QUARTERBACK
This was the Jayden Maiava we knew was still out there despite the offseason glazing. Now, will there be poor decisions in the marquee games or was this an aberration?
Grade: C+
RUNNING BACKS
A USC back finally broke 100 yards in a game this season but the running game still doesn’t look like last year.
Grade: C
WIDE RECEIVERS
USCs top four pass catchers were true freshmen. I’m not sure how significant that is when receiver is the easiest position to make an immediate impact for first-year players. Who didn’t think these highly rated athletes could handle it? You never heard me say that and I’ve criticized plenty of other positions.
Grade: B+
OFFENSIVE LINE
Another week with an indifferent performance against a team USC was meant to dominate. These guys are flying under the radar with the fanboys because the games are not competitive. But they are not meeting an acceptable standard through three games and seem completly forgettable.
Grade: D+
DEFENSIVE LINE
What’s not to like about Luke Wafle and Jide Abasiri? When does a third lineman emerge? And can USC’s line dominate against a big team?
Grade: B+
LINEBACKERS
The great USC assistant Dave Levy once told me the coaches called a well-known Trojan player a “chase linebacker” because the player was always chasing 5-10 yards behind the opposing player with the ball. Well, that’s what I felt on some pass plays Saturday night as the linebackers seemed to consistently be chasing after open receivers.
Grade: C-
DEFENSIVE BACKS
It’s a sign of the situation when people are complimenting the secondary for plays on special teams instead of on defense. Safety Kennedy Urlacher gave up a big pass and they allowed Lunch Winfield to complete 73 percent of his passes.
Grade: D
SPECIAL TEAMS
An electric punt return and a partially blocked were good. A roughing the kicker penalty that turned a field goal into a touchdown was bad.
Grade: B-
COACHING
What does it take to get USC to play well for four quarters against sometimes laughable competition? Charles Nelson Riley certainly doesn’t seem to have an answer. He’d rather talk about the highlight plays from the freshmen. Did anything in the first three games demonstrate he has the faculties to outcoach someone in the upper echelon of the Big Ten?
Grade: D+
InsideUSC with Scott Wolf 
You were supposed to be back by now, Michael!
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DON: That 5 1/2 point line favoring Oregon over SC and 7 1/2 point line favoring Ohio St over SC are not going down despite both teams losing last week
KAM: SC has its work cut out for it
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KAM: Why does Wolf keep calling Wiley by the name of Charles Nelson?
DON: Charles Nelson Reilly was an accomplished actor and was well liked. It’s not like Wolf to pay Wiles a compliment
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Many of us don’t remember that side of him.
Match Game is how we know him. He was funny as hell.
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That’s where I got the idea from when I introduced that name here … a guy who was a secondary, sometimes humorous, often annoying, figure to the always hilarious Richard Dawson. Note: Charles Nelson wasn’t the host (that would be Gene Rayburn). Agreed that Wiley, Genius, is even better, but I like combining the two into Charles Nelson Wiley.
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And Hollywood Squares, of course.
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KAM: Yes on Match Game Charles was a hilarious guest.
DON: Riley Coyote, Genius, is more appropriate for Lincoln Riley.
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KAM: AT FIRST WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER TIREBITER WAS STILL ALIVE, AND NOW MG HAS DISAPPEARED
DON: MG SAID HE’D BE OUT FOR A WHILE. MAYBE THAT WAS CODE FOR HAVING A SERIOUS OPERATION
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Maiava should be D-, his effort was awful.
Kid will lose games for USC because he’s an airhead
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DON: SC Coach Dave Levy said coaches used the derogatory term of “chase linebackers” for guys who were always chasing down open wide receivers.
KAM: I have seen Trojans doing a lot of chasing these past years
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DON: I was surprised that a lowly game like SC-Rutgers is getting a prime noon spot on a good channel
KAM: The tv guys might have spotted a New York v Los Angeles angle
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As we both stated before, the schedule is weak. No great matchups other than Ole Miss-LSU.
The networks’ choices were about as good as LA’s choices for Mayor in November. 🤢🤮
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