The mobile quarterbacks have certainly given USC's defense a problem so far, but the Trojans haven't faced a pure passing challenge like the one they'll get from Washington's Jacob Eason this Saturday in Seattle.
The big-armed 6-foot-6 redshirt junior is averaging 265.8 yards per game and has 10 touchdowns with 2 interceptions through the No. 17 Huskies' first four contests. Last weekend, he completed 24 of 28 passes for 290 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT in a 45-19 win at BYU.
So naturally he was the prevailing interview topic Wednesday with USC's defensive coaches and players.
"He's got a lot of talent. He's as advertised from everything you read about him," defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast said. "You watch his tape in high school, you watch his tape at Georgia, you watch his tape now and you see a very talented player. He's very smart. They give him a lot at the line of scrimmage, he makes a lot of good adjustments for them on the field, and he can make all the throws and the ball really jumps off his hand. He's really accurate in the intermediate throws and also the tight windows in the second level and in the deep part of the field he can really let it go. So, really impressed with his skillset."
Freshman cornerback Chris Steele, meanwhile, said watching Eason on film reminds him of another recent Pac-12 QB standout.
"He kind of reminds me of Josh Rosen when he was at UCLA -- real big arm. It'll be real fun. I think it will be our biggest test so far," Steele said.
Agreed.
The former 5-star QB from Lake Stevens, Wash., spent his first two years at Georgia where he made 12 starts as a freshman in 2016, passing for 2,430 yards, 16 TDs and 8 INTs. The next season he'd eventually cede the job to Jake Fromm, transfer home to Washington and sit out last season.
So this set up as a pivotal prove-it season for Eason, and so far that's what he's doing. He's lit up three of his first four opponents -- 349 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INT vs. Eastern Washington; 262-3-0 vs. Hawaii and the aforementioned BYU beatdown. He was held in check by Cal's stout secondary, passing for just 162 yards and a pick in a 20-19 loss, but overall he ranks ninth nationally with 47 completions of 10 yards or more while starting to really deliver on the promise of that recruiting hype way back when.
"Every quarterback, every offense creates a different type of challenge and this is a very good skill set receiver group, very good skill set tight end group, very good skill set running back group. They all catch the ball extremely well and the quarterback does a good job of finding [them]," Pendergast said. "He's got a big arm and makes really good decisions."
Indeed, this is a different type of challenge. Again, this Trojans defense so far has faced three dual-threat QBs in Fresno State's Jorge Reyna, BYU's Zach Wilson and Utah's Tyler Huntley -- who are capable passers but not the prototypical aerial threat that Eason is -- and Stanford backup QB Davis Mills, who passed for 237 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT in that spot start.
Along with Eason, the Trojans will be matched up against a balanced and productive receiving corps led by seniors Aaron Fuller (21 catches for 259 yards and 4 TDs) and Andre Baccellia (16-222-2) along with tight end Hunter Bryant (19-285-1).
"They're definitely a shot team so it's going to be a good challenge for us," safety Isaiah Pola-Mao said. "[Eason] is going to sit back and dime it wherever he can, but as a defense we just have to get home, get him on the ground and as DBs we've got to lock up their receivers."
Which could set up as an especially tough task this week for No. 21 USC (3-1).
Star safety Talanoa Hufanga -- the Trojans' leading tackler (42) and one of their most instinctive all-around playmakers -- was held out of practice again Wednesday as he remains in the concussion protocol while also dealing with an AC sprain in his shoulder.
And Olaijah Griffin -- the team's top cornerback -- remained limited due to back spasms/bulging disk, going through stretching and agility drills at the start of practice Wednesday while not wearing shoulder pads like his teammates. (Reporters are only granted access for the first 20 minutes of practice).
Pendergast never answers injury questions and head coach Clay Helton isn't available to reporters on Wednesdays, so an update on the status of those two key DBs won't come until Thursday afternoon.
"We're just practicing the bodies that we have out here," Pendergast said.
By the end of its 30-23 win over then-No. 10 Utah last week, USC was down two starting corners as Griffin exited early and Isaac Taylor-Stuart was held out following a concussion.
Taylor-Stuart is at least back this week, and Steele -- the 5-star true freshman -- has really come on strong for the Trojans. According to PFF College's advanced dats, Steele has allowed just 3 receptions for 14 yards on 8 targets his way the last three games combined. He's the third-highest-graded USC defensive player (75.0) and highest-rated DB on the team, according to their metrics.
USC had been rotating Steele and Taylor-Stuart (when healthy), but both would have to start if Griffin is not available. Greg Johnson, who slid from nickel to corner late in the game vs. Utah, will likely have to remain at nickel with his primary backup Chase Williams the top replacement at safety in the event that Hufanga doesn't play. Got all that?
If the Trojans are without Griffin and/or Hufanga, they'd be leaning heavily on guys at the other end of that PFF grading scale in Johnson (65.0), Taylor-Stuart (61.9), Pola-Mao (60.6) and Williams (60.0).
"Coach [Greg] Burns has done a great job of getting his guys, the backups ready and piecing in who's where when there is an injury," Pendergast said. "You never know what's going to happen during a game, and the guys have stepped up when we've asked them to."
How those DBs respond this week -- to the toughest test in the toughest environment they've faced yet -- is the pivotal matchup of this premier Pac-12 showdown.
More on the safety situation
As usual, Pendergast made sure not to reveal anything about his plans or expectations regarding the health of his defense.
When asked about Williams stepping in at safety if need be, he reiterated that veteran reserve CJ Pollard, freshmen Briton Allen and Jordan McMillan would also be in the mix. Williams has played 124 defensive snaps this season, according to PFF, while Pollard has 26 and the other two have yet to play on defense, so he would be the obvious plug-in there.
"Chase is a guy that's been in the system and played safety against Notre Dame [last season]. Has lined up at safety in some games this year and has done a good job in those situations. He's done a nice job in practice -- very smart, cerebral guy that can do a lot of different things," Pendergast said.
Williams, who cross-trained at nickel and both safety spots in the preseason, acknowledged he's "mainly focusing" on safety this week in practice.
"It's a little bit more space -- you're back there looking at everything, everything's in front of you," he said of the difference in responsibility. "You have to protect everything behind you so it is a little bit of a different feel -- you just have more space -- so it's not anything I'm not used to."
That said, there's really no replacing Hufanga on this defense. He might be USC's best overall defensive player, he's definitely the Trojans' surest tackler and Helton commented on Sunday that the sophomore's performance at Utah -- 14 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a half sack -- was the best he'd seen from a safety in his time with the program.
If Hufanga is not cleared to play, there's no getting around the impact of his absence.
"He's a guy that's a playmaker. You try to use him up around the line of scrimmage, you try to use him in coverage. He's really playing well and he's getting better the more he's out there," Pendergast said. "So not only is it hurting us as a team defensively, but when he's not out there he's not gaining valuable reps himself. So it hurts in all areas."
Kedon Slovis remains out
Just for accounting purposes, quarterback Kedon Slovis (concussion protocol) did not practice Wednesday, wearing a hat as he watched his teammates practice. As we noted Tuesday, all indications are that Matt Fink will make the start and that Slovis will likely not be available in any capacity.
The big-armed 6-foot-6 redshirt junior is averaging 265.8 yards per game and has 10 touchdowns with 2 interceptions through the No. 17 Huskies' first four contests. Last weekend, he completed 24 of 28 passes for 290 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT in a 45-19 win at BYU.
So naturally he was the prevailing interview topic Wednesday with USC's defensive coaches and players.
"He's got a lot of talent. He's as advertised from everything you read about him," defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast said. "You watch his tape in high school, you watch his tape at Georgia, you watch his tape now and you see a very talented player. He's very smart. They give him a lot at the line of scrimmage, he makes a lot of good adjustments for them on the field, and he can make all the throws and the ball really jumps off his hand. He's really accurate in the intermediate throws and also the tight windows in the second level and in the deep part of the field he can really let it go. So, really impressed with his skillset."
Freshman cornerback Chris Steele, meanwhile, said watching Eason on film reminds him of another recent Pac-12 QB standout.
"He kind of reminds me of Josh Rosen when he was at UCLA -- real big arm. It'll be real fun. I think it will be our biggest test so far," Steele said.
Agreed.
The former 5-star QB from Lake Stevens, Wash., spent his first two years at Georgia where he made 12 starts as a freshman in 2016, passing for 2,430 yards, 16 TDs and 8 INTs. The next season he'd eventually cede the job to Jake Fromm, transfer home to Washington and sit out last season.
So this set up as a pivotal prove-it season for Eason, and so far that's what he's doing. He's lit up three of his first four opponents -- 349 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INT vs. Eastern Washington; 262-3-0 vs. Hawaii and the aforementioned BYU beatdown. He was held in check by Cal's stout secondary, passing for just 162 yards and a pick in a 20-19 loss, but overall he ranks ninth nationally with 47 completions of 10 yards or more while starting to really deliver on the promise of that recruiting hype way back when.
"Every quarterback, every offense creates a different type of challenge and this is a very good skill set receiver group, very good skill set tight end group, very good skill set running back group. They all catch the ball extremely well and the quarterback does a good job of finding [them]," Pendergast said. "He's got a big arm and makes really good decisions."
Indeed, this is a different type of challenge. Again, this Trojans defense so far has faced three dual-threat QBs in Fresno State's Jorge Reyna, BYU's Zach Wilson and Utah's Tyler Huntley -- who are capable passers but not the prototypical aerial threat that Eason is -- and Stanford backup QB Davis Mills, who passed for 237 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT in that spot start.
Along with Eason, the Trojans will be matched up against a balanced and productive receiving corps led by seniors Aaron Fuller (21 catches for 259 yards and 4 TDs) and Andre Baccellia (16-222-2) along with tight end Hunter Bryant (19-285-1).
"They're definitely a shot team so it's going to be a good challenge for us," safety Isaiah Pola-Mao said. "[Eason] is going to sit back and dime it wherever he can, but as a defense we just have to get home, get him on the ground and as DBs we've got to lock up their receivers."
Which could set up as an especially tough task this week for No. 21 USC (3-1).
Star safety Talanoa Hufanga -- the Trojans' leading tackler (42) and one of their most instinctive all-around playmakers -- was held out of practice again Wednesday as he remains in the concussion protocol while also dealing with an AC sprain in his shoulder.
And Olaijah Griffin -- the team's top cornerback -- remained limited due to back spasms/bulging disk, going through stretching and agility drills at the start of practice Wednesday while not wearing shoulder pads like his teammates. (Reporters are only granted access for the first 20 minutes of practice).
Pendergast never answers injury questions and head coach Clay Helton isn't available to reporters on Wednesdays, so an update on the status of those two key DBs won't come until Thursday afternoon.
"We're just practicing the bodies that we have out here," Pendergast said.
By the end of its 30-23 win over then-No. 10 Utah last week, USC was down two starting corners as Griffin exited early and Isaac Taylor-Stuart was held out following a concussion.
Taylor-Stuart is at least back this week, and Steele -- the 5-star true freshman -- has really come on strong for the Trojans. According to PFF College's advanced dats, Steele has allowed just 3 receptions for 14 yards on 8 targets his way the last three games combined. He's the third-highest-graded USC defensive player (75.0) and highest-rated DB on the team, according to their metrics.
USC had been rotating Steele and Taylor-Stuart (when healthy), but both would have to start if Griffin is not available. Greg Johnson, who slid from nickel to corner late in the game vs. Utah, will likely have to remain at nickel with his primary backup Chase Williams the top replacement at safety in the event that Hufanga doesn't play. Got all that?
If the Trojans are without Griffin and/or Hufanga, they'd be leaning heavily on guys at the other end of that PFF grading scale in Johnson (65.0), Taylor-Stuart (61.9), Pola-Mao (60.6) and Williams (60.0).
"Coach [Greg] Burns has done a great job of getting his guys, the backups ready and piecing in who's where when there is an injury," Pendergast said. "You never know what's going to happen during a game, and the guys have stepped up when we've asked them to."
How those DBs respond this week -- to the toughest test in the toughest environment they've faced yet -- is the pivotal matchup of this premier Pac-12 showdown.
More on the safety situation
As usual, Pendergast made sure not to reveal anything about his plans or expectations regarding the health of his defense.
When asked about Williams stepping in at safety if need be, he reiterated that veteran reserve CJ Pollard, freshmen Briton Allen and Jordan McMillan would also be in the mix. Williams has played 124 defensive snaps this season, according to PFF, while Pollard has 26 and the other two have yet to play on defense, so he would be the obvious plug-in there.
"Chase is a guy that's been in the system and played safety against Notre Dame [last season]. Has lined up at safety in some games this year and has done a good job in those situations. He's done a nice job in practice -- very smart, cerebral guy that can do a lot of different things," Pendergast said.
Williams, who cross-trained at nickel and both safety spots in the preseason, acknowledged he's "mainly focusing" on safety this week in practice.
"It's a little bit more space -- you're back there looking at everything, everything's in front of you," he said of the difference in responsibility. "You have to protect everything behind you so it is a little bit of a different feel -- you just have more space -- so it's not anything I'm not used to."
That said, there's really no replacing Hufanga on this defense. He might be USC's best overall defensive player, he's definitely the Trojans' surest tackler and Helton commented on Sunday that the sophomore's performance at Utah -- 14 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a half sack -- was the best he'd seen from a safety in his time with the program.
If Hufanga is not cleared to play, there's no getting around the impact of his absence.
"He's a guy that's a playmaker. You try to use him up around the line of scrimmage, you try to use him in coverage. He's really playing well and he's getting better the more he's out there," Pendergast said. "So not only is it hurting us as a team defensively, but when he's not out there he's not gaining valuable reps himself. So it hurts in all areas."
Kedon Slovis remains out
Just for accounting purposes, quarterback Kedon Slovis (concussion protocol) did not practice Wednesday, wearing a hat as he watched his teammates practice. As we noted Tuesday, all indications are that Matt Fink will make the start and that Slovis will likely not be available in any capacity.
