USC Football: Grading Each Positional Unit at Halfway Point of the Season

Think of the midway point in the college football season a bit like midterm exams for USC. A considerable portion of the Trojans’ final grades are in the books, but enough opportunity remains from this part to improve upon current marks.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian said on his Sunday conference call after the Trojans’ 28-26 win over then-No. 10-ranked Arizona that the Trojans were a Hail Mary away from potentially cracking the top five of the polls.

While there are no retakes in college football, USC is positioned to contend for the Pac-12 South Championship and berth in the conference title game by leading the division in the win column.

“It’s good to control your own destiny,” running back Justin Davis said of the Trojans’ position through six games.  

For USC to fulfill a championship destiny, the Trojans must grade out the rest of the way with honors.

"It's only going to get harder," Sarkisian said. "Our conference is really good." 

Quarterbacks

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Sarkisian invested in returning starter Cody Kessler well before the season, naming him USC’s No. 1 quarterback at the end of spring practice.

Kessler’s veteran savvy has vindicated Sarkisian’s decision. Kessler is a methodical game manager who went the first five games without throwing an interception.

Kessler also makes effective use of an array of pass-catchers, whether wide receivers, tight ends or running backs. But for the Trojans to take the next step offensively, they need Kessler to be less conservative in the second half of the season.

“We obviously need to improve our ability to throw the ball down the field,” Sarkisian said following USC’s practice Tuesday.

"The most important thing for Cody is trusting in his preparation...then trusting in the guys around him," Sarkisian said Sunday. 

Ballyhooed redshirt freshman Max Browne’s lone appearances this season came in mop-up duty. 

Grade: B-

Running Backs

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Redshirt junior Javorius “Buck” Allen’s rise over the past 12 months is nothing short of remarkable. Buried on the depth chart at the midpoint a season ago, Allen made the most of his opportunity after Tre Madden was injured.

The momentum that Allen built to close 2013 carried over into 2014—and then some.

With 205 yards against Arizona, Allen set a new career high, nearly matched his final statistical output of a season ago and jumped into the Heisman conversation.

In addition to his labor as USC’s run-game workhorse, Allen is Kessler’s second-most prolific receiving target with 23 catches for 278 yards and a touchdown.

“I didn’t know he was such a good receiver as what we’ve gotten so far,” Sarkisian said.

Allen’s willingness and ability to shoulder the bulk of USC’s run game has been necessary. Sarkisian inherited one of the deepest running backs corps in the nation, but the transfer of Ty Isaac and an injury to Madden have rendered it one of the Pac-12’s thinnest.

Sophomore Davis has been USC’s only real secondary option behind Allen, and the youngster has shown flashes of brilliance.

He scored the team’s only touchdown in its upset of Stanford in Week 2, and his wheel-route scoring reception against Oregon State demonstrated the pass-catching ability that Sarkisian touted as one of Davis’ greatest strengths.

"

WATCH: RB Justin Davis puts the Trojans up 14-10 with his first career receiving touchdown. #FightOn #BeatTheBeavers http://t.co/tHePe1WlXj

— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) September 28, 2014"

Running backs coach Johnny Nansen said this week he wants to see Davis step up as a more productive ball-carrier in the season's second half. 

If the Trojans get that second consistent option to complement Allen, watch out. 

Grade: A 

Wide Receivers

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Four Trojans wide receivers have 13 or more receptions on the year, a testament to Kessler’s commitment to spreading the ball. However, just two—Nelson Agholor and Darreus Rogers—have more than one touchdown reception.

Player	Receptions	Yards	TD
Nelson Agholor	42	405	4
John "JuJu" Smith	22	246	0
Darreus Rogers	13	176	2
George Farmer	13	103	1
Ajene Harris	4	38	0
via CFBStats.com

The receiving corps’ paltry point production is indicative of relative inconsistency all season.

Agholor has been reliable with nine receptions in three games and at least five in all but one appearance. Otherwise, the output from the rest of the group largely fluctuates from week to week.

Part of that might be due to Kessler’s still-developing long ball. Changes within the group could also contribute.

Victor Blackwell was dismissed from the team earlier this month, while freshman Ajene Harris has battled both injury and limited repetitions.

Developing a more consistent rhythm with Kessler is key to diversifying USC’s passing attack.

“We’ve got a lot of guys who can do the job,” receiver George Farmer said.

Farmer added that “cleaning up all the errors week by week,” is central to the receiving corps’ overall development.

Grade: C+ 

Tight Ends

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

An element of his offense that Sarkisian touted upon his hire as USC’s head coach last December was use of the tight end as a pass-catcher. Washington’s Austin Seferian-Jenkins was an All-American while playing for Sarkisian, and USC relied on Fred Davis during Sarkisian’s tenure as offensive coordinator in 2007.

The 2014 Trojans offense has shown glimpses into the effective tight end play that Sarkisian discussed. Randall Telfer has nine receptions on the season, while Bryce Dixon has four, including a leaping catch on a seam route against Oregon State.

"

USC Freshman Bryce Dixon makes a great catch https://t.co/2WtQELx6UZ

— CFBZ (@CFBZ) September 28, 2014"

However, their involvement in the passing attack has been inconsistent. 

Expect more plays to be designed for the duo, particularly the athletic Dixon, who has the potential to break out as a red-zone threat. 

Grade: C

Offensive Line

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The first few months of college can be daunting for any freshman, given all the new responsibility, getting familiar with surroundings and adapting to the lifestyle. Now imagine having to block veteran defensive linemen and linebackers on top of everything else being a college newbie entails.

Such is the task faced by USC’s Damien Mama, Viane Talamaivao and Toa Lobendahn—three true freshmen and starters along the front line.

Mama and Lobendahn have started since Week 1, while Talamaivao stepped in against Arizona State in Week 6.

“They’ve done a good job of just learning what we want to do and learning the system,” offensive line coach Tim Drevno said of the youngsters.

Though not a freshman, Zach Banner is another new contributor to the USC offensive line. Only left tackle Chad Wheeler and center Max Tuerk had collegiate starting experience coming into the season—and Tuerk’s was at other positions. Veteran Aundrey Walker only recently began to work his way back into the rotation. 

That’s a whole lot of inexperience for one unit, and at times it has shown. The Trojans gave up five sacks in the loss at Boston College and three to Arizona State.

But the first half of 2014 ended with what Drevno said was their best showing of the campaign.

"The effort of them competing every down and finishing every play was the best I’ve seen all year," he said.

Grade: C

Defensive Line

Winslow Townson/Getty Images

Leonard Williams has asserted himself as one of the nation’s premier playmakers on the defensive line. The preseason All-American roared into 2014 with an interception against Fresno State, an 11-tackle performance at Stanford and, most recently, a two-sack night at Arizona.

Williams’ outstanding performance all season long has set the foundation, and his teammates along the defensive front are starting to build upon it.

Sarkisian said the defensive line’s overall performance at Arizona was promising. Claude Pelon blocked a field-goal attempt, which proved vital, and Delvon Simmons made seven tackles.

“The field-goal block was a heck of a play by Claude,” Sarkisian said. Delvon showed up last night as well, getting pressure on the quarterback [and] defending the run. We know [who] Antwaun Woods.

“What I’ve been pleased with [Saturday] was Cody Temple,” Sarkisian added. “He gave us 16 plays last night [and] was really effective. So we’ve got to play to our depth. It is an area where we actually have more bodies, so we need to utilize those guys.”

Continued production from Williams’ supporting cast is critical for USC to slow the many potent offenses it faces in the second half of its schedule.

Grade: B+

Linebackers

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Outstanding linebacker play is a hallmark of USC football. The Trojans have endured some struggles at the position this season, however.

Opposing offenses are averaging 4.58 yards per carry, which is in part a function of linebacker play. The void left by Jabari Ruffin, who tore his ACL just before the season, has been evident at times.

Still, there have been positives.

Defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox’s use of Su’a Cravens at "Sam" linebacker has been a revelation. Cravens is the team leader in tackles for loss with 9.5.

"

USC DB/LB Su'a Cravens (@ovo_suu) has been named the Chuck Bednarik Award Player of the Week. #FightOn pic.twitter.com/PGgBhddFmS

— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) October 2, 2014"

His two sacks match J.R. Tavai for second most on the team. Meanwhile, veteran Hayes Pullard remains an anchor with a team-leading 44 tackles.

Improving against the run and providing more consistent pressure on blitzes are musts for the remainder of the season. 

Grade: C+ 

Secondary

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The USC secondary was dealt a major blow less than a week before the season opener. Redshirt senior cornerback Josh Shaw’s suspension rendered an especially young unit even more so.

USC’s many first-year defensive backs are undergoing a baptism by fire, but they have delivered. Adoree’ Jackson is establishing himself as the most dangerous cornerback in the USC secondary.

Redshirt freshman Chris Hawkins has been prone to drawing pass interference flags, and opposing defenses have picked on sophomore Kevon Seymour. Still, each has made plays: Hawkins has an interception, and Seymour’s eight pass deflections lead the team.

USC did not allow a passing touchdown until Week 6. While that’s a function of all phases of the defense, the secondary does deserve a considerable portion of the credit.

Gerald Bowman and Leon McQuay III have manned their safety spots well. Freshmen Jonathan Lockett and John Plattenburg came on due to injuries to Jackson and Seymour, and they played well against Arizona’s potent passing attack.

“[Plattenburg] played well enough to warrant consideration [to start],” Sarkisian said.

That translates to some sorely needed depth going forward.

Grade:  B

Special Teams

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The first half of 2014 was punctuated by highs and lows for USC special teams.

Kicker Andre Heidari’s 53-yard field goal to beat Stanford in Week 2 was a decided high; so, too, was Agholor’s 53-yard punt return for a touchdown against Arizona State.

But the Trojans have also had their struggles on special teams. They gave up a 97-yard return for a score against Oregon State—the only touchdown the Beavers scored all night in Week 5—and long snapper Zach Smith’s injury prior to the Arizona State game resulted in Kessler having to attempt four pooch punts.

The most glaring issue is coverage in kickoffs and punts. USC ranks right near the bottom of the Football Bowl Subdivision for punt and kickoff returns over 30 yards.

Long returns translate into shorter fields for the opponent, putting more pressure on the defense.

One step the Trojans took just before the midway point was out of necessity. Alex Wood took over kickoff duties in Week 7 with Heidari nursing an injury, and three of Wood’s five kickoffs were touchbacks.

At a 60 percent touchback rate, Wood’s average doubles that of Heidari’s. Expect Wood to handle kickoffs going forward, with Heidari kicking the extra points and field goals.

Grade: C-

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise cited. Statistics via CFBStats.com.