Football stays even-keel with Bears approaching
USC football took to Howard Jones Field on Monday afternoon for the team’s penultimate practice before Thursday’s game versus Cal. Coming off of a bye week, the Trojans will host the Golden Bears in a midweek matchup, hoping to contain their opponent’s high-octane offense.
The Stretch Run
USC has five games remaining in the regular season, and the team sits just one game out of first place in the Pac-12 South with a 3-2 conference record (first-place Utah and Colorado are tied at 4-1). After what many labeled a disastrous start in August, the Trojans have life.
Head coach Clay Helton compared the program’s current situation to the 2015 season, when USC rebounded from a 3-3 start to take the division and came agonizingly close to a Rose Bowl berth. Helton said a game-by-game mentality was key to last year’s comeback, and the head coach was determined to repeat the feat through a similar approach in 2016.
“We haven’t looked ahead, and we’ve just been focusing on this game and this game only,” he said.
Helton also emphasized the need for the squad to stay even-keel even as it gained momentum.
“Stay the course: I haven’t gotten too high or too low as a coach and neither has our coaching staff,” he said. “We’ve just kept grinding. Add up all the wins at the end, and we’ll see where we’re at.”
Having said that, the Trojans aren’t lacking in confidence. With two weeks of prep leading into Thursday’s game, senior linebacker Quinton Powell wasn’t interested in making excuses.
“At this point, every game should be won based off our preparation and things we’ve been watching on film,” he said. “We should win out. It doesn’t matter what the other teams are doing as long as we’re winning.”
Bear Hunt
USC has had an extended chance to study Cal quarterback Davis Webb, and the Trojan defense is prepared, but wary of the senior transfer’s big-play ability.
“He throws the ball very well,” junior cornerback Adoree’ Jackson said. “They compare him to Jared Goff — that’s what our coaches tell us.”
Indeed, defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast was impressed by Webb’s well-rounded game when scouting the Golden Bears’ signal caller.
“He can make all the throws, he’s got really good vision, knows where all his receivers are at all times, and has a really good feel for protections,” Pendergast said. “He’s very impressive.”
Pendergast conceded that Webb would beat the Trojan defense on occasion but stressed that avoiding the big play was paramount. Helton agreed.
“Our [defensive backs] are going to have to do a great job of playing the football because there aren’t going to be too many missed throws or overthrows with this guy,” Helton said. “He’s an elite talent, so we’ve got to play the deep ball really, really well.”
Facing an aerial threat like Webb, senior linebacker Michael Hutchings was glad to have an extra week to get ready.
“They just set an NCAA record for plays in a game, so when you’re dealing with an explosive team like that — a quarterback like that — it’s something you have to be ahead on,” he said.
But in terms of specific strategies to contain Webb, the Trojans were happy to stay mum.
“You’ll find out on Thursday,” Pendergast said, smiling.
If there was one clue, it came from Helton.
“The biggest thing for us, with any good quarterback, is to get him off his spot, whether it’s through a three-man rush, four-man rush, or pressure situations,” he said. “We’ve got to be able to move this quarterback.”
Injury Updates
Redshirt sophomore Ajene Harris and senior Leon McQuay III returned to practice on Monday, and Helton said both were expected to play on Thursday. Senior tailback Justin Davis remained out with a high ankle sprain and is looking less likely to see the field against Cal.