FOOTBALL

USC Morning Buzz: Grading The Transfers

It hasn’t really been written about too much but one of the (many) disappointments about this season has to be the impact of the transfers.

Now you can blame this on the coaches more than the players in some cases, so it’s unfair to just say the players are not living up to the hype.

MEETING EXPECTATIONS

Tailback MarShawn Lloyd and cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace have done their jobs. Their only setbacks have been poor coaching. Lloyd doesn’t always get enough carries and Roland-Wallace was moved to nickelback and didn’t even start despite being the best corner on the team.

Next I would say defensive end Jamil Muhammad has made an impact rushing quarterbacks. Granted, it’s an easier role than other spots but he is doing his job.

THE DISAPPOINTMENTS

Dorian Singer has been a disappointment, though I would blame Lincoln Riley more than Singer for that. Wide receivers are the easiest players to transition into an offense and Riley’s failed big time with Singer, who was a top receiver at Arizona with 66 receptions last season. He’s caught 21 passes this season.

Kyon Barrs has seen his playing time shrink, which is odd because USC is undersized on the defensive line and he would seem to be a natural addition. He has only nine tackles in nine games after getting 21 in 12 games at Arizona last year.

Anthony Lucas was a five-star recruit and the USC fanboy media celebrated when he transferred from Texas A&M. He has 10 tackles this season, which is about one per game and lost his starting job early in the year.

I can’t say I expected a lot when defensive lineman Jack Sullivan transferred from Purdue, but he had 38 tackles for the Boilermakers last season. He has one tackle this season in nine games. Is that his fault or the coaches?

The offensive line transfers all started since the beginning of the season but who is actually playing well? Jarrett Kingston was playing at his less effective position (guard instead of tackle) until the past two games, so maybe he deserves a break. But Michael Tarquin lost his starting job after transferring from Florida and Emmanuel Pregnon has been inconsistent.

NEUTRAL

Bear Alexander garners a lot of attention. As a Pac-12 coach told me, Alexander is “a helluva player, when he wants to be.”

Mason Cobb missed two games with injury but there’s no doubt the coaches trust him and feel he is integral to the defense. He has 55 tackles (second on the team) in only seven games but sometimes it feels like he is doing a lot of damage control on a leaky defense.

  • Linebacker Mason Cobb on the USC defense:

“I feel like guys aren’t trusting themselves. In practice you watch a whole different group of guys and in games, you might see some hesitation.”

I can understand why Cobb said this. It’s a mark of a bad team when you can’t play in games the way you play in practice.

78 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Grading The Transfers”

  1. Players enter the transfer portal for a reason, and it’s not because they’re productive starters on their current team. There’s no substitute for signing and developing 4&5 star linemen. Lincoln Riley should’ve had a small stable of them by now preparing them for the Big Ten.

    Liked by 3 people

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    2. Ton-o-Hel hadn’t recruited the previous 2-years, Wiley inherited a poor team with half the players not of SC caliber. He tried the ‘quick fix’ with Portal guys to mixed reviews
      and now if he stays he must comb the California schools for the future

      One thing, the guy is special with quarterbacks the most essential part of a team,
      and he just got an early commitment from the best quarterback in the country in 2026 (How do they make those kind of predictions?)

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      2. You say the same fucking shit 24/7……..get some new talking points or STFU……your horse is dead, old man

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      5. Plow Horse
        JULY 24, 2023 AT 9:33 PM
        Unfortunately Chickenshit Gabby, there is nothing righteous about you.

        Your a gutless, lying punk, that hurls insults on the handicapped, the homeless, or bloggers’ wives, mothers and daughters and then scurries away like a scared little mouse. You belong on the Biden/Harris re-election committee. You will find kindred spirits there. Go and leave the Inside USC blog alone.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. The problem with that assessment of Riley is that he has done a very poor job of high school recruiting for the line.

        Enough with the excuses. If the reason is NIL, then Riley should demand that things get fixed.

        Good head coaches dont make excuses, they make decisions.

        Liked by 2 people

    1. stopping watching USC football it’s obviously torturing you…

      talking shit 24/7 is not changing anything…..try a new hobby instead of 30 posts a day on this blog…..you’re starting to sound like a fucking dick!

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  3. Last year LR had no choice but to tap into the portal. USC administration allowed Helton to ignore recruiting the last 2 years, so essentially just collecting his paycheck and bs’ing how everything is gonna turn around. LR walked into a much worse situation than he expected. Worse, he had limited relationships with the top CA high schools, except through Donte Williams. LR must know building a roster on portal players is not sustainable. The way he’s minimizing the poor defensive play and player development ( coaching) there’s no way a HS head coach would recommend USC to their 4-5* defensive stud. The impact can be seen right now.

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      1. Very true but he did have the Monster of Recruiting in coach Ogeron. That guy was magnetic. PC also had one hell of a coaching staff because he had so many connections. He knew the game is won on both sides of the ball and is physical. I’d attended practices for a couple of years around their natty run and the practices were literal game of thrones blood baths. Couldn’t believe they’d make it to next practice let alone a game. It’s been soft-ball since.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Yep, he had Orgeron but PC could talk a dog off of a meat truck.

        PC was a defensive player, he knows physical football, the last 4 USC head coaches were QB’s, not exactly the most physical players on the team.

        Liked by 2 people

      4. You are an expert at one thing, brown nosng, Zero Football IQ Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka Cowardly Gabby/TebowObama… Remember this?

        Gabby (original)
        JULY 13, 2023 AT 6:01 PM
        Thanks for sharing your experiences. He must have made an impression on you, your details are still clear after many years.

        Gabby aka The Guy who posts as So Cal’s Wife & LawyerJohn & Pudly & Plow Horse & steveg49 & DOJ & Scott Wolf and Frank Young
        JULY 14, 2023 AT 1:36 PM
        Look at Cowardly Gabby the hypocrite. She exploded in rage and cursed out Plowhorse for exactly the same thing!

        Plow Horse
        JULY 8, 2023 AT 2:54 AM
        Wow. What are the odds we have 3 regular bloggers attend the 1968 Rose Bowl. I worked with a guy in 1982 who was a cornerback on the Indiana team. I asked him what was his impression of O.J. Simpson. He said “yeah, I meet him in the hole, helmet first, left my impression on him.”

        REPLY
        Gabby (original)
        JULY 8, 2023 AT 3:01 AM
        LIKE YOU FUCKING REMEMBER WORD FOR WORD WHAT A GUY TOLD YOU 40 YEARS AGO…..YET YOU CONVENTILY FORGET YOUR DEBUNKED RANTS OR HOW YOU TALKED SHIT ABOUT ANYONE THAT PROVED YOU WRONG…BUT YOUR OLD LADY IS OFF LIMITS….I SEE WHY YOUR LAW CAREER ENDED EARLY

        Liked by 2 people

      5. Carroll came from the Stockton area and he attended the ’74 nd vs Sc game. He understood that SC was ans still should be a defense first and physical brutatlity when the play. Riley is an occordiantor and does not care about defense. Too bad.

        Liked by 2 people

      6. Mr. 1970s football is full of shit….you have no fucking idea what PC is thinking…go get the diaper changed your breath reeks

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      7. This is fun. But New Rule: When a certain someone types the words “Scott Wolf” for the 40th time in the space of a single day — she should slow down… catch her breath….and look up a new & different pejorative …

        #..WhichShouldBeTough….She’sBadWithWords…

        #..[AndIt’sAlwaysNiceToExpandHer3rdGradeVocabulary]

        Liked by 2 people

      9. witless troll…you got slapped around…wipe the drool. old man….

        Tell us another 100x times how pathetic Riley is…….you have a creepy obsession with Riley…

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      11. Mrs. slo pa-troll: “STFU…….no one on that clown show scott wolf blog gives a shit about what you say…..How many times have you been depressed because no one responded to your political bs….I know you don’t go there to talk football, you have no football knowledge.

        Quit arguing with people and go get me an extra large bottle of lube…..tiny is a calling

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  4. After a 4-8 season Wiley saw that he could make an immediate big splash by tapping into the Transfer Portal and that worked out pretty well at 11-3. But to sustain this success he has to develop local high school connections which if he sticks around he will

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    1. His biggest transfer success was CW, who covered up a lot of shit last year, this year not so much.

      Little Lincoln isn’t going to connect with anybody, the guy isn’t cut out to be personable or sociable and great recruiters are very personable and sociable.

      Liked by 2 people

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      2. you’re starting to sound like a broken record….stop watching the team….you sound fucking pathetic!

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  5. Grinch gets alot of criticism for his schemes and play – calling. But another aspect where he has failed as a DC is in personnel management.

    Sometimes, it just looks like he is clueless about who should be playing.

    I think Grinch is truly incompetent.

    #GrinchWouldGetWorkedOverIfHeWasAHighSchoolDC

    #He’sSoBad,IBetYouAfterHeGetsFiredHeGetsAJobAsAPositionalCoachAndNotAsACollegeDC

    #FireGrinch!

    Liked by 2 people

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  6. Pete Carrot as Wolf called him was one of a kind, a truly good guy, rare these days
    Wiley is a good guy as well only much more shy but he has assistants that recruit
    Now, about those assistants!

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      1. go find something productive to do than trolling a sports blog 24/7….you sound fucking lame….you say the same shit over and over and over.

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  7. Speaking of assistants, Grinch was very worried in his quotes yesterday
    gravely lamenting “the big plays” his defense has surrendered
    I guess he figures the hangman’s noose is being readied

    But the guy will be laughing all the way to the bank, it’s SC’s defensive guys we should be worried about, how are they shouldering all this abuse from Trojan fans?

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  8. Yeah, shouldering the smoldering abuse the likes I’ve never seen, another outgrowth of social media info bombardment, it’s driving us all nuts only we won’t admit it

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      1. Well, they say it does wonders to remove Calcium, Lime and Rust. But so far it hasn’t worked in LA. 😉

        Yes, 7-2 feels a world away from Helton. But let’s face it, in 3 of those wins we were just a handful of plays away from a loss. Versus ASU, only a couple of handfuls.

        Liked by 2 people

      4. No what’s lame is you crying at anything & everything I post. Yet you claim I’m obsessed with YOU. LOL

        OK, go ahead and lie about it, as usual. The entire blog knows your deal. Cuckoo! Cuckoo!!

        Liked by 1 person

      6. I have never seen anyone on any blog —sports or political —go so far out of his way to alienate everyone else 24/7.

        I think Zero Football IQ Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka Cowardly Gabby/TebowObama is monetarily motivated.

        At least that would make some kind of sense — otherwise, the course of conduct we’re seeing is completely irrational.

        Liked by 2 people

      7. the blog doesn’t give a shit what you say….no one ever responds to you….you should find a new blog to voice your stupidity

        ps……when are you meeting up with gabby…big mouth

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      9. And still with his junior high mean girls routine.

        “No one ever respond to you! Waaaah!”

        Cuz he tries desperately to fit in where he doesn’t belong and thinks if people reply, that maybe he’ll be popular! LMAO!! So predictable and so stale.

        I’m an actual Trojan. Something you will never be and it eats you up. I love it!!

        Liked by 2 people

      10. you never went to USC stop lying…what does being an alumnus have to do with watching a USC sporting event……FUCKING NOTHING!

        BAAAAAM CROTCH KICK!

        you look like a fucking little pussy with all your whining and crying especially since MG can’t stick up for you…

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      11. Plow Horse destroyed you once again, Zero Football IQ Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka Cowardly Gabby/TebowObama !

        Plow Horse
        JULY 26, 2023 AT 4:10 PM
        From the article entitled “Narcissistic Obsession with Attention” in Psychology Today.

        The most important person in the life of a narcissist is the narcissist.

        “People high in narcissism tend to have a distinct preoccupation with being the center of attention. They are highly skilled at making themselves the star of the show, whether by writing the script themselves or hijacking another person’s scene. “

        How to Handle the Need for Attention

        “The best tactic for dealing with someone high in narcissism is usually not to engage with them unless you absolutely have to. Do not respond to emails, text messages, phone calls, or social media messages. Go full no-contact if you can, or at least insist on communicating via email or text messages so you have proof of what was said.”

        Liked by 2 people

      12. LMAO! Look who’s talking about whining & crying.

        Anyone with a functioning brain can look above and see that is YOU, you freaking idiot.

        You’re crying not only at me, but at Pasadena & Buddha. You are a complete whack job and the entire blog knows it.

        Liked by 2 people

      13. This is an issue between you and Gabby. Stop bringing other names into it. If you are truly a “man” then you need to make the same perverted comments to his face. You talk the talk now walk the walk and meet him, or you need to call yourself a pussy who hides behind his keyboard. This has gone on far too long. Test Gabby and see if he’s actually a “wuss”.

        Go ahead, make up some more lame reasons to get out of it. You’re nothing but a little instigator, with the Napoleon complex…..embarrassing

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      14. Again with the childish copy & paste. Not to mention contradicting herself about bringing others into it, (“no one ever responds to you”).

        Hilarious that she’s too stupid to see her hypocrisy. Not one person on the blog is surprised. She gets a nickel per post to make an ass out of herself. Truly desperate for $$$. LOL!

        Liked by 2 people

      15. Mrs. slo pa-troll: STFU…….no one on that clown show scott wolf blog gives a shit about what you say…..How many times have you been depressed because no one responded to your political bs….I know you don’t go there to talk football, you have no football knowledge.

        Quit arguing with people and go get me an extra large bottle of lube…..tiny is a calling

        Like

      16. Zero Football IQ Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka Cowardly Gabby/TebowObama only brings tired cliches, Democrat Talking Points, calls for violence against posters until her challenge is taken up and psychotic rants to this board…

        Plow Horse
        JUNE 22, 2023 AT 10:23 PM
        Gabby is the biggest pussy on this blog.

        Still waiting for dates, Mr. keyboard tough guy.

        Like

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Scooter,

    The Raider GM and head coach were fired. Does Riley take the Raider job if offered? Mark Davis has no clue on what is going on as an owner and he seems to be peculiar. If Riley does take the Raider job, then who would SC hire as a head coach? You have Sorority girl who can’t decide if she wants to use a tampon or a pad yet would have to make a decision that would affect SC in so many ways. She would have to think about SC playing in the B1G league and how physical it is, but she can’t get past the idea of decorating for Thanksgiving. SC is screwed. Between Folt the Dolt and Sorority girl, SC football will never get back to the status of what it used to be, a team to be reckoned with.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Al Davis’ son Mark wants the Raiders to go back to being “The Raiders,”
      so he wants a physical Jack Del Rio type not a finesse guy like Wiley;
      Wiles’ albatross, if it may charitably be so characterized, is the $80+mil left with SC.
      Whether he and his family like it or not he may be stuck as a Trojan for a while

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  11. It is not the transfers it is the coaching. You cannot just have transfers and expect the team to gel and win a natty.

    Of the top five teams, the total amount of transfers were 22. SC had 22 alone last year!

    You got to do it the old fashion way and recruit. It seems like we are on the right track with the recent defensive recruits but DC coaching still sucks.

    Liked by 2 people

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      1. When are you meeting up with Plow Horse, Zero Football IQ Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka Cowardly Gabby/TebowObama???

        Plow Horse
        JUNE 23, 2023 AT 2:50 AM
        Hey chickensh*t Gabby: You called me out when you brought my wife and mother into it. You would never do that face to face and you know it. You are the one who knows nothing about street etiquette. So stop acting like I need to canvass the homeless encampments trying to find you. Be a man. Pasadena boxing gym – give me a date pussy boy. Have the balls to tell me about my wife and mother to my face.

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    2. So it is written, so it is said– “You cannot just have transfers and expect the team to gel and win a natty,” but then why did so many Trojan fans do just that?

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  12. Being a head football coach doesn’t look so tough and the money is good
    –As is true with American presidents past and present, you don’t have to be smart
    just surround yourself with ‘smart,’ and then give a fire-brand pep talk,
    “At SC we don’t say “Win one for the Gipper,” instead it is “Win one for your girlfriend

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  13. Nothing going on here so a revision of my bet in the Football Contest–17,000 on Alabama at -3.5 (not the SC game, I’ve lost 4 betting them)

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  14. Sparrow:

    Of course we expect to win a natty. We brought in Reilly last year, all 100 million of him, who has been wildly successful at other places. And CW who won the Heisman. We only lost 3 games last year and we should have won two of those three and our QB was hurt in the other game. We added a WR, RB, all conference OL, a couple of 5* DL, an all conference LB, and a veteran CB. No reason we should not have high expectations under these circumstances. Hell, Reilly said he expected to compete for a natty. Nothing wrong with expecting to win. Remember Patton’s speech to the 5th armor division at the beginning of the movie:

    “. . . When you, here, everyone of you, were kids, you all admired the champion marble player, the fastest runner, the toughest boxer, the big league ball players, and the All-American football players. Americans love a winner. Americans will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise cowards.

    Americans play to win all of the time. I wouldn’t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That’s why Americans have never lost nor will ever lose a war; for the very idea of losing is hateful to an American. . .”

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    2. But Patton didn’t live in 2023.

      Anyone under 40 would take their phone out to record WWIII, not take out a gun to shoot the enemy.

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      1. Well So Cal, if they are not willing to defend themselves the battle won’t last very long. The Afghanistan resistance to the Taliban following Biden’s chaotic and ill advised withdrawal proves the same. In the Muslim world, you resist and get shot or you surrender and get beheaded. No Geneva convention rules of war.

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      1. Sparrow,

        The Korean and Vietnam war was decided by the politicians, not by the generals. McCarther wanted to go all the way up to the Korean/China border and he was told to return to the 38th parrellel. He was way past that when he had to return. The Vietnam war could have ended a long time before if they had kept bombing Hanoi and Hiaphong. The north went to the peace table just to stop the bombing and to rebuild their supplies. The US should have just bombed Hanoi until the north had said enough. Corrrect me if I am incorrect.

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