FOOTBALL

USC-BYU Report Card

QUARTERBACK

I wonder if ABC analyst Todd McShay wants to take back his Sam Darnold comparisons? Kedon Slovis probably did as expected for a true freshman in a first road game. But did Graham Harrell or Clay Helton help him? Not really. And he still has not gotten hit. That could happen Friday.

Grade: C-

RUNNING BACKS

Can someone fix the rotation? Markese Stepp is the best runner. Vavae Malepeai plays hard but he isn’t a game changer. And Stephen Carr is not looking like he did as a freshman.

Grade: C

WIDE RECEIVERS

Michael Pittman is USC’s best receiver despite the efforts of some to say otherwise. BYU took Amon-Ra St. Brown out of the game because USC never ran a reverse or did anything creative to get him some touches.

Grade: B-

OFFENSIVE LINE

Wow. Have three defensive linemen ever given five offensive linemen so much trouble? Center Brett Neilon might have made some people wish Toa Lobendahn was still around. But that doesn’t excuse the other linemen either.

Grade: F

DEFENSIVE LINE

USC has these big tackles who take up a lot of space and then don’t make plays. The lack of an impact allowed BYU to focus on containing Drake Jackson.

Grade: D-

LINEBACKER

John Houston is running all over the field as an undersized middle linebacker trying to make plays. And Palaie Gaoteote is hopelessly playing the wrong position. Does Johnny Nansen know what he is doing coaching linebackers?

Grade: D+

DEFENSIVE BACKS

I will say this: The cornerbacks have shown athleticism. But they are not getting good coaching to put themselves in the right position. That is why a competent passer like Zach Wilson carved them up in key situations.

Grade: D

SPECIAL TEAMS

John “Flying wedge” Baxter strikes again. And then there was the personal foul on the kick return with USC ahead 24-20 that pinned USC back at its 13. That was followed by Ben “37-yard punt” Griffiths‘ short kick. Baxter has apparently neutered Griffiths by ordering him to never kick the ball far.

Grade: F

COACHING

We already knew Clay Helton is over his head. This game showed Genius Graham Harrell doesn’t know much either. That overtime drive was pathetic: Two runs that looked like they were designed to set up a field goal and then a short pass that wouldn’t have gotten the first down if caught.

And Clancy Pendergast had his usual “no adjustment” game.

Grade: F

36 thoughts on “USC-BYU Report Card”

  1. Harsh but accurate.

    Slovis was hung out to dry in his first road game. Helton and Harrell did not put him in a position to succeed.

    Stepp is sitting on the bench, 235 pounds, and a 4.4 40 yard dash time, just waiting to run between the tackles and take some pressure off of the passing game.

    The defense was a disaster. If Pendergast can’t pull this together, UDub and Notre Dame will go for 40 points or more. Easily.

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    1. 67 — Helton has made a living out of going with the wrong guys —the Stepp situation is just the latest example. There were plenty of examples last year, notably Toa at center. His dedication to coaches who are demonstrably past their prime (Callaway, Baxter) is even more problematic. Helton isn’t football brain dead—he understand the game — so you have to wonder if it’s just a matter of him going with people who kiss his ass the most. I mean what other explanation is there?

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    2. 67 — I’d like Helton to contact someone in the Math Department and look into the calculus of how much more we’re losing than we’re gaining by not fair catching and starting drives at the 25 yard line, how much more we’re losing than we’re gaining by running Carr instead of Stepp to avoid a possible turn over and how much more we’re losing than we’re gaining by keeping Velous Jones from playing receiver for fear of a possible drop.

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      1. Michael, is it possible that Baxter never figured out that the ball comes out to the 25 and not the 20 anymore?

        BTW, When do we get another Baxter “Gut”photo from Scottie?

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      2. 67 —Yes, Scott, keep the Baxter and Helton photos coming —they’re appearing on more and more sites that appreciate visual humor (but leave Graham out of it —- he’s doing his part. If the rest of these throwbacks start doing theirs—we’ll be fine)…..

        Liked by 2 people

      1. Yes, karma [Scott was hamstrung by alphabetical grading scale]….
        #SomethingNeedsToBeDoneToAddressClay’s”Special”Case….

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  3. We really shouldn’t bash Harrell for what’s wrong in 2019. USC’s offense is up to 463 yards a game (as compared to 380 last year). We obviously could have won at BYU if Clancy could stop something besides runs up the middle and Baxter weren’t lost in space (how did he ruin Ben so quickly?). To give up on the Air Raid after a 3 point loss is a mistake. Yes, the lines have to be more physical (but it’s hard to imagine that happening given the way Helton practices) and, yes, Slovis needs to be given permission to take off when the “green grass” Harrell is always taking about isn’t there —-but trying to change your Offensive Coordinator’s philosophy at the quarter season mark…..is so…so…Heltonesque….
    #…AndItWillLeadToAnotherJackOffSeason

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    1. Michael, exactly right. I don’t know why Scottie hasn’t called out Pendergast this week. I mean, come on, when Fresno runs up 450 yards of offense at a home game, something is very, very wrong.

      #AndThatSomethingIsPendergast

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      1. Agreed, 67. It’s not like Scott to miss focusing on the BIG problems —-Harrell’s offense is NOT the BIG problem this year. As a matter of fact, I’ll go further than that —if Graham were allowed to bring in his OWN o-line coach, his own special teams coach and, most especially, his own Defensive Coordinator, USC would be fine. Instead he’s stuck with the Helton shit-show….
        #StarringClayHelton!

        Liked by 1 person

    2. MG, I want to recommend an outstanding video “God’s Pocket” starring P.S. Hoffman (His second to last film) that includes an outstanding ensemble cast for your viewing pleasure.

      This video will remind you that worrying about SUCCX lost FB season is somewhat irrelevant.

      #It’s $3.99 on Amazon; give a shot.

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      1. Okay, Owns —I will. [But— as I say to my brothers whenever they recommend a film— if I wind up wasting 2 hours, you’re behind the eight ball].
        #AndYou’reDeadRightAboutScoresVs”TheBiggerPicture”

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    1. That’s funny, pt. Scott missed a bet by not titling it that…
      [But, that said, I have a vague hope for a one game turnaround vs. Utah]…..
      #..Don’tAskMeWhy….

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    2. Hey, don’t forget Oregon and @ Az. State are no SUCCX FB pushovers.

      You can bet those 5 teams will watch the BYU film with great interest.

      A 2019 bozo FB record of 4 and 8 is still doable.

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  5. Helton could not find his way out of a phone booth with a seeing eye dog and a flash light. We lost by 1 play ? No there are 60minutes in a game.

    What up with Harrell laughing about game calls. WE LOST!
    Run Stepp– he is a beast

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  6. Did anyone notice that on the one kick return that Velus Jones had, he ran right the F into someone? With plenty of space to the right, he either didn’t see it or didn’t want it. Instead, he ran right the F into someone again. They put Stephen Carr back there, but he doesn’t appear to want to run kicks back or run the ball from the RB position. Why can’t we give St Brown a shot at returning kicks? Jones has been doing this running right the F into people thing since he got here and I don’t know why he’s still doing it or why he still has the job. What, beyond speed, does Jones have that recommends him for that job? Was that the deal to keep him from transferring? Also, with all this talent at WR, why did you need to make a deal to keep him anyway? You have sense enough not to throw the ball to him, why is he returning kicks? Try St Brown as the lone deep man instead of Jones and Carr split or just Jones as the deep man. Jones doesn’t understand how to run with the ball and it’s painfully obvious.

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  7. John Houston is the best tackler on the team, but I don’t know how he translates in the pros. I can guarantee you that he won’t be playing MLB on the next level. Let’s take whatever lumps you guys are fearing by putting him in the middle and let him figure it out.

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      1. Friday would be a nice day to block one —and score with it. Even if we don’t do it again all fricking season…..
        #MoraleBooster…..

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Our D-linemen are big, strong space eaters, but not very athletic. If you look at D-linemen in the south, they are many times as fast and athletic as the QBs they’re chasing. Drake Jackson looks like he is going to be a good one on the edge, but where is the speed and athleticism elsewhere on the D-line? They could match the power of the D-lineman from the south, but they could never run/move like they do. Watching them trying to tackle a QB borders on comical and they better figure something out before Friday.

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  10. If all the DBs are going to do is run down the field next to a receiver and stare at him, I’d take that kind of defense as an opposing QB all day. If I’m a coach with a decent QB, I know I can complete the pass Moss did against Chase Williams 6 or 7 times out of 10. Just staring at the receiver and not seeing the ball and/or getting a pass interference penalty is not good defense. If your DBs aren’t going to be coached to get their heads around, then just run zone most of the time so they have an opportunity to follow the ball and make a play. These DBs are too athletic to be running down the field with their backs to everything while staring at a receiver and not making a play on the ball.

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  11. To: Scott Wolf or Flow or Mom’s Mooching Basement Dweller or Petros’ Butt Boy

    What about that 52 yard field goal to send it into OT? Seriously, the lack of mention makes me think you were too busy playing Fortnite or something else at the end of the 4th quarter.

    Maybe your eyes were too glazed over from all the online activity.

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  12. I wouldn’t have given the Special Teams an ‘F.’

    McGrath hit the 52 yarder to send it OT as well as all his other kicks. If there was arguably a bright spot, it was McGrath.

    #I’dGiveTheST’sA’C’ButWouldn’tArgueIfSomeoneSaid’D’

    #Although,SomethingIsWrongWhenTheTeam’sBrightSpotIsTheKicker

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  13. Either Clay Helton wants to be fired, or he truly is an idiot. USC could’ve run the ball down BYU’s throat for 4 quarters if they wanted to, but Helton, and his sidekick, Graham Harrell rather be cute, with their air raid nonsense.

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  15. I don’t know why I help you guys. It must be my desire to not see people suffer as I have being a CAL alum & sitting through so many dismal loses.

    1) If SC gives Stepp 15 touches you will win.
    2) Since Pale Goat was a top 5* stud mlb in high school I would have expected him to be crushing skulls. However, if you listen to a very recent youtube video interview regarding his move to olb, you will notice zero enthusiasm & a general lack of confidence in his voice. Something has happened. He is not having fun out there. Big MLB usually are smiling as they are killing you.
    3) It’s 20f warmer in L.A. than SLC. Utah will be gasping midway through the second qtr & at the end of the third if SC gives Stepp & Malevolent a running start. Leave the Utah defense on the field you big dummies. They’ll be praying to their God half way through the 4th to get back to SLC.

    #11/16

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    1. Cal75 —Watch any of the player interviews —they’re just mouthing the words Helton put there. Same goes for the assistant coaches and Coordinators. Looks like everybody understands the score. That said, weirder things have happened than a 4 point underdog beating an arch rival at home…
      #IfThingsClickEarly,WeCouldHaveAOneGameRevival…..

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  16. MG, “God’s Pocket” is a ’70s film shot in 2018. If you don’t like this film I’ve seriously overestimated your film palate.

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