Trojans Take on Arizona

The Trojans finally get back to playing Pac 10 football next Saturday (sorry Wazzu - that performance was pitiful) with a matchup against the Arizona Wildcats. The Cats are 5 - 2, averaging 40 ppg, and present the most balanced offensive team the Trojans will have faced thus far this season.

But now they face probably the nation's best defense in USC . . .
somethin' has got to give. Let's break down this key Pac 10 matchup:






Arizona

Offense- Wildcat #7 QB Willie Tuitama is one of the most improved players over the last few years. He emerged a better player last year under Arizona
OC Sonny Dykes new spread passing game, and now is in very good command
with 15 TDs and only 3 INTs. Just as important, the Cats have a running
game with #5 Nic Grigsby (650 yards on 6ypc) and backup Keola Antolin
(149 yards vs. CAL).

The WRs are good, led by #10 Mike Thomas who's been a nice player for a
long time, with Terrell Turner and Delashaun Dean rounding out a
productive trio that's produced 90 receptions for about 1200 yards.

The "not-so-secret" weapon of this offense is #48 TE Rob Gronkowski - a
terrific player with size who will go deep downfield to make plays.
"Gronk" leads the receivers in yards per catch (16), and scoring (6
TDs).

The OLine is solid in the run and passing games, giving up an average of
about (2) sacks a game and clearing the way for a good running attack
that averages 150+ yards per game at 4 yards per carry.

Defense - The 'Zona DLine is led by #42 DE Brooks Reed who has (3) sacks on the year, but that group as a whole doesn't get much penetration vs. the run or the passing game. An issue for the 'Cats is that the DLine is not big at all -the heaviest player is 280lbs - the others are in the 260-270 range.

The LBs are led by a couple of active players in #33 Ronnie Palmer and
Sterling Lewis. Lewis leads the team in tackles, and Palmer leads the
team in TFLs this season.

#32 Safety Nate Ness is the leader of the defensive backfield - he's got
(2) INTs on the year, and the CBs Devin Ross and Marquis Hundley have
broken up a combined (15) passes with (3) INTs.

Special Teams - The kicking unit for Arizona has been very strong this year. Kicker Jason Bondzio has made 8 - 9 FGs, and has not missed a PAT on the season (37 - 37). Punter Keenyn Crier has been strong averaging 43 yards per boot.

WR Mike Thomas doubles as the punt returner and has been very good, averaging 15 yards per return (2nd in the Pac 10), and he has (1) return for a TD.


USC

Offense - SC's offense get some players back this week (OT Butch Lewis
WR Vidal Hazleton and RB Joe McKnight) so they'll be at full strength
against an Arizona defense that has put up some good numbers (ranked
19th in total defense nationally). But the Arizona front (7) can be run
against, as other teams have pushed the light Wildcat Dline around for
big yardage. USC should be able to have success running the ball.

QB Mark Sanchez and the Trojans need to get off to a good start by
scoring and converting 3rd downs to keep the Arizona offense off the
field and change their game plan to rely on passing the ball to keep up.


Defense - This is an excellent matchup for a Trojan defense that has been playing lights out (giving up only 7.8 ppg). Arizona's offense is
balanced, so the LBs will have to be good against the run and pass. And
the Trojan DBs will have to keep an eye out for 'Zona TE Rob Gronkowski
going deep on 2nd downs, and as an outlet on 3rd downs.

The DTs (Moala and Topou/Spicer) will have to clog up the inside running
lanes as Arizona mostly runs up the middle for the spread option, "I",
and single back formations.

Special Teams - The kicking and coverage units have been solid. Still waiting for a big return play from these units. But Joe McKnight was back in practice taking a lot of punts . . . we'll see if he's got his mojo back, and takes the place of the solid Stafon Johnson.

Prediction:

USC - 38

UofA - 13