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Time To Reevaluate Expectations

T.J. McDonald

Playing in the BCS National Championship game is not really a reality for the Trojans, but winning the Pac-12 Championship can still be an accomplishment to be proud of.

Scott Schrader

    • Scott Schrader said...

      http://usc.247sports.com/Article/USC-has-played-sloppy-and-undisciplined-in-its-two-losses-98519

      Playing in the BCS National Championship game is not really a reality for the Trojans, but winning the Pac-12 Championship can still be an accomplishment to be proud of.

      It all depends on how this team plays on Saturday. If we go out and find a way to beat Oregon, then I think we could run the table and win the PAC. If we lose, then we could still win out and not make the Pac-12 Title Game.

      There is no reason why we should not expect a Rose Bowl. I know the team is not playing up to their perceived talent level, but at some point they need to break through, right? We had a break through against ND last season that spring-boarded us to a strong finish. This Oregon game could prove to be the same thing.

      JCakus ●

    • JCakus said...

      It all depends on how this team plays on Saturday. If we go out and find a way to beat Oregon, then I think we could run the table and win the PAC. If we lose, then we could still win out and not make the Pac-12 Title Game.

      There is no reason why we should not expect a Rose Bowl. I know the team is not playing up to their perceived talent level, but at some point they need to break through, right? We had a break through against ND last season that spring-boarded us to a strong finish. This Oregon game could prove to be the same thing.

      It will also help out a lot playing in front of a friendly crowd. I know I'm still looking forward to Saturday's game.peace

      Scott Schrader ●

    • I can't wait for the game! I'll certainly do my best to make the Coliseum loud..and support our boys.

      usctrojan1

    • Thank you SS, your perspective is appreciated. Especially the bit about TJs fouls + cover skills being more of a problem than play-calling. I think the one thing that can still be pinned on the coaches is 2nd half adjustments. Both sides seem to not win 3rd quarters, and that can only come down to coaching. Our guys aren't tired, don't give me jazz about "not being hungry", they just simply adjust too slowly and the other team gets ahead of us for a few minutes in a row. If we played 5 or 6 quarter games, maybe we'd be undefeated [Edit: or maybe we'd be 4-4], but we don't and we aren't.

      This post was edited by Man1ak on 10/29/2012 at 5:33 PM

      Man1ak

    • Scott Schrader said...

      It will also help out a lot playing in front of a friendly crowd. I know I'm still looking forward to Saturday's game.peace

      I totally agree Scott. I think with a fairly young team, having that many road games at the beginning of the season may have hurt more than helped. I think the casual fan doesn't realize that there are only 14 Seniors and 14 Juniors on this team. That leaves 47 underclassmen (scholarship players of course...) who we are counting on to play in hostile environments. In a best case scenario, even with the same general schedule, it would have been best to have more home games on the front end to build up confidence and then they would be ready to go on the road.

      Hopefully Haden can request some favorable scheduling for next season's schedule, so our kids can get some home cooking in Sept/Oct 2013!

      JCakus ●

    • Thank you Scott! I am getting annoyed with people blaming play calling as our problem. I'm glad you don't agree with them. I respect your opinion more than most others on this site.

      tebuckyjake ●

    • Man1ak said...

      Thank you SS, your perspective is appreciated. Especially the bit about TJs fouls + cover skills being more of a problem than play-calling. I think the one thing that can still be pinned on the coaches is 2nd half adjustments. Both sides seem to not win 3rd quarters, and that can only come down to coaching. Our guys aren't tired, don't give me jazz about "not being hungry", they just simply adjust too slowly and the other team gets ahead of us for a few minutes in a row. If we played 5 or 6 quarter games, maybe we'd be undefeated [Edit: or maybe we'd be 4-4], but we don't and we aren't.

      I truly believe the mistakes that were made in the 3rd quarter far outweighed any "adjustments". Fumbles, penalties, dropped passes, and a missed TD pass accounted for the turnaround in the 3rd. Also, I noticed on a couple of the running plays, the backs were either too patient or slow to the hole or picked the wrong hole to run through. This made the plays less effective than they should have been. Giving that offense three more chances in that quarter from close range is not helping things on the defense!

      refhater

    • Scott Schrader said...

      It will also help out a lot playing in front of a friendly crowd. I know I'm still looking forward to Saturday's game.peace

      Agreed. Thanks for your insights, they are very helpful to all posters.

      refhater

    • The Trojan defense just might be built to stop the Duck offense. It certainly would be refreshing to play a relatively mistake free game.

      hb4sc ●

    • 2-2 at best.... The penalties and mistakes are not issues you can turn off. This team is loaded full of talent and " me" players. In my 30+ years of being a Trojan and 20 years since I attended school, this is unequivocally the worst on the field coaching I have seen. I was in Pittsburgh for business and a Steeler game. We were at Ruth's Chris watching the game and after the 3&24 when we rush 3 I almost lost my bone in ribeye. We had guys running backward to the assigned Tampa 2 spot and never turned around as the Zona player raced by on the way to a 40 yd gain.
      I don't know how we can continue play this way? All the while golly gee Haden has been a ghost this year?
      I have been as positive as I can but this stinks! To lose to Zona ????? I also am a tad disappointed that others aren't speaking up! I have business dealings all over the country and when I'm in airports I now get heckled " overrated " not to mention my ND grad friends who laugh at the sloppy play and mind numbing 15 yd thug cheap shots.
      F O!

      MDubSC ●

    • Thank you, Scott. So tired of the whining. Time to get ready to play Oregon. Thank you for being the voice or reason.

      SCT73

    • "In my 30+ years of being a Trojan and 20 years since I attended school, this is unequivocally the worst on the field coaching I have seen."

      Seriously? 30 years? So, team that beat itself and barely lost 2 games is worse than the cellar Hackett teams, the Robo II teams that got him fired, the Larry Smith tailspin teams.............?
      I get it, your upset, but get some perspective. We went 10-2 last year, and we lost 2 close ones. By the way, it is Stanford and Zona, decent teams with good coaches. Reading your post you would think we just lost to CU or WSU.

      SCT73

    • I want lousy play calling every week if it generates 600+ yards.

      Flyerz73

    • MDubSC said...

      In my 30+ years of being a Trojan and 20 years since I attended school, this is unequivocally the worst on the field coaching I have seen.

      You must have a really bad liver.

      Flyerz73

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      Scott Schrader ●

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      shaggy ●

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      sc85sis

    • MDubSC said...

      2-2 at best.... The penalties and mistakes are not issues you can turn off. This team is loaded full of talent and " me" players. In my 30+ years of being a Trojan and 20 years since I attended school, this is unequivocally the worst on the field coaching I have seen. I was in Pittsburgh for business and a Steeler game. We were at Ruth's Chris watching the game and after the 3&24 when we rush 3 I almost lost my bone in ribeye. We had guys running backward to the assigned Tampa 2 spot and never turned around as the Zona player raced by on the way to a 40 yd gain. I don't know how we can continue play this way? All the while golly gee Haden has been a ghost this year? I have been as positive as I can but this stinks! To lose to Zona ????? I also am a tad disappointed that others aren't speaking up! I have business dealings all over the country and when I'm in airports I now get heckled " overrated " not to mention my ND grad friends who laugh at the sloppy play and mind numbing 15 yd thug cheap shots. F O!

      Wow
      That is a heartbreaking story
      My heart goes out to you, Bro

      BlemBlam3

    • Scott Schrader said...

      http://usc.247sports.com/Article/USC-has-played-sloppy-and-undisciplined-in-its-two-losses-98519

      Playing in the BCS National Championship game is not really a reality for the Trojans, but winning the Pac-12 Championship can still be an accomplishment to be proud of.

      Did you really just write that it is time for us fans to "bear down"?

      SC Trojan War ●

    • hb4sc said...

      The Trojan defense just might be built to stop the Duck offense. It certainly would be refreshing to play a relatively mistake free game.

      What scares me is AZ runs pretty much the same offense as Oregon...but Oregon has better athletes. If AZ gains nearly 600...Oregon could produce the same.

      SC will DEFINITELY have to not shoot themselves in the foot this Saturday.

      Pooh Bah

    • Scott Schrader said...

      http://usc.247sports.com/Article/USC-has-played-sloppy-and-undisciplined-in-its-two-losses-98519

      Playing in the BCS National Championship game is not really a reality for the Trojans, but winning the Pac-12 Championship can still be an accomplishment to be proud of.

      Damn...writing this sucker up must have stung like a bastard knowing what could have been. I know I wasn't thinking 6-2 heading into Oregon.

      Pooh Bah

    • hb4sc said...

      The Trojan defense just might be built to stop the Duck offense. It certainly would be refreshing to play a relatively mistake free game.

      Mis-direction kills our D. We over pursue, AZ showed that. O is the king of misdirect. I'm hoping for a W. Seems we have a coverage, ball-hawking safety on the bench. Maybe TJ could use some time on the bench to reflect and focus his vast talents a bit. #rd Q is funeral time w/ this O. Do you agree that to beat O we must use the playbook unemcumbered by fear?

      laars

    • Pooh Bah said...

      What scares me is AZ runs pretty much the same offense as Oregon...but Oregon has better athletes. If AZ gains nearly 600...Oregon could produce the same.

      SC will DEFINITELY have to not shoot themselves in the foot this Saturday.

      That was my thinking also. Our smaller, but faster LBs have become a big part of our D adjusting to the spread, and I expected them to get a taste, but not a mouthful, of what O will be bringing. I don't think the D is too far off from where it needs to be, but defending on 94 plays has got to be a bitch!!

      SC fan in TX

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      Scott Schrader ●

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