What Went Wrong For USC vs. Boston College
What Went Wrong for USC
The Offensive Line
Sep 13, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler (6) gets up off the turf after being sacked during the fourth quarter against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium. The Boston College Eagles won 37-31. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
One of the more popular concerns during summer camp was exposed Saturday night. Freshman Damien Mama‘s and Toben Lobendahn’s inexperience was exploited by Boston College. The young guards caught shear hell all night attempting to block for Kessler, Allen and Justin Davis.
The run game was completely crippled all night, as was the pass blocking. Kessler was sacked 5 times. The only way to fix this is progression and maturation. The youth movement on the line has to take their fair share of lumps and learn from them. The o-line isn’t BAD, it just needs to grow up. Sooner rather than later in the best case scenario.
Execution/Playcalling
To criticize a team’s execution often comes off as cliché when explaining away a loss. However, it was evident the Trojans lacked focus.
With a running back tandem as great as USC has, to be completely blown up is nothing short of unacceptable. “I thought we played our best football early in the game,” USC coach Steve Sarkisian said. “Our execution was good. But for whatever reason, we lost it. And that’s the part I have to figure out. They hit the one long run and things started to go the other direction on us.”
#USC had eight (8) drives of 4 plays or less that resulted in punts. Six 3-and-outs, two 4-and-outs.
— Ryan Abraham (@insidetroy) September 14, 2014
Despite his contributions in the passing game, Allen only rushed for 31 yards. Davis managed 10. The Trojans abandoned the run and opted for a dink-and-dunk passing game that often led to sacks and three-and-outs. Sarkisian and Clay Helton handcuffed themselves in going very conservative and often predictable. USC’s longest rush of the night went for 16 yards, which accounted for 30 percent of rushing yards from the team’s tailbacks. The sense of urgency came too little, too late. You simply cannot win football games this way.