Trojans Face Penn State for the Roses

Its probably fitting . . . two teams who were just one play away from playing in the national championship game will face one another in the Grandaddy of Them All - the Rose Bowl.

USC and PSU meet in a clash of traditional titans in Pasadena on Jan. 1st, and on paper, this looks like a good one.

Let's break it down Rose Bowl style:

Penn State

Offense: QB Daryl Clark is the straw that stirs the drink for PSU. He comes into the game completing 60% of his passes, and throwing for 17 TDs vs. only 4 INTs. He can also scramble for yards, running for nearly 300 yards on the year. RB Evan Royster also ran up 1200+ yards behind an OLine led by first team All American A.Q. Shipley. At the WR position, Derrick Williams gets the publicity as the Nittany Lions' best playmaker, but its Deon Butler who leads the team in receptions (43) and TDs (7).

Defense: PSU's front seven is led by All American DE Aaron Maybin who led the Big Ten in sacks with (14). DT Jared Odrick is also a handful at 6'5, 305lbs - and was an All Big Ten first team selection. MLB Navarro Bowman is an active player who led the team in tackles, while the secondary is led by CB Lydell Sargent.

Special Teams: WR Derrick Williams is also a dangerous punt and kick returner. Willias has 1 punt return for a TD, as well as 2 kickoff returns for TDs this season. FG kicker Kevin Kelly is also "money" on field goals of 40 yards or less, going 15 - 15 on the season. On field goals of 40+ yards, Kelly is less successful connecting on only 4 - 8 (50%). Punter Jeremy Boone averages 42 yards per punt.

USC

Offense: QB Mark Sanchez is coming off solid performances the last quarter of the year, and will need to continue to play mistake free football vs. a very disciplined PSU. RBs Johnson, Gable and McKnight will have to take care of the ball, and may find success on the perimeter with their speed. If the OLine can handle PSU DE Maybin off the edge, then they can provide enough protection for Sanchez to look downfield to the receiving corp of Damian Williams, Ronald Johnson, Pat Turner and TE Anthony McCoy. Those guys could have a big day, as SC's pass routes are different than what PSU is used to seeing (although missing FB Stan Havili does hurt SC's passing game.)

Defense: SC's vaunted front seven will face a PSU team that will attack them straight up. The Trojan DTs in particular (Moala, Topou and Casey) will have to occupy PSU's OLinemen and allow LBs Maualuga, Cushing and Maiava to flow to the ball carriers. Safety Will Harris will be a big help in run support, while CBs Cary Harris, Kevin Thomas and Josh Pinkard will have to guard some very capable PSU WRs who may try to do what no team has been able to against SC's back four: go deep.

Special Teams: This game represents an opportunity for SC's kick returners Ronald Johnson and CJ Gable to make big plays. PSU only has 12 touchbacks on kickoffs this season, so Johnson and Gable will get some returnable kicks. Punt returner Joe McKnight is back in the lead role here, but must take care of the ball above all else. The punt and kickoff coverage units for the Trojans must be sharp against PSU's Derrick Williams.

Prediction:

USC - 31

PSU - 10

USC Takes Care of UGLA . . . 28 - 7

Like a weekly chore . . . such as taking out the trash . . . USC took
care of business against the UCLA Bruins for the 7th time in 8 years in
workman-like fashion.

Only a Trojan turnover gave the Bruins a chance to score. But other than
that, it was Trojan business as usual in locking up another BCS Rose
Bowl appearance.

The grades:

Offense

QB - Mark Sanchez was pretty efficient on his way to 18 - 33 for 269
yards and (2) TDs. He did have one interception on a great play by a
Bruin CB, but Sanchez also made good decisions by running for yardage
himself rather than forcing balls downfield. Grade: B

RBs/FB - Joe McKnight led this unit with 99 yards on 15 carries with a
TD. Stafon Johnson also chipped in with 47 yards on the ground and a
short yardage TD. Frosh Marc Tyler looked good again in the late going
with a couple of good runs. The only demerit for the night was an early
fumble by CJ Gable that led to a Bruin TD. Grade: B

WRs/TE - WR Pat Turner capped off a very solid season with 5 catches for
81 yards and a TD. And Damian Williams once again proved he is a
playmaker by racking up 68 yards on only 3 receptions (22 yards per
catch), including a nifty red zone TD. TE Anthony McCoy's role increased
as he caught 4 balls for 50 yards - but he'll have nightmares about the
one he dropped - a sure TD on a seam route. Grade: B+

OLine - Real good game for the big uglies upfront. The Bruin front 7 was
intent on not allowing SC to run the ball, but the Trojan OLine still
led the way to 209 yards of rushing. They also did not allow any sacks
or QB hurries. The only way UGLA got to the QB was on late hits.
Grade: A minus

Defense

DLine - The DLine controlled the line of scrimmage from the outset, helping to limit the Bruins to only 43 net yards rushing. Fili Moala and Christian Topuo, in particular, did a nice job in the middle. Grade: B+

LBs - The trio of Maualuga, Cushing and Maiava were all over the line of scrimmage, and combined for 12 tackles and 3 pass break-ups. Grade: B+

DBs - This unit wasn't tested much as UCLA QB never had enough time to look downfield and only passed for 89 yards. In fact, the Bruin's best play was a trick play (WR pass) that Taylor Mays and crew didn't make the hit on. They also had a few chances at INTs that they didn't come up with , and that was the only negative. Grade: B

Special Teams - Kicker David Buehler had his worst day as a Trojan missing on 3 field goals that kept the score from being a complete blowout. Stafon Johnson also wasn't able to get anything going on punt returns as Bruin punter did a nice job of angling his punts. Grade: D minus

Coaching - The game plan offensively was solid. SC's missed FGs kept the score lower than it should have been, but there were some nice play calls like the reverse to Joe McKnight that led to the first touchdown. Defensively, there was nothing UCLA could do to sustain any drives against the Trojans. Except for the Bruin trick play, nothing else worked. Grade: B+

Game Balls:

Offense - RB Joe McKnight
Defense - LB Rey Maualuga
Special Teams - None

Prediction Winner: DMoody was all over the final score.

USC and UCLA Square Off . . .

UCLA coach Neuheisel threw down the gauntlet before the season by proclaiming that the Trojan dynasty in LA was over! So despite UCLA's 4 - 7 record, SC must put this dude in his place . . . Trojan style!!!

Its breakdown time:

UCLA

Offense - QB Kevin Craft should officially change the name on his jersey to "Pick Six". He's thrown a whopping 19 INTs to only 7 TDs, while completing only 56% of his passes. Under his guidance, the Bruin offense ranks 110th in college football.

UCLA's offensive line and running backs, however, have been no help to Craft. The OLine has led the Bruin rushing game to a paltry 86 yards rushing per game, and given up 35 sacks. Oft-injured running back Kahlil Bell is the leading rusher with 394 yards on the season on 2.8 ypc with 7 TDs.

WR Terrence Austin leads the team with 49 receptions, but he only has 1 TD catch on the year. Other solid WRs include Taylor Embree and the 6'5 Dominique Johnson who have combined for 70 receptions this season. TE Ryan Moya is a frequent target for QB Craft - he has 3 TDs and 38 receptions on the season.

Defense - This unit has kept UCLA in plenty of ball games this year, primarily with a pass defense that ranks 2nd in the country (158 ypg) CBs Alteraun Verner and Michael Norris have done a solid job in coverage breaking up nearly 30 passes between them.

UCLA's run defense hasn't been good statistically, giving up 166 yards per game (8th in the PAC 10). But the Bruin defensive line is solid. DTs Brigham Harwell and Brian Price have chalked up 19 TFLs and 5.5 sacks this season. DEs Akeem Ayers and Korey Bosworth are both light, but they have decent quickness. Bosworth leads the team in sacks with 7.5. Active LB Reggie Carter leads the team in tackles this season.

Special Teams - WR Terrence Austin is solid as both the punt and kickoff return man. He has not returned a punt or kickoff for a TD this year, though.

The kicking game is strong. K Kai Forbath is one of the most accurate FG kickers from distance - making 19 - 22 FGs, including 5 of 6 from 40+ yards. Punter Aaron Perez is averaging 44.5 ypp.

Hidden Stat: UCLA is (-11) in the turnover margin department giving up the rock 28 times this season, while gaining only 17 turnovers.


USC

Offense - After a nice string of turnover-less games, QB Mark Sanchez had (2)INTs last week. He bounced back well after those mistakes, but needs to take care of the ball vs. UCLA, and not give them extra possessions.

The Trojan running game is humming right along at 205 ypg. But SC must be ready to adjust if UCLA run blitzes their LBs up the middle and moves a safety into the "box" (a la 2006). Running and/or passing plays on the perimeter to guys like Joe McKnight and Ronald Johnson will be a must if this happens.

IMO, SC will also see some man-to-man coverage on productive WRs Damian Williams and Patrick Turner. UCLA's pass defense has been excellent, and they are comfortable leaving their CBs on an island with WRs.


Defense - At the top of nearly every defensive category in CFB, SC's front (7) is licking their chops watching UCLA game film. The Trojan defense should overwhelm a Bruin OLine that doesn't protect their QB nor open running lanes.

Turnover prone QB Craft also holds onto the ball too long going through his progressions resulting in sacks. So I would expect Bruin OC Chow to move the pocket for Craft, and give him quick 3-step drop passing plays.

The Trojan CBs and strong safety (Will Harris) will need to be "up" in pass coverage to take away those short passing routes, and make Craft look for his 2nd and 3rd receiver options. By that time, DE Kyle Moore, DT Fili Moala and DE Clay Matthews should be closing like a vice on Craft.

Trojan LBs (especially strong side OLB Brian Cushing) will need to be physical with Bruin TE Ryan Moya to not allow him a clean release off the line of scrimmage. And the LBs also need to watch a decently mobile QB Craft on scrambles (remember, Bruin QB Cowan hurt SC in that regard in 2006).

Special Teams - I look for Trojan punt returners Stafon Johnson or Joe McKnight to have plenty of opportunities in this game. The kickoff returners (Gable and RoJo) . . . not so much.

K David Buehler has an amazing (43) touchbacks on kickoffs this year. And hopefully, punter Greg Woidneck will get good hang time on his punts, if he continues to kick them only 37 - 39 yards.

Hidden Stat: The Trojan pass defense has only given up (3) TDs through the air this year in 11 games.

Prediction:

USC - 34

UCLA - 3

USC Hammers Notre Dame. . . 38 - 3

There's only one phrase for Notre Dame this days . . . Eeessshh! They are not competitive anymore against good teams. The USC Trojans made the Irish look like the JV squad once again this year.

Notre Dame was never a threat on offense or defense, and the Trojans were workman-like in their dismantling of the once proud Irish football team.

Let's get to the grades:

Offense

QB - Mark Sanchez had his ups and downs in this game. He was 22 - 31 for 267yards with (2) TDs. But he also had two INTs in which he failed to read the defense properly. The positive was that Sanchez didn't let those two mistakes bother him. He showed good command throughout the game. Backup Mitch Mustain also threw an INT on an underthrown pass. Grade: C

RBs/FB - Another good game for the RBs. Joe McKnight was the difference maker in this game with a scintillating 55 yard TD run for a TD. Gable and Johnson also had short TD runs. The surprise of the night came from Marc Tyler who ran very well in the second half for 59 yards on 7 carries (8+ ypc). Grade: B +

WRs/TE - Another solid game for the WRs. Damian Williams and Pat Turner led the team with 7 and 6 receptions, respectively, and each had a TD catch. TE Anthony McCoy also had a couple of grabs as he slowly gets worked into the offense.
Grade: B

OLine - This unit controlled the Irish front 7 very well. They led the way to 175 yards rushing. QB Sanchez was sacked twice, but the OLine did not really struggle in any area. Grade: B

Defense

DLine - The Trojan DLine gave Notre Dame fits. NT Christian Topou was active early, and DT Fili Moala had 1.5 sacks in the game. True frosh NT Jurrell Casey continues to improve as he forced a fumble on a nice play. This group helped keep the Irish to only 71 yards rushing in the game. Grade: B +

LBs - This unit is clearly the best in the nation. Not just because of the starters like OLB Kaluka Maiava who had an INT and led the team in tackles with 5. But because of the depth, with reserves like OLB Michael Morgan who had a sack and recovered a fumble. Reserve OLB Malcolm Smith also had the hit of the night crushing an Irish ball carrier. Grade: A minus

DBs - CB Cary Harris got things started right with an INT on the ND's first possession, and this unit played very well in run support. Beyond this, this group was not challenged by the Irish downfield. Grade: B

Special Teams - No big plays from the return teams on this night. But there were no mistakes either. Punter Greg Woidneck only had a 32 yard average on his punts, but many of them were kicked from mid-field where you don't want deep ones.
K David Buehler continues his strong season going 1 - 1 on FGs and nailing 4 more touchbacks on kickoffs. Grade: B

Coaching - Offensively, the gameplan was solid. SC had some nice design schemes in the red zone that freed up receivers for a couple of TD catches. SC ran the ball early in possession which is what I like to see. The team scored 24 first half points on the Irish, and ended the game early.

Defensively . . . the beat goes on. The Trojan front 7 harassed ND QB Clausen all night long and sacked him 4 times. SC pretty much played straight up defense with nothing exotic. There were no CB blitzes or DEs dropping into coverage. There was no need. The Trojans held Clausen to 41 yards passing on the night and intercepted him twice. Grade: A

Game Balls:

Offense: RB Joe McKnight
Defense: LB Kaluka Maiava
Special Teams: K David Buehler


Prediction Winner: Payback is in the building!!!