The One-Dimensional Games

Trojan fans, 

We now have a good sample size of what this team looks like under interim coach Donte Williams. It is very one-dimensional. Offensively, success runs through a first passing look to Drake London. Defensively, our efforts are built around Drake Jackson. These players are stars, but my critique is that we are very easy to figure out. This was exemplified by our wins over WSU and CU, and our loss to Oregon State. Good teams will have no issue keeping pace with USC and will likely win some games. Substandard teams will figure out our systems out just as easily but may lack the talent to execute to victory. I think a goal of finishing above .500 should be the expectation of the Trojan faithful.

At the quarterback position, we saw a true flash in a pan when Jackson Dart came in for an injured Kedon Slovis on the Palouse. Dart wow’ed fans throwing for nearly 400 yards and turning in a great performance despite tearing his meniscus in the process. I was hopeful that this would light a fire under Kedon sensing a lack of job security, but his results have been mediocre. It just seems that Kedon is not the same as we saw in 2019. For now, it’s Kedon’s job to lose and I am a fan of making sure Dart is at full health before making a change at QB. He clearly has a terrific future ahead and we should preserve that potential.

This afternoon we will face Utah in the Coliseum. Utah has proven to be a divisional contender and is a team that is built from the inside out. Their stout linemen present a real challenge for USC so the game will need to be won in the trenches, and on the edges. Kedon will be forced to make some quick throws, and if we maintain a one-dimensional approach to the passing game we could be in for a long night. USC has never lost to Utah in the coliseum, and they will look to uphold that tonight. The game will be filled with emotion on both sides as Coach Williams revealed that his father passed away last week. Utah is mourning the loss of team member Aaron Lowe who was killed in a shooting just weeks ago. Our thoughts are with both families during these times.

Under the lights, I expect USC to come away with a win, but it won’t come easily.

FIGHT ON

Source: espn.com, Twitter @shotgunspr, Trojans Wire