The road game victory in South Bend didn't happen but there were some positive moments. Unfortunately for Trojan fans there just were not enough of those positive impacts to move the needle. The better team won and we clearly have a lot of work to do in 100% of the program. There wasn't a clear indication that the ship is righting itself at this point and with all that has transpired it's fully understandable although it does leave a salty taste in the mouth of the true fans around the USC Trojans.
Arizona is next up and we are back at home in the less than friendly confines of the Los Angeles Coliseum. The once proud venue used to strike fear in those who entered but today it has become a feasting ground for visiting teams playing the Trojans at home. Arizona by all statistics should not be a big struggle but all games this year and for many of the Helton years has been a struggle. So many emotional swirls around this team that you have to wonder just how big of a guarantee is it playing an Arizona team who is also on the downward spiral.
The Wildcats have lost 19 straight games to date and the Trojans had opened up as 19 point favorites. Giving up more than 10 points and taking the Trojans is a big gamble these days. Seems like a lot of points to wager on the Trojans right now. On the other hand, this is a battle of who is the weaker of the two teams not the stronger. Each team is in decline and each team has unique issues. USC game planning for this one should be to go old fashion. Huddle up. Drop this silly notion of the Graham Harrell outdated tempo and Air Crash. It doesn't work for USC and perhaps the rest of the country just knows how to stop it. Time to go back to basics. In fact, when things are not going your way you should return to the true basics and re-learn your forgotten ways. Arizona this Saturday is the perfect opponent to take that step and retrain this group of athletes. Might be too much to ask of Harrell as he has his ego to deal with but let's face it his ideas are failing and each week it just gets harder and harder to watch the defensive side of the ball seem to know our every move.
Did I mention that Arizona is 3-1 against the spread in their last 4 games the lone loss against the spread was to UCLA.
Fight On
Just win baby and we did. Wasn't pretty given this team from AZ had lost 19 now 20 straight games. Loved the running game tonight with Ingram but the 2 QB mix was part of the challenge. Slovis looked ok in fact at times he looked good. Dart, albeit cleared, should have had one to two series in the 4th and no more. I really think Slovis would have run AZ out in the first 3 quarters had he been allowed to run the offense through the third.
You all have until 3:30p pdt today to update your scores or add your score prediction for the AZ game today. Homecoming and a huge day for the Trojan Marching Band!
Reading a lot from Michael Lev's reporting on the AZ Wildcats you see a pretty glaring trend of quarter by quarter point differential problems.
First quarter: minus-18 (30-48) Second quarter: minus-23 (29-52) Third quarter: minus-30 (25-55) Fourth quarter: minus-42 (16-58)
That just isn't going to get it done. When you look at both schools its alarming how they both show signs of competitive football in short spurts they both know how to fold their tent and let it all go south. One team will come out of this with a win but how they get there is anyone's guess.
The Jaxson Dart progress reports are starting to sound very positive but is that in itself a harbinger of bad thoughts given the nature…