The continuing implosion at USC
- By Dale Newton
- First Duck Club
- 2 Replies
The Ducks miss SC in the PAC-12 schedule rotation this year. Instead they have a road trip to UCLA on October 23rd.
Still the Trojans will always be a factor in the conference race and a contender, simply because location and tradition give them some tremendous recruiting boosts, however they may squander them.
In the War Room today Scott wrote:
USC is teetering on a precipice of disaster; their methodology is a high-risk, boom or bust approach to recruiting on two levels. If somehow a team with elite defensive backs and below average offensive line play can win a Pac-12 Title, make the playoff and have a good showing, it cold set up the Trojans for another run like that we saw from 2002-08; but if they cannot seem to break through, what did they gain from a few extra defensive backs in 2021-22? The answer is nothing.
Criticism is mounting in L.A. also. Writer Matt Zemek of Trojans Wire wrote last week that Helton "doesn't pay attention to details," citing that as the chief reason the program constantly underachieves.
trojanswire.usatoday.com
One of the flaws of USC football in recent years speaks to the lack of precision the Trojans have on offense. When you watch USC’s offense, the talent and the raw material are evident, but it is just as clear that the potential of an offensive unit isn’t fully realized. There is a large gulf between reality and possibility, between the actual state of the offense and the vision of what everything might look like if the offense functioned properly.
It seems like Helton has been on the hot seat forever. From the perspective of Duck fans, it'd be best if the beleaguered coach accomplished just enough to keep his job forever.
This off season Helton and his staff have sold out on free agency: USC has picked up 7 players from the transfer portal:
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There have also been some notable defections, including 5-star linebacker Palaie Gaoteote to Ohio State, running backs Stephen Carr and Markese Stepp, defensive tackle Caleb Tremblay.
For a team with glaring roster imbalance and culture issues, creating unity and chemistry out of all this roster movement will be a challenge.
On the field, the Trojans chief weapons are the two Drakes, edge rusher Drake Jackson and wide receiver Drake London, who is moving from slot to the outside this season. Bru McCoy is also a dangerous weapon, and the secondary is loaded with talent, probably too much talent.
The offensive line, as Scott pointed out, is in a state of flux. They gave up 9 sacks in the spring game, signed only three recruits after allowing 15 sacks in 6 games last season, 10th in the conference.
Helton apparently doesn't understand that a strong football team is built from the ground up.
Still the Trojans will always be a factor in the conference race and a contender, simply because location and tradition give them some tremendous recruiting boosts, however they may squander them.
In the War Room today Scott wrote:
USC is teetering on a precipice of disaster; their methodology is a high-risk, boom or bust approach to recruiting on two levels. If somehow a team with elite defensive backs and below average offensive line play can win a Pac-12 Title, make the playoff and have a good showing, it cold set up the Trojans for another run like that we saw from 2002-08; but if they cannot seem to break through, what did they gain from a few extra defensive backs in 2021-22? The answer is nothing.
Criticism is mounting in L.A. also. Writer Matt Zemek of Trojans Wire wrote last week that Helton "doesn't pay attention to details," citing that as the chief reason the program constantly underachieves.
Yet another sign of how Clay Helton doesn't pay attention to details
The USC Trojans have several flaws. If they had only one or two, they would have won a series of conference championships and would have reached a steady stream of New Year’s Six bowl games. …
trojanswire.usatoday.com
One of the flaws of USC football in recent years speaks to the lack of precision the Trojans have on offense. When you watch USC’s offense, the talent and the raw material are evident, but it is just as clear that the potential of an offensive unit isn’t fully realized. There is a large gulf between reality and possibility, between the actual state of the offense and the vision of what everything might look like if the offense functioned properly.
It seems like Helton has been on the hot seat forever. From the perspective of Duck fans, it'd be best if the beleaguered coach accomplished just enough to keep his job forever.
This off season Helton and his staff have sold out on free agency: USC has picked up 7 players from the transfer portal:
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There have also been some notable defections, including 5-star linebacker Palaie Gaoteote to Ohio State, running backs Stephen Carr and Markese Stepp, defensive tackle Caleb Tremblay.
For a team with glaring roster imbalance and culture issues, creating unity and chemistry out of all this roster movement will be a challenge.
On the field, the Trojans chief weapons are the two Drakes, edge rusher Drake Jackson and wide receiver Drake London, who is moving from slot to the outside this season. Bru McCoy is also a dangerous weapon, and the secondary is loaded with talent, probably too much talent.
The offensive line, as Scott pointed out, is in a state of flux. They gave up 9 sacks in the spring game, signed only three recruits after allowing 15 sacks in 6 games last season, 10th in the conference.
Helton apparently doesn't understand that a strong football team is built from the ground up.
