ASU vs. USC: Key Personnel Battles

Sun Devil LT Evan Finkenberg versus Trojan DE/OLB Morgan Breslin

Sun Devil C Kody Koebensky versus Trojan DT Leonard Williams

The USC defense has looked dominate to start the season under new Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast. In order for ASU to get their offense moving in the #MaroonMonsoon, it is time for the senior leaders of the offensive line, Finkenberg and Koebensky, to step up and step up in a big way. Breslin and Williams cannot be able to collapse the pocket and get to ASU quarterback Taylor Kelly. After the physical beating taken last week at Stanford, Finkenberg and Koebensky need to keep Kelly’s jersey clean.

Sun Devil OLB Carl Bradford vs Trojan OT Chad Wheeler and OT Kevin Graf

The USC offense has struggled this season as they scored three offensive points against Washington State and seventeen offensive points against Utah State. Cody Kessler was named the new starting quarterback prior to the Washington State game, and he needs his offensive line to protect him. Wheeler, a redshirt freshman and former ASU verbal commit, is a first year starter in charge of protecting Kessler. Arizona State’s Carl Bradford must use his amazing athletic pass rushing talents to disrupt Kessler early in the game and make him uneasy in Kessler first Pac-12 road start. Disrupting Kessler helps keep the ball out of the Trojan’s best offensive players Marquis Lee and Nelson Agholor.

These are some of the match-ups to watch as the Sun Devils and Trojans face off. If ASU wins these match-ups, the Sun Devils have a great chance to defeat USC.