FOOTBALL

Morning Buzz: 10 Things USC Needs To Fix To Beat Washington

1.) Leave Clay Helton home

Seriously, think about it. What does USC miss if Helton takes a game off? No one will burn timeouts in the fourth quarter or after a kickoff. ABC won’t be able to capture that blank look on the sideline. It’s actually good for Helton too because fans can’t blame him if USC loses.

Like I say, a mannequin does less damage. Just weld a cap on its head like Helton does every week and pack it on the charter to Seattle.

And while you’re at it, leave John Baxter in L.A. too.

2.) Protect Matt Fink

I know JT Daniels doesn’t like to get hit. And the jury is out on Kedon Slovis’ ability to take a hit.

But the USC offensive line also needs to do a better job. Jalen McKenzie let his man go right through and hammer Slovis on the play he got hurt. If Washington does that and gets to Fink, USC might be looking at Tyler Vaughns or Amon-Ra St. Brown at QB.

3.) Get the sideline organized

The USC sideline tends to be a circus every game but at Husky Stadium things could be worse with a loud crowd. That means someone needs to make sure the special teams players are ready so there are not 10 men on the field for extra points like vs. Utah.

4.) Run the football

Washington is going to drop 8 men into pass coverage better than BYU. The Huskies run this defense every year against Washington State and are 5-0 vs. Mike Leach’s Air Raid. That means USC will need to run the ball successfully.

5.) Get the coaches a clue!

Do we have to ask every week for tailback Markese Stepp to get a chance? In the Helton era, yes we do!

6.) Throw to the tight end. Cover the tight end

USC completes one pass a game to the tight end. It’s very consistent. That doesn’t help you win games. Someone tell Eb Brown, I mean Graham Harrell, to throw to the tight end.

Oh, and did you see Clancy Pendergast forget to cover Utah tight end Cole Fotheringham on that TD pass? Can’t have that in Seattle.

7.) Run more than one blitz package

Washington’s offensive line did not allow a sack against BYU last week and we all saw how much trouble the Cougars’ defensive line gave USC.

So if USC wants to pressure quarterback Jacob Eason, it better come up with more than one blitz package like it ran last week.

8.) Give a history lesson

USC usually goes to Husky Stadium in November when its raining and cold. It used to have to deal with that big crown on the field back in the day. But none of that will be issue Saturday. It’ll be a vacation.

9.) Restrain undisciplined players

Juliano Falaniko has been busy the past two games. He had a personal foul at BYU. He had a late hit against Utah that wasn’t called on him and wrongly given to Olaijah Griffin. But then he roughed the passer against Utah. Do the coaches even address this?

10.) Practice the victory formation

USC will be thrilled to even try it at Husky Stadium but it’s had bad snaps 2 of its 3 victories while in this formation.

35 thoughts on “Morning Buzz: 10 Things USC Needs To Fix To Beat Washington”

  1. UDUB, should easily roll the bozos just based on BYU game results.

    Fink won’t be a surprise & what happens if Fink has to leave the game?

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      1. PT,

        Mule, being the foremost tactician that he is, provides in depth analysis for SC at NO COST.

        #PleaseBeGreatfulToTheExperiencedRuin
        #He’sJustTryingToHelp&LostHelton’sPhoneNumba

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Three smallish, SUCCX wienie bobbleheads: PT, ’67 and Dear Pisley.

        UDUB 31 – Clown U 103 excuses for losing

        Some things never change.

        Like

    2. Owns —First: Probably nothing is gonna happen to Fink. [But] If anything does —although only 2 or 3 people know this —Graham Harrell has been cleared by the NCAA to play “under certain circumstances in games played in the city of Seattle.”
      Second: [This is addressed to Scott, actually —since you wisely have not joined in the “mannequin in the hat” suggestion]. I believe it would hurt USC’s image to have a mannequin in a baseball cap on the sidelines. How does it stand up? What if someone interviews it? No one watching the game on television will be fooled for more than one quarter, maybe the first half, at the most….
      #Scott:NiceTryButThisWasAHalfBakedSuggestion….
      #…YouNeedToThinkTheseThingsOutToTheSmallestDetail….

      Liked by 2 people

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      1. To just puke,

        first you are saying that SC will score 103 points against Wash’s. 31? I like that but doubtful.

        You are defintely a bonhead, how dare you insult Budda and Cal 75 by not having them on your, “I’m their bitch list”. Thank you for having Pudly, ’67, and myself on your, “Who’s your daddy”, list.

        Now get back to work and pick up your cans. You know metal is goiong up in price, turkey.

        Liked by 3 people

      2. In this “new age” we live in, we need to research stuff like kindness when the basics have been known for millenia, like the golden rule. So be it.

        Owns must be proud of this!

        The Bedari Foundation, established by philanthropists Jennifer and Matthew C. Harris, has given $20 million to the UCLA College to establish the UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute.

        The institute, which is housed in the division of social sciences, will support world-class research on kindness, create opportunities to translate that research into real-world practices, and serve as a global platform to educate and communicate its findings. Among its principal goals are to empower citizens and inspire leaders to build more humane societies.

        “The mission of the Kindness Institute perfectly aligns with that of the division of social sciences, where engaging the amazing diversity and social challenges shaping Los Angeles routinely inspires research that has the potential to change the world,” Hunt said.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Forget Wolfe’s 10 Commandments for the moment. What is predictable about the W game? This is an away game scheduled at a time for a national, not regional, TV audience. The refs will try to slant the game toward whoever is losing to get them back into the game so fans don’t go to sleep at the TV. But they will favor the home team because beating the Giant Gulliver on his Travels into the “remote nations” of the PAC-12 sells better on TV (Tom Swift). So what should USC do? Do as it did in playing Utah:

    1. If the opponents take one of your players out of the game with rough play, take one of their players out of the game. Don’t be a Helton wuss.
    2. Disregard Helton’s penalty thing. Playing nice never got you anywhere under Helton, especially on the road. Football is war and war isn’t fair. Show the other team you aren’t going to take it laying down or being a Helton Skelton (Red Skelton the son of a famous circus clown).
    3. The only chance you have to win is to take the referee’s designed see-saw tempo of the game and continue to the end of the game and win. You’ve got the kickers and a bull running back to pull out a margin of victory.
    4. “It’s Up to You” – If Slovis goes out, Fink comes in. It’s up to you. You may be called on to win the game.
    Fight On for ol’ SC
    Our men Fight On to victory.
    Our Alma Mater dear, looks up to you
    Fight On and win for ol’ SC
    Fight On to victory. Fight On!
    Our alma mater dear
    “It’s up to you!”

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. WL,
      Far be it from me to offer up advice but I’d agree with you. I watched CAL beat UW. They have glaring weaknesses. Watch the game on youtube.
      Eason can be solved. Get in his face. Early.
      I would never suggest to lay the wood on the ole boy but if by chance the opportunities arise, take advantage. Wrap him up high & when he’s going down with 265lbs+ of kinetic energy then force him to make that decision. Do I save myself or the ball?

      Liked by 4 people

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      1. Bobby Bowden taught his d-line players to play thru “the last echo of the whistle” when they had a quarterback wrapped up. Refs didn’t always honor that “grace period” but, by then, the damage was done. [So] After 15 yards were walked off against them, they found themselves facing a new, less experienced quarterback

        Liked by 1 person

      2. ***Inscribed prominently on the Kal Strawberry Dump Stadium walls:

        Since Kal teams love to quit, it’s become Kal’s signature goal.

        Like

      3. I like the way you think. If Eason goes down, the chances that washington wins on October 19 goes waaaaayyyyy down.

        BTW, I did a Google search for “Cristobal rated by NCAA coaches unsportsmanlike” and nothing came up. Did you make that up?

        Like

  4. SCooter,

    The first one was not only hilarious and I agree but correct. Let Harrell call the plays. Let Helton take his family out for ice cream. Fire Pendergast after this game. Washington will run for over 230 yards this week. Typical Pendergast defense. I remember if SC gave up 100 yards rushing that was horrible. Now, if SC keeps it under 200 yards, then it is a miracle.

    Liked by 2 people

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  5. I’d like to see Bozo Helton coach a game without his hat on, because the successful coaches don’t wear them. But then again, most of them don’t look dumber then a Mutha Fucker when they take them off either. So never mind 😂😂

    Liked by 1 person

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      7. 16-7, over then #1 ranked Washington. It was a great defensive effort….in fact, It cost Washington a perfect season, as their loss to the Trojans on November 10, 1984, was their only 1 that year! Washington finished 11-1 and ranked #2…

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Don’t rely so heavily on one receiver; SC must have Washington defend the entire field, so spreading the ball around to receivers (and even running backs) is not only more fan-entertaining, but probably more win-orienting as well. Also, keeping Fink vertical would be a big aid.

    And everybody says don’t go to Seattle with a hammer, and its name is Stepp.

    Finally, please at least pressure the Huskie’s Georgie Peach of a quarterback before he commences slaying Trojans.

    Liked by 2 people

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  8. I hope there isn’t a Scott Wolf equivalent (could such a thing even be possible?) in Seattle putting out a piece today, “The One Thing Washington Needs To Do To Beat USC: Triple Cover Pittman.”
    #I’mNotSureAnybodyElseCouldReliablyTakeUpTheSlack….

    Liked by 4 people

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      1. Yep. Catch the easy 15 yard balls as well as the deep stuff in the corner of the end zone. Be (real, real) aggressive with the corner when the ball is under thrown (I think you get my point).
        #AmonNeedsToDoMoreThanGetWideEyed…
        #…WhenBallGoesStraightToDefender…

        Liked by 2 people

    2. Or the classic “open the gates to the student section earlier” from a couple of years ago.
      Practice the victory formation? When are they going to use that one? On fourth and goal?
      I hope there is no sw equivalent anywhere else.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  9. especially with our suspect OL, the ball needs to come out quick! More screens and under zone completions.. Let the receivers RAC.. Getting UW spread out and then using Stepp inside.. they’ll become quite vulnerable. Keeping Eason off the field is a good thing.

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