Know Your Opponent: UCLA Football vs. USC Trojans 2017
Trojan Offense
Darnold is probably the first name that comes to mind when you think of the Trojans and not just offensively. He is the face of the Trojans and has given them a multi-faceted offense with his ability to run the read-option to perfection. While not a huge threat to run away from defenders he does have sneaky athleticism that is more often on display avoiding pass rushers and making throws on the move.
He has a strong arm but it’s by no means a cannon. Still he can make every throw in the book despite the throwing motion looking anything but textbook. He’s felt the loss of top targets and the offensive line and it has shown up in terms of a much higher turnover rate this season (20 turnovers). Still, he is the leader of this offense even if he isn’t the most dangerous weapon on the team.
The Trojans boast a bevy of backs capable of breaking things wide open on a single handoff. Of course that’s a scary thought when you consider how poor the UCLA Football run defense has been. Ronald Jones is a legit NFL running back and a game-breaker for the Trojans. He has the speed to go the distance, power to break tackles and the hands to be a threat out of the backfield. If he has any less than 20 carries for the Trojans on Saturday then something went very wrong for USC. Stephen Carr is a well built true freshman and gives the Trojans a bulkier option but don’t be fooled, Carr can go the distance as well.
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Out wide the Trojans have a plethora of talented but youthful receivers. Deontay Burnett might be a smaller receiver but he’s the leader of this group. His strong hands and smooth route running ability have made him the favorite target of Darnold. Tyler Vaughns might be a true a freshman but he’s become a big play machine for USC. Capable of taking a short pass to the endzone and making guys look bad while doing it is one of his specialties and the Bruins will have to wrap him up to prevent being burned.
Steven Mitchell Jr. might not get as much attention as the two up top but that suits him just fine since he’s able to use his agility and speed to win one on one battles for big catches. The big body of this group is Michael Pittman who was once committed to the UCLA Football program but has instead come on strong as of late for the Trojans. He’s a dangerous redzone weapon because of his size but makes plenty of plays between the 20s.
At tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe has been banged up after a strong 2016 but his slack has been picked up junior TE Tyler Petite who at 250 pounds can move like he weighs 20 pounds less. Both are strong blockers and can be lined up as traditional TEs or flexed out as well.
The offensive line is the big story here. The Trojans can overcome questionable QB play with a very strong running game. What neither can deal with is poor line play. Injuries and inexperience have really hurt this group but as of late the protection and run blocking have been much improved. Can a UCLA Football defense not known for creating tons of pressure move Darnold off his spot? If they can it will have to come with power moves over speed which actually plays into the Bruins’ hands.