The reduced scholarhips came back to hurt them here. The FG kicker and the center were nursing injuries. The backup center was a freshman who was undersized, did not know how to read defenses and lead the other linemen, and he was laid out on his back play after play after play. It was a game he will never forget.
The regular center should've played anyway, despite the ankle sprain. As a center he doesn't pull, so no need to run or be mobile, and they needed his mind out there to help with blitzes.
Poor decisions by Kiffin to not have a roaming pocket. EVERY pass play was a standard drop back pass. Not even one shotgun pass do I recall (I may have missed a play or two, but at key moments it was play action). Why play action when you have 0 yards rushing. They would've had 0 at the half were it not for a meaningless 22yrd scamper by the tailback to end the half, on a prevent defense.
So the first 2 tailbacks were also injured during the game, and they were running a 3rd string tailback with no college experience on the road vs STANFORD. And was Kiffin STILL trying to sell the run? Yes--and what an idiot right?
So, the FG kicker has never attempted a FG outside of high school, so he basically has no kicker for this game. No FGs are gonna happen. No center. No tailback.
The lack of scholarships is an excuse, but still the game was winnable with an adaptive gameplan that would give the best QB in the game time to throw. Forget the ridiculous run plays, and win with your strenthg.
There was no time to see the receivers breaking, to judge the timing, to make throws remotely catchable.
Poor game plan execution by Kiffin. A good defensive approach however, but one of the worst offensive gameplans in USC history.
They will win their next 5 games, playing the likes of CAL and Colorado, and the stats will be padded, and I'm sure they will hold steady in the polls wherever they've dropped to.
Kiffin was rewarded with Matt Barkely electing to stay another year. He 'REWARDS' Barkely by keeping the 3 year starting center out of the game with an ankle asprain. PLEASE--an ankle sprain can be taped up, and anyway he was in full pads and felt ready to play.
Yeah, so he REWARDS Barkely by actually theatening Barkely by potentially hurting him by leaving him unprotected.
If Kiffin does this shit again, the next team will destroy Barkely's career in the NFL. He will be mutilated.
This is Kiffin's gratitude to you--a stoopid gameplan, and pulling out your starting center and your best protection.
Thanks to Kiffin, Barkely's chance at millions--his livelihood--is at risk. In a manner of 3 hours, Kiffin lost the NC and a chance at a Heisman.