Now some of us have been saying consistently for a while now that this offense is a total cluster and that only Sam Darnold and his unique ability to break off the predictable scripted plays and make plays with improvisation saved Clay from the inevitable.
Seems others are catching on. Also note that without Sam, Clay is 0-5 versus P5 teams since being named perm head coach. That is insane.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/09...should-theres-plenty-of-talent-but-it-doesnt/
Power ratings: Does USC’s offense work without Sam Darnold? It should (there’s plenty of talent), but it doesn’t
Jon WilnerSeptember 10, 2018 at 6:53 am
It’s mighty early to draw conclusions or offer pointed critiques. Then again, we witnessed a fairly stunning sight in Week Two when USC — U. S. C. — failed to score a touchdown.
The Trojans were held to three points by a Stanford defense that, while respectably talented and well-prepared, is hardly a dominant unit NFL dripping draft picks.
USC, with all its speed and power, could not muster a single touchdown.
Watching it unfold, I couldn’t help but note the lack of creativity in the gameplan — anybody heard of a screen? — and the inability to maximize the playmakers and the continued resistance within the scheme to a full dose of power football.
Were the Trojans limited because they had a true freshman quarterback playing his first conference game and his first road game all at once? Sure.
But does JT Daniels’ inexperience fully account for the point total? Nope.
Nope, nope, nope.
Which got me wondering two things …
* Did USC struggle to this extent when Matt Barkley started the 2009 season as a true freshman?
Answer: No. The Trojans’ lowest-scoring game from the ’09 season was a 13-point output at Washington.
* Is it fair to fully credit Sam Darnold for the offensive success in 2016-17?
(Here’s where we get to the part about the drawing conclusions and offering pointed critiques.)
The sample size for judging coach Clay Helton, his staff and his scheme in a world without Darnold isn’t exactly extensive, but it’s a bit larger than you might think.
Since Helton was named permanent coach late in the 2015 season, the Trojans have played seven games without Darnold as the starter, either because he was redshirting (late 2015), on the bench (early 2016) or in the NFL (now),
In those games, USC is 2-5 overall and 0-5 against Power Five competition.
The Trojans have averaged 12.4 points against the Power Five opponents, lost by 10+ points four times and scored one or zero touchdowns three times.
Here’s the list:
2015
Lost to Stanford 41-22
Lost to Wisconsin 23-21
(Note: The Trojans were 5-2 with Helton as the interim head coach in 2015.)
2016
Lost to Alabama 52-6
Beat Utah State 45-7
Lost to Stanford 27-10
2018
Beat UNLV 43-21
Lost to Stanford 17-3
It is, in other words, becoming increasing difficult to believe Helton and his staff will make the most of their personnel without Darnold and his knack for improvisation.
Absent that lifeline, it seems, USC’s offense in the Helton era has experienced quite a few power outages.
Speaking of power …
Seems others are catching on. Also note that without Sam, Clay is 0-5 versus P5 teams since being named perm head coach. That is insane.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/09...should-theres-plenty-of-talent-but-it-doesnt/
Power ratings: Does USC’s offense work without Sam Darnold? It should (there’s plenty of talent), but it doesn’t
Jon WilnerSeptember 10, 2018 at 6:53 am
It’s mighty early to draw conclusions or offer pointed critiques. Then again, we witnessed a fairly stunning sight in Week Two when USC — U. S. C. — failed to score a touchdown.
USC, with all its speed and power, could not muster a single touchdown.
Watching it unfold, I couldn’t help but note the lack of creativity in the gameplan — anybody heard of a screen? — and the inability to maximize the playmakers and the continued resistance within the scheme to a full dose of power football.
Were the Trojans limited because they had a true freshman quarterback playing his first conference game and his first road game all at once? Sure.
But does JT Daniels’ inexperience fully account for the point total? Nope.
Nope, nope, nope.
Which got me wondering two things …
* Did USC struggle to this extent when Matt Barkley started the 2009 season as a true freshman?
Answer: No. The Trojans’ lowest-scoring game from the ’09 season was a 13-point output at Washington.
* Is it fair to fully credit Sam Darnold for the offensive success in 2016-17?
(Here’s where we get to the part about the drawing conclusions and offering pointed critiques.)
The sample size for judging coach Clay Helton, his staff and his scheme in a world without Darnold isn’t exactly extensive, but it’s a bit larger than you might think.
Since Helton was named permanent coach late in the 2015 season, the Trojans have played seven games without Darnold as the starter, either because he was redshirting (late 2015), on the bench (early 2016) or in the NFL (now),
In those games, USC is 2-5 overall and 0-5 against Power Five competition.
The Trojans have averaged 12.4 points against the Power Five opponents, lost by 10+ points four times and scored one or zero touchdowns three times.
Here’s the list:
2015
Lost to Stanford 41-22
Lost to Wisconsin 23-21
(Note: The Trojans were 5-2 with Helton as the interim head coach in 2015.)
2016
Lost to Alabama 52-6
Beat Utah State 45-7
Lost to Stanford 27-10
2018
Beat UNLV 43-21
Lost to Stanford 17-3
It is, in other words, becoming increasing difficult to believe Helton and his staff will make the most of their personnel without Darnold and his knack for improvisation.
Absent that lifeline, it seems, USC’s offense in the Helton era has experienced quite a few power outages.
Speaking of power …
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