USC’s offensive scheme is outdated

When I watched Boston College quarterback Tyler Murphy essentially seal the victory against USC this past weekend with his 66-yard touchdown run to cap off 191 yards individually and 452 yards rushing as a team, the feeling I had was somewhere between disappointment and genuine adoration. It was painful and beautiful at the same time.

I promise I don’t have any loyalty to BC, but I will admit that I have a total soft spot for a good read-option.

I could write an entire column on the decision-making by USC’s offense, but fellow Daily Trojan columnist Jake Davidson covered that topic pretty well Monday. I agree that Coach Steve Sarkisian could have called more pass plays in hindsight, but the real issue is depth at both lines.

Instead, I want to focus on the decision-making by BC’s offense, specifically that of Murphy, and the beauty that is a well-run read-option.

It’s a relatively simple, yet genius strategy. Instead of having quarterbacks simply hand the ball off to tailbacks on designated running plays, give the quarterback the option to hand it off or run the ball himself. After the snap, the QB will quickly read whether certain defenders have committed to stopping a run towards the middle by the tailback or containing a run to the outside by the signal caller.

It only works if the offensive line forces defenses to make a decision by preventing defensive lines from getting too much penetration, and if a quarterback has the wheels to keep defenders honest and can make smart reads when the defense is forced into a decision.

It worked on Saturday.

As mentioned, Murphy rushed for 191 yards, but he also read and handed off another 261 yards worth of rushing. On top of that, BC didn’t lose possession because of any difficulty or miscommunication on a hand-off.

It makes me wonder why USC is still somewhat stuck in the old days when it comes to overall offensive philosophy rather than individual play calling. I love the up-tempo game, but I want to see USC quarterbacks leave the pocket more. Maybe that’s because I find athletic quarterbacks more fun to watch, but I think there’s also an undisputable advantage for an offense if its quarterback can run.

Mobile quarterbacks have seemingly haunted Trojan defenses since Vince Young’s play in the 2005 National Champion game, and yet USC has stuck with guys under center who fit the description of a pocket passer. Several NFL teams like the Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins have all consistently utilized the read-option in the last couple of years. If Pete Carroll can use it while leading a pro team to a Super Bowl Championship, maybe it’s about time for the Trojans to try it. Oregon essentially invented the spread offense, and the innovative unit that consistently leads the country in yards and points per game uses the read-option all the time. And if you’ve ever played Madden 2004, you have a firm appreciation for how a speedy Michael Vick can turn an otherwise below-average Atlanta Falcons team into the most unstoppable force known to mankind.

So my request to Coach Sark isn’t to take the reins off of redshirt junior starting quarterback Cody Kessler; it’s to take the reins off of freshman QB Jalen Greene.

Greene looks pretty set to redshirt this season, but he’s easily the fastest and most likely to change a game with his feet of all the Trojan gunslingers. Running the ball more may seem absurd given the 20 yards rushing USC had against BC, and calling more pass plays probably takes some of the strain off the thin offensive line. But as New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said to SB Nation, utilizing a mobile quarterback in the run game is like having an extra guy on the field, and forcing just one defender to watch perimeter runs can open up a huge hole up the middle. If Sarkisian can save Greene as an ace up the sleeve for a crucial postseason game this year, I would love nothing more than seeing him run a wildcat formation, or anything really, for a couple of plays.

Speaking of postseason games this year, there’s a bigger reason why I’m not as bitter and frustrated over this loss as I have been over prior USC upsets: It’s really not that significant. There’s a chance Florida State, Oklahoma and two SEC teams take the four playoff spots regardless, but I would be very surprised if the winner of the Pac-12 was not in the playoff.

Of course, to get there, USC would likely have to make it through conference play unscathed then stop that aforementioned offensive machine of Oregon in the Pac-12 title game, and the Ducks would put up 70 points against the USC defense we saw Saturday. But you don’t need a reminder that anything can happen after Saturday, and USC is still undefeated in conference play.

The loss reminded me of the 2008 team’s defeat at Oregon State. I vividly remember posting a derogatory comment about Beavers’ running back Jacquizz Rodgers 5-foot-6 stature on my AOL Instant Messenger away message — I was in eighth grade and hadn’t joined Facebook yet — after he rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns. I knew USC’s national championship hopes had ended by the third game of the season because the second chance provided by a playoff didn’t exist, even though the Trojans were arguably the best team in the country.

The results haven’t changed. The Trojans seem to have a fluke loss every season, but I feel like I get better at embracing and coping with the absurdity each time. The change in the playoff format certainly helps, but a change in our quarterback and run game philosophy would help even more.

 

Luke Holthouse is a sophomore majoring in broadcast and digital journalism and policy, planning and development. His column, “Holthouse Party,” runs Wednesdays.