USC Saturday Buzz: A Move For The Good Of Offense?

Does it matter that USC lists Raleek Brown as a wide receiver on its roster?

He played slot back in the spring but Lincoln Riley said the reason he didn’t spend any time at running back was because of a soft-tissue injury.

It may just be Riley will play Brown at both spots but primarily the slot.

But let’s remember Brown was a five-star prospect at Mater Dei and if he is primarily a receiver, there are other issues at play.

l’ve already said it limits the risk in playing him. The fanboy media will just say Brown is so explosive he must play slot back.

But there were times last season when Brown was just as likely to make a bad play as a good play. He was inconsistent and his pass-blocking wasn’t great. So if you put him in the slot, he doesn’t need to make a decision at the line of scrimmage or worry about his pass protection.

And it allows some other young prospects to play at tailback because USC can’t play six tailbacks. I suspect Riley really wants to see how the freshmen look and if one of them can emerge.

70 thoughts on “USC Saturday Buzz: A Move For The Good Of Offense?

  1. You can line him up as a tailback and then shift him into a slotback position thus creating mismatches(a LB on a true receiver). He is kind of a tweener.

    Liked by 3 people

      1. We should have one of those coaches spend some time with the kickoff and punt return teams. We have plenty of good kick returners and yet we are not getting much production from them. When is the last time we had a really good kick or punt return?

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      2. Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal's Wife & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young's avatar Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal's Wife & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young says:

        Imagine if we had a special teams coach to teach these talented players how to let the ball go out of bounds on the one yard line ?

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      3. Good point, Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal’s Wife & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young

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      4. Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal's Wife & LawyerJohn & Plow Horse & Pudly & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young's avatar Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal's Wife & LawyerJohn & Plow Horse & Pudly & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young says:

        Wow, Cowardly Gabby actually gave me a compliment!

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    1. ‘Ol Mule Shoe’s Ladies of Troy will never win a conference title game as long as his boyfriend Alex Grinch is the defensive coordinator.

      Never going to happen

      I doubt ‘Ol Mule Shoe will fire his boyfriend Alex Grinch after they finish 7-5 this year. Most likely he’ll move Grinch to be a secondary coach, but he will not fire him outright

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      1. Oh, we love you Tebowobama. You’re the ultimate middle of the roader. Part Tim Tebow and part Barach Obama

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      2. Part of the reason for last years poor defense was that they lacked depth. If you have a powerfully quick scoring offense, theN the defense doesn’t get any rest. Part of the reason for their poor tackling was fatigue. They have remedied that somewhat this year.
        Having said that, I do agree that it was a mistake to keep GRINCH. I would have never brought him over from Oklahoma in the first place.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. “I think coaching or playing at USC is one of the great responsibilities in our sport,” Riley said. “This is the program that is so important to the sport, to the success of football on the West Coast in general, and has such great history. I think we should all see it like that, right? We’re not owed the opportunity to do what we do at a place like USC. It’s an honor to do it at that place.” A

      Liked by 5 people

    2. “There’s no story in life or sports better than a comeback and a rise,” he said. “To get a chance to be a part of that, embrace that, it reinvigorates you. Like I said, not only do we get a chance to do it, but we get a chance to do it at one of the most important programs in our sport.”

      Liked by 7 people

    3. Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal's Wife & LawyerJohn & Plow Horse & Pudly & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young's avatar Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal's Wife & LawyerJohn & Plow Horse & Pudly & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young says:

      Before they abandon the West Coast? Isn’t he going to elevate Big Ten football next year?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. “he’s going to dismantle the Big 10…”

        ‘Ol Mule Shoe and his boyfriend Alex Grinch couldn’t even handle Tulane out of the American Athletic Conference

        “dismantle the Big 10”

        LOL!

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  2. Brown can’t pass block. That is going to severely limit his playing time at tailback. You can put him in the slot but there are better receivers to play that position. Expect Zachariah Branch to get most of the touches at slot receiver. He is actually faster and more elusive than Brown and a more experienced receiver.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal's Wife & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young's avatar Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal's Wife & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young says:

        Bring back the Good Charlie Bucket!

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  3. MG’s comment, although in untypical jest,
    that SC would “dismantle” the Big 10
    got me to thinking ‘that’s what Alabama-Georgia
    did to college football

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yep. One more thought along those lines: It’s what USC under Pete Carroll coulda done, John……but the NCAA [and the passivity of Pat Haden] stopped us dead in our tracks….

      Liked by 4 people

    2. They are part of the SEC conglomerate that dispenses the logic that every team in the SEC is as good and strong as Alabama and Georgia, therefore they are the predominate conference in the nation. Take three teams (AL, GA, LSU) out and what you have is total mediocrity. What makes them look good is their pansy ass schedules.

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      1. Well, Michael, there was Bushgate that was going to stop Carroll

        steve49, if you take out of the Big-10 Ohio St, Michigan and Penn St
        Or Washington, Oregon and SC out of the Pac-12
        What have you got?!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal's Wife & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young's avatar Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal's Wife & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young says:

        Any word from Cal75?

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      3. Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal's Wife & LawyerJohn & Plow Horse & Pudly & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young's avatar Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal's Wife & LawyerJohn & Plow Horse & Pudly & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young says:

        I hope he hasn’t gone the Toner route.

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      1. Steve49 man having both branch Brown on the slots with Duece n Singer n Lloyd out of the backfield there’s a lot of space 2 cuts n TD and 50-50 balls to outside receiver’s. Man it’s awesome. Just play good defense and we will reach CFP.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Releek will be in a position to make plays out of the slot and in the backfield using motion to create mismatches. Bubble screens, quick slants will be his calling card. He will be able to thrive because of all the weapons Caleb has. You won’t be able to guard all these players. I’m sure LR is going to 5 WR sets empty backfield set. Imagine Singer, Williams Rice Branch Robinson, mismatch nightmare it’s going to be fun and WAC 12 DC’s are going to be up all week trying to figure out who to stop. Cobb stated at Media day defensive players are running 18 mph? That better translate into TKL and impact plays or it’s useless if they don’t use technique or IQ to diagnose the play.

    Liked by 4 people

      1. 9000–
        I think 7112 is correct: there isn’t gonna be any way to stop USC’s offense…
        …UNLESS [and we all keep forgetting this]….
        …The Pac 12 refs let corners manhandle our receivers….

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal's Wife & LawyerJohn & Plow Horse & Pudly & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young's avatar Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal's Wife & LawyerJohn & Plow Horse & Pudly & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young says:

        Lat year that was the name of the defense.

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    1. He only punted 7 times last season Might be the least in D1 last season. Have gotroll fact check it. Might take his mind off of politics

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      1. Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal's Wife & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young's avatar Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal's Wife & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young says:

        Cowardly Gabby needs to escape from the revelations that more bribery scams by his beloved Senile Joe Crime Family have been revealed!

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  5. Hi gang— I just placed my Phil Steele 2023 College Football Preview on the shelf next to my January 10th, 2005 Sports Illustrated [“Trojans Hammer Oklahoma To Win National Championship, 55-19!”] … thereby assuring a 15-0 run in 2023/24…..
    #JustThoughtYouAllShouldKnow….

    Liked by 3 people

      1. It wasn’t easy, guys —I had to get the 2005 Sports Illustrated from the shelf in the garage….. escort it into my recreation room …and place it next to the 2023 Phil Steele Preview …I’m exhausted…. but I have a feeling you’ll all be seeing the fruits of this effort starting August 26th…[& continuing through the Playoffs]…..
        #NothingGoodComesWithoutEffort

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  6. Rah-Rah FB, BS “lets do this” opinions…LOL

    “Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance.” ~Plato

    Clown U, 2023, Rah-Rah FB: 8 – 4.

    #Who needs a another Fireball?

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    1. Owns said “Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance.” ~Plato

      Reminds me of the old Get Smart series featuring Charlie Chan.

      Chan: Confucius say “sticks and stone can break my bones but names will never hurt me.”
      Smart: Confucius said that?
      Chan: As a young child.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. George –I want us to go 15-0 and have Caleb tell the television audience as he accepts the Championship Trophy, “We could’ve improved on that record….”
      #…”ButTheyMadeUsStopAt15″

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  7. I’m going to say this about our offense it will depend on how our offensive line does. Caleb needs to be better in the pocket quick throws and be more decesive. We don’t need him running around to buy time because someone missed a block. Also looked at games last year where Utah n Tulane put a lot of pressure with stunts and designed blitzes.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I hear ya —but remember Caleb was far from 100% against Tulane [we’re lucky he could even play in that game] and he spent 3 quarters of the 2nd Utah game on one leg. In the first Utah game –even with the craziest home atmosphere I’ve ever seen working against us —USC amassed over 500 yards of offense—much of it due to Caleb personally running for first downs. I actually think we’re better off with Caleb scrambling than staying in a well protected pocket—I only worry about injury.

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      1. We will see in the 3 first games to see how everything on the OL plays out, will the freshman make leaps to be valuable backups we need at least 5 rotational players we know someone will get injured at if there not ready we will be in trouble look at last year. Just saying MG, I hope our OL plays to it’s ranking.

        Liked by 3 people

      2. The o-line is gonna be strong. Caleb will have time to throw w/o having to scramble….but… the thought of him pumping the ball as if to throw while running 4 and 5 yards for a first down puts the fear of God into every defensive coordinator we’ll face.
        #CalebJustHasToHitTheGrassAsSoonAsHeGetsPastMarker…
        #NoMoreRacingCornersToTheEndzone

        Liked by 3 people

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