The game: It felt a tense first big test of the season to a team that had beaten us 3 in a row convincingly. The team mantra, since Coach Jim Harbaugh was to have "Character with Cruelty". This was repeated by DL player Harrison Phillips recently. An asst. coach said "There is no one we can't move against their will". These words went down in a "Day of infamy". Not my words but FDR's. The game started at 80 degrees-not the sauna of last week. It seemed a larger crowd than the 77K announced. A big bodied plane rolled over for show, much too low IMO, A basketball star Demar DeRozan led the team out of the tunnel. Time for the real show! Big plays were the theme-Stanford had Bryce Love with runs of 20, 75, and 21 yards. Plus 4 others with 20 plus yards. USC countered with Burnett having 35, 25, 22. Carr with 28 and 52. Mitchell with 30 and 49, and Rojo with 23. It was close but not scary, going 7-0, 7-7, 14-7, 14-14, 21-14, 21-17 (2:43 left of Q2). And then USC as in WM applied the hammer. USC broke to 28-17 at the half, followed by 35-17, 35-24, and ending 42-24. A good Stanford team went down and its stolid, poker-faced coach David Shaw let a trace of grimace show. The end result was that USC is now the team that won the last game big, is now 3-3 in the last 6 with Stanford, and dominated the game pretty much from the start. Stanford is good and Shaw is a great coach/sportsman as he and Helton exchanged genuine respect.
Key play(s): Too many to name (see above). But perhaps the first 2 drives right at the beginning said that USC was going to dictate this game. A forced Stanford punt and then 13 USC plays, all with positive gains, 80 yard, 8 rushes and 5 passes, 5 first downs, 5:37 of clock usage said simply "NCAA, we're back!"
Offense:Helton as head coach is now 18-7 (.720) overall, 13-7 vs. PAC12, and 11-0 at the Coliseum. And a streak of 11 in a row after a 7-7 start. USC scored 40 points or more in 9 of their last 14 games. 30 or more in 9 of the last 11. The offense clicked with a balanced 623 yards (307 run and 316 pass) against a robust defense.
QB: Grade: A-. Mr. Darnold is back in the Heisman Hunt. After staying in the pocket last week, Darnold moved quite a bit outside to add some roll out passes and some improvised plays. That’s where he really shines. One pass while under pressure was just over a leaping defender and arcing right into the hands of the receiver in back of the end zone. A USC heat seeking missile. The numbers are gaudy:10 completions in a row to start, 316 yards on 81% completions. There was one dropped pass. The 2 interceptions were a confident QB making his only 2 bad decisions. He threw one into an area of 4 defenders while on his back foot and almost got away with it. But it likely did cost USC a TD. That could bite him in a different game. But what a pleasure to watch this, at least for the rest of this year.
Receiving Game: Grade: A-. 21 receptions-316 yards-15,0 ypc, 4 TD. It's clear that Deontay Burnett (9PC,121 yds, 2TD, 4 FD) and Steve Mitchell (4PC, 94 yds, 2 TD, 3 FD). Mitchell is a burner that can get open and catch difficult long passes. Greene and Velus Jones had a total of 3 catches/ 38 yards. TE Petite accounted for 3 catches/ 35 yards and Running backs Rojo and Carr had 2 catches/28 yards and 2 First downs
Running Game: Grade: A. Total of 307 net yards, 6.4 ypc, 2 TDs. Rojo (23 carries-116 yards, 5,0 ypc, 2 TDs, 8FDs) has worked on his footwork and has increased yards after first contact. His added weight/muscle makes him the bellwether carrier (speed and strength) against a strong Stanford Defense. Carr is sparkling as a Freshman (11 carries-119 yards, 8.2 ypc, 2FDs) and is the future of USC. He's not too shabby in the present either. Rojo and Carr give the Trojans their best duo since Reggie Bush and Lendale White. Malepeai (4 FDs) was used in several third and short situations and did much more. These and Ware are a fearsome foursome. This is the best running group in the PAC12 IMO.
Oline: Grade: A. OL player of the game…Chris Brown, The first drive was a statement with 6 of 7 plays on the ground to the OL delight. They blew Stanford DL off the line. It softened up the Stanford D for 4 of the next 6 to be passes. Overall USC punted but once and 2 interceptions led to the only 2 non-productive drives. Otherwise-6 TD marches. The "dancing elephants" led the O to TD drives of 80,80,75,75,90 and 75 yards. Whew! That must have turned the cardinal defensemen's faces red….Cardinal red. There was but 1 sack allowed for -1 yard. No other tackles for losses. As a group they performed terrifically and the pulling linemen (G,T and C) were utilized to open up blocks on the periphery for runners. That accounted for some big runs. The team averaged 8.4 yards per play, 6.4 yards per run, and 12.2 yards per attempts. Unbelievable.
Defense: Grade:A-. The defensive player of the game was Uchenna Nwosu with 4 tackles but more importantly his leaping ability led to 5 pass tips/knockdowns creating a huge problem for Stanford passing. One helped to force a FGA. 3 led to punts, and the last to a turnover on downs. Cam Smith was the top tackler with 8 tackles and Jack Jones played well with 6 unassisted tackles, Stanford started quickly with 131 yards in quarter 1 (including Love's 75 yard run) but then 95 yards-Q2. It was ONLY13 yards! in Q3 as USC held score, and 103 yards in Q4. Overall 6.3 ypc rush, 6.1 ypa pass, and 6.3 ypp overall. Only 3.8 yards per run after that 75 yard Love trot. USC switched between 5, 7 and 9 guys up front with some holding back and then shooting the gaps as the play started. It amounted to 6 losses and 3 no gainers. Stanford also had little time to throw with blitz packages on every third down and long play. One our D missed was a old time play near the goal line where the outside receiver pretends to miss a block and rolls out into the end zone for a TD reception.
Special Teams- Grade: D. Still too many mistakes. Kicker Mike Brown was hurt in a tackling pile after this first KO. Walk on Mike McGrath took his post and kicked shorter allowing an average field position near the 31. The longest return was 46 yards setting up an eventual TD. The lone punt by Budrovich had a 9 yard runback. No FGs attempted for the 2 games.
Miscellaneous- The crowd was vociferous over some calls and they seemed justified. First off it’s a big game between two potential power teams. Let them play, don’t call "maybe" violations. The end result was USC 8 -7 in no. of penalties….but USC got called on many more majors so 90 yards to 35 yards was the result. Is that Stanford timekeeper now the head of refereeing? As to bad calls 2 stood out: Ajene Harris was called on a long pass ( on 3rd and 18) for PI but an exact duplicate of the hands on the shoulders was not called before vs. Stanford. A PF was called on Porter Gustin for blitzing the QB and pulling up before taking him down, hands in the air. The whistle for a motion penalty was heard in the replay and he had less than a step to react- 15 yards and FD on a 3rd and 20.
Bottom line - Sometimes "a win is More than a win". Stanford may have "cooked Rice", but had to go Cold turkey with the Trojans. The big crowd was still 80% there at the end, making for massive jams getting home. It was worth it. One last word…that goofy goggle eyed Tree mascot was not as noticeable when the crazy Stanford band was around to divert attention, but without it, its Looney-tunes IMO. The guy or gal wearing it has to be scarred for life.
As to Texas-they lost to Maryland 41-51 and won over SJSU by 56-0. They were a preseason low top 20's choice but so far appear somewhere between Western Michigan and below Stanford. USC is favored by 17. Forecast: USC 45 Texas 21.
Key play(s): Too many to name (see above). But perhaps the first 2 drives right at the beginning said that USC was going to dictate this game. A forced Stanford punt and then 13 USC plays, all with positive gains, 80 yard, 8 rushes and 5 passes, 5 first downs, 5:37 of clock usage said simply "NCAA, we're back!"
Offense:Helton as head coach is now 18-7 (.720) overall, 13-7 vs. PAC12, and 11-0 at the Coliseum. And a streak of 11 in a row after a 7-7 start. USC scored 40 points or more in 9 of their last 14 games. 30 or more in 9 of the last 11. The offense clicked with a balanced 623 yards (307 run and 316 pass) against a robust defense.
QB: Grade: A-. Mr. Darnold is back in the Heisman Hunt. After staying in the pocket last week, Darnold moved quite a bit outside to add some roll out passes and some improvised plays. That’s where he really shines. One pass while under pressure was just over a leaping defender and arcing right into the hands of the receiver in back of the end zone. A USC heat seeking missile. The numbers are gaudy:10 completions in a row to start, 316 yards on 81% completions. There was one dropped pass. The 2 interceptions were a confident QB making his only 2 bad decisions. He threw one into an area of 4 defenders while on his back foot and almost got away with it. But it likely did cost USC a TD. That could bite him in a different game. But what a pleasure to watch this, at least for the rest of this year.
Receiving Game: Grade: A-. 21 receptions-316 yards-15,0 ypc, 4 TD. It's clear that Deontay Burnett (9PC,121 yds, 2TD, 4 FD) and Steve Mitchell (4PC, 94 yds, 2 TD, 3 FD). Mitchell is a burner that can get open and catch difficult long passes. Greene and Velus Jones had a total of 3 catches/ 38 yards. TE Petite accounted for 3 catches/ 35 yards and Running backs Rojo and Carr had 2 catches/28 yards and 2 First downs
Running Game: Grade: A. Total of 307 net yards, 6.4 ypc, 2 TDs. Rojo (23 carries-116 yards, 5,0 ypc, 2 TDs, 8FDs) has worked on his footwork and has increased yards after first contact. His added weight/muscle makes him the bellwether carrier (speed and strength) against a strong Stanford Defense. Carr is sparkling as a Freshman (11 carries-119 yards, 8.2 ypc, 2FDs) and is the future of USC. He's not too shabby in the present either. Rojo and Carr give the Trojans their best duo since Reggie Bush and Lendale White. Malepeai (4 FDs) was used in several third and short situations and did much more. These and Ware are a fearsome foursome. This is the best running group in the PAC12 IMO.
Oline: Grade: A. OL player of the game…Chris Brown, The first drive was a statement with 6 of 7 plays on the ground to the OL delight. They blew Stanford DL off the line. It softened up the Stanford D for 4 of the next 6 to be passes. Overall USC punted but once and 2 interceptions led to the only 2 non-productive drives. Otherwise-6 TD marches. The "dancing elephants" led the O to TD drives of 80,80,75,75,90 and 75 yards. Whew! That must have turned the cardinal defensemen's faces red….Cardinal red. There was but 1 sack allowed for -1 yard. No other tackles for losses. As a group they performed terrifically and the pulling linemen (G,T and C) were utilized to open up blocks on the periphery for runners. That accounted for some big runs. The team averaged 8.4 yards per play, 6.4 yards per run, and 12.2 yards per attempts. Unbelievable.
Defense: Grade:A-. The defensive player of the game was Uchenna Nwosu with 4 tackles but more importantly his leaping ability led to 5 pass tips/knockdowns creating a huge problem for Stanford passing. One helped to force a FGA. 3 led to punts, and the last to a turnover on downs. Cam Smith was the top tackler with 8 tackles and Jack Jones played well with 6 unassisted tackles, Stanford started quickly with 131 yards in quarter 1 (including Love's 75 yard run) but then 95 yards-Q2. It was ONLY13 yards! in Q3 as USC held score, and 103 yards in Q4. Overall 6.3 ypc rush, 6.1 ypa pass, and 6.3 ypp overall. Only 3.8 yards per run after that 75 yard Love trot. USC switched between 5, 7 and 9 guys up front with some holding back and then shooting the gaps as the play started. It amounted to 6 losses and 3 no gainers. Stanford also had little time to throw with blitz packages on every third down and long play. One our D missed was a old time play near the goal line where the outside receiver pretends to miss a block and rolls out into the end zone for a TD reception.
Special Teams- Grade: D. Still too many mistakes. Kicker Mike Brown was hurt in a tackling pile after this first KO. Walk on Mike McGrath took his post and kicked shorter allowing an average field position near the 31. The longest return was 46 yards setting up an eventual TD. The lone punt by Budrovich had a 9 yard runback. No FGs attempted for the 2 games.
Miscellaneous- The crowd was vociferous over some calls and they seemed justified. First off it’s a big game between two potential power teams. Let them play, don’t call "maybe" violations. The end result was USC 8 -7 in no. of penalties….but USC got called on many more majors so 90 yards to 35 yards was the result. Is that Stanford timekeeper now the head of refereeing? As to bad calls 2 stood out: Ajene Harris was called on a long pass ( on 3rd and 18) for PI but an exact duplicate of the hands on the shoulders was not called before vs. Stanford. A PF was called on Porter Gustin for blitzing the QB and pulling up before taking him down, hands in the air. The whistle for a motion penalty was heard in the replay and he had less than a step to react- 15 yards and FD on a 3rd and 20.
Bottom line - Sometimes "a win is More than a win". Stanford may have "cooked Rice", but had to go Cold turkey with the Trojans. The big crowd was still 80% there at the end, making for massive jams getting home. It was worth it. One last word…that goofy goggle eyed Tree mascot was not as noticeable when the crazy Stanford band was around to divert attention, but without it, its Looney-tunes IMO. The guy or gal wearing it has to be scarred for life.
As to Texas-they lost to Maryland 41-51 and won over SJSU by 56-0. They were a preseason low top 20's choice but so far appear somewhere between Western Michigan and below Stanford. USC is favored by 17. Forecast: USC 45 Texas 21.
