Trojans embrace ‘villain’ mode vs Sun Devils
Thuc Nhi Nguyen (LA Times) — Deafening cheers of a packed Coliseum crowd aren’t enough to satisfy Mason Cobb. The USC linebacker prefers the stunned silence of thousands of rival fans.
“Away games, you’re a villain,” Cobb said with a sly grin. “I love being the villain.”
After three dominant wins at the Coliseum pushed USC’s home winning streak to 10, the No. 5 Trojans are ready for their villain era as they begin a brutal road stretch. Saturday’s game at Arizona State is USC’s first of three road games in the next four weeks with No. 19 Colorado and No. 9 Notre Dame on the horizon.
Here are four things to watch for USC’s game against ASU (1-2) at Mountain America Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (Fox):
Eric Gentry brings the juice
Whether he’s hopping on one leg into a huddle to hype up his teammates or furiously chasing down a ball carrier, Eric Gentry’s energy is contagious.
“Coach [Brian] Odom told me if you don’t bring the juice, you’re just a skinny linebacker,” the 6-foot-6, 215-pound linebacker said. “If you do, you can be top in the country, one of the best players that I’ve ever coached. I took that to heart.”
Using his unique wingspan at inside linebacker, Gentry had two tackles, one for loss, and a pass breakup against Stanford after missing the second game of the season with an undisclosed injury. He remains a key cog in USC’s defense despite fighting off a nagging preseason injury.
Cobb is expected to return against ASU after missing the last two games. The team captain’s undisclosed injury opened a starting spot for Raesjon Davis, who had five tackles against Nevada and Stanford. Davis’ solid performance alongside returning captain Shane Lee and freshman Tackett Curtis when Cobb and Gentry were injured proved USC’s depth at inside linebacker and validated the “grimy competition” at the position, Gentry said.
But linebacker has also been USC’s most “disjointed” group, head coach Lincoln Riley said, and with players healthy again, the focus will move toward finding continuity.
“Certainly the linebackers have got to play in sync,” Riley said. “There’s playing your job and doing well yourself, but then there’s obviously a lot of communication that goes on with those guys and really working well together. So I think we’re excited to find all right, is there that ideal combination of guys that really perform at a high level together?”
So many options
Dennis Simmons may have the best problem of any USC assistant: too many worthy receivers, not enough snaps. The embarrassment of riches creates headaches for the receivers coach as he tries to match each receiver’s best skills to specific packages in the game plan each week.
“That is a struggle at times,” Simmons said. “I’m not even going to sit here and try to sugarcoat that.”
USC (3-0) has had 10 receivers catch at least one pass in each of the first three games, all blowouts. Moving into the meat of the schedule with nine consecutive games to end the season, Simmons, after a long pause, said Wednesday the ideal rotation is closer to seven or eight players. But it took him only one question later to regret his answer because he was so impressed with how his group competed during the bye week.
“Our commitment to them is as long as you’re working hard, you earn the right to play,” Simmons said.
Veterans Tahj Washington, Brenden Rice and Mario Williams seem cemented in the rotation along with Arizona transfer Dorian Singer and freshman star Zachariah Branch. Hoping to highlight his position group’s diverse skill set, Simmons could rely more on 6-foot-6 freshman Duce Robinson, who has eight catches for 186 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown.
“He’s going to be an animal,” running back MarShawn Lloyd said. “Y’all don’t see the plays that we see, but it’s only going to get better, just from that long run that he had, he’s going to get better and better. I see him doing things this year because he’s such a great player and he helps the team in every way.”
Solomon Byrd has really come on for USC
While the receivers could start trimming their rotation, it’s the more the merrier for the defensive line and defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, who was told he used 55 different defensive line combinations during the first three games.
“That’s the position that’s gotta rotate,” Grinch said. “You’re asking 280-pound, 300-pound guys to go as fast as they possibly can every single rep and match a 300-pound offensive lineman over and over and over again.”
Fourteen rush ends and defensive ends have tallied at least one tackle this season, led by rush end Solomon Byrd’s nine tackles and two sacks. The Trojans will likely add another with redshirt senior Tyrone Taleni slated to return from a plantar fascia injury, Riley said Thursday. The increased depth has turned USC’s defensive front into a new strength.
The defensive front could thrive Saturday against a depleted offensive line. Arizona State will be without starting tackles Emmit Bohle and Isaia Glass. Bohle, who started at right tackle, suffered a season-ending leg injury during ASU’s loss to Oklahoma State. Max Iheanachor, a junior college transfer who didn’t play football in high school, was thrust into the starting lineup against Fresno State, but he left the game with an injury and is out this week.
Sun Devils are beat up and coming off a bad loss
FRESNO ST DL Kemari Munier-Bailey sacks ASU QB Drew Pyne during the Bulldogs’ shut out of ASU on Sept. 16. (Rick Scuteri / AP)
The injury plague spread to the quarterbacks last week as the Sun Devils turned to their fourth-string quarterback against Fresno State. Backup Trent Bourguet, who started in place of injured freshman Jaden Rashada, suffered a foot injury during the 29-0 loss and third-stringer Drew Pyne left with a groin injury. Sophomore Jacob Conover threw for 89 yards on six-of-16 passing with two interceptions. The Sun Devils committed eight turnovers during the loss, their first home shutout since 1988.
Pyne, a Notre Dame transfer, is likely to play against the Trojans, coach Kenny Dillingham told reporters Tuesday, while Bourget was doubtful. Rashada, a star recruit who earned the starting spot after preseason camp, will likely redshirt the season due to an undisclosed injury.
latimes.com
_______________
Lou Holtz predicts the underdog Domers will beat OHIO ST by 10 tomorrow.
Remember when as coach of ND, Lou would ALWAYS talk up his opponents publicly as though they were the most dangerous team on earth!
Of course, we all knew that behind the scenes he was often telling his team they were going to kick butt (“Leave Jimmy Johnson for me.”)
Tomorrow’s ND game is at 4:30 pm PT. Can’t wait to see if ND goes down in a big game again, something they have become experts at ever since Holtz left the Irish.
I have the Irish winning outright. They have a better QB than the buckeyes. In todays college football that’s a huge deal, just ask Alabama.
I have predicted an Irish win as well based on your QB point and the Irish mystique in South Bend. I’ll never forget when I watched semi-dumbfounded from the stands in 1977 as eventual national champion ND rolled onto the field suddenly wearing green jerseys and that huge wooden Trojan Horse. We lost big-time to Joe Montana 49-19. Trojan players later admitted that when they saw that massively-erected horse and the newly bright green-clad Domers who had come out for warm-ups in their normal blues, they felt very defeated before the game even started. I’ve been to South Bend four… Read more »
I’ve been fortunate to have seen two USC vs ND games in South Bend. The first was in 1979 when USC rolled past the Irish 42-23 with Charles White scoring 4 TDs and rushing for over 260 yards. QB Paul McDonald had a good day as well. The second game I attended was in 1991 when USC was struggling to find a QB under HC Larry Smith. Reggie Perry played most of the game at QB for USC and had one of his best games, but SC lost a tough one 24-20. He was later switched to a defensive back.… Read more »
That 79 game was crazy … #1 SC was stunned by upset tie w/ Stanford week before. Robo and Hackett were fighting on sidelines as ND was countering SC blow for blow in 1st half. Then SC exploded in 2nd half to pull away for big win. I attended almost every game is SB from 1983 to 2009, stopped going after Kiffy was hired, will return this year. Memories 1989 – amazing game, such talent on both teams 1997- 1st win Chris Claiborne was unreal that game 1999 – Couldn’t believe a Hackett team could play so well in 1st… Read more »
Kiffin’s gonna beat Saban today. At least I sure hope he does.
#13 vs #15, and two coaches who are heavily aligned, yet seem to get on each other’s nerves all the time. Go Land Sharks! Continue the destruction of the reign of the Crimson Tide!
Can win it on emotion … and slightly better qb play. But ND pals are concerned about Freeman’s competency. Day better win this or could get ugly for him.
I took ND money line but for not much. Just scouting at ND for SC game !
I used to also be skeptical of Freeman, especially because he came to the ND head job as a first-timer. Tough spot, and his team looked weak in some areas last season.
But I think he learned to concentrate on the important things and not get bogged down in the minutiae anymore.
If the Irish beat OHIO ST today, the Domers will be officially back with a good enough QB to handle the pressure of winning huge games.
Chris Petersen’s eval of Caleb Williams as told to Colin Cowherd “He’s a generational talent, though I don’t like using that phrase. I haven’t seen anybody like this in the recent time at the position. “Arm strength. I used to be very low on arm strength. But now with RPOs, the movement that you’re seeing out of these guys, the off-platform throws. It used to be Tom Brady, Drew Brees hanging in that pocket, rhythm throws. Now it’s Mahomes running around and you need that core strength to zip the ball at weird off-angle throws, “He’s got that. He’s got… Read more »
What Riley did earned him a few notches……good move……as long as Clark Kent got the message and behaves himself…. I assume he has made a few promises concerning his future behavior. The game I’am really interested in is the Bama vs Miss game. Miss is supposed to have a great line and Bama at home is trying to find a QB among all those 5 star Bech warmers. Sort of like king kong looking for a head. Ought to be a full box of popcorn game. If ND beats Ohio S our game with ND will be one of the… Read more »
Actually, young Luca Evans did exceptionally well for himself. He got back on USC’s campus in one single day after battling with one of the great CFB coaches in America. And if you read his public statement again, he didn’t back down. Nobody knew his name at the beginning of the week. Now, who doesn’t know there’s a new USC reporter out there and his name is Luca Evans. And looking like Clark Kent ain’t so bad, though I think he needs some thick black rimmed glasses soon. He’s got instant cred, and I guarantee you this has been a… Read more »
I’d say Luca Evans is more Jimmy Olson than Clark Kent. Guy looks like he is still writing for his high school. He does write good stories, should have a long career. Fun distraction to get to football Saturday.
Luca’s definitely got game. I predict a strong career for the young storyteller. He definitely has that bent and showed it well with his engaging story on my friend Bruce Gelker earlier this week.
Switching gears, Prime already got a parking ticket in Eugene before today’s big game with the Ducks.
Now, it’s personal!
NCAA committee recommends legislation to remove cannabis from banned substances list in all three divisions. Oregon will back this one.
The five top games in the USC-ASU football history per Thuc Nhi Nguyen (LAT) USC leads the series 25-14 and is 11-8 in Tempe 1 Oct. 19, 1996: No. 4 ASU 48, USC 35 (2OT) — ASU goes to the Rose Bowl but loses to OHIO ST 20-17 2 Oct. 4, 2003: No. 10 USC 37, ASU 17 — The beginning of USC’s 34 straight wins 3 Oct. 1, 2005: No. 1 USC 38, No. 14 ASU 28 — USC comes back from 21-3 halftime deficit 4 Sept. 28, 2013: ASU 62, USC 41 — Lane Kiffin’s Tarmac exit 5… Read more »
That was painful to watch no Trojan even try to get to the ball all over again.
The Hail Sarky … the beginning of end at USC for that piece of crap Suckisian
To say things don’t look good for ASU is the understatement of the year
https://twitter.com/i/status/1704943054027907411
I find it very disturbing that USC’s new AD, Jen Cohen, was criticized so heavily by some in the agenda-driven media for not instantly stepping in behind the scenes and stopping Lincoln Riley from banning Luca Evans. Really? I look at her first test as USC’s AD very differently. Cohen comes to USC with impeccable credentials as one of the most respected and already prominent ADs in the country. In 2020, Sports Illustrated named Cohen one of the most powerful, influential and outstanding women in sports. Sports Business Journal named Cohen as a finalist for Athletic Director of the Year… Read more »
Well said Allen, she handled it well. I would bet Folt called him to reconsider, and with him doing it she now owes him a favor or two. It was a good political move by LR. But I have to ask, what is the purpose of having rules to begin with? I am sure Ms. Cohen would have backed LR had he not changed his position and has the wisdom to understand all the ramifications.
Bruce Feldman (The Athletic)
No. 5 USC (-34.5) at ASU, 10:30 p.m., Fox
The Sun Devils are reeling right now. Last year, Arizona State pulled to within 10 midway through the fourth quarter. This one turns into a rout before halftime as one team has perhaps the most explosive offense in the country — and the other team has one of the worst.
USC 54, Arizona State 9
The Pick: USC -34.5
theathletic.com
ASU looks to be in a worse position than Stanford right now. I was hoping we would get to see Caleb through at least 3 quarters this game but they probably won’t need him that long. I am not sure any area of the defense will get much of a test with ASU, but the stats should get improved in areas. Hopefully USC walks away with no injuries.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Moss and Nelson lead at least one scoring drive each. This has the feel of a real route coming. Even bigger than Stanford.
Steveg, The Sun Devil D is decent – the O turned the ball over 8 times (and I think 2 went for scores) and the D only gave up 15 points on 6 turn overs. But, the O has been really bad. The ND transfer QB who played us last year (and went 23-26) is probably going to start. You just never can tell. But I am really a believer in LR and his game prep. I do not think this team will look past the Sun Devils. But, we have seen stranger things – two games that stick out… Read more »