FOOTBALL

USC Morning Buzz: Linemen And Defense Win Titles

Brandon Baker of Mater Dei High School is ranked the No. 1 offensive tackle in the nation by some recruiting services and it doesn’t appear USC is going to make the cut.

I’m tempted to write that 10 times because it’s almost hard to believe.

Oregon is the leader and Baker also has Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, Miami, Florida State and Tennessee atop his list.

For USC to truly be back among the nation’s elite, it needs to get the best linemen in the country, obviously. But it really needs to get that lineman when they go to Mater Dei.

It’s really shocking Baker doesn’t have USC as a finalist right now.

I guess Donte Williams showing up in his varsity jacket at Mater Dei isn’t enough. You have to throw some focus on USC offensive line coach Josh Henson here. He pretty much gets a free pass because USC’s had so many line coaches and everyone just believes in Lincoln Riley (and his hires). That mindset might change if USC keeps losing the best offensive line recruits.

Let’s remember there was a time when USC was the benchmark for offensive linemen. This is what needs to return, no matter how much offenses have changed over the decades: You need linemen and defense to win championships.

86 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Linemen And Defense Win Titles”

  1. As far as LR’s coaching staff is concerned, I think that they have done a great job recruiting. They finished 1st in the Pac-12(ahead of Oregon) in recruiting for 2023. That’s pretty good when you figure in that SC still recruits high school kids and Oregon buys them.
    But you’re right, we can’t be losing these great players who grew up right in our back yard. If there is one criticism that I had about Mike Bohn is that our NIL program never seemed to get off the ground under Bohn.
    There is no reason why Miami, Texas or Oregon should be ahead of us for those players. Miami and Texas didn’t even have winning seasons last year and we made the Pac-12 championship game, not Oregon. Those guys are right here within a short drive of USC. I would think that they would want to stay home close to their families. When they are willing to leave, I can’t help thinking that somebody is offering them a bag of cash.

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    2. I know it’s not the not the coaches, because I know everything, It is Baker. He does not like USC. That is fine. If you notice the schools he does like, the all have the money delivery trucks around the corner waiting for the committment. This is purely about money for Baker, nothing else. Does Wolf want USC to stoop to the level of Oregon, Miami, or the other hats he has? Riley wants players who want to be at USC, then they talk money later. I talked with Lincoln Riley and he said USC will be fine without Baker, and watch the portal the next couple of years and see if he enters. Btw, someone please tell the administration that they should put a statue of myself in fron of the new facility, because I’m a rockstar blogger, and know everything!!!!

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      2. Fuckin A right you little dick boy, btw, I jerked off to Mike Bohn’s picture this morning, because I miss him so much 😭😭

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      3. I read somewhere that posting under another person’s name and pretending to be that person is illegal. But if it is why don’t you complain to the blog owner? Besides I don’t really have an opinion of my own, just post here to jerk off in my mom’s basement.
        I’m not sorry, I’m just tired of USC having such good press. Now if you’ll excuse me I have to skim my dad’s penthouse magazine for more material. (Because I really do like to hear myself talk)

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      4. According to fake gabby, if you sit on your hand until it falls asleep then jack off with the sleepy hand it feels like someone else is beating the meat…fake gabby claims it makes the toes curl…..just a thought!

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      5. Fake Gabby is an expert in perversion and happily shares it with everyone he meets, on the bus and at the local park.

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      6. I read somewhere that posting under another person’s name and pretending to be that person is illegal. 😂But if it is why don’t you complain to the blog owner? Besides I don’t really have an opinion of my own, just post here to jerk off in my mom’s basement.😂
        I’m not sorry, 😂I’m just tired of USC having such good press. Now if you’ll excuse me I have to skim my dad’s penthouse magazine for more material. (Because I really do like to hear myself talk)😂. Penthouse? This must be some old Fart, who reads that anymore 😂 Keep posting Gramps.. 😂😂😂

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    3. Nick Saban has a different opinion than most of us regarding USC’s NIL collective/program. I think Alabama has no money and it claps Nick’s ass.

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      2. That’s your problem- you don’t think, Fake Gabby the manic depressive pervert psycho.

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      3. Schools/Boosters/Collectives/Markets like USC has can pay a lot more NIL Above the Table than Nick is used to paying Under the Table. So yeah, he’s pissed. Said this awhile ago, NIL is the big equalizer versus all the crap that has gone on and not challenged in the SEC (like Cam Newton’s Dad).

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      4. Nick Saban is a hypocrit. The SEC has been cheating for years and getting away with it because the NCAA favored them and looked the other way. Out of the last 17 years, the SEC has had the NC 13 times. That’s not an accident.

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  2. If the team doesn’t have the caliber of assistant coaches to lure prospects like this kid, then different assistants are SORELY needed. A winning program begins and ends here – end of story. Coach O is deeply missed.

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  3. It is not the coaches. It is Baker. He does not like USC. That is fine. If you notice the schools he does like, the all have the money delivery trucks around the corner waiting for the committment. This is purely about money for Baker, nothing else. Does Wolf want USC to stoop to the level of Oregon, Miami, or the other hats he has? Riley wants players who want to be at USC, then they talk money later. USC will be fine without Baker, and watch the portal the next couple of years and see if he enters.

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    1. Money talks Can’t buy me love If we want the kid then show him the coin Get him interested and show him what we have to offer. We need to remain competitive Oregon with Phil is doing the money thing
      We should too God knows we have it Use it.

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      1. What the heck is going on with these young men. It should be about education first and the love of the game, not holding out for the highest bidder. Priorities are all fucked up!

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Fake Gabby the wanna be actually believes his blather about elite football players caring about education over making the NFL.

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      1. It didn’t take long for the imitators to start on you real steveg49. I absolutely love it. I was at Ed.G’s House last night, and I must say, that FUCC-TARD is really a Dumd Ass, I use to think he was kidding around. MissusEdG let me play with her NUTTS, and they taste 👅 pretty good too 😀

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      2. Does anyone know how to change my avatar so you don’t really know it’s me?

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      3. Why change the avatar. We like to see how well you multitask handling numerous imposters. My #1 fan uses 5 different Gabby’s under the same avatar. That fool has a sore crotch…Baaaam!

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    3. If you can compete without the money trucks then I’m all for it. But if everyone else is doing it and you’re not….can you compete? If you can’t compete then why are we spending all this money on high paid coaches and new facilities. It makes no sense to be spending big on a program that will still just be mediocre. All we’re doing is preventing our program from becoming a catastrophe under the new system if we still had Helton. I don’t like the new system anymore than anyone else but as long as it is legal, you either go along with it or downgarde the whole football program and become another Princeton and Yale and focus on academics. What football needs is to get rid of the NCAA and come up with another group that will set some rules so that schools don’t have to go bankrupt trying to maintain a successful football program.

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  4. hi john,missus ed got hir lawe skool reyooyun in a cupple weaks and we aint shur if i can gow wit her evr sense the insidint wen the jugje tolled me naht to go width in 500 feat of libareys and skools,we aint shur if that incloods hir lawe skool in a nuthur stait,

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      1. Ok John, u cum over 2morrow to play with Missus Nutts, she say u can stickkk her peenus in your ear 2 use as a megaphone 📢 so u can hear better… ok ?

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    2. Good Morning Ed, I see you still haven’t caught on with your spelling lessons. I think you’re sounding like a DUMB FUCC on purpose, because I fixed your spellcheck yesterday afternoon after checking my tonsils with Missus Peenus. I’m going to give you one more spelling lesson, FUCC-TARD, ok ?

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      2. Oops I’m talking to myself, but nobody noticed. I guess that communication class at Mt. Sac really did help. To bad they haven’t blocked my email address here, so I can go on posting.

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      3. High John, u r a funnnyyy guy, Kan u teech mee how 2 spellll lik u ? Missus say u kan blow herrrr peenus lik a trumpet 🎺 iff u teeech me , Jude lik last timeee

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      1. See Wolf, you give the trash an inch and they will take a mile😭😭😭. I’m going to tell my mommy 😭😭😭😭

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      1. Looks like “The Pac 12” is working toward “The Pac Zero”, John….
        #ChampionshipGameWillBePlayedOnEmptyField…..
        #KafkaWillDoThePlayByPlay

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  7. Crucifixion was done by driving the nails between the two forearm bones. Not in the hands like bruin fans believe.

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  8. Why would Baker want to go to pot head Oregon? Moreover, if he played at USC he would be the hometown hero. Managing your image is important in semi-pro college football. You want to build a base of fans. You might do that in Oregon or Texas but nothing like you could do in your hometown.

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  9. “Money don’t buy everything it’s true
    But what it don’t buy, I can’t use
    Just gimme money, honey, that’s all I want”

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    1. I’m not sure that’s the most satisfying Philosophy of Life ever formulated….
      #AsI’mSureYouAgree…

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      1. Yeah, Michael, money always burned a hole in my pocket. I am just pleased to have paid my June bills and it’s only May 31

        Liked by 1 person

    2. “Money don’t buy everything but Deezz Nutts, baby, it’s true
      But what it don’t buy, I can’t use
      Just gimme money, honey, that’s all I want”

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  11. THE 2 LINES ARE CERTAINLY THE STARTING POINT, but you will not win with only them as the other positions certainly are nearly as paramount,and q/b is critical.

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  12. Funny how when I was at SC, the 81 team had amazing lineman and Marcus Allen and lost Fiesta Bowl to Penn St.

    Not sure I buy into your thesis Mr Wolf of No USC Credentials.

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  13. Let’s see where USC ends the year in the recruiting rankings. USC needs to go undefeated this year and enter the CFP. That will be the proof that recruits need to buy 100% into USC.

    There will always be some players that just dont connect with the staff. USC needs to recruit nationally and can afford to lose a couple in the backyard.

    NIL is still an issue but getting better. This was probably Bohn’s biggest area of failure.

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      1. …..the kind that made women feel “awkward”….
        #…MakingItTheWorstKind…..
        #…Cuz…That’sAFirstGradeFelony….

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  14. I DONT NEED NO BODY
    TO TELL MY TROUBLES TO
    FOR SINCE I MET YOU BABY
    ALL I NEED IS YOU !!

    IVORY JOE HUNTER

    HOW MANY HERE HAVE HEARD OF HIM ?
    HE WAS REALLY GOOD !!

    Liked by 3 people

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      1. Along the same line as Jimmy Reed, btw, can someone pull Ed.G’s NUTTS out of my posterior, he fell asleep on me again without cumming 🙄🙄🙄

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  15. SINCE I MET YOU BABY
    IN A HAPPY MAN
    AND EVERYBODY TELLS ME
    THAT THEY UNDERSTAND!!

    YOU DONT SEE GREAT LYRICS LIKE THAT THESE DAYS.

    Liked by 2 people

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    2. Yeah, today George the lyrics go something like this,
      “I left my mother
      cause I ain’t no motherf-er”. Btw, I used Ed.G’s Peenus for a microphone 🎤 when I sand these lyrics to MissusEdG 😉👍🏼

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  17. Scooter,

    Has Mater Dei hired the new coach? If so, then the SC coaches need to go and talk to him about Mater Dei being a pipeline to SC. SC has mostly have signed the Mater Dei kid’s with the excpetion of Huarte and a few other. But SC needs to restablish that line again.

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    1. I’d say it’s time to do the reverse esp after that aging porcine walrus Bruce Rollinson finally ‘retired’ – a small fry version of Joe Paterno. He ran the entire high school and that will never be allowed again i.e.

      We no longer have Clay Helton as a head coach but Lincoln Reilly. It matters not what Mater Dei would do – their players want to play for a national program that no longer is limited to the Pacific/Mountain Time Zones.

      Mater Dei needs to ‘…bend the knee…’

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  19. HEY LJ
    DID I EVER TELL YOU

    I ONCE KISSED BROOKE SHIELDS AND JUDY PRIMROSE IN THE SAME PLACE ??

    NO
    I CANT GIVE YOU THE EXACT LOCATION
    THEN THINGS MIGHT GET A LITTLE HAIRY !!!

    OH THAT RON DRAKE HITS HARD !!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thanks for the reminder, George
      Yeah, Ron Drake, all 160-pounds of him,
      and after he hit me I realized I did not want
      to be hit by a lineman

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    2. Thanks for the reminder, George
      Yeah, Ron Drake, all 160-pounds of him,
      and after he hit me I realized I did not want
      to be hit by a lineman, but I’ll admit, I did bend over for him on occasion. And I’m embarrassed to admit, I absolutely loved it 🥰

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  20. I wouldn’t worry too much about this one recruit. Sure it looks bad when he plays in our backyard at Mater Dei but he’s the #1 OT in a down year for offensive lineman. He’s a 4-Star recruit in a class without any 5-Star OL players. That’s a pool of shallow talent. Plus….there are no 5-Star Running Back’s in this year’s recruiting class. So I’m sure the staff will have to go deep into different regions of the country to get who they can this year. Doesn’t look good at all seeing him get away from Los Angeles this kid will not make or break our future class.

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    1. Shallow pool of talent?
      Doesn’t matter because we’ll be fine. We can go to Texas or Florida and find enough OL recruits with a 4-Star ranking that could possibly end up better prospects than a 4-Star #1 OT.
      No Disrespect to the kid.

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      1. Utah takes 3* linemen and develops them into NFL draft picks. Whittingham is the most underrated coach in college football. The guy does more with less year after year, numbers prove it!

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      2. Whittingham said this in his last contest against “Coach” Helton: “USC is complaining about all their injuries. By this point in the season everybody is playing with some kind of injury. Our guys know how much I respect the players who don’t complain & do their job.”

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      1. Good stuff Michael, Steve, Gabby.
        If we play defense this year we’re a playoff team for sure. We didn’t have a great OLine but our offense proved you can win without a great Oline and be a contender. We all know Defense is where we need improvement. Heck, all we had to do is play “Average” defense last season and we beat Utah to play in the playoffs. I see the exact scenario for this season only we should actually play better defense. Cross your fingers! But I know one thing is certain….Alex Grinch will have the spotlight on him at all times to put a better defense on the field .

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    3. I want to agree with you but when we look at the scope of all the lost talent over the years, I just feel like something bad is going on there. Missing out on Young, Flow, Thibodeaux, Uiagalelei among others.

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    4. There are some great linemen coming through the pipeline at Bishop Gorman. USC has always been on the radar for Gorman kids. IMO, they were the best team in HS football last season.

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  21. It’s embarrassing but not fatal. I’d be surprised he picked Oregon after the assistant coach that was recruiting him left for the NFL and he still wants to play for Oregon? Let’s get real, USC has to run their program in the same manner as the NFL and that means paying the right players to come play. Saban can come up with all the excuses why he’s getting his arse handed to him but he created this monster.

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