Helton shrugs off Darnold's plea for different play calls

USC head coach Clay Helton seemed unbothered Sunday by his star quarterback, Sam Darnold, questioning the team's play-calling one day earlier.

"The hardest critic of the offense has always been me, and right now I like the direction we're going in," he told reporters, according to Joey Kaufman of the Orange County Register.

Statistically, USC's offense has been just as good - if not slightly better - than it was last year. However, the eye test paints a different picture, and Darnold has thrown at least one interception in every game this season.

After another inconsistent performance Saturday against Oregon State, the normally reserved Darnold suggested the Trojans would benefit from a shake-up in their offensive approach.

"I can sense defenses are focusing on some tendencies of ours," he said following the 38-10 victory. "We just gotta run different plays, have different formations and motion some guys, get away from our tendencies a little bit."

Helton and offensive coordinator Tee Martin have faced criticism throughout the season for Darnold's perceived regression, but Helton continued to back his disciple Sunday.

The Trojans own a 5-1 record as they prepare for a Saturday matchup with Utah.