BILL PLASCHKE

Trojans simply defenseless against high-flying Ducks

Change it? They couldn't even slow it. They allowed the likes of quarterback Marcus Mariota, sprinters Barner and De'Anthony Thomas, and acrobat Josh Huff to spend more time alone than Kiffin when he's on the sideline huddled over his laminated play sheet as if reading a menu.

It isn't that nobody tackled the Ducks. Heck, on many plays, nobody touched them. Although the Ducks lead the nation in scoring offense, they still scored nine points above their average while gaining 190 yards above their yardage average.

Bill Plaschke
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“Obviously, we have a lot to work on,” said Kiffin.

Once again, for a second consecutive week, that work must start with the coaches, with the seats growing warm under a defensive staff led by Kiffin's father, Monte. Remember last week's mess in Arizona? When is the last time the Trojans have allowed 1,318 yards in consecutive games? Try, never?

From top-ranked in September to three losses by the first week of November is a far fall indeed, and the defensive staff must bear some of the brunt of this crash. So, too, should Lane Kiffin and his offense and his play-calling, which once again curiously hurt the Trojans on Saturday.

Early in the fourth quarter, down by 10 points with the ball at their 42-yard line, on fourth and six, Kiffin decided to punt for the first time. Yep, he gave the ball back to an unstoppable offense with the game on the line.

A dozen plays later, the Ducks scored on the umpteenth Barner untouchable run to clinch the victory.

Said Kiffin: “There's some things I could have done better as far as calling plays.”

Said Lee: “We're not giving up. It's not the end of the world.”

But on yet another night of disbelief and disillusionment, Trojans fans could see the end of the season, approaching in dozens of hot white flashes, again and again and again.

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Comments (164)

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Socorro V at 3:39 PM November 06, 2012

Coach Monty Kiffin needs, check that, must go!

Bako42 at 9:09 PM November 05, 2012

USC’s T.J. McDonald is a semifinalist for the 2012 Jim Thorpe Award. It’s a great honor and is deserved. He leads the team in tackles with 66. But wait, why does a free safety, the last line of defense in the backfield, have the most tackles on the team? What are the other 10 players on defense doing to give McDonald so many chances? I’m not going to blame them. I’d like to point out that USC has consistently had among the top recruiting classes in the country for both offensive and defensive players. We do recruit good defensive players. In high school they demonstrated the raw talent that could be molded into talented college level players. This, of course, takes quality coaching. Our defensive coordinator is Monte Kiffin. He has been portrayed as a defensive genius. So what’s going on with our defense?

derekg at 2:59 PM November 05, 2012

Let's figure out if its the coaching or the players:

Name 2 defensive players on Oregon who would start at SC?

Name 4 Offensive players on Oregon who would start at SC?

Yet Oregon was favored and won the game. Why? USC has not adapted to modern college football. Until it does, it will keep getting beat by teams that do. SC might have the better players, but the offense and defense they run is not suited for college footbal of this era.

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