My USC/FSU post game analysis

[Scott4USC]

Glad USC won and that makes 3 games this season USC had to play 4 quarters to get the win.

This was the biggest game in the history of Fresno St. program and then been begging to play USC for 10 years. USC easily could have played LA. MONROE or CITADEL and win 53-7 and impress everyone. USC DOESN"T OPERATE THAT WAY! USC plays anybody anytime anywhere. This game just increased the prob. of USC beating Texas in the Rose Bowl (if both teams make it there). This is the reason USC always has a leg up on the competition in a BCS bowl is because USC plays these type of teams/games week in week out. If USC had just breezed into a bowl game wiping out struggling teams then what good what that do us? Leave that to the Big 12. You will see.

If you watched the game closely, Pinegar was only dropping back 3 steps and firing so it was hard for the USC DL to get much pressure. Credit the 4 year starting QB (NFL caliber I might add) for finding open spots in the zone all game. You have to give credit to Pat Hill for his scheming. That prob. had a lot to do with the USC DL playing their worst game of the year. It happens.

What impressed me the most about FSU is they wouldn't go down after USC scored 28 in the third quarter. 90% of teams in CFB would. That probably took USC by surprise.

All in all, Fresno St. exposed weaknesses, USC has now 2 weeks to work on them. Then after that, USC gets 4 more weeks. It is high risk/reward playing tough teams in OOC. FSU might have beat USC and cost USC NC, but USC got the W and now gets to see what they need to improve on and once again were tested to the max.

What USC has done is AMAZING. Consider what
happened to Miami yesterday. They not only lost AT HOME to a 3 loss G-Tech team, but a G-Tech team that lost to Viginia Tech 51-7.
The same Va Tech team that Miami beat 27-7. Miami was expecting a gimme win, but was held to 10 points and lost any chance for the NC. Teams bring their A-Game against USC, but USC always finds a way to win.

People forgetting what USC did? Last night FSU was on fire in 1h and built a 21-13 halftime lead AND got ball 1st in 2h. USC D shut down FSU 1st 2 possessions in 3q and outscored FSU 28-7. That is USC football. Tip your hat to FSU for hanging around and making a game out of it.

Many posters here don't understand that every opponent USC faces gets huge high of emotion. There is no way USC can reach that high week in week out. Huge advantage to USC opponents and this is prob. the #1 reason teams do not win 3 straight NC's. Carroll has commented on this repeatedly. It is true. In a BCS game or rivalry game, USC can get naturally pumped up like every team does against USC.

 

[Scott4USC]

I see people bashing USC D and making references to me. :nono:

First let me explain to those who are making references to me. I SAID USC D ON JAN. 4TH WOULD BE GREAT, not now. USC is depleted right now. Tonight I predicted USC to win 53-31 with FSU scoring 10pts in garbage. FSU ended up scoring 42 in real play. :clap: You people realize that USC was missing LB WIlliams, starting LB Rivers got hurt in 1q, and starting LB Lua was nowhere near 100% and couldn't shed ANY tackles at MLB. You do realize USC was playing 2 freshman and 1 former wlak on at LB? Right? You do realize USC has started 18 different starters on D. You do realize USC will be healthy for first time all year on jan. 4th. Right? You do realize USC Special teams kills this USC D. They made improvements last 2 weeks but tonight they were HORRIBLE!

Did I think USC D played great? HELL NO! I rate them a C. However they did get horrible field position all game.

Everyone needs to realize USC and Carroll play bend but don't break D. It was won USC over 30 straight games and 2 NC's. It works great in CFB level. Looks horrible stat wise.

USC #1 Stop the run and limit big plays (plays usually going for 30+ yards). FSU didn't have many big plays if any. It might have seemed USC couldn't stop the run but I'll explain that below. #2 FORCE TURNOVERS. USC last 3 years leads the nation in turnovers. It is this system. USC forced 5 turnovers tonight. But what people don't realize is USC forced 3 fumbles in the first half and Fresno St. got all 3 back. HOW LUCKY WAS FSU? Fumble 3 times in 1h and get them all back. FSU also fumbled 1 time in 2h and got it back. So that is 4 times USC D forced fumble and didn't get it back. $hit happens! So the D worked tonight in accomplishing goals #1 and #2. Goal #3 is no TD's. USC D FAILED here. Usually teams go 20 to 20 and kick FG's. FSU scored TD's. :clap: But FSU still needed to convert 2 4th downs against USC in the 1h.

People watched the game tonight and saying Texas wil run all over USC?

FSU did not really run the ball at ease against the Trojans. For sure, they did some damage later in the game on the ground. However, IMO, this was clearly a case of a very balanced offense keeping a pretty tired defense off balance. FSU rushed the ball 32 times for only 110 nets yards. What they did, however, was have a few very well timed productive runs. Remember, this was the worst D performance for USC all year and this was not the normal players playing on D.

In the first half, Pinegar was MONEY. He hit 17 of 22 and USC was playing well enough. When a team is operating a short passing game to perfection, it puts an incredible amount of pressure on the defense. The guys are so focused on stopping the pass, that a few good running calls, especially well timed runs like FSU's are going to succeed.

FSU was an awesome offensive team last night. The SC defense gave up 427 yards. They gave up more than that in prior years. NOTHING NEW! The difference was simple. FSU converted the yards into points and they capitalized on field position gotten via special teams. Fresno State deserves tons of credit. USC's defense also has that one other little thing going for it--the SC offense which also managed to churn out 50 points and gain 508 yards of its own.

People around the country are CLUELESS. When a sophisticated passing system is clicking, you can't stop it. People don?t realize this because other conf. and other side of the country don?t play this way.

Why is low scoring game considered great but high scoring game considered weak or bad? WHY DO PEOPLE THINK THIS WAY? Low scoring must be great defenses and high scoring must be bad defenses. Lets find the good in a low scoring game and the bad in high scoring game. It is quite funny.

LET ME TAKE EVERYONE ON A HISTORY LESSON THAT IS NOW THINKING TEXAS WILL ROLL OVER USC BASED ON TONIGHTS GAME! :mj07:

In 2004 near end of season USC gave up nearly 200 yards rushing to ND (an average ND team) and over 5 yards per carry. EVERYONE was saying OU is going to run on USC. ADRIAN PETERSON will run wild. He will get over 200 yards on this USC D. OU against USC had 128 yards rushing on 40 freaking carries. Peterson had 82 yards on 25 carries.

In 2003 @USC USC gave up over 500 yards total offense to Oregon St. and 28pts. EVERYONE said Michigan offense will roll over USC. Michigan at the time was one of the hottest teams in the country and def. one of the best offensive teams in the country. USC D can?t stop Michigan. Look what they did against Oregon St. @USC. Michigan isn?t some crappy west coast team. Michigan had 320 yards offense and only scored 14pts.

This year Fresno St. had 420 total yards offense and 42pts. Lets not forget FSU is a 1 loss team and actually should be undefeated if not for refs @Oregon. Oregon is a 1 loss team as well. FSU damn good team. Much better than any of the teams I mentioned previously and everyone has said past USC D?s were much better than this years D. But we see the exact same pattern. People never learn.

 

[gman2]

People around the country are CLUELESS. When a sophisticated passing system is clicking, you can't stop it. People don?t realize this because other conf. and other side of the country don?t play this way.

youre right, spurrier's team were unstoppable when he was a head coach at arizona state.

no wait, he's been on the east coast his whole life revolutionizing the collegiate passing game.

did louisville suddenly re-locate to the pac-10?

bowling green? nope. not west coast.

how about notre dame? nope. still not west coast.

i don't get it. what's so hard about being objective and saying (as a usc fan)

"our offense is unstoppable and we're going to rely heavily on it because or defense is mediocre this year"

is that beneath you?

for christsake, usc has one of the best offenses in college football history. but what's so hard about saying their defense is average? the "spin" gets old. your nonsense about usc being banged up is just that -- nonsense. do you realize how much depth they have? their backups (and youve said this yourself) could start at 90% of the programs across the country. so injuries had nothing to do with them getting torched by fresno's offense.

again, this isn't all that hard.

usc's offense is unstoppable. and clearly the best in thr country.
but their defense is very average.

 

[THE KOD]

gman

so Texas and the points then ?

 

[Scott4USC]

youre right, spurrier's team were unstoppable when he was a head coach at arizona state.

no wait, he's been on the east coast his whole life revolutionizing the collegiate passing game.

did louisville suddenly re-locate to the pac-10?

bowling green? nope. not west coast.

how about notre dame? nope. still not west coast.

All those teams put up pts. My argument was about conferences. Low scoring games are looked at positively while high scoring games are looked at negatively. Why? Doesn't make sense. Why when 2 teams play and the score is 13-7 that is great game/tough defense but when 2 teams play and score is 38-35 that is NO DEFENSE is played and looked at negatively.

Spurrier suceeded in the SEC because SEC defenses don't know how to defend sophisticated passing attacks. They still don't.

i don't get it. what's so hard about being objective and saying (as a usc fan)

"our offense is unstoppable and we're going to rely heavily on it because or defense is mediocre this year"

is that beneath you?

I NEVER said USC defense was great. I said the USC defense would be great on Jan. 4th. People on this site often don't know how to read and comprehend. I said USC on Jan. 4th would put out an excellent D. But right now they are not because............. BUT NEVER did I say USC D was great now. My whole argument was based on Jan. 4th.

I showed examples where USC D given up huge stats or pts at the end of the season and then dominated their BCS opponent. THis year USC gave up huge stats to Fresno St. and people talking the same crap. I supported my argument.

the "spin" gets old. your nonsense about usc being banged up is just that -- nonsense. do you realize how much depth they have? their backups (and youve said this yourself) could start at 90% of the programs across the country. so injuries had nothing to do with them getting torched by fresno's offense.

Spin? I supported all my arguments and mostly with factual data.

The depth you are talking about is on offense. That is what I said in off season. NOT DEFENSE! USC offense has suffered very little injuries while the USC D has suffered BOAT LOAD of injuries.

INJURIES HAD A LOT TO DO WITH USC GETTING TORCHED BY FSU! LOOK AT WHO STARTED AND PLAYED! USC IS DEPLETED ON D but should get most guys healthy and back for Jan. 4th. USC needs time off badly on D.

usc's offense is unstoppable. and clearly the best in thr country.
but their defense is very average.

Who are the defenses that are above average? Specifically the SEC. We can compare and contrast and you might not like what you see!

 

[hedgehog]

I am betting big money on Texas if they are 7 point underdogs against USC. TEXAS WINS THE ROSE BOWL :mj14:

 

[gman2]

scott:

i dont care about the sec. im neither an sec fan nor supporter. im a spurrier fan as well as a meyer fan. other than that, i dont really care for sec football.

but i did hear that you compared usc's defense to ohio state's, and thats preposterous. i dont want to put words in your mouth or misquote you because, frankly, i didnt see the thread. so can you explain how usc is anywhere near ohio's class in terms of defense?

 

[Scott4USC]

scott:

i dont care about the sec. im neither an sec fan nor supporter. im a spurrier fan as well as a meyer fan. other than that, i dont really care for sec football.

but i did hear that you compared usc's defense to ohio state's, and thats preposterous. i dont want to put words in your mouth or misquote you because, frankly, i didnt see the thread. so can you explain how usc is anywhere near ohio's class in terms of defense?

I think I remember topic being who Texas has faced etc. Someone mouthed off Ohio St. being the best team Texas played and USC's D nowhere near as good as OSU. I said that was quality win especially @OSU. However OSU had an inept offense but their D was great.

Then I went on to say that on Jan. 4th maybe Ohio St. won't be the best defense Texas has faced. Meaning USC D might be tougher on Jan. 4th. I also said you I understand someone could make a strong argument OSU has better D and I realized that. But I explained why on Jan. 4th USC "might" be the best D Texas has faced all year. I backed it up. Well USC's performance last night on D set them back a bit, but there is no reason for my statement to be false. Especially when the D Texas plays will have different players playing than the D Fresno St. just played.

I mentioned the SEC for one reason. If Texas was going to play LSU on Jan. 4th I guarantee you these would be the topics on the board and media.

"What a great defensive battle between Texas and LSU"

"How will Young and Texas score on that LSU D"

"Should be a low scoring game with 2 great defenses"

I proved those statements to be COMPLETELY ABSURD when you compare USC D vs LSU D and USC vs Texas and LSU vs Texas. But I guarantee you those would be the topics discussed if Texas were playing LSU. I also proved in this statement USC the last few years had bad games defensively, especially statisically in the month of November but went on to play great defense in their bowl game. WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I POSTED THAT USC WOULD PLAY GREAT D ON JAN. 4th. BUT PEOPLE ON THIS SITE DON'T READ AND COMPREHEND AND THOUGHT I MEANT USC D NOW WOULD BE GREAT! People have fallen for it every single year and I used that an example of people falling for it AGAIN based on USC's performance against Fresno St. SAME $HIT happening over and over again. It was quite easy for me to put up the data and argue my point.

As you can see, I never made any statements that were not backed up. Not saying I am 100% correct on these predictions, but I have data proving my point. Isn't that what you should do in a debate? Make predictions with analysis supporting your opinion? People take offense to it and I get big laugh when they feel threatened.

 

[lowell]

being a duke fan i have been hating unc for many years but now i must admit i wish the southern cal latex trojans would lose every game in every sport. it is amazing what effect your posts have had on many who belong to this board. i may be wrong but i don't think i am the only one who feels this way.

 

[Scott4USC]

being a duke fan i have been hating unc for many years but now i must admit i wish the southern cal latex trojans would lose every game in every sport. it is amazing what effect your posts have had on many who belong to this board. i may be wrong but i don't think i am the only one who feels this way.

Thats fine. You should thank me for giving you a team to cheer against that you didn't have before!

3 years ago I came to this site and said Carroll is building a dynasty at USC and here is why........... I was laughed at by many and poked fun. I knew eventually I would get the last laugh and now the USC success is rubbing it in! USC been doubted 3 straight BCS bowl games and i was laughed at for backing USC so strongly in each and every one. I explained why but was poked fun at. I got the last laugh there as well plus ca$hing in on it as well. All in all, glad you now have a team to root against. You def. are not alone as MANY MANY MANY CFB fans (who are not on MJ's) are jealous of the success of USC.

BTW, when I do talk about USC, I always back up what I am saying with analysis. I can understand if you dislike posters who pump up their team with nothing supporting their opinion. I am def. not one of them. More times than not, it is other people bringing up USC or dedicating posts to USC. NOT ME! But you will see me replying to those posts!

USC will lose eventually and you will be happy! I'll be applauding USC when they do finally lose appreciating what a great run they had! I wish more CFB fans can experience the success USC had. But better yet, PREDICT it like I did and CA$H in on it as well! All documented!

 

[gman2]

scott:

ohio state has a better defense right now as i type this.

ohio state will have a better defense on christmas day.

and ohio state will have a better defense on january 4th.

i generally agree with your argument about the sec because teams like kentucky, ole miss, and miss state are an embarrassment right now.

but usc will not have a better d than ohio state at any point this year, even when healthy. usc's linebackers are athletic but they arent on the hawk-carpenter level in terms of football instincts.

btw- have you seen a total on texas/usc? you think it will be more than 60?

 

[Felonious Monk]

This dude's got more excuses than Uncle Rico.

 

[Roger Baltrey]

Saturday night was the USC matador defense...........OLE........Great team but a middle of the road D. Probably the best offense in the history of College football. Scott is a lovestruck homer. He reminds me of a Cub fan, except he roots for a winner.

 

[The Judge]

I NEVER said USC defense was great

Really? Then what the hell did you mean when you posted this:

If USC D played in other conferences with Pete Carroll as DC, there is no doubt in my mind USC would be praised by the media for having a top 5 D in the country every single year for the last 4 years!

In my mind, if a team has a ?Top 5 defense every single year for the last four years?, they are great. Have you changed your mind after watching Fresno march up and down the field against them?

 

[AR182]

you can ssy what you want about usc.....& i'm not convinced that they are the best team this year in college......

i only saw the last 1/4 of saturday's game & saw bush's fumble....

but you have to be impressed with his overall performance......i read that he had over 500 all purpose yards on saturday...that is truly incredible !!

that brings back memories of the great gale sayers when he scored 6 td's, every possible ways, when he played for the bears...

 

[Dice34]

Glad USC won and that makes 3 games this season USC had to play 4 quarters to get the win.

This was the biggest game in the history of Fresno St. program and then been begging to play USC for 10 years. USC easily could have played LA. MONROE or CITADEL and win 53-7 and impress everyone. USC DOESN"T OPERATE THAT WAY! USC plays anybody anytime anywhere. This game just increased the prob. of USC beating Texas in the Rose Bowl (if both teams make it there). This is the reason USC always has a leg up on the competition in a BCS bowl is because USC plays these type of teams/games week in week out. If USC had just breezed into a bowl game wiping out struggling teams then what good what that do us? Leave that to the Big 12. You will see.

If you watched the game closely, Pinegar was only dropping back 3 steps and firing so it was hard for the USC DL to get much pressure. Credit the 4 year starting QB (NFL caliber I might add) for finding open spots in the zone all game. You have to give credit to Pat Hill for his scheming. That prob. had a lot to do with the USC DL playing their worst game of the year. It happens.

What impressed me the most about FSU is they wouldn't go down after USC scored 28 in the third quarter. 90% of teams in CFB would. That probably took USC by surprise.

All in all, Fresno St. exposed weaknesses, USC has now 2 weeks to work on them. Then after that, USC gets 4 more weeks. It is high risk/reward playing tough teams in OOC. FSU might have beat USC and cost USC NC, but USC got the W and now gets to see what they need to improve on and once again were tested to the max.

What USC has done is AMAZING. Consider what
happened to Miami yesterday. They not only lost AT HOME to a 3 loss G-Tech team, but a G-Tech team that lost to Viginia Tech 51-7.
The same Va Tech team that Miami beat 27-7. Miami was expecting a gimme win, but was held to 10 points and lost any chance for the NC. Teams bring their A-Game against USC, but USC always finds a way to win.

People forgetting what USC did? Last night FSU was on fire in 1h and built a 21-13 halftime lead AND got ball 1st in 2h. USC D shut down FSU 1st 2 possessions in 3q and outscored FSU 28-7. That is USC football. Tip your hat to FSU for hanging around and making a game out of it.

Many posters here don't understand that every opponent USC faces gets huge high of emotion. There is no way USC can reach that high week in week out. Huge advantage to USC opponents and this is prob. the #1 reason teams do not win 3 straight NC's. Carroll has commented on this repeatedly. It is true. In a BCS game or rivalry game, USC can get naturally pumped up like every team does against USC.

Maybe if you didn't wear a skirt in school and played football, you would know that it is possible to get up for any and every game. Only players with ego's that think they are better than everyone else have problems getting up for every game. So what you are saying, is that USC's locker room is filled with a bunch of ego maniacs and they play when they want too.

Stop making excuses and claiming them as FACTS!!!

 

[Dice34]

Also, your boy Cowherd just said, if BUSH didn't play on Sat., USC gets throttled.

 

[blgstocks]

No More Excuses

No More Excuses

As great as SC its people like SCOTT4SC that make everyone root agianst the team. He has all this "analysis" which is mostly just excuses when they barely win by a good team, or tooting the SC horn when they beat a pac 10 nobody

Either way its just spin and getting annoying.

His posts are 5 pages long and have nothing in them but "facts" that are spun so tightly you would actually think USC died and rose again on the cross for us.

Bush is onf of best players in college fball and they have the best off line in football. Good recievers. Great coach, very impressive win streak. That is ALLLLLLL you can truthfully say about SC.

That being said I enjoy Scott cause he makes me come on these forums and laugh cept hes serious. Cant wait till SC loses and we get his excuses.... I mean "analysis".

 

[dlvlsu]

What was it 5 turn overs and a hell of a night by Bush saves an average USC team from being embarrassed by a WAC team!! Pitiful!! Pac-10 sux period If you know anything about football and sports in particular there is no way you can say Pac-10 is above average as a football conference from top to bottom!!! USC has had a nice run and great offense but play less than strong schedule and weak as mule piss defense will catch them this year and should have last year!!(Auburn) Scott we know your view and well you ever heard of Tunnel vision!! Pac-10 sux!!!!!!! Texas will be a gold mine bet!! mark it down cash it!!!

 

[dlvlsu]

gman top four in SEC played ilini, indiana, nw, purdue, mich st, minnesota every week would be 90% win ratio atleast Those six teams are as weak as or weaker than Ole miss, Kentucky, Miss St Thats only 3 SEC teams you mentioned. alittle diferent than 6 weak out of 10 3 out of 12 yep Big difference Come get some of the SEC week in and out Why do you think Florida State and Miami joined ACC instead!! Truth hurts Face it