Take Two: Is Clay Helton feeling the heat after USC's slow start?
Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling a handful of issues in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.
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THE STORYLINE
USC has been one of the more disappointing teams in college football early this season, especially coming off a blowout loss at Texas this past weekend. The Trojans scored twice in the first quarter but then were blanked for the rest of the game and finished with minus-5 yards rushing.
The week before, USC mustered only a field goal in a loss to Stanford.
A lot of criticism – fairly or unfairly – has landed on coach Clay Helton’s shoulders after back-to-back double-digit losses, something that never happened during the messes of the Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian coaching eras.
There is reason for optimism since five-star quarterback J.T. Daniels is a special talent, the receiving corps is loaded with former five- and four-stars, and running back Stephen Carr was on the cusp of being a five-star. But the offensive line remains average at best on a national level and Texas’ offense carved through USC’s defense. Tulsa’s defense did a better job against the Longhorns.
Helton is 28-12 considering his interim year in 2015 and the start of 2018. Is it unreasonable to ask if he’s on the hot seat as USC – despite all of its talented players – is yet to become a national power again. Or, is it far too early in Helton’s tenure for that type of discussion?
TAKE ONE: RYAN YOUNG, TROJANSPORTS.COM
“If the fan base has anything to say about it, the seat is definitely very hot. In fact, I don’t know what could be accomplished this season that would win back the most vocal segments of the fan base that have already turned against Helton — fair or not. Breaking in a true freshman quarterback while also replacing the top rusher and receiver from last season is a challenge that comes with expected growing pains. Even still, this team has not looked organized and has not really approached the potential that its pure talent would dictate. That’s the root of the frustration for USC fans.”
TAKE TWO: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM
“I don’t think he should be on the hot seat, but I would be disappointed if I was a USC fan, no doubt. You have a freshman quarterback, you have some young players, but there is so much talent on that roster I don’t think they should be struggling with UNLV, I don’t think they should be unable to score against Stanford, I don’t think they should be blown out at Texas, a team that lost to Maryland. They’re definitely under-achieving. I don’t think he’s on the hot seat yet, but if I’m a USC fan I’m not happy with what’s going on.”