Inefficiency on third down plagues USC


Halfway through a season that was supposed to end with the Trojans hoisting the crystal football in South Florida, let’s just say things have not gone as smoothly as expected. USC holds a respectable 5-1 record, including a 301 mark in Pac-12 play, and is in no way out of contention for the national championship, […]

Turnovers key to USC’s defensive resurgence


Last year, the Trojans posted signs all around Heritage Hall, proclaiming their mantra: “That’s our ball!” And yet, for the past several years, the Trojan defense has been subpar in forcing turnovers. The Trojans ranked 90th nationally in 2011 with just 1.4 takeaways per game (for an embarrassing comparison, UCLA averaged 1.5). The 2010 team […]

Frustration grows with USC’s lack of flashiness


USC mounted an early 10-0 lead at Washington last Saturday and prevailed to improve its overall record to 5-1 at the midway point of the season. But as the Trojans trotted off a damp CenturyLink Field in Seattle, the overwhelming mood was that of frustration. They didn’t score enough — held without a point in […]