USC Overcomes Slow Start And Trounces San Jose State
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USC freshman quarterback Matt Barkley helped lead the USC offense to 56 points
after a rocky first quarter. (Photo by John Adams)
College football is a game, and sometimes opponents are used as the
toys. Like a child playing with blocks, the No. 4 USC Trojans built up
San Jose State's confidence in the first quarter then swiftly
dismantled it en route to a 56-3 blowout Saturday at the Coliseum.
The Trojan offense started the game extremely slow. Of the Trojan's
first five possessions in the first quarter they fumbled twice and
punted three times. One of those punts was a 24-yard shank that gave
the San Jose State Spartans the ball on the Trojans' 36-yard line
setting up Tyler Cope's 41-yard field goal, which gave the Spartans a
first quarter lead, 3-0.
USC middle linebacker Chris Galippo joked about the slow start after the game, "The game
plan was actually for the offense to come out slow in the first
quarter" so the defense would be challenged.
The Trojan defense has been questioned all offseason after losing
several key players to the NFL.
"I don't think there will be a whole
lot of drop off. I think we are a different group," said Galippo when
comparing this year's linebackers to last year's. "We are an
assignment type group, we watch a lot of film and take pride in doing
the little things right."
The defense as a whole completed their assignments the entire game
holding SJSU to 121 total yards and just nine yards on the ground. The
defense also forced two fumbles and sacked both Spartan quarterbacks,
Kyle Reed and Jordan La Secla, a total of five times, including two by
redshirt freshman defensive end Nick Perry.
While the defense played stellar throughout the game, the offense went
from Midwestern cold to Southwestern hot in a hurry between the first
and second quarters. After gaining 77 total yards in the first
quarter, the Trojans racked up 212 yards on four second quarter
possessions, all ending in touchdowns, to blow the game open and lead
28-3 at the half.
"We had a couple bumpy first drives, but there is nothing you can do
about that," said USC freshman quarterback Matt Barkley. "After that we
came out rocking."
Barkley, USCs first true freshman to start an opening game at quarterback, completed 15 of 19 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown.
"Matt Barkley absolutely handled us, it was no big deal for him," said
USC head coach Pete Carroll. "He was calm, he was poised. He was fun to talk
to about what was going on, he had a smile on his face, he loved every
minute of it."
Carroll repeatedly spoke about the maturity of the freshman, even to
the point of saying he was "not normal kid. Atypical... or whatever you
want to call him, he is not normal."
However, the coaching staff seemed to game plan for the freshman. Many of
Barkley's 233 passing yards came on runs after the catch including a
33-yard wide receiver screen by Damian William, another wide receiver
screen by David Ausberry that went for 27 yards and a 44-yard pass to
tight end Anthony McCoy who gained more than 20 yards after the catch.
Barkley made quick reads and on most plays went right from his primary
receiver to his check-down, and had many designed plays for safe
outlets--tight ends and running backs. Only seven of Barkley's 15 complete
passes were to wide receivers--with several of those being safe, quick wide
receiver screens. Barkley also rolled out of the pocket on multiple
situations, which minimized his reads and kept him from pressure in the
pocket.
Luckily for Barkley he has a least four security blankets in the
backfield. Running backs Joe McKnight, Stafon Johnson, Allen Bradford
and Marc Tyler all reached the end zone, with McKnight and Johnson each
hitting pay dirt twice. The Trojans gobbled up 342 total yards on the
ground in 45 attempts.
McKnight led the way with 14 attempts for 145 yards, including an electric
54-yard run to open up the third quarter. After zizagging his way
through the Spartans' secondary McKnight stumbled near the 5-yard line
and did a flip into the end zone.
"I was falling and I didn't want to fall on the 1-yard line," said McKnight, "so I just did a flip into the end zone."
McKnight gave credit to his experienced offensive line, which had its
way with the front seven of SJSU after the first quarter.
Next week's anticipated match-up with No. 6 Ohio State will provide a much tougher test for Barkley and the Trojans.
But the Trojans don't seem to be worried about traveling to play in the hostile environment in Columbus, Ohio.
"I don' think it will make that much of a difference," said Barkley.
"We will do what we do best and focus on how we can get better."
*********************************
[In-game Updates]
[UPDATE:]
USC's win first game 56-3 over the San Jose State University Spartans.
[UPDATE: 4th quarter 14:01]
Aaron Corp replaces Barkley as quarterback. Barkley had replaced Corp as USC's starting quarterback two weeks ago.
[UPDATE: End of 3rd quarter]
USC 42 SJSU 3
The Trojans picked up the third quarter where they left off the 2nd, scoring on their opening two drives of the half (to make it six straight possessions they scored on before punting on their third possession of the half). Joe McKnight opened up the second half scoring on 54-yard on just the 3rd play of the 3rd quarter. "He juked out about seven guys" said one reporter, about McKnight's run before diving into the end zone to put the Trjoans up 35-3. They added another touchdown on a 6-play, 86-yard drive that culminated with Barkely's first career touchdown pass--a 4-yarder to back-up tight end Rhett Ellison. The drive was highlighted by a 44-yard pass play from Barkley to McCoy.
The defense remained solid as it did not allow the Spartans past the 50 yard line during the quarter.
[UPDATE Half-time]
USC 28 SJSU 3
The Trojans shook off a sports hangover in the 1st quarter to score 28 unanswered point in the 2nd. USC scored on all four of its possessions in the period, while the defense stood firm against the Spartans' offense allowing just 49 yards yards and sacking quarterbacks Kyle Reed and Jordan La Secla 3 times.
San Jose State saw a heavy dose of the running game in the first half, as the Trojans ran the ball 23 times for 147 yards and aired it out just 11, completing 8 for 137 yards. The disparity goes against the trend of the last few seasons when the the mix of run and pass was much closer and even leaned toward the pass. All three USC tailbacks who touched the ball in the first half scored touchdowns. Joe McKnight leads all rushers with 10 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown. Stafon Johnson had just six caries for 27 yards but scored twice in the period. While Allan Bradford broke for a 43 yard touchdown run--where he went nearly untouched--the longest of his career (3 carries for 53 first-half yards).
The Trojans' final two drives of the second quarter took a combined 1:34 (0:38 and 0:57 respectively.) The USC offensive line is having it's way with the ever-tiring Spartans defensive front seven. They are opening big holes and allowing Barkley time on the occasions he does drop back.
The Trojans' coaching staff is keeping it easy on the freshman quarterback. Not only are his attempts down, the passing he is completing are mainly simple three step drops where he doesn't have to make too many reads. USC's two longest receiving plays came on wide receiver screens where Trojan receivers slipped tackles for big gains. Barkley looked more comfortable in the pocket after a rough first quarter. Although the play calling still has him rolling out on several of his attempts to cut down on reads and keep him from getting hit.
The Trojans defense front seven easily outmatches the Spartans offensive line and is getting pressure without blitzing. Galippo leads the Trojan defense with 8 tackles while senior Taylor Mays followed with 6.
The Trojans seem to have woken up and are grinding the over-matched San Jose State squad. It remains to be seen which USC team we will see in the second half: the lackadaisical fumble prone group that played in the 1st quarter or the crisp, powerful team that took the field in the 2nd.
[UPDATE 2nd quarter 5:15]
USC 14 SJSU 3
Damian Williams is finally getting into the game playing wide receiver. The big play threat had catches of 17 and 33 yards setting up the Trojans second score of the quarter--5 plays 58 yards. On his second reception of the game Williams took a wide receiver screen and broke several tackles weaving his way down to the 7-yard-line where he was tripped up. Johnson carried twice for and punched it in on a 1-yard run where he bounced it to the outside and easily outran the defenders.
Plays like Williams electric run-after-the-catch will keep pressure off Barkley and let him get into a rhythm. The freshman has completed all four of his 2nd quarter passes thus far.
[UPDATE: 2nd quarter 7:20]
USC 7 SJSU 3
The Trojans shook of a terrible 1st quarter and executed much better in the 2nd quarter. On their first possession of the quarter the Trojans parlayed a 25-yard punt return by Damian Williams--in which he lost his shoe but kept running--into a 7-play 45 yard touchdown drive capped by a 4-yard run by Stafon Johnson to pay dirt.
Joe McKnight led the way on the drive gaining 18 yard on 4 carries. Barkley threw only two passes but gained 13 and 10 respectively. it is evident that Pete Carroll intends to take it slow with his rookie quarterback.
[UPDATE: End of 1st quarter]
USC 0 SJSU 3:
The season didn't get off the the start the Trojans hoped for. USC fumbled twice in the quarter. One by running back Joe McKnight the play after the Trojan defense had forced a Panther fumble. Later on tight end Anthony MCCoy fumbled after what looked to be a big gain It was especially rocky for freshman quarterback Matt Barkley whose first pass was complete to tight end McCoy for a loss of 2 yards and his second pass he airmailed out of bounds, no where near his open receiver. He later held onto the ball too long on a 3-and-5 from his own 16 and was sacked. Barkley finished the quarter 2 of 4 for 20 yards while McKnight lead with 38 yards on 5 carries.
The Spartans capitalized on a terrible kick from punter Bill O'Malley gave them the ball on the Trojan's 34 yard line. Spartan's quarterback Kyle Reed complete a 4-and-9 pass as he was being drilled by USC linebacker Malcolm Smith. Four plays later the Spartans to the 3-0 lead on a 41 yard field goal by Tyler Cope.
The crowd is already starting to turn on Barkley, but he's not getting much help from his team that has two turnovers. The defense is playing well especially Smith and fellow linebacker Chirs Galippo.
[UPDATE 12:30] Finals from the early games:
Ohio State 31 Navy 27: Navy pulled within six early in the 4th
quarter, 20-14. A field goal and fumble recovery leading to a touchdown
looked like it sealed the game for the Buckeyes. But Navy responded
with at touchdown and intercepted OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
Navy Quarterback Rickey Dobbs then ran a QB draw for a 24-yard
touchdown on 3-and-1 to pull Navy within two points. He was then
intercepted on the 2-point try, which was returned all the way to the
end zone for 2-points by the Buckeyes.
Iowa 17 Northern Iowa 16 : Iowa avoided a big upset that to fellow Iowan
compatriots. The Hawkeyes trailed 13-10 going in to the fourth
quarter, but quarterback Richard Stanzi completed a 6-yard touchdown
pass to Tony Moeaki to put Iowa up for good. The deal wasn't sealed, however, until the Hawkeyes blocked a 40-yard field attempt by UNI that would could have won the game for the Panthers.
Penn State 31 Akron 7: A good start for last seasons Big Ten Rose Bowl
representative. The Nittany Lions scored early taking a 31-0 halftime
lead before taking a catnap in the second half.
Tennessee 63 Western Kentucky 7.
---Game still in progress---Georgia Tech 31 Jacksonville State 13 (13:33 4th quarter): The
Yellow Jackets scored 31 first half points to start what looks to be a
route.
Syracuse 20 Minnesota 20 (0:46 4th quarter)
[UPDATE10:45 ] Good day to all. An hour and forty-five minutes before
kickoff between the USC Trojans and San Jose State Spartans and its
already a balmy day in Southern California. The early chatter in the
Coliseum press box is about freshman Matt Barkley's first
start--opinions vary on whether Pete Carroll's decision was the prudent
one--and Oregon running back LaGarrett Blount's punch of a Boise State
player and his subsequent year-long suspension.
Check back throughout the afternoon and during the USC-SJSU game for
updates and scores from around the league and brief analysis. Also
tune into KSCR.org for your live streaming play-by-play with USC's own Jared Sandler along with Dave Dulberg and Mark Shore as color commentators.
[UPDATE10:45 ] Good day to all. An hour and forty-five minutes before kickoff between the USC Trojans and San Jose State Spartans and its already a balmy day in Southern California. The early chatter in the Coliseum press box is about freshman Matt Barkley's first start -- opinions vary on whether Pete Carroll's decision was the prudent one -- and Oregon running back LaGarrett Blount's punch of a Boise State player and his subsequent year-long suspension.
Check back throughout the afternoon and during the USC-SJSU game for updates and scores from around the league and brief analysis. Also tune into KSCR.org for your live streaming play-by-play with USC's own Jared Sandler along with Dave Dulberg and Mark Shore as color commentators.
