USC vs Utah State: How the 2016 Aggie Offense Matches Up
USC vs Utah State will feature an Aggie offense high on confidence after a romping season opener and looking to challenge the Trojan defensive front on the ground.
On Saturday, USC football hosts the Utah State Aggies in the team’s home opener at the LA Memorial Coliseum. This will be the 6th meeting between the two teams, with the most recent being a narrow 17-14 win for the Trojans back in September of 2013.
This year’s Utah State team welcomes back nine returning starters on an offense that averaged 29.0 point per game in 13 contests last season. Chief among those are quarterback Kent Meyers, who passed for 1,593 yards and 16 touchdowns, and running back Devante Mays, who rushed for 966 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2015.
These two helped propel the Aggies to a match up with the Akron Zips in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, despite finishing ninth in the Mountain West in total offense.
After suffering a 23-21 loss to Akron to end the 2015 campaign, the Aggies rebounded with a resounding 45-6 win last week against an out-manned Weber State squad.
Dress Rehearsal Against the Wildcats
Against the Wildcats, Mays ran for 208 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries while fellow running back Tonny Lindsey, a junior from Long Beach, accounted for 67 yards and a touchdown on 11 rushes.
Oct 30, 2015; Logan, UT, USA; Utah State Aggies running back Tonny Lindsey (7) carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the Wyoming Cowboys at Romney Stadium. The Aggies won 58-27. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
As a team, Utah State amassed an astounding 428 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns in their Week 1 victory, while averaging 9.7 yards per carry.
Meyers, the dual-threat passer from Rowlett, Texas, accounted for 53 of those rushing yards, while managing only 11 completions and 100 passing yards on 17 attempts.
Contributing to Meyers underwhelming performance through the air was the fact that Utah State is breaking in a relatively unproven set of receivers.
Gone are several of the Aggies’ top receiving options from last season, including 71-catch tight end Hunter Sharp and receiver Devonte Robinson, who led the team with an average of 16.3 yards per catch in 2015.
Instead, Utah State will call on 6-foot-5 ,255-pound tight end Wyatt Houston to replace Sharp, while seniors Andrew Rodriguez and Kennedy Williams are expected to lead the Aggies’ receiving corps against USC.
Gunning For the Trojans
On Saturday, Utah State head coach Matt Wells and co-offensive Coordinators Jovon Bouknight and Luke Wells will attempt to spread the field and take advantage of Meyers’ athletic ability by positioning their quarterback in the shotgun and pistol formations.
When in the pistol, the Aggies will ask tight end-turned-fullback Joe Palange to pave the way for Mays, who otherwise is featured in single-back sets alongside the quarterback.
Utah State’s coaching staff has no trouble finding ways to get their players the ball in space.
Expect to see Meyers attack the USC defense using the read option and short shovel passes against the Trojans.
Traditionally, USC has struggled to stop running quarterbacks, even under national championship-winning head coach Pete Carroll. Expect defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast to load the box with seven and eight defenders this week and force Utah State to beat the Trojans through the air.
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Pendergast’s 5-2 defensive scheme relies heavily on stout interior defensive lineman to block up offensive running lanes, while blitzing linebackers seek to create havoc in the backfield.
Unfortunately, USC’s already thin defensive line got even thinner last week against Alabama as starter Noah Jefferson and his replacement, converted offensive lineman Khaliel Rodgers, were forced to leave the game with injuries.
Whoever lines up in the trenches for USC this week will need to slow down Utah State’s powerful rushing attack, while a linebacking corps lead by Cameron Smith, Porter Gustin and Michael Hutchings will need to keep containment and prevent Utah State’s quarterback from running wild on the Trojans.
If Pendergast’s defense can recover and accomplish those tasks, the Trojans will leave the Coliseum with a much-needed victory this weekend.
Utah State’s Projected 2-Deep on Offense
Wide Receiver: Andrew Rodriquez (Sr.) / Ron’Quavion Tarver (So.)
Wide Receiver: Kennedy Williams (Sr.) OR Rayshad Lewis (Fr.)
Left Tackle: Austin Albrecht (Sr.) / Cody Boyer (So.)
Left Guard: Jude Hockel / Brandon Taukeiaho (Jr.)
Center: Austin Stephens (Sr.) / Demytrick Ali’ifua (Fr.)
Right Guard: Jake Simonich (Sr.) / KJ Uluave (So.)
Right Tackle: Preston Brooksby (RS Jr.) / Taylor OR McMoore
Tight End: Wyatt Houston (Sr.) / Dax Raymond (So.)
Wide Receiver: Braelon Roberts (Jr.) OR Zach Van Leeuwen (So.)
Quarterback: Kent Myers (Jr.) / Damion Hobbs (Jr.)
Running Back: Devante Mays (Sr.) / Tonny Lindsey (Jr.)
USC’s Projected 2-Deep on Defense
Defensive End: Noah Jefferson (So.) OR Rasheem Green (So.)
Nose Tackle: Stevie Tu’ikolovatu (RS Sr.) / Khaliel Rodgers (RS Jr.)
Defensive End: Malik Dorton (RS So.) OR Rasheem Green (So.)
Predator: Porter Gustin (So.) / Betiku OR Murphy
Outside Linebacker: Uchenna Nwosu (RS So.) / Jabari Ruffin (RS Sr.)*
Inside Linebacker: Cameron Smith (So.) / Olajuwon Tucker (Jr.)
Inside Linebacker: Michael Hutchings (Sr.) / Quinton Powell (Sr.)
Cornerback: Adoree’ Jackson (Jr.) / Lockett OR Langley
Cornerback: Iman Marshall (So.) / Harris OR Jones
Strong Safety: Chris Hawkins (RS Jr.) OR Leon McQuay (Sr.)
Nose Tackle: Marvell Tell (So.) / Ykili Ross (RS Fr.)