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USC Football: 5 Takeaways vs Cal and What They Mean For Oregon
Last Thursday’s win over Cal marked the fourth in a row for Clay Helton’s USC football team, but what does it mean going into this week’s Oregon game?
Who would have thought going into the season that both Cal and Oregon would be so similar. Yet two months into the campaign, both the Golden Bears and Ducks are teams with extremely flawed defenses to go with potent offensive attacks.
It makes for a challenge for USC, who will look to get its fifth-straight win on Saturday. Can they repeat their dominant performance which led to a 45-24 win last week?
Here’s five things we learned against Cal and what they mean for Oregon…
Third Down Conversions Are Key
There are a lot of things that have gone right for USC during their four-game win streak through October, among them is playing efficiently on third down. That is both offensively and defensively.
Head coach Clay Helton was particularly proud of the Trojan defense, which held Cal to their lowest conversion rate of the season.
“To hold that team to 3-of-12 on the day was a huge key to our success, and the ability to get off the field won us the game,” he said.
Pivotally, the Bears were held without a third down conversion on five attempts in the first half.
Meanwhile, USC finished with their best conversion rate of the season, moving the chains on six of 10 tries, along with two fourth down conversions. The Trojans were four-of-five on third down in the first half, building a 28-10 lead in the process.
What does that mean for Oregon?
Cal’s low conversion rate was the lowest USC’s defense has forced all season, lower than any defense has held the Oregon Ducks to in 2016.
In that sense, the Trojans don’t need an exact repeat performance. Instead, keeping Oregon from moving the chains will be just as key during Homecoming as it was on Thursday night.
On offense, it should be even more critical as staying on the field will keep the high-powered Duck offense from doing damage themselves.
Considering the fact that Oregon’s defense is among the worst teams in the country at stopping teams on third down, the Trojan offense should be able to take advantage.
Oct 27, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Trojans running back Ronald Jones II (25) runs against California Golden Bears defensive end DeVante Wilson (95) during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Ronald Jones II Just Needed A Chance
It took Ronald Jones II exactly one play to announce his intentions against Cal. The sophomore took his first carry of the game 61 yards to set up the opening touchdown.
By his fourth, Jones had already eclipsed his season-high in yardage. His 12th carry –which put him over 200 yards on the day– set his career high.
It has been a muted sophomore season for Jones, but Thursday proved that all it takes is some opportunities for him to shine.
He may have been the star, but USC’s offensive line was the big difference-maker versus the Bears. It’s not a slight on Jones to say that any of the Trojan running backs would have had joy against Cal.
Aca’Cedric Ware set his own career high with 130 yards, while the injured Justin Davis arguably might have had a career day as well with the gaping holes provided by USC’s big men up front.
What does that mean for Oregon?
Jones didn’t have a banner day against Oregon last year, with 56 yards on 14 carries, but he is likely to be USC’s primary running back again this week, even as Davis inches closer to a return.
With more opportunities, confidence riding high and an offensive line performing the best they have in years, Jones will look to keep his momentum moving forward. And right on cue, in steps a Duck rush defense which ranks 117th in the country.
Oct 27, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; California Golden Bears running back Khalfani Muhammad (29) runs against USC Trojans linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (42) in the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Where To Turn At OLB?
Uchenna Nwosu has had a breakout season for the Trojans at outside linebacker, something which was evident against Cal as he logged seven tackles, forced a fumble and provided one of the few hurries on Bear QB Davis Webb.
Unfortunately for the Trojans, Nwosu also went down with a knee injury — a Grade 1 MCL which could keep him out anywhere from a week to a month.
On the same night, Nwosu’ back up Olajuwon Tucker tweaked his hamstring, giving USC some major questions in that position.
What does that mean for Oregon?
USC’s misfortune in the outside linebacker spot has reached critical levels as November begins.
With suspensions to Scott Felix and Jabari Ruffin, along with the expulsions of Osa Masina and Don Hill, the injuries to Nwosu and Tucker leave the Trojans with limited options when it comes to replacements.
The best case scenario as USC gears up to play an Oregon outfit which will look to expose the Trojan OLBs on the outside, is for Nwosu’s injury to progress extraordinarily quickly.
Short of that, the Trojans will have to get creative with formations, using freshmen Connor Murphy and Oluwole Betiku opposite their normal positions or perhaps shifting inside linebackers Quinton Powell or Jordan Iosefa outside.
Oct 27, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold (14) passes against the California Golden Bears during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Improving, But Still A Work In Progress
The Trojans gained a total of 629 yards on the Bears, the highest total for a USC team in conference since 2005. They scored 45 points, averaged 8.6 yards per play and 8.3 yards per rush.
Still, head coach Clay Helton acknowledged during his Friday conference call that USC is not content.
“The fact of the matter is, this isn’t a time to get comfortable. It isn’t time to relax. The fact is we weren’t perfect in that game,” Helton said. “The turnovers and the penalties can cost us against the four remaining teams that we have left to play.”
USC had three turnovers, leading to ten points for the Bears, and 13 penalties for 125 yards. Five of those penalties resulted in Cal first downs.
What does that mean for Oregon?
Since falling to 1-3 in September, USC has run through the schedule with the knowledge that every game is the equivalent of an elimination game.
“I think the team is buying into it — this playoff mentality. That every game has got to be the most important game of the year because we can’t have a slip up along the way,” said Helton.
Turnovers and costly penalties are the recipe for a slip up, especially against another offense capable of putting up points in chunks.
At the very least, the Trojans can use the Oregon game as one last dress rehearsal to work out the kinks ahead of a make-or-break match up with Washington. Overlooking the Ducks, however, would be disastrous.
Adoree’ Jackson Sets the Record
After spending two weeks tied with Curtis Conway at the top of USC’s career kick return yardage list, Adoree’ Jackson finally got the chance to break the record in the second quarter. Twenty-two yards later, it was all Jackson’s.
Cal was seemingly unfazed by the prospect of Jackson’s ability, kicking and punting to him. USC’s talisman had a 32-yard punt return, in addition another which wound up being negated by a holding penalty.
“I want them to kick to me,” Jackson said. “I think they feel good enough in their punting team and what they have planned to stop me, and I feel confident in our play and our scheme to attack them so it’s just going to be a battle throughout the day. If they keep kicking to me I’m just going to keep trying to take advantage of it.”
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What does that mean for Oregon?
Like Cal, the Ducks might actually try and stop Jackson through containment. Though Oregon’s opponents have an averaging starting field position of the 30-yard line –ranking 73rd in FBS– they haven’t shied away from kicking it to dangerous returners.
Last month, Washington’s Dante Pettis had two punt return opportunities at Autzen Stadium. Yet the Ducks held him to just six return yards.
If Oregon chooses to treat Jackson the same way, the Trojan playmaker will surely embrace the challenge.
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