FOOTBALL

USC Notes: Does USC Need A Go-To Receiver?

One of the interesting aspects of USC’s offense is the way the ball gets spread around.

Through two games, no receiver has caught more than 6 passes. That’s great from a team standpoint. At the same time, I can’t help but think about whether some players can put their egos in check for an entire season.

Dorian Singer has six catches in two games. He caught 66 passes last season. Mario Williams got a lot of hype in the offseason. He has six receptions too. Gary Bryant caught more passes (7) in his Oregon debut last weekend.

This isn’t new. Jordan Addison averaged 7 receptions a game at Pitt in 2021. He averaged 5.4 catches per game at USC last season as the go-to receiver.

The trade off for someone like Singer is two-fold: He is in a marquee, winning program instead of a middle-of-the-road (at best) program; His NFL stock won’t be hurt with less catches if he is still playing well because he’s doing it at the highest level and the scouts will be more aware of him.

  • USC has opened as a 29-point favorite over Stanford according to BetOnline.
  • When I talk about fanboy media, this is a good summation of the problem. Too many college sports teams today are mostly covered by people who root for the team, which is a huge problem.
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29 thoughts on “USC Notes: Does USC Need A Go-To Receiver?”

      1. Thanks for posting! I have watched the same video numerous times. Such a feel-good video for me. Watching his progress from a freshman at Bishop Gorman to the national spotlight. With many more highlight plays to follow. A Natty along the way wouldn’t hurt

        Liked by 3 people

  3. Wolf doesn’t understand when you pick “The One” teams will start to roll coverage in that direction. It’s better for USC when a D coordinator has to scheme for four or five receivers.

    Scott: Too many college sports teams today are mostly covered by people who root for the team, which is a huge problem

    Yet Scott roots with great conviction for the demise of the football team and all things related……poor guy is swimming in an ocean of hypocrisy!

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  4. It is great when every wideout has to be played honestly by the defense, and that is what USC has now among Singer, Rice, Williams, Washington, Branch, Duce, Jackson, Lemon, Lane. Based on what I have read elsewhere, there seems to be a lot of good will among the WRs. Can we get Caleb to deliver the ball faster? Not every other ball needs to be a homerun (though 66 points scored in just 25 minutes of time of possession is impressive).

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      1. Exactly. Things could have gone south early this season with player attitudes after Utah and the Cotton Bowl, good to see the team seems to be very positive. Improve the secondary play and the winning continues.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Replying above to 67’s suggestion about getting the ball out 1 second faster…
        #2SacksCouldHaveBeenAvoidedBySteppingUp&Throwing…
        #[ScramblingWasn’tNecessaryOnEither]

        Liked by 2 people

  5. MG….This reply is in reference to a comment you made earlier about Ali. The thrillers in the ring were epic, but the drama between these two was a great underlying story.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Beautiful relationship. Howard looked after Ali when he was down.
      [I was at Pauley Pavilion when Ali spoke and a bruin coed asked him why he was afraid to defend his country in war —Ali’s response: “You looked like you had more sense.” I was also in Mayor Bradley’s Office when Ali came out the Mayor’s door with Veronica Porsche —- everyone was shaking hands with him …but I, who loved him best, didn’t feel worthy]…….

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      1. Ali, the only one of a kind.

        Ali, the TRUE American hero.

        And MG, with all due respect, Ali would have felt worthy of shaking your hand.

        Cue: “He got the Whole World in his Hands” ~From “Spirituals Triumphant Old and New,” compiled by Edward Boatner in1927.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. My friend Owns — I was the kid in Catholic School who never went to communion cuz I didn’t feel worthy —so when I taught at Holy Name [across the street from USC back then] after graduation, I sympathized with this kid who never went to communion —when the principal told me he HAD to go to communion I told her “no he doesn’t –he’s showing respect in his own way.” I got fired right before Christmas.
        #TheFirstOfManyTimes…
        #ILeadMyFamilyInTerminations…
        #…AndThat’sHardToDo…

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Interesting Scott has a defense for his Debby Downer style. And so it has been said, let it be so!
    I beg to differ. A journalist can and should enjoy covering the team they are assigned to. They are in business to make money, and the so called fanboy media makes money. A journalist has to learn to balance between being a fan and being objective. An effective journalist doesn’t throw away the baby with bathwater.
    Don’t get wrong, I have been reading Scott since the conglomerate media SCNG gave him the USC beat. He often makes great points about the Trojan sporting world, but he also adds personal zingers that rub many the wrong way.
    I often ignore my mom’s advice, “If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all.” The thing is I am not a professional journalist . (Unless you call letters to the editor professional)

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    1. Nice comment…but….we have to let Scott be Scott. There’s no lack of the kind of “journalist” you describe —they’re actually as common as rats…
      #ScottIsOneOfAKInd

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

      That was awful. Don’t call yourself a journalist if you want to be a Fan Boy.

      Like

      Reply

  7. I think Caleb is the go-to guy because when Addison went out it was no big deal. Let’s see what happens to the offense when Caleb goes out.

    A go-to receiver is the guy who gets open.

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. Eventually when defense’s start keying on Singer or Washington that leaves others open. I like how it is now the defense can’t cover all these receivers. Just keep going to the open man. To me it’s not required for them to have #1 WR.

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