HB Pony Dad wrote:03Mustang wrote:See, even Pete Carroll acknowledges the best-case scenario ranking for SC
USC will need to be very fortunate indeed to climb that high!
USC vs. Arizona
By Scouts, Inc
Insider
Friday, October 24, 2008
USC at Arizona Matchups
QB RB WR OL DL LB DB ST Coach Overall
USC offense vs. Arizona defense
There's no denying that USC is loaded at running back. C.J. Gable, Stafon Johnson and Broderick Green each rushed for more than 100 yards last week against Washington State, and none of them is even listed as the starter. That would be Joe McKnight, who missed last week with a turf toe injury and is questionable this week. If he can't go, Johnson and Gable should get the bulk of the work. Gable possesses great straight-line speed and vision, and Johnson is a powerful back capable of picking up tough yards between the tackles. Fortunately for the Trojans, they also have good depth along the offensive line because RG Zack Heberer has a turf toe injury and ROT Butch Lewis is battling an illness. Both are listed as questionable. Heberer's backup, Alex Parsons, and Lewis' backup, Nick Howell, have both done a good job of filling in, and that doesn't bode well for Arizona's undersized defensive front. At 280 pounds DT Kaniela Tuipulotu is the Wildcats' heaviest starting defensive lineman by 15 pounds. Look for the Trojans to control the line of scrimmage and consistently get bodies on an Arizona linebacker corps led by WLB Sterling Lewis.
As if figuring out ways to stop the Trojans' ground game weren't a big enough challenge for Arizona defensive coordinator Mark Stoops, he also has to find ways to slow down one of the nation's most talented quarterbacks in Mark Sanchez, who is playing with tremendous confidence and threw for five touchdowns in just one half last week. The good news for Stoops is that he fields a talented secondary and his defense is holding opponents to an average of just 151.6 passing yards per game. CB Devin Ross is a playmaker who can change directions quickly and breaks on the ball well. Opposite him, Marquis Hundley is a sound tackler who has the long arms to knock passes away even when he isn't in a great position to make a play on the ball. Meanwhile, safeties Nate Ness and Cam Nelson are steady in the middle. However, even this secondary will have a difficult time slowing down a versatile and deep USC receiving corps. The size of 6-foot-5, 220-pound Patrick Turner and 6-4, 235-pound David Ausberry is going to give the considerably smaller Ross and Hundley problems. In addition, Damian Williams and Ronald Johnson have excellent speed and track the ball fairly well. The Wildcats have to protect their secondary by forcing Sanchez to get rid of the ball quickly, and that won't be easy. The Trojans have done a good job of keeping Sanchez upright while Arizona has struggled to mount a consistent pass rush.
No. 5 USC vs. Arizona
USC vs. Arizona
When: Sat., Oct. 25, 10:15 p.m.
Where: Tucson, Ariz.
Preview: Trojans rolling into Tucson
Arizona Offense vs. USC Defense
RB Nic Grigsby fumbled on Arizona's first offensive play last week. Head coach Mike Stoops pulled him from the game, opening the door for true freshman Keola Antolin to make an impact. Antolin made the most of the opportunity by carrying the ball 21 times for 149 yards and three touchdowns. Grigsby is still expected to start despite his problems holding on to the football and the fact that the Trojans have forced seven fumbles this year. But Antolin is sure to get some touches in relief. He actually matches up better against a USC run defense that's giving up an average of just 83.7 yards per game. At 5-8, Antolin is two inches shorter than Grigsby, and his size makes it harder for linebackers to find him. The Trojans have had problems stopping quick, undersized backs -- remember, 5-7 Oregon State RB Jacquizz Rodgers rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns against USC -- but nothing is going to come easy against the USC front seven. DT Fili Moala's quick first step makes him a disruptive force in the middle, and DE Kyle Moore has been a pillar on the edge with 5.5 tackles for loss. Behind the front four, 260-pound ILB Rey Maualuga and 255-pound SLB Brian Cushing are difference-makers who have rare speed for their size.
Wildcats QB Willie Tuitama has thrown for 1,691 yards and 15 touchdowns with just three interceptions. One of the biggest reasons for his success is a talented receiving corps led by WR Mike Thomas and TE Rob Gronkowski, who have combined for 10 touchdown receptions. Thomas is a crisp route-runner while the 6-6, 260-pound Gronkowski is fast enough to stretch the field. However, Tuitama and the rest of the offense face their toughest challenge to date. No FBS team is giving up fewer passing yards per game than USC, and cornerbacks Josh Pinkard and Cary Harris, along with safeties Kevin Ellison and Taylor Mays, all possess excellent size and speed. Both Cushing and Maualuga show great awareness in coverage and are fast enough to run with Gronkowski. Making his job that much harder, Tuitama faces a relentless Trojan pass rush, and the Wildcats have not done a great job of keeping him upright. DEs Moore, Clay Matthews and Everson Griffen have the initial quickness to turn the corner when they time the snap right, and Maualuga and Cushing show excellent closing speed when asked to blitz.
Special Teams
Key individual matchup
Arizona QB Willie Tuitama vs. USC SS Kevin Ellison
This matchup sets up as a classic cat-and-mouse game. Ellison does a sound job of disguising coverages before the snap, while Tuitama generally reads defenses well and makes good decisions. Tuitama must recognize when Ellison creeps up to the line of scrimmage in an effort to bolster the run defense and check out of the play if it's a run in his direction. Ellison is a physical run-stuffer who leads the team with 41 tackles. Additionally, Tuitama must continue to take what the defense gives him. Ellison shows sharp instincts and rarely gets caught out of position, so Tuitama can't assume he's going to jump up when Arizona runs play-action. Problem is, locating the open man is a lot easier said than done when working against a USC pass rush that should force him to get rid of the ball quickly.
Trojan PK David Buehler has been perfect on the year, connecting on all four of his field goal attempts and notching a long of 42 yards. He will also handle the kickoff duties and is averaging an impressive 66.5 yards per kickoff with 26 touchbacks in 44 attempts. PT Greg Woidneck is averaging just 38 yards per punt but has shown adequate accuracy by placing seven of his 21 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Stafon Johnson returns punts for USC, and he is averaging a solid 7.8 yards per return. Gable and Ronald Johnson handle the kickoff returns, and while Johnson has fared better, he's averaging just 19.8 yards per return. Arizona has covered kickoffs well but its punt coverage has been shaky. Wildcats K Jason Bondzio has been reliable, connecting on eight of nine field goal attempts with a respectable long of 49 yards. He will also kick off, and he's averaging a sound 65.9 yards per kickoff while recording 15 touchbacks in 51 attempts. Arizona P Keenyn Crier is averaging 43.2 yards per punt, and he's placed six of his 26 punts inside the 20. Thomas returns punts for Arizona and has an impressive 14.9 yards-per-return average, and he returned a punt 48 yards for a touchdown earlier this year. Antolin will handle the kickoff returns and he's averaging 23.5 yards per return. While the Trojans have done an excellent job of covering kickoffs, their punt coverage has been shaky at times.
Scouts' Edge
The Trojans have not allowed a point in 10 consecutive quarters, and the defense will lead them to their fourth consecutive win. USC's front four will control the line of scrimmage and let the talented linebackers fly to the ball, making it tough for Arizona to establish any kind of a running game. While Tuitama will make enough plays to keep the Wildcats in it early, the Trojans' pass rush will pressure him into making critical mistakes that open the door for USC to build a lead in the second half. In addition, the Trojans have the talent at running back to protect a lead by controlling the clock with an effective ground game.
Prediction: Trojans 35, Wildcats 17
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:20 pm