FOOTBALL

Discuss The USC-Washington State

Thankfully, it’s over.

Washington State used elements of Oregon State’s defense tonight and it clearly had an effect on the USC offense. Caleb Williams (15-29, 188 yards) had his second-worst game of the season.

But don’t overfocus on him. The defense was giving up too many rushing yards (Jaylen Jenkins had 130 yards in 13 carries!) and looked shaky defending the pass (again).

These are things that matter when you play a good team. I don’t know when USC will play a good team. But it can’t really dominate an average team right now.

An advantage this season is relying on Lincoln Riley to outcoach the opposition. I’m not sure that happened tonight.

Maybe USC should stay in the Pac-12.

87 thoughts on “Discuss The USC-Washington State”

  1. There are a lot of deficiencies in USC, but for once, we have a stellar head coach. Riley simply finds a way to win, just like good coaches do.

    Our offensive line is OK, but not great
    Caleb Williams is a true playmaker, but he is somewhat inaccurate
    The defensive line and linebackers are questionable, but maybe getting better?
    The secondary is good, but not great.

    But take a look at Oklahoma, which has a better roster on average than USC. Riley brought this team together from a roster that was decimated by Helton. Give Riley a few years to recruit and develop players.

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    2. If they can only get this team to play 2 halves on defense. The opposing offense has scored 76 points on us in the 1st half and only 36 in the 2nd half.

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      1. Just be glad it isnt the other way around, much better to have a team that dominates the second half – it shows that the coaches are smart.

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  3. Geez, it’s a lack of continuity and leadership. When the stars don’t shine, others have to step up and say it’s my time to shine. This group can’t duplicate what the other teams can do and that’s execute at a high level on a consistent basis. Beating the cougars is the first quality opponent for this team. But they need to get better fast or they will have to settle for less. Anybody expecting a 4-8 team to be elite in less than a year needs therapy.

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    1. I think SC will be, at worst, 9-1 after 10 games. Next week is going to be tough. I really wish Utah would have beaten UCLA. They are going to be made as hell next week and so are their fans. They know if they lose next week, they will have 3 losses and their season will be over for the most part. Winning next week is really going to be tough. If somehow we are able to go down to Utah and beat them in their own house, I thinkl we will be 10-0 after 10 games. As of right now, the weather is supposed to be good next saturday in SLC.

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  4. LOL!! Yeah, because you know, tough teams like Michigan state ( who lost to Washington) Nebraska, Rutgers, Wisconsin, etc. (who Washington state beat….ON THE ROAD) are so scary to USC 🤷🏾‍♂️👏🏿. Come on Wolfie, your editorial skills and knowledge is better than that statement! 😂😂

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  5. johnn the writur keeps losin muny in vegus, bettin aginst usc. Kinda like ‘ol peenus breth, whoo thinks usc is 1-5, he keepz sayun at haftime at most evry gaim “I’m callin’ it, usc loozes! LMAO!”

    me ‘n my ed G cullectin ourw winnins rite now. EdG feelin bad abut takin muny from the moruns, he mite pay for ‘ol peenus breth to moov into a dubl wide, but ‘ol peenus breth wood just taik out anuthr morgage an bet aginst usc aftur gaim wuz over.

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    1. johnn the writur keeps making me suck his balls while I jerk my peenus. Kinda like ‘ol peenus breth, whoo thinks I look good in my pink panties LMAO!”

      EdG feelin bad abut giving head to the moruns, he say his ass is all stretched out from steveg49

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      1. Next Saturday COULD be the happiest day of Scott’s season.
        #TheGoodNews:IThinkWeCanRunOnUtah…
        #…And…DueToCaleb’sInconsistency…WeSHOULDRunOnUtah

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    2. Hey, wolf……..spoken like a true dick……troll on!!!!

      I have no fucking idea why I keep login on to read this blog, I could be in my bed sucking steveg49 junk, and eating his ass .

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  7. 6 and 0, baby.
    Worse case scenario is 9 and 3 at this point.
    Wolf you are way too negative.
    Defense is good. Travis Dye is the unsung hero.
    Utah will be playing to salvage season.
    Riley is the real deal.
    Thank you, Bohn, Caruso and Carol Burnett!

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  8. Great victory and now watching STL on the verge of elimination in post-season for MLB….SEA resurrected their lives over TOR as did CLE over TAM….good riddance to the roid king fat butt Pujols…’Albert’s best quote “…I prayed to God (pause and point to heaven)….then I divorced my wife….”

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  9. Wazzu is shut out in the second half, with just over 100 yards of offense, about the same as in the previous 2 games in the second half.

    Enjoy the season, it is going as well as anyone could realistically expect.

    Maybe this year, USC-gutties will be a real battle.

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    1. ‘Might just might’ be shades of 1967…..BTW class note the ‘he/she’ 3 letter moniker that either is a ‘trannie’ or a ‘demoncrat’ ‘DTR’ you know the drill…

      FDR, JFK, LBJ, RFK opps BTW ‘JFK’ is shared by two illustrious souls…
      one the guy who is famous for getting whacked by the mob and the other the guy with that huge chin who knows what 5 star hotels to stay in when he flies in his ‘private jet’…..

      Troy resplendent in her resurrected glory…..6 – 0
      No more Clay Heltonska or Lyndon Swann or Pat Haden or Steve Sarkisian or Steve Lopes….especially Lopes imagine that frat rat’s ass in charge of hiring a head coach?

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    2. Both Utah and UCLA play better team football than USC at this point….but USC has plenty going for it…and we don’t quit….
      #[…RileyKNOWSWeNeedToPlayMuchBetterToBeatUtah]….

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  11. Wolf’s personal agenda against all things related to USC, is in part, why many often consider him a third-rate journalist…..pathetic!

    You’re right, fair, balanced, and objective have never been part of his criteria for as long as I can remember

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    1. Wolf’s personal agenda against all things related to USC, is in part, why many often consider him a third-rate journalist. But me being the dumb Fuc that I am, I continue to log on to read it. It certainly beats beating my meat as I watch my wife use a big black dildo on herself .LMAO!! 🍆

      You’re right, fair, balanced, and objective have never been part of his criteria for as long as I can remember

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  12. LOL, ‘67 because I remember that Orange Bowl to be f’n awesome (which it most certainly was) but after reading Scott’s recap I now feel depressed about that stupid 55-19 blowout.

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  13. I figured this out twenty years ago, but maybe some of you haven’t. Scott is a cunt. He will never say that USC beat a “real team” because in his restarted logic, no “real team” would ever get beat by USC.

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  15. Let’s speculate for a moment and go way back to 2003 when USC crushed MI in the Rose Bowl but was blocked from playing for the’ SEC championship’ aka ‘BCS CG because that was reserved for the SEC champion LSU against pathetic OK.

    Let’s say history repeats itself and USC is again omitted from the four team playoff …. thankfully the AP told the BCS/FBS way back in 2004, to shove it on ‘consuming its’ (AP) ranking way back in sooooo were USC to be excluded from the final FBS=SEC rigged rankings i.e. OH St…..AL….OK St…..Clemson….and then go and crush say GA in the Sugar Bowl (BTW aficionados that is the one major bowl USC has never played in) we all know the AP would love nothing less than to screw the FBS.

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  16. Those towel wavers gave me a hard on . I mean they way their balls bounce around whenever they jump up and down waving those towels drives me nutts 😃😃😅😅 👅👅

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    1. Man they remind me of white trash with a mission just a whoopin’ and a hollerin’ like that ass clown running up and down the stairs at that NC St. @ Clemson game last week. Someone in the production dept. recognized a ‘Carolina mountie a yellin’ ‘…I found the body and the body is dead sir!’

      That fool truly was the epitome of ‘…white trash with a mission…’ why he was so memorable rather then cut away to that ‘good ole’ boy’ Dabbo why the camera stayed focused on ‘…Corporal Claytonska reportin’ fer’ duty SIR!’

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  17. I didnt see alot of Domani Jackson, but wasnt paying enough attention to know if he was there and I didnt see him. Would love to see Raesjon Davis getting some playing time too.

    Maybe after Utah, we have a couple easier games and can work in some of the up and coming players that will need to step up next year.

    USC is a long ways away from having top level players at every position on the field and depth that is required.

    Is the defensive line getting better, or is it my imagination?

    I think Wolf’s expectations for USC are just too high for the first year of the Riley era. 6-0 , even though some games are ugly, is pretty good.

    I would love to see USC more able to have more consistency on long pass plays, to open up the field.

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    1. SC’s defense gave up 130 total yards in the 2nd half. Last week, they only gained 14 yards in the 2nd half. It almost seems that the SC defense has to feel the other team out(in the first half) and then they make adjustments at half. This defense would be really outstandin if they could just play 2 halves.

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  18. The problem with USC is certain players are unproductive and that is on the coaches. Having 5 in the box on defense can only work if you have a massive nose tackle. The next best thing(if you don’t want to bring a safety in) is to have two DT playing two gap while setting your ends wide. Offense? They have to get better at attacking the middle of the defense 7 yards or more. Deeper crossing routes would be nice. Was Austin Jones hurt or did he screw up? Somebody is coaching special teams because that unit is functional at least.

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    1. ….per below, I think Grinch’s plan was to slow down or stop the Gunslinger QB (from Incarnate Word) and mitigate the Wazzu pass game. The QB/pass game was Wazzu’s strenth. Giving up some run yardage–while tough for us to watch–was the right choice by Grinch. Gentry spent alot of time spying on the Wazzu QB, who really did not hurt us with his legs and who was ineffective with his arm when the game was “on the line.”

      Holding Wazzu to 14 was a solid performance.

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  19. And another thing, Utah is big but couldn’t handle the UCLA skill players in space. Rising didn’t have his top two receivers and Utah paid the price. I expect USC to win next week because of the hidden yards battle. The Pac 12 is the 4th best conference overall for now. What’s the best non-conference win today?

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  20. They really do make good adjustments at halftime, especially on defense. They never did that under Orlando and Clancy Pendergrast. The opponents have only scored a total of 36 points in 6 games in the 2nd half and 14, maybe 21, of those were after the game was over.

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  21. I am totally sick and tired of you always finding fault with the USC Trojan football team. This was a team that won only 4 games last year, yet you have the nerves to attack this tram. You are a absolut disgrace that have a problem. Washington State is not a bad team, and went to Madison and beat a Big Ten Team Wisconsin. Washington State was held to 14 points, would you only be satisfied if USC head Washington State to 0. I am so proud of my Trojans and love the fact that they have won 6 games. If they don’t beat UTAH AT UTAH – I AM QUITE SURE YOU WILL BE SO HAPPY. You are becoming a joke that nobody pays any attention to you anymore and neither will I,

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  22. USC needs to shore up the run defense really we give up too many rushing yards., cannot locate the ball carrier for nothing. Grinch what the hell are you doing, every back just guts us time after time. Our LB need to be more physical at the point of attack. They get caught out of position on runs up the middle. Rb are able to get extra yards because we don’t get into the gaps, other than Tuli, who had a monster game with little help from Figueroa & Taleni who had there moments in the second half. Safeties other than M Williams & Calen is not that good. Do we have any other S that can play. We need more SS that know their assignments. Offensive lineman proved to better run blockers but not pass blocking. We are a flawed 6-0 team, I will take our record any day, just don’t like our offensive philosophy when Caleb is so up n down. Waiting for him to clean up his mechanics to really get the offense moving efficiently.

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    1. To my review of the Wazzu run attack, it was Tuli (who otherwise had a great game) and the edge protectors who allowed the three breakway runs by the Jenkins kid. He was otherwise held in check.

      Before my shot of Bourbon last night, I tabulated the chunk plays that Wazzu ran up. I think over 1/3 of their paltry offensive performance came on 4 plays–two 40 yd runs, a 20+ yd run, and a 40 yd pass.
      Otherwise, the D was stout.

      They came in with a vaunted pass attack which was winning them games and helped them almost beat the Dux. GRINCH likely allowed Wazzu some run game, spied on their QB (with Gentry), and prevented their Pass Game from beating us. Good game plan Grinch.

      When the FPI data comes out again, I suspect we will see USC’s defensive score improve. Unfortunately, our offense was FPI #3 before this game. We will drop this week.

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  24. It was not a stellar moment for offense,except running game. Defense has been a 60/40 good/ bad experience…but way better than last year for both units. Utah looked slow vs ucla,and ucla was in charge for 60 mins.

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      1. If they play like they did vs ucla I believe it will happen. I think ucla is probably their toughest opponent to date, hopefully we are even tougher.

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    1. Charles, wtf does Yahoo know about football?

      Since Pete left for the NFL, the Pac 10/12 has generally cannibalized itself in October and November and thus ended up out of the Natty contention. I never saw Utah as a real contender, and they got disassembled yesterday on the road. I think I predicted the Bruin win
      (with the proviso that if DTR threw 0-1 picks, the Bruins would win).

      I suspect–if the USC offense does not tidy up its problems–that the Pac10/12 will again eat itself in 2022 and possibly even lay turds in their bowl games. You and I recall when the PAC 10 previously ruled the Bowl Season. Not so much any more.

      We’ll talk later this week as we prep for Utah. A solid win versus Utah on Prime Time TV is an absolute necessity. Riles can do it.
      Grinch will need to dial it up.

      As for now, I’m enjoying a solid W vs an over-ranked Wazzu team.

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  28. Bobby Haskins was getting pushed backwards so fast he looked like a hand truck.Set the parking brake Bobby! Dig your heels in, man.Trojans need a reliable left tackle in the worst way.But alas, it’s a great day to be an Eagle!

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  29. The team looks like they are having fun, they are confident, and they respond well to challenges.

    Pretty much the polar opposite of previous years.

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  30. It is getting hard to conceive USC making the final four. If they finish in the top 15 it can be considered a good season. As far as the Pac championship it will boil down to USC/Utah vs Oregon. If USC loses to Utah that will be the head to head that keeps USC out, so Utah is still a must win. Then they will have to hang on until the ucla game and hopefully finally show improvement everywhere. I can see two losses. ND will be a win for USC. Hopefully LR has some tricks left in his bag for the really big games.

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    1. AGREE
      If SC athletes can play as fast as ucla,they should win,’cause utes looked slow compared to bruins.Chip did a good job preparing,ucla had them on the run from start to finish.

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    2. There seem to be 4 teams that could make the Pac-12 championship – USC, UCLA, Oregon and Utah. I am hoping next week USC knocks Utah out of the running.

      That UCLA game is going to be huge for many reasons. The winner will get a boost in the fight for local talent.

      Dan Lanning has the most talented roster, but Lanning was not the guy recruiting them and if they cant get into the Big 10, then they will lose out on most top recruits going forward.

      I think the transfer portal could once again be important for USC to get some immediate impact players, but we are only going to take top talent, none of those players that failed at another school.

      If we win the Pac-12 championship, I will be very satisfied with the year.

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  31. Congrats to Jaxon Dart, career game yesterday, 25-32, 448 yards, and 3 TD. Ole Miss undefeated. If only kiffin knew back in the day what he knows now.

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    1. If only he had remained here and not run away.
      Kiffin was a good coach ,he salvaged the program after ncaa bludgeoned it with false perceptions.

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      1. Kiff was a truculent, spoiled, immature kid.
        Hiring his daddy to run a defense–which ended up being the team’s undoing–was further evidence that he was NOT ready for the big time.
        Al Davis was likely suffering early dementia when he hired and fired Kiffin, but it showed some level of cognition.

        After the Saban stint and the FAU job and a public divorce, the guy has rebuilt his image and shown some maturity–the twitter trolling of Saban not-withstanding.

        I am happy for Kiff and hope he continues to succeed. He has emerged a much better Coach, and I am rooting for him.

        (Way to go Sark, also. 49-0 vs the fighting Venables.)

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  32. “Maybe USC should stay in the PAC 12” Scott’s last line says it all. Bitter old man without a newspaper gig will have to cough up real cash when USC spends weekends in a foreign country like Ohio or Michigan. If he wants to keep up his “I’m a writer” schtick he’s gonna have to setup a TV in the basement of the retirement home.
    The future of this blog depends on someone getting it out of Scott’s clutches. Then maybe the sophomoric name calling and Jr. porn players will disappear.

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  33. Like any common addict who can stay clean for maybe a week a a time before returning to the ‘good life’, I just had to poke my nose into your business again because there is actually something to write about other than pre-game puffery, the game itself, can you imagine that–

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  34. This team is fun to watch because they are winning and have a chance at a big prize,
    but if Troy had been beaten down by the Beavers, how much interest would we still have (not as much)
    ‘Celeb’s not as great a passer as he is ‘Houdini escaping mad animals dressed up as humans.
    Not as optimistic about the expected ‘All-World offense,’ but the D seems more stout except for those occasional explosions through the “Defensive Line’s
    Panama-Canal size holes
    Oh well, you can’t have it all…

    Meanwhile across town in sucla-land the Midget-Bears are beside themselves,
    (next to another Midget-Bear) boasting by their quarterback JFK or something like that, that watch-out College-world, we are for real. He might have something there,
    (are you listening Michael Guarino?)

    Finally, the college football landscape does not look so menacing to SC hopes with Alabama needing a last-second stop to win, next up Tennessee with its $4-mil QB
    Clemson riding the tail of a resurrected California QB, but who knows?
    Ohio St’s called buckeyes because they’re hard to crack– they’ll cancel out Michigan
    Georgia, Georgia, led by a walk-on QB, my personal dream only for SC, but not to be

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  35. There is a Twitter clip going around that shows QB scrambling out of the pocket B4 tossing 38yd pass early in the game. What I saw were 4 white jersey WSU Dlineman being pursued by 5 SC Lineman and one clipping penalty not being called.
    All the SC Lineman were on the wrong side of the play. There’s going to be some ass chewin Monday.

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    1. Let’s focus on the positive. For YEARS [except for Sam] USC had QB’s who struggled to get up after any and every hit. Caleb runs INTO defenders and bounces back. He’s a football player. Dye is more than a football player —he does everything right. Our 0-line gets stronger as the game goes on —not weaker [as it did last year]. And we’ve almost completely erased the dumb penalties [like the one that sunk Rutgers against Nebraska] that plagued us last year.
      Riley has this team believing in itself. And playing mostly smart, tough football.

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  36. Let’s predict next Wolf post:

    “USC falls in AP top 25 after writers agree team underperformed!”

    He will refuse to acknowledge USC remained at 6th in coaches poll.

    This schtick is getting old.

    Maybe we call Wolf – dementia Scott.

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  37. Pass blocking obviously needs work.
    Travis Dye said during an interview that the o-line blocking was “outstanding”. Maybe cheap talk, but he did have a great game and ran through some big holes.

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    1. The O-Line is performing above expectations. They’re playing the best they can play. I guess we can’t ask more than that [and on more than a couple of run plays they performed outstandingly against the second best D-Line in the conference]….
      #OnlyProblem:NextWeekTheyFace#1BestD-LineInConference

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  38. So if I am Lincoln Riley I am putting together a game plan for Utah where I still want to hold back on some of my tricks to spring on UCLA.

    The key at Utah will be to get Caleb on track early in the game.

    As far as coaching:
    – The D line is the unit making the most progress, so maybe Nua deserves some credit.
    – The O line does not seem to be getting better, in particular left guard. After the Utah game, will there be an attempt to add competition at left tackle, maybe move Vorhees to left tackle, or give Mason Murphy more playing time? I have lost all faith in Cortland Ford and Bobby Haskins has a ceiling that is not high enough.
    – Tight ends are not really performing, either as blockers or receivers. Can we get a better tight end coach?
    – Travis Dye delivers 100% of his skill level. Too bad he isnt faster or bigger. Great coaching there. Need to get Raleek to fight for yards and be decisive in his cuts. After the Utah game, he needs alot more touches.
    – The receivers are not living up to the hype, dropped passes, not great route running, not making plays on balls and fighting through contact. Is the coaching sufficient here? What is going on? Is our secondary not good enough to offer a challenge in practice?
    – Linebackers seem to be improving little by little. Gentry could become an All American with the right coaching. We just lack the players here. Why are they not getting Raesjon Davis more playing time?
    – Secondary should be better. Ceyair Wright is getting turned around quite often and allowing too much cushion on 3rd down plays, where he just gives up the first down easily. Between Max Williams, Calen Bullock and Mekhi Blackmon, this secondary should be a lockdown secondary. Get Domani Jackson on the field. They need to stop missing assignments and not allow so many wide open receivers. Not sure about the coaching here, is it Donte or Grinch, or the overall scheme?
    – Caleb Williams is a fantastic play-maker, but has accuracy problems. Is that being addressed, or is that only something they can work on in the off-season for next year? He wont win the Heisman without more accuracy.

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    1. We have to appreciate Caleb for what he is….and not complain about what he isn’t. He’s a leader, has a good arm, fast feet and knows how to take advantage of the moment [something he might lose if he “improves his mechanics” as some are urging]. He also knows when to throw the ball away. He’s got the exact right skillset for this particular O-line.

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  39. Signs of improvement….
    1. A run game. Pretty good run blocking. A mobile QB.
    2. Maybe I’m wrong, but “better” SPECIAL TEAMS play.
    3. Again, no dumb penalties. The targeting call on Bullock was dicey.
    We get Bullock back to start the Utah game, thankfully.
    4. Ball control, winning the TO battle.
    5. Good defensive adjustments at the Half.

    What I’d like to see…
    1. Better pass protection.
    2. Downfield passing game.
    3. Breakaway pass game.
    4. Raleek and some breakaway runs.

    Can’t wait to talk about Utah next week.

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    1. Caleb doesn’t really get the pass protection to set up for a 40 yard throw. I’m afraid he’d get creamed if he stayed in the pocket for close to 4 seconds….and I think he knows it.

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  40. I think it’s amusing to read so many supporters complain about how a team wins and then anticipates a loss before a game starts without explanation. Wolf says a good team will exploit USC’s flaws? Who? Utah? UCLA? Cal? Arizona? Unless you can do more than what the Trojans do then schemes only go so far before the other team is exposed. Utah lacks firepower on both sides of the ball. UCLA lacks depth. Notre Dame lacks speed and skill players. Only injuries and timid play calling will stop USC. My biggest concern is the offense plays too slow and the defense is too basic in their coverage declarations. It’s the middle of the season, the whole playbook should be available.

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  41. You losers will be exposed next week by the utards. I can’t wait to see the look on Lincoln’s face when chip and co are throttling the gay bois from Troy on the rose bowl turf.

    This year will make last year look like a close game putos.

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