Peristyle Podcast - USC Trojan Football Discussion

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Coach Harvey Hyde sees a lack of discipline with this Trojan team coming off the 50-49 squeaker against California Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of the Peristyle Podcasts hosts Ryan Abraham and Coach Harvey Hyde are back together discussing what was a fitting end to a longstanding rivalry with Cal, a 50-49 Trojan victory that featured an on-field protest that delayed the start of the game, an untimed down after halftime before the third quarter started and a spectacular two-point conversion pass defense that sealed the victory for USC.

Coach Hyde talks about the lack of discipline he has seen on this team, from penalties (11 for 101 yards for USC) to missed assignments to lack of attention to detail, and how that is going to need to change to have a chance at winning any of the remaining three games on the schedule. Players need to perform the assignment they are given and coaches need to stick with what is working and not get away from successful strategies. Coach Hyde wants to see more consistency and concentration from everyone in the program, from the players on the field to everyone on the sidelines.

On that untimed down played before the start of the third quarter, Coach Hyde says he has never saw a play like in all his years coaching and watching college football.

He also said that USC has the skill players to be a great offense with one of the top running backs in the country in MarShawn Lloyd, of of the top quarterbacks in Caleb Williams and great receivers, but doesn't see any identity in the offense right now. Coach wants to see things be more balanced to make it harder on opposing defenses instead of the Trojans are making it harder on themselves.

On defense Coach feels like those turnovers were the key to getting the win. Somehow the defense made Fernando Mendoza look like Aaron Rodgers. There were gaping holes in the first half for the run game with guys taking the long gap. Second half was better with Eric Gentry playing better and Bear Alexander returning. Too many penalties on the secondary players.

Coach says that the special teams problems are all about discipline, staying in lanes, when to run it out, not trying to be a star just go by the rules of where you are on the field. All of these mistakes in the kicking game are not acceptable and coach says you will lose games when you can't do those little things on special teams.

As usual the guys answer listener questions via email, text message and voicemail to finish up the show.

Please review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Thanks to Trader Joe's for sponsoring the Peristyle Podcast!

Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojan football team.

Tunnel Vision: The final weekender was anything but boring as USC escapes with a 50-49 win at Cal Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

On the latest edition of Tunnel Vision, USCFootball.com's Ryan Abraham, Shotgun Spratling and Chris Trevino are back together again in studio fresh off their Bay Area trip for what will likely be the very last USC weekender for the foreseeable future, an instant classic where the Trojans narrowly escaped with a 50-49 victory over the Sturdy Golden Bears. USC once again started off the game strong before allowing Cal to jump out to multiple two-score leads, including a 14-point fourth quarter lead that looked like the end for the Trojans. USC regained the lead thanks to a Cal fumble and when the Bears drove to tie the game with under a minute left, head coach Justin Wilcox decided to end it right there with a two-point try. Jaylin Smith made the defensive play of the day, batting away the pass in the end zone to preserve the one point victory for the Men of Troy.

The guys talk about this crazy game that started with an on-field protest, had a halftime controversy that allowed USC to attempt a first half field goal right before the start of the third quarter and of course the dramatic ending that kept the Trojans hopes of a Pac-12 title technically alive.

This is a podcast version of our video show Tunnel Vision that you can find on our Facebook or YouTube pages.

Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojan football team.

Tunnel Vision: Trojans hit the road to take on long-time rival Cal Oct 27, 2023

Show notes

On this latest edition of Tunnel Vision USCFootball.com's Jack Smith and Connor Morrissette (aka Triple-Double) are back in studio to preview what needs to be USC's get-right game, a road trip to Berkeley to take on the California Golden Bears. This season Cal has actually been sneaky good on offense, especially the ground game, but not as stout on defense. The Trojans have struggled most of the season on defense and lately the offense has been much more pedestrian. Can USC finally turn things around and get a much needed win against this long-time rival?

Jack and Connor talk about what a weird week of practice it was, with Lincoln Riley out sick for a couple of days before returning on Wednesday. Riley addressed the media and talked about pushing himself too hard before the Utah game and several other topics. They also discuss what defensive coordinator Alex Grinch had to say about what went wrong in the Utah game.

Both hosts will be in the Berkeley for this one and talk about how they think it will play out and give their picks against the spread (Trojans are favored by a 10.5 points).

This is a podcast version of our video show Tunnel Vision that you can find on our Facebook or YouTube pages.

Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojan football team.

Composite Two-Star Recruits: USC adds 4-star cornerback Isaiah Rubin, Texas A&M DL commit Gabriel Reliford locks in USC official Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

Composite Two-Star Recruits podcast returns to break down USC adding 4-star cornerback Isaiah Rubin to the 2024 class and Texas A&M DL commit Gabriel Reliford locking in a USC official visit. The Cilantro Boys also discuss the visitors for USC vs. Utah and Lincoln Riley to the NFL rumors.

TIME STAMPS:

8:39 Cold Open (Isaiah Rubin Commits)

31:46: Gabirel Reliford Lock in USC Official

53:14: Crystal Ball Stock Market

57:07: Friday Night Lights

1:09:50: USC vs. Utah Visitors

1:33:31: Lincoln Riley & NFL Rumors

2:01:57: Listener Questions

No real answers on USC's defensive struggles plus Lincoln Riley out sick Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

In this edition of the Peristyle Podcast hosts Ryan Abraham and Connor Morrissette (aka "Triple Double") are back in studio talking about what is turning out to be a strange week around the USC football program, with back-to-back losses and now head coach Lincoln Riley unable to attend practice due to an undisclosed illness.

Riley was coughing before he addressed the media after the Utah game and he came out alone instead of with the usual two players alongside him (no players were made available after the game). Riley also didn't make his normal Monday appearance on Trojans Live and then on Tuesday we were informed that Riley was home sick per doctor's orders and there was no timetable given for his return.

The guys talk about how practice felt on Tuesday with Riley's absence and outside wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons taking over. They also discuss what defensive coordinator Alex Grinch had to say after the defense's terrible performance against Utah where the Utes had their season high of yards (482) and safety Sione Vaki went off catching 149 yards in passes and two touchdowns.

Please review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Thanks to Trader Joe's for sponsoring the Peristyle Podcast!

Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojan football team.

Helium Boys: Utah victorious again, but has the pressure been relieved for 2023 Trojans? Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

USCFootball.com's Helium Boys, Shotgun Spratling and Chris Trevino, were reunited over the weekend and are back together to try to break down and make sense of USC's 34-32 loss to Utah in this edition of the Helium Boys Podcast. They react to the Trojans' first loss at the Coliseum under Lincoln Riley, a defeat to dreaded Utah on a field goal as time expired, that drops them to 6-2 on the season and all but guarantees USC will not be able to make the College Football Playoff in the final season of the four-team era.

Shotgun and Chris discuss the notable takeaways, including USC's refusal to lean heavily on its run game, the emotions that poured from Bear Alexander after his late targeting penalty, whether or not the Trojans should have gone down at the 1-yard line and the decision by Lincoln Riley to not make any players available to the media.

The Helium Boys open with the 'Two-Minute Drill' giving their initial reactions to the Trojans' loss to Utah and the biggest things that stood out to each of them. In the Stock Up/Stock Down segment, the podcasting duo discuss who impressed, including Romello Height, the Branch brothers and the revamped offensive line. The Helium Boys also look into what stocks took a hit over the weekend like the trust in the run game and the two-point conversion play calling, including the attempted use of cut blocking by the offensive line.

They also look at how the collapse of College Football Playoff goals will affect the team going forward and whether this could be a situation that releases the pressure from players, allowing them to go out and have fun and play to their potential going forward.

Chris and Shotgun also look at the upcoming matchup against California and the Golden Bears grab bag of quarterbacks. The Helium Boys then answer your questions from Twitter, email and Instagram discussing the defense and the overall vibe of the team. Then during the overtime portion of the 'Take It or Leave It' section, Chris questions Shotgun on the top five and bottom five fruits.

Finally, the podcast concludes with the Helium Boys giving their score predictions for the USC-Cal matchup (1 p.m. PDT) in Berkeley this weekend.

Please review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojans basketball and football teams.

Coach Harvey Hyde is not seeing a product out on the field that Trojan football fans can be proud of Oct 23, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of the Peristyle Podcasts hosts Ryan Abraham and Coach Harvey Hyde are back together discussing what was an inexcusable Trojan loss to the Utes in the Coliseum. Utah came in without their star quarterback or best pass catcher and still was able to put up 482 yards of offense on the USC defense, the Utes highest total of the season. Safety Sione Vaki got whatever he wanted in the passing game, torching the Trojans for nearly 150 yards and two touchdowns while quarterback Bryson Barnes had his best game of the season including a 26-yard run that set up the game winning field goal.

Coach Hyde and Ryan talk about how week after week this USC defense allows opponents to accomplish new heights and achieve high water marks, something that simply shouldn't be happening to a team with championship aspirations. Coach Hyde thinks this team is simply unsound on defense and they are asking players to do impossible tasks like having rush end Braylan Shelby to rush the passer but also cover the speedy Vaki on a wheel route of of the backfield. That is not sound football. Hyde says there is always a breakdown somewhere and it is due to bad discipline not only on defense, but from what he's seeing throughout the football program. You never want to beat yourself and with bad discipline USC did exactly that on the final drive for Utah.

Coach Hyde thinks Lincoln Riley is a great playcaller with an amazing track record but right now quarterback Caleb Williams isn't making the plays he was last season. Coach thinks that defenses have adjusted and that Riley needs to as well to help Williams have the kind of success he had last season. He doesn't think Riley believes in the run game and he wants this team to be more physical to become a championship level team.

Overall Coach Hyde feels bad for the fan base, a group of loyal Trojans who want to be proud of, not embarrassed because of, the product out on the field. With all of the problems on this USC football team, its hard for fans to be proud of what they are seeing.

As usual the guys answer listener questions via email, text message and voicemail to finish up the show.

Please review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Thanks to Trader Joe's for sponsoring the Peristyle Podcast!

Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojan football team.

Tunnel Vision: Lincoln Riley loses in the Coliseum for the first time and falls to 0-3 against Utah Oct 23, 2023

Show notes

On the latest edition of Tunnel Vision, USCFootball.com's Ryan Abraham, Shotgun Spratling and Jack Smith are in studio discussing the first ever loss in the Coliseum during the Lincoln Riley era, a 34-32 heartbreaker at the hands of Utah. After the game winning field goal as time expired, Riley and quarterback Caleb Williams are now 0-3 against the Utes over the past two seasons.

After getting blown out on the road against Notre Dame, USC was looking to bounce back and get some revenge against a Utah squad that was extremely banged up. Backup quarterback Bryson Barnes stepped up his game, completing 14 of his 23 passes for three touchdowns and one interception and safety Sione Vaki dominated on offense with 9 rushes for 68 yards and 5 catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns. The Utes had 482 yards of offense, their highest total of the season.

The Trojans offense had success running the ball with MarShawn Lloyd and Austin Jones rushing for nearly 10 yards a pop, but the duo only got 12 carries which limited their impact. Williams was 24 of 34 for 256 and didn't have a touchdown but did have the go-ahead TD scramble late in the fourth quarter.

This is a podcast version of our video show Tunnel Vision that you can find on our Facebook or YouTube pages.

Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojan football team.

Tunnel Vision: Trojans return to the Coliseum for an all-important clash with Utah Oct 20, 2023

Show notes

On this latest edition of Tunnel Vision USCFootball.com's Jack Smith, RJ Abeytia and Connor Morrissette (aka Triple-Double) are back in studio to preview USC's most important game of the entire regular season, a conference home matchup against Utah, the team that defeated the Trojans twice last season including the Pac-12 Championship game. The No. 18 Trojans of course had a rough go of it at Notre Dame while the No. 14 Utes pulled away from California in Salt Lake City.

The guys talk about this pivotal game for head coach Lincoln Riley and give their thoughts on USC's struggling offense against what could be an elite Utah defense and a potentially resurgent Trojan defense against heaving injured and mostly one dimensional Utes offense.

All three hosts will be in the Coliseum for this one and talk about how they think it will play out and give their picks against the spread (Trojans are favored by a touchdown).

This is a podcast version of our video show Tunnel Vision that you can find on our Facebook or YouTube pages.

Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojan football team.

Helium Boys: Leprechauns? USC falls flat in South Bend and moving forward to Utah Week Oct 19, 2023

Show notes

Shotgun Spratling and Chris Trevino return with a speed version of the Helium Boys Podcast following USC's trip to South Bend for its annual matchup with intersectional rival Notre Dame. The Helium Boys react to the Trojans' first loss of the season, a 48-20 loss to Notre Dame where the Irish won the turnover battle, 5-0, and were able to win in the trenches.

Shotgun and Chris discuss the notable takeaways, including the troubles with the offensive line and what possible solutions there are for fixing the issues in front of quarterback Caleb Williams, who threw a career-high three interceptions -- all under duress -- and was sacked six times. Normally, the Helium Boys open with the 'Two-Minute Drill' giving their initial reactions to the Trojans' latest matchup, but this is the speed version. The 'Two-Minute Drill' was shortened to the 'One-Minute Drill' after the show's offensive coordinator called back-to-back running plays and wasted our timeouts.

The speed version also incorporates a modified Stock Up/Stock Down section with the podcasting duo discussing who impressed, including Christian Roland-Wallace, the Branch brothers and Tackett Curtis. The Helium Boys also look into what stocks took a hit over the weekend such as the offensive line, the Heisman Trophy winner and the Trojans' special teams.

Chris and Shotgun also look at the Trojans' highly anticipated upcoming matchup against nemesis Utah this weekend after the Utes were able to hand Lincoln Riley and Williams two of their three losses last season. The Helium Boys use your submissions during the 'Take It or Leave It' section and then answer your USC mailbag questions, picking a couple to dive into before the timer goes off.

Finally, the podcast concludes with the Helium Boys giving their score predictions for the USC-Utah matchup (5 p.m. PDT) from the Coliseum this weekend.

Please review, rate and subscribe to the Peristyle Podcast on Apple Podcasts!

Make sure you check out USCFootball.com for complete coverage of this USC Trojans basketball and football teams.

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