Reeling USC faces potent Washington State
A pair of road losses in which it scored just 17 total points send USC back home searching for answers in advance of a Friday night date with Washington State.
The Trojans (1-2, 0-1 Pac-12) came out last week at Texas showing offensive improvements in the wake of a 17-3 loss the previous Saturday at Stanford. USC scored on its opening drive and built a 14-3 lead in the first quarter vs. the Longhorns.
But a series of misfires — including an unsuccessful goal-line stand that would have given USC an eight-point lead before halftime — snowballed into a 37-14 blowout. With a true freshman at quarterback (JT Daniels) and a struggling run game, Trojans coach Clay Helton needs solutions when facing an undefeated Washington State (3-0).
“We need to be better, and we need to be better in a hurry,” Helton said. “Washington State brings the same (style of zone pressure against the run as Texas) this week. When we’re at our best is when we’re a balanced offense. That did not happen on Saturday.”
The Trojans totaled negative-five yards rushing in Week 3. Take away the three sacks made on Daniels, which equaled a negative-26 yards, USC still mustered an average of just 1.6 yards on its 13 carries.
USC faces a Washington State defense that has held its first three opponents to a combined 3.1 yards per rush — the Trojans’ average in their Week 2 loss at Stanford.
The Cougars cruised into their Pac-12 Conference opener with a schedule that pales in comparison to USC’s early gauntlet, blowing out Mountain West Conference opponents Wyoming and San Jose State, then avenging a 2016 loss last week with a rout of Eastern Washington, a Football Championship Subdivision program.
Washington State’s dominant nonconference slate eased defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys into his new position, inheriting a defense from Alex Grinch that needed to replace All-American tackle Hercules Mata’afa.
Mata’afa was a force in Washington State’s 30-27 upset of USC a season ago in Pullman, Wash., recording two tackles for loss. The Cougars filled his void on the defensive line this season, in part, with junior college transfer Misiona Aiolupotea-Pei.
Establishing the run was not a problem for USC against Washington State a season ago, but the departures of standout running back Ronald Jones II — who rushed for 128 against the Cougars last year — and quarterback Sam Darnold loom large this time around.
Running back Stephen Carr is the only returning Trojan to notch a carry against Washington State in 2017. He accrued 11 yards on five opportunities.
