ASU Football: A Look at USC
By Mike Slifer
Saturday, the ASU Football team travels to LA to take on the Trojans of USC. Both teams are 3-1 and still in contention to win the PAC-12 South.
A Look at USC:
Unlike ASU, the Trojans have a marquis win with their victory over Stanford. USC won a slugfest up on the farm, 13-10. Some experts say that USC didn’t so much win that game, but that Stanford lost it. Whatever. Bottom line is that USC went on the road and played stiff defense when Stanford got into the red zone. That’s football.
However, USC followed up that big win with an embarrassing loss to Boston College on the road. “Embarrassing” may be too strong of a word. (They only lost by 7) But Boston College is not considered a nationally competitive program. Again, experts say it was because the Trojans had to travel across the country, they only traveled 55 players, that it was a hangover game, etc. Bottom line, once again, they got beat and they got beat on the ground. That USC defense gave up 455 yards rushing. The zone-read run by the BC Eagles was unstoppable.
It’s probably safe to say that the Boston College game was an anomaly, a hangover game, if you will. It happens in college football. Players drop off on their focus and hence their performance when they come off a big win and immediately go play a game without any hype. Since then, coach Sarkisian appears to have righted the ship with a 35-10 dominating performance against Oregon State last week.
Devils in Detail believes that USC is a solid football team. Solid all around. They’re not great. Not yet. They are talented, but young. They are well coached, but still learning the system.
Statistically, on offense, they appear to be average. They pass for 284 yards per game and rush for 163. Solid, but not breath-taking statistics, especially with the high-octane offense prevalent in college football. Quarterback Cody Kessler is not lighting it up. However, he has zero interceptions. Zero. Leading rusher, Buck Allen and leading receiver Nelson Agholor are talented and are sharing the spotlight when it comes to carries and receptions.
Defensively, the Trojans are stout, but not earth-shattering. Through four games, the defense only has 6 sacks. However, they have 7 interceptions and have yet to give up a touchdown pass. In fact, when it comes to defending the pass, the Trojan Defense only gives up 155 pass yards per game. Those stats include a game against Oregon State, who features Sean Mannion. Mannion is regarded as the best pro QB prospect in the PAC-12.
The only weakness this defense has shown is in stopping the run–specifically the zone-read option runs by a quarterback. Opponents are rushing for 198 yards per game against the Trojans. Interestingly enough, the zone-read option is something ASU QB Taylor Kelly excels at. (Kelly will not play tomorrow). Devils in Detail believes that this particular “stat match-up” is the key. With running threat Taylor Kelly out and the pass-happy Mike Bercovici in at quarterback, can ASU move the ball and score on a defense that plays the pass well, but struggles against a running quarterback?
Overall, USC is a tough team to beat. Especially at home. ASU will have to execute with extreme toughness to win. But this game is winnable for ASU.
Devils in Detail will give keys to victory in tomorrow’s edition.