Pete Carroll used to say “always compete.” And he could be ruthless. He tried to get Jeff Tedford the Nebraska job just to try and get him out of the Pac-10 after Cal upset USC in 2003.
Clay Helton‘s motto is “never compete.” You can be wrong about who you pick to start. That is OK. But you don’t have to be permanently wrong. This is the problem that afflicts USC football.
Jack Sears could not supplant JT Daniels last season even after three team captains asked Helton to start Sears following the ASU game. Toa Lobendahn was untouchable at center.
Why was tailback Kenan Christon behind walk-on Quincy Jountti on Saturday? If Jountti doesn’t fumble his first carry, does Chrison even get in the game? Probably but maybe for half of his eight carries.
The Helton apologists say “maybe he can’t pass protect.” That was the same excuse for not playing Markese Stepp.
Christon seems like a role player right now so who cares if he comes in for plays that call for a run or pass route from the tailback? USC tailbacks frequently run pass routes. Is it any different than running a Wildcat formation? The defense knows what is coming.
I guess the coaches had no idea linebacker Kana’i Mauga could play either. I’ve said I expected Palaie Gaoteote to make a big impact but if you read my weekly report cards, I frequently mention his shortcomings at making plays.
This is why you have coaches. If someone is not carrying their weight, you rotate someone else in and give them a chance. USC never does this. That is the problem.
InsideUSC with Scott Wolf 
I was going to say Helton wouldn’t know a true starter if he bit him on the ass, but that seems sorta weird when you say it loud. It leads to too many questions.
In Helton’s defense… there really isn’t any defense for not getting the better player on the field.
Players do have use by date. In this day and age if a player thinks their time is going to expire they can move on. It’s all over the internet that many of the players who showed special talent on Saturday night were frustrated by their lack of playing time, which begs the question; what was Helton waiting for- the next coach?
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Gomer also stated that his coaches have watched films of NFL games to see how to substitute, pass block, and play special teams ” We’re really gonna play some ball now, ya’ll “
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Rankings—
AP Poll————- USC got 3 votes
Coaches Poll—–USC got ZERO votes ( yea I know we have 3 loses ), but shows what coaches think of Helton & USC
Again..Helton couldn’t find his way out of a phone booth with a seeing eye dog and a flash light.
He still thinks he can call plays–reason for 2 delay of game penalties.
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It’s nice to see the name Jon Arnett. I hope some folks will check out his kickoff returns for the Rams on YouTube. I still remember watching him zig zag all over the field against the Chicago Bears in my first game at the the Coliseum.
#GreatPlayer
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If I am Helton, which I am not, for this week since it is such a short practice week and most everyone is injured, I would have the team come out in shorts and pads only, no helmets. Let them practice at three quarters speed except for the receivers and rb’s. No hitting and no tackling. People just get into position. Just know the plays and schemes.
You might think this is crazy, however, with the injuries are way too many and with rest of three days, hopefully we can get some of the guys back and keep the others from being banged up.
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pt —Can I let you in on a little secret? What you’re proposing is exactly —-and I mean exactly —- what Helton IS going to do…..
#….It’sWhatHeDoesEveryWeek
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Doesn’t he do what you want him to do every week ?
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Playing and practicing timid is never the way to go.
Pete Carroll went balls to the wall whenever he could and made practices tough to prepare his players. If a player went down, so be it. Next man up.
If you make practices tough and physical you get players saying this about playing for Pete – “The practices were so hard and physical that when Saturday rolled around it seemed like it was easier. That’s why we won.”
Foregoing physicality and worrying about injuries is not the “Trojan Way.”
#TrojansDon’tEaseUpBecauseTheyAreWorriedAboutGettingHurt
#LookingForThePathofLeastResistanceIsForUCLAPlayers
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No helmets? Let them tackle then as it will force players to use better technique.
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This is getting so depressing, as terrific talents such as Darnold, Stepp and Christon chronically sit until injury or obvious personnel changes are required.
I really don’t get what Helton is thinking. His livelihood depends on him being a leader and an effective coach. It is so frustrating watching the last 2.5 years. Helton has the keys to a Ferrari in his hands, yet he chooses to drive his old Camry. And the Camry loses more often on the racetrack.
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Camry ? More like a Yugo !!!!!!!!!
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67 —If Christon looks as good against Colorado and– more importantly, Oregon– as he did against Arizona, Helton should be fired on that basis alone. Time will tell —but is it possible that Helton was benching the next Reggie Bush while the losses piled up?
#DanWeber:”ChristonIsn’tReggieBush–He’sFaster.”
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Michael, yes, could be another Reggie, and faster once a few yards past he LOS.
Christon 100 meters best (high school) = 10.26, and several around 10.3
Reggie 100 meters best (high school) = 10.72
Reggie might be a bit quicker – his pro day 40 time was 4.33. Christon (at 18) runs a 4.5. He might get quickler
Believe it or not, Stepp, the next coming of Lendale, might be quicker than Christon. He ran a 4.43 in high school. His TD run against Arizona showed a great burst through the line.
Anyway you slice it, there appears to malfeasance on the part of the coaches not to play these guys. VM runs with a ton of heart and hopefully he recovers completely, but he doesn’t seem to be at the same level.
Carr has flashes, but he doesn’t seem to be where he was 2 years ago.
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67 —My big fear is that Carr gets healed up faster than Stepp and Helton rides Carr to unnecessary losses against Oregon and Arizona State. I’m not saying he shouldn’t play Carr —I’m just saying what John Robinson said [after the fact] about a certain back who used to play for the Rams: “He was a great back ….as long as you didn’t rely on him as your main weapon —then he became a liability.”
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Hope the running backs coach.. teaches Christon to change carrying to ball to the side line side when he is running PLS. Arizona game he carried all game on filed side.
Oops, maybe that is to much to ask, seeing as the team isn’t taught much, just rely on talent.
What were they doing running Carr on 3rd & one. Was that to surprise Arizona instead of bring Steep in.
First USC game as a youth was a night game at the Coli– with parents and Jon Arnett was the halfback. Was a C & G member for 18yrs. Dropped out this year when seat rights fee’s, increase in season tickets, & C & G for 2 season tickets was going to be $ 5,000.00 and not knowing where new seats would be and not be able to write off C & G.
Built Tower for the $$$ See & Be Seeing. Didn’t go to USC–Went the Road Univ & got Masters at Street Univ.
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Nice stuff, my friend. I’ll never forget walking down the coliseum tunnel for the first time and seeing the green grass and all the bright shirts on the fans across the field. Watching Arnett get loose on returns was an experience I’ll never forget. He had one little trick that I loved (and that usually works) when you bobble the catch on the kick —the first guy down field is getting ready to kill you so just give a little move to the right and take off left with everything you got.
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What the hell is this. A re-run of what happened last season?
When are you going to surprise us or me with some intelligent point of thought.
Wow..
I hate sounding like a di** but you don’t write anything down the middle on accident to look credible.
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So, who among the possible replacements for Head Coach DOES use the better players for which play choice is next in the series? Who should be Helton’s “Competition” as the better choice?
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