I don’t care whom you’re taking part in.
Seven-hundred fifty-five yards are loads of yards.
That’s how a lot USC gained throughout its 59-20 victory over Georgia Southern on Saturday.
One-hundred thirty-two factors are loads of factors.
USC receiver Ja’Kobi Lane evades Georgia Southern defensive again Tracy Hill Jr. through the Trojans’ win Saturday on the Coliseum.
(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Occasions)
That’s how a lot USC has scored in its two video games this season, together with its blowout victory over Missouri State the week earlier than.
If you wish to imagine the Trojans are higher than they had been of their earlier two seasons, there are developments that might additional persuade you that you simply’re proper. If you wish to imagine Lincoln Riley has elevated his crew from mediocrity, there are statistics you can cite to assist your observations.
There may be additionally proof on the contrary, after all.
The 2 video games USC has performed this season had been roughly Rorschach exams.
The one indeniable fact to emerge was that Trojans receivers Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane can be critical issues for each one in every of their opponents.
The whole lot else remained up for debate.
Whenever you watched the Trojans trample over former Clay Helton’s Eagles on the Coliseum, had been you inspired by how quarterback Jayden Maiava threw for 412 yards or involved how badly he misfired on a number of the handful of passes he didn’t full?
Was your breath taken away by how Waymond Jordan modified route in his 167-yard efficiency or did you gasp in horror when he fumbled on the opening drive?
Had been you heartened by how USC scored each time it was within the pink zone or alarmed by its three separate illegal-use-of-hands penalties on protection?
Did you see the 39-point margin of victory as a sign the Trojans are able to tackle the massive boys or Georgia Southern’s 4 consecutive drives into their territory within the first half as an indication they’ll encounter bother when the extent of competitors improves?
Riley was extra measured in praising his crew than he was per week in the past.
“Definitely a lot of positives to take out of it,” Riley mentioned.
Nevertheless …
“Several things we have to clean up,” he mentioned. “We had a couple of errors, I thought, especially with penalties where we have to be better as a football team, more disciplined as a football team.”
Riley warned his crew of the implications of failing to enhance.
“It’s like I told the guys last night, there were plays we made last week that some weeks where if we’re not cleaner when we play more talented teams, the results are going to look like that,” he mentioned. “And, so, we have to look at it through the lens of, ‘Did we do our best?’ We’re still a long ways off our best. That’s the No. 1 thing that showed up.”
Riley has sounded tone deaf at instances throughout his three-plus years at USC, however this wasn’t one in every of them.
Errors may very well be punished by Michigan State, which is able to current the Trojans with their first actual check on Sept. 20.
Errors may very well be punished by Illinois and Notre Dame and Oregon.
USC coach Lincoln Riley directs his crew from the sideline through the Trojans’ win over Georgia Southern Saturday.
(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Occasions)
Errors in all probability received’t be punished by UCLA, which has been changed into a whole Dumpster fireplace by athletic director Martin Jarmond, however that’s one other story for an additional day.
For what it’s price, Georgia Southern’s coach provided an optimistic view of USC’s ceiling. Helton was the Trojans’ head coach for five-plus seasons and nonetheless follows this system.
“I’ll tell you what, it’s a better personnel team than last year, especially, I think, offensively,” Helton mentioned.
He pointed particularly to receivers Lemon and Lane, and working backs Jordan and Eli Sanders.
“And the quarterback [Maiava] is playing really, really within himself. You can see reps and experience matter,” Helton continued. “I’ve always thought that, and the experience he had last year, you see his growth.
“They’ve got a good situation here. You can see the changes that have been made from last year’s personnel group to this year’s personnel group, and talking with Coach Riley, I know he’s happy. He’s getting the opportunity to coach a lot more, he said, and you can see it. You can see it on tape.”
Helton nonetheless considers himself a champion of USC, and what he noticed the Trojans do towards his crew on Saturday night time gave him hope for what they may be capable of accomplish this season.
“I hope,” Helton mentioned, “they go win it all.”
