FOOTBALL

USC Morning Buzz: The Puzzle Finally Comes Together

The USC defensive staff has become a hodgepodge but at least now we know what we are getting.

There is the new coodinator (Gary Patterson); the holdovers (Eric Henderson, Trovon Reed); the shoehorned addition (Mike Ekeler) and the yet-to-be-hired safeties coach.

Now what about Rob Ryan. He will be an analyst, which seems like an unwieldy role given his presence. Why did Ryan stay? Well, for one thing, his son works on the football staff so he might need to protect that.

It will be Patterson’s job to meld all these people (egos) together into a cohesive staff.

Bottom line: Patterson will be an upgrade over D’Anton Lynn.

  • Alijah Arenas was 3 for 15 from the field and 0 for 6 on 3-pointers last night. Why take so many shots when you haven’t played all season?
  • Eric Musselman should be thrilled after losing to last-place Northwestern. Not quite like the loss to Purdue over the weekend.
  • Northwestern coach Chris Collins certainly enjoyed it.

23 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: The Puzzle Finally Comes Together”

  1. wolfman, what’s with Muscle-Man?? why would you put the entire team on the back of an 18 yr old coming off of a coma and knee surgery?? that’s desperate, man. his daddy should be on the phone to Muscle-Man asking WTF??? as usual, the SC formula of playing only cupcakes in pre-league schedule backfires as they get beat by lowly NW! Scrappy Mick Cronin’s blistering pre-season sched now paying off as the Bruins take down #4 Purdue!

    #SomeThingsNeverChange

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    1. Chuck’s post leads me to think of Scott participating as a contestant on “Football Jeopardy”.

      Scott: “Alex, I’ll take ‘Shortest Football Coaching Tenures for $100!’ “

      Alex Trebek: “And the answer is: ‘What offensive coordinator at what school was fired after just 3 games?’ “

      Scott: “Who is Tino Sunseri, UCLA Offensive Coordinator, fired after just 3 weeks into the 2025 season”

      Three weeks and canned? Sheesh, that is not even enough time to let the grass get mown at the Rose Bowl.

      #GuttyFootbal-SomeThingsNeverChange

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  2. Patterson hasn’t coached for several years, following a racial slur he made. It seems he would have been better suited as an analyst, providing feedback to a younger, high energy DC who doesn’t have that baggage.

    Ten weeks to spring practice? Which of course will be closed.

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  4. Gary Patterson, a hall of fame head coach, certainly knows how to work with a variety of egos, and every coach worth his salt has some ego strength. The only question is are they good at their job. I for one am glad that they got someone with a great track record. Riley is the coach on the hot seat, not Patterson, so it behooves Riley to work with him creatively. I just want a DB coach who can teach how to cover without holding on every play. By the way, the Miami DB was holding on almost every play and it was only called once in the NC game. I also want a DB coach who can teach linebackers how to plug holes and contain. We shall see when the games begin. Fight on. Dan, Class of 1962

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    1. The enormous variance in calling holding/PI leads to nothing but bad football, uncertainty over what is called, and a poor fan experience. The rule book is clear on what constitutes holding and PI. Inform both sides beforehand that they are going to call the game as documented within the rules, and then let them call the game as they advertised.

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      1. I think it’s time to toy with the idea of (1) allowing holding and (2) allowing the held player to counter with wrestling moves….

        #KeepTheRefsOutOfIt…

        #LetTheTougherPlayerPrevail

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  5. KAM: USC mens’ hoops will be playing in Madison Wisconsin Sunday where the high temperature will be 8 degrees and the low -9.

    DON: What are the odds any SC alumni travel to that game? Brilliant idea leaving the Pac 12.

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    1. My youngest, a California boy through and through, is in his first year at the University of Chicago. He hasn’t complained yet, but this weekend is going to be potentially a record breaker.

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  6. Trojan1967 is right on target regarding officiating across the various conferences. If a DB is not fast enough to keep up with a wideout; then give him some help with a safety double covering over the top. You can always take out a quality receiver who may be a threat, but it takes a scheme that emphasizes teamwork. The most impressive thing about the Indiana defense was the coordinated teamwork. They almost always had two or three guys near the ball carrier. As we said in a previous comment, 1967 was a great year even with the loss at Oregon State. Fight on, Dan, Class of 1962

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  7. This doesn’t happen often, but I agree with Scott about Arenas’s playing time. The team was out of sync and missing so many shots took the other shooters out of their rhythm. I don’t want to guess his motivation for using him, but he should have had some set plays for him just to get the feel of being in a game; he didn’t have to be the star. If he wants to be a one and done, so be it. Use the portal to get two or three quality players….I think that we should be able to afford a few great players. Fight on, Dan, Class of 1962

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  9. KAM: My My My My Sherrone

    DON: Ex-Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore returns to court seeking to have home invasion and other charges against him dismissed.

    Authorities say Moore entered a woman’s apartment Dec. 10 and blamed her for him losing his job that day, then grabbed butter knives and kitchen scissors and threatened to kill himself.

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  10. The “Muss Bus” has alot of flat tires…..and it will get worse Arenas will go to the NBA after 1 season, and many will transfer. The Muscle Man will only last a few years at SC so there is hope only when he leaves. The Muscle Man has traveled too many miles with too many stops with no evidence of building a strong program.

    Score Card-

    Andy Enfield- B to a good job at SC not great but did put new energy and interest into the program.

    Muscle Man C- Former NBA D League Coach and Coaches like it with no player discipline, poor fundamentals, and street 1 on 1 basketball. I have seen no evidence he can build a consistent program to compete in the Big 10, and sadly it appears he will have a rebuilding year every year which is not the way to build a program.

    Thank you Jen Cohen for your knowledge of the game of basketball, and forcing USC basketball to have to start over once again.

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  11. Maybe USC basketball fans are not buying into Eric Musselman just like the many places he has been before including Arkansas where they were happy to get rid of him. I am never seen a USC basketball team look worse than the last game, and what’s worse our coach appeared to be showcasing the freshman Arenas for the NBA which is not fair to the other players. Maybe $$ involved?

    Just watch in two years the “Muss Buss” will be asked to leave just like he has so many other places before. Those that are foolish enough to think he can ever compete in the Big 10 need to watch how he runs a program, how he recruits, and how many wins he will have at the end of the season.

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