FOOTBALL

Sunday Buzz: Some USC-Purdue Truth Bombs

Did anyone finally wake up regarding USC’s pass defense Saturday?

I’ve cautioned about the pass defense being a team weakness for months but it was even worse than I imagined it would be Saturday against Purdue.

Let me be clear: Purdue was not the first test of the season. The Boilermakers are well-coached but extremely limited athletically in Barry Odom’s first year. This game should have been a comfortable victory.

But USC’s defense made Purdue’s offense look dangerous. The Trojans could not cover anyone Saturday. Three receivers had at least 69 yards receiving. And it’s not one cornerback who is to blame. It’s a cast of characters that get rotated into the game and all struggle in their own right.

If it wasn’t for an ill-advised Purdue pass that was intercepted in the end zone and a freak play that saw an out-of-position 360-pound defensive tackle get a pick six, USC could have been in quite a bit of trouble.

Last week, I said what would happen if USC faced Oregon now. Forget the Ducks. What happens when the Trojans face their first slightly above average quarterback?

There was a crescendo of fanboys in the offseason promising the defense would be better in Year 2 of D’Anton Lynn. I think the defensive line is playing with more energy and has more depth than year ago but there are some gaping holes in the back seven of the defense.

  • And while I’ve given the offense a lot of leeway, they cooled off in the second half. It was dramatically different than the total domination against the tomato cans in the first two weeks of the season.
  • Why was Lincoln Riley so insistent on giving carries to Waymond Jordan on Saturday? He’s got depth to spread the carries.

This game was a warning about what might happen in the Big Ten if some improvements are not made as the season progresses.

  • One thing that hasn’t changed — despite the hype — is Riley. He still had to burn a timeout at the slightest hint of stress in the second half and his red-zone play-calling lack imagination.
  • The team still lacks discipline. USC has had 17 penalties for 197 yards the past 2 games. That’s ridiculous.
  • But hey, plenty of USC fans will be happy if the Trojans are actually ranked in the Top 25 polls!

57 thoughts on “Sunday Buzz: Some USC-Purdue Truth Bombs”

  1. hmmm…I guess I have to agree again on wolfies analysis. SC, I don’t think the secondary stopped any 3rd down plays. Purdue moved down the field easily,and constantly. SC did have some good timely interceptions,sacks,pressures,etc…I think the ‘d’ line came through. The linebackers played well, not very well or great.

    Purdue was 2-0 and a good team,SC a better team , but that 2ndary is the weak link. Thought the o’ line looked very good,incl tight ends…q/b and r/b’s too.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    1. Agree, Tim. [If the 2025 Trojan defense is gonna stop anybody’s passing game it’s gonna come via quarterback sacks….the d-backs aren’t up to the job].

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. well, not yet anyway…I think they will develop into a good unit…Purdue has a good q/b and receivers,the rest of the team is average.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. We need to hope the light goes on for our d-backs during this week’s practices…..Michigan State’s receivers are among the best in the country ….and Coach Jonathon Smith and O. C. Brian Lindgrin know just how to use them….

        Liked by 1 person

    2. KAM: Purdon’t is not a good team. They were predicted to finish last in the Big Ten and they beat cream puffs Ball State and Southern Illinois.https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/45756799/2025-big-ten-college-football-projections-preview…

      DON: Purdon’t shows how weak USC really is. When Riley Coyote refused to attack at the end of the first half with that lame Bubble Screen call I had a bad feeling they would just try to protect their lead.

      Like

      Reply

    3. Maiva still makes risky throws and bad reads. Example: In the 3rd quarter he hit a wide open McRee for a nice gain. A play or two later, Maiva throws a sideline pass that’s almost intercepted while McRee was running WIDE open down the middle.

      Does anyone else think the game moves too fast for Riley when the pressure is on ? His Red Zone blunders are due to his offense, it’s sucks when the field is limited.

      The DB’s are AWFUL.

      The tackling is AWFUL

      The lack of discipline is AWFUL

      USC could have lost yesterday, a play here and there and it is a loss to a less than average team. And the game wasn’t a ” warning “, it’s what this team is, not very good, the rest of the year is not going to be pretty.

      It’s year four for Riley, the team is getting WORSE by the year, but hey, he’s only got 6 years left on his contract.

      Like

      Reply

    4. The knock on running Jordan and not using the others makes no sense. First Q he started slow, 3 yards on 5 carries, and was benched for Sanders and even the walk-on King. Second Q he only got one carry, for 6 yards & a TD. 3Q two carries for 6 yards, Sanders got more carries. Then Jordan got the message and came out and finished strong, runs of 15,7,4,11,10,5 and then zero. I’d say Riley going with Sanders and a little of King definitely sent a message to Jordan and worked. Can’t fault Riley for that. Not at all.

      Like

      Reply

  2. Purdue had 3 drives extended by penalties that weren’t penalties.

    The punt. He was undercut

    Defensive holding on the DT

    Roughing the passer

    Purdue scored on a broken play. Gentry will never miss a opportunity like that again.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    1. Exactly.

      The d hold on Stewart was an embarrassment on the replay.

      The jump on the punt was straight up, they totally undercut him.

      Makai was hit pushed out of bounds, and the defender shoved him well after they were out of bounds, no call, official was right there.

      Scott is wrong about one of the back 7, which is Gentry. Despite the muff on the goofy flea flicker, he is tied for second in the country in solo tackles and he has 3 unassisted sacks.

      Riley has changed, at least half of the offensive sets featured two TEs, and there were 38 rushing plays, versus 30 passing plays.

      It is a good day to be a Trojan, much better than ND, Clemson, South Carolina. Much less the hapless gutties firing Foster. Jarmon will be next to go.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      4. Come on! We are tied for 1st place in the Pac-12! We should be happy.

        Arizona 3-0
        Cal 3-0
        Oregon 3-0
        USC 3-0
        Utah 3-0
        Arizona St 2-1
        Washington St 2-1
        Washington 2-0
        Colorado 1-2
        Stanford 1-2
        Oregon St 0-3
        UCLA 0-3

        Like

    2. LOL, SC’s defense sucks, it’s head coach sucks and the rest of the season is going to be very looooooong with numerous embarrassing beatings

      Like

      Reply

  3. DON: Fortunately the SC game was delayed 3-hours so I could watch some real games– Tennessee almost getting by the Georgia jinx, and Texas A&M teaching ND a lesson

    KAM: I guess the Trojans’ new runners will not be reminding us of Bush& White, but L&L are nice receivers

    DON: About the only thing this game proved was that SC will not end up in last place in the Big-10

    Like

    Reply

    1. KAM: And MG, UCLA and ND lost again!

      DON: It was Pete Arbogast’s Perfect Day once again. However beating them now will not do a thing for us in the playoff rankings.

      Like

      Reply

      1. Pete’s ” perfect day ” is having an S&M party at his place.

        One day I’ll tell ya’ll about Pete’s EBAY purchases

        Like

  5. KAM: So it’s another marvelous Sunday ‘morn, got any God tips?

    DON: Waldo Emerson opined that “God enters by a private door into every individual”

    KAM: –Although with some people you’d think the door is locked

    Like

    Reply

      1. KAM: –And I suppose you’re not a little scared about what soon awaits us ‘out there’-

        DON: A lot of ideas about the ‘Afterlife,’ but you just know it will end up being something that no one ever thought of

        Like

  6. DON: Georgia showed a winner’s resolve to win that game at the end after the Tennessee field goal kicker missed the potential winner

    KAM: A moment that young man will carry with him forever, and the Volunteers’ fans looked as if they had just lost their best friend

    Like

    Reply

    1. KAM:A relative of t r a n n y Lance Twiggs has confirmed he is in a romantic relationship with Tyler Robinson, and that he “harboured animosity” for conservatives and Christians.

      Robinson is the 22-year-old accused of a s s a s s i n a t i n g conservative Christian icon Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

      It has been reported by multiple outlets that Robinson, who grew up in a conservative Mormon Utah family, went off the deep end in high school and lived with a t r a n s g e n d e r partner named Lance Twiggs at the time of the s h o o t i n g.

      DON: So Robinson is a Mainstream Moderate Democrat doing what Connecticut Democrat Senator Chris Murphy urged him to do, “We’re at war…you have to be willing to do whatever is necessary.”

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. He’s a Mormon but he hated conservatives, Christians and he was hooked up with a furry who was transitioning ? Hmm, Mormons are usually conservative, and the LDS church is very public about their stance on gays and the whole tranny issue.

        I have serious doubts he was a church going Mormon

        Liked by 2 people

      2. KAM: Yes he abandoned Mormonism for being a Good Mainstream Moderate Democrat.

        DON: That didn’t stop the Fake News Media from trying to blame Mormons for this miscreant who was seduced in high school by the evil of the Democrat Party. The Democrat Party actively recruits kids in school through preachy lib teachers. The NEA is the Democrats cornerstone, spreading their evil boldly to every public school .

        Liked by 2 people

    1. KAM: Giorgia Meloni, the Italian PM, in today’s La Repubblica:

      “I come from a political community that has often been accused of spreading hate. Look a bit at those same accusers celebrating and justifying the deliberate m u r d e r of a young man whose guilt was courageously defending his ideas.”

      DON: ”Vengo da una comunità politica che spesso è stata accusata di diffondere odio, guarda un po’ dagli stessi che festeggiano e giustificano l’omicidio intenzionale di un ragazzo che aveva la colpa di difendere con coraggio le sue idee”

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      2. So Cal — Can you imagine what is gonna get said by future historians about a country which bowed to BLM after the riots, glorified gender switch, released murderers and rapists back to the streets, protected politicians who enriched themselves by selling out to foreign governments?

        Liked by 3 people

      3. Agree MG but I have no confidence that future historians will accurately record our history. Howard Zinn is the author of most history textbooks and he hates America. All about slavery, the genocide of the Indians, oppression of the poor and laborers, Jim Crow, American Imperialism, ect.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Sounds like it’s time to see “U.S. History” by So Cal on Amazon Books….

        #I’dBuyIt…..

        #AndI’dGetAnotherCopyForSybilToReadInLockUp…

        Like

  8. KAM: If you think you got problems, how about the Notre Dame football coach starting out 0-2

    DON: –He probably wishes he had played mere ‘cupcakes instead of the ‘finest pastry

    Like

    Reply

    1. KAM: UCLA needs to replace DEI Hire DeShaun Foster, “who can’t lead the Bruins” – Los Angeles Times

      DON: What are the odds the DEI hire UCLA AD Jarmond offers the head football coach job to our own DC D’Anton Lynn?

      Like

      Reply

  9. DON: That was an extraordinary day of college football yesterday with many of the ‘big games going down to the wire

    KAM: Not to be mean but isn’t that what Wiley says about being “one-play away from victory?”

    Like

    Reply

  10. DON: You interested in baseball?

    KAM: Mildly

    DON: I don’t get the Dodgers playing one less game than the San Diego Padres; with that extra game they gained 1/2 a game on L.A.

    Like

    Reply

    1. KAM Not a peep from USC on Charlie Kirk’s a s s a s s i n a t i o n even though he spoke at USC 6 months ago about the free exchange of ideas. But they are celebrating “Green Week”. Interim USC President Beong-Soo Kim has been hiding under his desk since the a s s a s s i n a t i o n.

      DON: A Real Profile in Courage from the same school that lectured us for months and created a special 32 person committee after an ODing fentanyl addict died while under arrest. This is not the SC I once knew.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. Gabby,

        Not so fast, Gabby!

        USC WILL soon be making a statement on Charlie Kirk’s death: “USC stands firmly behind Mayor Bass’ decision to ignore President Trump’s order that flags be flown at half mast. We remain on the same Path Of Righteousness we proudly traveled while the George Floyd riots were ongoing in downtown Los Angeles ….during which the police bowed to the looters and arsonists as a sign of respect.”

        Liked by 2 people

  11. Snubbed out of Top 25 again is my prediction.

    Very hatd to break into Top 25 when unranked to begin season.

    At this rate, it appears a victory at Illinois is only path.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. KAM: USC’s schedule is getting weaker by the second.

      DON: Michigan dropped to #23 last week and ND will be out of the top 15. Beating either of those teams now won’t impress the pollsters and computer rankers. We have to hope the Quack Attack is undefeated when we play them in November.

      Like

      Reply

    2. USC is in the top 25 [barely]….and will move up quite a bit if they beat Michigan State [since a bunch of the teams above them are in for a rough time next Saturday]…..

      Like

      Reply

  12. DON: ucla can still win the Big-10 conference because their 3 losses were out of conference games

    KAM: Those odds are about as good as me being the U.S. president one day

    DON: I figure that 10-2 in the Big 10 will get you in the Playoffs no matter how soft your schedule is.

    KAM: Illinois is an underdog to Indiana this week, so the Hoosiers will work them over before the Illini plays SC. And ND doesn’t look so hot. Maybe the Trojans have a chance although they don’t look like championship material at present

    Like

    Reply

    1. KAM: Martyrdom is an amazing force to behold. In my lifetime, I’ve never seen it, until now. I’ve read about it, but I’ve never seen it in action. Truly, an eye-opening event. Millions of hearts changed in a short amount of time. Evil exposed that has lurked in the shadows for decades. Hearts opened in prayer.

      DON: It’s a force unto itself that catches like kindling but can burn for decades.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Possibly — but the full force of America’s corrupt media will do their best to put this light out….. let’s see how many Americans resist their efforts to demean what Kirk stood for….

        #NowWeGetToSeeWhatAmericaIsMadeOf

        Liked by 2 people

  13. DON: And what about Gentry’s line– 8 tackles, 2 sacks and 3 tackles for loss

    KAM: That more than made up for his dropping an interception on that double lateral play which the Purdue coach congratulated Gentry for smelling it out

    Like

    Reply

      1. Lynn has fashioned a good d-line. But that’s it. Virtually all our corners and safeties were highly recruited ….. but they sure ain’t playing like it.

        Like

Leave a comment