The USC Trojans are four weeks away from their season-opening college football game against LSU in Week 1 in Las Vegas. The game is one of the showcase events of opening weekend, and it will carry a lot of weight for both teams. The winner has a real chance of making the College Football Playoff. The loser’s odds of making a playoff run will shrink considerably. It’s high-stakes poker, exactly why Week 1 showdowns are so exciting and tense. This is what makes college football unique among all sports: The first game of the season carries more significance than a season-opening game in any other sport. When we consider how USC has to go about its business, let’s look at the matchup between the USC defense and the LSU offense. What should be the approach for the Trojans? Let’s dive into the details:
START SIMPLE
D’Anton Lynn has said he likes to present the appearance of complexity within simple concepts for his defenses, but USC really does need to keep things simple in the first quarter. The Trojans need to start their season by simply reading and reacting, and not getting caught in a web of complexity which leaves players confused. That happened a lot under Alex Grinch. Guys need to be able to play freely and not overthink during plays. USC has to be able to play instinctively in the first quarter.
SEE WHAT PLAYERS CAN DO
The first quarter needs to be simple for another reason: The coaching staff needs to see how all 11 players fare in physical combat against each LSU Tiger. The Trojans need to settle into the game and see if they can win one-on-one battles, both in the trenches and on the edges. If USC can hold its own, then the approach can and should be more aggressive as the game goes on. If USC is losing battles, the defense will need to protect its weaknesses and adjust in a more conservative way, at least until halftime.
MAKE LSU THROW SHORT
Garrett Nussmeier is not Jayden Daniels, much as Miller Moss is not Caleb Williams. Both USC and LSU need to force the opposing quarterback to be patient and make several plays per drive to score touchdowns. Neither side can afford to give up the home run. USC can’t get beaten over the top and allow early splash plays. Discipline in the secondary is paramount for the Trojans.
PASS RUSH
Can USC generate a pass rush with its base front four? That’s the most direct path to victory for the Trojans in this game. If they can do that, so much of this game opens up for them. If they can’t, then D’Anton Lynn and Eric Henderson will need to develop blitzes or other adjustments which can generate pressure on Nussmeier.
SECOND-HALF SURGE
It is the first game of a new season under a new coaching staff. Mistakes are bound to happen in the first 30 minutes. As long as USC can survive the first half, it can then go to the locker room and receive a lot of teaching from the new defensive coaching staff. Halftime adjustments were never a strength for Alex Grinch, much as they never were for Clay Helton and his failed defensive coordinators. If USC can get through the first half without too much damage done, the defense can then make tweaks and corrections and blow the doors off LSU’s offense in the second half, recalling the Pete Carroll days in third quarters.
BIG KEY
LSU’s best position group is its offensive line. The Tigers have two elite tackles. USC’s defensive line doesn’t have to dominate or even outplay LSU’s offensive line. If the Trojans can play to a draw (more or less) in this matchup, they should fancy their chances of winning the game.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: How the USC defense should approach the LSU offense in Week 1
