FOOTBALL

Morning Buzz: USC-Michigan Report Card

QUARTERBACK

Miller Moss was under duress the entire game and had the worst start of his career. It also showed that USC’s offense can be limited when the QB is consistently pressured because there aren’t really any RPO plays with Moss.

Grade: C-

RUNNING BACK

At times, it felt like Woody Marks was the offense, with his running (100 yards) and catching (five receptions for 40 yards). He also saved USC when he ripped the ball out of defensive tackle Kenneth Grant’s hands, which allowed the Trojans to score a touchdown.

Grade: B+

WIDE RECEIVER

For the amount of supposed weapons USC has at receiver, it didn’t really feel like an explosive group. It seemed like USC only threw to Zacariah Branch in the first half. Things picked up in the second half but the Trojans’ offense didn’t feel special.

Grade: C-

OFFENSIVE LINE

They will have nightmares about facing Josiah Stewart and Mason Graham all season. Stewart was named Big Ten defensive player of the week with two sacks, four QB hurries and a forced fumble. Here’s the thing: The young guys got exploited but so did the veterans.

Grade: F

DEFENSIVE LINE

You can focus on the fact USC’s defense shut Michigan down almost the entire second half, or the 199-yards rushing in the first half and 63-yard run on the final drive of the game.

Grade: C

LINEBACKERS

Eric Gentry is proving he can be an every-down player with a game-high 12 tackles, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. The other guys were OK for most of the game but looked poor on the big runs.

Grade: C+

DEFENSIVE BACKS

They got to wear their slippers against the gang-that-couldn’t-pass straight. But they got exposed when it was time to make a tackle in the defensive backfield. In fact, they looked terrible trying to tackle the running backs once they got downhill.

Grade: D+

SPECIAL TEAMS

I don’t understand why Zacariah Branch has been so passive as a returner. Especially on the final Michigan kickoff where he just caught the ball and didn’t attempt to return it. Punter Eddie Czaplicki has been a plus all season.

Grade: C

COACHING

I’m trying to think of a stressful game where Lincoln Riley actually flourished on the sideline. Not any of the three Utah games. Not against Tulane. Not against Oregon. Not against Washington. Not against Notre Dame (last season).

The guy has bottled it whenever he doesn’t have an overwhelming talent advantage with poor play-calling and burned timeouts.

The schedule gets easier now, which is just how Riley likes it. Imagine Riley in a CFP playoff game where he has to actually coach. Well, we already know how it went at Oklahoma.

Grade: F

82 thoughts on “Morning Buzz: USC-Michigan Report Card”

  1. Well, Miller Moss did throw for 3 touchdowns and should have won the game, and Wiley must have felt he had the game in the bag with his team up by 4-points and the no-throw Michigan quarterback 90 yards away from winning

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    1. Bottom line- grade the players all you want- but SC wins this game if they had an O line that could block. This one is on Riley and his worthless O line coach for believing these kids were ready for power football. How many years in a row has Riley missed out on recruiting a top 100 O lineman. How many years do you see the incapable of consistently being able to run the ball? Problem is, they don’t want to come here because of the coaching and Riley seems to think they can bottom feed O line recruits and be ok… what a dumba$$

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    1. Thanks for that. We all saw it was #19 who slowed him down and #7 who should have finished him off. But had no idea they were both SUCLA transfers. (Maybe it was just me.)

      GOOD MORNING!!

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      1. What does being a tranfer have to do with the ability to stop a runner?……

        There you are have it folks, evey time the blog dunce tries to talk football he looks like a dumb—-a s s

        wait for……his rebuttal will be more stupidity, that’s all he knows……pathetic

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      2. Yes it is a good morning, like all mornings, best time of the day– #19 was not strong enough to bring down the Michigan runner and it was #7 who missed the helping tackle as he erroneously flew by the play

        These same guys beat SC last year too

        (Only kidding but it’s fun picking on YUCLA)

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      3. Cowardly Gabby is too stupid to realize that the two UCLA transfer DBs weren’t up to the job of playing fundamental defense. She needs to stick to a subject she is familiar with- panhandling on LA’s Skid Row.

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      4. fake gabby thinks the missed tackles on the TD run was egregious because they were ucla transfers……one problem, they were both wearing USC uniforms

        the freak shots himself in the foot again

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      5. Fake Gabby the self proclaimed football maven didn’t notice all the missed tackles UCLA Transfer CB #19 John Humphrey and UCLA transfer Safety #7 Kamari Ramsey made last year for UCLA.

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      6. you’re right, real gabby didn’t notice all the missed tackles because he watched maybe 15 minutes of ucla play last season…….watching after-game highlights is enough info

        .BAAAAAAAMMMMM CROTCK KICK…….. OUCH!

        GET OUT THE ICE, THAT WAS A DIRECT HIT

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      9. fake gabby thinks one play defines whether or not a portal transfer is a failure

        there you have it folks, the dumb-est sock—puppet, aka scott wolf, on the internet

        So cal feels relieved

        BAAAAAAAM CR0TCH KICK……!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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      10. Cowardly Gabby, if you actually watched the game instead of searching trash cans for lunch, you would realize that during the first two Michigan TDs, Ramsey took a bad angle at the RB both times.  As Ramsey went inside from the safety position, the RB quickly cut to the outside and ran for TDs.  He was the last hope to make a tackle but was out of position.  

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  4. Lost among all the SC criticism is that we were fortunate to have been highly entertained for over 3-hours. Isn’t that what it’s all about when you come right down to it

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  6. But the ‘Fs’ are a little harsh, Scott. You get an “F” only if you fail to show up, and certainly the offensive line and Wiles did their best

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  7. And it is a little over the top with some of the Trojans’ criticism of the team and Wiley in particular. He especially is ridiculed for doing what many coaches do– not being more offensively aggressive in the final 5-minutes when in the lead. But he had a quarterback who had already fumbled and been intercepted, so instead he settled for his fine kicker depositing the ball on Michigan’s 10 yard line. It was still looking pretty good for Troy at that point

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  8. It still boggles the mind how SC could have lost to a team with a quarterback who can’t throw– maybe that’s what pushed the odds too high because Michigan still had a stout defense and runners who can break long-ones

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  9. But that SC-Michigan game will not ever be forgotten by the Michigan fans, especially the ones at the game. SC has made its mark!

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  10. Scooter,

    Sc’s oline has been a problem since Helton. They have not recruited well nor are they showing anything on the field. The coaches gave up on the run due to the oline not blocking. This will be a problem until it is fixed by better coaching, playing, and recruiting.

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    1. wrong wrong wrong……..Riley couldn’t run his best plays, RPOs, because Moss is too slow……were you even watching the game…….

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      1. Michael,

        Moss is not a RPO qb. He is more of just handing the ball off and let the rb run. SC’s oline can’t block for the RPO. They are just a north south straight ahead blocking line. If that is the case, then just run the ball and not run the RPO

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    2. Cowardly Gabby is incapable of conducting a healthy conversation. She needs forced institutionalization at Atascadero state Mental Hospital the rest of her waste of life.

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    1. Hey dumb—-a s s why would you be talking playoffs when there is still 9 games to play……..two loses can still get you in, dumb—-a s s

      quit trying to football, you sound lost……. go find something productive to do

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      1. Cowardly Gabby aka Charlie Bucket/TrojanFan1 the UCLA Fan celebrated when USC lost Saturday. She knows zero about anything besides being a LA Skid Row bag lady.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. She is the biggest idiot on the internet. Makes up stuff that is not there, as she did in response to my two posts above. (I never said players being former Ruins had anything to do with missing the tackle. I didn’t come up with the way-too-early playoff prediction; Merely put it out there.)

        She just loves to cry and moan about what many of us post because she leads such a miserable life. She’ll claim it’s cheap entertainment. A) Who’s the cheap one now? LOL! B) She says it’s entertainment for her, without realizing what that says about her empty, lonely, unfulfilled life. No one wants her around in her personal life, so she actually finds enjoyment in annoying people online. So sad.

        Lies & lame excuse in 3, 2, 1…

        Liked by 1 person

      6. There’s entertainment and then there is Cowardly Gabby’s vile 20 years of spamming, threatening and doxxing posters.

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    2. Beating Penn State makes everything alright again. Losing to them [particularly, in the final minute—Lincoln’s speciality] ends the “Riley luster” forever.

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  12. Way too harsh, Wolf. There were too many good things about how we played. Yes, their defensive front was pretty quick. They are very good. We could have protected better. That’s something we can work on. Our defense was awesome except for the big plays. It happens. If we had been able to get anything going on offense maybe our defense would have been fresher, though they were excellent in a lot of situations.
    Branch probably got his bell rung. He looked out of it.
    I don’t like to criticize the officials, but missing clock violations, multiple face masks, a lot of holding calls and a serious targeting penalty that resulted in a dangerous concussion has to be addressed by the conference.
    All in all, the Big House was rocking and screaming fans were having fun. That’s the way it is and it’s supposed to be like that. I can’t wait to come back there because it’s as big as it gets!! This is a new level of rivalry that has just begun. I can’t wait for next year when they visit

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    1. Cowardly Gabby actually celebrated when USC lost to Michigan Saturday. Her only expertise is in panhandling and scoring fentanyl on LA’s Skid Row.

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      1. I actually celebrated when USC lost to Michigan Saturday. My only expertise is in panhandling and scoring fentanyl on LA’s Skid Row

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    2. Nice commentary– the foundation of the SC-Michigan rivalry had been laid during the past half century because of many hard-fought Rose Bowls

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  13. Intering how Gabby was the only one talking about the lack of RPOs and scott went with it in his evaluation. Looks like he read Gabby’s opinion’s and agreed.

    According to the blog know-it-all, Moss had a great game and all the back peddling was to be blamed on the 0-line. The lack of the QB not rolling out to create time and space was not the issue………

    MILLER MOSS FOR THE HEISMAN (toooooo funnnnnny)

    (slowest Power 4 QB in the country……I am serious!)

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      2. this blog is a cartoon……and you’re one of the main characters……feel special. Why would anyone, including a half-wit like you, think someone would takes this s h i t show seriously…………getting under your skin daily is fun…..

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  14. The strange thing is that if Michigan had failed to score the winning touchdown and SC wins, the game would not have been as exciting with it going down in football lore (at least for Michigan)

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  15. Marv G’s analysis regarding the porous offensive line, “that’s something we can work on,” and the defense “was awesome except for the big plays. It happens….they were excellent in a lot of situations”

    Hear hear,

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  17. Anyway enough about Michigan, it’s now time for the Grinch who Stole SC’s 2023, and I bet the guy would love nothing better than to throw a shut-out at his old school

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  18. Georgia is a 2-point favorite at Alabama, certainly one of the games of the year, while YUCLA is a 3 1/2 touchdown dog at home to the Ducks, and SC by more than 2 touchdowns over Grinch&Co.

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  19. Grinch actually had successful periods at Washington St, Ohio St and at first at Oklahoma until his SC clown-show. He says he wears the United States’ biggest chip on his shoulder, inferring that it must be the size of a Redwood tree

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    1. Speaking of Redwoods…..players don’t like how Alex Grinch’s cheeks turn red during games…. they think it makes him look like Bozo The Clown…..

      #AndTheyTreatHimAccordingly

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  20. Charming: I had a group of young climate change people outside my residence. I get it, they say we politicians are mortgaging our future because we insist on maintaining our relatively comfortable present. Anybody under 30 is wondering if they will get to live a full life

    Prince: I don’t know, this is nature at work, let it run its course

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    2. “In five years, scientists predict we will have the first ice-free Arctic summer.” John Kerry back in 2009. Remember what they used to do to False Prophets?

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      1. Check out the YouTube video of John Kerry mocking his crippled wife for walking too slowly at the airport…… another phony dem “lover of humanity”…..

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      2. Scott has had enough of Cowardly Gabby’s childish antics but once again we all suffer for the thoughtless mean-spirited actions of Cowardly Gabby.

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      3. stop the “cowardly gabby” posting and pehaps some decorum returns……..try that concept……Do you have the mental capacity to follow through, the ball is in you court…..let’s see if you can cap your narcissism

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  23. think a high school coach has better time management and use of timeouts skills than Riley he must not make those mistakes. He should be paid on performance not hype. He makes bad decisions and had to be forced to get rid of his friend that was obviously not up for the job. So far, not an elite coach by any standards

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    1. Lincoln puts together some brilliant T. D. drives…. but, yeah, he’s not an elite head coach…… doesn’t feel the ebb and flow of the game…..no way McKay or Robinson or Carroll blow the Tulane, Utah and Michigan games in the final minute…..

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      1. but Pete blew one of the biggest games of career, the 2006 title game against Texas…..I could also throw in the super Bowl.

        Think before you post…..senile coconut head……

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      2. True….. But, unlike Lincoln, he won umpteen games against top NCAA and NFL competition…..

        #AndTheGamesHeLostCameViaBoldButDumbRisks…..

        #…NotSittingOnHisHandsForTheFinalDrives

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      3. Imagine the infantile Cowardly Gabby admonishing others to think before they post… like this gem:

        GabbyAUGUST 30, 2023 AT 3:07 AM
        Fake gabby: USC Fan would know that teams intentionally kicked away from Trojan star kick returner and WR Curtis Conway.

        you stupid senile troll…..a kick returner returns kickoffs, and a punt returner returns punts…..Conway never returned a kickoff in his entire USC career.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Fake Gabby: Real Gabby f u c k -ed with me again. He knew Conway returned kickoffs while at USC. But intentionally said Conway never returned kickoffs knowing it would trigger my paranoia and get under my skin, it worked!

        I immediately went into a manic OCD rage and fired off zinger after zinger after zinger calling out his antics. While he was laughing his a s s off. I was a mental mess last night and could not sleep knowing I took Gabby’s bait.

        BAAAAAAAM CROTCH KICK

        TOOOOOO EASY

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      5. He/She/It hates his/her/its country….but, mostly, he/she/it hates itself….

        #AndWeAllGetToWatchBothEmotionsPlayOutEveryDay

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      2. more subjective BS…….tooooo funnnnnny…….. go collect some aluminum and quit being a pest.

        scoreboard is all that matters…..no one keeps stats on  essence

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      3. fake Gabby, aka scott wolf the LA Skid Row bag lady doesn’t seem to understand what goes on between the goalpost

        gabby’s football IQ is waaaaaaay aboves yours……HAHAHA!

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