Stat to watch: third down conversion rate


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From 2006 to 2009, the Trojans’ defensive third down conversion rate ranked among the best nationally, regularly stifling opposing offenses on third downs. That success, however, ended in 2010, as USC allowed its opponents to convert on third down more than 43 percent of the time.

USC’s Opponent Third Down Conversion Rate:

2010: 43.82 percent

2009: 37.76 percent

2008: 27.57 percent

2007: 31.00 percent

2006: 38.74 percent

USC coach Lane Kiffin and the coaching staff often attributed the decline to depth, noting that USC did not carry the maximum number of scholarship players (85) due to NCAA sanctions in 2010 that allowed juniors and seniors to transfer without the penalty of sitting out a year.

In the spring, USC assistant head coach Monte Kiffin lamented that the defense thought too much instead of simply reacting. As a result, the Trojans have “simplified” their defense this fall, according to Kiffin.

After its worst defensive season statistically since 1955, USC remains optimistic it can improve in this regard, something that plagued it in close losses to Washington, Stanford and Notre Dame last season.