Saturday Wrap Up: Struggles at the Top

The opening weekend of the college football season is usually characterized by one or two big match ups between ranked teams and a slew of blow outs from the rest of the top teams playing cupcakes.

This year we got entertaining marquee games (TCU (5) beat Oregon State (24) 30-21 and LSU (21) took out UNC in a nail biter (18) 30-24). We got plenty of routs (Alabama (1) drubbed San Jose State 48-3, Nebraska (8) manhandled Western Kentucky 48-10, and Oregon (11) devastated New Mexico 72-0). But we also saw quite a few top ten squads struggle against inferior opponents.

It started with Florida, the fourth ranked team in the country, managing only 212 total yards against a Miami (OH) team that ranked 108th nationally in total defense last year. Now let's put those 212 yards in true perspective: 187 of them came in the final 13 minutes, 72 of those were gained on one Jeff Demps' scoring run, and through three quarters the Gators had amassed all of 48 yards. Repeat. 48 yards total.

Tim Tebow's replacement John Brantley couldn't live up to the "Messiah" and an offense that returns only one starter from 2009 looked not just ineffective, but unprepared and confused.

Fortunately for the fans at the Swamp, the Florida defense bailed out the offense with four interceptions while the special teams netted a touchdown. A series of Miami (OH) mistakes also helped the game end in Florida's favor, 34-12.

Then No. 5 Texas took on Rice at home. While the Longhorns largely controlled the game, Garrett Gilbert, Colt McCoy's replacement, had an underwhelming performance, completing 14 of 23 passes for 172 yards. In the end, Texas beat a Rice team, which won all of two games last season, just 34-17. 

But the day was not yet done for the top ten scares.

No. 7 Oklahoma faced Utah State in Norman. The same Utah State team that finished seventh in the WAC last year. The same Utah State team that is facing a season without two of their best players, running back Robert Turbin (ACL) and receiver Stanley Morrison (broken foot).

Despite that that Sooners gave up 340 yards passing to Utah State quarterback Diondre Borel while Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones, successor to Sam Bradford, completed just 47% of his passes and threw two interceptions. Oklahoma needed a sideline interception by Jemell Flemming in the final five minutes to prevent the Aggies from tying the game which ended 31-24.

What do all of these teams and games have in common? All three are breaking in brand new quarterbacks who are replacing some of the top names in college football over the past three years - Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford.

Which begs the question: How much of these teams' rankings are based on the reputation of their former signal callers?

I'm willing to bet two of these three teams do not end the season in the top ten.

Quick Hits:

• In the first of two FCS upsets, 1AA Jacksonville State upset Ole Miss in a double OT thriller. Quarterback Coty Blanchard completed a 30 yard touchdown pass on fourth and 15 in the final overtime before a shovel pass on two point conversion sealed the win 49-48. Later, North Dakota State stunned Kansas and new coach Turner Gill with a 6-3 victory.
• Cancer-survivor Mark Herzlich returned to the field at linebacker for Boston College. The 2008 ACC defense player of the year missed the 2009 season when he was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. He had five tackles in BC's opener against Weber State.
• The Pac-10 was 6-4 on opening weekend. Six teams played on the road. Only Oregon State played a ranked team, losing to No. 6 TCU at the new Cowboys Stadium.

Hawaii Game Impressions: 5 Ws and an H

ROUND UP:

USC beat Hawaii 49-36 in a game that showcased both offenses and left both defenses exposed.

Trojan quarterback Matt Barkley threw for 257 yards and five touchdowns, tying a school record. Wide receiver Ronald Johnson caught three touchdown passes, also tying a school record, and returned a punt 89 yards for a touchdown, while running back Mark Tyler amassed 154 yards on the ground and scored a touchdown.

Hawaii quarterback Bryant Moniz passed for 269 yards and one touchdown, but left the game with an apparent concussion late in the third quarter. Shane Austin, the Warrior's third string quarterback, finished the game with 141 yards through the air and two touchdowns, both long bombs behind the secondary.

The Warriors had two potential touchdowns affected instant replay. The first was called down at the one yard line and upheld. The second was ruled a touchdown by the officials on the field, but overturned in the booth.

WHEN was the game decided:

Ronald Johnson's punt return for a touchdown.

While Hawaii hung around, just within striking distance until the very end, RoJo's return put USC back into a comfortable lead. All threats by Hawaii after this point were quickly and easily quelled by the hot Trojan offense.

WHO stood out:

Matt Barkley looked good. Really good. The numbers say a lot, but even they don't tell the whole story. He was confident. His throws were, for the most part, crisp and he hit his targets accurately. Unlike last year, when he forced throws into dangerous places fairly often, there were practically no near interceptions or blatant throws into double or triple coverage.

Barkley's favorite target on the night, Ronald Johnson, was a man among boys. From the ease with which he tore apart the Warrior secondary to the gutsy (some might say ill-advised) way he fielded a punt in traffic and took it to the house with ease, he shined in every possible way. He is very clearly the go-to receiver this season and will be a force to be reckoned with...if he can stay healthy.

Speaking of staying healthy, Marc Tyler showed exactly why the coaches elected to give him the start over senior Allen Bradford. Running with power, speed, and instinct, Tyler cut through the Hawaii offense like butter. The best way to describe number 26 between the tackles: slippery.

Lost in all the praise of the skill players was the performance of the offensive line. Barkley had plenty of protection for most of the night and they opened up plenty of holes for the running backs.

WHERE do we need to improve:

Defense. Defense. Defense.

And did I mention defense?

Specifically, the secondary got torched. In fact, they got torched, then fire department came and put out the blaze and then they got torched again.

Hawaii had touchdown passes down the middle for 30, 56 and 65 yards. And that's just the ones they completed. On a handful of other occasions Warrior receivers beat the coverage deep and only failed to score because of bad throws or an inability to make the catch.

On top of that, receivers were open going across the middle all night and there was a general lack of good coverage. Freshman corner back Nikell Robey seemed particularly unable to keep up with the quick Hawaii offense, but even veteran Shareece Wright didn't do enough to slow the aerial attack.

Needless penalties also plagued the defense as the inexperienced players failed to make plays for the ball and instead gifted Hawaii pass interference and other calls at important moments.

WHAT did we learn:

Very little that we can be sure of.

The offense clearly has a ton of potential. The play-makers like Barkley, Johnson and Tyler showcased what makes each of them special, but it will remain to be seen how they will perform against a quality defense.

The defense clearly has a ton of question marks. But lucky for them (and us fans), they won't be facing a spread offense like Hawaii's every week. Improvement is a must no matter what. However, this one dismal performance is not necessarily indicative of what we might see from the defense on a regular basis.

WHY this game will be remembered:

It was the first game of the Kiffin era. More importantly it was a reprieve from a difficult off-season and fans finally got some sense of what this team might do or not do this season.

Things that made you go HUH:

Two point conversions - Did Kiffin and company just decide to have some fun and take chances on the conversions? Were they testing out different strategies? Were they getting extra reps in for red zone plays? Was it all part of a giant Kiffin conspiracy to be a jerk? Did Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin ask, "what's your deal?"

Kiffin never smiles - Most coaches look pleased after a touchdown. Pete Carroll often looked jubilant. Lane Kiffin looked downright angry.

NEXT WEEK
USC faces the Virginia Cavaliers at the LA Memorial Coliseum on September 11th.

To tackle or not to tackle - that is the question

Whether 'tis nobler in the body to suffer
The strains and bruises of full-contact practice,
Or to take caution against a sea of troubles
And, by no contact, end them. To hit, to tackle
No more...

Yes, that's right. I just pulled out the Shakespeare.

All because Sheriff- I mean, Coach Lane Kiffin has once again laid down the law after defensive tackle Nick Perry suffered a high ankle sprain during a goal line drill Wednesday.

No more tackling.

Which begs the question that I'm sure Shakespeare himself would have posed had be lived in this day and age:

To tackle or not the tackle?

Pete Carroll was a big proponent of full-contact drills. To be sure, there are plenty of good reasons to support going all out all of the time. It builds toughness and instills the idea of intensity at all times.

It definitely served the Carroll era teams well...To a point.

What those teams, especially in the later years, gained in intensity, they often lost in devastating injuries.

In years past the team was able to overcome those injuries. But those teams did not have to deal with scholarship limits and such major depth problems.

Which is why, even if it goes against my natural philosophy, this appears to be another genius football move by Kiffin.

And who doesn't love the classic Kiffin snark in this quote:

"We do one drill live and this happens," Kiffin said. "We can't afford to do it. We won't do any live tackling in live drills besides preseason games 2 and 3. We won't do it in practice ever again until about four years from now."

Rule #46: Take everything you hear with a grain of salt

Hold your horses.

My last post seems to have been founded on a very big misunderstanding. USC AD Pat Haden has clarified his comments in a recent USA Today article with regards to Reggie Bush:

“Never did he say I’m sorry or I apologize,” Haden said. “Never did he say, 'I lied to the NCAA or I took stuff.' ”...

...“I would say it was conversation of him being contrite, but not an apology,” Haden said.

Haden said that he checked with USC’s compliance department before taking the call from Bush, who plays for the New Orleans Saints. Haden said he mostly listened during the call.

“When we say we have to disassociate ourselves, I didn’t know if I could talk to him or even listen to him,” Haden said. “It was basically just a conversation about him feeling bad about what he put the university through.”

Well that's...disappointing.

But what does it mean?

First, USA Today writers need to invest in a dictionary. 

According to Merriam-Webster.com, the definition of contrite is "feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for a sin or shortcoming."

On the other hand, an apology is defined as "an admission of error or discourtesy accompanied by an expression of regret."

Close in meaning, but not interchangeable. Come on USA Today, get your head in the game! ...

Alright, I admit. I might have fallen for it too. With all the talk about Bush acknowledging that he made "a series of mistakes" it certainly sounded like he admitted error.

So let's just call this as a teachable moment and from now on very closely parse the exact meaning of everything Pat Haden, the Rhode Scholar, says.

Second, what exactly was involved in the "series of mistakes" Haden mentioned? Did Reggie admit to making mistakes in handling the Lake accusations? Or dealing with the NCAA? Or was that Haden misunderstanding Bush this time?

Third, is it possible that Bush did indeed apologize, i.e. give "an admission of error or discourtesy accompanied by an expression of regret," but did so with an expectation of privacy that Haden didn't understand? It would explain why Haden is now backtracking.

Or maybe that's just wishful thinking from someone who so desperately wants to think the best of Reggie Bush...

Reggie the Contrite?

UPDATE: Haden changes tune.

The phrase "mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa" is a favorite of mine.

Maybe it is a product of my obsession with Latin, maybe it is my Catholic upbringing shining though but the phrase has always seemed more meaningful than a simple "I'm sorry."

It comes from the Roman Catholic prayer for confession of sinfulness and literally means "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault."

And it was the first thing that came to mind when I saw news of Reggie Bush's apparent apology to USC AD Pat Haden:

"He's really contrite," Haden said of the 2005 Heisman winner. "He knows he made a series of mistakes. It wasn't just one mistake. It was a series of mistakes.

"He told me, 'If I could turn the clock back, I would. If I could give the Heisman Trophy back, I would.' "

Bush will likely never be able to completely repair the damage he has done to USC but his mea culpa (albeit one relayed second hand) is a very positive first step. 

And it is not because he said sorry. Or said he would give his Heisman back. It is because he admitted fault. At least by Haden's assessment, he confessed that his mistakes caused this mess.

The gesture was small and much more is needed.  But for now I'll take it. Because every reconciliation has to start somewhere.

Just call him Sheriff Kiffin

Pete Carroll may have had big balls, but Lane Kiffin is a hard ass. And I love it.

One of the biggest criticisms many had for the final year of the Carroll era was an apparent lack of discipline.

I think it's safe to say we will not be dealing with a similar problem as the Kiffin era begins.

Freshmen phenom Dillon Baxter now knows that better than anyone.

After two days of sideline punishment, Baxter was officially suspended for USC's season opener against Hawaii on Sept. 2 for violating team rules.

Presumably the suspension stems from an incident early Tuesday morning when the young running back allegedly  broke curfew and reeked of a "controlled substance."

Kiffin had this to say:

"I think this is an extremely strong message and a very severe punishment for a player that may potentially be the most-skilled player on our whole roster," Kiffin said. "Hopefully that message not only helps him but helps our team and especially our freshman class."

The punishment is harsh for certain, but it sets a much needed standard for how Trojan players are expected to behave under this new regime. It started with more disciplined practices and laps or other punitive exercises for screwing up on the field. It has now extended to off-field behavior.

No player is safe from that standard. Not even the best young player on the team.

Interestingly enough, it was new AD Pat Haden's response to the situation the shed the most light on the suspension:

"Dillon's a high-profile athlete, like we've had some other ones around here, and he wasn't doing things he was supposed to be doing, Haden said. "And so when I say Lane gets it, I think he does.

"We can't just allow this kind of behavior, particularly for a freshman when they're just getting started, so I think he's done absolutely the right thing."

"Dillon's a high-profile athlete." Did you hear that Paul Dee?

Hopefully Baxter, and every other "high-profile" athlete at USC, heard it loud and clear because the spotlights are on and the microscopes are out. They may call him the next Reggie Bush on the field, but they will not tolerate Reggie Bush-like trouble off of it.

Sorry for the absence

Due to work (of the non-paying sort), vacation, and Blogger being ridiculous and not allowing me to sign into my account, I've been neglecting this blog. I'll probably continue to post irregularly for now, but as we get closer to football season things should pick up again.

Fight On!

FINAL THOUGHT: Brett Favre is supposedly retired...again. Chances of him playing this season regardless - 75%