Know Your Opponent: UCLA Football vs. USC Trojans 2017

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Trojan Defense

It seems the injuries that plagued the offensive line also found their way into the defensive line. The interior of the Trojan defense was particularly hit hard. Eternal Kenny Bigelow had to retire due to injury and promising young freshman Marlon Tuipulotu was also lost for the season. Rasheem Greene has also been dealing with a shoulder for a chunk of 2017 although it looks like he will be able to take the field for Saturday’s concert. The result has been a USC defense that has had some problems against the run. Not UCLA Football bad, not even close. Still teams have been able to move the ball on the ground against the Trojans.

Those pesky injuries. It wasn’t just both lines that were hit. Cameron Smith, Hunter Echols, Porter Gustin, Connor Murphy and Uchenna Nwosu have all been banged up this season with some of the injuries being far more severe than others. Nwosu came on this year in a big way with teams focused more on Gustin and Smith but when the three of them are out there and healthy they’re arguably one of the best LB corps in the country. Smith patrol the middle of this defense and is one of the major reasons this run defense wasn’t worse this season.

What a contest this could have been if the UCLA Football pass catchers were able to stay healthy. Josh Rosen with a full compliment of weapons against this secondary would have been potentially one of the best PAC-12 football games this year. But I digress. With Jack Jones, Chris Hawkins, Marvel Tell III and a probable Iman Marshall this defensive backfield has the ability to make throwing the ball a challenge against a banged up Bruin receiving corps.

Final Thoughts and Prediction

Offensively the Bruins must find a way to score on every possession. And they cannot abandon the run if there isn’t initial success. Getting one dimensional against a defense with athletes doesn’t bode well for this UCLA team. Yes the offensive line played well last week and was sound against the blitz but this is a different caliber of a defensive front. Rosen will have to make throws and he’s capable of it but the big question is who will be on the other side of those throws if the Trojans shut down Jordan Lasley after his big game last week.

There haven’t been many turnovers caused by this defense to get excited about this season. This game will need to be the exception to this year’s rule. If the Bruins are able to steal a couple of possessions they give their offense that many more opportunities to score. Should the Bruins go up by double digits the Trojans may have to start passing the ball more which is a much better option than being slashed and gashed on the ground.

This UCLA Football team can win this game if they are able to check all the boxes I outlined above and have a nearly perfect game from everyone in the two-deep. That’s not likely. Which is why it pains me beyond compare to say that the Trojans win this game 45-24.

Hey, there’s always 2018.