Shane Foley’s USC-Stanford Preview
By Shane Foley
Assessing the USC defense
Aug 30, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans defensive end Leonard Williams (94) against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Coach Wilcox installed his 3-4 package this season and it brought some highs and lows against the Bulldogs. It all starts up front at the point of attack, led by returning All-American tackle Leonard Williams who is a force to be reckoned with in the middle. He sets the tone with his aggression, strength, and non-stop motor. He has the ability to play inside or outside but with a three man front he is playing tackle.
Antwaun Woods at 6-1, 325 lbs, has the size and strength to stuff the run. He and Williams are a great tandem. Williams finished with seven tackles and had an interception right before halftime. The other tackle position will rotate with Claude Pelon, Cody Temple, Devlon Simmons and Greg Townshend. The defense looked vulnerable up front when Williams and Woods went to the sidelines. The depth presents a problem for this defense, especially against some of the hurry up, spread offenses that USC will see all season.
Hayes Pullard is the heart and soul of the defense and finished with nine tackles. He continues to play downhill and get himself in the center of the action. J.R. Tavai is playing outside linebacker and he has the ability to rush the passer which he did as a defensive end. He is still adjusting to playing in space but at 6-2, 250 lbs. he will be a physical force. Scott Felix is also playing outside and he will be a key contributor this season with the loss of Jabari Ruffin. Anthony Sarao is playing inside and Wilcox blitzed him early. He does have the ability to cover ground laterally but he needs to play tougher against the run. He did grab an interception but he only finished with one tackle. Michael Hutchings played inside and he finished with three tackles and he had an interception at the end of the game. The tackling needs to improve quickly. There were big plays given up from sloppy tackling as well as not getting off blocks quickly enough.
The front seven ran to the ball early but they have to play better against smash mouth opponents. They will be put to the test against the Cardinal.
The defensive backs did not miss a beat without Josh Shaw. The three-corner rotation with Kevon Seymour, Chris Hawkins, and Jackson was effective. With another year under his belt, Seymour played physically against the run and in coverage. Hawkins was a pleasant surprise at the opposite corner and this combination will be crucial as they get into conference play. Cornerback has been a glaring weakness the last several years at USC.
Su’a Cravens is an all-purpose defensive back and he will play up tight in certain defenses and he can get after the passer. He needs to stay disciplined and not be overly aggressive. He has the ability to be an All-American. Leon McQuay III came up with four tackles and he was constantly on patrol in the middle. Senior safety Gerald Bowman is poised for a big season and got off to a solid start with five tackles and a beautiful interception that he made by reading the quarterback’s eyes. Look for Jackson to find his way on the defense more often as the season progresses.