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SALT LAKE CITY — Only two more days until the Utah State Aggies travel to Southern California and try to shock the nation by knocking off USC.
Obviously, when you're talking about keys to beating USC, you automatically assume containing Marqis Lee is number one on the list, and for good reason. He is the Trojans' best player and their most dynamic play maker. He leads the team in receptions — 17 for 221 yards — and returns kickoffs and punts. He's everywhere on the field; actually I'm surprised he's not throwing the ball to himself at this point.
That's why I left him out of my keys this week; we know what he can do and we know he'll be a focal point of the Aggies. So when you don't see "Contain Marqis Lee" as one of my keys, rest assured, I know he exists and know the Aggies will have to try and contain him.
Keys to the Game: Utah State1\. Set the pace early
---------------------Utah State has scored on their first drive in all three games this season; a field against Utah, and touchdowns against Air Force and Weber State. In fact, the Aggies scored touchdowns on their first two drives at Air Force and were a perfect seven-for-seven on their first seven drives against Weber State on finding the endzone.
Starting fast has been the staple of the Matt Wells era so far and needs to continue against this Trojan defense. Opposing teams have scored three touchdowns against USC and one of them was a pick six; so really, the defense has only gave up two scores all year.
Points will be at a premium for the Aggies and they need to get them quick to put pressure on USC's offense, which loves to run the ball. It's their bread and butter. Five rushing touchdowns compared to three passing touchdowns; and 588 rushing yards to 490 passing yards.
Early points leads to getting the Trojans out of their comfort zone, running the ball, and will force Cody Kessler to try and beat them.
2. Keep Chuckie upright"The biggest thing is they're going to need to protect number 16 on Saturday," was Matt Wells' words at their Monday press conference.
Why is that the biggest thing?
As I alluded to, USC's defense is good; really good. What makes them good?
Their pass rush.
Led by Devon Kennard and Morgan Breslin, the Trojans have sacked opposing quarterbacks 12 times, second in the nation, in their first three games and hurried them eight times.
"The front seven is stout; they're top ten in 30 defensive categories, if there is that many," Wells added. Look for Utah State to use more max protect packages.
"I feel like I'll be staying in a little bit longer this week," DeMartino said in regards to blocking. "The first thing is to always keep Chuckie safe; I feel we'll have more of a chip block game going to help out the tackles if the edge rush is coming too fast."
What also makes that front seven unique, is their scheme. They employ a 5-2 scheme with 3-4 personnel. Meaning, they take two outside backers, Kennard and Breslin, and put them on the line as defensive ends with a nose tackle over center and two more tackles over the B-gaps.
Watching film, they're creative in how they attack the line by way of who they send; a lot of stunts, twists, and dropping linemen into zone coverage. They're also very effective in getting pressure with a three man rush, allowing eight guys to cover the field.
"We'll have our work cut out for us."
3. Win third downQuietly, the Aggies are fourth in the country when it comes to third down conversion percentage at 65 percent; they also lead the nation in the number of third down conversions with 30.
On the other side, the Trojan defense holds opponents to a 28 percent third down conversion percentage while only allowing 13 conversions all season.
As they say, "something's got to give."
More third down conversions lead to longer time of possession; and the longer Utah State can keep that Trojan defense on the field, wearing them out, the better their chance of pulling away and putting the game away in the fourth quarter becomes.
As for USC's offense, they have only converted 11 third downs this season; 30 percent overall. The Aggie defense has only allowed 12 third down conversions in their first three games, a 26 percent conversion percentage for opposing offenses; with seven of those conversions coming in the Utah game alone.
4. Shut down the run to stop play action.There is nothing USC loves more than play-action passes. Nothing.
But you may wonder with running back Silas Redd sidelined with an injury, how can they be successful running play-action?
They answer; Tre Madden. Quick, can you name the last USC running back to have three straight 100 yard games? You guessed it, Marcus Allen.
Madden is a big bruising back, standing 6'1 and weighing in at 220 lbs; but can also make people miss. He's averaging 120 yards per game and five and half yards per carry. His backup, true freshman Justin Davis, is no slouch either; his two rushing touchdowns lead the team and he's averaging six and half yards per carry.
"Those guys are explosive, every time they touch the ball, they can go house," Wells said of the two backs. As I mentioned in my intro, containing Marqis Lee is priority one for Utah State; how do you make that easier? Shut down the run, taking away the threat of play-action and allowing the secondary to keep focused on Lee.
5. Clean up the penaltiesIt's not pretty; 17 penalties through three games. Right now Utah State is averaging 62.7 penalty yards per game. You cannot expect to beat a team like USC, on their home field, with numbers like that. We saw it in the Utah and Air Force game, penalties lead to points.
Utah's second touchdown drive was kept alive because of two back to back personal fouls, one on a third long. The Falcons' only touchdown against Utah State's first team defense came on drive where the Aggies had two pass interference calls on third down and a defensive holding in the red zone.
On the bright side, the penalties are trending downward as the season is continuing; Nine vs. Utah, seven vs. Air Force, and two vs. Weber State. It's a small sample size, but I've always been an optimist.
Utah State has scored on their first drive in all three games this season; a field against Utah, and touchdowns against Air Force and Weber State. In fact, the Aggies scored touchdowns on their first two drives at Air Force and were a perfect seven-for-seven on their first seven drives against Weber State on finding the endzone.
Starting fast has been the staple of the Matt Wells era so far and needs to continue against this Trojan defense. Opposing teams have scored three touchdowns against USC and one of them was a pick six; so really, the defense has only gave up two scores all year.
Points will be at a premium for the Aggies and they need to get them quick to put pressure on USC's offense, which loves to run the ball. It's their bread and butter. Five rushing touchdowns compared to three passing touchdowns; and 588 rushing yards to 490 passing yards.
Early points leads to getting the Trojans out of their comfort zone, running the ball, and will force Cody Kessler to try and beat them.
"The biggest thing is they're going to need to protect number 16 on Saturday," was Matt Wells' words at their Monday press conference.
Why is that the biggest thing?
As I alluded to, USC's defense is good; really good. What makes them good?
Their pass rush.
Led by Devon Kennard and Morgan Breslin, the Trojans have sacked opposing quarterbacks 12 times, second in the nation, in their first three games and hurried them eight times.
"The front seven is stout; they're top ten in 30 defensive categories, if there is that many," Wells added. Look for Utah State to use more max protect packages.
"I feel like I'll be staying in a little bit longer this week," DeMartino said in regards to blocking. "The first thing is to always keep Chuckie safe; I feel we'll have more of a chip block game going to help out the tackles if the edge rush is coming too fast."
What also makes that front seven unique, is their scheme. They employ a 5-2 scheme with 3-4 personnel. Meaning, they take two outside backers, Kennard and Breslin, and put them on the line as defensive ends with a nose tackle over center and two more tackles over the B-gaps.
Watching film, they're creative in how they attack the line by way of who they send; a lot of stunts, twists, and dropping linemen into zone coverage. They're also very effective in getting pressure with a three man rush, allowing eight guys to cover the field.
"We'll have our work cut out for us."
Quietly, the Aggies are fourth in the country when it comes to third down conversion percentage at 65 percent; they also lead the nation in the number of third down conversions with 30.
On the other side, the Trojan defense holds opponents to a 28 percent third down conversion percentage while only allowing 13 conversions all season.
As they say, "something's got to give."
More third down conversions lead to longer time of possession; and the longer Utah State can keep that Trojan defense on the field, wearing them out, the better their chance of pulling away and putting the game away in the fourth quarter becomes.
As for USC's offense, they have only converted 11 third downs this season; 30 percent overall. The Aggie defense has only allowed 12 third down conversions in their first three games, a 26 percent conversion percentage for opposing offenses; with seven of those conversions coming in the Utah game alone.
There is nothing USC loves more than play-action passes. Nothing.
But you may wonder with running back Silas Redd sidelined with an injury, how can they be successful running play-action?
They answer; Tre Madden. Quick, can you name the last USC running back to have three straight 100 yard games? You guessed it, Marcus Allen.
Madden is a big bruising back, standing 6'1 and weighing in at 220 lbs; but can also make people miss. He's averaging 120 yards per game and five and half yards per carry. His backup, true freshman Justin Davis, is no slouch either; his two rushing touchdowns lead the team and he's averaging six and half yards per carry.
"Those guys are explosive, every time they touch the ball, they can go house," Wells said of the two backs. As I mentioned in my intro, containing Marqis Lee is priority one for Utah State; how do you make that easier? Shut down the run, taking away the threat of play-action and allowing the secondary to keep focused on Lee.
It's not pretty; 17 penalties through three games. Right now Utah State is averaging 62.7 penalty yards per game. You cannot expect to beat a team like USC, on their home field, with numbers like that. We saw it in the Utah and Air Force game, penalties lead to points.
Utah's second touchdown drive was kept alive because of two back to back personal fouls, one on a third long. The Falcons' only touchdown against Utah State's first team defense came on drive where the Aggies had two pass interference calls on third down and a defensive holding in the red zone.
On the bright side, the penalties are trending downward as the season is continuing; Nine vs. Utah, seven vs. Air Force, and two vs. Weber State. It's a small sample size, but I've always been an optimist.
