WeAreSC staffers discuss the USC Trojans at the bye week:
What has been the most predictable thing you have seen this year?
Garry Paskwietz: The fact that the Trojans went on the road and suffered a loss against an opponent that featured a strong running attack behind a punishing offensive line, and that the young USC offensive line went through some growing pains while featuring three freshmen in the interior rotation.
Johnny Curren: The fact that USC’s offensive line ran into a roadblock early on this season. While that wasn’t necessarily a shock to me, what was surprising was that it happened against Boston College, and not Stanford. In any case, it certainly wasn’t a secret heading into this season that Tim Drevno's group was a major question mark -- even with the influx of freshman talent. Those that follow USC closely always knew that this young and inexperienced group might struggle at some point, and that’s precisely what happened.
Greg Katz: The most predictable thing I’ve seen is the positive performances of defensive tackle Leonard Williams, linebacker Hayes Pullard, tailback Buck Allen, wide receiver Nelson Agholor, and quarterback Cody Kessler. All five players have, for the most part, lived up to the expectations for a majority of the young season.
What has been the least predictable thing you have seen this year?
GP: That the events I described in question No. 1 happened against Boston College, not Stanford. Most everyone had the second game of the season circled on the calendar with a trip to Palo Alto and, while that game certainly lived up to the billing, it wasn’t the Cardinal who rolled up over 400 rushing yards while only giving up 20. I know Boston College qualified as the classic trap game but it was still a surprise to see the game won on both sides of the line of scrimmage, which is why they are called trap games.
JC: The fact that the Trojans defense would rank No. 116 in the FBS against the run at this point, giving up an average of 245.7 yards per game. Sure, that is due in large part to Boston College’s 452-yard outburst, but with the Trojans featuring a defense that is headlined by established stalwarts like Williams and Pullard, that ranking is shocking any way you look at it.
GK: The way the defensive line has played considering it was supposed to be the strength of the team but has been badly outmuscled on the ground for the most part by Stanford and Boston College. If they don’t pick up their game, the Trojans could be in real trouble in Pac-12 play.
Name one thing you would like to see from the bye week as the team moves forward.
GP: A clear offensive plan to take advantage of the multiple weapons, and I completely expect Steve Sarkisian to make his intentions known as to the strategy options he looked at during the bye week. Sarkisian said it’s important for the Trojans to play to their strengths and it will be interesting to see where he thinks the strengths lie based upon the direction he chooses to go.
JC: More discipline on defense. The USC defense will need to turn things around in a big way, and in a hurry, for this team to have a high level of success throughout the rest of the schedule. Against Boston College players were out of position, they whiffed on tackles, and they just looked sloppy in general. I’m hoping Justin Wilcox & Co. are able to bring this collection of talent together over the course of the next week or two so that when they line up against Oregon State they stick to their assignments, they get back to playing physical football, and most importantly, they play as one cohesive unit.
GK: I would like to see a team that realizes that it can’t rest on its victories over Fresno State and Stanford and understands that the Boston College game was a major warning sign of things to come if they don’t come out focused and intense every game.