Pac-12 pundits surely didn't expect Saturday’s meeting to feature a 4-0 Sun Devil team traveling to meet a 1-3 Trojan squad. What can we expect from this USC team trying to break a two-game skid? Joe Healey examines ASU’s upcoming opponent.
USC Offense
With three-year starter Cody Kessler off to the NFL, USC was tasked with finding a new quarterback and the first man up was Max Browne, formerly Rivals’ top-ranked quarterback of the 2013 class.
In two seasons backing up Kessler, Browne completed 11-of-19 passes for 143 yards and hopes were that he would continue a long trend of excellent play at quarterback to the Trojans. Those hopes, however, were brought crashing back down to earth as after a 1-2 start and an ineffective offense as a whole, Browne was demoted to the second team in favor of redshirt freshman Sam Darnold.
Darnold, out of a different mold than recent Trojan quarterbacks as he is a capable overall athlete and was ranked the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback for the 2015 class by Rivals, created a greater spark in the offense even in defeat last week against Utah.
In his first career start, Darnold threw for 253 yards and rushed for 41 with a score in a game that saw USC’s offense click in a way that hadn’t in the three previous games of 2016. Entering his first career start in the Coliseum, Darnold will look to light a fire in front of the home crowd and start October on a much better note that what was seen from the Trojans in September.
The Trojan backfield also figures a dynamic one-two punch in Justin Davis (6-1, 200) and Ronald Jones II (6-1, 195), pair that combined for nearly 1,900 yards in 2015.
Davis is no stranger to the Sun Devil as in 2013 he rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns against ASU, and last week against Utah he broke the century mark for the first time in 2016.
Both Davis and Jones earned Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 accolades in 2015 and thus far in 2015, Davis has team-highs of 47 carries for 261 yards while Jones has 31 carries for 132 yards. Both players have one rushing touchdown apiece and the duo has also combined for nine receptions on the year.
At wide receiver, superstar JuJu Smith-Schuster (6-2, 220) is joined by Darreus Rogers (6-1, 215) and Steven Mitchell, Jr. (5-10, 190) in the starting lineup, while Deontay Burnett (6-0, 170) also has earned several reps.
A first-team All-Pac-12 honoree last year, Smith-Schuster is leading USC in a few receiving categories but his numbers are not as massive as last season as he has just 19 catches for 197 yards with two scores in four games. Make no mistake, however, he poses a major threat to the Sun Devil secondary and should be a frequent focal point for Darnold.
Rogers has had a solid start to his senior season with 18 catches for a team-high 211 yards, while Mitchell has 15 receptions for 127 yards and one touchdown and Burnett has 10 catches for 91 yards and a score as well.
Taylor McNamara (6-5, 245) and Tyler Petite (6-5, 235) see ample action at tight end, with Petite boasting six receptions for 108 yards and McNamara having three catches for 31 yards.
The offensive line figures to start (from left to right) tackle Chad Wheeler, guard Damien Mama, center Nico Falah, guard Viane Talamaivao and tackle Zach Banner. Once of the most experienced and talented lines in the FBS, it is a surprise this unit hasn’t been able to help propel a more consistent offense.
Banner earned First-Team All-Pac-12 honors in 2015, while Wheeler, a one-time commit to Arizona State, was a Second-Team honors recipient and Mama was an Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 pick.
USC Offense Summary
Statistically, USC ranks 106th in the nation and dead last in the Pac-12 in scoring offense (22.0), 100th in the nation in total offense (358.8), 95th in rush offense (143.0) and 79th in pass offense (215.8). These numbers may not be fully indicative of USC’s true capability and could be more of a product of the team’s brutal early season schedule but in any event, the results thus far have not been flattering.
The Trojan offense found a spark both on the ground and through the air with Sam Darnold’s debut as a starter last week and one would have to assume that USC will have its best offensive output of 2016 Saturday against the ever questionable Arizona State defense.
USC Defense
Up front for the Trojan defensive line, Rasheem Green (6-5, 280) and Malik Dorton (6-2, 280) presume to be the starting ends with nose tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu (6-1, 320), a grad transfer from Utah, slated between them in the starting lineup.
Surprisingly, Tu’ikolovatu is the leading tackler of the typical starting linemen with 18, though Green isn’t far behind with 17 tackles. Dorton has five tackles but has started just one of four games played. Altogether, the trio has combined for just 1.5 tackles-for-loss and 0.5 sacks this year.
Potential starter Noah Jefferson, who hasn’t played since the season opener against Alabama, has missed time due to injuries and also has reported academic issues that will keep him out of action against ASU.
At outside linebacker, Uchenna Nwosu (6-3, 235) is joined by Porter Gustin (6-5, 260) with Cameron Smith (6-2, 245) and Michael Hutchings (6-1, 215) at inside linebacker.
Last year’s Pac-12 Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year and an Honorable Mention All-Pac-12, after four games Smith leads the Pac-12 and is tied for fifth in the country with 43 total tackles. Gustin ranks second on the team with 32 tackles and has team-highs of 4.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks. Hutchings has 23 tackles, good for third on the team, and ranks second behind Gustin with 2.5 tackles-for-loss with 1.5 sacks. Nwosu has 14 tackles including 1.5 for loss in four games.
In the secondary, standout Adoree’ Jackson (5-11, 185) is joined by Iman Marshall (6-1, 200) at cornerback with Chris Hawkins (5-11, 185) at strong safety and Marvel Tell III (6-3, 190) at free safety.
A First-Team All-Pac-12 selection last year at defensive back, Jackson has 19 tackles on the season and four pass deflections with one interception, while Marshall has 17 tackles, including 2.0 for loss with one interception.
Tell has posted 17 tackles including 2.0 for loss and Hawkins has 16 stops with 2.0 for loss. Leon McQuay III has also started three games thus far and has 13 tackles with an interception and is also an option to start at strong safety.
USC Defense Summary
At the moment, USC ranks 81st nationally in scoring defense (29.3), 72nd in total defense (394.5), 92nd in rushing defense (194.8) and 43rd in pass defense (199.8). The Trojans have also struggled mightily to create havoc in the backfield as USC is tied for 102nd nationally and 11th in the conference with an average of just 1.25 sacks per game.
The natural response here is that ASU should key in on attacking USC on the ground and spend less time challenging the all-world athleticism of Adoree’ Jackson in the secondary.
In all, the onus of responsibility falls on the Sun Devil offensive line to allow Manny Wilkins the ability to gain comfort in the passing game and to create holes of opportunity for Kalen Ballage, Demario Richard and Wilkins on the ground.
USC Special Teams
Kicker Matt Boermeester has performed well so far, connecting on 6-of-7 field goals with his only miss coming from 46 yards. Boermeester has made his last four field goal attempts spanning the past three games.
At punter, Chris Tilbey averages a modest 38.9 yards on 18 punts with a long of 52, ranking him 11th in the Pac-12 in punting average.
Overall, USC ranks 67th nationally in net punting (37.56) but has only allowed four total punt return yards on the year. The Trojans also mirror ASU’s kickoff coverage unit, as USC has allowed just six kick returns for a total of 116 yards – the exact same totals as the Sun Devils. But, of course, ASU has scored 107 more points than USC in four games, making ASU’s touchback ratio much more impressive.
Though Adoree’ Jackson has only had two chances to return punts, the results have been spectacular as one was taken 77 yards for a touchdown and the other was a 25-yard run back. On kick returns, Jackson is equally lethal as he averages 35.6 yards on seven returns with a 100-yard touchdown to his credit already.
When teams succeed at kicking away from Jackson, Jack Jones and Steven Mitchell, Jr. also see time on kick returns while Michael Pittman, Jr. and Deontay Burnett have also returned punts.
As a team, USC leads the nation in punt return average (40.25; four returns for 161 yards) and is tied for 23rd nationally in kick return average (25.57).
Overall Summary
The five-star talent is still there at virtually every position on the roster, but as a collective unit, this USC team is a far cry from the program’s glory days under Pete Carroll. To the Trojans credit, no team in the country had a more difficult month of September in terms of strength of schedule, but the collateral damage of the first four games might linger for the remainder of the season.
Though ASU has surprised many with its 4-0 start, areas of concern certainly exist and plausibly could be exploited by USC in the Coliseum. The Sun Devils have played poorly on the road of late, having just a 2-6 regular season road record dating back to the crippling loss at Oregon State in 2014.
Momentum will play a huge role Saturday, and if ASU can discontinue its pedestrian first half efforts that have been the case in three of four games this year, the Sun Devils stand a favorable chance against USC. However, if ASU comes out intimidating by the vaunted Coliseum and luster of the history of USC football and opens the game wide-eyed and unfocused, the comeback trail could be a challenging one against the Men of Troy.
Keys to a Sun Devil Victory
No Slow Start
ASU’s first-half woes have quickly become well documented, as astonishingly the same team that averages nearly 49 points per game on the year has averaged just 11 points in the first halves of three of four games played. It stands to reason that should the slow starts continue, ASU will suffer at some point(s) in the win-loss column. Likewise, if ASU can become a true four-quarter team, the 2016 season could quickly become a memorable one.
When playing a team on the ropes such as the 1-3 Trojans, emotions and momentum will be vital factors. If given the opportunity, USC can rally around its new, young starting quarterback and use its elite individual talent to swing the energy of the game distinctly in favor of the home team. However, ASU could potentially apply the proverbial foot on the throat of the Trojans if the Sun Devils can come out firing on all cylinders in the first half. Should the Devils have another lackluster first two quarters, the overall talent level of USC could make another second half explosion a difficult task for the visitors.
Don’t Give Adoree’ a Chance
Very simply put, ASU cannot allow Adoree’ Jackson to touch the ball on special teams. The Sun Devils have yet to allow a single punt return yard in 2016, but Jackson could turn that mark into dust if given an opportunity. Zane Gonzalez has been outstanding at placing kickoffs for touchbacks, but the pressure will be on Matt Haack to continue his outstanding start and prevent Jackson from having opportunities to return.
Also, though Jackson has been barely used on offense, the Trojan staff should give him the opportunity to touch the ball like last year when he caught three passes for 131 yards with a touchdown. In a game in which USC is backed against a wall, the coaches could go for broke and have Jackson be more of an offensive tool than he has been to date in 2016. Despite Jackson only having 11 total yards on offense, he is still USC’s all-purpose yardage leader (90.5) and there is little doubt he is perhaps the most gifted overall athlete in college football.
Hold the Lines
Crucial in any game, quite a bit of USC’s early season woes have emanated from the subpar play by both its offensive and defensive lines. To kick start the run game and gain early game confidence for Manny Wilkins, ASU’s offensive line must hold tight against the Trojan defense. When USC has the ball, the Devils can’t allow the athletic Darnold and his sensational stable of rushers to have their collective way with the Sun Devil front seven.
Familiar Faces
· ASU assistant coach Del Alexander played WR at USC from 1995-98.
· ASU DL Tashon Smallwood and LB D.J. Calhoun were both verbally committed to USC before signing with ASU
· ASU WR Tim White’s father, Timmy, played wide receiver at USC from 1980-82
· USC OL Chad Wheeler was verbally committed to ASU prior to signing with USC
· USC P Reid Budrovich, DT Malik Dorton, OL Nico Falah, OL Damien Mama attended St. John Bosco (Calif.) High School, as did ASU OL Zach Robertson
· USC DB Chris Hawkins attended Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) High School, as did ASU DL Ami Latu, and LB A.J. Latu.
· USC DB Jonathan Lockett, OL Frank Martin, LB Grant Moore and DT Connor Rossow attended Mater Dei (Calif.) High School, as ASU OL Alex Losoya and RB Brandon Lamarche.
· USC TE Taylor McNamara once attended the University of Oklahoma, as did ASU WR John Humphrey
· USC WR Michael Pittman, Jr. attended Oaks Christian High School as did ASU LB Carlos Mendoza and RB Gil’Scott Jackson.
