The Gauntlet Games

Good evening Trojan fans,

We’re halfway through the journey of this season and what a bumpy ride it has been. With the recent three game gauntlet behind us, USC sits squarely at 3-3. Our most respectable win came against Utah, while we fell on the road to UW and Notre Dame. In each instance, USC has had a litany of injures that were factors in the losses but fans who have watched these games know better than that. Fans like myself recognize major deficiencies that still exist within the program.

In the Pac-12 USC ranks:

• 6^th in yards per game
• 8^th in points per game
• 7^th in yards per game allowed
• 6^th in points per game allowed
• 8^th in average punting yards
• 12^th in average punt return yards

We are however 100% on field goals and extra points and have kicked the longest FG in the conference at 52 yards. Credit to Chase McGrath on a tremendous effort coming off of injury.

While 7 other teams have committed more penalties than we have, our penalty yardage is the 4^th most in the conference meaning that we are giving up a lot of free yardage to opponents, 389 yards to be exact.

More concerning than any stats or figures though is our lack of identity. Some games we are successful on the ground, others the running game disappears. Our so called air-raid offense has not materialized as many had hoped and we are not rotating receivers at a high frequency like we had expected Harrell to do. We simply do not pass the eye test right now. It’s not that there aren’t bright spots. Slovis has showed good potential and Drake Jackson is a disruptive force on the defensive line. Olaijah Griffin has been very good but has struggled with injury. Like recent years it seems that we are winning on raw talent, and that we are not feared by other teams in the conference.

A huge game awaits the Trojans tomorrow as Khalil Tate and the Arizona wildcats come to town. With four Pac-12 south teams sitting at 2-1 in conference, this is a must win game for USC if we want to stay in the race towards a conference title game appearance. As we have written so many times here at The Late Game, the stage is set for USC to write its next chapter. Under the lights of the Coliseum and in front of a homecoming crowd, the Trojans will look to assert themselves as a force in the Pac-12 south. We know they are capable, and I’ll be there to see them win a good one.

FIGHT ON.

Sources: Espn.com, Gary Vasquez – USA Today