LOS ANGELES – The first defender grasped at Travis DyeHe was unsuccessfully corralled. A couple of them followed him a few yards later. Fresno StatePlayers converged to hit each other while Dye ran through their tackles.
Dye ran 25 yards to score a touchdown, spinning his way past a fourth tackler. Once he got to the end zone, he opened his arms wide, almost as if to ask the crowd of 67,000-plus inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, “Are you not entertained?” a la Maximus in Gladiator.
NEVER SAY “DYE”😤
There is no bringing down @uscfbRB Travie Dye💪 pic.twitter.com/16NWVwXdj9
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 18, 2022
Through the first three weeks, the Trojans offense put on quite a show. On Saturday, USCSimply, the overpowered Bulldogs, 45-17, in an impressive showing that tested the Trojans (3-0) in ways we haven’t quite witnessed yet this season.
The same themes were repeated. While the defense appeared shaky at points, they were able to stop most of their opponents when they needed. The offense wasn’t as explosive or breathtaking as it showed last week against Stanfordbut it was still strong enough to win by a solid Fresno State squad.
“The only defense that could stop us is ourselves,” running back Austin Jones said. “No one can really stop us as long as we trust our technique and do everything we need to do. No one can stop us.”
Let’s dive deeper into what’s sparked that offensive confidence and examine some other takeaways from USC’s triumph over Fresno State.
1. The run game rules
Jones and Dye combined ran for 113 yards in the first quarter on 11 carries. However, the offensive line was having issues protecting the quarterback. Caleb Williams, who was sacked three times in the first two quarters, and the passing attack didn’t look as in sync as it had the previous two weeks.
The Trojans knew this and decided to heavily rely upon Dye/Jones in the second half.
“We saw some openings in the first half that we missed a bit in the run,” Dye said. “We definitely made it an emphasis to run the ball more in the second half.”
USC wisely leaned onto its ground game in second half. Dye’s aforementioned 25-yard touchdown run was the highlight, but the Trojans simply gashed Fresno State on the ground. Jones was able to gain 110 yards from 12 carries and Dye ran for only 102 yards. Both had a second-half rushing touchdown.
They’re the first pair of USC running backs to top 100 yards in the same game since Aca’Cedric Ware and Vavae MalepeaiThis feat was achieved against Oregon State2018
“I know we both had the capability of doing it,” Dye said. “He’s a great back, and I think of myself as a great back. It doesn’t mean we have to hate each other because we’re good backs. No, we could feed off each other.”
USC’s offense was much more workmanlike against the Bulldogs, who seemed intent on limiting the big play. Williams didn’t have a bunch of deep shots down the field like he did against Stanford.
The Trojans had Saturday to play a much more controlled style of football because Fresno State made the offense work for everything. It forced the Trojans into more third and longs and fourth down attempts than it did in the first two week of the season.
“That was a point of emphasis for the offense,” coach Lincoln Riley said. “We’ve got to be able to win in different ways. Playing fast or explosive plays or it slows down and you have a lot of plays you have to be able to execute.”
The Trojans could limit their defense’s time on the field by taking long possessions. At one point in the first half, USC had run 39 plays to the Bulldogs’ 12 and had controlled the ball for 17 minutes and five seconds compared to four minutes and 53 seconds for Fresno State.
Williams was also a valuable player in this regard as he used his legs and helped keep drives alive. He picked up 5 yards on a fourth-and-2 play to keep USC’s second touchdown drive alive. Williams’ 8-yard TD run was the fitting end to that possession. Williams gained 11 yards on a fourth and 1 rush. He completed the possession with a 1-yard touchdown running on a QB sneak.
“I try not to use my legs, but that is an ability that I have,” Williams said. “I want to stand back there and deliver. I want to be the greatest delivery man in the world. I just had opportunities that opened up, (the) defense was giving me and I just took what they were giving me.”
Williams’ running ability is yet another example of what makes this offense so dangerous. Defenders must account for Williams’ running ability. Jordan Addison (six catches, 69 yards and a TD reception), Mario Williams (six catches for 77 yards) and USC’s other receivers. However, the more attention they receive leaves less room for ground games, as we saw Saturday night.
Williams can also hurt your back if you focus too much on his backs. Defenses can’t take away everything, especially from an offense that seems to have as many answers as USC’s.
2. Solomon Byrd emerges
Riley thought back to the past two weeks after the game. At that time, rush end Solomon Byrd was listed on USC’s depth chart as third team at defensive end. The Wyoming transfer simply wasn’t getting on the field. In the postgame press conference, Riley asked USC’s newest revelation how many snaps he took against Rice.
“Five,” Byrd said.
Then Riley said: “That’s what we’re trying to build. A guy who in the first game of the season takes five reps and is a three, gets an opportunity, keeps working and now look at him.”
End of the rush to start Romello HeightIn the first quarter against Stanford, he sustained a shoulder injury. Surprisingly, Byrd filled in for him with four tackles, two passes sacks, and a pass breakdown against the Cardinal. He built on that with four tackles, two for loss, a sack and a forced fumble against Fresno State, and he has emerged as an unexpected playmaker for USC’s defense after being an afterthought a few weeks ago.
“It was hard, I’m not going to lie,” Byrd said. “I came from Wyoming and was a starter, a big name up there. There was a lot talent when I moved down here. I just had to keep doing what I’ve been doing, and it’s starting to pay off.”
Byrd made one of the greatest plays in the game when he fired Fresno State’s quarterback Jake HaenerIt was the third quarter. Byrd was able to recover the ball after Haener misplaced it. Five plays later, the Trojans scored another touchdown to increase their lead to 18 points, or 28-10.
During the play, however, Byrd fell on Haener’s leg, which twisted violently and forced Haener to the ground writhing in pain. He was seen walking off the field with his right foot in the boot and on crutches moments later.
#USCAs Jake Haener leaves the field, Fresno State QB Carol Folt talks to her. pic.twitter.com/4THsVaWYfd
— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) September 18, 2022
Haener is one the most underrated quarterbacks in the country. It’s doubtful that injury would’ve changed the outcome of the game, but it changed the complexion of it.
However, Back to Byrd. Height took most of the rush-end snaps during spring practice and training camp. When he didn’t, Korey Foreman did. Foreman also missed some time. Julien SimonHe stepped in.
Byrd never really seemed to be in the mix there until he took the field against Stanford in Height’s absence. But it looks as though he’s certainly carved a role out for himself moving forward.
“From a trust standpoint, if you tell him to be in a gap, he’s in a gap a high percentage of the time,” defensive coordinator Alex Grinch said after the game. “Do your job. Do your 1/11th. It’s probably going to be good enough if you do it with the appropriate physicality. … He’s kind of become a poster child for it. The nice thing is the visual is if he does those things, it should be a message to everybody else: ‘If I play this way, I could have some production, too.’”
3. More bend but don’t break defense
Linebacker Shane Lee was asked about the bend-but-don’t break nature of USC’s defense through the first two games. The Trojans gave up far too many yards, but they made timely stops to the red zone and forced crucial turnovers.
“The thing is,” Lee said. “Yards don’t mean points.”
Fresno State racked up 421 yards of total offense and made USC’s defense look really, really suspect at times, particularly against the run. However, the Bulldogs were able to score just 17 points.
Even when Haener was playing in the first half, it’s not as though Fresno State was marching up and down the field.
“We just held a really, really good offense and offensive staff and offensive guys to 17 points,” Riley said. “Can it get better? Absolutely. It is possible. Yes, but we’re finding ways to not let people score very many points, win games and make the big plays when we need to make ’em.”
The defense scored five sacks against Bulldogs, with two of them leading the charge. Tuli Tuipulotu. USC also recorded six tackles for loss and notched two turnovers — Byrd’s forced fumble and an interception by tight end Malcolm Epps on Haener’s Hail Mary attempt to end the first half.
The defense has been causing havoc in a good way. Through three games, it has recorded 14 sacks as well as 26 TFLs. There are also 10 takeaways. But it’s still left Grinch wanting more.
“I refuse to believe that’s the best we could play,” he said after the game.
The Trojans’ run fits looked sloppy again Saturday night. Fresno State running back Jordan MimsOn 15 carries, he ran for 114 yards. His backup Malik Sherrod, ran for 47 yards on eight carries. As a team, the Bulldogs averaged 5.1 yards per 32 carries (164 yard).
“We’ve got to start believing around here that Saturdays are an extension of the work week,” Grinch said. “That’s what it is. If we’re not doing the right thing during the work week from a preparation standpoint as coaches, then we’ve got real, real issues. … Those are unacceptable. They’re not good, and they lead to points. It could put you behind the eight ball, which it did tonight.”
He pointed out that USC plays good assignment football and is usually not too far from the goal line. He seemed to be wondering why there’s a disconnect between the 20s that puts the defense in those situations.
He said he’s got to get the message across better and said he’ll look at the communication on the field. He also suggested that he might consider personnel changes for this week.
If those issues don’t get sorted out, then it’ll be a long night against Jonathan Smith’s offense next Saturday in Corvallis.
4. Health of offensive lines
USC entered without starting left tackle Courtland FordHe injured his ankle against Stanford late last week. Ford did not play, although he did wear pads.
Virginia was left to transfer. Bobby HaskinsFord’s right guard rotation has seen Haskins rotate with Ford for the last few weeks. He is now the starter at right. It was evident that Haskins had injured his left arm/shoulder late in the first period.
For a play, he had to leave the game, forcing USC to use its redshirt freshman left tackle as its third-string left tackle. Mason MurphyIn the game. Murphy was beaten by Williams on his very first play. Williams was eventually dismissed.
Haskins was back in the game the next drive, but he fell on the ground again in the fourth quarter. He had to be examined by the athletic trainers. Riley did not express concern about Haskins’ outlook after the game.
“He could’ve played if (necessary),” Riley said. “Just took a pretty good shot but he was laughing and joking out there. I can’t repeat it all, but he’ll be good.”
Ford didn’t appear close to entering the game when Haskins got banged up. So we’ll see if he’s ready to go next week against Oregon State. USC needs Haskins or Ford to play left tackle against the Beavers.
Depth on both sides of the line has been a question for USC, and it’s certainly getting tested early in the season.
(Photo of Austin Jones: Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
