By Phil Soon
USC:
Despite a shocking early upset loss at Washington, the USC Trojans find themselves in a familiar position as they enter the second half of the season: in serious contention for the Pac-10 title and a possible shot at the BCS national championship game. Heading into the season, many experts speculated that coach Pete Carroll’s Trojans were at their most vulnerable point since 2002, due to the loss of eight starters on defense and true freshman Matt Barkley starting at quarterback.
These predictions were seemingly confirmed on Sept. 19, when former USC offensive coordinator and current Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian’s Huskies sprung a 16-13 upset loss on the visiting Trojans. A flurry of turnovers, the injury-related absences of Barkley and All-American safety Taylor Mays, and superior execution by Washington contributed to the loss, leading many to dismiss the Trojans’ national title game aspirations a mere week after USC’s thrilling win over then No. 8-ranked Ohio State. However, Carroll’s team has responded with four straight wins, including a rout of supposed conference contender California, an eighth-consecutive win over rival Notre Dame, and a 42-36 shootout victory versus Oregon State, leaving the team with a 6-1 record heading into its Halloween matchup with conference-leading Oregon.
Midseason MVPs:
Offense: Matt Barkley
Despite his status as a true freshman, quarterback Matt Barkley is quickly becoming a star, showcasing next-level talent, poise, and confidence that belie his age. Barkley has led the Trojans to victory in two memorable road games, leading a dramatic, 14-play, 86-yard game-winning drive at Ohio State and passing for 380 yards against rival Notre Dame. Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates has opened up USC’s playbook, and Barkley’s performance over the second half of the season will determine how far the Trojans will go.
Defense: Everson Griffen & Nick Perry
While All-American safety Taylor Mays receives the bulk of national media attention, defensive ends Griffen and Perry have anchored one of the nation’s most-talented defenses. Both players have NFL-level talent, with Perry leading the Pac-10 in sacks and Griffen close behind. Having two defensive ends of this caliber allows the Trojans to generate an incredible amount of pressure on opposing quarterbacks without having to commit extra defenders, helping a Trojan defense that lost eight starters to the 2009 NFL draft remain among the nation’s best.
Second-Half Outlook:
USC’s hopes for the conference title and possible shot at the national championship game remain intact, but several key obstacles remain in their path. First and foremost is an incredibly important game at Oregon’s Autzen Stadium Halloween night. The winner of this game will have the inside track to the Pac-10 title, and a legitimate shot at reaching the national title game. The Oregon Ducks are rolling, relying upon a high-powered offense to win six straight games for first-year head coach Chip Kelly. Although Barkley and tailback Allen Bradford helped USC score enough points to win, the defense struggled to contain the Oregon State offense in a 42-36 shootout at the Coliseum, a troubling development in the week leading up to the Oregon game, which appears to be the most difficult game left on the schedule. Carroll’s teams have shown a propensity to win big games but occasionally stumble against lesser foes, and upcoming games against Arizona and rival UCLA could also prove problematic. If the Trojans can remain undefeated through the remainder of conference play, they will have as good a claim as any team for a shot at the BCS national championship.
UCLA:
Across town in Westwood, a promising 3-0 start has quickly turned into a struggle to save UCLA’s season. A tough 19-15 win at SEC opponent Tennessee on September 12 showcased the Bruins’ strengths on defense, with Tennessee held to 208 total yards and four turnovers. However, four straight losses in Pac-10 conference play have illustrated the Bruins’ struggles to return to relevance, leaving the Bruins with a 3-4 record and no wins in conference play.
Despite having one of the Pac-10’s most talented defenses, UCLA’s has suffered from a lack of execution and consistency on offense. Injuries and a lack of productivity at the quarterback position has been the main problem, preventing the Bruins from capitalizing upon the turnovers generated by their defense. In the Bruins’ recent 27-13 loss at Arizona, UCLA’s defense forced five turnovers. Bruin free safety Rahim Moore, the NCAA’s co-leader in interceptions, picked off his sixth and seventh passes of the season, strong safety Tony Dye returned a fumble 28 yards for a touchdown, and all 13 Bruin points were generated as a result of turnovers. Bruins coach Rick Neuheisel played three quarterbacks in the game – starter Kevin Prince, backup Kevin Craft, and freshman Richard Brehaut – but none was effective enough to generate consistent offensive drives.
Midseason MVPs:
Offense: Kai Forbath
In spite of UCLA’s inconsistencies on offense, kicker Kai Forbath is quite simply one of college football’s best kickers, having converted 19 out of 20 field goal attempts this season (is this the right word? A word was missing…). A consistent source of points, Forbath’s range and accuracy have been repeatedly put to the test, given UCLA’s aforementioned inconsistencies on offense. Forbath has missed only one field goal this season, a 51-yarder against Tennessee.
Defense: Rahim Moore
Free safety Rahim Moore is the national co-leader in interceptions, having picked off two passes versus Arizona, three against SDSU, and two against Tennessee. Moore’s presence in the Bruin secondary forces opposing offenses to alter their game plans, and his string of multi-interception games have helped the Bruin defense generate a high amount of turnovers. On a defense with several NFL-caliber players, Moore is undoubtedly the Bruins’ most visible and valuable performer.
Second Half Outlook:
While UCLA has struggled mightily over its last few games, the fact remains that the Bruins can still reach a bowl game if the offense can step up its production. In terms of personnel, UCLA is one of the more talented teams in the Pac-10, but Rick Neuheisel and offensive coordinator Norm Chow must find a way to improve the struggling Bruin offense. Coach Neuheisel is a great recruiter, bringing in several nationally-ranked recruiting classes, but his team’s on-field performance can only be described as mediocre. Currently, the Bruin offense is unable to capitalize on the turnovers and opportunities its defense gives it, and the team has failed to execute at crucial moments. UCLA is near the bottom of the Pac-10 standings, but remains a dangerous team, with considerable talent on both offense and defense. Winnable games against Washington and Washington State lie ahead, but the Bruin offense must improve for the team to have any chance of turning its season in a positive direction. If not, a season on the brink could quickly turn into a nightmare.
