Oct 19 | Southern Cal

[Cackalacky]

But, as coaching responsibilities shift after the firing of Kiffin, contingencies for Lee's absence must be made, as well as a game plan to make more effective use of the talent around him if he's available.

Lee is the far-and-away focal point of the sputtering passing game, with 30 receptions. Sophomore Nelson Agholor is the only other wide receiver to break into double-digits with 11 catches.

Clay Helton's first duty in taking over play-calling duties is finding a way to integrate the receivers and tight ends with or without Lee.

That forces redshirt sophomore quarterback Cody Kessler out of his comfort zone.

"Cody can do some things well, other things he's not ready to do," interim head coach Ed Orgeron said on Tuesday's Pac-12 coaches teleconference call. "Obviously we want to keep it simple, but we need to move the ball around and put it in different players' hands."

Helton was ostensibly the offensive coordinator under Kiffin, though the former head coach took on playcalling responsibilities.

Orgeron suggested that would not pose a problem for the offense moving forward.

"[Helton]'s the most qualified guy on the staff," he said. "That was a toss-up with Lane...he didn't know if he was going to call plays or Clay was."

Helton was offensive coordinator at Memphis before joining Kiffin's staff as quarterbacks coach in 2010. His Tiger offenses were balanced, but favored the rush.

In 2008, Memphis averaged over 190 yards per game on the ground.

With the primary receiving weapon questionable and USC struggling to pass as is, Helton may need to go even heavier on the rush than the Trojans have through their first five games.

"One of the things we need to do is play to our strengths," Orgeron said. "We have two good running backs, and hopefully we get [senior running back] Silas [Redd] back soon."

Redshirt sophomore running back Tre Madden has more than capably filled the primary rushing role for the Trojans with Redd sidelined.

Madden is the team's No. 2 receiving option thus far, with 12 catches. He had a pair of touchdown receptions against Arizona State and will continue to be a key cog in the passing game.

As for Redd, each week has brought a similar prognosis that ultimately results in him not playing.

I will be watching this week to see who plays. Lee is probable and may be out from his knee injury.

 

[ACamp1900]

First time ND will be favored by any real margin since when??? the 1990's???

Must take this one by the horns...

 

[greyhammer90]

Anybody know any USC fans/frequent any USC boards?

Just curious how the USC fans feel about this game. I imagine either feeling hopeless/hungry for the upset with nothing to lose. I'm sure they're more worried about their coaching situation than the ND game.

 

[GATTACA!]

I'll throw some V-cheddar down if you're liking to take more action.

Ill put up another 20,000 but i need a better spread. Im regretting the 15pts how about 20,000 ND-12

 

[TDHeysus]

ND's offense needs to know where George Uko, 94 Williams, 42 Kenard, and maybe even 91 (cant think of his name) are at all times. All of those guys are good. They have other players on defense who can make plays too (Bailey comes to mind). Su'a Cravens can make plays, but he's good to get burned sometimes too.

42 Kenard I think is a scary good player(beastly, dare I say)....don't quote me on that tho, if ever asked by any USC-types I would deny I ever said that.

 

[clashmore_mike]

Tix available on nd's webpage. Just scooped two

 

[rikkitikki08]

I imagine ND opens up at about -5, until ND proves they can blow someone out the spreads are going to stay close

 

[GreenSox04]

@TomLoy247: Scoop: Major Official Visitor Added For the #NotreDame-#USC Game. An important recruit for the #Irish. Scoop: Major Official Visitor Added For USC Game via @BGInews

Anyyyyyyyone

 

[rikkitikki08]

Anyone have an up to date list of the players who will be taking a visit for this game?

 

[illmatic630]

Tom Loy just posted something about us having a big time visitor for the USC game. Anybody read it yet?

 

[ryno 24]

Its Nyles Morgan

 

[rikkitikki08]

Its Nyles Morgan

Yes please

 

[Cackalacky]

Woot woot

 

[T Town Tommy]

I hope its Orgeron. That guy is an idiot. When he was the HC at OleMiss, he would speak at the clinics in MS. You couldn't understand half of what he said because he would get excited and start talking like Farmer Fred from "The Waterboy". Remember, Ole Miss ran him out of town for handing the Egg Bowl to Miss State. I can't remember what it was he did exactly, but I remember saying at the time, "Holy Sh1t, he's giving the game away!" He is a great recruiter no doubt, but he is worse than Kiffen with his temper tantrums. I hope he gets a 10 year contract to usc!

Not to mention the local news in Miss had him on video tape threatening to kick his neighbor's as* over something stupid. LMAO

 

[IrishLax]

First time ND will be favored by any real margin since when??? the 1990's???

Must take this one by the horns...

We were a 10 point favorite in 2011 and lost by 2 TDs.

 

[dublinirish]

ND's offense needs to know where George Uko, 94 Williams, 42 Kenard, and maybe even 91 (cant think of his name) are at all times. All of those guys are good. They have other players on defense who can make plays too (Bailey comes to mind). Su'a Cravens can make plays, but he's good to get burned sometimes too.

42 Kenard I think is a scary good player(beastly, dare I say)....don't quote me on that tho, if ever asked by any USC-types I would deny I ever said that.

91 is Morgan Breslin - former JUCO guy, Zach Martin handled this guy last year.

 

[rocket66]

We were a 10 point favorite in 2011 and lost by 2 TDs.

Crist'd.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Crist'd.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Crist'd.

That game haunts me. I swear Crist looked amazing marching down that field out of the shotgun in the spread. For some god awful reason he went under center at the goal line to tie that game, and boom, off to the races for USC. I honestly thought he turned the corner on that drive. Sorry, back to this years version. Go Irish!

 

[Irish#1]

That game haunts me. I swear Crist looked amazing marching down that field out of the shotgun in the spread. For some god awful reason he went under center at the goal line to tie that game, and boom, off to the races for USC. I honestly thought he turned the corner on that drive. Sorry, back to this years version. Go Irish!

No DC just reaffirmed what he was. A great kid, but when things started to get tight, you knew he was going to make a huge mistake.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

No DC just reaffirmed what he was. A great kid, but when things started to get tight, you knew he was going to make a huge mistake.

Good point, probably should have said "hoped"!

 

[connor_in]

No DC just reaffirmed what he was. A great kid, but when things started to get tight, you knew he was going to make a huge mistake.

Isn't that the definition of the verb Romo?

 

[Irish#1]

Isn't that the definition of the verb Romo?

DC made a huge Romo against USC.


BTW.....USC reached out to Tony Dungy through his pastor. Tony said he wasn't interested in the job. He did say they need to hire a college coach. He doesn't think a coach from the NFL will be successful there.

 

[ulukinatme]

Ho....ly....****

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Due to the bye we get to hate on USC for two weeks. Let's start it off right. Watch this and mock SC fans. <a href="http://t.co/E4T4rXdbDR">http://t.co/E4T4rXdbDR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23USCSucks&src=hash">#USCSucks</a></p>— Knute Rockne (@Rocknes_Ghost) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rocknes_Ghost/statuses/387378575642333185">October 8, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[greyhammer90]

Ho....ly....****

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Due to the bye we get to hate on USC for two weeks. Let's start it off right. Watch this and mock SC fans. <a href="http://t.co/E4T4rXdbDR">http://t.co/E4T4rXdbDR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23USCSucks&src=hash">#USCSucks</a></p>— Knute Rockne (@Rocknes_Ghost) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rocknes_Ghost/statuses/387378575642333185">October 8, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

...we really don't want to play this game.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/P6mE9Au3CwM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[ulukinatme]

...we really don't want to play this game.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/P6mE9Au3CwM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

As bad as the FreakBass thing was...not nearly as embarrassing as the Little Mermaid USC video I think.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

No presser today?

 

[nlroma1o]

As bad as the FreakBass thing was...not nearly as embarrassing as the Little Mermaid USC video I think.

I disagree. The USC litte mermaid video looks like it was supposed to be a joke.

The FreakBass song and music video has a much, much higher production value. Which means that the group who actually spent the time and money to throw that piece of shame together actually thought what they were doing was genuinely "cool", "hip' and "good?". It's one of the worst things to have ever happened to ND in the last decade. It makes me want to shake the crap out of however gave the ok to make that abomination... ERRRRRRAHHHHGGGGG!!!!! I HATE THE F'N VIDEO!!!!!!

 

[returnofthemack]

I disagree. The USC litte mermaid video looks like it was supposed to be a joke.

The FreakBass song and music video has a much, much higher production value. Which means that the group who actually spent the time and money to throw that piece of shame together actually thought what they were doing was genuinely "cool", "hip' and "good?". It's one of the worst things to have ever happened to ND in the last decade. It makes me want to shake the crap out of however gave the ok to make that abomination... ERRRRRRAHHHHGGGGG!!!!! I HATE THE F'N VIDEO!!!!!!

Exactly - the USC one is made by a few students and I doubt they're being serious. FreakBass was asked to do the video and it was done with the authorization of the school - it's infinitely more embarrassing. However, this video is pretty close: <iframe width="640" height="390" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JD6FAscGpoY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[PANDFAN]

No presser today?

NOPE