USC Football: 10 Ways the Trojans Can Beat out Oregon for the Pac-12 Title
How soon they forget.
It wasn't so long ago that USC looked down upon its conference as the undisputed power of the Pac-10 (now the Pac-12).
Now the Trojans have been toppled by Chip Kelly and his mighty Oregon Ducks.
Bolstered by the fat bank account of benefactor Phil Knight and sporting their shiny, new (albeit ugly) uniforms, the "quack attack" has now become the trendy choice of those who follow college football in the West.
Perhaps they are right.
Maybe the Ducks have indeed become the best this conference has to offer.
But two years of excellence does not make a dynasty and for USC and its fans, a return to prominence would only mean that they would be once again residing at what they believe is their rightful place atop the conference standings.
But how can the Trojans accomplish this daunting task?
How can USC stop the Ducks brief two-year reign and win this new Pac-12 title in the conference's inaugural campaign?
This slideshow will tell you how.
10. Offseason Distractions Might Help Make Oregon Vulnerable
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If your favorite college football team is making headlines in the offseason, you better hope that it is in February and it has to do with them signing a great recruiting class.
And while the Ducks did have a nice haul of quality prep football players, this had nothing to do with the headlines the Chip Kelly and his program generated.
Instead, it was reported that the Ducks paid a hefty fee to a Texas recruiting service to deliver high school talent from the Lone Star State, and those efforts helped result in their landing highly-regarded running back Lache Seastrunk.
Although the fallout from this incident, if any, remains to be seen, the attention it drew nationally certainly was not the kind envisioned by Kelly, who I am sure would rather be celebrated for his teams' field accomplishments rather than a possible shady relationship with a glorified pimp who delivers prep talent.
So will this be a distraction for the Ducks in 2011?
Maybe not, but it certainly won't help their cause.
9. The Trojans Will Need to Develop a Great Running Game
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In a twist on words, sometimes the best defense is a great offense.
And in the case of the Trojans game plan against the Ducks, it may very well be that, in order for USC to be successful, they need to keep the Oregon offense off the field.
What better way to do that than to control the line of scrimmage by running the ball effectively?
Best of all, a strong running game takes time off the clock and keeps the Ducks high-powered offense off the field.
With this year's game being in Eugene, a strong running game also takes the home crowd out of their normal frenzy as well.
But do the Trojans have running backs to accomplish this?
Yes, a healthy Marc Tyler (last year's starter who had just a tad under 1,000 yards), Dillon Baxter, the electric YouTube sensation from last year and DJ Morgan, a 4.4 40-yard speedster returning from injury, all have the talent to be that guy.
However, the big question is: Can a revamped Trojans offensive line be effective this year?
If the answer is yes, then the Trojans can beat the Ducks this year and capture the Pac-12 title.
8. Oregon Will Miss Jeff Maehl and Casey Matthews Leadership
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One of the factors that played into the Ducks' success last year was their veteran leadership.
With a bevy of senior starting players, especially on defense, leading the way, Oregon's poise was always on display even in the most trying of circumstances.
Whether it was the steady hands of wide receiver Jeff Maehl snaring a Darren Thomas pass or linebacker Casey Matthews viciously wrapping up an opposing running back, Oregon could always count on that leadership to show the way.
Now those players are gone.
Will the Ducks miss that component of their game?
In a word...yes.
To what extent it affects them is undetermined, but it can only help the Trojans cause as they attempt to halt the Ducks recent dominance in conference play.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. USC Installs a Version of the Spread Part Time and Becomes Unstoppable
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Whatever else you might say about the Trojans offense, one thing that can't be disputed is that USC is loaded at the skill positions.
With quarterback Matt Barkley back for his junior year and a ton of talented wide receivers (Robert Woods, Kyle Prater, Brandon Carswell, Markeith Ambles and incoming freshmen George Farmer and Victor Blackwell just to name a few), in addition to great tight ends and running backs, the Trojans have players who are threats to go all the way every time they touch the ball.
If that portion of the passing game can be supported by an effective ground attack, USC's offense has the ability to make opposing defensive coordinator's lives a nightmare.
And if the Trojans decide to install a modified version of the spread offense to take advantage of that talent, it will just add to the Ducks misery if and when they meet in the inaugural Pac-12 title game.
It is yet another way the Trojans can beat out Oregon for the Pac-12 title.
6. Oregon Must Replace Three Starting Offensive Linemen
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Yes, the Ducks still have LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner.
And yes, they are great running backs.
But who is going to open the holes that will spring these two marvelous ball carriers?
With the Ducks needing to replace three starters on the offensive line, this question needs to be answered sooner rather than later.
If the Ducks don't find some capable big uglies to man the trenches, all the talent in the world will go to waste in Oregon's offensive backfield.
And the Ducks vaunted spread offense will get creamed.
5. Ducks Defense Loses Seven Critical Players
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A large part of the Ducks success last year was their bend-but-don't-break defense, led by aforementioned linebacker Casey Matthews.
But of great importance to that unit was the steady play of his defensive supporting cast as well.
When Matthews wasn't in on stopping opposing offenses, he could count on fellow linebacker Spencer Paysinger and defensive end Kenny Rowe to provide support up front, as well as Talmadge Jackson, Oregon's best cornerback, to man the defensive backfield.
Now they, as well as two other key defensive linemen, are gone.
Who the Ducks tab to replace these defensive stalwarts and how well (and how quickly they gel) they play will be crucial to Oregon's success this year.
If this unit struggles, USC can replace the Ducks as this year's winner of the Pac-12.
4. New Trojans Really Step Up
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Of course, it's not like the Trojans don't have their own players they have to replace for the upcoming year.
Both defensive tackle Jurrel Casey and offensive guard Tyron Smith declared for the NFL draft and are expected to be picked early on the first day.
While Casey had capable backups who can step in to fill his rather large shoes, the replacement for Smith (and other spots on the offensive line) is of greater concern to Lane Kiffin and the Trojans.
In fact, USC's offensive line will be need to be revamped almost from top to bottom.
In spring practice, this unit has only six healthy players, including two JC transfers who are not expected to see much playing time.
However, the Trojans have three highly-regarded freshmen coming in the fall and other offensive linemen who are currently injured are expected back in the fall.
How well these and other new players perform for the Trojans this year will go a long way toward their winning the Pac-12 title.
3. Trojans Defense Gels
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Last year there was little in the way of defense that the Trojans could muster.
An inconsistent defensive line combined with a woeful linebacking unit that was coupled with a very young secondary meant that USC gave up points and yards in bunches.
However, toward the end of the season, the Trojan defense began to improve and so far in spring that improvement has continued, albeit against a banged-up offensive line.
For the Trojans to supplant Oregon at the top of the conference, this improvement must continue.
And if it does, USC will once again reign over the Pac-12.
2. Oregon Stumbles and Doesn't Win Its Division
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From the department of the bloody obvious:
If Oregon doesn't win its own division, obviously it can't win the conference title.
While this may be a long shot, it could happen.
But it's not likely.
The Ducks are the class of the division, and although some might argue a team like Washington or Oregon State might give the Ducks a run, it would be a shock if this were to occur.
So if the Trojans are going to win the Pac-12 crown, they will have to go through the Ducks.
Which brings us to...
1. The Trojans Regain Their Swagger and Beat Oregon in the Title Game
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For USC to win the Pac-12 title, they are going to have to find the magic that was such a big part of their amazing run of the last decade.
To do this, they must regain the swagger that comes with knowing you are the best team on the field on any given Saturday.
And that comes from winning.
If the Trojans can plow through a favorable early schedule, they just might find that attitude that made USC so tough not so long ago.
So a fast start is crucial to any hopes USC has of winning the Pac-12.
But if they can do this, they can beat the Ducks, especially if Oregon stumbles early on as they try to replace so many starters.
And that would make many Trojans fans very happy.
Gee, I wonder what the new Pac-12 trophy will look like with Tommy Trojan as its inaugural winner?
Conclusion
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Make no mistake about it, Oregon is a tough team, and it will be an incredible challenge for USC to win the Pac-12 title in 2011.
While Oregon has many questions to answer, so do the Trojans.
But if those questions can be answered to USC's satisfaction, the Ducks can be beat.
Will it happen?
Who knows, but if the Trojans (with the Ducks cooperation, of course) can follow the game plan laid out in this slideshow, then chances are they can return to the top of this new Pac-12 Conference.
And that is how USC can beat Oregon for the Pac-12 title.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
