Colorado University Athletics
Friday's Fast Five: Keys For Buffs Vs. USC
October 07, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
LOS ANGELES — It's not often a team changes its offense dramatically in midseason, but that's exactly what USC has done this year after inserting quarterback Sam Darnold into the starting lineup two weeks ago.
Saturday, the Colorado Buffaloes will see that new offense when they square off with the Trojans in a 2 p.m. game (Pac-12 Networks) at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
The Trojans are no doubt a different team with Darnold in the lineup. After failing to surpass 250 yards passing in their first three games, they've averaged 309.5 yards over the last two. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster has been the biggest beneficiary, hauling in 15 catches for 221 yards and three touchdowns in that span, but Darnold has also spread the wealth, as wideout Deontay Burnett nearly doubled his season production in the last game, grabbing seven catches for 93 yards.
But the offensive switch hasn't just affected the passing game. With the Trojans going to more of a spread attack and getting playmakers into space, it's opened up their running game. Running back Justin Davis has put together back-to-back 100-yard performances, running for 126 in a narrow loss to Utah and adding 123 and a touchdown in last weekend's win over Arizona State. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Darnold is also a threat to run, making it even tougher on opposing defenses.
How the Buffs answer that challenge will be a big part of whether they'll end USC's 10-0 winning streak in the series. The keys to Saturday's game:
1. Disrupt the pocket and pressure Darnold. So far, the redshirt freshman has shown good poise. While he did throw an interception in a relief appearance against Stanford, he hasn't thrown a pick as a starter.
Still, the Buffs need to move the pocket and force him make plays on the run. It won't be easy — the Trojans have a huge offensive line, anchored by preseason All-American right tackle Zach Banner (6-foot-9, 360 pounds) and left tackle Chad Wheeler (6-6, 310). Banner, though, is doubtful with a sprained ankle, a break for the Buffs.
Still, CU will almost certainly have to depend on some pass rush help from the defensive backs and linebackers, something defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt loves to do — but they'll do so at the risk of allowing players such as Smith-Schuster to get into space and make one-on-one plays.
ASU, a blitz-happy team, had no luck in containing the Trojans. Utah had more success, but benefitted from three USC fumbles.
Which brings us to …
2. Win the turnover battle. Two weeks ago, the Buffs actually won a big game while losing the turnover battle — but the one turnover they did force against Oregon came at the best possible moment, when Ahkello Witherspoon's interception in the end zone ended a Ducks drive and clinched a CU win.
It's not a good bet that lightning will strike twice. This is a game in which the Buffs need to force some USC mistakes early, pick up a little defensive momentum and take the crowd out of the game. The Buffs have produced at least one defensive takeaway in their last 18 games, the longest such streak in the nation. The Trojans didn't have a turnover against ASU, but they have put the ball on the ground five times in the last three games and the Buffs need to take advantage when it happens Saturday.
Colorado, meanwhile, can't afford to give USC a short field with a turnover. It means no big gambles by the CU quarterback — whether its Steven Montez or Sefo Liufau — and ball security by the running backs. The Trojans haven't been particularly dangerous in forcing turnovers — just two fumble recoveries and four interceptions — and the Buffs can't give them any easy opportunities in that department.
3. Contain USC's return game. USC's Adoree Jackson is one of the best defensive backs in the Pac-12, but that's not what scares the Buffs the most.
Jackson is also one of the best punt and kick returners in the nation. He's currently eighth in the nation in kick returns, and already has one 100-yard return for a score. He's equally adept in returning punts — he's averaging 23.6 yards per return in that department, a number that would lead the nation if he had enough to qualify — and he has a 77-yard return for a touchdown to his credit already this season.
The Buffs, meanwhile, haven't been exactly solid in kick coverage this year. They're currently 122nd in the nation in punt coverage (18.6 yards per return) and 113th in the nation in kick return defense (24.9).
"He does it," CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said of Jackson. "They do a good job blocking, but in one game he let the ball hit a couple times and he baited the team and caught it, made a guy miss, then made three more guys miss and went to the house. He's a phenomenal athlete. He's fearless back there as a punt returner. We've got to cover well and punt it well. We're definitely working on stopping him. He also returns kickoffs. He does a good job with that. We've got to know where No. 2 is and go get him."
4. Don't let momentum build. The Trojans have playmakers on both sides of the ball and special teams. They're going to make some big plays.
But one thing the Buffs have done well all year is not allow opponents to turn a few big plays into a landslide. (The only exception is the second half of the Michigan game, when injuries prevented the Buffs from answering in what had all the makings of a shootout.)
This is where their experience and leadership comes into play. Even at Oregon, when the Ducks erased a 33-17 lead, Colorado never showed signs of panic on the sidelines. The defense stiffened and got the ball back, and the offense responded.
It's the mark of a veteran team. The Buffs have played well away from home, they've shown they can come from behind and they've displayed an ability to shrug off mistakes.
They'll need all of those intangibles at the Coliseum.
5. Win the one-on-one battles. Blessed with all kinds of talent in the secondary — especially at the corners — the Trojans love to play man-to-man coverage. Their theory is simple: their athletes are better than yours.
This is a battle the Buffs' wide receivers have to win. The Trojans have a solid pass rush, and defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast loves to mix up blitzes from everywhere on the field. It means CU's receivers have to get open in a hurry and make plays in space.
If they do that, they'll make the Trojans rein in the horses just a little. It will open up the running game and give CU's quarterback a little more time in the pocket — and give the Buffs a good chance to come away with Colorado's first-ever win in the series.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
