As USC prepares for its Saturday clash with Michigan State, much of the spotlight has been fixed on the Trojans’ high-flying offense. However, this weekend’s contest will likely be won in the trenches, with USC’s defense facing a defining test in the Spartans’ physical brand of football. In order for the Trojans to emerge victorious, their defense must execute a specific and disciplined plan centered on four critical areas.
Annenberg Media attended practice on Wednesday and spoke with defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn along with several key players to learn how the Trojans could come up with a win.
- Win the battle in the trenches
First and foremost, the game will be decided at the line of scrimmage. MSU’s offensive identity has been built on establishing a powerful run game to control the tempo and keep opposing offenses on the sideline. The Trojans’ defensive front must meet this challenge head-on.
Against Purdue, redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Jamaal Jarrett showed how. The Georgia transfer plucked a tipped pass out of the air and started running for the opposite end zone. At 6-foot-5 and 360 pounds, Jarrett ran 70-yards for the touchdown, becoming the largest Trojan to ever score a touchdown in USC football history. Plays like this are the team’s standard for the intensity they’re looking for.
“I’m pretty fast, and when Coach [Lynn] gives us the opportunity to move, we be movin’,” Jarrett said. “I’m so glad to have had the support from the team, coaches and the fanbase. We were all hype.”
In regards to MSU, Jarrett said the Spartans’ offensive line features size and toughness similar to USC’s front seven. Matching that grit and intensity will be crucial.
- Make the quarterback uncomfortable
The Spartans’ offense revolves around the dual-threat capabilities of junior quarterback Aidan Chiles. His playmaking with both his arm and his legs presents a significant challenge for the USC defense, so containing him in the pocket and being wary of his scrambling abilities will be essential.
Redshirt junior safety Kamari Ramsey said that the Spartans’ physicality will make this weekend USC’s most challenging test yet.
“They run the ball well, they’re very physical up front,” he said. “They stick to what they do and impose their will, so we gotta do our job and make sure everybody is on the same page.”
USC must stuff Michigan State’s running game early and force the Spartans into predictable third-and-long situations where the pass rush can take over.
- Create game-changing takeaways
Adopting an aggressive, ball-hawking mentality is key to disrupting the momentum of the Spartan offense. Whether it’s stripping the ball or reading the quarterback’s eyes to jump routes, the Trojans must capitalize on an offense that has totaled 600 yards on the ground through three games while only allowing 96.
No player on USC’s defense has read plays better than redshirt senior safety Bishop Fitzgerald. He has three picks in three games, including a pick-six against Missouri State and two last weekend at Purdue.
“He’s been on point,” Lynn said of Fitzgerald. “He’s been doing an outstanding job of where he’s supposed to be in terms of anticipating plays and creating space for others.”
- Eliminate explosive plays
Finally, the Trojan defense must show discipline and tackle fundamentally. Coach Lynn told the media that his unit’s communication and effort improved last week, but there are still some tweaks to be made.
“Situationally we can improve as far as what’s the situation, what’s the call, what’s my leverage supposed to be,” Lynn said. “And then just cleaning up the penalties and missed tackles, because that keeps the offense on the field longer than they should be.”
While the Trojans’ offense is expected to put up points, the defense’s ability to control the line of scrimmage, pressure the quarterback, create turnovers and tackle effectively will lead to securing a victory on Saturday.