The USC Trojans begin conference play this weekend, facing the Washington State Cougars on the road. Last time the Trojans were in town, they shut out the Cougs, 69-0.
USC could use a lopsided win this week after allowing lesser teams to hang around during the first three games of the season, but I wouldn’t bet on it. When the teams met in the Coliseum, USC won, 27-6, but WSU held them to just one touchdown in the final three quarters of the game.
Last year’s game was the first start for the Cougars’ then-freshman quarterback Jeff Tuel. Tuel did an admirable job last season, and he should be even better with a year of experience under his belt. He’d be even better if he had adequate protection – the Cougars’ offensive line has allowed ten sacks already this season, ranking 9th in the nation in sacks allowed (10).
USC’s biggest strength on the defensive side of the ball is its front seven, which has caused nearly the same number of sacks as the Cougars have allowed. NBC Los Angeles, in its coverage of the game, called the Washington State O-line “young, undersized, and not very good.” They’ll have their hands full with USC’s physical, experienced unit, which should take some pressure off the Trojans’ weak pass defense.
If Tuel has time in the pocket, he could be dangerous. He’s thrown for more passing yards than Matt Barkley, though he has fewer completions and fewer touchdowns. WSU’s freshman wide receiver, Marquess Wilson, has four receptions of more than 40 yards, and he’ll try to exploit a pass defense that ranks 110th nationwide.
USC freshman cornerback Nickell Robey will start again this week, despite struggling so far this season. For a true freshman, he’s played well, but he’ll have to step it up against conference rivals. If he has trouble at Washington State, he might lose the starting job to TJ Bryant, who’s back after surgery on his cheekbone following a preseason fight with teammate Stanley Havili.
The Trojans’ D should have no trouble against the Cougars’ anemic running game, which is averaging just 2.8 yards per carry, but the WSU run defense will have to try to stop the USC backs, who’ve accumulated almost twice as many rushing yards as the Cougars.
It looks like senior Allen Bradford, who lost his starting job before the season, might get the start over Marc Tyler, who started the first three games. It shouldn’t make too much of a difference either way. Both are talented and hardworking, and both will play like they have something to prove (they do). Lane Kiffin wanted to avoid Pete Carroll’s “Running Back By Committee” approach, but when properly run, it’s an asset.
Bradford and Tyler, plus C.J. Gable and freshman Dillon Baxter, have different running styles that could combine to pack a punch, if Kiffin gets them all in the game. The “RBBC” plan stalled last season because no one back was in the game long enough to develop a rhythm, but it can work when the backs get consistent carries in the situations most suited to their individual styles. Then again, extra points work and we all know Kiffin doesn’t like those either.
On paper, it looks like USC should handle Washington State easily, but there are no sure things in football, especially not for this year’s still-unproven squad. This is the kind of game, against one of the teams in the bottom of the conference, that ‘SC fans have come to dread over the past few years, as the Trojans go into it looking to dominate but come out stunned with an “L.” It’s one of the many hurdles Kiffin will need to clear in order to win over the fans and get the program back to its glory days. One game won’t accomplish all that, but a convincing win over a Washington State team with a 3-22 record over two seasons would be an important step in the right direction.
