FOOTBALL

A Word On Offensive Line Recruiting

Does it matter that four of the past six high school offensive linemen who committed to USC were ranked below three-stars by at least one major recruiting news service?

It doesn’t if your program has a history of developing players. USC does not in the Clay Helton era.

Maybe you trust Tim Drevno? Or Graham Harrell?

Based upon what?

Drevno hasn’t done much with the offensive linemen in either of his two stints at USC.

Harrell seems like a good coach. But offensive coordinators are usually not the main evaluators on offensive linemen. And if he did, what is his barometer? Playing for Texas Tech or coaching at North Texas?

USC seems to be getting further from having Tyron Smith (pictured) or Matt Kalil. And it seems like the current staff is really inconsistent when it comes to evaluating. Like everything else in the Helton regime, it’s hope for the best time.

12 thoughts on “A Word On Offensive Line Recruiting”

  1. SCooter,

    In the old days SC used to Vella, Powell, Munoz, Buddy, Van Horn,Harlow, Pete Adams, Booker Brown, Ron Mix, Khali, Boselli, Tyron Smith, and were coached by Hudson Houck. When the game was on the line, we could relax and push our bets even higher knowing the game was won because McKay and Robinson let the o line just destroy the opposing defensive front.

    It is a nice pick for a 6’7” inch tackle, but will he play soft, or will he play like the guys I mentioned above. We will see

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  2. Bozo Helton has never put an emphasis on the offensive line, he believes in winning from the outside in, as oppose to the inside out. And Bozo also thinks a quick release air attack, will make up for deficiencies of the blockers up front. So let’s see how that works out for him, because I’ve seen that philosophy win a national championship.

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  3. Just finished watching the football in 60- 2016 USC UCLA game. I loved the outcome but wonder what the score would have been I’d the line wasn’t so bad. There were numerous false starts and other stupid mistakes that make you believe with better coaching the team would have been a monster. At times that line looked good, but they fell apart too easily. The mental attitude of the line is definitely lacking.

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  4. Even though I believe as Fred does , I do think a full yr of only Drevno coaching the ‘O’ line might bring a better result…helton still being around as whatever he is, will not help any aspect of this team,regardless of the bs spouted by some of the SC pundits…a disaster is a disaster as his pride goeth before his final fall…SC will lose 6 or 7 games as long as helton has influence on practices, starters,etc…wish I believed differently…

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    1. The key phrase in your analysis, Tim, is “Helton being around as WHATEVER HE IS.” It’s possible that ‘whatever he is’ is “some guy you see in the office” —with the offensive and defensive coordinators taking over all football related operations.
      #NowIfWeCanKeepHimHomeOnSaturdaysWeMightHaveSomething…

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      1. his ego will get in the way unless he is told his paycheck depends on him minding the clean up after the team eats or some other similar chore…

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      2. Speaking of ‘similar chores’…..have you noticed the growing number of empty cups and gum wrappers around Heritage Hall? Someone has to be given unbridled custodial authority over this area…
        #&IThinkIKnowJustTheMan…

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  6. The last time Drevno coached the O-line, Buck Allen ran for nearly 1,500 yards. Not bad. And a good play caller is a good play caller, whether at North Texas or USC. Everything is relative. It’s not like Harrell’s N. Tex offenses couldn’t handle the defenses they faced. The talent was relative. At USC you can say the talent he has to work with will be, in most cases, superior to the defenses he will face.

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