USC installed its Air Raid offense with four plays and quick passes and fast tempo before the season. But when the Trojans beat Utah on Friday night, it did it with Matt Fink throwing long, jump-ball passes against a shaky Utes secondary. Last year, when USC defeated Washington State, also on a Friday night at the Coliseum, it did it with JT Daniels throwing long … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Where Was The Air Raid vs. Utah?

Kedon Slovis is not medically cleared to practice or play and did not participate Tuesday. Clay Helton confirmed what I reported last night that safety Talanoa Hufanga is in concussion protocol. He also did not practice Tuesday. Hufanga has a “little bit” of an AC sprain, per Helton. Also out: Cornerback Olaijah Griffin; defensive end Christian Rector and offensive guard Andrew Vorhees. Tyler Vaughns even … Continue reading USC Injury Report

I almost forgot about this: QUARTERBACK Matt Fink inspired the team after getting a chance that Clay Helton never envisioned. He made some ill-advised passes but notice the energy lift when Fink, Kedon Slovis or Jack Sears played QB? Grade: B- TAILBACK Were there any holes to run through? Even there were not, it’s fair to say Stephen Carr is not the same tailback he … Continue reading USC-Utah Report Card

Forget about USC’s inability to run the ball on Friday for a moment and focus on the defense’s ability to stop the run. Utah rushed for 247 yards. Fresno State 206. That means USC has surrendered more than 200 yards in half of its games. Utah did it mostly with backups after Zack Moss got hurt. When you consider USC’s defensive line is supposed to … Continue reading USC Needs To Stop The Run

An NFL coach read by criticism of Utah’s game plan yesterday and added this to the list: “Did you see how poorly they handled USC’s blitz? “Clancy Pendergast kept blitzing from the open side. Why didn’t the Utah coaches bring their tight end across from the side or something? Why didn’t they put the tight end in motion to come over to that side? Then … Continue reading Another Critique Of Utah

I’m hearing that as of this morning, USC is not expecting Kedon Slovis to play vs. Washington. We’ll see if his condition improves during the week. Here is the weekly podcast where Aram Tolegian goes off on Reggie Bush‘s return to the Coliseum, Bryce Young‘s decommitment, Utah’s horrid coaching and preview the USC-Washington game. Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Kedon Slovis And Explosive Podcast