FOOTBALL

USC-San Jose State Live Blog

Wow, this was underwhelming. So much to criticize.

What happened to the breakaway tailbacks?

Where is Boobie Feaster?

A 42-yard pass completion on Kennedy Urlacher. What have I said about the secondary?

I always think maybe I am wrong and the fanboys were right with their relentless offseason hype. But after watching the first half, USC is about what I expected.

Todd Blackledge is having a mare. He said Castle Rock, California, instead of Colorado and pronoubnced Mater Dei as “Mayter Die”

USC leads 21-0 but I can’t say they look better, factoring in who they are playing.

USC’s defense looked suspiciously like last season before San Jose State drive stalled at the 9-yard line.

Great red-zone playcalling by Riley. USC gets stopped short of goal line. Does the offense look better?

It’s an exhibition game and USC has a vanilla drive as it cruises down the field for an easy TD and 7-0 lead.

Wide receivers Tanook Hines and Terrell Anderson are not dressed. They were expected starters if healthy. DE Braylan Shelby and LB Elijah Newby also out.

72 thoughts on “USC-San Jose State Live Blog”

      3. “I called. I didn’t call. Let’s fight. Let’s not fight. I’m a girl. I’m a boy.” A 100% goofball …who’s proud to call attention to it every day of the year….

        #..IMean,Wowsie

        Liked by 1 person

  10. All in all, this performance is —so far — as much as we can realistically expect. If we can duplicate it in the second half reasonable fans should be happy with the Trojans.

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    2. Except for a couple of missed blocks and 3 or 4 D lapses, it is about as good as it can be. Maiava has all the time in the world, great new
      WRs, Waymo and King rushing at will. 312 yards of total offense at halftime, roughly 50/50 run-pass play calling. Bowman looks great, so does Waffle.

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      2. I sure hope we can keep Jonas Williams – looks like there is no fall off from Maiava…and with a 4.6 40, he is more of a dual threat than Jayden.

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      2. So Cal — you called it a long time ago: she misinterprets, hears voices, sees visions …and… goes to battle with all three….

        #Sad

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  16. Announcers desperately grasping for more lipstick to put on this USC pig. Nothing has changed. Every other top program in the country (particularly Alabama and Ohio State): “Succeed or be gone.” USC: The Life of Riley. Clay Helton can never look good or better. But he can and does have company.

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    1. 100% —It is never a good thing when announcers are listing in the last 60 seconds all the players who didn’t play ….and assuring fans that their team will be much better when they get back…..

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      1. And conveniently not commenting on an underwhelming running game (despite the backs being okay, so gee the line is not good again despite the hype), QB1 forcing ill-advised throws that will be picked against quality opponents, and a defense (that still doesn’t tackle well, still doesn’t cover well, didn’t generate pass rush, etc, etc, etc).

        Liked by 4 people

  17. Nothing has changed in five years.

    D is not fixed.

    Same problems in the secondary.

    Can’t close on a game – especially against lesser competition.

    Freshmen would be something to celebrate in pre NIL times. How many will still be here in a few years? How many will SC end up facing?

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    1. See my above – completely agree. The new version of the USC Titanic is underway (with no iceberg detector installed because hey why fix an obvious terminal defect?) …

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  18. the vaunted trOJies were outplayed and outscored 26-14 in 2nd half!! and this to a scrappy lil QB playing his 3rd ever start and first against Div 1 opponent!!

    guess they won’t be carrying Patterson or Lil’ Lord Riley off the field after this one!! further amusing since everyone knows Riley likes to run it up again designated patsies!! i can hear him now: “we paid $1.5 mil for this??? we couldda just played the Rudys!!”

    #BigsStepBackwards

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    1. The reserves were bad.

      Jury is out on Patterson — but indicators [including that panicked look on his face on the sidelines] aren’t good.

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      2. he did look frazzled with the panicky expression and the wild gesticulating. Geez they had Buddy Ryan’s kid on staff, i’m sure no one knows the “42” defense schemes better than him, although i hear it’s not suited for todays “chuck and duck” offenses (as Buddy called them)

        #NowPattersonKnowsHowNormChowFelt

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      3. Patterson’s expression was easy to read: “I’m being exposed.”

        #HardToBelieveHe’llWinTheTeamBack..

        #….RuleOfThumb:Old&Chubby&ScaredDoesn’tInspire…

        #[It’sALLLLLOnTheOffense…AGAIN]….

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    1. Here’s a good one for ya: Scott’s 9-3 looks overly generous.

      #My10-2LooksEvenWorse….

      #HopeThisWasn’tWhatWeReallyHaveToLookFowardTo

      #OnlyOneThingHasBeenClearedUp:NoHeadCoachJobForPatterson

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      2. Credit where credit is due, So Cal.

        #IThinkWe’reLookingAtTheEndOfTheRileyEra

        [No one minds the interception thrown by a newbie…. but the secondary is lost in space…. and there isn’t really time to fix that before Oregon]…..

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  21. Riley is actually making post game remarks about how it mostly went perfectly….. [I wonder if that is what he’s gonna tell Patterson when he gets him in private],,,,,

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      2. There were two, maybe three, plays in the early 3rd quarter where one of our d-lineman got spun around by a block…and he didn’t try to get back in the play… I know it was hot….but crap…. this looks like another D that isn’t playing hard for their coach…..

        Liked by 1 person

    1. …you mean…whiff on sure tackles in the backfield, lose interest in the play after getting blocked….let receivers repeatedly get behind you….?

      #IsThatTheUsualPlaybookYouWereReferringTo?

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      1. It’s a phucking football game…..the overthinking is pathetic…..

        RELAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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      2. ..never saw the word “relax followed by 50 exclamation points before…

        #SeekHelp..

        #[Projection Is A B-i-t-c-h, Ain’t It]?

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  23. Defense needs some fine tuning esp the secondary but I believe it was taking the starters out rather than risk injuries. I know most believe this is just a portent of more of the same last 4 years but I believe it is also very beneficial to the squad in particular to Coach Patterson.

    The offense was great – fix that defense pass secondary and we’re good to go – thankfully Fresno St. will be a bigger challenge and that is of great gain for USC….seems the schedule is just that – ever increasing challenges with some easier ascents.

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      1. Mike, Coach Patterson has been there <1 season actually what 6 mos.? They have a deep depth chart and if anything it’s given him and all the rest of the staffs who is ready and who isn’t.

        Note – no one was complaining about the center Tobias Raymond’s play huh?

        Patterson was seen as ‘ready’ well as Mike Tyson said “…everyone has a plan until he gets punched!” Coach Lincoln Riley didn’t get punched…..it was Coach Patterson who got punched.

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      2. Punched repeatedly.

        I hope he has a couple of stiff drinks, gets a good night’s sleep and, then, “watches the film”….just like Clay used to do….but with better effect… we need to improve before we meet Fresno, let alone Oregon….

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