The game: This was the game that we feared it would be, That game against a ranked opponent, away and after a short week. Yet in Las Vegas terms it was decided by the home field advantage (3 points). Both teams played well enough to win, one didn’t. In a close game which never got more separation than 7 points (one time by each club) the little things meant a lot. Make no mistake ranked at #5 USC has a target on its chest. They will get the best each team can offer. They did catch a break in that Saturdays temperature was supposed to get down to 37 degrees as opposed to the 60's last Friday. We didn’t know how good WSU was because of their less than stellar competition. But we now know that they are good enough. AT the end we , in WSU terms, were "COUGED" where games are usually lost in the last seconds.
Key play(s): 2 major situations framed this game IMO. The first was the USC interception at the WSU 3, but no TD in 3 tries (2 runs,1 pass to TE), ending in a FG (3 points) not a TD (7points). No imagination shown in the play selection- no misdirection's, no rollouts, no pitches. And the second is the "criminal" pass interference call by inept referees to start USCs first drive of the second half (see Miscellaneous below). Either would have put the game in USC's favor.
Offense:FWIW USC Scored in 233 games since mid 1997.
QB: Grade: C+. Sam lost his cool for perhaps a first time this season. An example was his running a QB sneak AFTER they moved the chains for a first down. He had guys in his face on most throws inducing 5 QB hurries, 1 pass breakup and an interception. 2 others were just short of interceptions as well. He was forced to do too much and still nearly succeeded including runs on 2 TDs and three other runs of 9, 10 and 11 yards. He completed passes to only 4 receivers- 1 Jr., 2 So. and 1 true freshman.
Running Game: Grade: B-. They gained 163 yards, more than half on one 86 yard TD run by Ronald Jones. Ironically that was nearly the same amount of yards as passing (164 yards). Darnold was the #2 runner with 46 yards gained and 21 yards lost on 2 sacks.
Receiving Game: Grade: C. Mitchell was out as well as Daniel Imatorbhebhe (who likely isn't ready until Notre Dame) and Jalen Green (on the sidelines). Only Burnett (6 receptions), Vaughns (6), J; Lewis (2) and Josh Imatorbhebhe caught the passes. Burnett was double teamed inside and the young WR were sporadic in catches outside. One example of youth was Josh Imatorbhebhe running a route 1 yard short of a first down on a 3rd down play., Mitchell was out and Daniel Imatorbhebhe will likely miss games until Notre Dame. The TE was mostly invisible with only 2 passes (incompletes). Tyler Vaughns is becoming comfortable and offers a good size receiver with hops. Joseph Lewis got his inaugural catches as did Josh I.
Oline: Grade: C. USC started without Lobendhan, then Edoga went down as well as Talamaivo in quarter two. Three replacements included Freshmen Austin Jackson. The rush package increased for WSU. The young guys did pretty well particularly on that 4th quarter 12 play-75 yards TD tying the score.
Defense: Grade: B. WSU often runs 6 receivers downfield. creating havoc. Most routes are aimed at ball control and not breakaways. Executed pretty much as some teams control the game on the ground. BSU used different coverage's to confuse WSU. USC was more straight forward, They did miss Porter Gustin and during the game lost Dorton twice, Biggie Marshall temporarily and Rasheem Green in Q4. USC surprisingly used the nickel as opposed to dime packages. They did get 6 tackles for loss including 4 sacks in the first half but only 1 in the second half. Also had 1 interception (Nwousu), 2 pass breakups and 5 QB hurries. For the most part they played well against a team averaging 44 points and 504 yards per game.
Special Teams- Grade: B. This unit is improving. The return yards were average but the KOs were longer and the returns minimum…17, 23, 19 and a touchback. The punter Budrovich is a weapon, especially in this tight game. He averaged 43 yards on 6 punts but put 4 of them inside the 20 without a touchback. McGrath hit two short FGs and USC is now 7-8. We can take the Beware sign off the Place Kicker IMO.
Miscellaneous- Wow! That play at the beginning of the second half where USC passed down to the WSU 40 and a Pass Interference penalty was called….against the USC receiver Tyler Vaughns. How can a receiver be held by the shirt for 10 yards and then in trying to receive the ball the receiver get called for the PI. He likely catches it cleanly without that grab. That cost USC a first down at the USC 41 if the PI was called right and made into a 2nd and 24 at their own 14. It resulted in a USC punt. That changed the tone of the second half. That ref should be suspended. His buddy refs didn’t call the PI right either IMO. USC got hit with 3 of them (2 in Q2 and this one in Q3). That’s 42 yards given up. The other two made a 3rd-6 at the USC 15 into a 1-10 at the USC 2 and an eventual TD. The third created a deeper penetration downfield, but ended in a punt back to USC.
Bottom line - USC's loss will drop them. Ohio State dropped 6 positions in a 15 point loss to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State dropped 9 spots in a loss to non top 25 team TCU. As to the future USC now goes on a schedule where they play Oregon State (1-4) and Utah (4-0) at home, Notre Dame (4-1) and ASU (2-3) away, and end with Arizona (2-2) and UCLA (3-2) at home and an away at Colorado (3-2). Dreaming ahead--- 6 is the number of the teams that had one loss while making the final four (last 2 years). USC needs to win all 6 of the South division to come. If they win the PAC12 South they will, likely play UW or maybe WSU. The latter would be nice, This weeks Forecast: A chance to recoup before Utah: USC 45 Oregon State 7.
Key play(s): 2 major situations framed this game IMO. The first was the USC interception at the WSU 3, but no TD in 3 tries (2 runs,1 pass to TE), ending in a FG (3 points) not a TD (7points). No imagination shown in the play selection- no misdirection's, no rollouts, no pitches. And the second is the "criminal" pass interference call by inept referees to start USCs first drive of the second half (see Miscellaneous below). Either would have put the game in USC's favor.
Offense:FWIW USC Scored in 233 games since mid 1997.
QB: Grade: C+. Sam lost his cool for perhaps a first time this season. An example was his running a QB sneak AFTER they moved the chains for a first down. He had guys in his face on most throws inducing 5 QB hurries, 1 pass breakup and an interception. 2 others were just short of interceptions as well. He was forced to do too much and still nearly succeeded including runs on 2 TDs and three other runs of 9, 10 and 11 yards. He completed passes to only 4 receivers- 1 Jr., 2 So. and 1 true freshman.
Running Game: Grade: B-. They gained 163 yards, more than half on one 86 yard TD run by Ronald Jones. Ironically that was nearly the same amount of yards as passing (164 yards). Darnold was the #2 runner with 46 yards gained and 21 yards lost on 2 sacks.
Receiving Game: Grade: C. Mitchell was out as well as Daniel Imatorbhebhe (who likely isn't ready until Notre Dame) and Jalen Green (on the sidelines). Only Burnett (6 receptions), Vaughns (6), J; Lewis (2) and Josh Imatorbhebhe caught the passes. Burnett was double teamed inside and the young WR were sporadic in catches outside. One example of youth was Josh Imatorbhebhe running a route 1 yard short of a first down on a 3rd down play., Mitchell was out and Daniel Imatorbhebhe will likely miss games until Notre Dame. The TE was mostly invisible with only 2 passes (incompletes). Tyler Vaughns is becoming comfortable and offers a good size receiver with hops. Joseph Lewis got his inaugural catches as did Josh I.
Oline: Grade: C. USC started without Lobendhan, then Edoga went down as well as Talamaivo in quarter two. Three replacements included Freshmen Austin Jackson. The rush package increased for WSU. The young guys did pretty well particularly on that 4th quarter 12 play-75 yards TD tying the score.
Defense: Grade: B. WSU often runs 6 receivers downfield. creating havoc. Most routes are aimed at ball control and not breakaways. Executed pretty much as some teams control the game on the ground. BSU used different coverage's to confuse WSU. USC was more straight forward, They did miss Porter Gustin and during the game lost Dorton twice, Biggie Marshall temporarily and Rasheem Green in Q4. USC surprisingly used the nickel as opposed to dime packages. They did get 6 tackles for loss including 4 sacks in the first half but only 1 in the second half. Also had 1 interception (Nwousu), 2 pass breakups and 5 QB hurries. For the most part they played well against a team averaging 44 points and 504 yards per game.
Special Teams- Grade: B. This unit is improving. The return yards were average but the KOs were longer and the returns minimum…17, 23, 19 and a touchback. The punter Budrovich is a weapon, especially in this tight game. He averaged 43 yards on 6 punts but put 4 of them inside the 20 without a touchback. McGrath hit two short FGs and USC is now 7-8. We can take the Beware sign off the Place Kicker IMO.
Miscellaneous- Wow! That play at the beginning of the second half where USC passed down to the WSU 40 and a Pass Interference penalty was called….against the USC receiver Tyler Vaughns. How can a receiver be held by the shirt for 10 yards and then in trying to receive the ball the receiver get called for the PI. He likely catches it cleanly without that grab. That cost USC a first down at the USC 41 if the PI was called right and made into a 2nd and 24 at their own 14. It resulted in a USC punt. That changed the tone of the second half. That ref should be suspended. His buddy refs didn’t call the PI right either IMO. USC got hit with 3 of them (2 in Q2 and this one in Q3). That’s 42 yards given up. The other two made a 3rd-6 at the USC 15 into a 1-10 at the USC 2 and an eventual TD. The third created a deeper penetration downfield, but ended in a punt back to USC.
Bottom line - USC's loss will drop them. Ohio State dropped 6 positions in a 15 point loss to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State dropped 9 spots in a loss to non top 25 team TCU. As to the future USC now goes on a schedule where they play Oregon State (1-4) and Utah (4-0) at home, Notre Dame (4-1) and ASU (2-3) away, and end with Arizona (2-2) and UCLA (3-2) at home and an away at Colorado (3-2). Dreaming ahead--- 6 is the number of the teams that had one loss while making the final four (last 2 years). USC needs to win all 6 of the South division to come. If they win the PAC12 South they will, likely play UW or maybe WSU. The latter would be nice, This weeks Forecast: A chance to recoup before Utah: USC 45 Oregon State 7.
