USC defense trying to course-correct after letdown performance
From missed assignments and poor execution to miscommunication, there is much to work on…
USC safety Isaiah Pola-Mao and his defensive teammates are working to correct the assorted issues that helped Oregon State roll up 535 yds against the Trojans last week (322 on the ground). (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — Four days of space, ample film study and three practices did little to diminish the anguish in defensive coordinator Todd Orlando’s voice when asked about USC’s loss to Oregon State last weekend.
“I’ve beat myself up about 450 times going through it,” Orlando said.
The raw numbers for the Trojan defense’s performance on Saturday are ugly. Oregon State gained 535 yards. Three hundred and twenty-two of those came on the ground as the Beavers used both power rushing and a series of sweeps to break contain on the outside. USC allowed four touchdowns in five red zone trips and let the Beavers move the chains five out of 10 times on third down.
After practice Wednesday, though, USC was preaching simple corrections to help the defense move forward.
A common refrain was missed assignments and poor execution. Another was miscommunication.
“On that wheel that Tyjon Lindsey caught, it was just a miscommunication between our safeties,” safety Isaiah Pola-Mao said. “A lot of people just not doing their jobs, jumping out of gaps and stuff. It’s little things we can fix so it’s not the end of the world. It’s just being locked in, trusting each other and being on the same page with each other.”
There’s just a sense of urgency to get it right with the upcoming dates on the schedule.
This weekend’s opponent, Colorado, is a run-heavy team that returns sophomore running back and Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year Jarek Broussard. The following week is Utah, another team that relies on its ground game.
So Orlando expects to see a similar game plan from Colorado as he did against Oregon State, with sweeps attacking the perimeter, an area that USC has struggled to defend in recent years.
“We know we’re going to see it, so we’ve been working at it to get it ironed out,” Orlando said. “These kids are eager, I think we all are eager to get back on the field on Saturday.”
FOREMAN NEEDS TO EARN SNAPS
Four games into his college career, former five-star recruit Korey Foreman has yet to make a mark.
The former No. 1 recruit in the country has seen limited playing time at defensive end. Foreman had one tackle against Oregon State and only has three this season.
USC was initially hopeful that Foreman would be able to make an immediate impact after enrolling this summer out of Corona Centennial High, with the idea of working him in more and more as the season progressed. But that has not turned out to be the case.
Asked on Wednesday whether injuries have limited Foreman’s playing time, defensive line coach Vic So’oto instead put the impetus on Foreman to earn his snaps.
“I’d say just being young. He’s still 18-19 years old and still learning how to play football,” So’oto said. “That’s up to him. The players that play have earned it in practice. He’s got one more practice to earn more playing time and build confidence in us.”
BRIEFLY
Outside linebacker Drake Jackson was limited in the second half against Oregon State by some nagging injuries, Orlando said, adding, “We’re being mindful – that’s the one thing I always want to do because I know these guys will go out and do anything we ask them to do. That’s almost being protective of them.”
Starting cornerback Isaac Taylor-Stuart did not participate in practice for the second straight day, watching the team from the sidelines.
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