Round Up:
USC routed the Cougars of Washington State 50-16.
Quarterback Matt Barkley was hit and miss with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He completed 64% of his passes for 290 yards.
WSU quarterback Jeff Tuel also had a 64% completion rating for 221 yards, but threw just one touchdown to three interceptions.
Fullback Stanley Havili electrified on the ground for 80 yards, including a 59 yard touchdown run on USC's first play of the game. Allen Bradford's 84 yards led all running backs, but he also lost a fumble. Marc Tyler added a touchdown and 30 yards while Dillon Baxter had 76 yards on 15 carries.
The Cougar rushing attack was headed by Tuel, who managed just 26 yards. Logwone Mitz added 24 yards.
Havili also topped the receivers, catching 5 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. Ronald Johnson, Robert Woods and Brice Butler each caught touchdown passes as well.
Washington State's Jared Karstetter had a team high 89 yards through the air and two touchdowns.
WHEN was the game decided:
Early in the third quarter, Barkley found Woods in the end zone for a seven yard touchdown. The score capped a four play, 93 yard drive to start the half. The Trojans would go on to score 14 more unanswered points to put the game away.
WHO stood out:
Is there a more effective or sparingly-used weapon on the USC offense than Stanley Havili? He is a man among boys and his participation could be the difference between winning and losing in many a game this season.
The defense, particularly the secondary, continues to show improvement week to week. The tackling is better, the pass coverage is better, the overall awareness is better. Also a very positive sign was the pocket containment. Tuel, a QB who is comfortable taking off and running, was held in check on the ground.
True freshman Nickell Robey is starting to show why the coaches chose him as the starter. His pick six was an example of his improved recognition and his second interception was just icing on the cake of a strong performance. He did give up an early touchdown but even then he was in position and his coverage was not bad.
Another true freshman, Robert Woods, seems determined to shed his freshman label as quickly as possible. His play resembles that of a veteran.
The whole team deserves recognition for once again improving in the penalty department. Five flags for 39 yards is significantly more acceptable for this team.
WHERE do we need to improve:
Matt Barkley lacks consistency. That's a big problem. In the first half he looked scared in the pocket. He made bad decisions and bad throws. His two interceptions were costly and kept the Cougars much closer than they should have been. The good news is that he came back in the second half and appeared more comfortable, made better throws and performed strongly. But one half off, one half on will not cut it against teams like Oregon or Stanford and such play could spell disaster against beatable teams like Washington and Oregon State.
Turnovers need to stop. Barkley's interceptions were unacceptable. Bradford's fumbling problem could cost him the starting job, which is a shame considering how well he's been running.
WHAT did we learn:
The true freshman are coming into their own. Robey and Woods were pivotal to the win and Dillon Baxter looks poised for at least a productive season.
Havili will be a key to any USC success this season.
WHY was this game important:
The Trojans are now 4-0 to start the season for the first time since 2007. The team could have easily collapsed under the weight of the NCAA sanctions, breaking in a new coaching staff and inexperience. Instead they have improved in every game and continue to fight through adversity.
Things that made you go HUH:
The mystery of the kickers and the number ten is still unexplained. Is it possible Kiffin is just playing with everyone for fun?
Next week:
The Trojans take on Jake Locker and the Washington Huskies at the Coliseum. Steve Sarkisian's squad is 1-2 and will be coming off a bye week when they come to Los Angeles.
Showing posts with label Robert Woods. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robert Woods. Show all posts
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Minnesota Game Impressions: 5 Ws and an H
Round Up:
USC defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers 32-21 in their second road game of the season.
The Trojan ground game led the way as senior Allen Bradford pounded the ball for 131 yards and a touchdown. Junior Marc Tyler also punched in a score on the ground.
Minnesota's running game was held to 83 total yards, a team-high 40 coming from freshman Donnell Kirkwood. The Gopher's lone rushing touchdown was scored by junior DeLeon Eskridge.
USC and Minnesota saw similar numbers from their quarterbacks. Both Matt Barkley and Adam Weber threw two touchdowns and two interceptions. Weber completed just 51% of his passes for 224 yards. Barkley was more efficient with a 65% completion rating but had less yards, 192.
Ronald Johnson once again led all Trojan receivers with 63 yards and a touchdown. The Gophers' MarQueis Gray had 98 yards receiving and one touchdown.
Freshman Robert Woods logged his first touchdown as a Trojan when he returned a kick 97 yards.
On defense, USC's Jawanza Starling and Chris Galippo and Minnesota's Kyle Theret and James Manuel each came away with an interception.
WHEN was the game decided:
It is tempting to single out Woods' electrifying kick return as the deciding moment of the game. But it was the following USC drive, when Bradford took over leading an 88 yard drive that took nearly five minutes off the clock.
Bradford rushed for 43 yards on the drive which ended with a 21 yard touchdown pass from Barkley to David Ausberry.
WHO stood out:
The aforementioned Bradford was the star of the game, forcing the coaching staff to turn to him in the second half after making the most of his few first half carries. He may not have won back the starting job from Marc Tyler, but he certainly made the case for a bigger role in the offense.
Woods also had his coming out party as a return man. His kick return gave the Trojans a much needed spark and clearly helped demoralize the increasingly confident Gophers.
The defensive line finally looked like the dominant unit the coaches and media observers said they could be. The Minnesota coaches stubbornly tried to pound the ball (more on that later), but the line consistently stuffed the run all day and prevented the Gopher offense from getting into rhythm.
The secondary continued to show much needed improvement. Week to week players like Nickell Robey and Jawanza Starling have seemed noticeably more comfortable in coverage.
Chris Galippo, the much maligned senior linebacker who lost his starting job to sophomore Devon Kennard, was a force to be reckoned with in the second half. He looked about as good as he has ever looked at USC.
WHERE do we need to improve:
Penalties are still a problem. To be fair, seven for 71 yards is a vast improvement from previous performances. But penalties remain a costly problem, killing too many drives and extending too many of the opponent's drives.
The defense is much improved already. However, they still have a long way to go. The pass coverage is too porous, especially on routes coming across the middle. Also, the pass rush is not as effective as it could and should be.
Matt Barkley overthrows/under throws receivers far too often and seems to lack proper touch on his mid range passes. After protecting the ball in the first two games, he threw two interceptions on two ill-advised and inaccurate throws. Consistency is the name of the game and Barkley lacks that right now.
WHAT did we learn:
A) The defense can tackle properly. Something appeared to click in the USC defenders this week and all of the sudden they started wrapping up. Amazing.
B) The running back competition is not decided yet. The seniors Allen Bradford and CJ Gable are not content to let the younger guys have all the glory just yet.
WHY will this game be remembered:
Allen Bradford put himself back on the map. Robert Woods established himself as a special teams threat.
Things that made you go HUH:
As wonderful as it was to see the defense once again step up their play, I have a bone to pick with the Minnesota coaching staff. In football you often have to balance playing your style and exploiting the opposing team's weakness. In regards to that balance, there is a fine line between patiently maintaining your game plan and stubbornly (and detrimentally) sticking to a plan that isn't working. I believed the Minnesota coaches crossed that line and more. Instead of putting the game in the capable hands of their senior quarterback against a suspect Trojan secondary, they forced the run. For USC it was a godsend. With the Gophers insisting on running up the middle over and over against a defensive line that was not giving any ground, the Trojans were able to shut down the Minnesota offense and give the USC offense time to pull away. But I can only imagine how this game would have looked had Minnesota truly tested the secondary.
Kickers Joe Houston and Jacob Harfman were both assigned the number ten for the game. Kiffin said that it was a strategic change that he doesn't want to give away...I have no idea what that means.
Next Week:
The Trojans travel to Pullman to face the Washington State Cougars. WSU is 1-2, their only win coming against Montana State. This week they lost to Southern Methodist 35-21.
USC defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers 32-21 in their second road game of the season.
The Trojan ground game led the way as senior Allen Bradford pounded the ball for 131 yards and a touchdown. Junior Marc Tyler also punched in a score on the ground.
Minnesota's running game was held to 83 total yards, a team-high 40 coming from freshman Donnell Kirkwood. The Gopher's lone rushing touchdown was scored by junior DeLeon Eskridge.
USC and Minnesota saw similar numbers from their quarterbacks. Both Matt Barkley and Adam Weber threw two touchdowns and two interceptions. Weber completed just 51% of his passes for 224 yards. Barkley was more efficient with a 65% completion rating but had less yards, 192.
Ronald Johnson once again led all Trojan receivers with 63 yards and a touchdown. The Gophers' MarQueis Gray had 98 yards receiving and one touchdown.
Freshman Robert Woods logged his first touchdown as a Trojan when he returned a kick 97 yards.
On defense, USC's Jawanza Starling and Chris Galippo and Minnesota's Kyle Theret and James Manuel each came away with an interception.
WHEN was the game decided:
It is tempting to single out Woods' electrifying kick return as the deciding moment of the game. But it was the following USC drive, when Bradford took over leading an 88 yard drive that took nearly five minutes off the clock.
Bradford rushed for 43 yards on the drive which ended with a 21 yard touchdown pass from Barkley to David Ausberry.
WHO stood out:
The aforementioned Bradford was the star of the game, forcing the coaching staff to turn to him in the second half after making the most of his few first half carries. He may not have won back the starting job from Marc Tyler, but he certainly made the case for a bigger role in the offense.
Woods also had his coming out party as a return man. His kick return gave the Trojans a much needed spark and clearly helped demoralize the increasingly confident Gophers.
The defensive line finally looked like the dominant unit the coaches and media observers said they could be. The Minnesota coaches stubbornly tried to pound the ball (more on that later), but the line consistently stuffed the run all day and prevented the Gopher offense from getting into rhythm.
The secondary continued to show much needed improvement. Week to week players like Nickell Robey and Jawanza Starling have seemed noticeably more comfortable in coverage.
Chris Galippo, the much maligned senior linebacker who lost his starting job to sophomore Devon Kennard, was a force to be reckoned with in the second half. He looked about as good as he has ever looked at USC.
WHERE do we need to improve:
Penalties are still a problem. To be fair, seven for 71 yards is a vast improvement from previous performances. But penalties remain a costly problem, killing too many drives and extending too many of the opponent's drives.
The defense is much improved already. However, they still have a long way to go. The pass coverage is too porous, especially on routes coming across the middle. Also, the pass rush is not as effective as it could and should be.
Matt Barkley overthrows/under throws receivers far too often and seems to lack proper touch on his mid range passes. After protecting the ball in the first two games, he threw two interceptions on two ill-advised and inaccurate throws. Consistency is the name of the game and Barkley lacks that right now.
WHAT did we learn:
A) The defense can tackle properly. Something appeared to click in the USC defenders this week and all of the sudden they started wrapping up. Amazing.
B) The running back competition is not decided yet. The seniors Allen Bradford and CJ Gable are not content to let the younger guys have all the glory just yet.
WHY will this game be remembered:
Allen Bradford put himself back on the map. Robert Woods established himself as a special teams threat.
Things that made you go HUH:
As wonderful as it was to see the defense once again step up their play, I have a bone to pick with the Minnesota coaching staff. In football you often have to balance playing your style and exploiting the opposing team's weakness. In regards to that balance, there is a fine line between patiently maintaining your game plan and stubbornly (and detrimentally) sticking to a plan that isn't working. I believed the Minnesota coaches crossed that line and more. Instead of putting the game in the capable hands of their senior quarterback against a suspect Trojan secondary, they forced the run. For USC it was a godsend. With the Gophers insisting on running up the middle over and over against a defensive line that was not giving any ground, the Trojans were able to shut down the Minnesota offense and give the USC offense time to pull away. But I can only imagine how this game would have looked had Minnesota truly tested the secondary.
Kickers Joe Houston and Jacob Harfman were both assigned the number ten for the game. Kiffin said that it was a strategic change that he doesn't want to give away...I have no idea what that means.
Next Week:
The Trojans travel to Pullman to face the Washington State Cougars. WSU is 1-2, their only win coming against Montana State. This week they lost to Southern Methodist 35-21.
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