Shane Foley loves Incline Village and the USC Trojans.  He knows his stuff.  Here is his update on the college football scene this week.  Tim

THE FOLEY REPORT- Week II

 

The National Picture

 

The 1st week of the 2011 college football season is in the books. It is great to be talking about college football again rather than all that is wrong with the NCAA. The kickoff game on Thursday night got the season started right with a shootout between underdog Baylor staving  off a late rally from TCU to beat the Horned Frogs in the last minute 50-48.  The SEC reinforced its national dominance with LSU's convincing victory over the previously 3rd ranked Oregon Ducks 40-27 in the weekend's biggest game. #5 Boise State once again flexed its muscles in dismantling a big time program on the road by beating Georgia 35-21 in Athens. Notre Dame could not overcome Mother Nature or turnovers in their opening loss to South Florida 23-20 at South Bend. Newly independent BYU came from behind on the road to dispatch Ole Miss 14-13. Defending national champion Auburn needed on onside kick to beat Utah State 42-38. Top ranked Oklahoma pounded Tulsa 47-14 and 2nd ranked Alabama rolled over Kent State 48-7. This week, big games shape up with Notre Dame playing at Michigan. Alabama travels to Happy Valley to take on Joe Pa and the Nittany Lions. The #1 Sooners go on the road to take on an improved Florida State team.

 

The PAC-12

 

The newly formed PAC-12 conference sputtered out of the gate with both Oregon schools losing. 24-point underdog Sacramento State shocked Oregon State in overtime 29-28.  Conference USA Houston beat UCLA 38-34, Hawaii trounced Colorado who has now lost 19 straight on the road. Washington was outgained by Eastern Washington 504 to 250 but held on for a 30-27 victory. Arizona, Arizona State and Utah all rolled over IAA schools. Washington State rolled up 64 points in pounding Idaho State but lost starting QB Jeff Tuel with a broken clavicle The Bay area schools showed up with Cal's 36-21 win over Fresno State at Candlestick and the Cardinal hammered the hapless San Jose State program with a 57-3 drubbing in Andrew Luck's debut under 1st year Head Coach David Shaw.  The Trojans were looking for a strong start to the season but got outplayed in the 2nd half and held off Minnesota for a 19-17 victory at the Coliseum.

 

A new season always presents excitement and questions of chemistry on a new team, especially when there are young players that are contributing and starting for the first time. USC entered into the 2011 season off back to back years of 9-4 and 8-5. At many universities across the country, this would be cause for celebration. However, at top tier programs, especially one with seven straight conference titles and 6-1 record in BCS games and combined losses over seven years totaling 36 points, these records are unacceptable. The level of competition both with coaches and players within the conference has improved substantially and USC's drop off has created unchallenged dominance by the Southeastern Conference.  The Trojans were 47-2 in the once vaunted Coliseum coming into 2009 but the last two seasons they have stumbled to a 4-5 home record. There is also the matter of extreme sanctions levied against the program that is creating a rising storm of criticism against the NCAA and its subjective handling of programs across the country. Through all of this, there has been no complaining by a coaching staff that inherited a two year post-season bowl ban and an upcoming reduction of 30 scholarships over the next three seasons.  Last year, the Trojans had a tough time finishing games,giving up touchdowns to their opponents on the last drive in 11 out of 13 games but were not far from an 11-2 season. The dream last year of an "us against the world mentality" and running the table quickly evaporated early in the year with stinging last second, back to back losses to Washington at home and on the road against Stanford. Strong recruiting in the face of these sanctions created an opportunity this year to provide much needed depth from a depleted team in 2011 that consistently ran out of gas.

 

The Passing Attack

 

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was the setting for the home opener of the new season with the newly aligned conference. The #25 ranked Trojans came in looking for a big win and an opportunity to get a look at many underclassmen that were getting their first live action at the collegiate level.  Junior quarterback  and team leader Matt Barkley set goals for this season of completing 70% or more of his passes with a minimum of 30 touchdowns with no more than 10 interceptions. There is no question that the Trojans will need at least this level of productivity to have a shot at winning the PAC-12 South Division.  The game got off to a great start with Coach Kiffin calling quick slants and bubble screens to create a rhythm of high percentage passes to playmakers that can make yards after the catch. There are many that grumble about the bubble screen and the overuse by former coordinator Jeremy Bates but it is very effective if the defensive backs are playing off and if Robert Woods is your target.  It also helps your young lineman get some confidence early. Barkley came out firing with precision and demonstrated a laser focus and command of the offense.  He also utilized his feet to avoid a sack and hit an open target in the first half. It was a good mix of quick passes and some boots to get him out of the pocket at times. The offense also used some no huddle to put additional pressure on the defense.  He finished with a USC record 34 completions in 45 attempts for 304 yards at one point completing 16 consecutive passes. There were five dropped balls that would have made his statistics even better but most importantly, he did not force any balls or have any interceptions.  A key statistic to track is 3rd down conversions. After turnover margin, it has the biggest impact on wins and losses. The Trojans converted 6 of 13 for a 46.2% success rate but they had five drives in the 2nd half with no points and they repeatedly came up short on 3rd and 4th down. This is a team statistic but it primarily is measured with the quarterback.  

 

The receivers were led by Robert Woods who also had a career day with a USC single game record 17 catches for 177 yards and three touchdown receptions. He was named the offensive PAC-12 player of the week.  He is a only a true sophomore but has already stepped into a class as one of the best in the country. He runs great routes and possesses tremendous speed but he is also physical.  He demonstrated his feel for the game with his motion and full sprint to get to the flat for his 3rd touchdown and he showed strong hands by pinning the ball against his helmet for a catch early in the game. True freshman Marqise Lee stepped up as the 2nd receiver and had 5 catches for 32 yards and look for him to get more involved in the offense as teams start to bracket and double team Woods. The tight end position will need to improve for the offense to be productive. Redshirt freshman tight end Xavier Grimble had a juggled drop on the first drive of the 2nd half that would have been a big play in the open field.  2nd tight end Randall Telfer showed some good speed and agility but he had two more drops, one which would have been a tough catch. These are young players playing in big games but they need to step up now and make plays. Versatile Rhett Ellison is needed at fullback but may need to shift back to tight end if the younger players do not step up. He had one catch and looked good bulldozing his way forward. Brice Butler made a couple of nifty catches and was a steady presence. Brandon Carswell had a couple of catches including a clutch 3rd and 15 pickup in the 4th but he also had a drop on a 3rd down that forced a punt when the Gophers had closed the gap to 19-17. Look for 6-5 Kyle Prater to get some opportunities early in the season.

 

O-Line

 

A big question mark coming into this season was the offensive line. It was well noted that left tackle Matt Kalil that had game experience at the same position from 2010. This proved to be a work in progress.  Khaled Holmes was playing his first game at center after moving over from guard. He was still adjusting with one bobbled snap and a shotgun snap over the head of Barkley on the 1st drive of the 2nd half which changed the momentum of the game. The guard play must improve for the offense to be able to run the ball this season. Junior Jeremy Galten was outplayed and almost gave up a sack on USC's 2nd possession.  On the other side, John Martinez had a late hit early in the 2nd half that backed the Trojans up after a big play. It is understandable to have a penalty from being overly aggressive in your first start but not getting off of the ball and getting knocked back in the trenches is not going to get it done. Utah has a tenacious front seven and the Trojans will need to improve quickly to be able to run the ball against them. The running game never got established and the offense finished with 64 yards in 28 carries for a paltry 2.4 yards per carry.  The Trojans were stuffed on several short yardage situations on 3rd down and once on 4th down that forced punts and also kept the momentum going for Minnesota in the 2nd half. If the guard play does not improve quickly, look for mammoth freshman Aundrey Walker 6-6, 370 lbs and Marcus Martin 6-3, 340 lbs to start appearing. Abe Markowitz is trying to get healthy to get in the rotation as well.

 

The Running Backs

 

DJ Morgan had his first career start and showed some good ability. He did a solid job hitting the holes and demonstrated very good balance on several occasions. He finished with 70 yards in 18 carries for a 3.9 average but he did not have a lot of room in getting his yards. Curtis McNeal broke a 25 yard run late in the game with the Gopher defense expecting the pass. He did a respectable job but he did not have much of a chance in the short yardage situations when Minnesota penetrated into the backfield and dropped him for a loss. Dillon Baxter was noticeably absent with no carries and only one catch for three yards.  His well noted conference with his parents and Kiffin told him that he needs to work harder and not take progress for granted.  Look for Marc Tyler's return this Saturday with the coaches looking to get a much better push inside. The Trojans will need to be able run the ball and have balance this season to have any sustained success. There will a lot of schemes coming quickly to counter the Barkley-Woods combination and running the ball will be crucial to getting this done.  The psychology of beating down a defense when you need short yardage and they know you are coming right at them is huge. It also opens up the passing game with play action and the opportunity to stretch the field.

 

D-Line

 

The defense played a much improved brand of football last Saturday even giving up two touchdowns in the 2nd half and hanging on to win. The defensive line played strong in the middle with Christian Tupou and DaJohn Harris stuffing the middle at the point of attack. Harris finished with six tackles, two for losses and also got his hands up to tip a ball.  Defensive ends Wes Horton and Nick Perry were solid on the outside with Perry recording a sack with sheer quickness and strength coming from the outside and Horton almost had one as well but came in too high on a big, 240 lb quarterback. It was encouraging to see pressure coming with a four man rush and there was consistent swarming  against the Minnesota running game in the middle. Big, athletic quarterbacks have been a consistent challenge for the Trojans and they did a decent job keeping contain but were still hurt on broken plays. The return of Armond Armstead will provide added depth and experience if he can get medical clearance.

 

Linebackers

 

Chris Galippo had his most active game as a Trojan. He was consistently around the football and he made some big plays finishing with six tackles, a sack and a half and also knocked down a pass. He is a senior and needs to step up to be the leader on this defense. He did have a clean shot on Minnesota's running back Bennett but missed him completely on their first touchdown. This is as play he has to make. It was surprising not to see heralded freshman Lamar Dawson not make an appearance. Redshirt freshman Hayes Pullard had a strong debut with eight tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and was constantly around the football.  Look for him to make a big impact this season. Shane Horton had a marginal game and looked flat footed at times defending an athletic quarterback. Dion Bailey flew to the football but he also had a personal foul in the first half that set up Minnesota's field goal. With the improvement and depth on the defensive line and a deeper, quicker set of linebackers, look for the front seven to have continued improvement.

 

Defensive Backs

 

The defensive backs also look to be improved although they were largely untested against the Gophers. TJ McDonald is clearly the leader out there and he dropped the hammer on Minnesota's QB to remind him of it.  With the improvement in front of him, he should be able to patrol the secondary and this unit must do a better job not getting beat deep this year. Nickell Robey is a rocket and will continue to battle bigger receivers this season. He is tenacious with great speed. Torin Harris came back from a missed tackle for a touchdown late in the 4th quarter to go up and wrestle for a game saving interception on the last drive. This was a huge play for Harris to respond and also to send a message that the Trojans are not going to roll over on late drives this season. This is important not only for their opponents but also for younger Trojans who are just learning how to win at this level and also what it means to be a Trojan.  The strong safety position has Demetrius Wright and Jawanza Starling but don't count out Drew McAllister this season. Marshall Jones is also working on getting healthy to contribute.  It is going to be important for the defensive backs to be able to line up and play man to man. With a better pass rush, there should be more turnovers this season.


Special Teams

 

Coach Baxter continues to show his worth as a special teams coach. Punter Kyle Negrete put four punts inside the Gophers' 20-yard line, Kalil blocked a field goal, the coverage on kicks was solid, and Robert Woods almost broke a kickoff return. The continued talk about the two point conversions has grown old. I don't agree with the LA Times about it being arrogant but I do feel that it takes momentum away when you don't make it. It also puts your team in a position of catch up the rest of the game until you get it back. I would be surprised if this is a consistent theme but would not be surprised if it used in certain opportunistic situations.

 

Need to Improve

 

The Trojans were fortunate to come out last Saturday with a victory.  After dominating the 1st half, they went into reverse in the 2nd half. On the first drive of the 2nd half, with the opportunity to roll the Gophers up, they burned a time out to avoid a delay of game, had a late hit to wipe out a 15-yard pick up, and then had a bad snap for a 35-yard turnover that changed the momentum of the game. The Trojans had eight penalties for 75 yards including six in the 2nd half. Four penalties came on the last drive including a false start by Kalil and a snap infraction by Khaled Holmes. Barkley must do a better job with clock management in his 3rd season and must avoid delay of game calls. There were also multiple dropped balls, some in crucial situations.  Minnesota made halftime adjustments to come up and play tighter on Woods and take away the quick slants and bubble screens. However, with USC's lack of ability to establish the running game, the offense continued to stall. USC became known under Pete Carroll as a 2nd half team and making great adjustments.  With added depth, the staff has the opportunity to start improving in this area. Coach Kiffin's comments about having "only two players on offense that can play", although not serious, should not be made.  These are impressionable young men that want to play well. The coaches have transitioned a number of players that either did not want to be here or did not fit in. It is important to be able to recruit which the coaches certainly can do but it is also about getting your team to believe. The 2nd year as I have stated, is a crucial year for a head coach and his staff, especially in the face of reduced scholarships. The team needs total buy in, desire, and a willingness to run through a wall for their coaches. As a player, there are times when you need a pat on the back and not just a kick in the butt.

 

The Utes

 

So into the the 2nd week we roll. The inaugural PAC-12 game will be played at the Coliseum this Saturday against Utah and the stakes are huge for both programs. The Utes have won 10 games the last two years and went 13-0 three years ago in 2009 when they handed Alabama their heads in the Sugar Bowl, 31-17. They have gone 7-3 in their last 10 games against the former PAC-10 and they dropped a 10-6 loss on the Trojans on Christmas Day in the 2001 Las Vegas Bowl. Utah is a proud program that started playing football in 1892. USC played Utah for the first time in 1915, a Utah win 20-13. USC owns a 6-3 advantage over the Utes.  Anyone that believes that this will be an easy game is living in the past. Utah has a 12-4 record in bowl games, the highest percentage in the nation with teams with ten or more appearances. The Utes have a strong front seven and finished last season ranked 11th in the country in rushing defense. The team has 11 returning starters including junior quarterback Jordan Wynn who passed for 2,344 yards last year with 17 TD's. Head Coach Kyle Wittingham is a defensive coach and they run a 4-3 scheme and are not afraid to play man to man. Although, look for them to double cover or bracket Robert Woods. Coach Wittingham brought in Norm Chow and they will run a familiar pro-style offense. Utah has a 310 lb nose tackle, Star Lotulelei and a standout linebacker, Brian Blechen who intercepted two passes last week against Montana State, returning the first 39-yards for a touchdown.  Even after their recent success under Wittingham and former Head Coach Urban Meyer, Utah is looking for respect and is coming in with a chip on their shoulder. There is still talk about a team from a smaller conference being able to compete week in, week out in the larger conferences. This is an opportunity for them to make a statement in the first PAC-12 game ever played.  USC dropped out of the AP top 25 after holding off Minnesota to win by two. The PAC-12 coaches picked the Trojans to win the South Division and they still say that USC has the best athletes. The other coaches may pick the Trojans on record but there is no doubt that they feel that there is vulnerability in the land of Troy. Well, it is time to prove it on Saturday. The Trojans have the opportunity to step up and make a statement themselves. The game on Saturday will mark the era of change and new traditions. There are certainly more changes to  come in the conference and likely sooner than later. Although it is early, this game provides a big step toward winning the South Division. It is an opportunity to get better, for new leaders to emerge, to play as a team, to make an impact, to reclaim the Coliseum, to rise up and play like champions, to never quit, and to always Fight On!