Thoughts from the underground

Alot has been made about the defense the last couple of games and in particular the disaster in Eugene…This is my take on why the defense has looked so bad in recent games.

A defense has 3 layers…The DL line, the linebackers and the secondary.

DL

A good defense has a good DL that will hold their position and in essence pre-occupy the offensive lineman.  This allows the linebackers to clean up and pile up tackles. A great defense has a DL that not only hold it’s position but can penatrate the offensive line and create havoc.  Good backers will just add to the havoc…Think SC defense in 2004.  SC in 2009 …has a young DL and can hold their own at times but is inconsistent. Add to that…the ends, Griffin and Horton play undiscplined and often over pursue….Because of this more pressure falls on the line backers

Linebackers

Linebackers need a DL to be the most effective. Linebackers more than any other defensive position need to have good instincts and quick reflexes. They have to make the quick decisions of the field. This often comes with experience. The SC linebackers in 2009 are young, inexperienced and light. They can move great side to side to can also be pushed back when you run right at them.

Secondary

The best secondary can only cover a receiver for 7-10 seconds…after that the receiver has the advantage. That is why they depend on the first 2 fronts to do their jobs…This is where all the experience lies in the 2009 SC defense.

What’s wrong????

Knowing that the DL and the linebackers were not the strong point of the defense….Pete Carroll chose to keep Will Harris close to the line of scrimmage to help the linebackers. He used Morgan and Galipo to blitz and keep the offense on it’s toes.  He played a soft cover 2 with Mays playing in punt formation on every play… Bur teams got wind of this and started to make their tightend out wide…forcing Will Harris to cover him and thus no longer support the line backers. Then they ran straight at the defense. When Carrol moved in the linebackers…the teams started to throw wide to their backs. When Carrol adjusted they ran crossing patterns for the tight end…This was open all day..

The Fix

USC has experienced corners and an experienced strong safety. Why is Mays asked to cover them by playing so far back when it is clear that the ones that need the support are the linebackers. Move Mays up…play bump and run with the corners and blitz one of these  Smith/Morgan/Harris/Mays  on every play…To me it seems that the better players Carroll gets the more conservative he gets…If he cannot trust 6-year Pinkard and 2nd year starting Thomas at the corners to play tough man coverage…who can he trust? Your best player on defense lines up 15 yards off the ball?

…I ‘m not saying..I am just sayin’

My boys got smoked this weekend in Eugene. There is no other way to say it. The Trojans were completely out-schemed. They had NO answer to the Oregon offense.  Maybe Charlie Weis figured something out after halftime of the ND game because the Trojan defense has never been the same.  USC has never looked this bad on a big stage in the Pete Carrol era.

Although I have been a vocal critic of Pete Carroll in the recent past I will not take this opportunity to ponce on the greatest USC coach. This was bound to happen.  Credit Pete for rasing the level of competion in the Pac-X. For now, I will simply tip my hat to the Ducks for a great game and a well deserved win. The Trojans will be back….

USC takes on Oregon in what will most likely determine the champion of the Pac-10. What do I think will happen? If history hold true…USC wins in a close one. USC and coach Carrol have done amazingly well against ranked teams on the road. I think coach Kelly’s inexperience will show. I hope coach Carrol plays aggressive and plays to big win.

Keys to the game for USC:

On Defense

Play aggreesive on defense. Bring the blitz from all angles. Play man to man bump and run on the corners. Bring  Mays closer to the line of scrimage.

On Offense

Short qucik passes to your backs and tight ends. Power running game. The Duck defense is is fast and quick but can be pushed back. Run right at them and balance with short passes. Then hit them with play action passes and RoJo over the top. How about lining up Butler and RoJo on opoosite ends and have them run crossing post routes…Make the safetly pick who to cover.

Final Score:

USC 38 OU 24