The Business Game

Friday nights light shone as bright as this team did during a pivotal conference win at the Coliseum. Last week we touched on the adversity the group has faced and right out of the gates, adversity stared us right in the face again when true freshman QB Kedon Slovis went down with a concussion. It was time for Matt Fink to answer the call and shut out the noise that comes with being labeled a third string quarterback. Fink excelled and further proved that every student-athlete on our roster is well qualified to be a starter most anywhere in the country.

With one game behind of us of this three game gauntlet let’s briefly touch on a couple things that we saw against Utah.

What we love: Our receivers. I am repeating on this one, but what’s not to love? Michael Pittman Jr. exploded for 232 yards and three different receivers found the end zone. This group is doing a fantastic job adjusting to each of our quarterback styles and making bigtime plays when they are needed most.

Another thing I loved about this win was the manner in which we went about our business. There was energy from the crowd, but it never felt like we were knocking off a giant as an underdog. No storming the field, just good fast paced USC football. Business as usual for Trojan fans who have come to expect good performances each week.

What we like: Matt Fink. Fink coming off the bench on a moment’s notice and taking command of this team. The once transfer bound quarterback returned to USC to finish his college career in Cardinal and Gold and I’m sure glad he did. Fink ended the night 21/30 for 351 yards, 3 TD’s and 1 INT. He showed promise and composure, on top of a real ability to scramble to extend a play.

What makes us nervous: Our defense. Disruptive and threatening in some areas, this unit continues to be susceptible to giving up the big play. It seemed that Utah found ways to break tackles and turn 3-4 yard plays into 10-12 yard gains. The group is also showing signs of wear and tear from the volume snaps they are playing. Unfortunately, we will be without Olaijah Griffin and Talanoa Hufanga on the trip to Seattle. These two have been to the staples in our defense so a lot will be asked of their replacements.

So how do we plug the gaps and come home from the northwest with a win? We control the clock. We run our offense with speed and precision but know when to throttle back and crush the clock to rest our defense. Our running game was shut down entirely to say the least by Utah, but that’s the way Utah plays. If we can establish the ground game, we should have all the tools to control the game and put points on the board.  A big test awaits tomorrow afternoon on the Seattle waterfront, but I know our guys are ready for it.  

FIGHT ON

P.S. This post is dedicated to Joe, a longtime reader of The Late Game, who recently passed away. Fight On Forever, Joe.

sources: espn.com, usctrojans.com/JohnMcGillen