| USC vs. Idaho -
Offense Notes Date - September 1, 2007 Location - LA Coliseum Result - USC 38 Idaho 10 (Note: I had some formatting problems when I put pictures in this file. Apologies if it does not display or print properly. I'll have more time in a couple of days to look at it more closely...) I am not too sure that we learned very much from this opening game (if anything). Nebraska will be a much better indicator in two weeks. I personally am reserving judgment about this team until I see how that game plays out. In the mean time here are some summary notes and brief statistics from the USC versus Idaho game that started off the 2007 season. It certainly was not an especially crisp game or a confidence building victory to start off the season. After the game left tackle Sam Baker called the performance, "lackadaisical" and I'd have to agree with his assessment. Rather than recap the newspaper reports let's take a look at some items I try to check at the end of most games to isolate some of the keys to the game. I'll divide the game up into several categories in the offense for some cursory review. In a couple of days I'll review the defense. I have concerns on both sides of the ball as I am sure does everyone... How USC Scored
As much as it shocks most people 24 points per game is the USC average of the past few years when starting on their own side of the field. Of course some games have more points and some have less, but *on average* USC scores about 22-24 points per game when starting on its own side of the field (excluding 2005). The difference for USC since Pete Carroll has always been made up by short field scoring opportunities created by the defense (after turnovers) or in some cases special teams play.  So although this game was quite "normal" in terms of long field scoring results everyone including the coaching staff I'm sure will point out it is not really acceptable for this game given the quality of the opponent that USC was facing in Idaho. I was looking for somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 points overall to be scored by USC. That level would have been possible in hindsight except for some irritating executional errors. I'll highlight them below but first let's check some key statistics. Key Stats Check
On the positive side USC scored on its first three drives and went up 21-0 quite easily in the game. By the early second quarter the offense had run through its initial script of 15-20 plays. At that point the coaches may have just decided to keep things in check and not show much to Nebraska or the players may have mentally let up. I imagine that it is some of both. The second quarter in particular seemed somewhat sloppy in terms of execution on drives 4, 5, and 6. The 7th drive was a one play drive to end the half. The third quarter then seemed to have more focus again and 17 more points were scored. However there was a failed scoring opportunity inside the 10 yard line of the Vandals and then the second string of USC did not move the ball much at all in the 4th quarter. If you judge the offense on merely the first and third quarters it was functioning fairly well for the most part. If you take the overall perspective however it was just not that impressive or crisp in terms of execution....Let's just say it left a few questions that likely won't be answered until at least the Nebraska game or later in the year. USC Overall Offensive Stats
I have little doubt that the coaching staff just wanted to work on the run game versus Idaho and see how the various backs would perform in live action. Last year USC ranked 68th in the nation and only averaged 4.0 yards per carry. This game was certainly better than that performance however it has to be weighed against the reality of the Idaho defense. The USC offensive line seemed to dominate the first three drives and then it tailed off considerable. Credit the Vandals as well for not giving up and experimenting with some different alignment fronts as the game progressed. Of the 43 runs about half of them were simple zone blocking schemes either to the right or to the left with the tailback option to follow the blocking or to cut back inside. On the 19 zone plays I checked USC ran for 110 yards or about 5.8 yards per carry on these. The runs came out of all the formations (I Formation, Ace Back 2 TE, Ace Back 3 WR sets, and to all parts of the field (field and boundary sides). On several plays USC did also practice a power off tackle sort of play with the back side guard pulling along with the fullback out in front for the tailback. The rest of the running plays were just base blocking types, isolation plays, a couple of toss sweep plays, a full back dive, a QB sneak, and a reverse. I think the coaches were just "test driving" each formation, type of running play and seeing which back could do what. It was mildly encouraging but we won't really know how effective the run game might be until Nebraska. In the passing game I just think there was really little or no intention of throwing the ball downfield in this game. Why show Nebraska what is more likely to come in two weeks? The majority of throws were short and to the right (typical for a RH QB). However USC does spread the ball around much more effectively in bigger games when required. The network did not put up a graphic at the end of the game regarding passing direction and results so I was forced to make my own attempt (as such it may be off on a couple of plays that were judgment calls).  The passing game was a mix of 3 step drops, 5 step drops, a few play action passes and a couple of roll outs. The short passing game consisted mainly of passes that fall into the quick out, swing pass, or flare type of category out to the flats. There were also about 3 quick hitch plays, 3 screen passes, and 4 slant type passes. The short middle of the field apparently gave Booty trouble for some reason. He had his *average* of 1 pass batted down in the game and then either threw low or behind his receivers on the others in the short middle. His interception throw was too far behind the receiver as well. The biggest pass play was the 35 yard route to Fred Davis who lined up as a bunched receiver on that play and then came across the middle to the right with little coverage. That one play might be moved from the deep right box to the middle deep box. It was tough to designate some of these passes that were in between. Overall the receivers caught 12 passes led by David Ausberry with five and Vidal Hazelton with four. The running backs caught 8 passes led by Stanley Havili with five. The tight ends caught just 2 passes but one was the big play noted above. Offensive by Downs & Run versus Pass
As you can see from this breakdown USC relied more upon run plays on first, second, and third down. This was just part of the game plan to test the running attack and see how well it would work. Since USC out weighted Idaho up front by 40-50 pounds on average this was no surprise I am sure.
As you can see by this further breakdown the Trojan offense had success in different situations. On first down runs and third down runs in particular USC did a nice job. Conversely on 2nd down they did not gain much yardage. First down passes were also more effective than 2nd and third down. I don't think you can draw too many conclusions from a game like this other than USC did what they wanted to do on first down and then seemed very vanilla on other downs. I hope that was just the game plan and part of preparation for Nebraska. USC Offense by Situation
This table breaks down the offense by situation and how USC attacked Idaho in general by down and distance. Against stiffer competition later in this year this will reveal more about the game plan and what USC attempted over the course of the game. In this game I don't think it reveal more than that the coaches wanted to mix things up in general and work on running the ball. Pictures and Highlights Offensive Formations & Highlights Here is a look at some of the different formations used by USC in most every game.
Ace Back Bunch Formation with 2 TE's
I Formation WR Split - Havili Run Play on 3rd and Short
CJ Gable 33 Yard Run to Start the Game
In terms of minor execution problems the following items did occur (as well as many other small items)
Other Notes & Reflections: In hindsight it could have easily been 45 points versus Idaho just with the endzone catch or running the ball into the end zone on that drive. Eliminate a couple of the mistakes in execution and easily one more drive could have gone for a touchdown. Two more TD's is just what I was hoping to see scoring wise. In the press after the game John David Booty stated that he thought he had made several mistakes on throws he normally makes in his sleep. That is fine as long as it is not a weekly occurence and I doubt it will be. The downfield passing game will probably occur more against Nebraska. We'll learn more about the state of the run game as well. I was hoping for a bigger more confident victory in game one but the team may have not been up for this game...that concerns me either way. Now we'll have to wait until Nebraska to see what is really in store I guess. I'll have some pictures and comments on the defense in a couple of days. There is no real rush I guess with the bye week. Also there should be some real interesting college games on TV this weekend. Let's hope USC has a good couple of weeks of practice, and no futher injuries. (Note: Patrick Turner and Josh Pinkard did not play due to mild injuries) |
