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Report card: Grading the Trojans (vs. Oregon)

November 2nd, 2009, 7:00 am · 9 Comments · posted by Michael Lev, staff writer

I’ve been handing out grades to the USC football team for almost two season, and never once have I given any unit an F. But I guess — as the Trojans’ 27-point loss on Saturday reaffirmed — there’s a first time for everything.

OFFENSE

  • The good: Receiver Damian Williams gutted his way through a sore glute to catch nine passes for 82 yards and a touchdown. … Matt Barkley passed for two scores and didn’t turn the ball over until an interception on an essentially meaningless last-minute drive.
  • The not-so-good: After scoring 17 points in the first half, the offense managed just three in the second, when Oregon pulled away. … Barkley and TE Blake Ayles, subbing for injured starter Anthony McCoy, failed to connect on a pair of passes that could have produced touchdowns.
  • The grade: C-minus

Your turn:

Grade USC's offense vs. Oregon:
View Results

DEFENSE

  • The good: (Um, um, searching …) On the second play of the second quarter, LB Malcolm Smith forced a fumble and safety Will Harris recovered it, setting up a USC touchdown. … DT Jurrell Casey and DE Everson Griffen combined for 18 tackles and seemed to be the only members of the Trojans’ front seven who made any plays.
  • The not-so-good: USC allowed 31 first downs, 47 points, 391 rushing yards and 613 total yards. … Continuing a pattern from the second half of the Oregon State game, the defense played inconsistent and undisciplined football, leaving massive running lanes for QB Jeremiah Masoli and RB LaMichael James.
  • The grade: F

Your turn:

Grade USC's defense vs. Oregon:
View Results

SPECIAL TEAMS

  • The good: Ronald Johnson gave the kickoff-return unit a spark; his 28- and 30-yarders in the first quarter were USC’s longest of the season. … The punt-coverage team limited Oregon’s Kenjon Barner to minus-1 yard on two returns.
  • The not-so-good: Barner broke free for a 77-yard kickoff return after USC’s opening field goal; the return featured three missed tackles and was the second 70-plus-yarder the Trojans allowed in as many games. … Despite Johnson’s efforts (and a lot of practice), USC still averaged a pedestrian 19.7 yards per kickoff return.
  • The grade: D-plus

Your turn:

Grade USC's special teams vs. Oregon:
View Results

COACHING

  • The good: ( … still searching …) Leaving Barkley in a blowout to run the two-minute offense was a wise move, giving him valuable experience. … Going for it on fourth-and-1 from the Oregon 29 in the second quarter proved prudent; Joe McKnight gained a first down, and the Trojans scored a touchdown on the drive.
  • The not-so-good: USC’s defensive game plan proved predictable, as it barely slowed down the Ducks, let alone stopped them. … For the third time in as many weeks, Pete Carroll and his staff failed to make the proper halftime adjustments, always seeming to be (at least) one move behind their counterparts.
  • The grade: F

Your turn:

Grade USC's coaching vs. Oregon:
View Results

POLL: WHAT’S THE WORST USC LOSS OF THE PETE CARROLL ERA?

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 9 Comments

  • Ordinateur says:
    November 2, 2009 at 9:21 am

    The two people who gave the USC defense an A and the one person who gave the USC offense an A must have been watching the USC/Oregon game from LAST year.

    As far as keeping Barkley in late in the fouth quarter for game time experience goes, I dont agree with that one. What if Barkley would have been injured in a meaning less drive? Not worth the risk. Hopefully we can give better grades this time next week.

  • jj says:
    November 2, 2009 at 11:21 am

    Boy the defensive schemes were just awful. People don’t want to admit it, but the Pac-10 has figured out Carrol and he has yet to adjust–he’s won a lot of close games in the last couple years on talent alone. Teams are no longer in “awe” of the Trojans and they aren’t making the mistakes that Carrol banks on in the soft, bend but don’t break, we’ll give up a 7 yard cushion so we don’t get beat deep play.

    The real problem though, is that teams are controlling the tempo and clock as they continually march down the field. Then, SC’s offense comes on and it’s 3 & out, and it happens again. Very little rythm.

    Gotta start playing more aggressive– I think getting beat deep once in awhile is better than getting driven on over & over and over.

    Finally, a big fan of Gallipo here, but boy he had just an awful, awful game. He guessed wrong so many times, and failed to makes plays on the few he quessed right.

  • jj says:
    November 2, 2009 at 11:23 am

    sorry, CarroLL

  • Roy says:
    November 2, 2009 at 11:51 am

    Pete carroll is either being stubborn or arrogant for refusing to adjust and come up with things that others haven’t seen. Other teams have definitely dissected USC’s Offense and Defense meticulously to the pt. that nothing surprises them anymore and they know what’s coming. I’ve taped every game this season and the sight of our secondary in position to break up plays and even pick-off some passes are about as common as seeing Big-Foot.

  • Knowitall says:
    November 2, 2009 at 3:16 pm

    It’s easy to take pot shots at PC but Rocky Seto as the Defensive Coordinator is way over his head and has been exposed. He’s too inexperienced to make half time adjustments. You lost a former D1 head coach and defensive coordinator in Holt and replaced him with some guy who has been with the program and got promoted by default. PC cannot do everything folks but he does need to hire a legitimate DCorr next year. Interesting how Seto has not had one iota of criticism.

  • Marie says:
    November 2, 2009 at 3:57 pm

    No Ordinateur, sadly there are quite a few Trojan fans who are stuck in denial—despite this weekend’s devastating pounding by a much better team. You and I know better though. The Trojans deserve all those D’s and F’s in the poll above.

  • Gern says:
    November 2, 2009 at 5:35 pm

    Oregon put 42 on Holt this year too. Kelly out coached carrol and Oregon appeared to have too much speed and stamina for SC.

  • William c/o 04 Keck says:
    November 2, 2009 at 9:58 pm

    Seto deserves his share of blame, but c’mon, lets open our eyes here and realize he’s nothing more than a puppet. A Yes Man who’s only DC by name. It’s Pete Carroll who calls the shots on defense and I believe even on Offense.

  • Quintiam says:
    November 14, 2009 at 3:10 am

    Marie, er Mario:

    In the last 3 months, you have:

    1. Wished death upon all Trojan players and alumni
    2. Made jokes about injured Trojan players (twice)
    3. Made jokes about special education children
    4. Made jokes about “forced prison romances”
    5. Made jokes about bestiality

    The Mods and other maggots may tolerate your disgusting humor here but I will not.

    Please take your childish banality elsewhere.

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