[scorecard]

I'm with you, if I'm going to blame any particular player for this loss (not that I really condone doing that) it's absolutely Ty Montgomery. Here are some mistakes I remember off the top of my head:

1) Dropped that long pass that probably would've been a TD, resulting in a 3-and-out on our first possession. And that was a drop, hit him right in the hands, couldn't have been placed better.

2) Dropped 2 other passes that were pretty catchable, though I don't recall if those ones ended up being important.

3) Repeatedly insisted on taking kickoffs out of the end zone from 5+ yards deep and then not being able to get the yardage (average return of 17.8 according to ESPN, though I don't know if this includes the penalty we got on his only one that went longer than 25). This probably cost us between 10 and 15 yards of field position on every kickoff but the one he didn't handle (where the receiver wanted to take it out but was dissuaded by another player).

4) Basically the same as above, but trying to be the hero on the final kickoff costing us something like 6-7 seconds of clock. If he just runs straight and goes down instead of pointlessly dancing around, we at least get a play to try to set up the hail Mary, but we didn't even get that.

5) Tipping that Hogan pass up into the air for no reason whatsoever. He had just been pushed out of bounds, he has to know that the best thing that happens there is we get an illegal touching penalty, and the worst is what did happen.

He did some good things too, but 37 total yards (outside of kickoffs) isn't great, especially when you consider what it should have been. I'm not going to say he cost us the game, but if you want to blame a player, I think he's where you have to start.

Some comments:

2) There was another dropped pass on the 3rd down before Ukropina's missed field goal that was actually a remarkable pass from Hogan between 2 defenders after the naked bootleg was well-defended.  Would have been a tough catch but those are the ones you need to win a game like this.

3) I have no problem with Montgomery taking the ball from 5 yards deep given his production on kickoff returns.  The blocking lanes just didn't open up for him against better coverage by USC.

4) Wish he would have gotten down after the kickoff, but not sure it makes much difference at that point.  Didn't really like the final play though, would at least like something further down the field, even in the chance of a pass interference penalty (or a miracle, see Auburn earlier in the day)

5) If he doesn't tip that ball, that ball is almost certainly intercepted by another SC defender who was in perfect position to pick it off anyway.  The pass just shouldn't have been thrown as you are getting spun down (I think he might have been trying to throw it away, but only Hogan knows this).  BTW, I wish they would rename that penalty from "illegal touching".  I'm too immature to handle that being announced on a broadcast without snickering. 

In any case, there is no way I place the "blame" for this game on Montgomery, or Hogan for that matter.  There were numerous plays that didn't go our way, and multiple players involved.  Coaching is included as well (red zone play calling has not been good this year, maybe Shaw should relinquish that).  Missed FGs have been big in most of our big losses in the last 3 years.  Forget about blaming any one person (except for maybe that Georgia safety in the Auburn game). 

[scorecard]

I'm with you, if I'm going to blame any particular player for this loss (not that I really condone doing that) it's absolutely Ty Montgomery. Here are some mistakes I remember off the top of my head:

1) Dropped that long pass that probably would've been a TD, resulting in a 3-and-out on our first possession. And that was a drop, hit him right in the hands, couldn't have been placed better.

2) Dropped 2 other passes that were pretty catchable, though I don't recall if those ones ended up being important.

3) Repeatedly insisted on taking kickoffs out of the end zone from 5+ yards deep and then not being able to get the yardage (average return of 17.8 according to ESPN, though I don't know if this includes the penalty we got on his only one that went longer than 25). This probably cost us between 10 and 15 yards of field position on every kickoff but the one he didn't handle (where the receiver wanted to take it out but was dissuaded by another player).

4) Basically the same as above, but trying to be the hero on the final kickoff costing us something like 6-7 seconds of clock. If he just runs straight and goes down instead of pointlessly dancing around, we at least get a play to try to set up the hail Mary, but we didn't even get that.

5) Tipping that Hogan pass up into the air for no reason whatsoever. He had just been pushed out of bounds, he has to know that the best thing that happens there is we get an illegal touching penalty, and the worst is what did happen.

He did some good things too, but 37 total yards (outside of kickoffs) isn't great, especially when you consider what it should have been. I'm not going to say he cost us the game, but if you want to blame a player, I think he's where you have to start.

Some comments:

2) There was another dropped pass on the 3rd down before Ukropina's missed field goal that was actually a remarkable pass from Hogan between 2 defenders after the naked bootleg was well-defended.  Would have been a tough catch but those are the ones you need to win a game like this.

3) I have no problem with Montgomery taking the ball from 5 yards deep given his production on kickoff returns.  The blocking lanes just didn't open up for him against better coverage by USC.

4) Wish he would have gotten down after the kickoff, but not sure it makes much difference at that point.  Didn't really like the final play though, would at least like something further down the field, even in the chance of a pass interference penalty (or a miracle, see Auburn earlier in the day)

5) If he doesn't tip that ball, that ball is almost certainly intercepted by another SC defender who was in perfect position to pick it off anyway.  The pass just shouldn't have been thrown as you are getting spun down (I think he might have been trying to throw it away, but only Hogan knows this).  BTW, I wish they would rename that penalty from "illegal touching".  I'm too immature to handle that being announced on a broadcast without snickering. 

In any case, there is no way I place the "blame" for this game on Montgomery, or Hogan for that matter.  There were numerous plays that didn't go our way, and multiple players involved.  Coaching is included as well (red zone play calling has not been good this year, maybe Shaw should relinquish that).  Missed FGs have been big in most of our big losses in the last 3 years.  Forget about blaming any one person (except for maybe that Georgia safety in the Auburn game).