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| Stanford's Bryce Love will be the focus of USC's defense |
USC is a chic pick to make a the College Football Playoff, and why not?
The sixth-ranked Trojans have another poster boy quarterback in redshirt sophomore Sam Darnold, speed and quickness at the skill positions and a defense made of prep All-Americas. Add in the clutch comeback in last year's Rose Bowl win over Penn State, and it all adds up.
Just don't tell No. 14 Stanford, because the Cardinal come into Tinseltown brimming with confidence after an opening week bludgeoning of Rice, and three straight wins over the Trojans. In fact, Stanford has fairly mastered USC, winning seven of the last nine meetings.
It's no secret what the game plan is -- play physical, smashmouth football to perfection, with a lightning quick running back -- this year Bryce Love, the last few seasons Christian McCaffrey -- a mistake-free quarterback and an offensive line in which all five players play as one.
USC allowed 263 rushing yards in a 49-31 victory over Western Michigan last weekend, which has coach Clay Helton more than a bit worried.
"That's as good a running game as we may face, them and Stanford in back-to-back weeks, and we've got some things we need to clean up defensively," Helton said. USC often was too aggressive attacking the Broncos ground game, leaving open cutback lanes to take advantage of. Love gained 180 yards against Rice, and stymied the Owls with amazing cutbacks and stop-on-a-dime change of direction. If the Trojans don't get that fixed, Love will run wild.
Helton knows that the running game shapes the outcome, and he leaned on something he was told early in his coaching career.
"Games are won by running the ball, stopping the run, not turning it over and playing great special teams," Helton said. "They are the best in our league at running the ball, year in and year out."
Stanford won't be afraid to throw the football, but with quarterback Keller Chryst still finding a rhythm after offseason surgery, you can bet the Cardinal will manage the game mostly on the ground. That means a busy day for USC linebackers Cameron Smith and Porter Gustin.
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| Ronald Jones II makes USC's ground game him (Getty Images) |
While Darnold grabs the headlines, rightfully, for USC, running back Ronald Jones II doesn't need to take a back seat to anyone. He scored three touchdowns and averaged 8.8 ypc against Western Michigan, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with just under seven minutes to play.
Stanford coach David Shaw says that stopping Jones II will have to be a team effort.
"You gotta brings your friends because the first guy might not be able to get him down," Shaw said.
Shaw also knows that even if Jones II gets his yardage, Stanford will need to concentrate on Darnold.
"He's the best quarterback in the country in my opinion," Shaw said. "He doesn't get rattled, he likes the big occasion. We definitely have to try to disrupt him as much as we can or else it will be a long night."
Darnold threw for 289 yards, 142 of those going to Deontay Burnett. Stanford safety Quenton Meeks and his secondary mates will need to keep tabs on Burnett, who has shown the ability to be a deep threat.
In this day and age of tempo, Stanford is a throwback. The Cardinal are deliberate, physical and not afraid to stay within their identity. They don't get thrown off kilter on offense, and are able to brush off a three-and-out series with an even demeanor. Shaw has done a masterful job continuing what Jim Harbaugh started, and he has turned Stanford into a true program.
We'll know around midnight whether or not that program is the best in the Pac-12, or if the star-studded Trojans have the requisite toughness to protect their home turf.
