Here comes USC

This year’s rivalry match up may not be the clash of titans we normally expect from these two storied programs but is should be a good game between two 4-2 squads looking to continue to right their ships for the second half of their seasons.  Both are coming off a good rest with Notre Dame having a bye week and the Trojans playing last Thursday.  Both team are coming off wins; the Irish a 37-34 victory over Arizona State and USC over Arizona 38-31.  The Irish have not beaten the Trojans in South Bend since 2001 that was also the last time Notre Dame has beaten USC on back to back years.  If that does not feel like a long time ago Bob Davie was our head coach.

With head coach Lane Kiffen being let go after the loss to Arizona State, right after he was literally asked to get off the bus after the game and fired, Ed Orgeron has been moved into the interim head coach position.  His claim to fame so far out of the Southern California media as head coach is that he is providing ice cream and cookies to the payers making football more fun…seriously.  Ask Coach Boone from Remember The Titans if football is fun.  If the Irish faithful think that Notre Dame has been inconsistent USC fans would say their team has been more sporadic and confusing.  Even before the season started Kiffen waited until the last moment to name a starting quarterback picking Cody Kessler over Max Wittek who stepped in to play the Irish at the end of the season last year when Matt Barkley went down. 

The Trojans scoring offense looks like an EKG machine.  Here is how USC has scored through six games this season 30 v 7 ^ 35 v 17 ^ 41 v 38 (average of 28 points a game).  Kessler has been a good passer throwing for 1129 yards, 8 touchdowns on 81 completions (60.4 completion percentage) with 4 interceptions.  His number one target Marquis Lee who is arguably the nation best wide receiver was out last week with a knee injury but is planning on being back for this weekend.  Former Irish recruiting target sophomore Nelson Agholor has contributed as well in the passing averaging 19.6 yards a catch along with 6’5” 250lb Xavier Grimble at tight end.  The Trojans overall passing game averages 207.7 yards a game ranking 87^th nationally.  The USC rushing game has been led by Sophomore Tre Madden who has 611 yards on 115 carries (5.3 yards per rush) with 3 touchdowns.  Madden also has 13 catches for 198 yards and 4 scores.  Madden has been supported by freshman Justin Davis who has chipped in with 51 carries for 349 yards (6.8 yards per carry) and 6 touchdowns. Former Penn State senior running back Silas Redd was supposed to be the workhorse for the Trojan rushing attack but a knee injury forced him to miss the first five games before playing last week where he racked up 82 yards on 19 carries.  The USC rushing game balances the offense pretty evenly averaging 200.3 yards per game good for 39^th nationally.  Combine that with the passing game the Trojans throw out 408 yards of offense a game.

Defensively USC looked very strong in its first four games giving up and average of just over ten points a game.  However the past two weeks have seen a big slide giving up a total of 72 points (36 point average) in a win and a loss.  More than half of the 2,042 yards given up by USC through six games this year came in the last two games.  Against Arizona and Arizona State Trojan defense gave up 1,120 yards alone.  The USC pass defense has been very suspect in the past two games giving 351 yards in the air to Arizona State and 363 yards passing against Arizona along with touchdowns 7 via the pass in those two match ups.  To their credit the Trojan secondary does have seven interceptions on the season.

Halftime Review

At 4-2 just outside the top 25 rankings receiving votes with two loses in the first half of the season has been disappointing but still holds promise.  It could be worse but of course it should have been better.  Opening with a 28-6 win over Temple 2013 at least started with a victory but the Irish did not look like the team from last year.  The next four games showed Notre Dame being outplayed and our classed by Michigan and Oklahoma and basically doing what they needed to do to get by Purdue and Michigan State.  The Irish may have begun to hit their stride and turn the corner with its victory over Arizona State heading into the bye week and the second half of the season.

What we’ve learned; The Irish are out rushing their opponents (total yards 818 – 734, 4.3 – 3-8 yards per carry).  The defensive secondary is a weakness, giving up a total of 1513 total passing yards, over 252 yards per game, and 13 touchdowns through the air.  The punt return game has improved (there was no way it could have gotten worse) to 10.1 yards per return.  Backs are holding onto the ball as they only have one fumble on the year.  Mental mistakes are hurting the team with 41 for a total of 346 yards (57.7 a game).

Things that are still in question; is Tommy Rees (51.7 completion percentage averaging 249 yards a game, 13 touchdowns with 6 interceptions) be the quarterback to lead the Irish to a BCS Bowl?  Is the defense coming back to be a dominate force (10 sacks, 5 interceptions, 7 forced fumbles)?  Who is/will be number one at running back (Atkinson 56 carries – 345 yards, McDaniel 63 carries – 380 yards, Carlisle 38 carries – 184 yards and Folston 11 carries – 70 yards)?

First Half Awards

Team MVP – Kyle Brindza.  He could have made a few more field goals but he has hit some big ones.  Brindza has also been solid on kickoffs with 20 touchbacks on 34 kickoffs.  All while averaging  41.5 yards per punt.  Overall is has been the most constant and reliable on a team that has not.

Offense MVP – T.J. Jones.  Jones has become the go to guy for both Tommy Rees and Brian Kelly this season on the offensive side of the ball.  Solid route running and sure hands have gotten him 481 yards on 33 receptions (14.6 yards per catch) and 4 touchdowns.  (Honorable Mention - DaVaris Daniels)

Defense MVP – Louis Nix.  Nix may not be leading the team in tackles, sacks or fumble recovers but he is drawing double and triple team blocks and eating up space on every play opening up opportunities for others on the defense.   (Honorable Mention – Carlo Calabrese)

Rookie MVP – Jaylon Smith (Honorable Mention – Tarean Folston and Corey Robinson)

Biggest Surprise – Punt returns.  10.1 yards per return 2013 vs. 2.19 yards per return in 2012.

Biggest Disappointment – Defense.  Based on points scored should be enough said.