PISCATAWAY, NJ — A Troubling Performance for USC’s Defense

For some time, fans have been led to believe that USC’s defense was turning a corner under Gary Patterson, who was expected to bring the necessary adjustments to help the Trojans reach the College Football Playoff. However, Saturday’s game against Rutgers painted a different picture.

The defense resembled what was seen previously under Alex Grinch and D’Anton Lynn, rather than showcasing any new schemes. USC allowed 460 yards, just shy of their own offense’s total for the day. The Scarlet Knights were able to convert 6 of 11 third downs and 3 of 4 fourth downs, and they also averaged 5.3 yards per carry—definitely concerning stats for a team looking to improve.

Fortunately for USC, they managed to secure a win, edging out Rutgers with a 42-35 victory, which allowed the school band, tucked away in the upper deck of a less-than-full SHI Stadium, to celebrate with the fight song.

But next week, the stakes rise significantly against Oregon and quarterback Dante Moore, who recently scored 84 points against Portland State. That’ll be a tough challenge.

Head coach Lincoln Riley was honest about the shortcomings, mentioning the big plays they allowed. “Not pleased at all with how we played there,” he acknowledged.

On a somewhat brighter note, he highlighted the value of the turnovers, especially mentioning the interceptions by Christian Pierce and Prophet Brown as crucial moments. “Those turnovers were really significant,” he noted, despite the skepticism that will likely follow such claims.

Rutgers isn’t exactly known for a potent offense; quarterback Dylan Lonergan now has four interceptions in just two games, and the team was averaging a modest 21 points leading into this matchup. However, NFL-caliber receiver KJ Duff kept the Scarlet Knights in contention with some impressive plays, one-handed grabs that nearly shocked the Trojans.

Brown, who returned one interception for a 99-yard touchdown early in the third quarter, noted he could anticipate the quarterback’s throw based on the receiver’s movements. “As soon as he broke, I just knew the quarterback’s going there,” he explained.

Despite that, the Trojans’ secondary struggled, especially after losing cornerback Jontez Williams and safety Alex Graham to injuries during the game. After Lonergan connected for a 28-yard touchdown with just over four minutes to go, Rutgers was suddenly within striking range, creating tense moments before USC managed to run out the clock.

Riley pointed out the individual mistakes and the necessity of adapting quickly due to their injuries. “We obviously had to play with a lot of different guys in the secondary,” he said, reflecting on their challenges throughout the match.

To finally see a significant improvement on defense, the Trojans really need to embrace their slogan displayed all over Los Angeles. It’s time to make that breakthrough.