsh

        Liked by 3 people

  6. Pudly,

    I don’t look at CAL75 that way. I look at him a someone who has sense and cares about his team, just like we care about SC. However, since he has been on the board, he has been respectful to SC. He may or may not have ties with SC, but he seems to like SC in a certain sense. I look at him as a brother who cares but when SC meets Cal in anything, I look at him as a respectful opponent.

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    1. I was complimenting him in a backhanded way PT. Hope it didn’t come across as too negative. He definitely adds to this board…what I’m not sure of, but he does add something.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. You, Pudly, have mastered the medium. Always explain backhanded compliments WITH backhanded compliments.
        #WellPlayed

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Pudly,

        You are not negative with CaL75. But I have seen your writings and I would hate to be on the bad side of you. Ur writings comes dripping with acid and salt to finish off the burn.

        Liked by 2 people

      6. P76,
        That’s a big dog. R U going after rhino? Thing is a mule. Too big for anything in N. America. Where do you shoot?
        Pretty expensive ammo too. Two kotex shoulder pad lad.

        Liked by 2 people

  7. If Tedford had SC talent, he would beat SC. However, Tedford is the better coach. He did well with CAL. He went to Warren High in Downey. Tedford would run circles around Helton if the roles were reversed. Don’t think for a moment Fresno State is chalking up a loss. They are coming down here to beat SC. Tedford is very smart being the underdog. He will run things that SC should have known or seen but due to lousy coaching, they will be beat by the plays and tendencies.

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. pt —Tedford WILL take advantage of USC’s inexperience at safety and corner. Fresno State WILL expose Clancy’s defense —-BUT USC is not gonna be outscored by Fresno’s rebuilt offense….
      #…WeWinFairlyHighScoringGame….
      #…JustAsWe’llDoForMostOfTheRestOfTheSeason

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. Michael,

        I agree, but they will come and try to win the game. if it is close, don’t count FSU out. Knowing Helton and how undisciplined his team is, he will lose the game because of breakdowns. But SC should win

        Liked by 2 people

      2. MG,
        I’m going personal. I played for the Old Blues(rugby) in ’76. We played the Fresno team made up of illiterate Fresno State Bulldogs.
        Those AH’s targeted me & broke my ribs. Two brothers from their Dline.
        Worst sportsmanship of any west coast team. It’s inbred out there.

        You guys may win but you will get pounded. They have nothing to lose by reverting to trailer trash.
        The more TD’s goldenboy tosses, the more late hits he’ll take.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. P76,
    Never recall Chico.
    We played at Golden Gate Park. On Sat in Jan/Feb/March. Practiced on a city park in Berkeley after work 6pm-10pm weekdays. Wore a jock to work & changed in the street behind our car door. Pretty basic. Cal NFL guys came back to stay in shape.
    Most all norcal teams played at GG. Great fields & plenty of bars nearby & ladies post game. Great memories. I was the undisputed anchor leg in the post game bar ritual. No bull.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. I enjoyed that bio immensely, Cal75. One question: Did you ever forget closing time while hanging out with a girlfriend in Golden Gate Park —and get locked inside? You had to climb up a 15 foot rod iron fence (with no footholds) at the front entrance to get out of the park…..
      #…..OrSoI’veHeard

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