It was with great disappointment that I along with the rest of the considerable Trojan fan base watched Stanford demolish USC. Last year Sarkesian could be excused the late game collapses. After all, we were shorthanded. However, this year we are not. Admittedly, a large portion of the team is comprised of freshmen and sophomores, but that is not the reason we lost another 11 point lead in a 21 point swing that saw us losing by ten.
Stanford lost lot of its starting players from last year, but they still managed to field a team that was relentless. Was it through recruiting? A comparison of USC and Stanford recruits shows that the Trojans consistently have outperformed Stanford in recruiting quality players. They manage to do a wonderful job of fielding competitive teams in spite of their lofty academic requirements.
The Trojans had more than one five-star defensive lineman and a host of four and five star linebackers and defensive backs, yet they still could not hold the Cardinal battering ram offense. Why is that?
I am old enough to have watched USC play since the late 1940s and I cannot recall a similar period when the Trojans have so often lost significant leads. On the contrary, USC used to be known for playing the type of smash-mounthed ball that Stanford displayed. We used to be a 4th quarter team. What is the difference? Is it conditioning, attitude, or lack of proper adjustments?
Watching on television makes it hard to see what is really happening on the field. But it is hard not to see that we are being outcoached. Where are the halftime and game-time adjustments? The defensive coordinator was in the press box, so why couldn't he see what was needed to be done? What was apparent on TV was that we were not fooling the offensive line and certainly not pressing the quarterback.
Another disturbing thing is to watch Cody again pick out a favorite receiver and make him the go-to guy and leave out the talented rest. In that, he has been consistent since he became a starter.
Athletic Director Haden will undoubtedly give Sarkesian a "fair" three-year evaluation. However, he may want to reconsider if the rest of the year becomes what it appears that it will be. The fan base has been patient as the team has suffered through an unjust NCAA penalty. It has been patient with the lack of PAC-12 television available on so many Southern California sets. But the base has to be uneasy as we witness another potential substandard football coach.
Stanford lost lot of its starting players from last year, but they still managed to field a team that was relentless. Was it through recruiting? A comparison of USC and Stanford recruits shows that the Trojans consistently have outperformed Stanford in recruiting quality players. They manage to do a wonderful job of fielding competitive teams in spite of their lofty academic requirements.
The Trojans had more than one five-star defensive lineman and a host of four and five star linebackers and defensive backs, yet they still could not hold the Cardinal battering ram offense. Why is that?
I am old enough to have watched USC play since the late 1940s and I cannot recall a similar period when the Trojans have so often lost significant leads. On the contrary, USC used to be known for playing the type of smash-mounthed ball that Stanford displayed. We used to be a 4th quarter team. What is the difference? Is it conditioning, attitude, or lack of proper adjustments?
Watching on television makes it hard to see what is really happening on the field. But it is hard not to see that we are being outcoached. Where are the halftime and game-time adjustments? The defensive coordinator was in the press box, so why couldn't he see what was needed to be done? What was apparent on TV was that we were not fooling the offensive line and certainly not pressing the quarterback.
Another disturbing thing is to watch Cody again pick out a favorite receiver and make him the go-to guy and leave out the talented rest. In that, he has been consistent since he became a starter.
Athletic Director Haden will undoubtedly give Sarkesian a "fair" three-year evaluation. However, he may want to reconsider if the rest of the year becomes what it appears that it will be. The fan base has been patient as the team has suffered through an unjust NCAA penalty. It has been patient with the lack of PAC-12 television available on so many Southern California sets. But the base has to be uneasy as we witness another potential substandard football coach.
