YAY Or NAY: It’s Time For The USC Offense To Send A Message
The Trojans’ defense has been getting a lot of headlines and for the wrong reasons. Two weeks ago USC was the No. 5 ranked team in the country. But following two consecutive road wins where the Trojans gave up big leads, the defense is hearing nasty messages.
The Trojans’ offense can help.
Every Thursday before USC plays its next game, I offer up some Yay or Nay type of game predictions with a different take and unique view for the fans who want to keep score.
I took a bath last week. But it’s also why I do not bet on the Trojans. And it’s why this fool did not part with his money.
The Trojans will be the first team to run for 100 yards against Arizona.
YAY. —
USC Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Lincoln Riley was partially responsible for the Trojans’ dismal 95-yard rushing performance going against one of the worst rushing defenses last week.
Following USC’s 48-41 victory Coach Riley said, “that he didn’t call the run game very well.”
Although Coach Riley wasn’t solely responsible.
“It was a disjointed effort from everyone involved. “I was really, really disappointed with how we ran the ball,” Riley said, adding that when blocks were there, backs would miss the holes. And when the backs were reading it right, linemen missed that one key block. “We were just a little out of sync,” Riley said. “We had some good looks and some really good opportunities that were missed.”
I’m not sure just how many good looks Coach Riley’s trained eye saw after watching the film, but it probably didn’t take very long to watch. The Trojans had only 16 rushing attempts all game. So despite leading on the road 34-14 with 6:00 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter and then 41-14 with 2 minutes to play in the 3rd, Riley elected to call just six run plays in the 2nd half.
USC’s run game is averaging 172 yards per game in 2023 led by MarShawn Lloyd’s 52 attempts, 433 yards, and 8.3 yards per touch. In last season’s contest, Travis Dye led USC with 113 yards while the team amassed 210 on the ground.
USC’s schedule is about to get much tougher, beginning this weekend against a stingy Arizona run defense that hasn’t given up a 100-yard game this season.
Everyone understands when playing on the road with a 4 TD lead that running the ball is a great way to shorten the game. It also keeps your own struggling defense off the field.
Fun Fact: The Trojans offense is ranked 116th in time of possession.
Caleb Williams will throw 4 touchdown passes against Arizona
YAY. —
Caleb Williams leads the country with 21 touchdown throws against 1 interception, while his next closest competitor has 16 touchdown passes.
I have no idea if Michael Penix Jr. likes bagels. However, for the 2nd time as a Washington Husky, Penix ate a bagel while playing in the state of Arizona. In last year’s loss to the Sun Devils in Tempe, he also failed to throw a TD. Against a Wildcats’ defense that gives up 248 passing yards per game, the Huskies found a way to win 31-24 without throwing a touchdown pass.
Williams is averaging 4 TDs per game in 2023, and against Colorado, he tied his career-high with 6 TDs.
Should the Wildcats choose to employ the same defensive strategy, one that made one of the nation’s top passers a game manager, it will be interesting. “They were playing it safe and making us earn it, so naturally we hit the check-downs,” Washington coach Kalen DeBoer said. “We know that’s our style (big plays), but it’s not always going to work out that way.”
Caleb Williams is the reigning Heisman winner and current frontrunner to repeat in 2023. You can bet your Trojan fandom that Lincoln Riley makes sure Williams has a TD pass.
Whether Williams is hitting one of his playmakers downfield with a big play, or taking the methodical approach, he typically finds a way to beat a defense. During one stretch of the Colorado game, he went 17-17 from the 3:18 mark of the first quarter to 9:10 remaining in the third. In that roughly 20 minutes of game action, he threw for 249 passing yards and four touchdowns.
Fun Fact: The Wildcats have only given up 4 TD passes through their first five games.
The Trojans defense will create multiple turnovers.
YAY. —
Through its first five games in 2022, USC’s defense created 15 turnovers. It was literally their ace-in-the-hole when the defense’s tackling and depth were dealt bad hands.
So far this season the Trojans have created just 7 turnovers in the same time span. USC has three INTs, and while they’ve forced 9 fumbles, they’ve still only recovered four of them.
The Arizona Wildcats have shown they have issues with ball security. In last week’s close loss at home, the first-time starter at QB Noah Fifita threw an interception. Jayden De Laura didn’t play in last week’s game. Jayden has 9 TDs and 5 INTs in 4 games this season.
If Alex Grinch’s defense is going to look similar to the team’s 2022 version, then it’s time to take advantage of an Arizona team playing on the road that has the tendency to turn the ball over. In their win over the Wildcats last season, USC forced 1 turnover, and one play later Caleb Willians threw a 47-yard TD pass to Tahj Washington.
Final Score Prediction: USC 63, AZ 27
The post YAY Or NAY: It’s Time For The USC Offense To Send A Message appeared first on On3.
