Well, let's get this season underway. No more talk, its time to get down to business on the road versus the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Trojans spent the last bye week taking another look at youngsters, solidifying spots and getting healthy. So now they venture into the "sea of red" at Memorial stadium to face a Husker team coming off a tough win over Wake Forest.
Let's break it down:
Nebraska
Offense: Our old friend QB Sam Keller leads the Husker attack. So far, he's thrown 2 TDs and 3 INTs vs. Nevada and Wake Forest displaying his old habit for impatiently throwing into coverage. The running game with RB Marlon Lucky is improved. Lucky has stayed healthy and has been the dependable back the Huskers have needed to stay balanced on offense. The wideouts are led by Maurice Purify and Terrence Nunn. The key for the Huskers in this game is their OLine - Wake Forest made it look like swiss cheese for a significant part of that game. They run block better than they pass block, so they better open some holes for Lucky or it will be open season on Keller if the Huskers become one dimensional and have to pass the ball a lot.
Defense: Nebraska replaced their entire DLine with new starters and haven't gotten any kind of push from them - they must hold their ground vs. SC's run game to have a chance. The LBs are active, but light, so they can disappear when they face teams that can run the ball well. The DBs are led by Zack Bowman who's got good size, but will have to match up against the multiple 6'3 to 6'5 WRs SC will line up with.
Special Teams: Nothing special in the kicking game, but the kickoff returner Cortney Grixby is averaging 27 yards a return giving the Huskers decent field position.
USC
Offense: The training wheels will come off the SC offense in this game. With WR Patrick Turner back, QB Booty will have one of his "go to" guys in the passing game. RBs Stafon Johnson and CJ Gable are ready, and Chauncey Washington will play as well. Secret weapon FB Stanley Havili will present the Huskers with another dimension to try and handle - they've seen the film, but will they be able to stop "Stan the Man"? The WRs group also gets back Travon Patterson at full speed, and expect a heavy dose of TE Fred Davis on roll out passes from Booty. The OLine will again start frosh Kris O'Dowd at center and most likely Drew Radovich at right OT. The Trojans ability to run the ball will be key to putting the Huskers on their heels - and then SC will rain bombs on the Nebraska secondary.
Defense: This is a statement game for SC's hyped defense: are they killers or kittens? If the DLine gets it done vs. the pass and run . . . this game will be over. The Huskers showed some vulnerability to a good pass rush, so DEs Lawrence Jackson, Kyle Moore and Everson Griffen need to make it happen. The LB unit will probably have Brian Cushing back, but they need to shut down the "delay" and "draw" plays, especially in 3rd down situations. The DBs will have a chance at some INTs with Keller forcing a few balls during this game.
Special Teams: This is a good test game for kicker David Buehler. The turf, hostile environment, and Nebraska's good kickoff returner will mean Buehler will have to be on top of his game. And it sure would be nice to take the Husker crowd out of the game with a long punt or kickoff return from Desmond Reed, Vincent Joseph or say . . . Ronald Johnson.
Prediction Time:
USC - 34
NU - 9
Nebraska
Offense: Our old friend QB Sam Keller leads the Husker attack. So far, he's thrown 2 TDs and 3 INTs vs. Nevada and Wake Forest displaying his old habit for impatiently throwing into coverage. The running game with RB Marlon Lucky is improved. Lucky has stayed healthy and has been the dependable back the Huskers have needed to stay balanced on offense. The wideouts are led by Maurice Purify and Terrence Nunn. The key for the Huskers in this game is their OLine - Wake Forest made it look like swiss cheese for a significant part of that game. They run block better than they pass block, so they better open some holes for Lucky or it will be open season on Keller if the Huskers become one dimensional and have to pass the ball a lot.
Defense: Nebraska replaced their entire DLine with new starters and haven't gotten any kind of push from them - they must hold their ground vs. SC's run game to have a chance. The LBs are active, but light, so they can disappear when they face teams that can run the ball well. The DBs are led by Zack Bowman who's got good size, but will have to match up against the multiple 6'3 to 6'5 WRs SC will line up with.
Special Teams: Nothing special in the kicking game, but the kickoff returner Cortney Grixby is averaging 27 yards a return giving the Huskers decent field position.
USC
Offense: The training wheels will come off the SC offense in this game. With WR Patrick Turner back, QB Booty will have one of his "go to" guys in the passing game. RBs Stafon Johnson and CJ Gable are ready, and Chauncey Washington will play as well. Secret weapon FB Stanley Havili will present the Huskers with another dimension to try and handle - they've seen the film, but will they be able to stop "Stan the Man"? The WRs group also gets back Travon Patterson at full speed, and expect a heavy dose of TE Fred Davis on roll out passes from Booty. The OLine will again start frosh Kris O'Dowd at center and most likely Drew Radovich at right OT. The Trojans ability to run the ball will be key to putting the Huskers on their heels - and then SC will rain bombs on the Nebraska secondary.
Defense: This is a statement game for SC's hyped defense: are they killers or kittens? If the DLine gets it done vs. the pass and run . . . this game will be over. The Huskers showed some vulnerability to a good pass rush, so DEs Lawrence Jackson, Kyle Moore and Everson Griffen need to make it happen. The LB unit will probably have Brian Cushing back, but they need to shut down the "delay" and "draw" plays, especially in 3rd down situations. The DBs will have a chance at some INTs with Keller forcing a few balls during this game.
Special Teams: This is a good test game for kicker David Buehler. The turf, hostile environment, and Nebraska's good kickoff returner will mean Buehler will have to be on top of his game. And it sure would be nice to take the Husker crowd out of the game with a long punt or kickoff return from Desmond Reed, Vincent Joseph or say . . . Ronald Johnson.
Prediction Time:
USC - 34
NU - 9
4 comments:
Ok, so I'll go a little more conservative witha a more practical score.
USC - 45
Neb - 13
We should dominate and control the game throughout ... all defense!
... getting into the end zone for us might be another story - with them still gelling - and a hostile environment.
'SC - 27
Neb - 6
Look for our playbook to open up more, and our defense to settle in.
SC- 34
Neb- 3
The spread started at 5 and now is up to 10. We are starting to roll.
SC - 34
Ethanol Makers - 17
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