Tag Archive for: monte kiffin

USC defense struggling despite early optimism


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It was impossible not to be optimistic about USC’s defense coming into this season. After all, the belief was that improvement was guaranteed — not because of a boost in experience, talent or coaching, but rather, because the 2011 defense couldn’t possibly be worse than the 2010 defense. Last season, USC gave up an average […]

Numbers can tell the story of USC football


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A number is worth a thousand words. Not any old, run-of-the-mill digit, mind you: It has to be a telling number, an insightful statistic that gets to the heart of the matter. As evidenced in the new movie Moneyball, statistics are an integral part of the modern sports landscape and, when properly studied and applied, can […]

Practice Notes: Sept. 7


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The Trojans practiced for the second time this week, as they prepare to open Pac-12 play Saturday against Utah. Senior tailback Marc Tyler suited up again, but was limited in the work he received. Tyler joins Dillon Baxter, D.J. Morgan and Curtis McNeal in the tailback race. USC coach Lane Kiffin expects more than two […]

Stat to watch: third down conversion rate


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From 2006 to 2009, the Trojans’ defensive third down conversion rate ranked among the best nationally, regularly stifling opposing offenses on third downs. That success, however, ended in 2010, as USC allowed its opponents to convert on third down more than 43 percent of the time. USC’s Opponent Third Down Conversion Rate: 2010: 43.82 percent […]

Support now missing for football program


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It’s late August on USC’s University Park campus. Must mean it’s time to get psyched up for Trojan excellence in the 2012 Summer Olympics, right? That’s what the athletic department would have you think. The east side of Heritage Hall was recently adorned with a smattering of banners celebrating the amazing feats of USC athletes […]

Future still bleak for USC football program


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I woke up yesterday to an email from USC football announcing Tuesday’s “Trojan Day” at L.A. Live. USC coach Lane Kiffin, his father Monte and Ed Orgeron will be there signing autographs. Season tickets will be available for purchase. But the most promising part of the email was written in all capitals at the top: […]

Defensive woes with new scheme expected


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Let me start off by dispelling the notion that patience is a virtue when it comes to following sports. In fact, I am convinced that whoever came up with that thought-provoking proverb never had to experience the agony of watching his team lose on gut-wrenching, last-second drives two weeks in a row. We live in […]