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USC Saturday Buzz: Is QB Play An Issue?

Did Jayden Maiava get worse as the season progressed? His two worst games (Nebraska, TCU) were in the second half of the season and he was hardly at his best in losses to Notre Dame and Oregon.

Did USC just play better teams? Nebraska wasn’t a great team. Neither was TCU but I can already hear the excuse-makers saying that Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane did not play.

He certainly lost his early season luster, when the schedule was admittedly more to Riley’s liking. What happens next season when the schedule gets tougher.

35 thoughts on “USC Saturday Buzz: Is QB Play An Issue?”

  1. To paraphrase our modern-day Aristotle, Ed. G,:

    “John, we needs the linesmans.”

    We had no running game against ND or the quacks. Their D-lines controlled the LOS and USC became a one-dimensional team.

    Once that happens, a team rarely wins.

    The same things happened with Miami and Ohio State. OSU’s QB Sayin was perhaps the most accurate passer this year, and he had Jeremiah Smith as his Makai Lemon, but once OSU became one-dimensional they lost.

    So, we better get some linesmen in the portal, pronto.

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      1. [I’ve posted 3 days in a row now —at all different point of the clock…..I’m gonna be in so much trouble with Sybil]….

        #…SoMuchTroubleItWon’tEvenBeFunny

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  2. Riley ball! 4th & inches…trick play! Lincoln dared not run against good teams. SC could not win the LOS.

    When ND, Oregon and others got tough, SC folded. Against good D lines, SC lacked an effective run game. Maiava was pressured relentlessly and the passing game suffered.

    Riley ball, thought you’d be used to it by now.

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    1. Agree that the line play needs to improve and I think it will but Maiava also needs to work on RPO execution and bootlegs. He seems to tuck it in at the wrong time. And he needs to run it more – 7 or 8 times a game.

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      1. 2026 Game Plan — 15 runs by King per game, 15 runs by Jordan, 10 runs by Jayden….until somebody gets hurt….
        #….ThenWeBringInLongstreet

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  3. Rebuttal to Scott’s Thesis: Jayden may have problems against Oregon …but he will definitely not be “less than his best” against Notre Dame ever again…..

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    1. If SC doesn’t have the money to dump Riley, how do they have money to pay, then hold onto top recruiting classes?

      Assuming boosters want to win, shouldn’t getting rid of Riley have taken priority over paying teenagers who can portal after a year?

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      1. I hate to say this, but the “plant some contraband in Riley’s office, make an anonymous call, and fire for cause” might be the lowest cost approach…

        that was brilliant, who was the poster who said that? Was it you?

        Liked by 2 people

      4. Ha! Hegseth did his job. Marco did his job. Air force did their job. Navy did their job. Marines did their job…..

        #BondiBringsCaseToSouthernDistrictOfNewYork…

        #..WhereDistrictCourtWillSeeMillionPersonMarches24/7….

        #[Bondi:TooDumbToTakeCaseToSouthernDistrictOfFlorida]

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  5. Jayden Maiava as our QB is not the problem. Our problem is the offensive line, defensive line, and defensive backs. For those who watched the Alamo Bowl we clearly lack talent, depth and coaching, and if you watched the playoff games with teams like Oregon, Miami, and Indiana that’s what stands out with the teams that win the big games. It’s all about attacking the opponent physically we don’t wear teams downs playing finesse football. Not only do we lack talent, but the coaching culture currently in place at USC just does see building a great team starts with developing top offensive and defensive lines as Indiana has done, and that’s the reason the program turned around so quickly rather than building around WR’s and QB’s as Lincoln Riley has done. How many 4 or 5 stars on that Indiana roster, but they sure have recruited and developed players correctly.

    Does Indiana remind me of the USC teams of the 70’s- Isn’t it the same formula that John Robinson, and Mckay used to build teams still works because winning the line of scrimmage, controlling the game clock wins games even with average skill QB’s, and Wide Receivers. Tale a look at Stanford in the 70’s when they hired the offensive genius Bill Walsh who recruited great QB’s, and Receivers but yet still could not beat the physical teams like SC because stats don’t win big football games the offensive and defensive lines do. The one Stanford team that beat SC featured Jim Plunkett had the terrific offense, but the reason they finally won the Rose Bowl was because of a great defense called the “Thunder Chickens” who dominated. Bottom line USC too can win again, but it all starts when and if the defense can become dominant at this point I don’t see the talent, or the culture, or a head coach who still thinks wide receivers, and a strong armed QB wins championships who clearly shows is not the case if you watch Indiana, and Miami this season who win with physical play on both sides of the ball.

    Do we need a fiery defensive coordinator like Marv Goux who can also motivate the players, and coach. The answer is yes the first call Riley makes should be to ED ORGERON…….he is still available, and he should be given the Title Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator. We need a leader I truely believe fromer De’Anton Lynn was vastly overrated he truely failed at developing players, and implementing a physical type of defense so no loss.

    If we can’t fire Riley the focus should be on hiring a defensive coordinator who can change the culture we currently have on defense. Ed Orgeron can do that —

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    1. Chances of Riley wanting someone as strong willed as Coach O on staff: Slim and none…..

      #AndSlimJustLeftTown[AsBruceCampbellPutItIn”ArmyOfDarkness”]

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  6. Look at the great SC team Mckay, Robinson, and Carroll built. They all had great defenses first, and placed the great athletes on defense they just happenned to have great offenses also…. We have not recruited or placed the best athletes period- I don’t see a Charlie Weaver, Adrian Young, Richard Wood, Gary Jeter, Rich Dimler, Jimmy Gunn, Ronnie Lott, Dennis Thurman, Dennis Smith, Williard Scott, Joey Browner type of athlete on the roster which tells me we are not recruiting to win football games only at the key offensive skill positions which obviously is not working. Other than Leonard Williams we see very few USC players making an impact in the NFL today except during the Pete Carroll era when we won consistently.

    I remember when Pepper Rogers came to UCLA he ran the wishbone offense that was unstoppable that year with Mark Harmon, James McAlister, Kermit Johnson. If Lincoln Riley played that team he would try to outscore the Bruins to win that game, and for sure failed. Well, we slowed down that offense with a very physical defense that day, and won the game with a defense that was fast and physical. Our defense controlled that game not the offense which is how you build football teams.

    I am sure everyone has noticed our defense is not physical, but what’s obvious to me they are also lacking speed and quickly to get off their blocks, and swarm to the ball. Size is important but we still lack speed so we react, and get to the ball very slowly.

    Defense will get us to the playoff folks not terrific wide receivers alone with a skilled QB. Unfortunately, Lincoln Riley disagrees just like Ted Tollner, Paul Hackett, and Clay Helton who have nice playbooks but don’t win big football games. We need to push Riley out of here, and the first step would be to hire back Ed Orgeron.

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  8. It’s up to our new GM to change the culture at SC. That’s my point he and AD Jen can force Riley to hire Orgeron which will force Riley out in the long run. We all know Ed Orgeron can recruit, and change the culture with more emphysis on defense. All I hear is Riley can call plays so could Paul Hackett, and neither understood defense wins championships like Mckay, Robinson, and Carroll did. Indiana really wins games this year with a great defense, and their offense is good but not spectacular. Indiana, looks like USC from the 70’s– physical, tough defense, good running game, and fundamentals with a good qb who makes few mistakes under pressure but is not spectacular. Amazing how good a QB can look with a good offensive line after all he was at Cal last year but was just above average..

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  9. We will see if Riley calls the shots on the assistants. The USC General Manager says that’s over “it’s just win baby” with the assistants I choose or leave.

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  10. There’s a culture of incompetence at USC. Competition doesn’t create virtue, it gets exposed during it. USC can’t win championships in the major sports because of the lack of virtue in leadership. I no longer live and die at what happens at USC. It’s actually bemusing because the people who can make a difference, refuse to do so. The Alamo Bowl disaster was General Custer level bad. I mean, Riley was supposed to have been an improvement from Clay Helton.

    Looks like more of the same to me.

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  11. Jayden is clearly a step down from the other QB’s Lincoln has had (except for Moss).

    How was he able to get so many Heisman level QBs to come to OK and not USC? (Caleb originally signed with OK).

    Is Husan elite? Will he stick around?

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  12. I wonder if Riley and his current coaches watched the thrashing that Indiana gave to Bama. They should play the game over and over to learn how to play defense and block on offense. Whoever they hire should be asked about the Indiana defense. That was one of the most competent defenses that I have ever seen in college football. The DC mixed up his rush schemes but always rushed at least four. And everyone on the defense knew how to tackle….didn’t see anyone running through or around tacklers. And, Cignetti was definitely in control of all aspects of the game, not standing on the sideline staring at a play calling card. Is there another Cignetti somewhere in Division two or three. Mario Cristobal also called an excellent game against now loser Ryan Day. Three of the best coaches in college football are now in the semis. It’s all about the coaching. We can always hope for next year, and the year after, and the year after. Nothing to lose and everything to gain by hiring Ed O.

    Fight on, Dan, Class of 1962

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  13. Why not go for the best? It’s all about money and opportunity in coaching. Make the Indiana DC the best paid DC in the country and the promise to be the next head coach at USC. Sounds like a good deal to me. Would you pay eleven million a year for Cignetti, I would.

    Fight on, Dan Class of 1962

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