LOS ANGELES — USC has seen improvement in its defense this season, whether it’s consistency at cornerback or a downhill style of play from the linebacking corps. The run defense, however, has yet to fulfill its potential.
The No. 16 Trojans (8-2 overall, 6-1 Big Ten) rank 63rd out of all FBS teams when it comes to stopping the run, and they’re allowing 145.80 rushing yards per game – although they’ve only allowed nine rushing touchdowns.
This weekend, they’ll face one of the best running teams in the country when they travel to No. 6 Oregon (9-1, 6-1).
“There’s a lot of times where it looks like the play’s about to be over, and it should be a 5-yard gain, and they’re turning those into explosive plays,” USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn told reporters after practice on Wednesday. “We just have to have a ‘play’s never over mentality’ and just always attack.”
Oregon starting running back Noah Whittington as well as true freshmen Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill, Jr. excel at breaking off long runs. The Ducks have had 28 runs of 28 yards or more and five rushes of 50 yards or more this season.
The Ducks’ offensive line, which is a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, has a lot to do with that. Emmanuel Pregnon, Alex Harkey and Iapani Laloulu are all on ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper’s Big Board as interior linemen and Isaiah World is on his list at offensive tackle.
They’ll provide an exciting challenge for the Trojans’ D-line and up-and-coming defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart, who had an interception in USC’s most recent win against Iowa.
“Oregon’s got a great team, not knocking nobody,” Stewart told reporters. “Everybody is great on their team. We’ve just gotta worry about ourselves, worry about our scheme and I feel as though we’ll go out there and we’ll go put on the show for y’all.”
The run defense had a standout game against Michigan – holding the Wolverines to a season-low 109 rushing yards – but has struggled to match that performance since.
USC’s defense has thrived in the second half in the past two games against Northwestern and Iowa. The Trojans held Northwestern to 28 rushing yards after halftime and the Hawkeyes to 108 total yards of offense.
Although he’s asking for a full four quarters on Saturday, he’s pleased with the progress in the latter portion of games.
“They went out there, they were flying around,” Lynn said. “They were executing. When something didn’t go their way or our way, I feel like they had a next-play mentality. And regardless of what happened, whether it was a good player or bad play, just line up and next play and make them do it all the way down the field.”
START TIME FOR UCLA GAME
USC’s Nov. 29 home game against UCLA will kick off at either 12:30 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. on either CBS or NBC.
The TV networks will use a six-day selection process to decide the start time and channel, meaning that details will be held until this Saturday’s games conclude.
AWARDS WATCH
USC head coach Lincoln Riley is one of 24 semifinalists for the George Munger Coach of the Year Award. Finalists for the award will be announced on Dec. 8 and the winner will be revealed on Dec. 30.
Three other Big Ten Conference coaches are semifinalists: Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, Ohio State’s Ryan Day and Oregon’s Dan Lanning.