USC Trojans preview

USC has endured a very un-Trojan-like six-year stretch, reaching double-digit wins just twice since 2009. But Steve Sarkisian, with an army of skill players at his disposal, is steering the Trojans back toward Pac-12—and national—prominence. He just needs that other team from LA to get out of his way first.

Offense

How the Trojans beat you: USC loses the Pac-12’s No. 2 receiver (Nelson Agholor: 1,313 yards, 104 catches) and No. 3 rusher (Javorius Allen: 114.5 ypg, 11 rush TDs), who together accounted for 49 percent of the Trojans’ O in 2014. No matter. Sarkisian keeps USC humming with an up-tempo scheme that relies on pro-style staples—using the run game, in particular, to give senior QB Cody Kessler opportunities to spread the ball to his run-after-the-catch threats. The setup? Allen’s heirs in the rush attack boast solid résumés already: Junior Justin Davis’ quickness gets him to the defense’s second level (six 20-plus-yard runs in 2014, two shy of Allen’s total with 147 fewer carries), and senior Tre Madden is productive when healthy (116.6 ypg in the first five contests of ’13). The payoff? Kessler hits targets with ease: Only one Power 5 QB bested his 7.8 TD-INT ratio in 2014— and he was the Heisman winner.

How you beat the Trojans: The offensive line is the deepest it’s been in years, anchored by an All-American candidate at center in senior Max Tuerk, a versatile athlete who has started at every line position. Still, the guys in the trenches must protect better (32 sacks allowed, No. 96 in the FBS) and win the point of attack (127 rushes stopped for zero or negative yards, No. 90).

Defense

How the Trojans beat you: In junior safety-turned-linebacker Su’a Cravens and sophomore two-way player (but cornerback by trade) Adoree’ Jackson, the Trojans lay claim to two of the most intriguing individual talents in the country. That caliber of raw athleticism in the back seven may help offset the secondary’s youth—and shore up a pass defense that allowed a whopping 274.5 ypg (No. 116), including 510 passing yards to Arizona State. But mostly it was a matter of dribs and drabs (6.5 ypa, No. 30), so USC will need playmakers to step up as aggressors in the defensive backfield and stop long, protracted drives, especially because it loses one particularly disruptive playmaker on the front lines …

How you beat the Trojans: All-American DE Leonard Williams (9½ tackles for loss, 7 sacks and 3 forced fumbles) departed USC early to enter the NFL draft, and unfortunately for the Trojans he leaves a gaping hole in USC’s trenches. While the D-line’s senior trio of Delvon Simmons, Claude Pelon and Antwaun Woods boast potential, none demands the double-team attention Williams attracted for the past three seasons. So the line, at least initially, will be hard-pressed to duplicate its productive 2014 (33 sacks, No. 32 in the FBS).