I have asked myself questions about last season and this is the first of those searches.
"Was Clay Helton that much a different play caller/Coach than Sarkisian?" (disregarding any other of his problems). My first response was "Yes" but it took some digging to determine if this was true. Let's take a look at Sark's record in 5 games , his record in the last three games (minus the gimmes in Arkansas State and Idaho) and compare it with Helton's.
Sark in 5 games: Ave. Score:39.8-17.4, Runs: 178 ypgm. Pass: 316.8 ypgm . Team ran 51 % of the time. Ave. run: 5.3 yards and ave. pass/ attempt: 9.8 Yards.
Helton in 9 games: Ave Score: 30.7ppg-29.2, Runs: 162.8 ypgm. Pass: 243.6 ypgm . Team ran 54.5% of the time. Ave. run: 4.1 yds and ave. pass/attempt: 7.3 yds .
Sark in last 3 games: Ave. Score 28.3ppg-24.0, Runs:140 ypgm. Pass: 269 ypgm. Team ran 51% of the time. Ave, run: 4.24 yards, ave. pass/attempt : 8.49 yards .
Well Helton did run more, but the run game under Helton wasn't as prominent in play selection as one would think. Under Helton USC did average 73 plays per game to Sark's 66. Probably due to takeaways . But he also paid the price in running more . The average yardage went down in run and passing, with more predictability of plays and lower yardage gobbling at the exchange for more time of possession. But that effect was also due to other elements as well. And he wasn't that far different than the last 3 games of Sark, which more closely resembled the tough USC schedule. Ak. State was ranked 78th by Jeff Sagarin at the end of the season and Idaho 149th. Then came Stanford (5), ASU (41) and UW (25).
Helton had ND (11th), Utah (24), Cal (32), UA (55), Colorado (90), Oregon (20), UCLA (37), Stanford (5) and Wisconsin (19). Sark had 1 away game (ASU). Helton had ND, Cal, Colorado, and Oregon away, and Stanford and Wisconsin at Neutral sites.
A key problems was some prominent injuries and. USCs best lineman Max Tuerk, center, and line coordinator went down and missed USCs his last 9 games. So did arguably their second best OL in Toa Lobendahn ( lost last 7 games), the replacement center for Tuerk. Visions of QB Kessler often reaching over his head or dropping down to field those below his belt, as the play clock ticked, ramped up after those 2 injuries. RB Tre Madden, who started well also went down for 4 games and never was the same. There were 15 games missed collectively by the receiver rotation. Everyone has injury problems, right UCLA? But they did have impact.
Bottom Line: I feel that Helton will continue with the run more prominently in his plans but this wasn't the best year fir the transition IMO. He had a few seniors (Tuerk and Lobendahn) and a bunch of underclassman forced to start early. The PAC12 was deep and had several experienced teams. But many pundits are saying that USC will have one of the best OLs this year with another year of experience. The RBs look sound, and the WRs are hopefully deeper and healthier. Add in an aggressive QB coach and a better armed QB (make sure his footwork is good) and a higher run game reliance may be the right one for the right time IMO. Just remember that Stanford was 8-5 two years ago and started an all upper class OL last year (they now lost 4 of them).
"Was Clay Helton that much a different play caller/Coach than Sarkisian?" (disregarding any other of his problems). My first response was "Yes" but it took some digging to determine if this was true. Let's take a look at Sark's record in 5 games , his record in the last three games (minus the gimmes in Arkansas State and Idaho) and compare it with Helton's.
Sark in 5 games: Ave. Score:39.8-17.4, Runs: 178 ypgm. Pass: 316.8 ypgm . Team ran 51 % of the time. Ave. run: 5.3 yards and ave. pass/ attempt: 9.8 Yards.
Helton in 9 games: Ave Score: 30.7ppg-29.2, Runs: 162.8 ypgm. Pass: 243.6 ypgm . Team ran 54.5% of the time. Ave. run: 4.1 yds and ave. pass/attempt: 7.3 yds .
Sark in last 3 games: Ave. Score 28.3ppg-24.0, Runs:140 ypgm. Pass: 269 ypgm. Team ran 51% of the time. Ave, run: 4.24 yards, ave. pass/attempt : 8.49 yards .
Well Helton did run more, but the run game under Helton wasn't as prominent in play selection as one would think. Under Helton USC did average 73 plays per game to Sark's 66. Probably due to takeaways . But he also paid the price in running more . The average yardage went down in run and passing, with more predictability of plays and lower yardage gobbling at the exchange for more time of possession. But that effect was also due to other elements as well. And he wasn't that far different than the last 3 games of Sark, which more closely resembled the tough USC schedule. Ak. State was ranked 78th by Jeff Sagarin at the end of the season and Idaho 149th. Then came Stanford (5), ASU (41) and UW (25).
Helton had ND (11th), Utah (24), Cal (32), UA (55), Colorado (90), Oregon (20), UCLA (37), Stanford (5) and Wisconsin (19). Sark had 1 away game (ASU). Helton had ND, Cal, Colorado, and Oregon away, and Stanford and Wisconsin at Neutral sites.
A key problems was some prominent injuries and. USCs best lineman Max Tuerk, center, and line coordinator went down and missed USCs his last 9 games. So did arguably their second best OL in Toa Lobendahn ( lost last 7 games), the replacement center for Tuerk. Visions of QB Kessler often reaching over his head or dropping down to field those below his belt, as the play clock ticked, ramped up after those 2 injuries. RB Tre Madden, who started well also went down for 4 games and never was the same. There were 15 games missed collectively by the receiver rotation. Everyone has injury problems, right UCLA? But they did have impact.
Bottom Line: I feel that Helton will continue with the run more prominently in his plans but this wasn't the best year fir the transition IMO. He had a few seniors (Tuerk and Lobendahn) and a bunch of underclassman forced to start early. The PAC12 was deep and had several experienced teams. But many pundits are saying that USC will have one of the best OLs this year with another year of experience. The RBs look sound, and the WRs are hopefully deeper and healthier. Add in an aggressive QB coach and a better armed QB (make sure his footwork is good) and a higher run game reliance may be the right one for the right time IMO. Just remember that Stanford was 8-5 two years ago and started an all upper class OL last year (they now lost 4 of them).
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