Cutting self-inflicted errors key for USC vs. No. 19 Buffs
Coming off a sloppy 24-20 win on Sept. 29 at Arizona, USC coach Clay Helton made clear that the two weeks of preparation before the Trojans return home to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to face No. 19-ranked Colorado would be dedicated to eliminating self-inflicted errors.
“It’s something we must concentrate on immediately. That’s my job,” said Helton. “Thank goodness for the bye week.”
USC (3-2, 2-1 Pac-12 Conference) went ahead of Arizona 24-0 in the early third quarter the Trojans’ last time out, but a staggering 18 penalties for 169 yards combined with three turnovers led to a nail-biting finish. Arizona scored the final 20 points, and USC needed to recover an onside kick to survive.
The bad news: USC now ranks No. 122 with 85.2 penalty yards per game. Losing the turnover battle by three on Sept. 29 also dropped the Trojans to negative-four on the season, No. 110 in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
The good news: Despite the errors, USC returns from a bye week to its home, where the Trojans have never lost under Helton (18-0) to face an opponent in Colorado (5-0, 2-0) against which they have a perfect all-time record (12-0).
Making it lucky No. 13 in the head-to-head series “puts (USC) in position to control (its) own destiny in the Pac-12 South,” Helton noted.
With the win over Arizona, USC already boasts a head-to-head victory against one of the only three teams in the division currently sporting one loss or fewer. The other is undefeated Colorado.
The Buffs are off to their best start since 1998 after beating Arizona State, 28-21, last Saturday. Wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. scored all four of Colorado’s touchdowns, giving him 10 on the season: six receiving, and four via rush.
In addition to limiting penalties and turnovers, USC must contain Colorado’s do-everything star Shenault — a challenging proposition with the depth issues the Trojans have faced in their secondary all season. And there’s no indication of quick relief in sight.
USC already lost Ykili Ross before the season when he left the team. Early breakout performer Isaiah Pola-Mao underwent shoulder surgery, ending his campaign. And Bubba Bolden, who missed the first five games for unspecified reasons, is no longer enrolled at USC.
Washington State peppered the USC defense in their Sept. 21 matchup for 344 yards on a variety of intermediate pass plays. Arizona used explosive plays to claw back from the initial, four-score deficit. The corps of Shenault, K.D. Nixon and Jay MacIntyre promises another challenge for the thin secondary.