USC practiced Monday because of the short week.
Graham Harrell actually spoke two days after he ducked the media.
Asked what he can do to help freshman QB Kedon Slovis, Harrell said: “Call plays the quarterback likes, not plays that I like,” Harrell explained. “My first year at North Texas, I called all the plays that I liked when I was a player. I learned to really figure out, what does that quarterback execute at a high level?”
- Wide receiver Bru McCoy showed up for this first practice and did some light work with other injured players. McCoy’s had a fever and seen several doctors over the summer.
“(He is) doing good. That’s why he was out here,” Clay Helton said. “It’s good to get him back. He’s a long way off from being where you need to be. It’s so good to see him healthy, see him smiling.”
Can he play LB? The LB play has been less than ideal.
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If he could do anything but be a skill position players they would anti-recruit him…
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How do you do it? That is hilarious, James!
#YouGetWhoUSCIsRightNow..
#OnlyMeyerCouldFixIt…
#…AndTheJobMightBeTooBigEvenForHim….
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This crew is a competitive bunch…I’m just trying to keep up with you and rest of the menagerie! Thankfully we’re doing this via keys (while I suspect you in particular, and probably several others here, are very fast on your feet, I am a bit more of a mental plodder).
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You’ve been right on just about every prediction, James. I’ll take your brand of “mental plodding” anytime…..
#WhatDoYouCallWhatOurCoachesAreDoing…?
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Something else! And it it’s even worse…
Think we all have many colorful descriptions of that!
And we’ve all had our ups and downs on this…don’t forget my crowing during the Stanford game…or that I’m the one that wants (and still wants) USC to hire Todd Haley as its next head coach! haha
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When a mob boss makes statements on the court steps about how foolhardy it is for informers to rat him out, everyone knows he’s threatening the witnesses. When Clay repeatedly tells local press it would have been a big mistake for Harrell to stick with the Air Raid against BYU, he’s doing the same thing. He’s sending out a warning to Harrell. Today at practice Clay praised Harrell for returning to the run game against BYU. He went on to say he wants to go the physical route against Utah (i. e., no Air Raid). The message to Harrell is unmistakable. Clay stuck with the Air Raid for 2 games and now we’re back to Clay’s gumbo offense —which was 5-7 last year. Harrell is not running the show—he’s doing what he’s told….
#AndLikingIt…
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MG, this could work if Helton were a better strategist and had showed that he could game plan. He has been out-coached against every opponent except maybe Mora and think that he is trying to expand his offensive options. I think that it isn’t a bad idea to take what the defense gives you and to play to your strengths. We know that the team has the necessary parts to make both types of offenses work (Air Raid mixed with some Smash Mouth). Even against BYU the team ran fairly well and would’ve done better had Stepp played more.
The problem isn’t with the scheme or with the players,however, it is with the coach’s inability to get the best out of his players. Helton is neither a motivator nor is he an innovator. He isn’t “ Cool Hand Luke” and doesn’t seem to instill confidence in his players with his inept game management. It really is a shame because this could be a very nice team.
#MeyerorCarrollwouldhavemadeBYUcryformercy
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Arturo — This could be a very nice team. And I haven’t given up on them —but I have officially given up on Helton. I don’t like the way he thinks. He’s letting a tailback with a shitty average gain (Carr) play ahead of a tailback with a really impressive average gain (Stepp) cuz he’s afraid the better back will fumble (which he’s only done once and he recovered his own fumble). He’s afraid to let the speedy Jones play receiver because he’s afraid he might drop the ball. He’s afraid to let Slovis run cuz he might get hurt. Helton is the wrong guy to preside over an Air Raid cuz an Air Raid offense is ALL about “daring to dare.” Harrell calls it an “explosion offense” —but Helton, although he obviously liked the Air Raid in concept, is afraid to be all in on it. So we’re back to not being much of anything —no cohesive offensive philosophy….
#…JustPlayingItByEarLikeLastYear…
P.S.
It makes me sick to my stomach when Utah’s Moss says he’s gonna make USC’s little wound from BYU into a “Big Wound” on Friday —and Helton goes, “Oh, Moss! He is wonderful! Oh my goodness! I love him! (or words to that effect)” It makes Helton look like the village idiot.
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MG
If Coach Helton doesn’t run three backs in inverse alphabetical order against the Utes then SC will lose. Slovis under center. 2 step drop. Quick slants. Reverse. Receivers blocking.
Utah will not prepare for that.
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Cal75 —I like your ideas. (But) Remember what Helton said about the bobbled shotgun snap to end the Fresno State game? “Slovis couldn’t go under center because we don’t know how. We probably would have fumbled it if we tried.” Yes, that’s right, we don’t know how. So —although Utah wouldn’t be ready for the gameplan you suggested, USC is less ready.
#It’sHowItIs….
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MG
This is IMHO SC’s most critical game. This is for the southern Pac. Not Wash or ND or 11/16. SC needs to show new looks to Utah.
LDS U. Is behind & needs to be flushed. I made myself very clear when Coach Harrell was hired that the deeper you get into the schedule, the more the Air Raid sucks. Harrell needs to use those backs with a running start until Utah is gassed in the L.A. heat.
#TheGameIsInL.A.Isn’tIt?
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And as Stephen pointed out, throwing it to them a good bit wouldn’t hurt either…
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Cal75 –Totally agree. Utah is the “Must Win” for this team (and for Helton). And they know it. It’s make or break time. Beat 10th ranked Utah and EVERYBODY is gonna look at them very differently ….AND they’ll be in the driver’s seat for Pac 12 South if they can take Cal & the Arizona schools (which won’t be easy with Wilcox & Herm Edwards inspiring their teams at home).
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How about useless Piglet?!!!!!
Collecting millions of $$$$ lying bed with the HS kissing disease. I got mono in the 9th grade.
The 0 – 2 Jets, after the gruesome ankle injury to the2nd string QB, are down to their third-string QB.
Po’ po’ Piglet the #1 rugged bozo pussy QB be abed with the MONO!!!!
AnotherNFLteamgetscornholedbyashittyformerclownqb
#Fore
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My dear friend Owns,
I think you’re taking out a lot of very understandable bruin/chip frustration on poor Sam.
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MG, you’re ingesting way too much Poi. Give it a rest.
Linking the CK/UCLA 0 – 3 FB mess with the Piglet’s pussy mono problem wouldn’t hold water in a staged Biggy T kangeroo court.
Please recall MG, CK, 0 – 3 was on the field, front and center, vs Oklahoma, not lying in bed with an adolescent HS kissing disease collecting millions of easy $$$$$.
The Piglet wasn’t under center vs the Browns because he was in bed having a pedicure and a pimple peel.
#TheJetsspent30millionforatypicalbozocornholejob.
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MG
What is about Darnold that transmogrifies (to use an apt in this instance Calvin & Hobbes reference) Owns into the Mule (an idiocy-spewing hybrid of a Pez dispenser and the Energizer Bunny)?
Sorry Mule – you’ve been on this kick before…and it won’t end favorably for you I think (although, to give the devil – this devil – his due, banking on bright career prospects for anyone cursed to toil for the Jets is also a form of idiocy)…
JM
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Don’t bury the lede, Michael- Owns was apparently a very active 9th grader with the ladies!
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James — I appreciate the tricky position Owns finds himself in —- he occasionally has fun stuff to say—- but (before chipster arrived) he liked to link it to some positive development relating to UCLA sports. Well, that’s no longer possible…..
#Hence,TheNeedForANewHook…
#…Enter”Sam”
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So you’re saying that the crushing weight of the reality that Mora, Jr. & Hundley constituted a Westwood ceiling is a burden he can no longer bear?
And of course, none of us can be smug, given that we labor under the same proportionately, as I believe ’67 just posted.
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I don’t suppose Miami is cornholed with a wish I had his nose full of nickels? Miami is the worst team in football and Nosen gets garbage time. Two interceptions on Sunday. How many times did he beat Darnold? Your problem Owns is you think like you went to a JC….oh that right, I forgot.
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Rosen is upright and not drawing a check from the safety of his bed.
The Piglet had the Bills down 16 – 3 starting the 4th qtr.
At the end of the game, the Bills win 17 – 16. The Piglet choka, choka, choka, choked the victory away?
The Piglet didn’t have mono up 16 -3.
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Mule:
Perhaps you were preoccupied with planning your recent Pacific cruise, but I must draw your attention back to the (previously stated) facts of the matter at hand…the Jets released a kicker who missed multiple must-make kicks after the game (any of which would have put the game away for New York…New Jersey…something in truly hideous new uniforms)…and the head coach…admittedly not the most reliable of sources given he was recently on board the SS Dolphin (a ship regrettably in the same class as the SS Trojan and SS Bruin…only now taking on more water with Ensign Rosen manning the graveyard watch)…called out the receiving corps for multiple dropped passes…
Pointing out the (staggering) flaws of Haden/Swann/Kiff/Sark/Helton/Harrell/Calloway/Drevno/Pendergast/Baxter…me (well, let’s not get carried away), MG (yes, pick on him!), Big Bear (but not while he is ranked), and by all means any of the deluded here who think that somehow Helton bears any resemblance to a fittingly competent coach…certainly…
But Darnold? Just imagine Helton’s record without him…many of us here do (since it would almost certainly be, Swann notwithstanding, much truncated and now hopefully a receding bad memory)…
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The relentless mule operating philosophy….
The best defense is a good offense. Never defend your dream school just trash everyone else. No sweat mule. If I were in Ruins, I’d consider it also.
#FortunatelyI’mNot
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Own is a proud graduate of Cerritos Auto Square!
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Excuse me, 22 —That’s the UNIVERSITY of Cerritos Auto Square.
#Actually,ToBeFair,OwnsIsANaturalBornPhilospher…
#…WhoSometimesGoesAstray
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Can the product of a mating between a Pez Dispenser with turrets and the Energizer Bunny also walk in the Athenian school?
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James — I hate “liking” you when you’re surrendering me to the lions —but you –as usual —are making all the right points. Even Owns does not want to be caught wasting time bailing water from the sinking S. S. Bruin.
#AllMeaningHasBeenStrippedFromOwns’Life..
#…HeNeedsOurLoveMoreThanEver
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James — Ha. [Parmenides did it]…
#HaveYouEverReadHis”ItIs&ItIsNot”?
#IMean,WTF?![HadToBeWrittenByPezDispenser]…
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All he needs is love…love is all he needs…
And us too…
We’re all (Trojans and Bruins alike) living out one of Chris Cornell’s last songs with Soundgarden (“Rowing”)…if our football has to suck so bad at least we can set to a good soundtrack.
https://lyrics.fandom.com/wiki/Soundgarden:Rowing
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Think I had a classics teacher bring it up (but haven’t read it – but will tonight!)…seem to recall something along those lines having been used by Socrates to torment his opponents (until they…and this brings me back I think to Big Bear ’75 from yesterday doesn’t? hemlock? maybe I can have a plate of Agripinella and Nero’s shrooms instead?)…
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James –No b.s. —“Rowing” is an existential fricking masterpiece. [A bit too much of a secular message for me —but a masterpiece just the same…]
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Yeah, a lot of good music/art is like that isn’t it? Just have to extract the useful part (kind of a literary equivalent of what we’ve discussed about how to take the best part of the up tempo passing offense and graft it on to something with the right football soul? maybe not, but close enough…).
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James — That’s why I kinda like David Lynch, the Cohen Brothers and Quentin Tarantino —they cleverly flirt with the idea of transcendence without getting sappy ….and they wrap it all up in hardcore realism.
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Just puke,
How is Rosen doing? He is not even sick and still can’t start for one of the worst teams in the nfl. That means he is LOUSY and a joke coming from Thug U aka ruinville. Darnold is a better qb than Rosen and you know that.
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