Making the case for patience with Kiffin
The whispers started with USC’s loss to Stanford in mid-September.
They grew louder after the shocking upset loss at Arizona in late October.
Hot seat · Given Kiffin’s inability to deliver on the Trojans’ lofty preseason expectations, his name will certainly appear on hot seat lists to begin 2013. – Carlo Acenas | Daily Trojan
When USC Athletic Director Pat Haden indicated before the Notre Dame game that Kiffin would be retained for next season, no matter the result of the looming matchup versus the Fighting Irish, the decision was met with moans and groans.
By the time Notre Dame’s defense stopped USC’s offense within mere feet of paydirt for the second time in seven minutes, fans had been screaming for USC coach Lane Kiffin to be fired for weeks.
But is that really the right move?
Let’s not forget that just last year, we were heaping praises on Kiffin for guiding a program wrecked by probation to a top-five ranking while successfully developing senior quarterback Matt Barkley into a superstar.
This season, USC still averaged 34.2 points and 451.9 yards per game, only a minute decline from last year’s marks of 35.8 points and 456.8 yards.
So what happened?
Well, for starters, Barkley threw for a career-worst 15 interceptions. Whether you want to blame that on poor decision-making by Barkley or poor protection by the offensive line, neither of those reasons can truly be pinned on Kiffin.
Many people are faulting Kiffin for running the ball over and over at the goal line against Notre Dame — but a closer look at the plays that were called reveals that wasn’t even Kiffin’s preferred plan of attack.
On USC’s final two scoring chances in the fourth quarter, the Trojans ran nine plays inside the 5-yard line: five rushes and four passes.
Three pass attempts to Lee resulted in an incompletion and consecutive pass interference penalties on the Fighting Irish. It was clear that Notre Dame wasn’t going to let Lee beat them.
After the penalties gave USC first and goal on the 1-yard line, Kiffin attempted to let his offensive line pave the way for Max Wittek on a sneak. Twice, they failed. Senior running back Curtis McNeal didn’t get anywhere on third down, either.
On fourth down, Kiffin called for a play action pass that left redshirt freshman fullback Soma Vainuku wide open. The play call worked.
But Wittek’s pass was slightly low, and Vainuku couldn’t hang on. Game over.
The cold, hard truth that most USC fans can’t seem to accept is that the players simply didn’t execute on the goal line. Not the offensive line, not the running backs, not Wittek — nobody.
If a team is on the 1-yard line and can’t punch it in on three consecutive running plays, that is not the coach’s fault. The team probably doesn’t deserve to win in the first place.
Some people say Kiffin should have referred to Notre Dame’s game plan against Stanford, when they stuffed the Cardinal’s rushing attempts on a similar goal-line stand.
But any sane coach would not call for a pass play on first or second down when his team is inches away from scoring, especially when his quarterback is making his first career start and has already thrown two interceptions, one of which went directly into the hands of the best defensive player in college football.
With limited room to work, there’s simply too much risk for a game-ending pick.
Truth is, throughout the season, the Trojans’ problems materialized on the defensive side of the ball. Some say Kiffin is too one-dimensional to be a head coach — but can you blame him for focusing on offense when he has two supposed defensive gurus in Monte Kiffin and Ed Orgeron on his staff?
Now, obviously, the elder Kiffin’s Cover 2 scheme hasn’t worked out in three years at Troy, and likely never will. In USC’s five losses this season, the Trojans ceded an average 500 yards per game and gave up the most points (62), touchdowns (nine) and yards (730) in school history in the loss to Oregon.
Any and all calls for Monte Kiffin’s dismissal are warranted, as there are plenty of defensive coordinators out there that could do better.
But can we say that any of the head coach candidates out there could have done an overall better job — especially with recruiting — and shown as much passion for the USC program as Lane Kiffin has over the last three years?
Though this season was arguably the most disappointing in school history, let’s remember that last year’s campaign was one of the most inspiring, from the 38-35 upset of Oregon to the 50-0 throttling of the Bruins.
And despite the frustration that USC fans harbor over this season, the Trojans still have the expected No. 1 recruiting class in the country waiting in the wings.
I say the man responsible for that deserves one more chance.
“Chin Music” runs every other Thursday. If you would like to comment on this story, visit DailyTrojan.com or email Will at [email protected].
USC was never a # 1 team. Preseason ranking mean absolutely nothing. You have been on probation, and probation hurts any and all programs. You are only special in your spoiled minds. I remember an era where no one wore USC hats, shirts, etc. Remember Paul Hacket & Larry Smith??? Now you face a 6 & 7 team from the ACC who will run for 500+ yards against you. Final score: GEORGIA TECH 45 USC 24. After this game you will be calling again for the head of your coach. The truth is your program is descending because UCLA has an emerging program, therefore you will no longer have the pick of the litter.
Dude, you’re seriously stupid. I guarantee Georgia Tech will run for no more than 140 yards on USC. And why are you commenting on an article from the USC student run newspaper?
Pick of the litter? Did you read the article? Have you seen USC’s recruiting class(es)? They are ridiculously good. UCLA does not have better classes than USC nor better current players. That’s just false.
A few numbers to consider when talking about whether or not USC is special:
Heisman Winners: 7 (compared to GA Tech’s zero)
National Titles: 11 (compared to GA Tech’s 4)
Conference Titles: 38 (compared to GA Tech’s 16 in the ACC, an objectively inferior football conference to the PAC-10/PAC-12)
Now, Paul, I’m not sure where you went to college, but I am sure it is a university not nearly as amazing and wonderful as USC.
You talk about Heisman, where was he a coach? USC? Negative. By the way GT was in the SE conference for many, many years. Want to compare academics? No ballroom dancing classes at GT nor other ACC schools.
Tech will run rings around your goons.
I’m a retired nuclear engineer, where do you think I went to school, USC?
paul you got issues dude……move to another site….:)
Since when was the DT open for old bags to spur nonsense?
We are USC and we want GREAT! We want results and we want someone who strives for the best.
Kiffin can go and learn and grow as a coach to se smaller school and take his time.
Lane Kiffin is patently dishonest. He lied before the season started about voting USC #1 in the polls. And does any sane person really believe that the ball boy underinflated the Oregon footballs during the game on his own? He is not a man of integrity. He needs to leave.
I think the true evaluation of the job Coach Kiffin is doing should not be based soley on one goal line stand in the Notre Dame game, but on evaluating the season as a whole. Did the team improve from week to week? Were they better at the end of the season than they were at the start of the season? Did the team have a clear identity? The answer is obviously NO! Having a clear understanding of a game plan, playing with effort and energy, protecting the ball and not making stupid penalties does not take talent or experience it takes good coaching and good preparation. None of which were a consistent part of the USC football program this season. If it were then they would have improved from week to week and over the course of the entire season. If it were they would have been able to execute from the one yard line against Notre Dame and we would not be reading this article. Pat Haden says he sees the potential. But, players don’t go to USC because the coach has potential. Alumni don’t support the program because the coach has potential. Fans don’t support the team because the coach has potential. This is USC and you expect the best!
I like many Life Long USC Football fans are numb after being ranked No.1 at the start of this season to ?
After so many sad & numbing loses. It feels like when Texas ran over us in the Bowl game! Do you remember that?
It just does not make any sense to have All American Football players on our team and not be able to put it all together & gel, to create a close family type bond with all of them.
I can bet you the house that A.D. Pat Haden & J.K. McKay have been working on getting someone with Pete Carrol skills on motivation to mentor these kids as that is what this program needs now! Call it what you will
Hand holding or Rebuilding its all the same!
Everything falls into place. It’s like going to work everyday, ether you like it or you don’t. I love what I do!
I personally know in my heart that USC Football will make a come back. 1-Coach & Many Players at a time.
FIGHT ON!!
Just Like My Nephew Anthony Contreras would be saying if he were still around!!
Kiffin’s speciality is play calling–and he is horrible at it. But, more imprtantly, he has no connection to the players during the game–he buries his head in his play sheet and rarely comes out of it. Plain and simple, he is not a leader the team seems to want to follow–they don’t play for him. Next year will be more of the same and then…
Lane Kiffin is just two young and inexperienced to make decisions in stressful times. His Dad is too old, and they both need to go somewhere else. Dad retire, Lane, coach at a middle tier school- learn some things, make the middle tier school grow and succeed with that supposed great recruiting he does. Then 10 years from now, come to a top tier school and coach from what he has learned.
Awaiting your responses to the below
“This season, USC still averaged 34.2 points and 451.9 yards per game, only a minute decline from last year’s marks of 35.8 points and 456.8 yards.”
-Last year we went 10-2. This year we went 7-5. Alabama only averaged 432 yards a game – is Saban a worse coach than Kiffin? Clearly, stats don’t mean much and are not a defense for Kiffin.
“Three pass attempts to Lee resulted in an incompletion and consecutive pass interference penalties on the Fighting Irish. It was clear that Notre Dame wasn’t going to let Lee beat them.”
-You’re telling me it’s crazy to expect your coach to have planned for a scenario where the opponent does everything possible to stop your best receiver in the red zone, other than switching to obvious runs up the middle?
“The cold, hard truth that most USC fans can’t seem to accept is that the players simply didn’t execute on the goal line. Not the offensive line, not the running backs, not Wittek — nobody.”
-Passes to the FB lost us the game against Stanford and UCLA, and played a big part in the game against UA. I don’t see how having a backup QB in the game increases the chances of an already proven failure of a play.
“If a team is on the 1-yard line and can’t punch it in on three consecutive running plays, that is not the coach’s fault. The team probably doesn’t deserve to win in the first place.”
-If a team does that on one drive, fine. You went conservative, ran totally unimaginative plays without recognizing that the defense was running such a simple play even ABC’s hacks could point it out for you. Pick up 3 points, we’re still in position to win the game. The NEXT drive though, you do the exact same thing? And with horrible clock management? If a COACH does that (and here we know Kiffin is the culprit as he obviously won’t let anyone else call plays and spends the majority of the game staring at his playsheet), you DO deserve to lose, forget about winning.
“Some people say Kiffin should have referred to Notre Dame’s game plan against Stanford, when they stuffed the Cardinal’s rushing attempts on a similar goal-line stand.”
-Those people would be misguided…
…because Kiffin actions suggest he can’t be bothered to watch film. Or that he can’t retain anything he watches.
“But any sane coach would not call for a pass play on first or second down when his team is inches away from scoring, especially when his quarterback is making his first career start and has already thrown two interceptions, one of which went directly into the hands of the best defensive player in college football.”
-This is called playing not to lose. Yes, it’s risky to throw with a backup QB making his first start who has already made mistakes. But it’s downright stupid to run into the heart of ND’s defense. Why would you trust your O line, which has failed you time and time again this season (including the drive right before), when ND has a DT the size of two of our linemen, a group of LBers headed by a Heisman candidate, and knowledge that you are most likely going to run it up the middle cuz you’re too afraid and too uninspired to do anything else?
Let’s not forget that the boys DID execute. Twice. Once on a Wittek sneak and once on the curl to Lee, and BOTH TIMES the TDs were revoked because Kiff did his idiotic run down the sideline to call a timeout just before the snapp. That’s 12 (14) points that should’ve been there had it not been for bad decisions by the Head Coach. Difference in the game.
Kiffin’s offense SHOULD have performed well this year. How could it have not with pre-season Heisman frontrunner Barkely throwing to Woods, Lee, and two highly talented tight ends? Add the addition of Redd to McNeal’s solid 2011 season and one quickly realizes that our offense actually posted disappointing numbers this year. Not only did the offense underperform but playcalling was suspect the whole season, not just on the goal line against Notre Dame.
As head coach, it is also Lane’s job to be an effective manager of his assistant coaches. The Tampa 2 was horrendous in 2010. It didn’t work well in 2011. And our defense was flat out embarrassing this season considering the vast amount of talent we had on the field. Sure, we were thin at some positions but that’s no excuse for consistently getting torched on 3rd & long and for our secondary looking clueless more often than not. Lane deserves to be fired if he chooses not to fire his dad before next season. USC football has turned into the defensive University of Swiss Cheese. Ridiculous.
I admire your support of our team, Will, but this season made it clear that Lane is a poor motivator, ineffective manager, and lacks the innovation necessary to win football games in the second half. I’ll give it to the guy though, he can recruit with the best of them.
I don’t know about you, but the only thing “inspiring” to me is winning. Winning Rose Bowls and National Championships.
What’s the point of a #1 recruiting class if you can’t manage talent? Do you remember that we were ranked #1 before the season started? This was the most disappointing season not only in school history, but also in COLLEGE FOOTBALL HISTORY.
You don’t deserve a second chance after that.