USC RB Keaontay Ingram is definitely not shying away from challenges
The Texas transfer arrives as the Trojans try to move away from the failed “by-committee” approach to the running game
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — Sometimes it can take some time to adjust to a new football team, a new offense, a new scheme. Like wading into the Pacific Ocean and letting your body adjust to the water temperature.
Or, you can run straight into the water without hesitation. That’s what straight-armingKeaontay Ingram(28) has done since transferring to USC.
The former Texas running back was one of the breakout performers of the spring for the Trojans, making an immediate impact with his powerful style and burst through the line of scrimmage. It’s been clear that Ingram has had no issues adjusting to the new offense at USC.
“Football is still football at the end of the day. Everybody pretty much do the same main concepts,” Ingram said nonchalantly. “Just the details of the game and stuff like that. So picking up on this offense is like a cakewalk for me.”
Ingram speaks with the same confidence and ease he displays when he runs. He says it was a simple decision to choose USC after three years at Texas, saying at this stage in his career he knew what he wanted: The chance for playing time, and the chance to win.
“Of course I do have goals, but I mean it’s not going to matter if we don’t win a championship,” he said. “So that’s the ultimatum – if we win championships, everybody get a good-paying job.”
The Trojans have struggled to run the ball in recent seasons, finishing last in the Pac-12 and 120th nationally in rushing yards per game in 2020 after ranking 10th and 118th, respectively, the year before.
That was something the USC coaching staff talked to Ingram about when he entered the transfer portal, asking him to bring his experience – 1,811 career rushing yards and a 5.3 yards per carry average – to the Trojans.
“I didn’t shy away from it. Actually talking to the coaches and stuff like that, I wanted to come to this situation,” he explained. “Why not?”
He’s arrived at USC at a time when the Trojans are trying to move away from the by-committee approach to the running game that had limited success. Instead, USC wants to find two main backs – 1A and 1B, as position coach Mike Jinks has put it.
Asked if he felt he had earned one of those spots, Ingram replied instantaneously, “Oh, most definitely.”
His likely counterpart is senior Vavae Malepeai, USC’s starter the past two seasons. It’s not exactly a pairing like the “Thunder and Lightning” days of Reggie Bush and LenDale White. Ingram and Malepeai are similar runners, with a physical, between-the-tackles style.
That’s not a problem for Jinks.
“Production. That’s what we’re looking for. When you’re on the football field, our team is better,” Jinks said. “Keaontaymay have a little better top-end speed, but they’re both very, very physical three-down backs that we don’t have to worry who’s in on what play. That’s what we’ve always wanted. That’s why when Vae was healthy, he’s always kind of been that guy.”
Coming from a different background, Ingram has helped Malepeai in his short time at USC, particularly with pre-snap reads.
“He says sometimes when he lines up the first thing that he looks for is where is the free hitter coming from? And what I took from that is it’s good to have a plan when you’re running,” Malepeai said. “Of course sometimes everything doesn’t go to plan but when the time comes you at least want to have something in mind to be prepared for it.”
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Drake London Makes The Athletic’s 2021 Pre-Season 1st Team All-Americas WR Drake London, USC: The 6-foot-5, 212-pound London certainly looks the part, and with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Tyler Vaughns gone, he’ll be counted on even more as a go-to target for QB Kedon Slovis. In just six games in USC’s abbreviated 2020 season, London hauled in 33 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns. He’s both explosive and as reliable as they come, as he was the only FBS wide receiver to finish with at least 30 catches, average 15 yards per catch and not drop a single pass, per PFF. LB Drake Jackson… Read more »
Fast-improving SG Oziyah Sellers (6-5, 170; Modesto Southern Calif Acad), the No. 142 overall prospect in the 2022 class and an excellent long range shooter, has committed to USC over Santa Clara, San Diego State, Creighton, Mississippi State, Washington, and Arizona State amongst other mid-majors. “Coach [Jason] Hart recruited me and I built a great relationship with him and now with them getting Jay Morris from San Diego State, who I built a great relationship with, I felt like it would be the right fit for me. “They think I can come in and develop a lot,” Sellers said. “I feel like… Read more »
To me (maybe this is the USC fan in me ) but Tylers one-handed catch at the one yard line (which led to a Colts TD) was the play (and turning point) of the Colts victory …..FIGHT ON !!!!!
Earlier this week, BYU announced Built Brands — a Utah based company that makes protein snacks will give all 123 members of the Cougars’ football team the opportunity to be paid to promote its products. Scholarship players can earn $1,000. For walk-ons, players who are not on athletic scholarship, the payment will equal the cost of a year’s tuition at BYU, which ranges from about $3,000 to $6,000 per year.
USC Trojan and Arizona Diamondbacks rookie Tyler Gilbert made history Saturday night by throwing a no-hitter in his first-ever Major League start. He’s the first player since Bobo Holloman in 1953 to pull off that feat, and the fourth all-time. The other two both occurred in the 19th century: Ted Breitenstein in 1891 and Bumpus Jones in 1892. Gilbert used 102 pitches to record 5 strikeouts on just 3 walks. He needed just three pitches to get through the eighth inning. The Diamondbacks won, 7-0. Gilbert, 27, has pitched three times this season, all in relief. He made his big-league debut on… Read more »
I went to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown several years back. Being from San Diego, I couldn’t help but notice how many records or historic events occurred against the SD Padres. Glad to see a fellow Trojan triumph. Fight On Gilbert!
USC did pretty darn good as usual in the Olympics! Allyson Felix — ya, baby! What a class act, superstar she is.
So far, the football news seems as expected. Lots of questions, injuries, hopes, dreams, fluff, replacements, and good possibilities as well. Can’t wait for this season to start.
Listening to coach interviews it sure sounds like Monheim and Ford will be the tackles and Austin Jackson will be odd man out. That goes so against the grain of Helton.
it was refreshing to hear Clay McGuire be honest about where they were, are, a d need to be. No more platitudes or excuses from assistants. We get enough of that from Phil Conners.
The USC Interior DL Depth Problem Is Real Antonio Morales (The Athletic) — Drake Jackson (who hasn’t been a full participant at practice yet) will man the edge of USC’s defensive front, but the biggest question on USC’s defense is who will hold down the interior of the defensive line. That position group lost veteran Brandon Pili to injury and freshman Jay Toia to UCLA this spring. Alabama transfer Ishmael Sopsher, whom the Trojans were counting on, has also yet to be a full participant at practice. Redshirt freshmen Jamar Sekona and Kobe Pepe are next in line but were… Read more »
The ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 are engaging in high-level discussions about an alliance, sources tell The Athletic – Not just scheduling but potentially broader cooperation going forward. Story: Talks have centered around not just a scheduling alliance in football but in broader cooperation, according to sources in the three conferences. Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff, Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren and ACC commissioner Jim Phillips have been having conversations for several weeks. “I’ve been in frequent and regular contact with all of the other A5 commissioners the last few weeks about the complex issues that are facing the industry,” Kliavkoff… Read more »
Bye bye TCU, TT and BAY. Texas football takes a huge hit. The now toothless NCAA refused to take down BAY and miscreant Art Briles for clearly obvious long-standing “lack of institutional control” behavior. As far as football is concerned, why is the NCAA even involved anymore? They can’t punch their way out of a paper bag at this stage in terms of any type of findings or enforcement, and both the U.S. Supreme Court and Congress have rendered them irrelevant (unless they decide to drastically over punish any school, or person — like Todd McNair — they don’t happen… Read more »
If you listen to the Dennis Dodds, Colin Cowherds, you would think the smart thing for an alliance to work financially is to take Washington, Oregon, Stanford & USC and put into the Big Ten and hope that attracts Norte Dame to join it. Make it every bit a potent football conference to match the SEC in securing top dollar TV contracts. Easier said than done.
I don’t think ND would ever join. Too much long-standing bad history with the Big Ten. Plus the Irish love their quasi-independence with the ACC set-up.
There are all kinds of permutations that could be cited to get the Irish into a conference, but I don’t see ND biting on anything like that unless literally forced.
I would like to see some kind of merger between the Big Ten and the Pac-12. That could be a VERY formidable chunk of CFB.
Is this how Korey Foreman really chose USC? Antonio Morales (The Athletic) — LOS ANGELES — Kevin Foreman vividly remembers the night of Dec. 17, 2020. He had just wrapped up a prayer with his son Korey Foreman, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2021 recruiting cycle on the verge of making the biggest decision of his life. College football’s early signing period had arrived, and the 6-foot-5, 265-pound defensive lineman had a little more than 24 hours to decide which program he’d trust with his future. USC, Arizona State and Clemson were the front-runners. LSU and Georgia, the other… Read more »
2021 USC Football Fall Camp Report #7: Defensive Line Takes Step Forward Aubrey Kragen (usctrojans.com) — The defensive line took a step forward this week with the return of Drake Jackson and the continued improvement of Korey Foreman. 1.USC defensive line coach Vic So’oto had one main takeaway from yesterday’s full-pads practice: “Our defense likes to hit a lot.” He continued, “When we first got here, it was different … but they’ve all bought in to the run and hit style that Coach [Todd] Orlando preaches.” 2.Jackson participated in his second practice — first with shoulder pads — on Friday after returning from USC’s health… Read more »
Watched video from this weeks practice and two things jumped out at me. Tahj Washington is really fast and Kyle Ford is a big dude. Washington ran past whoever was covering him easily (hoping it’s because our DB’s aren’t slow- 2 sides to every coin) and Ford can certainly fill that Bru role. He looks like a running back or linebacker.
Our running backs are valuable in another sense, just because our weakminded coach thinks passing is the thing to do, not many other teams make such an obvious mistake. So the defense needs to learn to stop the run. Allen said (below) the last great running back at SC was Reggie, and he’s right. If you can’t name the next great running back after Reggie right off the top of your head, there hasn’t been one. But it was a symbiotic relationship with the line. Can you imagine being able to say, “I blocked for Reggie Bush?” Maybe Ingram can… Read more »
Allen, You are assuming he knows how to design a running O. I do not think he knows how. When he said he wanted to have a power run game, that lasted one game (Stanford 2017) and then Todd Orlando and TX shut it down the next week and it has never returned.
USC hasn’t had a truly great runner since Reggie Bush (sorry Ronald Jones, you were good, just not great). I’m not counting on USC’s OL to suddenly turn the corner under Gentleman Clay. But Keaontay Ingram has become a very intriguing player for me. So far, he’s playing like he might be pretty darn good, even though he got beat out at TEXAS. There is SO much pressure on this USC team to be able to run the ball in 2021. I can’t wait to see how it all works out. This is such a great time of the year… Read more »
You are right Allen. But I must admit, I was hoping Carr was going to be the answer. But then again, from the start, I was drinking the Whitney Lewis kool-aid as too. 🙁
Ronald Jones was really good. He really ran hard. I’d throw Buck Allen in the really good camp as well. But neither were great.
I’m not even hoping for great any longer, no way that happens with this offense and Phil Conners leading our group. I just hope we can occasionally convert a third and short.
I’m more optimistic. I think our schedule is really soft. We should be 11-1. I think Notre Dame is our only game where we are outclassed across the board. The Clay factor will cost us 1-2 others, most likely Utah or ASU (but they are a mess). I guess I’m at 10-2. I’m a look aid drinker every fall camp.
Chris, Greg Katz at WeAreSC.com agrees with you and says we should be no worse than 9-3 given this schedule, but is picking SC to finish just like Allen at 8-4. None of us know what it going to happen this year, but I think we are going to know fairly quickly. As Allen correctly (I think) pointed out, San Jose State is going to be a test. I agree that San Jose State would probably beat NE this year. Did you know that San Jose State returns most of its team from last year’s 7-1 team and their returning… Read more »
I think the only way to get rid of Clay Helton is if he doesn’t win the Pac-12 South. That seems to be the only watermark he has to reach nowadays to ensure Folt and Bohn are satisfied.
No attendance at the Coliseum might stir things up. The Trojan athletic dept is obviously seriously desperate to sell tickets based on their recent furious attempts to provide suitable packages for those Trojan fans who have so far refused to commit.
So true Allen. I continue to get emails on the different ticket packages and am amused at the different offerings. Since I’m living in Bullhead City, AZ these days, I’m planning on driving down to see the ASU game in Tempe.
I keep coming back to 10-2, but the realization it could keep Helton around makes me want to puke. I have to say I have tasted the koolaid, and am pumping some sunshine but 8-4 is really tough to deal with. But then I always come back to CH getting let go due to the annual mediocrity he creates and 8-4 ain’t so bad.
I put the over/under at 6.5 wins.. I know SC has some great talent, but there are 3 concerning issues:
1) We can’t run the ball
2) We are weak defensively up the middle, meaning we probably can’t stop the run.
3) Clay Helton is the worst Power 5 head coach in the country, and this probably translates into 2-3 unnecessary loses a year.
The running game will be suspect while it plays against a watered down PAC-12 defense let alone San Jose St. Oh it will be fun to see alright during conference play if successful. But who are we kidding here? The ND game in October will be a true measurement. The Trojans run it well there, then I will be convinced we have a true running game.
Volunteer, I totally agree. I would add that you also need an O scheme that makes the run possible when your opponent is expecting the run, an OC who is committed to and knows how to run, and a culture that emphasized toughness rather than finesse. I am watching the posts on the SC practices and I see nothing that changes my mind: SC will not be able to run when the opponent is expecting it and SC will not be able to stop the run. Yesterday was the first full pad practice and they ran the short yard offense.… Read more »
You nailed it with the point about being able to run “when they expect it.” I expect Ingram will have some nice runs and even games if the offense keeps the run in the mix due to its pass heavy nature. I do think the O will stress the defensive backfield and open up some space off the line. This should spring Ingram from time to time. But what about 3rd and goal from the 1.5? That’s when we have to be able to pound it.
Jalen, It is not enough for the OC to want to run; it is a question of “is the scheme designed to run successfully when your opponent is expecting it?” The present scheme and staff is not. It is designed to run when the opponent is not expecting it.
I have to ask, how was it that Harrells offense at Texas State was as much run oriented as it was pass? I think GH will take what he is given and that there hasn’t been a run game because there would never be a hole to run through. Harrell should not try to run when it doesn’t work. How do you produce points going 3 and out by running when you have no holes. I think that is why they pass so much, GH has had no confidence in the O line, and the O line has given nobody… Read more »
Steveg, Good question. I think the answer is in the head coach and the quality of the opponents. At UNT, GH was the OC for Seth Littrel, who directed GH on how to run the O. Littrel also managed the OL and clearly knows how to coach it. So, at UNT, GH had a coach who understood the Air Raid, provided direction to him, and had a competent OL coach. Once he got to SC, GH, in essence, became the head coach of the O with a nominal head coach who did not know how either to run an O… Read more »
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — Sometimes it can take some time to adjust to a new football team, a new offense, a new scheme. Like wading into the Pacific Ocean and letting your body adjust to the water temperature.
“I didn’t shy away from it. Actually talking to the coaches and stuff like that, I wanted to come to this situation,” he explained. “Why not?”
“Production. That’s what we’re looking for. When you’re on the football field, our team is better,” Jinks said. “Keaontay may have a little better top-end speed, but they’re both very, very physical three-down backs that we don’t have to worry who’s in on what play. That’s what we’ve always wanted. That’s why when Vae was healthy, he’s always kind of been that guy.”
Drake London Makes The Athletic’s 2021 Pre-Season 1st Team All-Americas WR Drake London, USC: The 6-foot-5, 212-pound London certainly looks the part, and with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Tyler Vaughns gone, he’ll be counted on even more as a go-to target for QB Kedon Slovis. In just six games in USC’s abbreviated 2020 season, London hauled in 33 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns. He’s both explosive and as reliable as they come, as he was the only FBS wide receiver to finish with at least 30 catches, average 15 yards per catch and not drop a single pass, per PFF. LB Drake Jackson… Read more »
Fast-improving SG Oziyah Sellers (6-5, 170; Modesto Southern Calif Acad), the No. 142 overall prospect in the 2022 class and an excellent long range shooter, has committed to USC over Santa Clara, San Diego State, Creighton, Mississippi State, Washington, and Arizona State amongst other mid-majors. “Coach [Jason] Hart recruited me and I built a great relationship with him and now with them getting Jay Morris from San Diego State, who I built a great relationship with, I felt like it would be the right fit for me. “They think I can come in and develop a lot,” Sellers said. “I feel like… Read more »
To me (maybe this is the USC fan in me ) but Tylers one-handed catch at the one yard line (which led to a Colts TD) was the play (and turning point) of the Colts victory …..FIGHT ON !!!!!
Colts fan here …….Tyler Vaughns just made a GREAT catch in the Colts game…..One handed catch and almost rolled into the end zone for a Colts TD !
Earlier this week, BYU announced Built Brands — a Utah based company that makes protein snacks will give all 123 members of the Cougars’ football team the opportunity to be paid to promote its products. Scholarship players can earn $1,000. For walk-ons, players who are not on athletic scholarship, the payment will equal the cost of a year’s tuition at BYU, which ranges from about $3,000 to $6,000 per year.
NCAA scholarship limits?! We don’t need no stickin’ scholarship limits!
USC Trojan and Arizona Diamondbacks rookie Tyler Gilbert made history Saturday night by throwing a no-hitter in his first-ever Major League start. He’s the first player since Bobo Holloman in 1953 to pull off that feat, and the fourth all-time. The other two both occurred in the 19th century: Ted Breitenstein in 1891 and Bumpus Jones in 1892. Gilbert used 102 pitches to record 5 strikeouts on just 3 walks. He needed just three pitches to get through the eighth inning. The Diamondbacks won, 7-0. Gilbert, 27, has pitched three times this season, all in relief. He made his big-league debut on… Read more »
I went to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown several years back. Being from San Diego, I couldn’t help but notice how many records or historic events occurred against the SD Padres. Glad to see a fellow Trojan triumph. Fight On Gilbert!
Am I dreaming Allen, did something positive with the USC name attachws to it actually happen? Wow, I forgot how great that feels. 🙂
USC did pretty darn good as usual in the Olympics! Allyson Felix — ya, baby! What a class act, superstar she is.
So far, the football news seems as expected. Lots of questions, injuries, hopes, dreams, fluff, replacements, and good possibilities as well. Can’t wait for this season to start.
Listening to coach interviews it sure sounds like Monheim and Ford will be the tackles and Austin Jackson will be odd man out. That goes so against the grain of Helton.
it was refreshing to hear Clay McGuire be honest about where they were, are, a d need to be. No more platitudes or excuses from assistants. We get enough of that from Phil Conners.
The USC Interior DL Depth Problem Is Real Antonio Morales (The Athletic) — Drake Jackson (who hasn’t been a full participant at practice yet) will man the edge of USC’s defensive front, but the biggest question on USC’s defense is who will hold down the interior of the defensive line. That position group lost veteran Brandon Pili to injury and freshman Jay Toia to UCLA this spring. Alabama transfer Ishmael Sopsher, whom the Trojans were counting on, has also yet to be a full participant at practice. Redshirt freshmen Jamar Sekona and Kobe Pepe are next in line but were… Read more »
USC LB Drake Jackson declares 2021 his last college season
“This is my last year. I got to get out of here,” Jackson said after Friday’s practice. “I’mma leave with a bang, too.”
ocregister.com
The ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 are engaging in high-level discussions about an alliance, sources tell The Athletic – Not just scheduling but potentially broader cooperation going forward. Story: Talks have centered around not just a scheduling alliance in football but in broader cooperation, according to sources in the three conferences. Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff, Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren and ACC commissioner Jim Phillips have been having conversations for several weeks. “I’ve been in frequent and regular contact with all of the other A5 commissioners the last few weeks about the complex issues that are facing the industry,” Kliavkoff… Read more »
The Big 12 teams must be in a panic……..if this article is correct they are out in the cold…..no real markets, no interest, no great programs……
Bye bye TCU, TT and BAY. Texas football takes a huge hit. The now toothless NCAA refused to take down BAY and miscreant Art Briles for clearly obvious long-standing “lack of institutional control” behavior. As far as football is concerned, why is the NCAA even involved anymore? They can’t punch their way out of a paper bag at this stage in terms of any type of findings or enforcement, and both the U.S. Supreme Court and Congress have rendered them irrelevant (unless they decide to drastically over punish any school, or person — like Todd McNair — they don’t happen… Read more »
If you listen to the Dennis Dodds, Colin Cowherds, you would think the smart thing for an alliance to work financially is to take Washington, Oregon, Stanford & USC and put into the Big Ten and hope that attracts Norte Dame to join it. Make it every bit a potent football conference to match the SEC in securing top dollar TV contracts. Easier said than done.
I don’t think ND would ever join. Too much long-standing bad history with the Big Ten. Plus the Irish love their quasi-independence with the ACC set-up.
There are all kinds of permutations that could be cited to get the Irish into a conference, but I don’t see ND biting on anything like that unless literally forced.
I would like to see some kind of merger between the Big Ten and the Pac-12. That could be a VERY formidable chunk of CFB.
Is this how Korey Foreman really chose USC? Antonio Morales (The Athletic) — LOS ANGELES — Kevin Foreman vividly remembers the night of Dec. 17, 2020. He had just wrapped up a prayer with his son Korey Foreman, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2021 recruiting cycle on the verge of making the biggest decision of his life. College football’s early signing period had arrived, and the 6-foot-5, 265-pound defensive lineman had a little more than 24 hours to decide which program he’d trust with his future. USC, Arizona State and Clemson were the front-runners. LSU and Georgia, the other… Read more »
Absolutely nothing wrong with some Devine intervention.
2021 USC Football Fall Camp Report #7: Defensive Line Takes Step Forward Aubrey Kragen (usctrojans.com) — The defensive line took a step forward this week with the return of Drake Jackson and the continued improvement of Korey Foreman. 1.USC defensive line coach Vic So’oto had one main takeaway from yesterday’s full-pads practice: “Our defense likes to hit a lot.” He continued, “When we first got here, it was different … but they’ve all bought in to the run and hit style that Coach [Todd] Orlando preaches.” 2.Jackson participated in his second practice — first with shoulder pads — on Friday after returning from USC’s health… Read more »
Watched video from this weeks practice and two things jumped out at me. Tahj Washington is really fast and Kyle Ford is a big dude. Washington ran past whoever was covering him easily (hoping it’s because our DB’s aren’t slow- 2 sides to every coin) and Ford can certainly fill that Bru role. He looks like a running back or linebacker.
Our running backs are valuable in another sense, just because our weakminded coach thinks passing is the thing to do, not many other teams make such an obvious mistake. So the defense needs to learn to stop the run. Allen said (below) the last great running back at SC was Reggie, and he’s right. If you can’t name the next great running back after Reggie right off the top of your head, there hasn’t been one. But it was a symbiotic relationship with the line. Can you imagine being able to say, “I blocked for Reggie Bush?” Maybe Ingram can… Read more »
Clay The Cat Helton has simply never had the guts (so far) to commit to any strong USC running attack.
He just never has, even though he has laughably tried to talk his way into respectability here.
Allen, You are assuming he knows how to design a running O. I do not think he knows how. When he said he wanted to have a power run game, that lasted one game (Stanford 2017) and then Todd Orlando and TX shut it down the next week and it has never returned.
Wrong question. Should be, “Can the OL Really Revive USC’s Sleepy Running Game?”
USC hasn’t had a truly great runner since Reggie Bush (sorry Ronald Jones, you were good, just not great). I’m not counting on USC’s OL to suddenly turn the corner under Gentleman Clay. But Keaontay Ingram has become a very intriguing player for me. So far, he’s playing like he might be pretty darn good, even though he got beat out at TEXAS. There is SO much pressure on this USC team to be able to run the ball in 2021. I can’t wait to see how it all works out. This is such a great time of the year… Read more »
You are right Allen. But I must admit, I was hoping Carr was going to be the answer. But then again, from the start, I was drinking the Whitney Lewis kool-aid as too. 🙁
Ronald Jones was really good. He really ran hard. I’d throw Buck Allen in the really good camp as well. But neither were great.
I’m not even hoping for great any longer, no way that happens with this offense and Phil Conners leading our group. I just hope we can occasionally convert a third and short.
What’s your prediction for USC’s record @Chris? Most of us generally have a range, though I have pinned myself down at 8-4.
How about it?
I’m more optimistic. I think our schedule is really soft. We should be 11-1. I think Notre Dame is our only game where we are outclassed across the board. The Clay factor will cost us 1-2 others, most likely Utah or ASU (but they are a mess). I guess I’m at 10-2. I’m a look aid drinker every fall camp.
Hey, everything’s still possible now. It’s all out there for USC football. The wins help, while the losses kill.
USC is such a large question mark because of so many changes in the last couple of years — really ever since Helton laid his 5-7 egg in 2018.
Love the intrigue which allows for so many USC opinions. If Helton goes 10-2, he’ll probably be re-signed. But that will take some doing.
Chris, Greg Katz at WeAreSC.com agrees with you and says we should be no worse than 9-3 given this schedule, but is picking SC to finish just like Allen at 8-4. None of us know what it going to happen this year, but I think we are going to know fairly quickly. As Allen correctly (I think) pointed out, San Jose State is going to be a test. I agree that San Jose State would probably beat NE this year. Did you know that San Jose State returns most of its team from last year’s 7-1 team and their returning… Read more »
Since January, I’ve been saying 9-3. Losses to ND, ASU or Utah and a random one. Oregon will beat us again in the PAC-12 Championship Game.
I think the only way to get rid of Clay Helton is if he doesn’t win the Pac-12 South. That seems to be the only watermark he has to reach nowadays to ensure Folt and Bohn are satisfied.
No attendance at the Coliseum might stir things up. The Trojan athletic dept is obviously seriously desperate to sell tickets based on their recent furious attempts to provide suitable packages for those Trojan fans who have so far refused to commit.
So true Allen. I continue to get emails on the different ticket packages and am amused at the different offerings. Since I’m living in Bullhead City, AZ these days, I’m planning on driving down to see the ASU game in Tempe.
I keep coming back to 10-2, but the realization it could keep Helton around makes me want to puke. I have to say I have tasted the koolaid, and am pumping some sunshine but 8-4 is really tough to deal with. But then I always come back to CH getting let go due to the annual mediocrity he creates and 8-4 ain’t so bad.
I put the over/under at 6.5 wins.. I know SC has some great talent, but there are 3 concerning issues:
1) We can’t run the ball
2) We are weak defensively up the middle, meaning we probably can’t stop the run.
3) Clay Helton is the worst Power 5 head coach in the country, and this probably translates into 2-3 unnecessary loses a year.
The running game will be suspect while it plays against a watered down PAC-12 defense let alone San Jose St. Oh it will be fun to see alright during conference play if successful. But who are we kidding here? The ND game in October will be a true measurement. The Trojans run it well there, then I will be convinced we have a true running game.
Volunteer, I totally agree. I would add that you also need an O scheme that makes the run possible when your opponent is expecting the run, an OC who is committed to and knows how to run, and a culture that emphasized toughness rather than finesse. I am watching the posts on the SC practices and I see nothing that changes my mind: SC will not be able to run when the opponent is expecting it and SC will not be able to stop the run. Yesterday was the first full pad practice and they ran the short yard offense.… Read more »
You nailed it with the point about being able to run “when they expect it.” I expect Ingram will have some nice runs and even games if the offense keeps the run in the mix due to its pass heavy nature. I do think the O will stress the defensive backfield and open up some space off the line. This should spring Ingram from time to time. But what about 3rd and goal from the 1.5? That’s when we have to be able to pound it.
I love his attitude and stats. Now, this next point gets old but it still applies — hopefully the line will open some holes for him.
and hopefully the OC will commit to the run.
Jalen, It is not enough for the OC to want to run; it is a question of “is the scheme designed to run successfully when your opponent is expecting it?” The present scheme and staff is not. It is designed to run when the opponent is not expecting it.
I have to ask, how was it that Harrells offense at Texas State was as much run oriented as it was pass? I think GH will take what he is given and that there hasn’t been a run game because there would never be a hole to run through. Harrell should not try to run when it doesn’t work. How do you produce points going 3 and out by running when you have no holes. I think that is why they pass so much, GH has had no confidence in the O line, and the O line has given nobody… Read more »
Steveg, Good question. I think the answer is in the head coach and the quality of the opponents. At UNT, GH was the OC for Seth Littrel, who directed GH on how to run the O. Littrel also managed the OL and clearly knows how to coach it. So, at UNT, GH had a coach who understood the Air Raid, provided direction to him, and had a competent OL coach. Once he got to SC, GH, in essence, became the head coach of the O with a nominal head coach who did not know how either to run an O… Read more »