LOS ANGELES – Don't tell safety Su'a Cravens the secondary is the weak link of USC's defense.
While the secondary turned in its best performance of the season, Cravens had a front row seat for all of the action, sitting out the game nursing a groin injury.
What he saw didn't surprise him in the least.
"Our DB's, we're no weak link," Cravens said. "Our front seven doesn't really help that argument just because our front seven is so great. You know it may look like the DB's give up a lot of points or a lot of yards, but really I feel like we're one of the best in the country.
"Our front seven just makes us even better because it forces teams to pass on us. I don't think a lot of teams can say that."
Cravens intends to be back in the lineup this Saturday when the Trojans visit Cal in what could be another test for the USC secondary.
There were lessons to be learned. Cravens didn't just spend last Friday night cheerleading.
"Sometimes it's better to watch because you see what you're doing wrong and I saw a lot of mistakes that (safety) Leon (McQuay III) made looking in the backfield...sometimes I do [that] as well," Cravens said. "Me and him, we're just learning."
He also realized he needed to get back on the field before he was without a spot.
"I was almost out of a job if I didn't come back," he said. "Leon's been stepping in and doing great."
McQuay III had six tackles and two pass breakups in his first career start as the USC defense held Oregon State to 277 yards through the air – nearly 150 yards less than their nation-leading 420.8 passing yards per game entering the game.
Both Cravens and McQuay III along with the rest of the secondary will be counted on to try to slow down a Golden Bears offense that is averaging 351.1 passing yards per game, good for third in the Pac-12.
"We got our antennas up for the deep ball," interim head coach Ed Orgeron said.
Cravens feels the team and the secondary, in general, shouldn't have a tough time duplicating last week's success.
After all, in his eyes, they're no weak link.
