FOOTBALL

10 Things USC Needs To Fix To Beat Cal

1.) Tell the kicker to do nothing but sky kicks

John Baxter can’t teach kickoff coverage and he can’t teach squib kick coverage. So just kick the ball as high as you can. Maybe he can get Ben Griffith to do a drop kick.

2.) Let Mike Bohn coach a game

He’s got enough enthusiam to fire up the team. He couldn’t do any worse.

3.) Start Kenan Christon

It looks like Vavae Malepeai and Stephen Carr will return. But Christon has played the past few weeks and should start. It’s a no-brainer but you know how Clay Helton likes to play favorites.

4.) No more false starts

It’s so bad that wide receiver Tyler Vaughns had a false start vs. Arizona State. A wide receiver! He just needs to watch the ball get snapped.

5.) If you win the toss, defer

This wasn’t the case last week, but whenever USC wins the toss, it elects to receive. And how many times does it seem like the other team has momentum going into the half and then gets the kickoff to start the second half?

I know Genius Graham Harrell wants the ball at the outset but the third quarter feels like an adventure with USC trying to hold on to a lead and then kicking off to start the second half.

6.) All hail strength and conditioning

Everyone knows USC had the indignity of two players (Kedon Slovis, Brett Neilon) getting on the same play. But how many tight ends have been hurt this season? Erik Krommenhoek got banged up last week apparently while Josh Falo and Ethan Rae have also been hurt.

Good thing USC doesn’t use a tight end.

7.) Script the entire game

USC offensive coordinator Graham Harrell scripts about 20 plays, apparently with input from the offensive coaches. The offense often looks better in these periods, so just script the entire game. Obviously, circumstances dictate changes but the offense seems to get more vanilla once USC goes off script, so maybe the Genius should incorporate more of the script through the game.

8.) Beware motivated ex-coaches

Cal coaches Justin Wilcox, Peter Sirmon and Marques Tuiasosopo were at USC? This is like a bowl game for Cal. It was last year too. Even strength coach Torre Becton used to be at USC. He wisely turned down the USC strength job after last season.

9.) Run some trick plays

Graham Harrell’s put up three points in three quarters at Tempe. Why couldn’t he run some trick plays?

10.) Have the coaching staff wear ties

Hey, if John Baxter can’t coach at least he will look smart in a dress shirt and tie like Marv Goux and John McKay below. It won’t hurt the rest of the subpar coaching staff either.

Image result for marv goux usc

42 thoughts on “10 Things USC Needs To Fix To Beat Cal”

  1. “Start Kenan Christon” – YES! Particularly after burning his ability to red shirt.

    “Have the coaching staff wear ties.” – Whether it is a t-shirt or a dress shirt, Baxter’s gut will be out in front, so to speak.

    Liked by 5 people

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    2. 67 — #11: Don’t allow Toa on the sidelines.
      #TheFactHeIsn’tAtCenterIn2019MightBeEnoughToWin
      #TheFactHeltonKeptHimAtCenterIn2018IsEnoughForTermination

      Liked by 2 people

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      2. It’s nice Helton got his chance to be “in love” last season—but, as head coach, he owed it to J. T. to save him from scooping balls off the ground or leaping into the air to snag snaps. Most of last year J. T. had NO time to go thru his reads cuz of Toa’s bad snaps…
        #HowMuchWorseCanItGetThanToa&Callaway?
        #HeltonHasToGo….
        #ButI’dLoveToSeeThePlayersWinOut

        Liked by 2 people

  3. Hey Wolfman
    It’s not a ‘bowl game’ for CAL. It’s just another game.
    4 & 5* against 2* and walk ons & only a 4.5pt favorite?

    #SumtingWong
    #RememberA$497ParkingFineWithin11BlocksOfTheStadium
    #OnlyGODCouldLoveTheCityOfBerkeley.

    Liked by 3 people

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      1. Hey Art
        SC top 5-10th recruiting classes. CAL 72nd. 2017.

        4*/5* vs walk ons & transfers.

        4.5pts? Should be 20.

        SC games are not like the ‘good ole days’ where they were a season highlight on the schedule. I cringe when I see SC sideline behaviour.
        Just a bunch of excellent athletes some of whom even believe in the team concept. Song girls top stuff however. Those ladies are a team.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. If you believe Phil Steele the average out of high school ranking of our first 22 is only slightly better than Cal’s.
        #Arturo’sRightAgain

        Liked by 2 people

      5. Thank you T67.

        Hey Art & MG, pay attention to T67 he knows what he is talking about. First 22 pffffft.
        Youz guyz should be 20+ pts fav.
        It ain’t a bowl game. Remember that. Just another game. You have the most team speed in the nation. You have the best facilities & heritage💰 in the PAC.
        CAL🇺🇸 should be laughed off the field in this game.
        #ButWeWillGiveItAShot

        Liked by 1 person

      7. 67 — You’re right about who has more 4 and 5 stars (USC by far)—I was referring to Phil Steele’s own ‘ranking out of high school’ rating system (which I think is more trustworthy). Our starters average roughly a 20 rating — Cal’s average roughly 25.

        Liked by 1 person

      9. Yeah, 67 —especially all that poor mouthing the day before the game to set the stage for the N. D. win….
        My favorite all time low Holtzism: “I don’t know if we belong on the same field as them but I can promise you this — we’ll be there to find out!”
        #HeWasTalkingAboutOneOfTheServiceAcademies….

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Here ya go, Editor. Just doing the Lord’s work:

    “Everyone knows USC had the indignity of two players (Kedon Slovis, Brett Neilon) getting on the same play.“

    Clean it up, Flow.

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. USC doesn’t have to do anything special to beat Cal, because I don’t think they have the athletes to cover the Trojans receivers. It’s the same story, week after week.

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      1. Cal75 —Sorry. We can’t be nice to you this week…
        #WeAllSuspectThere’sReasonToBeNervous
        #Cal’sGotSomethingUpTheirSleeve

        Like

      2. MG
        As you know, everyone has a plan until they get hit. I’ll still respond to the distraught after 11/16. Give me a few days if by some miracle the hippies prevail.
        Even in defeat, I shall hold my head high.

        #UnlikeP76WhoFledTheSceneNeverToBeSeenAgain
        #BetterGiveCommieLushAMonth&GetADefib

        Liked by 1 person

      1. T4life
        I’m never sure. Besides old ironsides has once again humbled my school by reminding everyone of our glorious 1959 Rose Bowl.

        #WhatAboutTheCheezitMasterpiece?
        #Looking4SCBowlAppearanceLastYear
        #StillLooking

        Like

  9. “Everyone knows USC had the indignity of two players (Kedon Slovis, Brett Neilon) getting [hurt] on the same play.” Everyone knows Scott has the indignity of two errors on the same day.

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      3. Michael, it is difficult to find a more committed Trojan than Pudly. People criticized him for being a homer, but I think it was more that he didn’t feel good about crapping on the team and staff. But I know he was not a fan of Helton, Pendergast, Baxter, etc.

        The blog is a better place with him engaged.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. I agree —I wish he’d return. “Maybe someday” —-as Claudia Cardinale sez to Charles Bronson at the end of Once Upon A Time In The West (but when he says ‘yes’ you know he’s never gonna return)..
        #NowThatWeHaveTWOMichaelGuarinosPosting…
        #…WeShouldHaveAtLeastONEPudly

        Liked by 1 person

      6. I think you nailed it, Cal75: One morning Pudly got up, read here that he was up to mischief with our friends in the animal kingdom and thought to himself “life’s too short.”
        Now, care to predict a score for Saturday’s game?
        #…OrDoYouAwaitAFormalInvitationFromScottTomorrow?
        #[And,IfYouRiseToTheBait,PleaseAnswerIn#’s,NotMetaphors]…..

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  10. Pingback: USC Morning Buzz: Clay Helton Makes An Adjustment – InsideUSC with Scott Wolf

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