LOS ANGELES — The sample began to emerge once more.
So many USC video games have adopted the identical script: The offense stalls a bit within the third quarter, the protection provides up a rating and all of a sudden, the opponent has some life. On Friday evening, USC’s offense went four-and-out on its first third-quarter sequence. Then, the protection surrendered a landing and two-point conversion to Rutgers.
USC held a 19-point lead within the first half. On the 8:11 mark of the third quarter, the lead was right down to eight. Ideas of one other collapse had been actually on the minds of many Trojans followers.
However on the primary play of USC’s subsequent possession, Miller Moss threw a go simply out of a Rutgers defender’s attain and into the arms of sophomore receiver Makai Lemon. Lemon turned upfield and was finally pushed out of bounds on the 5-yard line.
It was a 70-yard achieve that arrange a landing 4 performs later and allowed USC to separate from Rutgers — one thing it’s had large bother with this season — and cruise to a 42-20 victory.
USC (4-4, 2-4 Large Ten) is now two-thirds of the way in which via the common season. It has nothing to play for however pleasure because it enters the house stretch with video games in opposition to Washington (highway), Nebraska (dwelling), UCLA (highway) and Notre Dame (dwelling) remaining.
The best way the Trojans reply to their present scenario and the robust setbacks — each on the sphere and with accidents — will say loads about this program. Lemon’s emergence shall be one of many issues to trace over these last 4 video games.
Right here’s extra on that and different developments to observe over the ultimate month of the common season.
Lemon’s breakout recreation
USC’s receiver group is led by 4 sophomores — Lemon, Zachariah Department, Ja’Kobi Lane and Duce Robinson. That quartet possesses a number of potential. None has developed into a real No. 1 receiver but.
Lemon could also be on his means. It wasn’t tough to check this state of affairs throughout coaching camp.
“In camp, he was balling daily,” mentioned redshirt senior Kyle Ford, who caught 4 passes for 45 yards and a rating on Friday evening. “Truthfully, he was the MVP of camp in my eyes. He was enjoying nice ball. It’s cool to see that translate.”
Lemon had some alternatives early within the season — he caught 4 passes within the first two video games — however was compelled out of the lineup after taking successful to the pinnacle in opposition to Michigan.
Since his return, he’s progressively developed into Moss’ most reliable goal. It began slowly with three catches for 37 yards in opposition to Minnesota. He adopted up with six catches for 73 yards in opposition to Penn State and eight for 89 in opposition to Maryland. Then, on Friday evening, he caught 4 passes for 134 yards and one landing in a breakout efficiency in opposition to the Scarlet Knights.
It was the very best recreation by any USC receiver this season.
“I don’t know if he’s nice at something but. He’s actually good at a number of issues,” coach Lincoln Riley mentioned after the sport. “Route operating, all of these issues — he’s received a number of room to develop as a participant. His ability set, there’s not a ton of belongings you take a look at, ‘Nicely, he simply can’t do this.’ He’s a really versatile receiver. He’s received some yards after the catch. He’s robust and he’s simply going to proceed to get higher and higher.”
Department, Robinson and Lane might have singular abilities which can be extra spectacular than something Lemon does. However on the subject of being a pure receiver, he’s in all probability the very best of the bunch.
He has positive arms. He’s a clean route runner. He simply is aware of how one can discover holes within the protection, which is why Moss typically seems his means. On Friday, he impressed along with his imaginative and prescient and cutback means.
He had a brand new position in opposition to Rutgers as properly, changing Department as the first kickoff returner. Riley mentioned the workers needed to permit Department to focus strictly on punt returns.
The transfer paid dividends. Lemon returned a kick 80 yards to arrange USC’s second landing of the primary quarter.
Once more, he confirmed that cutback means.
Makai Lemon JUST KEPT GOING. 😤 pic.twitter.com/rkwmjXq1IX
— FOX School Soccer (@CFBONFOX) October 26, 2024
Lemon completed with 256 all-purpose yards and have become the primary USC participant with a return of 80 yards and a reception of 70 yards in the identical recreation since Marqise Lee did it in opposition to Oregon in 2012.
Lemon remains to be younger so his recreation wants time to mature. But when he could make good on the potential he’s displayed so far, he could possibly be the No. 1 goal the Trojans have been looking for.
The protection has its again in opposition to the wall
It wasn’t the prettiest or cleanest effort from USC’s protection. Rutgers rolled up 434 yards, its highest complete in opposition to a Energy 4 opponent this season.
The Trojans, although, restricted the Scarlet Knights once they needed to and did sufficient to win. Rutgers scored solely 20 factors.
However it’s going to be a troublesome highway forward for USC’s protection. This was by no means a unit that possessed elite expertise or nice depth. At its finest, it’s a protection that accentuates its finest gamers’ abilities, performs laborious each down and is basically sound.
That has been critically examined by harm of late. Linebacker Eric Gentry was USC’s finest defensive participant within the first month of the season. He’s out for the 12 months after struggling a number of concussions. Anthony Lucas was its most disruptive defensive lineman. He’s out for the season with a leg harm.
Kamari Ramsey is USC’s finest defensive again and finest tackler. Jaylin Smith is its finest nook. Each of them missed Saturday’s recreation with harm as did two different starters within the secondary (nook Jacobe Covington and nickel Grasping Vance).
Then, throughout the recreation, defensive lineman Nate Clifton was compelled to go away with an harm and was seen in a strolling boot after the sport.
That’s seven starters who’ve been injured just lately. Because of this, USC is placing gamers in expanded roles who in all probability aren’t prepared for these types of alternatives but.
Some will do properly. For instance, true freshman defensive lineman Kameryn Fountain recorded his first profession sack on Friday evening. There shall be rising pains in different areas. Like within the depleted secondary, which surrendered 313 yards to a below-average Rutgers passing recreation.
“I believed right this moment was only a good illustration of the true identification of our protection,” linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold mentioned. “Play bodily for 4 straight quarters. Probably not taking our foot off the gasoline. … Not the whole lot was good tonight however I believe we simply performed bodily, performed quick and performed laborious and (it confirmed).”
Even with all of those points, the Trojans protection has performed with strong effort all season.
They’re permitting 21.8 factors per recreation, an enormous leap from the 34.4 they gave up final season. And that’s with a bunch that isn’t extraordinarily proficient and lacks depth.
The offensive line is enjoying higher
USC didn’t give up a sack in opposition to Rutgers. Moss had loads of time to throw the ball and discover open receivers. Because of this, he accomplished 20 of 28 passes for 308 yards and two scores. He additionally didn’t commit the premature turnovers which have plagued him in latest weeks.
The offensive line has obtained a number of criticism this season and deservedly so. However it’s allowed simply two sacks over the previous three video games. It looks as if the teaching workers is working across the points in go safety.
The run blocking has improved by the week as properly. The dashing assault has been essentially the most constant a part of the offense for a number of weeks. Working again Woody Marks ran for 94 yards and three touchdowns in opposition to Rutgers.
Offensive line coach Josh Henson has been a significant goal of frustration for the fan base. Once more, it’s comprehensible. However this younger, inexperienced offensive line appears to be hitting its stride a bit, and Henson is scoring some good wins on the recruiting path as of late.
We’ll see if that continues over the following month and what it means for Henson’s future.
The power to shut
USC’s response when Rutgers reduce the deficit to eight was robust. Particularly after so lots of these conditions have gone the opposite means for the Trojans this season.
“There actually hasn’t been panic with this group in any of those video games,” Riley mentioned after his workforce snapped its three-game dropping skid that featured three losses by a mixed 11 factors. “There wasn’t tonight and I believed we had an ideal mindset and we did an ideal job closing it out.”
Rutgers is a median soccer workforce as its 4-4 file suggests. Each workforce remaining on USC’s schedule will in all probability pose a stiffer problem. So how will the Trojans reply when they’re in these make-or-break conditions once more?
It’s abundantly clear this workforce remains to be studying how one can win. There merely aren’t a ton of gamers on the roster who’ve gained at a excessive stage in faculty. And Riley has admittedly not coached these conditions properly.
Championships are out of the image now. So in the event you’re a fan, you need to see progress the remainder of the way in which. Creating profitable habits and being higher at situational soccer shall be key because the Trojans purpose to salvage their season.
(Photograph of Makai Lemon: Kirby Lee / Imagn Photos)
