USC will be without defensive tackle Josh Fatu (98) against Notre Dame. Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
No. 11-ranked USC relied on its defense to pick up the slack through the first half of the season.
When the Trojans travel to historic rival and No. 13-ranked Notre Dame on Saturday, their short-handed defense will face one of its biggest tests, courtesy of a prolific Fighting Irish rushing attack.
The Fighting Irish (5-1) average 308 rushing yards per game, with outings of 422 and 515 yards on the season. They are averaging 6.9 yards per carry and have rushed for a whopping 23 touchdowns in six games.
Fighting Irish running back Josh Adams (129.3 yards per game, 9 yards per carry) is the most productive ball-carrier USC has seen at this point in the season, save for Stanford’s nation-leading rusher Bryce Love. Love took a carry 75 yards for a touchdown early in the Sept. 9 matchup with USC, but the Trojans limited him to 85 thereafter.
Similarly, in its 28-27 win over Pac-12 Conference foe Utah last Saturday, the Trojans surrendered big plays early — including a few on the ground to running back Zack Moss.
Head coach Clay Helton delivered a halftime speech with USC trailing 21-7, which USC linebacker Cameron Smith said “revamped” the Trojans defense.
“We started out pretty flat on both sides of the ball and that’s not how football should be played,” Smith said.
The Trojans (6-1) might be emotionally charged this week, but there’s the slight problem of being shorthanded on the defensive line.
Defensive tackle Josh Fatu, who played his most productive game of the season against Utah, will not play this week because of a concussion suffered in multi-car accident. He made seven tackles, including two for loss and a sack last week.
USC is down two other defensive tackles. Touted true freshman Marlon Tuipulotu underwent back surgery last week and will miss the rest of the season. Oft-injured senior Kenny Bigelow decided to step away from football this week to begin focusing on a coaching career.
True freshman defensive tackle Brandon Pili is expected to see more playing time. He has four tackles in two games after being pulled out of his redshirt.
“I feel like there’s a big burden on me,” Pili said. “Everyone’s depending on me to step up and fill the role of the nose guard, the heart of the defense.”
Notre Dame has a pair of potential first-round picks on the offensive line. Senior guard Quenton Nelson is rated the 20th-best prospect by NFLDraftScout.com and tackle Mike McGlinchey is No. 29.
There still might be questions about the ability of Notre Dame quarterback Brandon Wimbush to consistently throw the ball downfield when the Irish are in obvious passing situations. But the Irish will play to their strengths until USC shows it can stop the run.
Helton is ready for a big dose of Adams.
“You just don’t bring the guy down with an arm tackle,” Helton said. “He just runs right through it.”
