USC wasn’t spectacular in win vs Arizona State … and it didn’t have to be
The immediate debate after USC’s moderately comfortable win over Arizona State — it wasn’t a blowout, but it also wasn’t a nail-biter — is if the Trojans should be concerned about their status and their overall level of quality.
The answer might be a cop-out: yes and no.
There are certainly reasons to be concerned about the Trojans after this uneven performance, but the reasons might not be what you immediately expect. It’s a more complicated picture than it might seem on the surface. There is plenty to discuss after this game, and to be sure, you’ll want to read our report card feature on this game to get a fuller evaluation of the Trojans. What is important to absorb at a time like this is that circumstances shape evaluations. The larger context of a situation affects the grades we give to players, coaches, and position units. Here are the main points to ponder after the Trojans moved to 5-0 this season:
HANGOVER
Let’s be realistic: The Oregon State game was physical, emotional, and very draining. The next week is not going to be an ocean breeze. Matching the energy of the Oregon State game was not likely to occur. This was a punch-the-time-clock game with less adrenaline and more of a “just get it done” mentality.
This is life in college football. Different games have different dimensions and emotional dynamics. Don’t be concerned that USC was sluggish this week. That was to be expected. This conversation needs to focus on specific aspects of the team, which we’ll deal with below:
THE TRUE PROBLEM
Let’s deal with the foremost problem for USC coming out of this game: The Trojans frankly haven’t played a particularly good team yet. Oregon State is a DECENT team, but not an excellent team. What happens when USC goes against an opponent with elite skill and great coaching? We haven’t seen the Trojans tested yet. Washington State might be good enough to pose those kinds of problems; Utah likely will be good enough to do that.
That’s where USC is unproven and untested. This level of play won’t cut it against a high-level opponent. USC hasn’t yet played one. That’s concern No. 1.
O-LINE
Lots of offensive line penalties marred the first half. USC fans might wonder why this happened. As we have been telling you, when the Trojans have to go deep on the depth chart, the quality of O-line play suffers. Justin Dedich did not play. Courtland Ford gained a small number of snaps and was not 100 percent. Get these guys healthy, and you should see a better product. Health, not coaching, is the real priority on the offensive line.
O-LINE, PART TWO
This was a good game for USC on the offensive line, in this specific respect: Dedich didn’t play and Ford didn’t play a lot, yet the backups were able to hold down the fort. Credit Bobby Haskins for shouldering the workload yet again. Jonah Monheim and Andrew Vorhees were superb. Gino Quinones was thrown into the fire. He had some rough moments but was decent in the second half. Guys grew up a little and learned something. USC won with two of its starting O-linemen barely playing (if at all). That’s encouraging.
Get Ford and Dedich healthy for Washington State, and this unit is in good shape.
THE PARADOX OF MISTAKES
USC made some noticeable mistakes in this game and did not pay the price of a loss. That’s great for the players themselves and the coaching staff. Winning while making mistakes allows for growth. Let’s walk you through several mistakes the Trojans didn’t pay dearly for:
CALEB WILLIAMS INTERCEPTION
Caleb Williams made some great touchdown throws in this game, but they were daring, aggressive throws. Caleb threw against his body into the back of the end zone. That’s playing with fire. It’s great when those passes succeed, but they won’t always succeed. Throwing an interception in the red zone — especially on first and goal, when Arizona State was daring USC to run — is a lesson Caleb needs to grasp. He and Lincoln Riley need to make good use of this mistake and learn from it.
COURTLAND FORD HOLDING PENALTY
This flag wiped out a long touchdown pass to Mario Williams. It’s not an indictment of Ford’s play; it’s a reflection of his lack of full health. The play is important because it let Ford know how limited he still is. When he gets healthier, this penalty likely won’t recur. Notably, Ford did not return to the game after this penalty. He did not overextend himself in this game, which is good.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Bad kick returns. Blocking penalties on returns. An onside kick “hands team” misadventure. These mistakes can lose games. USC didn’t lose. There’s a lot for Lincoln Riley to address in the absence of a special teams coordinator.
RUSH DEFENSE
Setting the edge was a huge problem in the first half. Imagine having this problem against Utah. That could get ugly.
REASON FOR OPTIMISM
As bad as the rush defense was in the first half, it was strong in the second half. Arizona State scored just once in the second half, and not until USC had built a 35-17 lead in the fourth quarter.
MORE PRESSURE
Alex Grinch made a good halftime adjustment of bringing more pressure. It threw off Arizona State’s offense. Grinch continues to earn respect and trust, but the cautionary note is that he hasn’t faced Washington State or Utah yet. He has to prove himself against better offenses.
THE STAFF GETS THROUGH
The coaches got through to their players at halftime. That’s very important and a hugely encouraging sign for the road ahead.
COACHABLE
Players are open and receptive to what their coaches tell them at halftime. That’s a sign of a winning culture. USC played a strong third quarter, once again flipping the script compared to the Clay Helton years, when the Trojans would fall off a cliff in the third quarter. Keep it coming.
RUN-PASS MIX
USC was a pass-first team in this game. That’s not a problem — not when Caleb Williams is throwing the ball confidently. Sure, he probably should have checked into a run on the play when he was picked, but that’s a minor detail. He made so many acrobatic and creative plays in this game. Putting the ball in his hands is good. Run-pass balance is great if it can be established, but it also shouldn’t be forced.
CALEB CLARITY
Were you worried that the Oregon State game was a sign of erosion or fragility? Caleb Williams dispelled those concerns with this performance.
RECEIVERS SHARE
Jordan Addison, Mario Williams, Brenden Rice, Kyle Ford, Kyron Ware-Hudson, Tahj Washington, Malcolm Epps — they all made notable contributions. It was good to see lots of receivers get involved. USC needs other guys to take the heat off Addison and Mario Williams.
MEKHI MAGNIFICENCE
Mekhi Blackmon continues to make plays on an island. He broke up a pass on 3rd and 4 early in the second half. He is a rock of dependability.
BIG PICTURE
Washington State should require USC to play at a much higher level in order to grab a win next week … but USC knew it didn’t have to be as sharp this week. Coming off the Oregon State game, this was a night to take care of the job and not worry about style points. That’s fine. It’s not a source of real alarm. Next week, though, everyone in the locker room should realize that the level of play must rise considerably.
CROWD SUPPORT
Tickets sold for the Arizona State game, per the announcement during the game in the Coliseum: 62,133. Fine. It’s ASU. It’s not a headliner. Next week, though, the Trojans will need over 78,000 to pack the Coliseum and roar.
