The question came Sunday night. After another game where multiple bad snaps or snap miscommunications from senior Toa Lobendahn to QB JT Daniels resulted in a red zone fumble and another near turnover, USC coach Clay Helton was asked if he would consider making a change at center.
Whether that be moving Lobendahn elsewhere on the line or simply trying someone knew in that spot.
The answer was an unwavering no from Helton.
“Yeah, Toa is our center. And if you ever watched him [block] on fourth-and-2 on our touchdown run, with the athleticism that he did and the athleticism that he showed at that center position, the snaps will be OK," Helton said.
He proceeded to explain that the one that came on the first down play from the Arizona 13-yard line late in the second quarter, in which Daniels was clearly not expecting the snap and it went for a lost fumble, involved miscues beyond Lobendahn.
"On that particular one that you’re talking about, we had two men in motion and offensively tried to stop the play. One by me trying to call timeout, but the quarterback recognized it and tried to stop also," Helton said. "And Toa heard something verbal and snapped the ball. And it happens in football. Wish it didn’t, but it happened. It wasn’t a bad snap, hit him dead in the gut. We’ll fix the low snaps this week.”
The second major snapping miscue later in the game was of that low snap variety, and Daniels was able to corral it and get his knee down to kill the play and avoid another turnover.
Whether that be moving Lobendahn elsewhere on the line or simply trying someone knew in that spot.
The answer was an unwavering no from Helton.
“Yeah, Toa is our center. And if you ever watched him [block] on fourth-and-2 on our touchdown run, with the athleticism that he did and the athleticism that he showed at that center position, the snaps will be OK," Helton said.
He proceeded to explain that the one that came on the first down play from the Arizona 13-yard line late in the second quarter, in which Daniels was clearly not expecting the snap and it went for a lost fumble, involved miscues beyond Lobendahn.
"On that particular one that you’re talking about, we had two men in motion and offensively tried to stop the play. One by me trying to call timeout, but the quarterback recognized it and tried to stop also," Helton said. "And Toa heard something verbal and snapped the ball. And it happens in football. Wish it didn’t, but it happened. It wasn’t a bad snap, hit him dead in the gut. We’ll fix the low snaps this week.”
The second major snapping miscue later in the game was of that low snap variety, and Daniels was able to corral it and get his knee down to kill the play and avoid another turnover.
