forums

USC Back or Pretender?

Is USC Back

  • Yes

    Votes: 45 42.5%

  • No

    Votes: 31 29.2%

  • I am not sure

    Votes: 30 28.3%
  • Total voters
    106
Advertisement
Although I believe they will finish with a good record this year, I wouldn't consider them as being "back." They haven't played any good teams so far this season. They will stumble and lose a couple games. For this year, they are a pretender. Now over the next few years, I think they will be a force to be reckoned with and will be in the playoffs or right there on the cusp each year.
 
After several years of mediocre play, average recruiting and staffs, they look to be turning it around in year 1. Funny how that works with a competent staff. Surprised they aren’t on a 5 year rebuild.
 
Last edited:
stormsurge said:
that defense is beyond awful

get to cfb playoffs, lose in cfb playoffs
Click to expand...

I know Eric Gentry got a lot of love on here when he was in the portal, but you can't run a 6'6 200 pound middle backer out there against good run teams and expect to shut them down. He's great in space and blitzing but really bad against the run. You can block him out of plays fairly easily with anyone from an OL to a back.
 
They were back the moment they hired Riley.

Their offense will always keep them in a game, but that was always the case at OU as well. The only thing that's kept him from winning titles is the defense. When that problem is solved, I expect he'll win quite a few.
 
SayWhat said:
They were back the moment they hired Riley.

Their offense will always keep them in a game, but that was always the case at OU as well. The only thing that's kept him from winning titles is the defense. When that problem is solved, I expect he'll win quite a few.
Click to expand...
Riley should hire Blake baker!
 
ItsAUThing.com said:
Their defense is ranked 100th nationally and they let an very bad Arizona State—with an interim head coach—hang in there with them until the fourth quarter.

Offense is fire. Defense is a ****.

They are nowhere near "back" but Lincoln Riley runs a great offense and should recruit well there. Needs to solve his defensive problems. We'll see.

They don't play a ranked team this year and they've beaten Rice, Stanford, Fresno State. Oregon State and Arizona State. Hardly a Murder's Row schedule.

They get Washington State at home next week (Pullman would be a different animal) and they hit the road for a decent Utah team and a bad Arizona squad.

California Colorado, UCLA and Notre Dame to end the season.

Probably looking at 10-2 with that set-up and a Pac-12 South title, unless Utah beats them and wins it again.
Click to expand...
Lincoln Riley having a bad defense? What? When has that ever happened before??
 
Advertisement
For all the criticism of Riley’s defenses I’d take 80% of USC’s offensive efficiency, right now. He went 0-fer in the playoffs? Canes are 1-forever winning the ACC Coastal. And lost the ACCCG 38-3 in a game that wasn’t that close.

We’re not going back in time to 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, or 2000-2002.

Adapt or Die.

And we’re on life support.
 
They definitely are not a pretender. Riley is a one of the best coaches in college football. They are on their way back for sure.

I just wish we had their culture.
 
ItsAUThing.com said:
Their defense is ranked 100th nationally and they let an very bad Arizona State—with an interim head coach—hang in there with them until the fourth quarter.

Offense is fire. Defense is a ****.

They are nowhere near "back" but Lincoln Riley runs a great offense and should recruit well there. Needs to solve his defensive problems. We'll see.

They don't play a ranked team this year and they've beaten Rice, Stanford, Fresno State. Oregon State and Arizona State. Hardly a Murder's Row schedule.

They get Washington State at home next week (Pullman would be a different animal) and they hit the road for a decent Utah team and a bad Arizona squad.

California Colorado, UCLA and Notre Dame to end the season.

Probably looking at 10-2 with that set-up and a Pac-12 South title, unless Utah beats them and wins it again.
Click to expand...
PAC 12 did away with divisions. So best 2 teams go to championship game.
 
They're a good but incomplete team that plays in a weak conference. They'll slip up, but will win a lot of games. Riley is going to own Trinity League recruiting and own the Pac-12.

Whether they ever win a national title is highly debatable, but they will be in the running for the playoff often.
 
They haven't really played anybody and by the look of their schedule they just have to beat Utah and ND before we find out in the playoff unfortunately. Did anyone else watch the game last night? I forgot Emory went to ASU. Nesta made a few plays as well
 
Lucky they didn’t lose their QB last night on this dangerous hit on the sideline by Miamis own…

1664756806531.png
 
Advertisement
TheProf said:
They definitely are not a pretender. Riley is a one of the best coaches in college football. They are on their way back for sure.

I just wish we had their culture.
Click to expand...
Can't tell if you are being sarcastic about the "culture" thing. I think the talk about culture is overrated. Sure, it's important, but X's and O's are more important these days. Playing the right scheme and to the players strengths is what counts. Supposedly, USC had a horrible culture under Helton? Riley just brought a better system and some better players.

If Mario doesn't totally scrap the passing game that worked so well for us at the end of last season, we are probably 4-0 and everybody would be talking about how Mario changed our culture and that was the reason we are winning. We definitely needed an overhaul in the running game and Gattis was a good fit for that. I just don't understand why he couldn't keep some of the passing game that was successful last year. Why can't he go to TVD and the offense and ask them what worked well for them in the passing game? Keep some of those plays in the play book just in case the new passing scheme/plays are not working.
 
Stats02 said:
Can't tell if you are being sarcastic about the "culture" thing. I think the talk about culture is overrated. Sure, it's important, but X's and O's are more important these days. Playing the right scheme and to the players strengths is what counts. Supposedly, USC had a horrible culture under Helton? Riley just brought a better system and some better players.

If Mario doesn't totally scrap the passing game that worked so well for us at the end of last season, we are probably 4-0 and everybody would be talking about how Mario changed our culture and that was the reason we are winning. We definitely needed an overhaul in the running game and Gattis was a good fit for that. I just don't understand why he couldn't keep some of the passing game that was successful last year. Why can't he go to TVD and the offense and ask them what worked well for them in the passing game? Keep some of those plays in the play book just in case the new passing scheme/plays are not working.
Click to expand...
Culture is a stupid buzzword. Any organization needs competent, productive people. Anyone who isn't competent, and doesn't work their *** off, should be canned quickly.
 
They're definitely on their way back but I really only want one thing from them this year- to blow out Notre Dame.
 
Back
Top