USC’s D Hammers the Spartans; Offense Sputters

USC defense shines in uneven win over San Jose State

Greg Johnson’s pick-six gives the Trojans much-needed breathing room for a season-opening 30-7 win over the Spartans

Adam Grosbard (OC Register)  —  LOS ANGELES — Despite a hot start and a stifling performance from the USC defense, the Trojans had little room for error early in the fourth quarter of the season opener against San Jose State.

With the offense stalling on three red-zone appearances, USC was uncomfortably ahead by nine with the ball back in the Spartans’ hands. But the short-handed defense had one more big play up its sleeve.

Senior nickel back Greg Johnson (1) stepped in front of a pass from San Jose State quarterback Nick Starkel with a wide-open field in front of him. Johnson returned the interception 37 yards for the touchdown and the room the Trojans needed to complete a 30-7 win Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

“Honestly, it felt like a dream, man, something that I’ve always dreamed of,” Johnson said after the game, still clenching onto the ball from his first career pick-six. “Being from L.A. and playing in the Coliseum in front of all these amazing fans, for me to do that is just great.”

It was one of several standout plays for the defense. First was outside linebacker Drake Jackson stepping in front of a screen pass for an interception that set up a leaping, 29-yard Tahj Washington touchdown catch. True freshman safety Calen Bullock, starting in place of Isaiah Pola-Mao (health and safety), had a drive-ending tackle on third down in the first quarter.

San Jose State (1-1) never made it to the USC side of the field in the first quarter, and only did so in the second after Ben Griffiths was forced to punt out of the Trojans’ end zone. USC (1-0) held the Spartans without a third-down conversion in seven first-half attempts.

And when the Spartans were threatening to cut into USC’s 16-point lead in the fourth quarter, USC responded with a red-zone stand, with Jayden Williams coming up with a goal-line pass breakup and the Trojans forcing a long pass on fourth down to turn the ball over on downs.

USC did it all despite a litany of injuries that left starters Jackson, Chris Steele (hamstring) and Nick Figueroa (AC joint) on the bench for much of the second half.

“Hell yeah, man, it felt great just to know we can rely on everybody,” Steele said. “I’m very proud of everybody. I’m proud of the growth that we’re making as a defense. It’s going to be really exciting, we’re just going to keep getting better week by week.”

The defense’s play helped cover for an uneven performance from the USC offense.

The Trojans scored on their first two drives to build a 10-0 lead. The run game was able to get moving, with newcomer Keaontay Ingram and Vavae Malepeai combining for 114 yards on 19 first-half carries. Ingram broke a couple of outside runs that elicited oohs and aahs from the Coliseum crowd of 54,398.

The offseason churn in the air attack, though, was evident. After completing 12 of his first 14 attempts, quarterback Kedon Slovis finished the second quarter 1-for-7 for just 3 yards. Washington and Drake London each made four catches in the first half, but no other receiver got involved as Slovis relied instead on Malepeai and tight ends.

By game’s end, London caught 13 passes Saturday, a career-high for the junior receiver.

Drake London #15 of the USC Trojans catches a pass against the San Jose State Spartans for a first down in the fourth quarter. 

USC ended the first half with a lost fumble, three punts and a field goal.

The offense continued its struggles after halftime, opening the third quarter with two punts before making it to the red zone to start the fourth. But a sack, a short completion to London and a Slovis keeper were not enough to set up first-and-goal, and USC had to settle for the third Parker Lewis field goal of the game.

“Not our best day,” said Slovis, who finished the game 25-for-36 for 263 yards and two touchdowns. “Had some good things but again we just got to finish more drives.”

But the defense was there to pick the offense up, with two turnovers turning to 14 points. The plan heading into the game was to make San Jose State one-dimensional and USC did that, limiting the Spartans to 68 rushing yards on 19 carries.

And though the Trojans didn’t record a sack, it was clear their pressure affected Starkel as he rushed several passes.

For a program that’s been defined by its offense in recent seasons, the uplifting performance by the defense — holding an opponent to the fewest points the Trojans have surrendered in five years — was a significant role change.

“That’s what we’re here for. As a team, as a whole, that’s our job,” Steele said. “As a defense, we’re supposed to hold our offense down when they’re not doing necessarily what they think should be doing, and vice versa.”

ocregister.com

___________

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Steveg
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September 6, 2021 4:47 pm

I wonder if Bohn noticed the change in Florida St with a new HC. What does it take for USC to do the right thing?

Steveg
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September 6, 2021 7:55 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

You may be right Allen, but I cannot see that far down the road, I like to take it week by week. After all it is college football and we never know what will happen next. I am still trying to figure out Iowa/Iowa St this weekend. Is Iowa for real or is ISU the powerhouse again this year. If so, I want Campbell to coach at USC.

Steveg
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September 6, 2021 8:01 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Excellent analogy, hostages.

Steveg
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September 6, 2021 11:19 am

Not to justify the offensive performance, but 1st game of the year you don’t show the entire arsenal. Sure they ran a few plays, sometimes very well and other times not. I can understand Harrell’s play calling a little better now, why show more than you need to. What they lacked was killer instinct and the fire to win. They showed off London, and he will be a big focus of Stanford’s defense this week no doubt. I do believe ucla showed a lot more than they wanted to in order to get the win. Georgia had a terrific defensive… Read more »

Steveg
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September 6, 2021 11:43 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Constant excuses? C’mon man. When they suck I say so, but after the first game I am not overly troubled except for the overall program we have discussed endlessly. I stated what I personally think they are missing, killer instinct, the will to win, and a fire inside them. I haven’t talked to Chip or Kelly so I have no idea how they feel, but if asked in the media I am sure they would have to agree with you. I really don’t care what they think, I have my opinion, which is what we are here for, to share… Read more »

Steveg
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September 6, 2021 1:58 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Constant excuses lit me up have to admit. You got me. Not upset, all is well. It just doesn’t sound like you to say nice things about ucla after all these years. Just not a believer in them yet.

Steveg
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September 6, 2021 2:26 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Give them time, you never know.

Steveg
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September 6, 2021 7:51 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

What I meant was give the bruins time, they will fail as always. Helton will never coach a team that plays to its fullest potential. If you think I support the continued employment of Clay the cat Helton, you are greatly mistaken. We are all united on that point.

Steveg
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September 6, 2021 7:59 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I actually would be happy to see the rivalry come back to life with ucla being competitive. Back to the days of Beban to Altenburg to break USC’s heart. They had to play good hard football on both sides and it captivated the whole city.

Chris
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September 6, 2021 6:07 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I know you have this new found love for the bRuins, but they are average. No matter how many times you say they are great, they are an irrelevant team.

UtahTrojan
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September 7, 2021 11:41 pm
Reply to  Chris

Bit they are currently better than our Trojans. You do t have to have love for the gutties to see the reality. Our offensive line can’t fight their way out of a wet paper bag and out OC has not adapted from day one. Do we even have a head coach?

Steveg
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September 5, 2021 8:53 pm

This weekend was one of the best opening weekends I have seen in years. Then we look at next weekend and there is hardly a game worth watching. What is it, week 2 is now cupcake week?

Steveg
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September 6, 2021 11:16 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Johns picks for the contest will be interesting and a real challenge this week for sure. Going to have to do some homework on this one. I am leaning Iowa though over Iowa St. Oregon is going to be in over their head this week I think.

San Diego Trojan
September 6, 2021 5:05 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Cowherd always overreacts about everything. To say that there was a coaching mismatch is a discredit to Coach O. They way he was ball-washing Chip and UCLA today, you would never know he was a pathetic 11-21 the last three years. UCLA has looked good the first two games, and it was a good win for the conference, but the season is so young, and the landscape can change quickly.

HOF19
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September 5, 2021 8:30 pm

Florida State gotta get a turnover now .

HOF19
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September 5, 2021 8:23 pm

ACC takes a kind off hit with Clemson losing to Georgia …..Can Florida State get some of that back tonight ?

Chris
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September 5, 2021 8:00 pm

Anyone watching this game? Incredible. Gotta love college football.

Steveg
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September 5, 2021 4:42 pm

Ucla has a very good running back, lots of speed spread around the field, similar to Oregon. What holds me back from saying anything else good about them is that their competition so far has been pretty bad. Hawaii it was expected, but LSU was pathetic. Their defensive backfield could not cover or tackle, and the QB was not very competent at all. So after the ruins play someone decent I will have a better idea of just how good they are. USC I do believe will get stronger on the defense. Great job stopping the run game which I… Read more »

Chris
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September 5, 2021 3:33 pm

Lots on the UCLA bandwagon. They’re average. DTR is no good, load the box and make him beat you, he’s not good enough to do that.

Golden Trojan
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September 5, 2021 4:04 pm
Reply to  Chris

We’ll see how teams progress/regress from here. Right now they look the best in the South if not the conference, but a long way to go still.

illinoisusc
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September 5, 2021 8:05 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

What I saw was the energy from the players that reminded me of when Chip ran Oregon. He motivates them to move with everything they have on every down. If the ruins go 8-4 or better I suspect the recruiting will pick up substantially and another stick breaks in the Helton dam.

Steveg
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September 6, 2021 2:02 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Man, what is this world coming to. I am not quite there yet Allen, still thinking they will become the ucla we are used to. Competition does that, and they haven’t had much.

TrojanRJJ
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September 6, 2021 2:35 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Allen, Thanks for the compliment. I really dislike Chip Kelly, but he stated over and over, it would take three years to rebuild UCLA. (His 90 foot bamboo metaphor). Looks like he was right. The shortest timeline I have read is 18 months, unless one is Urban Meyer, Bob Stoops, Nick Saban, or gets incredibly lucky. It does not look good for SC when it finally decides The Cat should not be coaching.

Steveg
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September 6, 2021 3:13 pm
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

When they finally find the cure for USC football I wonder how long it will take to resuscitate the program.

Golden Trojan
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September 5, 2021 8:13 am

The Pac 12 is 3-2 against the Mountain West and the 2 of the wins were not decided till the 4th quarter. The North division looks bad, even Oregon looks so-so. The South division hasn’t been tested except UCLA, which looks the best in the conference right now, and Arizona not so good. As it looks to me now that we have seen something, SC has 5 more likely wins in the bag, losses to ND and UCLA, and 4 tossups. 8-4 is possible but my prediction of 7-5 likely, second or third in the South division with losses to… Read more »

TrojanRJJ
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September 5, 2021 7:51 am

First, my hat is off to first to Chris for predicting exactly what the SC run game would look like this year: improved between the 20s and still inept in the Red Zone and when the other team was expecting it. Second, I completely underestimated this D. Without Hufanga, and the talent on the DL, I thought they would be worse this year. I was totally wrong. They are actually much better this year than last. That true freshman Bullock is really good. Finally, I think we are all a bit uneasy because of Clay. SJS was a legitimate opponent… Read more »

TrojanRJJ
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September 5, 2021 8:05 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Allen, you got it right on SJS – SC was fed up with all the negative press and played the best opening game of the Helton era. The Pac 12 North is a grease fire. I sure hope Oregon’s opening game was simply a function of looking ahead to tOSU next week. Right now, the best four teams in the Pac are in the South. UCLA is far and away the best team in the Pac (and should be its highest rated team), Utah and SC are tied for the second best and ASU is clearly the fourth best. I… Read more »

Chris
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September 5, 2021 3:21 pm
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

Fresno St is good and had a game last week. There is always a jump from week one to week two. It’s a huge advantage.

TrojanRJJ
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September 5, 2021 4:35 pm
Reply to  Chris

Should be interesting as UCLA plays Fresno State next week.

Steveg
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September 5, 2021 4:45 pm
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

Fresno will be ucla’s first decent opponent.

UtahTrojan
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September 5, 2021 12:05 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Unfortunately It is very well deserved. When do we start asking if Slovis is not going to be back to what he used to be?
Harrell is not the answer either.

Steveg
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September 5, 2021 4:47 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Let me answer that for you Allen, if JT were still at USC he would either be sitting on the bench or he would already be injured with the O line letting him get run over.

UtahTrojan
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September 6, 2021 1:41 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I would call it bizarro world, but more fitting would be Clay’s world. Where nothing makes sense.

RialtoTrojan
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September 4, 2021 10:43 pm

There were moments that were worth praising, but I have to look at our opponent. SJSU is no LSU. We beat the spread great! But trips to the red zone were not very successful. In the past six years have the Trojans tried a fake punt? I cannot remember having an offensive line that dominated. Compared to the Ucla line we are a group of fat kids versus grown men. It is like Groundhog Day watching the Trojans. They look the same from week to week.

UtahTrojan
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September 5, 2021 12:07 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

The answer to your last question is in the head coach. He lacks energy too. But he loves the hell out of them.