The game:.....Whew!!!!...If we lost this game the meltdown on the boards would draw worldwide Global warming interest. The temperature at 92-99 degrees for the night almost made the meltdown happen anyway. This was a knockout game. USC would be 0-2 in conference, and ASU, though 0-1, is at UCLA next week. ASU had the stats... . ASU won 3 in a row at home vs. a ranked opponent, 2 in a row over USC. They were 17-4 at home under Graham and USC was facing a rowdy crowd in their first away game. SC is resilient having come up with wins over Oregon State. Arizona, WSU, and Notre Dame after Losing to BC , ASU, Utah and UCLA respectively... now 5 comebacks.. The stands were near empty by the end of the half and an echoing contest could have been held at the half. ASU did get to unload their fireworks on the last score in the 4th quarter.
In the heat, USC used 65 players while ASU used but 47. ASU won the toss and decided to kick it to the USC offense. The first of a night full of errors. But ultimately 4 turnovers to 1 sealed the deal. ASU was generally great sportsmen and I wish them the best.
Offense:I thought USC could beat ASU on the corners (outside) because USC had the quickness to get into the second line of D and the strength (an undervalued) item) that can break tackles USC took the ASU rush pressure and took what they gave but still ended up balancing plays between run (32) and pass (34).
QB: Despite Kessler's (57.5 %-11.36 ypa-5TD-1 Int-1 Fum.) first interception of the year (a miscommunication by receiver Mitchell) he was the stable force in a bad environment, eluding pressure to make a big play, running for 21 yards on 3rd and 15 and getting what seems his normal 5 passing TDs. He used the TE (3) and running backs (2) to negate the rush and threw 14 receptions to WRs. In the first half CK had 295 yards passing, with 265 yards after the catches. He had the Int., 1 bad throw and 1 throwaway. Grade: A-.
Receiving Game: The first play at 51 yards, was a fly pattern to our #1 receiver Juju Smith-Shuster (102 yds-20.4 ypc- 2 TD-3 FD) . Mitchell (66 yds-16.5 ypc- 1 TD-3 FD) and Adoree (131 yds-43.6 ypc- 1TD) were used in the #2-#3 receiver slot over Rogers who was hurt. Mitchell showed that good speed but did goof on that interception by not keeping the defender behind him, plus dropped a couple. Whitney also stepped out of bounds negating a long pass. And Jackson- simply ran past (not eluded ) a tackler for 80 yard score. As said before, downfield blocking by receivers is much better than last year. Mitchell had a final clear out block running just behind Jacksons 80 yard TD. Overall Grade: B+.
Running Game: ASU loaded the box to stop the run and apply rush pressure, it was somewhat effective. USC often ignored the run and sent receivers and runners to open spaces (including screen plays) to spread the defense. Madden and Justin Davis were the primary ball carriers in the first half but Jones came in and changed the pace. He has good balance (breaks tackles), great feet and accelerates to max quickly. The kid is impressive. Overall Grade: B-.
Oline: They had 9 different OL players. There were 3 false starts and a holding penalty . The running game had an 2.4 ypr (minus the sack and bad snap yardage). But There were 2 sacks and a fumble caused by a blitz. But they mainly survived overloaded rushes through play calling. Not USC 's best but good enough. Overall Grade: C+.
Defense- The ASU OTs were new starters this year and susceptible to pressure. The defense held QB Bercovici from 500 yards passing in 2014 to 272 . Sua Craven is this year's Leonard William IMO on D. One example was a one man takedown for a loss on an ASU screen pass that was setting up well. Other standouts in this game were Cameron Smith -a rising star, and D. Simmons had fine games. One of the major changes was getting turnovers -4 of them , and converting them for 28 points. ASU did have some success running the ball with its two 220 pound backs. As time wore on USC felt they could go one on one in pass coverage and put an extra guy up front slowing the run progress by the second half. USC was able to hold the 1st and 2nd down gains such that several 3rd and long occurred and then sent in 5-6 rushers. They hurried him twice on that Turnover on Downs. USC . on defense had 24 players overall with a tackle.... Overall Grades: D-Line and Linebackers-B, secondary- B+.
Special Teams- ASU kicked and punted away from Adoree Jackson all night making for few runbacks but decent field position. Adoree did run back a punt where he skidded to a halt when heading into a crowd of tacklers and then ran his own delay play for big yardage. ASU's FG kicker came in 3-4 on kicks inside the 29 and was 6-10 last year just beyond that...the FG misses of 44 and 52 proved that wasn't a fluke. ASU's average starting position all night was their own 21, USC was their own 34 And Albarado's punts averaged a good 38.8 yards net..Overall Grade: B+.
Coaching: . The play calling was very good utilizing using short off to the side or over the line against the big player rush. Improvements-USC made 10-16 (62.5 %) on third downs, and held ASU to two second half scores. They had 3 sacks but several QB hurries leading to the interception and to the turnover on Downs by ASU. They also seemed the fresher team by game's end. The 10 penalties were bad but half of that came from young players. Overall Grade: A-
Miscellaneous: No complaints on the TV announcing team but these refs caused complaints . The refs looked for penalties to call when some weren't. They made some dazzlers...a chop block is called on two players but in this case only one was doing any block. The other number called wasn't even seen. USC got called for an offside's that changed an ASU 4th down to a first down but the player never got into the neutral zone . And two others had PI calls on passes that were uncatchable. One stood but the second (thank goodness was thrown out. And what's worse is when the calls go 10 to 2, the joy of being away. The penalties cost USC and were the best defense for ASU at times. Overall Grades: TV- B+. Refs-D
Bottom line/Next game Forecast - ASU was one of the games that I felt USC would lose to. I thought they would need 2 wins against 4 games with Stanford, ASU, ND and Oregon. Now I think that Oregon is showing the defense problems that their O with Marriota masked last year and improve USC chances to win 2 of 3 with Oregon, ND and UCLA. It's a good time to have a 14 day sojourn before UW. A team that is good on D but sporadic on O. My Forecast..USC 31 UW 14.
In the heat, USC used 65 players while ASU used but 47. ASU won the toss and decided to kick it to the USC offense. The first of a night full of errors. But ultimately 4 turnovers to 1 sealed the deal. ASU was generally great sportsmen and I wish them the best.
Offense:I thought USC could beat ASU on the corners (outside) because USC had the quickness to get into the second line of D and the strength (an undervalued) item) that can break tackles USC took the ASU rush pressure and took what they gave but still ended up balancing plays between run (32) and pass (34).
QB: Despite Kessler's (57.5 %-11.36 ypa-5TD-1 Int-1 Fum.) first interception of the year (a miscommunication by receiver Mitchell) he was the stable force in a bad environment, eluding pressure to make a big play, running for 21 yards on 3rd and 15 and getting what seems his normal 5 passing TDs. He used the TE (3) and running backs (2) to negate the rush and threw 14 receptions to WRs. In the first half CK had 295 yards passing, with 265 yards after the catches. He had the Int., 1 bad throw and 1 throwaway. Grade: A-.
Receiving Game: The first play at 51 yards, was a fly pattern to our #1 receiver Juju Smith-Shuster (102 yds-20.4 ypc- 2 TD-3 FD) . Mitchell (66 yds-16.5 ypc- 1 TD-3 FD) and Adoree (131 yds-43.6 ypc- 1TD) were used in the #2-#3 receiver slot over Rogers who was hurt. Mitchell showed that good speed but did goof on that interception by not keeping the defender behind him, plus dropped a couple. Whitney also stepped out of bounds negating a long pass. And Jackson- simply ran past (not eluded ) a tackler for 80 yard score. As said before, downfield blocking by receivers is much better than last year. Mitchell had a final clear out block running just behind Jacksons 80 yard TD. Overall Grade: B+.
Running Game: ASU loaded the box to stop the run and apply rush pressure, it was somewhat effective. USC often ignored the run and sent receivers and runners to open spaces (including screen plays) to spread the defense. Madden and Justin Davis were the primary ball carriers in the first half but Jones came in and changed the pace. He has good balance (breaks tackles), great feet and accelerates to max quickly. The kid is impressive. Overall Grade: B-.
Oline: They had 9 different OL players. There were 3 false starts and a holding penalty . The running game had an 2.4 ypr (minus the sack and bad snap yardage). But There were 2 sacks and a fumble caused by a blitz. But they mainly survived overloaded rushes through play calling. Not USC 's best but good enough. Overall Grade: C+.
Defense- The ASU OTs were new starters this year and susceptible to pressure. The defense held QB Bercovici from 500 yards passing in 2014 to 272 . Sua Craven is this year's Leonard William IMO on D. One example was a one man takedown for a loss on an ASU screen pass that was setting up well. Other standouts in this game were Cameron Smith -a rising star, and D. Simmons had fine games. One of the major changes was getting turnovers -4 of them , and converting them for 28 points. ASU did have some success running the ball with its two 220 pound backs. As time wore on USC felt they could go one on one in pass coverage and put an extra guy up front slowing the run progress by the second half. USC was able to hold the 1st and 2nd down gains such that several 3rd and long occurred and then sent in 5-6 rushers. They hurried him twice on that Turnover on Downs. USC . on defense had 24 players overall with a tackle.... Overall Grades: D-Line and Linebackers-B, secondary- B+.
Special Teams- ASU kicked and punted away from Adoree Jackson all night making for few runbacks but decent field position. Adoree did run back a punt where he skidded to a halt when heading into a crowd of tacklers and then ran his own delay play for big yardage. ASU's FG kicker came in 3-4 on kicks inside the 29 and was 6-10 last year just beyond that...the FG misses of 44 and 52 proved that wasn't a fluke. ASU's average starting position all night was their own 21, USC was their own 34 And Albarado's punts averaged a good 38.8 yards net..Overall Grade: B+.
Coaching: . The play calling was very good utilizing using short off to the side or over the line against the big player rush. Improvements-USC made 10-16 (62.5 %) on third downs, and held ASU to two second half scores. They had 3 sacks but several QB hurries leading to the interception and to the turnover on Downs by ASU. They also seemed the fresher team by game's end. The 10 penalties were bad but half of that came from young players. Overall Grade: A-
Miscellaneous: No complaints on the TV announcing team but these refs caused complaints . The refs looked for penalties to call when some weren't. They made some dazzlers...a chop block is called on two players but in this case only one was doing any block. The other number called wasn't even seen. USC got called for an offside's that changed an ASU 4th down to a first down but the player never got into the neutral zone . And two others had PI calls on passes that were uncatchable. One stood but the second (thank goodness was thrown out. And what's worse is when the calls go 10 to 2, the joy of being away. The penalties cost USC and were the best defense for ASU at times. Overall Grades: TV- B+. Refs-D
Bottom line/Next game Forecast - ASU was one of the games that I felt USC would lose to. I thought they would need 2 wins against 4 games with Stanford, ASU, ND and Oregon. Now I think that Oregon is showing the defense problems that their O with Marriota masked last year and improve USC chances to win 2 of 3 with Oregon, ND and UCLA. It's a good time to have a 14 day sojourn before UW. A team that is good on D but sporadic on O. My Forecast..USC 31 UW 14.
