Washington Waddler

Good take Darren. At some point, sleeping giants do awake. Riley, riding in like the cavalry to the rescue, undoubtedly has the full attention of those seeking to emerge from this slumber. With in those spheres he controls - recruiting, scheme, coaching - I don’t doubt his chance for success is as good as anyone out there, minus Saban. But, it’s not what he can see, but what he can’t that could be his problem. Without any experience of west coast/California culture, It’ll be interesting to see how quickly he can recognize and respond to the the social layers that can and will affect his team. Imo, the most successful Trojan coaches over the past 60 years were either California natives, or had been immersed in west coast realities long enough to know the warning signs when someone or something was falling off the rails. Pete Carroll is a SF native, and John Robinson moved to the Bay Area at the age of nine. John McKay had 4 years as a player and 9 as an assistant coach at Oregon, and one as an assistant before taking over the reins at USC. No doubt Riley is savvy; you don’t achieve what he has without it. But Muleshoe, Lubbock,, Greenville, and Norman are not going to prepare you for what he’ll have to deal with in LA.

This bringing back way too many good memories. Was at both Dixon’s Michigan and Washington 2007 games. Both fan bases delusional in there arrogance, just in different ways. Unforgettable to experience both groups go numb and dumb when Chip and Dennis hit the shock collar button. Wouldn’t mind seeing some off-shoot of that magic again!

At times, it seems like Dana’s offensive system is going through an identity crises as a result of his new-found attraction to bigs. His inner circle has traditionally been run by 6-8, 6-9 guys who could run, distribute and step outside to hit FGs or 3s. Swatting, running the floor, or poking and probing to find the best shot has been the norm: transition and speed. His newer stable of talls can run and swat, but seem challenged to retain the tempo of previous occupants in the paint because the offense slows every time the ball is lobbed inside. Systems collide when that happens. Previous inner occupants had multiple tools that kept the tempo fast and the rest of the team involved. They could pick and roll, kick it out, take it to the hoop, or do turn around jumpers. Now those lobs seem to settle on the bigs alone to get the job done, and the tempo slows as everyone else becomes uninvolved. Is it a matter of size to speed ratio, hand/eye coordination, or skill development that hampers our bigs and slows the system? What ever the issue is, it does seem to be a challenge for Dana on how best to integrate his new found riches into his older ways and get his team’s rhythm back.

If I had my way, I’d wish a perpetual 2008 season ‘Groundhog Day’ loop on the lavender losers.

Frustrating when media quacks start messing with our Quack!

What can you say? They played like a team motivated by their loss in Eugene, and wanting to prove in a high profile game that the returning players from last year’s championship game are ready to go again. Yes, give them credit for taking it to us. Painful? Yes. It’s never a good feeling to get out-hustled. But, in-league elite competition is a gift that pays dividends further down the road. It’s the best thing you can ask for. Kelly and his team will learn from this game.

It might help defuse things a bit, but at the very least, it’d be hilarious if Kelly showed up at the game with a pair of those on. Don’t take it seriously! Don’t let a bulletin board media clown affect your focus.

Love that movie!

CalBear95, welcome back! Let me add that rowing is a sport I’ve come to really enjoy. Living up here in puppyland, I’ve attended a few races on the Montlake Cut, and it’s genuinely exciting and engaging. While it’s unknown for me to express anything positive about the hydrant wetters, I will say what there men’s eight did at the 1936 Olympic Games was as memorable as Jesse Owen’s Gold Medals. For anyone interested, Dan Brown’s ‘The Boys in the Boat’ is a worthwhile read on that historic event. It upset Hitler pretty good. Like Norm McDonald said, the more I learn about the guy, the less I care for him.

Me and Randy Newman, right? Anyway, no slight to me; I love horse racing!

Yeah, it’s either that, or become a jockey.

I wouldn’t mind if they gave him 2 offers!

Iuli’s two-way versatility looking more valuable all the time.

The last time the Troylets were flushed with success, Pete Carroll didn’t have to compete with the NFL for media attention or fans in the stands. Now LA’s pro teams have a Super Bowl contender, and the most popular young QB in town. Don’t disappoint too much or too often Riley, or you’ll find that gushing press cadre eating you for lunch, and nobody but faithful frat boys in the stands.

Best thing for themselves they could ever do, but there’d be zero interest.

Thanks for adding ponderment to the language! Regarding the weave, Altman seems to use it more when an opponent has a 3 ball focus, and spreads their perimeter defense a bit more. We’ve had enough round-trips with Dana now to know when his teams get it; when they really understand how consistency is created by effort on the defensive end, and how that drives the offense. When that clicks, it’s like a light goes on. You can see it in their faces when they really understand that consistent effort pays off. The game gets simple, and they begin to play it with confidence and joy. You look at them, and you know it doesn’t matter who they’re playing because they know it’s all up to them.

It’s funny, but progress sometimes requires a gut check. Mario provided that; he backed us into a corner and made us look in the mirror and decide on who we really are. Not a bad thing. Thanks Mario!

Does that mean a punter would end up in Canada?

Thanks 30 for the coverage!

Solid win against a team that prides itself on relentless defense. Loved what Bev had to say about Te-Hina’s game beginning to develop those crafty one-on-one touches.

On Mario’s reputation among coaches, the canary in the coal shaft for me was watching all his HC compulsory post-game meet-n-greets. The majority of them were one-way with Mario trying to appear coachly, and the other guy looking like somebody in a police line-up.

Trusting roster weight listings for OLs is a bit like trusting roster height listings for basketball.

Yes, greed left unattended will have its way. If by ‘usual’ you’re referring to the current hands-off policy gifted by the Supreme Court to the NCAA, and adopted by the universities, then that represents the absence of a business model rather than any reality-based give and take. That is why the NFL business model needs to replace the current absence of one at the collegiate level. The NFL understands excessive desire and wants. It’s ownership is the definition of greed, which is why it is forced to regulate and control those urges in order to guarantee its own survival.

How can the teams who produce the talent ensure that they keep it? Excellent question David. I’d hazard a guess and say that the current unrestricted, free-for-all conditions under which the portal operates, and NILS — to the extent that it’s value is manipulated by portal opportunities — is a temporary situation, morally grounded in the long term financial abuse of once powerless student athletes whose moral outrage will run its course, and eventually be reeled in by the need for financial balance between the athletes and those who have a stake in them. How long that will take, and who will assume responsibility to make it happen is anybody’s guess. Once this euphoric, student-athlete playground is no longer tolerated, my guess is the corollary would have to be the NFL, and modeled on the precedence of free agency: the athlete who wants money owes something to those who have invested money, time and energy in their development. Again, what they would owe, in terms of time, is anybody’s guess. Once this unsustainable and unrealistic approach to the portal and it’s abuse of NILS hits the wall, then we can hopefully see a balance return to the process, and a degree of power returned to the teams we love.

If LaMike can cut the mustard the way he did through opposing defenses, he’ll do just fine.