USC Football: 1 Reason Why the Trojans Beat Every Team on Their Schedule
With the start of the 2011 college football season looming in the headlights, it is time to start plotting the the Trojans' success for this year.
In order to do so, there must be some assumptions made.
The biggest question regarding USC this year is the ability of its newly reformed offensive line to function adequately.
And it is here where the first assumption must be made.
With the O-line welcoming back only two starters—one of them changing positions—concerns are abound regarding their ability to keep quarterback Matt Barkley upright and open holes for the Trojans' talented running backs.
So for the purpose of this slide show, let's assume that the offensive line will be good but not great.
That will mean that the Trojans will be solid offensively, but they'll need to be creative in order to be spectacular.
Fortunately, USC has the talent at the skill positions to accommodate that creativity, and it will be up to coach Lane Kiffin to exploit in order to take some of the pressure off his inexperienced "big uglies."
Let's also assume that the Trojans stay relatively healthy, particularly Matt Barkley, for he is critical to USC's overall success.
Now that we have all of that out of the way, how can the Trojans beat every team they face this year?
Well, it's going to take more than just one thing for the Trojans to beat their opponents week in and week out; but this is one person's opinion of how they can do it.
So let's get started on this list of how USC can go 12-0 in 2011!
Minnesota @ the Coliseum (9/3)
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The one reason why the Trojans will win this game:
They will contain Gophers' quarterback, Marquise Gray.
Last year the Golden Gophers gave the Trojans a pretty tough game at their place, and this year they should be even better.
Returning almost everyone from a very young team in 2010, new head coach Jerry Kill promises that Minnesota will get back to basics.
Known as a "run first" coach while at Northern Illinois, Kill will try to establish a strong running attack and then unleash his new dual-threat quarterback, who converted from wide receiver.
Gray, who played quarterback in high school, is a quick and mobile signal caller, the kind that has given USC fits in the past.
Although Minnesota is at least a year away from being a threat in the Big Ten, they are experienced, and their offensive line, though young, is pretty athletic.
Containing Gray in the first game of the season will be a good test for the revamped Trojan defense. And if they do a good job, Matt Barkley and company should take care of business on offense.
Utah @ the Coliseum (9/10)
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The one reason why the Trojans will win this game:
Matt Barkley will torch a very young defensive secondary.
Welcome to the Pac-12, Utes.
When the Trojans welcome Utah to the Coliseum, they will be seeing a different sort of defense than Utah had been putting on the field the last couple of years.
Or, more specifically, different players —especially in the secondary.
Utah will be breaking in an almost completely new unit, and this will be a recipe for disaster against Matt Barkley and his game-breaking receivers.
Look for the Trojans to run just enough to keep Utah honest and then slam them downfield with Robert Woods and company.
Once the Trojans establish a lead, they will turn to the run, use the clock and send the Utes and new offensive coordinator Norm Chow home with their first conference loss.
Syracuse @ the Coliseum (9/17)
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The one reason why the Trojans will win this game:
The defensive line will dominate the Orange.
Though Syracuse has made huge strides under coach Doug Marone, the offense last year was fairly pedestrian and that was before they lost their best running back.
Now the Orangemen have a re-tooled offensive line with only two starters back from 2010.
That same O-line finished last year 93rd in the nation in sacks allowed, which doesn't portend good things happening against a Trojan defensive line that features sack masters Nick Perry and crew.
USC will stuff the Syracuse running game, and when quarterback Ryan Nassib is forced to throw, Perry and his cohorts will eat him for lunch.
Meanwhile, Barkley and the Trojan offense will rely on a steady, if not spectacular, running game to open up the pass, as Syracuse experiences a flux in their back seven.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
At Arizona State (9/24)
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The one reason why the Trojans will win this game:
The Trojans defensive front seven will have their way with the Sun Devil offensive line.
Though this Arizona State Sun Devils team is very experienced, with many expecting them to vie for the Pac-12 Southern Division title, they do have some flaws.
One of those perceived weaknesses is their offensive line, which does return seven players with game experience. But none of them really impressed in 2011.
In this game, the Trojans will get outstanding penetration. In doing so they will turn the Sun Devils into a one-dimensional team, that being their reliance on quarterback Brock Osweiler's arm.
With Osweiler's two backups from last year now gone due to injury, the Sun Devils better hope that someone like USC's Nick Perry doesn't hurt Osweiler. If that happens, ASU will have little in the way of options.
One word of warning, though: ASU's defense will be very good this year, so don't expect the offense to bail the Trojans out should the defense stumble.
Arizona @ the Coliseum (10/1)
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The one reason why the Trojans will win this game:
The Trojans will dominate interior line play on both sides of the ball.
Though Arizona quarterback Nick Foles is one of the most talented gunslingers in the country, he won't be able to show it in this game because he will be running for his life.
Arizona has a completely new offensive line, and the Trojans' defensive line should have a field day, especially if the Wildcats aren't able to establish any sort of running game.
What's worse for Arizona is that their defensive line isn't in much better shape.
And if the Trojans can get the running game going even just a little bit, the Wildcats will be on their heels when Barkley, Woods and company do their thing.
Either way, shaky line play for the Wildcats will spell trouble for them in this game.
At California (10/13)
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The one reason why the Trojans win this game:
Cal's offense should be dominated by the Trojan defense.
Say what you will about ex-Cal quarterback Kevin Riley—and Bears fans have said plenty throughout the years—at least he was experienced.
That's more than you can say about the guys looking replace him.
Oh, Brock Mansion does have some game time under his belt; but there was a reason he couldn't supplant the wildly inconsistent Riley.
Meanwhile, Shane Vereen is also gone, meaning that both facets of the Bears offense will be in need of rescue for head coach Jeff Tedford.
With big things expected from the Trojan defense in 2011, this game should be a serious struggle for the Bears, even at AT&T Park.
At Notre Dame (11/22)
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The one reason the Trojans will win this game:
The lack of a reliable Irish running game will allow the Trojans to key on quarterback Tommy Rees and stifle the Notre Dame passing attack.
This game is always special but is even more so with it being played under the lights for the first time.
And with the Irish having broken the Trojans' eight-game winning streak in the series last year, USC will have more motivation than ever.
Last year Notre Dame had the 92nd-ranked rushing attack in the nation, and with longtime tailback Armando Allen gone, head coach Brian Kelly will be making this portion of the offense a focus.
Unfortunately, it won't matter against the Trojans.
In this game, USC will expose the Irish's deficiencies in the running game and in doing so, they will turn Notre Dame into a one-dimensional offense.
That's when Trojan defensive end Nick Perry and cohorts will tee off.
And USC will have its revenge under the lights in historic Notre Dame stadium.
Stanford @ the Coliseum (10/29)
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The one reason why the Trojans will win this game:
Quite simply, revenge.
Stanford will field a very good team in 2011, but not one without weaknesses.
And while Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck may or may not be the best signal caller in the country, he will have issues with his supporting cast.
In three areas on offense, Stanford will undergo major changes, all of which will affect Luck this year.
First, fullback Owen Marecic has left for the NFL. He was much heralded for his ability to do the little things, and Luck will miss him greatly.
Also, despite the return of David DeCastro and Jonathon Martin, the rest of the offensive line will see new starters.
Finally, the wide receivers, or lack thereof, will affect Luck's ability to shine as he did last year.
With last year's two most productive receivers Doug Baldwin and Ryan Whalen gone, and Chris Owusu still recovering from a knee injury, the Cardinal have switched cornerback Corey Gatewood to wide receiver.
A depleted receiver corp will be a problem for Luck in the upcoming year.
But more than anything, the time is right for USC to get some much needed revenge on Stanford in 2011.
After a close loss last year in Northern California, the Trojans get the Cardinal at home, and this year victory will be sweet.
At Colorado (11/4)
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The one reason why the Trojans will win this game:
Matt Barkley will shred the Buffalo secondary, which was ranked 110th nationally against the pass.
In 2011, the primary concern for new Colorado head coach Jon Embree will be how to get the Buffaloes to defend the pass.
Last year Colorado had Jimmy Smith and Jalil Brown, both now in the NFL, and the Buffs were still woebegone while defending against aerial assaults.
In 2011, they could be even worse.
With quarterback Matt Barkley leading a potent Trojan air offensive, it could get ugly in Boulder.
How bad it gets for the Buffs is anyone's guess, but look for wideout Robert Woods and his cohorts to run wild in this game.
Washington @ the Coliseum (11/12)
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The one reason why the Trojans will win this game:
I'll give you two: revenge, and no Jake Locker.
Make no mistake about it, ex-Trojan coach Steve Sarkisian has done a marvelous job resurrecting the Huskies.
In fact, he has done such a great job that he owns a 2-0 record against his former employer.
That ends in 2011.
And a large part of the reason is that Sarkisian will no longer have quarterback Jake Locker to turn to when things get tough.
Locker, who has moved on to the NFL, was instrumental in the Huskies last two wins against the Trojans, driving the Dawgs to two last-minute victories.
Now the Trojans' overall athleticism and quality of players will win the day, and USC will finally get that first win over coach "Sark."
And it will be sweet.
At Oregon (11/19)
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The one reason why the Trojans will win this game:
The Ducks will miss their graduating starters from 2010 more than they think they will.
Though Oregon returns three star skill players from the 2010 Pac-10 champs in Darron Thomas, Kenjon Barner and LaMichael James, they still have to replace several starters on both sides of the ball.
Particularly on defense, where the Ducks lost three very capable defensive linemen in Kenny Rowe, Brandon Bair and Zac Clark, and their inspirational linebacker Casey Matthews. Oregon now looks vulnerable.
Of course, championship teams are deep, and Oregon is no exception.
But for a team that relies on depth to function in a fast-paced offense, the fact that quality reserves from 2010 are now being forced into starting roles will hurt their ability to rotate as they did last year.
With the game being played in Eugene, the task facing the Trojans will be daunting to say the least.
But if there was ever a time to get the Ducks, this will be it.
UCLA @ the Coliseum (11/26)
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The one reason the Trojans will win this game:
Rick Neuheisel and his inability to recognize talent both on and off the field.
When Neuheisel was hired by UCLA, many Trojans fans were concerned that the Bruins would soon be on the upswing.
A very good recruiter and at one time considered a good coach, Neuheisel has been a bust so far with the Bruins.
Now "Slick Rick" has decided to shake up his coaching staff, replacing both offensive and defensive coordinators.
It's not going to change things for Rick.
You see, the problem is not with the coordinators, it's with the head coach.
Until Neuheisel starts attracting quality athletes to UCLA and uses them appropriately, he and the Bruins will continue to struggle.
Conclusion
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Of course, there will be more than just one reason why the Trojans beat any team on their schedule.
Perhaps the greatest underlying yet unspoken reason was just supplied by that august governing body of all things college athletics: the NCAA.
With the recent denial of USC's appeal of the ridiculous sanctions leveled against the Trojans in the Reggie Bush scandal, there seems to be a look of quiet determination in the Trojans' eyes.
Not to imply that USC wasn't motivated already; but the ruling may have just provided the impetus for the Trojans to spite the NCAA by playing well and winning the new Pac-12 South Division.
Time will tell if that satisfaction is realized in 2011, but in any case USC will look to build toward the time when they are no longer encumbered by the aftereffects of Bush's escapades.
So whether it is one reason or 10, USC and its fans look forward to a very important year, and they hope that its success is just a sign of better things to come.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
