FOOTBALL

Someone Needs To Develop USC Players

Kind of a nothingburger draft, not that it was unexpected.

Olaijah Griffin and Tyler Vaughns go undrafted.

And this sense of deja vu as people wonder why players were not drafted higher or just not drafted.

At the end of the day, players do not really improve or develop under Clay Helton. The End.

48 thoughts on “Someone Needs To Develop USC Players”

      1. regardless they were not good enough at this time, and another year may have helped…or,perhaps they will get offered another way , they are talented

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    2. It’s true we don’t develope people like Alabama but we don’t spend the type of money Bama spends on their football program. They spend at least 20 milion more on their football program than almost anyone. So, yeah, they have the best assistants because they pay them more. I also think that they pay the players but the only proof I have of that would be circumstantial evidence. I couldn’t prove that directly. You have to wonder how they keep getting the number 1 class every year. In this years draft, 9 of the first 39 players drafted were from Alabama.

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  2. Next season Helton’s plan is to use EAsports video games for practice. Once a week the team will gather in pads and share video game experience. The other days of the week the players will play football video games. It might be his best plan yet.

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  3. They’re in a Carch-22.
    Leave early and your risk being drafted later than you thought you would be or not at all because:
    1- your draft grades were “faulty”,
    2- you still haven’t been fully developed
    Leave late and your risk injury, lack of further development under Helton’s carefull tutelage or both.
    What these player [and future ones] need is HONESTY and INTEGRITY from Helton. While Helton consisitently states “To be honest with you” at some point in all his interviews, the man does not know what the word means. Consequently, there is no integrity within the Coaching staff and Atheletic Department.

    If these players went into the draft knowing what their NFL grades were, they either got poor advice from the coaching staff [and potentially others] or they chose to ignore such advice probably for fear of potentail injury, lack of further devlopment or both.

    As a reference to doing it the right way, during Saban’s interviews, he states that he reviews each player’s status with them at year end and discusses whether they are NFL ready or need another year of maturity and development to climb the draft board and get bigger bucks.

    #EnoughIsEnough
    #FireHelton
    #MakeFoltGiveBohnBackHisBalls

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    1. You do know that the NFL does the draft analysis for the kids thinking of coming out early, right. Not the crooks, not the coaches. Do you really think any coach would tell their best defensive lineman to leave if he had a 5-6th round grade? There are frequently other motivations driving these decisions. Tufele had a critically ill sister and needed to help his family out, and maybe some were done trying to play school.

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      1. I’m well aware of Tufele’s situation. I know the NFL grades the players and such info is provided. I also stated that they were either given poor advice or chose to ignore it.
        So explain to me why Griffin, St-Brown, Tuipolutu and Hufanga left early? Poor advice or ignored it.
        If they were done playing at school, then the AD should want to know why and if it is an answer that he doesn’t like then Bohn should be fixing it, n’est-ce pas?

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  5. I hate Helton as much as anyone, but OG just isn’t good enough to be drafted. Sure he could have gotten better with better coaching, but I still don’t think he’s NFL caliber.
    TV seemed like he could play in the league, but better WRs who have played at USC haven’t done much. And I don’t remember what he 40 time was? Is he fast enough to justify a draft pick?

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    1. Not really, especially considering his size. He is, by my opinion, under weight for his height. He’ll get his shot tho with the colts, and have Pittman to lean on.

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    2. I’d like to know what made him a 5-star in the first place. He is not overly tall, fast or physical. HS rankings are a mystery.
      When you compare him to other receivers that recently preceded him at SC, he is nowhere near as good as they are.

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  6. Player development comes from position coaches. This past year may have been an anomaly with COVID, but does beg one question. It is obvious Helton needs to go – but are any position coaches worth “saving” when Helton inevitably is dismissed?

    Despite the Tyler Vaughns miss and Amon St. Brown going lower than expected, Colbert is a solid receivers coach for one. And our defensive backs coach from Oregon is saving our butts in recruiting. But is anyone else worth it?

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    1. Did the covid restrictions put on our state by the governor’s office play into the development of players, especially defensive players who had no spring or summer workouts with all new position coaches? While AZ, byu and other schools out west, not even mentioning texas, the south and Midwest or Atlantic region were practicing we weren’t even allowed on campus or to workout in any groups larger than 5.. could this have had any affect??

      Nah.

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      1. Covid or no Covid, Helton is a 3rd rate coach at best and has never been able to develop any players.

        The players from USC who have been able to get into the NFL during Helton’s tenure as head coach have done so on their own, they sure as hell didn’t learn a thing from Helton and his incompetent assistants.

        Why some of the highly ranked recruits that “USC” gets keep going to USC to play for that clown Helton is a mystery.

        Helton will never be considered for another coaching position after USC comes to their senses and fires his worthless ass. Helton is a laughingstock, no one across the college football landscape can believe USC has kept him around as long as they have.

        But keep making excuses for your daddy, when you’re not doing that you have your tongue up his ass.

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      2. Pudly — I read your analysis of how California’s “super duper” version of the “pandemic” —-and it’s consequent “super duper” lockdown—- interfered with the normal progression of players, especially defensive players. It makes sense.
        Sorry that such a reasonable analysis leads some to conclude Helton’s your “daddy.”
        #IOnlyThinkItMeansNASAIsControllingYourBrainWaves….
        #[….JustLikeTheyDidWithThe Astronauts&AmericanPublic]…

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      3. Yeah chippie is much better at developing players… unfortunately most transfer and go somewhere else before they enter the draft…

        That counts right?

        Hahahahaha

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      4. Tebow has asked me to respond to your point about UCLA players leaving the program….and going “elsewhere”…
        #”WhyNotAdmit”Elsewhere”IsTheBermudaTriangle?!
        #[It’sJustLikeYouToLeaveThatPartOut]….

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      5. One from miamah just went in the first round was it? The one who retired medically form sow. Jalen Phillips I believe. No?

        Good job chippie!

        Liked by 2 people

      6. Agree with your rationale which begs the question, why would Juniors leave early [unless there is a hardship or similar situation] when their playing situation has put them behind the eight ball compared to their peers?
        Apart from this year, the only players drafted in the early rounds under Helton were naturals to begin with. They did not get there because of Helton’s master plan in player development.

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      7. How would returning improve Hufanga’s draft stock? Would he suddenly drop 4/10s of a second in his 40? And let’s be honest, he hasn’t been the most durable of players, if he returns and is hurt, his draft stock drops to nil. And with Amon Ra? What else could he put on his film that he hasn’t already shown, except elite speed? Again, it’s not happening. Your contention that there was some negative influence that they ran from us ludicrous. They could’ve transferred without sitting out to play elsewhere if that was the case. Nice try.

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  7. Tyler Vaughns not being drafted was a small surprise, but really not a shock. He dropped a lot of balls and really didn’t fight for the ball very often. People blaming player development are right. Any good coach would have seen the star potential in him and urged him to put in the extra effort. But Helton, the antithesis of a good coach, just have him a hug when he needed a lecture.
    Mike Bohn, if college players like Vaughns don’t need coaching up based on their natural ability, why does the NFL have so many coaches on each team? Mike you just don’t get it, have you tried selling furniture, you might be good at it because you have sold a couch where we need a coach.

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    1. A 4.62 40 time for an underweight wr might’ve had something to do with it. Maybe Clay could’ve taped weights (like scuba ballasts) to TV’s waist?
      Pittman went 2 inches taller, 40+ lbs heavier and a 4.52.

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      1. TV didn’t show well at his pro day. In addition to the 4.62 (hand-timed, so probably closer to 4.7 electronic), he dropped at least 3 over the shoulder balls from Slovis. We have seen what he can do in games, but he didn’t do himself any favors that day, particularly as St. Brown looked much better.

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      2. AVT was graded properly and so going in the first round is a no-brainer. Not clear on whether the others were graded properly and chose to ignore the advice.
        So you believe that an extra year would be of NO benefit to Marlon Tuipulotu, TH, ARSB, and OG.
        First off, TH, ARSB & OG could improve their speed by cross-training with the Track team. One of the knocks on ARSB is that he lacked separation. Improve your speed and your position should impprove. Similarly, TH could improve this measureable. It’s stuff that matters to NFL teams.
        OG didn’t have enough passes thrown his way to provide enough of a sample size to convince teams that he is the real deal. He could’ve used another year to mature both physically and mentally.
        If Marlon played like the beast that he is for a full season and further addressed his weaknesses, then he probably would improve his draft position by a minimum of 2 rounds [Tufele went in the 4th without having played].
        Additionally, the number of games played in 2020 and quality of oppostion did not allow them the opportunity to put something extraordinary on film.
        Transferring was certainly an option. It is a risky one in that you have to find the right situation where you will be a starter, something which they all were here but may not be elsewhere.

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      3. You assume that these guys had no speed training. Not sure where you get this. Even the baseball players have speed training. Just because they’re not on the track team doesn’t mean they aren’t working on speed and/or quickness. Amon Ra comes from a family that knows professional training and I’m sure that whatever speed he had was all he was going to ever possess. Who knows? Him, his brothers, maybe even his dad probably had this planned out. They’ve seemed to have scripted most everything else.
        As far as who’s improve their lot coming back, I’m just not convinced they would. Hufanga was DPOY for the Pac12, his and Marlon’s knock was durability also. I think the shortened season this year was their first without missing games, wasn’t it? So if they decided they were done with school and didn’t want to risk injury, then why come back?

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      4. Whatever speed training they got was lacking in quality; the proof is in the pudding. In watching draft selection shows over the years, the analysts would typically mention when a player got that extra speed training to improve their times. I would imagine that the track coaches could find some time in the day to include training football players.
        There is no doubt that the players make the decision to leave early. Interested and to a certain extent concerned fans ask “why”, especially when a player gets drafted in the later rounds or not at all.
        Not sure if anybody ever did a study on these early-departure juniors to see (for starters): 1- how their NFL career evolved, 2- how much money they left on the table by not waiting a year.

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      5. In the old days speed training wasn’t as common as now. Today it’s even worked it’s way into high schools and club sports.

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  9. My two cents to this:

    First it starts with the Pac 12 Commisoner, he did not put an emphasis on PaC 12 football. He nonchalant attitude toward football is and was descpectable by not protecting the PAC 12. He did not get a good tv contract. When you play games on Thursday and Friday night and when games start at 8:00 PM, while he is having dinner at Monty’s Steak House while the game is going on, then you know he doesn’t care.

    This showed by the disrespect on the players in the PAC 12. When players from the sec, big 10, big 12, acc, and even from the league of North Dakota St. are drafted before a PAC 12 player, then the coaching and PAC 12 Administration did not do it’s part in developing the programs to being the high caliber that they should be. When the PAC 12 get only the Rose Bowl as a major bowl and the sec, acc, and big 10 get the rest, this falls on the the quiche eating panzie PAC 12 commissioner.

    The PAC 12 comissioner needs to get a TV station that everyhone can see and to demand to play only Saturday games between 10 A.M. (when the teams go back east) up to 5 P.M. on major channels. Have the PAC 12 go after NBC and have a game of the week and televise the game.

    Helton needs to be fired for the productivity of the team. There wasn’t any. The players were not developed. However, he bad mouths players. That should be grounds of termination. It is his job to get the kids ready to play. When SC only gets one player in the first round and the rest are in the fourth and then two free agents, that is on Helton, which is very bad. You see Stanford, Oregon, and Washington getting more players drafted in the first three rounds. Where was SC? No where to be found.

    In terms of the new Pac 12 commissioner, they better hire a man that has played football and has sports adm. experience. I say Elway or Lott would be a great selection. The Pac 12 wants to hire some chick who has never suited up and understand what it feels like to have your jockstrap knocked backwards. She has the expericne of playing nice. Football is not nice on the field or in the offices of the teams or leagues. They are fighting for every penny and exposure they can get. This Pac 12 commissioner has to understand that. If not, then the league will continue to be under the Mountain West league.

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    1. So we’re third the last five years..

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      3. True —And even though there are MANY other factors in play, I just hope this last year isn’t partial evidence of the “Helton Effect” finally starting to settle in….

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    2. PT — You’ll be happy to hear Hillary Clinton has been offered the Pac 12 job…..
      #All’sWell….
      #…SheKnowsWhatItFeelsLikeToWearJockstrapBackwards

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      2. I bet your resume checks off all the OTHER boxes….
        #GoAhead&Apply….
        #[You’llBeBetterThanTheOneTheyPick]

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    3. SPOT ON !!! HELTON AND STAFF STINK.. TOO SOFT.. NOT DISCIPLINED.. 3rd RATE AS BEST… PLAYERS ARE UNDERCOACHED… ZERO IMPROVEMENT FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

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  10. NEWS BREAK! Patti Hearst has been selected as the new Pac 12 Commissioner. I am hearing Marcia Clark finished as the second choice, but the hiring committee didn’t think she could handle the pressure of a high profile job.

    Great choice- The new Pac 12 Headquarters will be moved from San Francisco to the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA. This is the type of radical leadership we need out here in the Pac 12. Perhaps, her next move will be to run for Governor of California against Miss Jenner which would certainly make an interesting election.

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    1. Don’t kid…..
      #ThisIsPrettyMuchWhatIt’llComeDownTo…..
      #IBelieveIt’sCalledA’DeathSpiral’….
      #[IThinkToynbeeDidABookOnIt…
      #[…Called”TheDisintegrationOfSociety”]….

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  11. I am also hearing Carol Folt applied for the Pac 12 Commisioner but the hiring committee did not like her proposal for 7am Saturday football kickoff times so the Pac 12 could get more early morning TV exposure on the East Coast, and the student athletes would miss less time outside of the classroom.

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    1. Carol Folt: “If USC students are gonna be forced outta classrooms I want it to be science-based….”

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  12. News Flash: Carol Folt just ordered that all athletes in the fall must wear full masks during all athletic events regardless if it has a negative effect on the team’s performance. All masks must cover the eyes, nose, and mouth. No exceptions all eyes must be covered also by the mask. If the rules are not obeyed all Trojan fall sports will be virtual meaning all competition will be based on video game performances. The goal is keeping the environment at USC safe the outcome of athletic events in terms of wins and losses will become secondary.

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  13. Was Amon Ra’s lower recruiting really a result of lack of player development? He has a low celing due to his physical constraints. Simply not fast enough. Is that something that could have been improved with more training? I doubt it. He was highly motivated to train his body, but just didnt have the natural speed that other players do.

    Marlon seems like the biggest issue. He should have been developed more. But you really have to think that maybe the constraints of training in CA were as much to blame for this as anything else.

    I think that Stiner will do a much better job of training specifically for each position.

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