ASU hopes to take advantage of USC’s defensive issues
Arizona State looks to snap a twogame skid that has cost them control of the South Division when they host USC in a 7:30 p.m. Pac-12 showdown Saturday at Sun Devil Stadium.
The game will air on ESPN.
Three weeks ago ASU lost what was going to be a difficult game at Utah 35-21, squandering a 21-7 halftime lead.
More unexpected was the 34-21 throttling it took at the hands of Washington State last Saturday. That loss came after having a bye to regroup from the Utah debacle.
USC started the season ranked No. 15 nationally but has struggled all season, with coach Clay Helton fired after the second game, and a 42-28 loss at home to Stanford. Donte Williams, previously the cornerbacks coach and passing game coordinator, is now serving as interim coach.
USC officially owns a 23-13 advantage in the series (its win in 2005 was later vacated due to NCAA penalty). The Trojans have won five of the past six including a 28-27 victory last season in which it rallied from behind and got the winning score with 1:21 left.
The last time the teams squared off in Tempe, the Trojans prevailed 31-26 after surging out to a 28-7 halftime lead.
If ASU were to win, this would mark the second time ASU has beaten both USC and UCLA in the same season under Herm Edwards, something that had happened just four times in the Pac-12 era prior to Edwards’ tenure (1986, 1996, 1999, 2013).
3 things to look for
1. How ASU comes out of the locker room. After such a disheartening loss last week we’ll know a lot about the character of this team right away. Last week’s loss and the fact that a Pac-12 South Division title appears out of reach could have a carryover effect. Or the Sun Devils can regroup and fight back, which would be indicated by a better start. As bad as the last game was, Edwards and company could use a few things to go right early on to set a better tone.
2. Turnovers and penalties. ASU fared much better in the penalty department last Saturday, committing seven for only 40 yards, but that failed to make a difference because of five turnovers, four of which came in the first half and led to a 28-0 deficit. The Sun Devils have made a living off of being on the good side of the turnover ledger by forcing 47 in their last 19 games dating back to 2019, tops in the nation over that span. ASU needs to return to that if it is to get back on the winning track.
3. Can ASU capitalize on USC defensive issues? The Sun Devils have made no secret of the fact they like to run the ball. This could be a contest where they lean heavily on the ground game. USC is thin up front now, without its top three options at nose tackle. It was also missing
four key rotation players last week. The Trojans rank seventh in the Pac-12 in rushing defense. It’s a unit that is clearly lacking the talent it has had in the past on that side of the ball. USC also ranks only eighth in passing defense and is 10th in tackles for a loss.
About USC
USC has won 11 national titles, the most recent of those coming back in 2004. The Trojans have also claimed 39 conference titles, which is 22 more than runner-ups Washington and UCLA. But the past few years the Trojans have not lived up to its national brand. In fact, this season the team has yet to win back-toback games. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum used to be a tough venue for foes but the Trojans are just 1-3 at home and gave up more than 40 points in all three of the losses. Scottsdale Desert Mountain product Kedon Slovis (177for-269, 2,022 yards, 11 TDs, 7 interceptions) is in his third year as the starting quarterback but the Trojans have also been throwing true freshman Jaxon Dart (42-for-64, 500 yards, 6 TD, 2 int) into
the mix. They come into the game without 6-foot-5 WR Drake London (88 rec., 1,084 yards, 7 TDs) who sustained a broken ankle on a touchdown catch in last week’s win over Arizona. USC is the only FBS school never to have had surnames on the back of its jerseys. It is also one of only three FBS schools never to have played an FCS school since the divisions were established in 1978. (The others are UCLA and Notre Dame).
Star power
Drake Jackson, Jr., DE, USC: The 6foot-4, 250-pounder is one of the Trojans’ top NFL draft prospects. He has 18 tackles, seven for loss, to go with five sacks, one forced fumble, one recovered fumble and an interception. He is coming off a stellar 2020 campaign in which he recorded 20 tackles, including 5.5 for losses of 27 yards (with 2 sacks for minus 17 yards), and an interception in six games. He was named to the 2020 AllPac-12 second team, AP All-Pac-12 second team and Phil Steele All-Pac-12 second team. Jackson is a product of Corona Centennial (Calif.), one of the nation’s top programs and one that has produced four other current teammates.
Darien Butler, Sr., LB, ASU: The 6foot, 225-pounder was named one of 16 semifinalists for the 2021 Butkus Award just this week. He leads the team with 50 tackles with seven for loss, seventh-most in the Pac-12 and second among true linebackers. He has 14 tackles for loss or no gain, tied for the most in the Pac-12 and fifth among all FBS linebackers. Butler is the Pac-12’s highest graded linebacker in coverage at 90.2, fifth among all LBs in the nation. His three interceptions this season are the most for a linebacker at ASU since Mike Nixon had three in 2009. The Harbor City Narbonne (Calif.) grad is one of ASU’s team captains.
Trending
3 — Tackles needed for ASU senior safety Evan Fields to reach 200 for his career. The Oklahoma City native has missed the last two games due to injury but is expected back this week.
17 — First downs ASU has managed on a run by Daniyel Ngata, generally regarded as the team’s third back. Ngata has just 40 carries but the Sun Devils have gotten a first down or touchdown on 42.5 percent of his touches, the highest tally in the Pac-12 and third in the FBS (minimum 40 carries).
22 — “Defensive stops” credited to ASU nose tackle D.J. Davidson. That’s tops in the nation among interior linemen. The Mesa Desert Ridge product is the Pac-12’s highest graded interior lineman overall (78.2) — 24th in the FBS — and highest graded interior linemen in run defense this year (84.7, sixth in FBS).
23 — Players on the USC roster who came from other four-year schools. Most notable among those are DB Chris Steele (Florida), TB Keaontay Ingram (Texas), Chris Thompson (Auburn) and WR K.D. Nixon (Colorado).
83 — First-round draft picks out of USC, second to only Ohio State (85). USC, Notre Dame and Oklahoma are tied first in number of overall No. 1 picks (5).
1,010 — Rushing yardage for ASU junior quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels, who went over the 1,000-yard plateau last Saturday, is in pursuit of the school’s career rushing mark by a quarterback held by Taylor Kelly (1,404).
Bottom line
Neither team has lived up to expectations this season. While ASU’s struggles have come recently, the Trojans have had issues all along. Several ASU players hail from Southern California and USC is still a national brand so one would hope the Devils can get up for this, especially playing at home. But does anyone really know what to expect from ASU any more?
Prediction
Arizona State 28, USC 21: This likely would have been different if Drake London were playing but he’s not. His absence is that much of a big deal.