5 Key Story Lines Going into the USC vs Colorado Game

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 18, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans tailback Justin Davis (22) carries the ball as Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Chidobe Awuzie (4) defends at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

USC vs Colorado features a wealth of story lines to follow, including Shay Fields’ connection to Troy and Sam Darnold’s influence on the Trojan offense.

Entering the 2016 season, few could have predicted the match up between USC and Colorado would hold such major implications for Trojans and the Pac-12 South championship race.

Nor would it have been anything but a shock to learn that the Buffaloes were in the drivers seat for the division title while USC would be in need of an upset win to keep their season alive.

With plenty on the line for both teams, here’s five key story lines to watch going into this year’s USC vs Colorado game:

Maintaining The Pressure

The Trojans left the Coliseum on Saturday night feeling truly great about the pass rush for the first time in 2016, having generated three sacks against ASU while causing all sorts of other havoc in the backfield.

“Guys were getting to the quarterback,” Cameron Smith said. “It’s always fun to be aggressive and get after it.”

Sep 26, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Southern California Trojans defensive tackle Rasheem Green (94) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

USC’s ability to recreate that performance on the front lines will be pivotal this Saturday when Colorado is in town. However, there is some nuance involved when it comes to attacking an offense like the Buffaloes.

Facing a quick-passing offense, selling out on the pass rush could carry negative consequences.

“It’s situational. It’s about how we feel our match ups are and how we want to best utilize our guys based on those match ups,” defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast said,

The key, Pendergast says, is to react quickly enough to disrupt the rhythm of the offense.

It won’t be easy against an uptempo attack that can do a little bit of everything in the passing game, nickel and diming the opposition with short , quick passes, or taking shots deep with speedy receivers capable of getting behind the defense.

So while the Trojans are likely to deploy some of the creative fronts that were so effective versus ASU, it may come down to the organic penetration of USC’s defensive line.

Head coach Clay Helton praised that defensive front this week, sure to point out that two of the Trojans three sacks against the Sun Devils came on a four-man rush, no blitz necessary.

“I’ve always said, you want to see an offense shut down, get the quarterback off his spot and let him have to deal with getting hit a couple times. Then you really see where you’re at,” Helton said.

It worked against ASU. The Trojans just need a repeat performance.

Sep 17, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Shay Fields (1) rushes in the first quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Shay Fields’ USC Connection

Back in 2013, during the height of the Ed Orgeron interim era, Shay Fields was offered a scholarship at USC. The St. John Bosco receiver and then-Boise State commit jumped on the offer soon after, committing to the Trojans shortly after dropping his pledge to the Broncos.

Then things changed. USC passed Orgeron over in favor of Steve Sarkisian, and the new Trojan head coach ultimately passed on Fields, who turned to Colorado near the end of the recruiting process.

Now a junior, Fields has emerged from his understudy role behind Nelson Spruce to become the Buffaloes leading receiver, having established himself as a dangerous offensive weapon.

Nov 8, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Shay Fields (5) adjusts his helmet during the second quarter against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Arizona won 38-20. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

It’s impossible to ignore the USC connection as he comes to play at the Coliseum for the second time in his career.

Fields’ presence at Colorado, making the Buffaloes offense that much more daunting despite growing up in USC’s backyard, is a product of the rich recruiting atmosphere in Southern California, Clay Helton said this week.

“The problem is, all of the sudden you look up and there’s a Spruce that goes out to Colorado, a Shay Fields that goes out to Colorado,” Helton said. “Great football players, but you can only take so many.”

While USC may yet regret not making him one of their own, the Trojan players are familiar with Fields. Defensive lineman Malik Dorton was his teammate at Bosco. Cornerback Jonathan Lockett can remember playing against him in high school.

For safety Chris Hawkins, it’s not who Fields was that stands out, it’s what he has become.

“Shay’s always been fast but he’s really, watching film, he’s really picked it up as a natural receiver,” Hawkins noted. “He’s making good DBs look pretty bad on tape.”

On Saturday, Hawkins and company will be tasked with keeping him quiet, lest they join those DBs on Fields’ highlight reel.

That might be easier said than done. Fields leads the Pac-12 in receptions of 30 or more yards — he’s had seven already this season.

Oct 1, 2016; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Steven Montez (12) prepares to pass a touchdown to wide receiver Shay Fields (not pictured) in the first quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Steven Montez or Sefo Liufau?

For the second time in 2016, USC isn’t sure what quarterback they’ll see on Saturday.

When it came to Alabama, Nick Saban seemed to be obfuscating the process on purpose, initially ruling out the quarterback, Jalen Hurts, who ultimately buried the Trojans on opening weekend.

This time, Colorado’s quarterback situation is clouded by injury. Starter Sefo Liufau injured his ankle two weeks ago in the middle of the Buffaloes’ shocking upset bid against Michigan.

Steven Montez didn’t complete a single pass in relief of Liufau at The Big House. Since then, however, the redshirt freshman has guided Colorado’s offense with the poise of a veteran.

Oct 10, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Sefo Liufau (13) runs with the ball against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

In two games, Montez has thrown for over 600 yards, with six touchdowns to two interceptions and a passer rating of 187. Liufau’s passer rating before the injury was 181.

Now that Liufau is back practicing and approaching full health, Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre has a tough decision on his hands. Will he stick with the young and capable back up? Or risk playing the veteran before he’s 100% ready?

Whatever McIntyre chooses, USC insists the preparation is the same for both.

“To all of us, they both play the same,” cornerback Jonathan Lockett said. “Same body type, same style of running…We see them as being the same.”

Fortunately for USC, both are also in a similar mold to the passers the Trojans have faced over the past two weeks. Though neither Liufau nor Montez will have as many designed quarterback runs as ASU’s Manny Wilkins, both are capable of using their feet to extend plays, like Utah’s Troy Williams. Montez even had 135 yards and a rushing touchdown against Oregon.

The only discernible difference between the two? According to Clancy Pendergast, it’s simple: “One’s a young guy and one’s an older guy that’s played a little bit more.”

Despite the age and experience gap, Clay Helton said the thing that jumps off the tape for both is smart play.

“Both kids have been great decision-makers, [with] 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions. I’ve been really impressed,” Helton said.

Oct 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold (14) celebrates with the student section after the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Southern California Trojans won 41-20. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Sam Darnold’s Next Step

The evolution of USC’s offense was a topic of conversation following the explosion of production the Trojans enjoyed versus ASU.

The same dilemma USC’s defensive coaches have agonized over for years is now the same one being presented on the other side.

“You’ve got to make a decision. Are you going to guard the box with an athletic quarterback and a very talented back or are you going to go defend those wide receivers?” Clay Helton said of his new-look offense, which has simultaneously opened up space for the running backs and passing opportunities for the receivers.

It all comes down to Sam Darnold, who has transformed the Trojan attack with his mobility, big arm and maturity beyond his years.

Oct 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws the ball during the second half against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Running back Justin Davis has noticed it in the way Darnold has helped the Trojans avoid negative plays.

“I get hit in the backfield, I’m negative two-yards in the backfield, I look up and Sam has the ball. You don’t know how happy that makes me,” Davis said.

Helton has noticed it in other ways — like how Darnold has avoided throwing interceptions, knows the right windows to throw into even before a receiver has made his cut, and has shown the poise to improvise when things go wrong.

He calls Darnold an “old soul.”

“The decision-making, the anticipation and just the game maturity for a redshirt freshman is beyond,” the head coach said.

Things have gone right for Darnold in two starts, but he’s still 1-1. The next step is to manufacture a win when it matters most. And when the Trojans take the field against Colorado, with their Pac-12 South title hopes on the line. It’ll definitely matter.

For Darnold, the proof is already in the pudding.

“I keep saying it, without the turnovers against Utah I think that game’s a whole lot different obviously. You can’t turn the ball over.” said Darnold, confident that cutting out mistakes will result in success. “I think everyone saw how dominant our offense can be when we don’t turn the ball over and execute plays.”

The potential is certainly there. And now the stage is set.

Sep 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Trojans players walk through the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum tunnel to the field during a NCAA football game against the Utah State Aggies Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Measuring Stick

There is only one fact that truly matters when it comes to football — scoreboard. And right now, the scoreboard on USC’s 2016 reads a harsh 2-3.

The Trojans have the opportunity to draw things back to even on Saturday against Colorado, but the game will be about more than just getting back to .500.

September in Troy was a nightmare but the promise of an October turnaround remains.

USC took care of business against the Sun Devils, a game cornerback Jonathan Lockett called “a momentum booster.” If that’s the case, the Trojans can’t afford to let it slip.

“The thing that you hope as a head coach, is each unit is progressing, each unit is getting better and we move forward and I think you’ve seen that from Game 1 to right now,” Clay Helton said. “Now our goal is, we’ve got to keep going.”