Chris Swanson and I collaborate on five takeaways from USC's 42-14 road rout of Arizona State on Saturday.
1. Cause and effect
The Trojans were without nose tackle Antwuan Woods on Saturday, making them even more undersized in their 3-4 alignment. That proved to be a non-factor, though, because USC created pressure from multiple angles with exotic blitz packages. (These are especially necessary when defenders don’t regularly win 1-on-1s, which is often how USC approached Stanford.)
The result? USC beat up Arizona State’s offensive line and quarterback Mike Bercovici. The redshirt senior was sacked three times and never was able to get into a rhythm (he completed just 23 of 44 passes).
The Trojans spent the past two games looking to prevent big plays. On Saturday, they were determined to create them and, accordingly, caused four turnovers and had eight tackles for loss. The team later noted the importance of a Friday admonishment and film session dedicated to taking the ball away.
It’ll take more than that, of course, for what happened Saturday to become a routine and not a trend. It should be noted, Arizona State didn’t have either the offensive line to pick up blitzes or the deep threat to really make the Trojans pay for a picked up blitz. But how many teams in the Pac-12 have the combination of both those things? Not many.
We’ll find out soon if USC truly has made a change for the better.
2. If you use him, points will come
Adoree’ Jackson swore all spring and summer he could do a lot of everything and not miss a beat. Play defense full time? Of course. Play offense part time? Sure. Return kickoffs and punts? Yes. Talking to Jackson, it would be impossible for Steve Sarkisian to ask too much of him. Somehow, it took USC three games before it finally gave him enough to do. Jackson is the team’s second best player on defense (behind Su’a Cravens), second best player on offense (behind JuJu Smith-Schuster) and arguably the best all-around player in college football. But he can only be that if USC allows him to be.
His impact on defense is often subdued by opposing teams refusing to throw his way. That lack of activity means he has more in the tank for returns and offense. He finally got those extra reps against Arizona State and proceeded to put on a clinic. Jackson accumulated 184 all-purpose yards despite just five touches (a blistering 36.8 yards per touch). Something tells me he could have done just as much damage vs. Stanford. Oh well. The moral of the story: Just give him the damn ball.
3. Most Valuable Kessler
Cody Kessler has put up amazing stats throughout his career. Last season, he put up numbers as good as any quarterback in school history. This season, his numbers are arguably better than any quarterback in the country.
Interestingly, his pristine touchdown-interception ratio took a hit on the game’s opening drive when he was picked off near the goal line. Kessler then proceeded to have his most impactful performance of the season. Maybe he needed that blemish.
Following his first turnover, it seemed like Kessler let loose. He was more aggressive in throwing down the field. He looked to convert third downs with his arm rather than having his receivers do it with yards after the catch. He also spread the ball around more evenly. Six players had at least two receptions and only three completions went to running backs.
Kessler wasn’t perfect, as he misfired on more than a few throws that he typically completes. (His completion percentage was an uncharacteristic 57.5 percent.) But that only goes to show how deceiving stats can be sometimes. Kessler entered the game having completed an eye-popping 70 of 89 throws. He had 14 incompletions alone vs. Arizona State.
Some of his better plays included two touchdown passes to JuJu Smith-Schuster in tight quarters, a great scramble, a dump off to convert a third-and-10 (this after avoiding a sack) and a textbook throw downfield to Steven Mitchell Jr. that was dropped.
Kessler was by far the best quarterback on the field. You could say it was the best he’s played in a while.
4. Stepping sideways
USC made a number of adjustments between its sobering loss to Stanford and inspired defeat of Arizona State. Here’s a big one that needs to be made: reformat the run game.
The Trojans have gotten way too horizontal in their approach. It proved irrelevant Saturday, in a game that was essentially over at halftime. But USC’s ability to run the ball consistently is crucial to its overall effectiveness on offense. The offensive line had a forgettable evening, just one week after its strongest performance of the season. Its inconsistency is a cause for concern. But maybe these guys are being misused to some degree.
With a pro-style quarterback, large linemen and north-south tailbacks, they have the personnel to pound the ball. Instead, USC prefers to operate laterally with slow-developing stretch runs. That’s produced some explosive plays but also a number of nominal gains. Against Arizona State, it amounted to a paltry 2.4 yards per rush. That's inexcusable.
The root of the problem is you really need more of a dual-threat quarterback to run in this manner. The read option is designed for three possibilities, but USC is only utilizing two. Thus, the Trojans are unnecessarily settling for a feast-or-famine rushing attack. There’s simply too much talent in that backfield for the run production to be so erratic. USC, in fact, has the best tailback stable in the conference. But its running game as a whole has some serious holes.
5. Habits of the heart
The Trojans needed to beat Arizona State, and they played like it.
USC is now 5-0 following a loss under Steve Sarkisian. The setting at Sun Devil Stadium on Saturday was a familiar one for the handful of players involved in the 2013 debacle in Tempe.
The players took the field with heavy hearts, determined to defend the honor of a coach and coaching staff besieged with criticism and second-guessing. Their Pac-12 title aspirations were also on the line in just the second conference game of the season. It was a season-defining game.
The Trojans responded with its best half of football under Steve Sarkisian. They were focused. They were urgent. They were relentless. It all added up to a 35-0 halftime lead.
The questions now: What’s different from one week’s losing effort to the following week’s obligatory rebound? How can USC maintain peak performance?
The Trojans will need to figure it out if they’re ever to re-enter the upper echelon of college football. Their custom of winning the first game after a loss under Sarkisian has been negated by losing again soon after.
The players admitted afterward they pay greater attention to detail coming off defeat. The coaches appear to do the same. Losing also seems to help everyone get on the same page. Staying there is the key, of course.
It’s reminiscent of Pete Carroll’s refrain that staying on top is a much greater challenge (and accomplishment) than simply getting there. That’s what separates the good from the great. “From good to great,” as you might know, has been the team’s creed this year. Now they have to turn that idea into an ideal.
1. Cause and effect
The Trojans were without nose tackle Antwuan Woods on Saturday, making them even more undersized in their 3-4 alignment. That proved to be a non-factor, though, because USC created pressure from multiple angles with exotic blitz packages. (These are especially necessary when defenders don’t regularly win 1-on-1s, which is often how USC approached Stanford.)
The result? USC beat up Arizona State’s offensive line and quarterback Mike Bercovici. The redshirt senior was sacked three times and never was able to get into a rhythm (he completed just 23 of 44 passes).
The Trojans spent the past two games looking to prevent big plays. On Saturday, they were determined to create them and, accordingly, caused four turnovers and had eight tackles for loss. The team later noted the importance of a Friday admonishment and film session dedicated to taking the ball away.
It’ll take more than that, of course, for what happened Saturday to become a routine and not a trend. It should be noted, Arizona State didn’t have either the offensive line to pick up blitzes or the deep threat to really make the Trojans pay for a picked up blitz. But how many teams in the Pac-12 have the combination of both those things? Not many.
We’ll find out soon if USC truly has made a change for the better.
2. If you use him, points will come
Adoree’ Jackson swore all spring and summer he could do a lot of everything and not miss a beat. Play defense full time? Of course. Play offense part time? Sure. Return kickoffs and punts? Yes. Talking to Jackson, it would be impossible for Steve Sarkisian to ask too much of him. Somehow, it took USC three games before it finally gave him enough to do. Jackson is the team’s second best player on defense (behind Su’a Cravens), second best player on offense (behind JuJu Smith-Schuster) and arguably the best all-around player in college football. But he can only be that if USC allows him to be.
His impact on defense is often subdued by opposing teams refusing to throw his way. That lack of activity means he has more in the tank for returns and offense. He finally got those extra reps against Arizona State and proceeded to put on a clinic. Jackson accumulated 184 all-purpose yards despite just five touches (a blistering 36.8 yards per touch). Something tells me he could have done just as much damage vs. Stanford. Oh well. The moral of the story: Just give him the damn ball.
3. Most Valuable Kessler
Cody Kessler has put up amazing stats throughout his career. Last season, he put up numbers as good as any quarterback in school history. This season, his numbers are arguably better than any quarterback in the country.
Interestingly, his pristine touchdown-interception ratio took a hit on the game’s opening drive when he was picked off near the goal line. Kessler then proceeded to have his most impactful performance of the season. Maybe he needed that blemish.
Following his first turnover, it seemed like Kessler let loose. He was more aggressive in throwing down the field. He looked to convert third downs with his arm rather than having his receivers do it with yards after the catch. He also spread the ball around more evenly. Six players had at least two receptions and only three completions went to running backs.
Kessler wasn’t perfect, as he misfired on more than a few throws that he typically completes. (His completion percentage was an uncharacteristic 57.5 percent.) But that only goes to show how deceiving stats can be sometimes. Kessler entered the game having completed an eye-popping 70 of 89 throws. He had 14 incompletions alone vs. Arizona State.
Some of his better plays included two touchdown passes to JuJu Smith-Schuster in tight quarters, a great scramble, a dump off to convert a third-and-10 (this after avoiding a sack) and a textbook throw downfield to Steven Mitchell Jr. that was dropped.
Kessler was by far the best quarterback on the field. You could say it was the best he’s played in a while.
4. Stepping sideways
USC made a number of adjustments between its sobering loss to Stanford and inspired defeat of Arizona State. Here’s a big one that needs to be made: reformat the run game.
The Trojans have gotten way too horizontal in their approach. It proved irrelevant Saturday, in a game that was essentially over at halftime. But USC’s ability to run the ball consistently is crucial to its overall effectiveness on offense. The offensive line had a forgettable evening, just one week after its strongest performance of the season. Its inconsistency is a cause for concern. But maybe these guys are being misused to some degree.
With a pro-style quarterback, large linemen and north-south tailbacks, they have the personnel to pound the ball. Instead, USC prefers to operate laterally with slow-developing stretch runs. That’s produced some explosive plays but also a number of nominal gains. Against Arizona State, it amounted to a paltry 2.4 yards per rush. That's inexcusable.
The root of the problem is you really need more of a dual-threat quarterback to run in this manner. The read option is designed for three possibilities, but USC is only utilizing two. Thus, the Trojans are unnecessarily settling for a feast-or-famine rushing attack. There’s simply too much talent in that backfield for the run production to be so erratic. USC, in fact, has the best tailback stable in the conference. But its running game as a whole has some serious holes.
5. Habits of the heart
The Trojans needed to beat Arizona State, and they played like it.
USC is now 5-0 following a loss under Steve Sarkisian. The setting at Sun Devil Stadium on Saturday was a familiar one for the handful of players involved in the 2013 debacle in Tempe.
The players took the field with heavy hearts, determined to defend the honor of a coach and coaching staff besieged with criticism and second-guessing. Their Pac-12 title aspirations were also on the line in just the second conference game of the season. It was a season-defining game.
The Trojans responded with its best half of football under Steve Sarkisian. They were focused. They were urgent. They were relentless. It all added up to a 35-0 halftime lead.
The questions now: What’s different from one week’s losing effort to the following week’s obligatory rebound? How can USC maintain peak performance?
The Trojans will need to figure it out if they’re ever to re-enter the upper echelon of college football. Their custom of winning the first game after a loss under Sarkisian has been negated by losing again soon after.
The players admitted afterward they pay greater attention to detail coming off defeat. The coaches appear to do the same. Losing also seems to help everyone get on the same page. Staying there is the key, of course.
It’s reminiscent of Pete Carroll’s refrain that staying on top is a much greater challenge (and accomplishment) than simply getting there. That’s what separates the good from the great. “From good to great,” as you might know, has been the team’s creed this year. Now they have to turn that idea into an ideal.
