USC: What Did We Learn

The game was closer than I expected.
We just to have to keep building. We have no DL to stop the run but thought we limited SC through the air. Lemon really did nothing for them.

With Rhule now extended we have to win through recruiting and the portal. I’ve said it forever, if you don’t recruit in the top 20 or better don’t really expect to win big.

Shame Raiola got injured. Much better chance to win if he can go the full game.

Blackout was done well. Would like to see it once a year for night game,
 
Undone said:
It’s really not worth handwringing super hard over the field goal though, I suppose. Because ultimately we were leading in the fourth quarter.

We might’ve just gotten stopped on that drive and missed a field goal anyway, etc., etc.

I will say…we were missing a middle linebacker presence in this game. We got washed on the run or didn’t have anybody home in the middle - or both. Ugh.
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It just pisses me off that we wasted another time out to try to draw them offsides with a 2nd string freshman QB. The most predictable play in that situation was used to burn a 2nd timeout in a tight game that is very likely going to come down to the final possession.
 
I learned to keep expecting to lose big games.

I learned that Rhule continually LOVES him some defensive timeouts early in games sees no value in keeping them for late in games.

Rhule coached scared on the 4th and 1 and hurt the team. He needs to take accountability there.

Dana got scared when Lateef came in. That game plan with him in was basically hope the running game gets a file gos and just don’t turn the ball over.

I learned all the posters who were sniffing Lateefs jock all year at the expense of DR hopefully understand how silly they were.

Playing three down lineman is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever seen in football. When the defense dos this, our linebackers basically end up catching blocks 3 yards downfield.

The offense needs much better effort out of the WR group and Dana needs to figure out that he is allowed to do crossing routes and run routes against man defense.

If Rhule isn’t able to get three portal offensive lineman that are well above average, next year will be a repeat of this year. Cause DR needs it given his lack of pocket presence.
 
I was really optimistic today. Thought it'd be different.
Blackout was awesome. Great job.
Didn't really embarrass ourselves on national TV
When our pass D is number 1 and run D is dead last, you'll be average at best.
We are more than a player or 2 away from being competitive.
Rhule doesn't have that killer instinct.
Not going to beat up the extension. He got it so here we are.
The staff is weaker than the talent we have. If I was Rhule, Ekler would be back. Other guys.....
I think our offense is pass behind the LOS, something really shallow in the flats, a deep fade or RB into the middle of the LOS. Plain, vanilla and bad.
Can't get a gauge on Dylan. Loved his 2 runs. Would like more of that. OL so bad he could be Tom Brady or he isn't as good as advertised.
Kicking the field goal when he's missed 2 from a shorter distance.
Still got 3 more game.
Still bowling.
 
DefenderAO said:
With us apparently so dominant in the pass game, we let their 3rd string RB do that to us?
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If I hadn’t watched the game and I just read your comment, I might’ve thought he had 230 yards rushing and and 3 TD’s.

But he had 129 yards and 1 touchdown.

I’d agree that we underperformed in rush defense…but didn’t we already know that was our weakness?

Raiola got hurt early in the third quarter and that was game. Our defense did fairly well honestly.

I don’t know how you could make a different assessment given that they only scored 21 on offense.
 
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I think we didn't learn anything new. We are just an average to mediocre program now. I will ask one question: Why do coaches close the playbook when a backup QB is brought in? My logic in this question is the other 10 players on offense didn't forget how two play did they? I have watched this in football for years and still will say that if your other parts are in working order, play football and let the ball go. The other thing is Rhule and his staff can not make adjustments in game. After the opening drive, USC made adjustments. Regardless, we were going to lose the game, even with Railola we were getting punched in the mouth and starting to reel.
 
Love how we can't run rub routes to get guys open because we always get called for a penalty yet on what I believe was USC first passing first down the WR ran a drag and every other player on the field was running into or holding our defenders to get him open. Also the damn flee flicker pissed me off. Decent coverage but the defender was better off just tackling the guy and taking 15yrds
 
DefenderAO said:
To be that "dominant" I pass defense to then be so inept in the run tells me there's a big problem overall. Pass D was bad or USC was off? Don't know. But the D overall got smoked.
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This your first time watching us this season? Well, turns out we have a pretty elite secondary. 2nd in the nation in pass defense, and 12th in total defense.

DefenderAO said:
With us apparently so dominant in the pass game, we let their 3rd string RB do that to us?
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Not sure if you know this, but they have some really Texasing good running backs.
 
TGHusker said:
I don’t understand the extension when he hasn’t accomplished anything yet. Yes it may show stability for recruiting but it just solidifies average performance at best
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When you extend a coach who has not yet beaten a ranked opponent and is 6-3 with a favorable schedule, it just promotes complacency. Rhule will be very rich even if fired, so what is the motivation to make the right hires and do your best to do what Cignetti has done at Indiana. Completely understand the Cignetti extension. The guy is a winner. The Rhule extension makes zero sense. He has always been a 0.500 coach all his career and that is not going to change. You are what your record says you are. 2-24 against ranked opponents. This is exactly what we are getting. Other than that, Rhule is an excellent sales person. He definitely says the right things and he is not going to pull a Bo on the field. May be our administration thinks this is worth the money.
 
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