Written by Dave Dulberg, USC blog contributor
When asked why the team was held scoreless in the second half, coach Lane Kiffin was not shy in spotlighting the up-and-down performance from his tailbacks and offensive line in week one.
USC's 19-17 win over Minnesota on Saturday featured a pair of school records in the passing game, but as the Trojans head into week two against Utah, they are still searching for consistency in the run game.
When asked why the team was held scoreless in the second half, coach Lane Kiffin was not shy in spotlighting the up-and-down performance from his tailbacks and offensive line in week one."I am obviously disappointed with how our offense played in the second half," Kiffin said. "The running game was just okay today. It wasn't anything to rave about overall. You've got four guys on the offensive line playing a position they've never played in college football, so I guess it could be worse."
On top of the revamped offensive line, the Trojans were without redshirt senior and 2010 leading rusher Marc Tyler, who was serving a suspension for off-field misconduct. In his absence, the Trojan backfield was led by redshirt freshman D.J. Morgan (photo by Jon SooHoo), who finished with 70 yards on 18 carries in his USC debut, and redshirt junior Curtis McNeal, pitching in with six carries for 33 yards.
Despite a strong fall camp, sophomore Dillon Baxter's only touch of the game came on a three-yard screen play in the fourth quarter because as Kiffin explained, "His part of the package didn't present itself."
Despite a strong fall camp, sophomore Dillon Baxter's only touch of the game came on a three-yard screen play in the fourth quarter because as Kiffin explained, "His part of the package didn't present itself."
While Morgan had several strong runs in the first half, he admitted that mental and physical adjustments need to be made in practice this week before the Utes come to town.
"It's easy to get frustrated when things aren't going well, but when I was called to go in the game I tried to ignore that frustration," Morgan said. "My mindset is to try to score when I get the ball, but when that doesn't happen you can't get upset because that's football. I had some nerves because it was my first game, but I just want to improve on everything, whether it's my technique or overall approach."
McNeal's biggest contribution came on a 27-yard run midway through the fourth quarter on a 2nd and long situation, but even he suggested that the running back corps won't be shored up until Tyler returns.
"I think the current running back situation will only get better when [Marc Tyler] returns," McNeal said. "I have no clue why we struggled, but for now we can only do what we can do. We didn't have that many chances, but we picked up all of the blitzes and our quarterback didn't get sacked. I would give us an A for our first game."
Running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu wasn't as generous with his assessment, but also showed no signs of concern following Morgan and McNeal's combined 103-yard performance on 24 carries.
"It was good to get that one under our belts, but I'd give us a B-minus," Polamalu said. "For us, it doesn't matter if the offense is run heavy or pass heavy, we are going to have to play through that. Our philosophy here is to protect the ball and to protect the quarterback no matter what."
USC's next opponent, Utah, had the best run defense in the Mountain West Conference in 2010 as opponents averaged just over three yards per carry.
Good stuff. I like how McNeal gave them an A. Honestly, I wasn't sure the running game was the biggest issue. There were two sets of downs where we were left with 3rd and long after two unsuccessful running plays. But aside from that, I don...'t see why Lane's pointing fingers at the players for a scoreless second half. It seemed to me like a sense of complacency that has defined Kiffin's short tenure is more to blame. We seemed content to merely win the game. I'm not sure Kiffin realizes that 19-17 against Minnesota is hardly a win in college football. This isn't the NFL, this isn't even college basketball. Voters recognize margin of victory unlike any other sport. What happened to the USC swagger that was always present in Carroll's regime?
The only real time Kiffin pressed the gas was in an ill-advised situation. Minnesota has the ball with 40 seconds to go and close to midfield. They're content to run the clock out, but Lane insists on using his timeouts. Why make your defense play an extra 5 snaps in that situation? We get the ball to start the second half. Even if we get a stop, we're looking at getting the ball back at the 20 yard-line with 20 seconds and zero timeouts. That's an error in judgment that a college football coach at this level should never make. I hope this question is raised to Coach Kiffin if it hasn't been already
I fear that Coach Kiffin is clueless, as he himself told the reporter after the game. DJ Morgan played an excellent first half, getting those important first downs to keep the ball in the home team's hands and keep the crowd into the game.
Coach Carroll never used to whine about his players, but Lane is a habitual whiner. He should have put the blame on himself for those dorky conversion attempts. That brought unnecessary doubt and disappointment into the fans and the players. It was probably the first time in the history of college football that the entire stadium cheered the first PAT kick.
I'm starting to think Lane's negativity is the reason the team comes out deflated after halftime. Those kids need to be told what they did right, something I doubt he is telling them.
And his play calling has to be more balanced. Tailback U has talent in the backfield, and they did a lot better than he is giving them credit for. The line has its issues but pass blocking the majority of the second half isn't going to tilt the tide. More aggression and swagger is needed and I doubt Lane is able to bring it.
There is no single template to be a successful coach but Les Miles and Chris Peterson are light years ahead of Lane Kiffin.
Kiffin is certainly not Pete. Since he has a Universtiy at his disposal he might consider consulting with someone at the School of Communicaitons re: motivational speaking and the need to learn how to engage in positive communication even when assessing something that perhaps did not go as well as you had liked.
Plus, please tell the guy to smile once in awhile. The negative look and attitude has to be a downer for the team sometimes. I know it is a donwer for me to watch.
Kiffin is certainly not Pete. Since he has a Universtiy at his disposal he might consider consulting with someone at the School of Communicaitons re: motivational speaking and the need to learn how to engage in positive communication even when assessing something that perhaps did not go as well as you had liked.
Plus, please tell the guy to smile once in awhile. The negative look and attitude has to be a downer for the team sometimes. I know it is a donwer for me to watch.
I think that it's ridiculous that Dillion Baxter is not starting for the Trojans! On the depth chart he's listed as the starter, and really.. I was at the game yesterday and he played two plays??? Whatta joke! He's by far better mcneal and morgan, has more talent and is also a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield! A couple runs that mcneal and morgan got Baxter could of made more out of them then what they did! They go down easy and have horrible vision, to see cutbacks, etc. If it anything that was lacked in the running game - Dillion Baxter not being in!!!! He must have done something wrong because he's clearly better then all the other rb's and Kiffin isn't talking about it, cuz him saying his part of the package didn't present itself is bull! What is he talking about...the kind of package that will get him yards and not a shut out in the second half!! If we can't run the ball against Utah it's gonna be a long night!
And just cuz I might not know, where is CJ Gable?
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