USC offense lacking 'video game numbers' to compete in Pac-12

Published Oct. 7, 2014 5:27 p.m. ET

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Cody Kessler is always looking to do more.

Such was his mindset following the loss to Arizona State last Saturday night at the Coliseum. As he talked with offensive coordinator Clay Helton through it came an answer.

"The bottom line is we didn't score enough points," Kessler said. "That's on me. That's on the offense.

"Coach Helton, kind of, put it in perspective. He said 'If another team is explosive and they score 50 points , we got to score 51. If they score 100 we got to score 101.'"

Welcome to the Pac-12 in 2014. The 34 points hung up by the Trojans, clearly, weren't enough. It's a new landscape where points --a lot of them -- are less of a premium and more of the norm.

Around the conference there have been some "video game numbers" put up offensively.

Just look at Cal. The Golden Bears are at the top of the Northern Division in conference play. Defensively, Cal has allowed 1,442 yards in its last two games but ended up on the winning end in both contests. In that span, they scored 119 points, including 60 points in a win over Washington State last Saturday.

Explosive plays are seen all throughout the conference, so you better have some or else you'll be put behind the 8-ball.

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Such was the case in USC's latest loss and a story of their season. There have been a lack of explosive plays for the Trojans this season.

Kessler completed 28 passes against the Sun Devils for 273 yards. His counterpart, Mike Bercovici completed 27 passes for 510 yards.

Arizona State averaged eight yards per play against USC. Four of ASU's five touchdowns offensively were on plays of 20-yards or more. USC scored three touchdowns offensively, all rushing, and just one of those scores came on a play of 20- yards or more last weekend.

If the "video game numbers" and abundance of points is indeed what's going to shape the Pac-12 conference for the rest of the 2014 season, then the Trojans had better get on board.

In conference games this season, USC ranks ninth in the Pac-12 in scoring offense, averaging 27.3 points per game. The Trojans are averaging 5.3 yards per play which is next to last in the conference among teams that have played more than one Pac-12 game to this point.

There's cause for concern making explosive plays a "point of emphasis" for the Trojans going forward, according to head coach Steve Sarkisian.

"Explosive plays are exactly (the reason why USC's offense this season isn't ranked as high as Washington's offense last season)," Sarkisian said. "We need to be more efficient throwing the ball down the field and when we do I think our numbers will only increase and get better.

"We're doing so many things really well right now that the explosive plays piece is something I'd really like us to improve upon."

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