On losses I tend not to write a full treatise on the game. I know USC fans don’t want to replay it and I really don’t as well. But here are my opinions on it.
Two major problems-
True freshman QB JT Daniels acted like a True Freshman QB. Who would have guessed it? First game on the road against a tough and smart team. It's not like we haven't seen this with Carson Palmer or Matt Barkley. The former had a break in period in 1998 but struggled a few games in a season where the team went 8-5 and he as starting QB was 3-3. And Barkley started off great in this first two games then went 7-4. It's one of the reasons I opted for a softer entrance and Fink or Sears as the starting QB. But the kid will recover, as will the team.
The second mistake was one that is the coaches fault. At the Stanford 40 (no man's land), and behind 7-0 they went on 3rd and 2 with a rush and compounded that with a sack of 11 yards leading to a fumble by JT and a quick score to make it a much more difficult 14 point deficit. With the ball in our hands with the second half kickoff what was the idea there? One of the worst decisions ever by the coaches.
As to the game it was one where Stanford made a few good plays and that was enough to win 17-3. Neither team was great offensively. Total yards: SC 332 Stanford 342. Time of possession: 29:17 to 30:13. 3rd and 4th down conversions: SC 8-19, Stanford 4-13. Sounds close, but then comes the differences: Sacks: SC 0, Stanford 4. Turnovers: SC 3 ( 2 int and 1 fumble). Stanford 0. And big plays (20 plus yards): SC 3 -45,35, and 28 yards -all passes. Stanford 5 - 22,28,26, 59,29. 3 passes and 2 runs (the 59 yarder by Love ended up as a FG).
So what does this mean going forward? Can JT recover quickly? Fortunately the schedule helps- Texas will be rough, but they aren't Stanford so far. They will not out-defense USC. Then comes WSU, Arizona, Colorado before Utah. Chances here to right the ship before the Utes.
Position Grades: coaches-D, QB-C-, RB-B- (4.6ypc minus the sacks). Rec- C+ (a few nice catches). OL- C (too many sacks). Defense- B-. ST-C (yay McGrath) plus Tilbey looks like our new punter.
Two major problems-
True freshman QB JT Daniels acted like a True Freshman QB. Who would have guessed it? First game on the road against a tough and smart team. It's not like we haven't seen this with Carson Palmer or Matt Barkley. The former had a break in period in 1998 but struggled a few games in a season where the team went 8-5 and he as starting QB was 3-3. And Barkley started off great in this first two games then went 7-4. It's one of the reasons I opted for a softer entrance and Fink or Sears as the starting QB. But the kid will recover, as will the team.
The second mistake was one that is the coaches fault. At the Stanford 40 (no man's land), and behind 7-0 they went on 3rd and 2 with a rush and compounded that with a sack of 11 yards leading to a fumble by JT and a quick score to make it a much more difficult 14 point deficit. With the ball in our hands with the second half kickoff what was the idea there? One of the worst decisions ever by the coaches.
As to the game it was one where Stanford made a few good plays and that was enough to win 17-3. Neither team was great offensively. Total yards: SC 332 Stanford 342. Time of possession: 29:17 to 30:13. 3rd and 4th down conversions: SC 8-19, Stanford 4-13. Sounds close, but then comes the differences: Sacks: SC 0, Stanford 4. Turnovers: SC 3 ( 2 int and 1 fumble). Stanford 0. And big plays (20 plus yards): SC 3 -45,35, and 28 yards -all passes. Stanford 5 - 22,28,26, 59,29. 3 passes and 2 runs (the 59 yarder by Love ended up as a FG).
So what does this mean going forward? Can JT recover quickly? Fortunately the schedule helps- Texas will be rough, but they aren't Stanford so far. They will not out-defense USC. Then comes WSU, Arizona, Colorado before Utah. Chances here to right the ship before the Utes.
Position Grades: coaches-D, QB-C-, RB-B- (4.6ypc minus the sacks). Rec- C+ (a few nice catches). OL- C (too many sacks). Defense- B-. ST-C (yay McGrath) plus Tilbey looks like our new punter.
