FOOTBALL

Morning Buzz: USC-Oregon Report Card

QUARTERBACK

I cannot imagine a normal QB facing the pressure like Caleb Williams did on Saturday. He was improvising all over the field and played quite well. Who else could have done that? It’s too bad Lincoln Riley didn’t get him better protection or a defense.

Grade: A-

RUNNING BACKS

There wasn’t much room for the backs but I still don’t understand why a game like this, MarShawn Lloyd wasn’t used as a receiver. And where was Raleek Brown? He was so important to play — in Riley’s eyes — vs. Washington. This seemed like a game where his skill set might be useful.

Grade: C-

WIDE RECEIVERS

I would genuinely like to hear Lincoln Riley answer why he doesn’t get more out of the receivers? Dorian Singer catches a 44-yard pass early and doesn’t even get targeted once the rest of the game. Caleb Williams had more yards receiving than Mario Williams. Never thought I would write that.

Grade: C

OFFENSIVE LINE

So Oregon hurried the quarterback 23 times according to Pro Football Focus. Do I still need to say the offensive line is subpar? As recently as two weeks ago, media fanboys trumpeted the flipping of Mason Murphy and Jarrett Kingston at guard and tackle like it was a huge difference. The entire line is not fit for purpose against good teams.

GRADE: D

DEFENSIVE LINE

Just not enough pressure on Bo Nix, who calmly sat in the pocket most of the game. But then Oregon values offensive linemen. In a silver lining, Jack Sullivan had two tackles. That more tackles than he made all season.

Grade: D+

LINEBACKERS

This will irritate some people but I like Mason Cobb. He is a leader. He tells the truth to the media. He plays hard. Maybe he misses some tackles but he also leads the team in tackles despite not playing in two games.

I think it’s interesting that Tackett Curtis seems to have taken a lesser role. I’m a little surprised Lincoln Riley allowed it given how he hyped the freshman. It was overdue.

Grade: C-

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Where to begin? They look lost. They can’t tackle. Lincoln Riley will blame it on injuries. But there were mistakes made that involved taking horrible angles. You can still take the correct angle at 70 percent health, you just might be slower. That wasn’t the case. I’ve never seen so many defensive backs looking at each other trying to figure out where people were supposed to line up or who to cover.

Grade: F

SPECIAL TEAMS

The punter (Eddie Czaplicki) remains the brightest spot. I know he makes things happen but Zacariah Branch had a couple questionable returns, including an over-the-shoulder catch of a kickoff at the 5-yard line. A special teams coach would talk to him about it.

Grade: C-

COACHING

Lincoln “The Excuse Maker” Riley can talk about injuries or the tougher schedule or his team’s depth, but these are all things everyone saw long ago. Why didn’t he plan better in the offseason? Instead of having his strength program wave towels all game, how about they figure out why so many players are brittle this season?

Also: Why did Riley go for 2 down 9 points with 3:44 left?

Grade: F

45 thoughts on “Morning Buzz: USC-Oregon Report Card”

  1. Re: going for two down by 9. Agree makes no sense. Same thing Penn State did against Michigan. Klatt talked about the analytics support that…I just don’t get it. You don’t make it the game is over.

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      2. An Idiot Savant: A person with a cognitive or developmental impairment, such as mental retardation or autism, who exhibits extraordinary ability in a highly specialized area, such as arithmetic or memorization, like Board Dunce aka Board Coward, Zero Football IQ Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka Cowardly Gabby/TebowObama’s extraordinary ability of doxxing and harassing nice people and destroying blogs.

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      4. When will you stop posting garbage like this, Board Dunce aka Board Coward, Zero Football IQ Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka Cowardly Gabby/TebowObama

        Gabby (original)
        JUNE 22, 2023 AT 9:22 PM
        horse plow wants to use his wife’s black dildo to enter the peenus sword fight tourney. The guy is hung like a pimple… I promised we wouldn’t laugh

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      6. If he is such an offensive genius why doesn’t he alter his game plans to deal with a pass rush, running clock to keep his defense fresh, etc etc

        Liked by 2 people

    2. Others have pointed this out as well. Things are bleak with only
      3-minutes to go but get the one-pointer to make a game of it down by 8 and not 9 as it would make Ore a bit nervous while energizing SC

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      1. Constant exaggerating is not becoming-
        SC did get through the first half of the Season at 6-0
        albeit by their chinny-chin-chin
        And everyone knew the next 6 games would be brutal

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      2. Lincoln Riley is a great offensive coach. Even this year with a mediocre O-Line, they were one of the best offenses in the country. The defense destroyed this team this year but that can easily be fixed by hiring a great DC and they will. If that O-Line coach doesn’t get that O-Line playing as a unit, he’ll be gone too.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. They can’t lose 7 this year. Even if they lose to UCLA and a bowl game, that’s only 6. You never know Caleb may be back. I wouldn’t count on it but I think he thinks that there is unfinished business and he’s making plenty of money right here in college.
        But, other than that, I agree…..this was a career mistake on LR’s part(bringing back Grench). But this is talent rich SoCal and tradition rich USC football and LR is a great offensive coach and that’s where you have to start if you want to build a great program…..on offense. Like Nick Saban said…..the days where you win championships with defense are over. I predict that SC will hire a great DC. LR never wants to have another year like this.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. “we”……says the limp-dick troll who ran everyone off with constant political rants and stalking blog members….you can deny it but it’s true…..fucking pussy boy!!!!!!!

        I am here to pay you back…..pussy boy!!!!

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      7. I was talkingto a SC fan today who used to post on this bioard and he made an interesting point. He said that the host likes your posts so why should I waste my time and energy bother refuting them? It’s his blog and if he likes what you say then go at it..

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      10. Lincoln Riley great offensive coach…LOL!

        That hick fool is lucky he’s had the dual threat QB’s good enough and smart enough to audible and improvise out of his shit play calling.

        The overwhelming majority of success USC has had last year and this year offensively has been due to Caleb Williams scrambling, improvising and making the big plays

        Lincoln Riley is a fraud

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      1. Raesjon Davis wasnt good or a difference maker, but he was better than Tackett despite not playing much at all. I wonder if he had good coaching and played more if he could be really good?

        The program is crashing on all fronts – poor recruiting, poor player development, poor player performance, fan disinterest, staff turmoil, cascading culture.

        It needs massive turnover in the program. I hope Jen Cohen provides fresh eyes.

        Liked by 2 people

      5. Board Dunce aka Board Coward, Zero Football IQ Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan aka Cowardly Gabby/TebowObama, you are the Board Pest . When will Scott Wolf fumigate you?

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      1. PT, I only got into with most Posters at the Other blog because year after year they wanted Ton-o-Hel fired halfway thru the Season which wasn’t going to happen, so stop the carping

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  4. A “D” grade for the O-line? Scottie must be throwing out an early Christmas present. The O-line grade is an F. 23 QB pressures, plus this was by far the worst outing for the rushing attack this season.

    F, no better.

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  5. Jim Leonhard better be called and offered pretty damn fast or LSU might beat USC to him. The guy played DB in the NFL for 10 years and wasn’t drafted, he was 5 foot 8, 190 pounds. He started 73 of his 142 game career, sounds like one tough SOB to me and he can coach.

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    1. Oregon State 10-3 last year, 8-2 so far this year, Trent Bray’s record speaks for itself. Bray’s defenses are very good considering the recruits he’s had to work with

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