USC's Tommy Trojan is armed for battle against rival UCLA.
The USC Trojans close their season this weekend at a very familiar location – the Rose Bowl – but it won’t quite be the same. While the Trojans staked their claim on the Rose Bowl in the postseason during the Pete Carroll era, this year, they’re ending the season on December 4th, not January 4th, and the only thing they’re playing for is the pride of going 8-5, rather than 7-6. That, and bragging rights over UCLA.
Burdened with NCAA sanctions, a new coaching staff, a young secondary, an unreliable kicker, and a thin roster, this game is all USC has left of the 2010 season. No bowl game, though they would theoretically be eligible if they weren’t banned. No undefeated season, no 10-win season, not even a record that matches last year’s. A loss to Notre Dame.
Even with all the concerns heading into the year, it didn’t seem like the season would be that bad. A strong performance and a big win over UCLA is the last chance the Trojans have to prove that it wasn’t.
Sophomore quarterback Matt Barkley will likely play, after sitting out against Notre Dame with a high ankle sprain. His presence on the field should bolster the USC offense (although the offense struggled mightily even with him in the game against Oregon State). Last year, his late-game 48 yard touchdown pass to Ronald Johnson was heavily criticized, but it’s just what USC needs this time.
Coach Lane Kiffin, who calls the plays, should go big early and often. With Mitch Mustain in for Barkley last week, Kiffin went ultra-conservative until the end, and it might’ve cost them. Regardless of who the quarterback is, Kiffin needs to cut him loose. Yes, even if it’s Mustain. He might not have Barkley’s arm or experience, but he can hit RoJo for a touchdown – and this time, RoJo won’t drop it.
The UCLA defense rivals USC’s when it comes to allowing opponents to rack up points and yards, and USC has the weapons to exploit that. The Bruins defense is giving up an average of 30.5 points per game and 415.2 yards per game; last week, in a 55-34 loss to Arizona State, UCLA surrendered 595.
If USC’s run game can pull itself together for one more game, the Trojans will have a shot at running all over the Rose Bowl. UCLA has allowed 39 touchdowns on the year, and 22 of those were on the ground, but the Trojans have struggled to find stability at tailback. Marc Tyler was the starter at the beginning of the year but he’s been slowed recently due to an ankle injury. Senior Allen Bradford lost the starting job to Tyler, regained it, then fumbled it away. His problems holding onto the ball have left him on the bench for much of the second half of the season. He had zero carries against Notre Dame, and while Kiffin says he won’t play any senior solely to get him into his last college game, he’d be smart to give Bradford the ball this week. Tyler’s less effective, and freshman Dillon Baxter hasn’t done much on the field yet, so there’s good reason to rely on Bradford and fellow senior C.J. Gable in their last game, against a porous defense.
Speaking of porous defenses, USC’s is still ranked 112th, though it has improved over the last few weeks. Fortunately for the Trojans, they’re facing UCLA, which is ranked 116th in passing yards per game. The Bruins will start sophomore Richard Brehaut in place of an injured Kevin Prince. Brehaut has a handful of games under his belt, with 5 TDs and 6 INTs, but after some of the quarterbacks USC’s faced this year, the pass defense should be able to limit the Bruins. Between Brehaut and Prince, UCLA quarterbacks have thrown 8 touchdowns and 13 interceptions on the season. Look for the Trojans, who forced four Notre Dame turnovers last week, to be hungry for more.
One of the most interesting match-ups could be UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow versus Lane and Monte Kiffin. Chow was the Trojan’s OC until Pete Carroll reportedly began pushing him out in favor of rising stars Steve Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin. Chow and the Kiffins know each others’ tendencies – Chow’s offenses have had success against Monte Kiffin’s defensive schemes, and Chow would love to make a case to save his job by showing up Lane.
This game, between a 7-5 USC team and a 4-7 UCLA team, might not seem like a big deal, but for the players and the coaches, it’s the big one. The outcome impacts recruiting, it impacts jobs, and it’ll determine momentum heading into next year. It’s personal. And for the seniors, this is it. This is all they have left. Let’s hope they make the most of it.
